Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-14
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY ]. ED aRuLo.

Though there has been much said py
experts that the new rules have improved
foot ball, besides eliminating much OF the
danger to players, 1t is decidedly dimcuit
for a spectator to detect any changes In
the game as it is now played compared
to formerly.
It is still game OF which the specta-
tor as a rule sees but little. II there has
been any material increase In open plays
1t Is not noticeable, and 80 far as the
elimination Of danger to the players Is
concerned, that does not seem to have
been effected. Nor will it ever be 50 Ions
as men clash on the gridiron. What -
more, the new rules are being violated IN
that the man with the ball Is still being
helped by being pushed. This practise was
blamed for many Of the injuries and
fatalities which took place O, the foot PAL
field last season. yet the ofdciais are toi-
Grating it this year, though the RUE aos-
bids It. II seems to be the understand
ing to allow the use OF the Old game As
much as possible. it being argued tnat 20
adhere strictly to the new game wouIo
present too tame an exhibition.
II there is one sport suffering oy reason
of the lack OF competent officials It - foot
ball. It is decidedly questionable u tneFe
are Eve competent officials In the country,
son of this condition.
Those agitating a change OF the play
ing rules so as to increase the Dattne ~
base ball are again taking a Few faiis
charged with being a detriment to the
patrons Of base bali despIse 1t Is delays.
The public wants games quickly played.
and any feature Of the sport which tenos
- W.
was to save time that the catcher was
forced to remain behind the oat. instead
of catching the ball on the bound. with
no one on the bases and before Two
strikes were on the batter. ana 4 was 90
stop the waste Of time that the foul
strike rule was put in the code.
Before the batters were penalized TOT
making fouls 1t was not an .unusual
performance to see batter At the piate
for five or more minutes purposeiy TOUT
ing of balls that cut the plate. There
were any number Of experts at this trick
in the game and 1t was because OF the
disgust that the public gave vent TO be
cause of this condition that the TUG
makers very wisely changed the CODE.
The foul strike rule has undoubtedly
had some effect on the batting. but II Is
preferable to see fewer base hits tnan
to have to sit through an exhtbltton OF
which most Of the time Is wasted.
Those most interested in racing In the
east. which Of course are the men VINO
own the tracks and control the sport. are
trying to down the impression that since
the election OF a democratic governor IN
New York racing will take on new !ease
of life It is argued by these tndividuais
that racing does not depend on orsaH1e.
bookmaking, against which there Is
law, while there is none preventing the
racing of horses. The idea being to create
the impression that racing will continue
whether bookmaking il allowed or not:
That. of course, is absurd. Racing OF
thoroughbreds without the speculative end
is a dead sport beyond question. There
Is but q small proportion OF the public
which would SIT through racing pro-
gram and enjoy 1t unless II had imam
cial interest That is but natural
Evidentally those most interested fear
to have the impression created that the
lid will be hoisted now that there mas
been a change in the governorsnip OF
New York. A repeal Of the law forbid
ding bookmaking is of course not to be
hoped for. but a modification Of the pres
ent ban on that end Of the sport Is not
Impossible, and the less talk there Is OF
a general revival the better.
From all accounts Horace Fogel OF the
Phillies has reconsidered his objection to
the trade made by Manager Doom where
by four players OF the Philade!phia team
were traded for four from Cincinnati. and
the swap will go through. A circumstance
in connection with this controversy has
again started Dame Rumor's tongue to
wagging, it being asserted that Charles
Webb Murphy. owner of the Cubs was
responsible for the change OF base by
Fogel, thus proving that the Chicago
magnate has a finger in the Philadelphia
pie.
When the deal was first sprung Fogel
came out liat-footed against II and as
serted that under no circumstances would
he sanction II. Then one day Owner Muir
ply caused a statement to be widely CIR
cuiated that Doom had put It all over
Grifith in the trade and that Fogei was
foolish in blocking the deal. Immediately
there was back pedaiing by Fogel. with
the result that he has sanctioned the deal.
which, coming on top OF Murphy's state
ment, makes It appear that the chubby
little man from Chicago has to say the
least considerable influence with the head
OF the Philadelphia club.