The Detroit times., 1913-02-15
Will Be Organized in Summer,
Arrange Schedule and
Finances
CHICKERING'S NOW CAUSE
A LACK OF INTEREST
Will Be Rush for Games Latter
Part of March, When Out
door Sports Start
BY RALPH L. YONKER.

Next summer, when the heat Of
present basketball arguments has
been overcome from the heat OF base
ball pennant races and the weather. Is
the time to make secure the future
OF basketball in Detroit.
The game is in muddle right now.
There is much sQuabbling among
managers OF various teams, but there
is little action on the court, and con-
sequently less interest In the game
than there ought 20 be.
While arguments replete with the
phrases, home court" series Of
games" "glass-back boards slippery
floor" and all that sort OF stun may
roll managers and stir up bitter feel
ing between players. II doesn't arouse
the interest OF the fan the way actual
competition for a tangible title does.
Leaders in basketball in Detroit
realize this now. But they realize,
also, that II is too late to do any
thing definite for the present season.
However, they are determined TO do
something Tor next season long be-
fore II begins.
A well organized league composed
OF the best players in the city is what
Is needed, and what will be had next
season. according TO the enthusiasts.
This league win be promoted In the
snmmer and by the time the frost
putss the basketball fever In the bones
everything will be ready.
tits Wrought that league Of about
four teams would be ideal. IL 10
planned to get four fives together in
-. IL ADII frP
playing, schedule, and the financing
Of the proposition.
Such a league was talked OF this
summer, but because IL was thought
that everything would run along
smoothly this winter the idea OF or.
ganizing was abandoned. The course
OF basketball has been far from
smooth, however. this winter, and at
present the status of things is very
unsatisfactory to everybody.
Although basketball here is strictly
amateur, the question of finances is
IN important one. There ore few
nvailahle halls here that can be OBJ
tanned for an evening for less than is
taken II at the gate. There are few
private individuals that care to dig
down into their own jeans for coin
to eat up q deficit to cover the ex-
penses Of the games in which they
played. Thus far no firm here has
been willing to support star team
for--the sake OF the publicity 1t gets,
with the exception of the Rayl COM
pany.
However, II Is thought that league
that calls for a regular schedule OF
games beginning at the opening OF
the season and continuing until the
cnd will arouse such interest as has
pever been seen here I'm Detroit.
Lack OF games early In the season
and lack OF good halls are given as
the reason for Detroit's apathy In the
sport. There certainly Is material In
the city for some OF the finest teams
In the country II they can only be
brought together.
Constant chickering's, uncertain day
to-day arrangements for future con-
tests and desire on the part of most
nj the teams to get into the game at
| the last moment and by defeating the
| champions claim the city title, has
| almost put q quietus on the sport
here.
Right now there seems to be little
. doubt but that the ID. A. c., the Y. M.
| G. A. and the Rayls are the best teams
In the city. The Y. M. o. rushed into
the limelight when 1t defeated the
Rayls, but the overwhelming defeat
Il suffered at the hads of the ID. A.
G. Eve Thursday caused 1t TO lose It's
place quickly. The U. Of ID. might be
able to give ay OF these three, fives
a battle, also, II they got together in
regular game.
But among these three teams there
seems 90 be none that is willing to
concede enough to insure games with
he e.others. The Y. M. g. A. meets with
disfavor In the eyes OF the others be.
cause II insists on retaining It's glass
backboards on It's baskets.
The ID. A. G Is looked upon with
disfayor becauae thus far II hasn't
agreed to the "Y's" proposition TO
play one game on the ~" court, cne
on the Moose Temple court, and a
rubber on the Armory court, in case
rubber is necessary. The Deltas
claim that Il is not up 70 them to
submit TO "Y" terms, for the ~" Is
the challenger, since the Deltas now
hold the title.
Along the latter part OF March
every team In the city will be up on
It's hind legs demanding games with
the team that is the favorite to land
the city and state title. There will
be some concessions made and while
everybody is turning TO outdoor
sports the basketeers will fight out
their battles. while the fans will for
get even who wins the title, Thai
has been the experience OF former
years
Tf there had been some more i'm
porfant games played previous 10 this
time. and n there were any more that
could be expected with any certainty,