The Washington herald., 1915-02-14
Difference IN
BASKET GAMES
Attendance at Goal-tossing
Contests in Northern Cities
Is Exceedingly Large.
By JACK HAAS.

The writer has been requested fire..
quently to write an article on basketball
| as played in the District compared a.
! the game as played in Pennsylvania
New York and the New England States.
While In Philadelphia during the holi'
days several games played in the East
ern League were witnessed by the writer
| At the game between Camden and De
Neri the attendance at 80 cents admission
was something like l.5O0. The har was
| packed. while at least 500 eager fans were
| clamoring for admission. but they had
! to be turned away. There were at least
| 800 persons present who were unable to
/ see any part Of the contest, but Ihat did
not deter them from roofing for their
| favorites.
The game was played under the pl o
fessional rules and vas fast and tGri-
| Ously fought from start to finish. In
| all the games played in the North the
enthusiasm shown by the fans foI theu
| favOrites during the entire contest is tTe-
mendous. Games played under the ANA
teur rules. which prevail in the District,
would not draw an attendance of 90
fans. These rules are simply out Of date
and do not afford the amusement or the
exciting moments that crop out in the
game under the rules used ur North.
Draw Large Crowd.
\ letter was received just a few days
ago from the manager OF the WilkeG-
barre CPaD team, where the writer Ised
to play This team is now second in TIE
race among the six teams of the Penn
sylvinia State League. which is located
in the coal region. The letter stated that
at a game played on Tuesday night Feb
ruary 2, between his team and that of
Pittston there were 3.NS paid admissions.
In fact the game is popular all over
Pennsylvania. where there are about fifty
leagues composed of four or six teams
each.
The Hudson River League il New York
State and the New England League in
Massa chusetts and Connecticut are all
drawing capacity houses. There are
about ten leagues in that section which
are paying large salaries to players who
are under contract, similar to those OF
the National and American baseball
leagues.
Those other than the intercollegiate
games have not paid flor more than five
years. The Y II. c. A. has always had
a fast team. as did Aloysius last year.
but the attendance has not been large
enough to pay expenses.
One of the greatest steps to remedy
the state of affairs would be to form an
intercollegiate league composed OF the
teams of Georgetown University. Catho.
lie University, George Washington Uni
versity and Gallaudet College. II this
league were organized the attendance at
the games would be increased at least
80 per cent taxing the capacity of any
hall that could be obtained. Each college
could play at least three games with
each of the others, thus testing their
relative ability much better than under
the present custom of playing one game
on each home floor. There is no way of
telling which team is the better unless
one contestant wins both games. There
has always been a reasonable amount of
doubt as to which is the better quint,
the followers of each college claiming
that their team is the greatest ever
There are at least fifty good. fast
basketball boys in the District that
would be willing to become affiliated
with an Organization of semi-professional
players forming a league of six teams.
If such an organization was perfected it
would give to those who are interested
in this the greatest of indoor sports, en-
joyment throughout the winter months.
1t is believed by many that such league
would be successful and furnish sport
that has been needed in the District for
many years.
The question arises Where could the
games be played?" There is no doubt
that both the Semi-pFofessionalh League
and the intercollegiate League would fiji
to overflowing any hall that is now be-
ing used for Basketball. The Arcade is
the only suitable place in the District
where league fthis character could
be accommodated. Just before the holi- /
days an article appeared in the local
papers stating that a corporation had
been organized to build a large amuse-
nent hall on Ninth street between the /
Avenue and II street This hall was. to |
have contained q basket ball court with I
a seating capacity OF at least 2,0oO. Have |
the plans fallen through3 Let US hope
that this was not '.only newspaper tax"
Nov Is the time to get together and
plan for next season. Every one inter-
ested in basketball realizes the need of
all heretofore mentioned. Let us hope /
that those who are Interested VIII get |
busy before sthis esason ends and per-
feet ORGANIZATIONS that are bound to bs
successful l.