Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1913-02-14
Thorpe Loses
Amateur Rank
Worlds Best Athlete Confesses
to Professionalism of Long
Standing and Loses
His Medals

James Thorpe-Jim Thorpe to those
who follow athletic events-has ad-
mitted that he is a professional. That
means that he has accepted money
for his services in athletic compe-
tition. That means that he is for
ever barred from taking part in track
meets, football games or baseball
games in which amateurs figure, and,
most especially, that he may not
again show his wonderful prowess in
the Olympic games, that great inter
national congress of athletes. Thorpe
is, undoubtedly, the greatest all
around athlete in the world. He is a
Sac and Fox Indian, n student at the
Carlisle school for Indians. Within
little more than half a year Thorpe,
at Stockholm and in competition
record and showed his supremacy. He
was recently charged with having
played professional baseball with the
Winston Salem team in North Caro-
lima When the charge was brought
home to him Thorpe confessed that
he had been professional since 1910;
that, technically, at least, he had
taken Olympic honors under false
pretcnses. His confession was eoR
tanned in letter to the registra-
ton committee of the Amateur Ath-
letic Union, which organization has
general supervision over the eligibil-
ity of all athletes who are not in
sports for livelihood. This board
was in session in New York City at
the time, convening to decide
Thorpe's case. In extenuation of his
conduct, Thorpe said that he did not
know that he had done anything
wrong, as on the same team with him
| in 1910 were several college men who
were spending their vacations playing
baseball for pay. These. said Thorpe,
were regarded as amateurs, and he
could see no reason why he also
should not retain his standing Also,
the Indian stated that he did not play
for the money offered him, but be-
cause he loved the game.
His record is remarkable. His win
ming of the pentathlon and deeathlon
events at the Olympic games in Swe-
den and later his wonderful perform
ance in winning the all-around cham
pionship of the Amateur Athletic
Union at Celtic Park, New York, last
lSeptember, stamped him as the most
In La - m
In addition, his prowess as football
, player during the season of 1912
brought to him the honor Of being
given place on the All-American
football eleven, "paper' team
picked by leading sporting experts
from among the best in the great col
lege game.
/ Thorpe will be required to return
all of the medals and insignia OF
honor that he has won in competition
with amateurs since the time he
played baseball for hire. Foreign
sporting men, however, are reported
as believing that Thorpe should be
allowed to retain his medals. even If
he won them under pretenses of being
an amateur. This too, means that
the points won by Thorpe for America
may not be counted for this country
Their loss, however, does not take
victory from Uncle Sam. The cor
rected score gives the United States
70 points with Finland second with
90.
T.. h. ,n,,tathln., IN Gkn.k hnlui
Thorpe finished first in the running
broad jump. first in the 200-meters
run, first in the 1500meters run,
first and third in the javelin event
In the decathlon, which consisted Of
the 1O0-meters dash, running broad
jump, shotput, running high jump,
4O0-meters run, ll0-meters hurdles,
discus throwing, pole vaulting, javelin
throwing and 1500.meters run, Thorpe
had a percentage Of s412.955, against
7724.495 by Wieslander Of Sweden,
his nearest opponent.
Thorpe first was heard Of several
years ago as a football player with
tho Carlisle team. Later he special
lied in weight-throwing, jumping and
running. He also became noted as a
lacrosse and baseball player and In
the latter branch Of sport several
of the major league teams tried to
procure his services. Only last year
Pittsburg and Washington endeavored
to secure him, but the Indian re-
fused to sign n contract, declaring
that he wished to remain an amateur.
After the Olympic games in Swe
den last year King Gustave sent for
Thorpe to congratulate him on his
prowess At first the Indian timidly
declined to meet the monarch, but
later, when several Of the American
committeeman insisted that he do 80,
Thorpe went to the palace. There the
king took the Indian by the hand
and smilingly said: "You are the
greatest athlete in the world"