The Washington times., 1916-01-04

persons who have tried TO understand
when a man is an amateur and when
he IL not. The feeling is intensified
rather than relieved by the daily con-
ferences Of various intercollegiate bodies
held last week in New York and which
adjourned after having accomplished
| almost nothing, says a writer In the
Philadelphia Ledger. In these questions
I, and answers emphasis is placed on the
good. basic principles of amateurism
| and its many Inconsistencies.
q. what Ia an amateur
A. 1t all depends upon the sport re-
ferred to. An amateur In one sport may
| be a professional In another and vice
| versa. According to the olympic defini-
| ton an amateur athlete Is one who has
never competed for money prize or for
| a monetary consideration. or in any way
| drawn pecuniary gain from his sport:
| competed against a professional; taught
| IN any branch of athletics for payment;
| sold. pawned or hired out. or exhibited
| for payment any prize won IN a compe-
tition.
O. What is a professional?
| A. A professional is an athlete who
competes for a financial consideration.
| with whom athletic competition is a
| business enterprise.
q. What is the reason for the distinc-
| ton between the amateur and the pro-
fessional?
A. The basis for the distinction is
that the amateur takes his athletics
| as recreation, as sport for sports
sake. He practices and competes when
he has the time or the incina ton. The
professional devotes all his time to his
! sports, constantly perfecting himself
| for business reasons. Therefore. the
| two cannot meet on a common ground,
nor would there be any interest in such
| and unfair contest.
| Q. Why should colleges bar athletes
| who may have been professionals. but
who otherwise are bona fide students? :?
A. Because the colleges want the
greatest possible number OF students to
teams. Suppose there We're a dozen
league ball players In a college What
chance would the other students have
to make the nine? None. They would
even be too discouraged to try for the
team. Barring professional ball
player, although he might be a good
| student. might DO an injustice TO him.
but such action is necessary to pro-
tect the rights and pri yileges OF the
great body Of students.
| Q. Don't College athletes frequently
masquerade as amateurs during the
academic year. and yet surreptitiouslv
compete as professionals during their
summer vacations
A. Unfortunately this practice exists.
but 1t is not as common as generally
] believed. 1t Is almost enrirely confined
to baseball. due to the commercial as
poets OF this sport.
@. How do baseball players evade
the rule?
A. some take assumed names and
play with minor leagues for regular
salaries. Others take positions with in
dustrial plants. hotels and other organ
izations where they perform n5or., certain nd
that they shall play with their en-
ployers' baseball teams once or twice
week.
an 'iron-clad" stating that they are
amateurs before they can play on their
college teams?
A. They do. Those who play under
assumed names and for salary or
who do this under their right names
their colleges as amateurs are In reality
perjurers. Playing on hotel and similar
teams Is an evasion which college au-
thorities usually wink at
| Q. Doesn't the fact that those who
play baseball on hotel and similar
teams get such positions because Of
their baseball skill rather. than their
other qualifications make them profes-
sionals In spirit?
A. According TO strict interpreta-
ton Of the amateur law, it does.
'. .. Then. why don't college authori-
ties declare them professionals?
A. Because they can get no unanim-
ity of action throughout the college
world and because the practice Is SC
general.
Q. Why were Legore and hts fellow
members OF the Yale baseball team
disqualified as amateurs?
A. Because they accepted board and
lodging while playing on a club bal
, team in summer
Q. But don't track athletes do what
the Yale men did without being dis
, qualified?
A. They certainly do. and with the
full knowledge OF the A A. L. and
college authorities. Last summer. foI
example. there were good MANY col
lege men who represented athletic
! clubs. were lodged, boarded and trans
for the A. A. L. championship at Sar
. Francisco without expense to them.
Q. How can track athlete do this
and remain bona fide amateur. while
! for doing the same thing?
! A. The question can't be answered
l satisfactorily. 1t Is merely one of th'
many Inconsistencies In the interpreta
ton and enforcement OF our anna teu
. laws.
! Q. Are there many such rlsrirr liz
I consistencies in amateur athletes"
A. Hero are a few. Percy HaughtCn II
: Of Harvard. and George Brooke. o
!. Pennsylvania. both professional football
coaches. are or have been amateur rae
3 Ouet stars.
, At the OLYMPIC games in 19l" tn,
I track and field men had to how CLOSELY
l to the line of amateurisnl. Jim Thorp'
D won the pentathlon and decqth' II
: championships. hut later he'd 20 sur
Q render his prizes and was declared
. professional athlete because It was dis
4 covered that he had once played base
ball for money.
Yet on the same team. also represent
ing tho TTpitcd States We're revolver ev
perts. some Of whom went abroad Al
rcnresentatives NJ 1mmunitior makers
holding THEW POSITIONS rncaueo If thei
/ skill in mo rksnanship a~d 'naving thoi
salaries paid ir their Pbsence And al
! OF them were permitted to compete 10
money prizes at home
This tal Trinity College D'nvsd oI
: rs football foam G&orTe B~ickIev
| nrofessional nthlntn. -"ho N'ns at on,
= tire q p'"-nher ~ the Philadelphia An
, lntics CC'u'nFi" I'niv"Vsi'y Canoele,
i's football gamo 'rI'h T-in.tv hecaus
, | 81 the rule DrSVdirg thnt aroateur
: | nlaN-ir" asaiust - n"ofossIC0nl be~- y,
r-ofessionale th"nse,ves That heinz
= the COS" all Of Rr'ckIe"'e +aommate o
1 | ~ Tr'nitv gro now nI"fcSsin"oIs. =
are The preubO-s 81 ~. toars TIA
n'aved aFairst Trinity With Bricl'ey II
> tho lineup.
1 ThNra 's no lin-'t 10 M ~id'"ulc''
p Ioneths this sr'urNent r1"'' Icnd v
| the same ronsnrir~ THO Hn"7.nrN rn,
\ v,Ie fo~1haII me-, h~.aIn~ --OFaS Si0r n '