Evening star., 1913-02-03
P|TTSBURGHF|VE
HERE TONIGHT
Figures That 1t Will Win in
What Should Be
Close Game.
OPPOSITE VIEW TAKEN
OF CASE OF THORPE
New York Writer Holds That
Summer Base Ball Is Some
thing Not to Be Allowed.
BY H. C.. BYRD.

BY H. C. BYRD.
What is likely to be the most strenu-
been played this season on a local floor
will take place tonight when the George
town quint lines up against the Univer-
sity of Pittsburgh five. The Pittsburgh
team comes here with better record
than any five that has appeared here this
season. and as the Blue and Gray has
been going at fast gait the two should
give a classy exhibition.
One of the victories the University of
Pittsburgh has to its credit is over the
University of Pennsylvania. The Quakers
were defeated early in the season. Only
one contest has been lost by them so
far and that was dropped to the Penn
sylvania State College by the margin of
four points. The State College team,
which is reputed to be one of the best
in the country, only Won in the last few
minutes, after one Of the Pittsburgh for
wards had been put out as result of an
injury.
Coach Colliflower of the Georgetown
team said this morning that he did not
know how the game would be likely to
result. The work of his men would
cause him to think that they should show
well, but as for predicting victory over
such d fast aggregation as Pittsburgh
has proved itself to be this season, he
stated that he could not.
The same lineup that has started in the
other game for the Blue and Gray will be
used tonight. The Pittsburgh team will
line up as follows: Freshman and Baker
guards: Campbell and Ochenshirt. for
wards and Reese. center. Two of these
men We're with the five when it appear
ed here last winter, but it is reported
that the other three are much more clever
than the men who We're lost
The Pittsburgh team will play five
games on this trip. 1t opens with George
town tonight. After the contest here i,
will go to Mount st. Marys, in Emmits-
burg. Md: thence to Gettysburg. and
after that to Swarthmore and Lehigh
The majority of games will be won, ac-
cording to the opinion of the Pittsburgh
men. 1t was plainly intimated this morn.
ing that If the Blue and Gray was not de.
feated this evening then somebody would
be nightly surprised.
The Pittsburgh men will probably find
that 1t is not such an easy matter tC
score points against the Blue and Gray
With two guards of the caliber of Wet
Zell and Foley. and an all-around, strong
defensive aggregation, Georgetown is an
extremely hard combination on which to
In regard to the Thorpe case, it might
be said that practically every piece of
comment written SO far has been in
favor of the Indian. and has more or
less been against the A. A. L., but in
this case the opposite view of the case
has been taken. Here is what has been
said by Herbert, who writes for the New
York Tribune:
Now. as to the possible effect that
Thorpe's exposure will have on those
schoolboys and college men who are
disposed for selfish reasons or otherwise
to treat lightly written lie. UnfOr-
tunately, Thorpe's case is not an eXcep-
ton and was magnified only because of
the prominence of the man. There are
plenty of athletes competing under the
suise of an amateur, and while 1 myself
am convinced that the summer base ball
evil is not so widespread as a few years
ago and that the general tone of college
athletics has been raised to a much
higher ethical plane. still there is much
, room for Improvement Only two or three
weeks ago | discussed this subject at
, much length, and it seems almost un-
necessary to repeat Still, few words
may not be out of place, more particular
ly as / am in receipt of the following
letter from an alumnus of Rutgers:
The case of Jim Thorpe now before
the public eye has aroused much discus
sion and in many cases expressions of
sympathy. While he does not pose as a
martyr | believe he is accused unjuStly.
This feeling is perhaps due to what seems
to me an unfair ruling among amateur or
college athletes. Now the question comes
up-should ii student who receives COM
pensatiOn for services on the base ball
field during his summer vacation be stig-
matiZed Il professional athlete? Many
there be who help pay school expenses in
other fields such as canVaSsing. etc. Why
then. should not a fellows talent in base
ball be an income to him?
This is the same old question answered
a number of times in this column. There
is absolutely nothing wrong i'm college
player using his base ball skill to help
pay his way through college. He should
he encouraged and applauded. but he
should not be eligible to represent his
college OH the athletic field. Apart from
minor considerations, which need not be
discussed at this time. the important rea-
son lies in the fact that competition under
these conditions opens the door and
breaks down all barriers to proselyting.
the most insidious and dangerous of all
athletic evils. If that is not conclusive a
man is hard to convince
Both sides have been presented. and
before going any further it must be ad-
mitted that Thorpe played the manly
part at least in boldly facing the conse-
quences and Offering to make such resti-
tuition is possible in a letter that con-
veyed a tone of sadness and true re-
pentance. 1t must be admitted further
that Gustavus L. Kirby. James f. Sulli-
van and others who at this time control
the destinies of the Amateur Athletic
Union did their part by Offering a public
apology to the nations of the world
and by showing a quick willingness to do
everything in their power to correct the
wrong. Surely some good must come
out of it all, if in no other way than by
the moral it points Or the lesson it
teaches Herbert is one of the best com
mentators in the country on college
sports. and his opinion is very much
worth considering.