The Washington herald., 1916-11-27
TABERSKI DECLINES
Offer To PLAY HERE
Pocket Billiard Champion Turn, Down
Figures Made by Sherman
and Cafritz.

Just why Frank Tabersh should
have overlooked the best bet of his
life and selected to play Ed. Ralph for
the worlds championship title match
for the pocket billiard crown, in his
homo town. Schenectady. Is beyond
local followers of the sport.
There 10 no denying the fact that
the silent Pole" Is Immensely popular
in his own home burg. but just where
he can expect to drag down the kAle
that would 60 to the winner, or loser,
in q match Of this kind, compared
with what would have been the gate
receipts had the set-to been shot In
Washington. again we say, Is hard to
observe.
OF course the Silent Pole" is the
main piece of cheese In naming where
he shall defend his title. and we are
just man enough to say that he sure
Il one strong piker when he let the
OFFER Of Frank Sherman and Morris
Cafritz slip by. Personally, this
billiard and pocket billiard game, at
times Is Just trifls to deep for US
to fathom. but II Taberski expects to
drag down an amount that would
have eQusIed or exceeded that guaran-
teed by the two well-known local
managers, then that dear old Schenec-
tady must be some pasture.
We are at sea on just what the
exact figures were that Sherman and
Cafritz named as their best offer
But, there is one thing we are sure of.
and that is. that the local bid was put
In Professionally. Sherman and Cafritz
were game enough to offer TaoersA
just a little bit more than he could
have expected from playing the games
In Schenectady. or anywhere else
where pocket billiards hold the lime
light. In fact, they told him to name
his prce. What more could have been
wee bit farther The day may come
when Taberski would b glad to well
come an otfer coming from tho Ma
tional Capital. but when he starts to
playing horse, as he undoubtedly did
in this match, that offer will not be
forthcoming.
When It comes right down to sports
manshipship, In any line of sport, in
door or outdoor. give the Capital fol-
lowers credit for being 100 per cent
dead game sports.
Sherman and Cafritz were prepared
TO risk a loss on the match, provided
that 1t could have been held on local
tables. It would have stimulated in
terest in the game and every billiard
emporium In the District would have
felt the wholesome effect.
Taberski might have shown real
sportsmanship and helped the sport
immensely by having the challenge
match played where local followers
would have had an opportunity to OBJ
serve his skill
The stimulating effect Of having a
home following to watch your efforts
may have influenced Taberski In pick
ing Schenectady for the scene Of the
match, but the premier football team
and the worlds champions in base
ball demonstrate their ability whethe:
1t be on home or foreign grounds, and
the championships at pocket billiards
should be no exception to the rule.
A prediction was made recently in
this column that when Jake Schaefer
and Willie Hoppe met in some of their
exhibition games on the road Schaefer
would occasionally, beat the cham
pion at 1872 balk line. It did not take
young Schaefer long to realize this
fond ambition. Right off the reel, in
their \ opening match at Minneapolis,
Schaefer downed the mighty William.
$50 to IA. scoring a high run of 166
and setting wild those who saw It.
But Jake's Joy was short-lived, as
Hoppe turned on him in their match
the same evening and walloped him.
$50 to 4. Hoppe ran 4s from the lag
and when Jake failed after making 4
points, Willie ran the game out witt
202, unfinished. Now, was that not
lust like Hoppe7