Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-09
By CHRISTY MATHEwSoN.

Der what effect their actions and ex-
ample will have on young men all
over the country. Ii was great blow
to Harvard football hopes this fall
when Brickley. in his final year, was
stricken with appendicitis early in the
season. He is the biggest individual
figure to appear in the football world
in a decade or more.
The Harvard captain tried to ges
into the Brown game when the score
was tied long enough to attempt a
goal from the field, and even went so
far as stripping OF his sweater, but
the coaches prevailed upon him to
let another take his place. The sub
stitute missed goal and the game end
ed a tie.
Reads Homily to 6rickiey.
! On that day Briekley was in such
delicate physical state that an unin-
territorial blow delivered before he
kicked or Just after might have been
fatal. The chances were against this,
would have tried to block the kick,
but the example would have been bad
to younger football players all over
the country To many boys in pre-
paratory schools. high schools. and
even in the smaller colleges. Brickley
is the hero that they desire to emu
late. II he had gone into that Brown
game the fact would have received
wide publicity and the newspapers
would have dwelled upon the risks
that he ran II would have made
thrilling reading. but it. would have
, Influenced other boys to take chances
which the game does not warrant.
Should he have kicked the goal, as
he probably would, the newspapers
would have made hero OF him for
saving the game. -. -.:z..... .
In the case Of a man like Brickley
whose illness and condition have had
wide publicity, I should thisk the col
lege authorities would officially an
nounee he had been examined by a
physician and declared fit before he
engaged in the game again. Even
the fact that Brickley has done some
light work with his operation for APP
pendieitis performed only five weekS
ago is bad thing for the boys Of the
country. 1t is not fair to the sons CT
other mothers for man Of Brickley's
prominence or anybody else to ger
back into the game unless 1t is clear
" stated that he has been declared
At by a. competent physician.
Sets Bad Example.
When Briekley was first operated
upon his mother declared, according
to the newspapers. that. II he tried to.
kAn In hfo a
would give him good, old fashioned
New England spanking. do not
know whether this story Is true. but
the idea was good one. don't be-
lieve, however, that she made good.
{ II a man were started In prize
fight FIVE weeks after an operation
for appendicitis, the promoters prob
ably. would be locked up in jail. II
would most certainly be required that
the pugilist should be examined by a
physician before being permitted to
enter the ring II Brickley should
have been seriously or fatally hurt by
playing prematurely because of his
desire to get into one more game, 1t
would have done football incalculable
harm. Even the fact that he played
at all will have it's effect II Is a
display of gameness which had its
bad influence. and the Harvard au-
thorities should have announced that
the star was physically fit before he
touched the ball II he was. It would
have been great thing for the youth
all over the country, and this element
certainly deserves much considera-
ton.
No man should indulge in any
sports unless he is in shape to stand
the strain of that particular activity.
He is running risk for himself, set
ting bad example for others, ana
hurting the sport Two ball teams
made up of business men, writer's,
publishers and artists played game
at the Polo grounds one Sunday dur
ing the early part Of last October, and
/ watched the first few innings. Prob
ably none of these played had touched
baseball all season, and several, By
the way they performed, had not
touched one for quite few seasons
previous, while one or two acted as IL
they had never seen one before. Most
of the players took the game as joke,
but one or two acted as II they were
in a worlds series. II
Daring Slide Brings Trouble.
A serious member managed to
reach first in one Of the early in
nfngs, and he made a break for Sec
ond The catcher could not throw
within so feet of the bag, and he had
the base stolen easily, but he tried to
slide, which was an unnecessary
move. His foot doubled under him
and caught beneath the cushion. His
weight toppled over the bag, there
was crack and they picked him up
with broken foot That is what I
call false gameness, and participants
in sports should guard against 1t. This
man probably had seen professionals
hit the dirt every time they went into
second, and he wanted to be specta-
eular.
After all, sports are engaged ia for
the benefits to be derived-benefits
mostly to the health. Of course, in
the case of professional baseball and
other professional sports. IL ia differ