The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-23
SULLIVAN sCOLDs
SCHOOL ATHLETES
SECRETARY of AMATEUR ATHLET-
&c UNION URGES FOR MORAL
UPLIFT.
HONESTY. his KEYNOTE
UPRIGHT SPIRIT NEEDS MORE DE-
vELoPMENT THAN EXPERT
SIDE m ELEMENTARY
SPIRIT, HE SAYS.

James E. Sullivan. secretary of the
Amateur Athletic Union. mas written
an article for Teacher and Home, en-
titled What IS Wrong With Scnoias-
tic Athletics" he says:
The whole situation convinces me
that there Is something absolutely
wrong with our present educational
system, failing as it does to insult into
the boys high. ana lofty IDEAS as stan
dards that shall extend into their
work in athletics.
The trouble is that we have de-
voted our efforts to the development
OF the expert and the competiti, size,
to the exclusion of the moral side
and the upbutioing of character. APP
parenuy the admonitions of teachers
against the iniquity OF lying and ueeeit
are not respected, at least In matters
OF play.
Athletic sport, when conducted on
sane and safe lines. with high stand
ards, will benefit any group mat takes
part In 1t. But Ii We are to allow
and encourage the boys to deceive the
teachers. principals. officials of games
and others, then we are not attaining
the benefits we claim for our youth
In participation in athletics. Instead
of making them honest, straigntfor-
ward citizens, We are developing them
along untruthful, deceitful lines.
The Dividing Line
This lis rather strong language.
but ! have always contenued that the
quarrel has not been between the
professionals. or over the professional,
but over the line that divides the
amateur and the professional in com.
petition. One who will go out night
after night under an assumed name
and play basketball or some other
sport for 50 or So, or will play base
ball in the summer for money I'M
der an assumed name and then go
back to his school or club and play
under his right name. and thus rob,
by disqualification, hts teammates OF
glory and the medals they might 9TH
erwise receive. is the type OF boy
that Is going to make one Of our
worst citizens
Something more than rules or reg
plations Is necessary to guide the
schoolboy In the path of uprighiness
in his sports. What is needed is teach
ing: teaching that will cause him to
regard his conduct In the athletic
arena as quite as much q part OF his
character as all his daily actions are
and that triekery and subterfuge do
not constitute good sportSmanship. IL
a boy is ineligfbie--is a professional
he should get up In his classroom and
admit II like a man. and not go out
with team and have IL disqualified
afterward on account of his ineligi-
binty, depriying his teammates of
their medals and the school of a
trophy that might have adorned its
watts with credit.
Spirit OF Honesty.
II know there is not a high school
or an eleu1entary school club or col
lege in this great country of ours
that would knowingly permit iueligi-
bic boys to compete on its team, They
ara, however. allowed TO come in and
play because, before the tournament
Of ga2fss,s. start. no attempt has BEEN
made TO inStill into these that desire
To make the team OF to represent the
school. that spirit OF honesty which
would force the professional or in
eligible boy OF the school to come for
ward in q manly way and Say, 4
%>esfanat play on your school team; !
am ineligible. and should l play the
team. If 1t should win a champion
ship. would therefore be deprived OF
wetl-earned victory and j would
bring diScredit TO the school, IL the
boys were brought UP along the right
lines OF honest sport there would be
no trouble. II is no disgrace TO be an
ineligible boy; IL is no disgrace 10 be
a professional But the boys should
he taught that they cannot play for
money one day and as amateurs the
next day. They must choose which
course they will pursue and live up
TO IT.
II think We must commence all
over again.