Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-06
TONIGHT'S GAME
DE Nerl. at Reading.

THE new basketball league to be launched
l. in this section next year promises to be
a knockout" from all accounts. Those in
back of the enterprise are endeavoring not 70
let their inside plans. out but the writer,
having knowledge of the movement, Is in
a position to say tnat those promoting II
are experienced basketball men and the
manager of the Philadelphia club is backed
by a millionaire. In fact. one of the city's
foremost citizens is being groomed for the
presidency. A meeting OF the new organi-
cation will be called for next month
Fine Circuit Assured
The circuit is a good one There will be
but one club in Philadelphia and all games
will be played in local armory. other
towns are Pottstown, Harrisburg, Chester,
Allentown and Bethlehem The writer has
been asked to withhold the names of the
managers at their personal request, The
leader of the local quintet is a well-known
figure in cage circles. as is also the man
ager of Chester. There Will possibly be a
team in Brdgeton managed by another
Philadelphian and Atlantic City and Mill
willie are possibilities. Judging the inter-
est displayed at Camden last week by sew
eraI hundred Mllville residents who jour
neyed there to see Geig Franckle and Cur
lette Millville would be fine addition, and
the man willing to locate there is a good
sport Other towns which have fled appli-
cations are Lancaster, Boyertown, York and
West Chester. There is an armory in the
latter place, n new hall is being erected In
Lancaster and York has enormous quarters
There is also a possibility of several of
the present Eastern League teams casting
their lot with the new promoters
Will Get Players
Already Pennsylvania State League and
Eastern stars are being signed. This. of
course, will prove surprise, but II Is true,
nevertheless. II would be bad policy 10
announce the names of those agreeing to
play at this time, but the hackers of the
new enterprise exert a commanding inilu-
ence and will be able to induce men TO
Join them. In the Eastern League there
is only a forfeit of 500 posted, but in the
new one $500 will be put up by each of the
| various teams. That the league is in good
shape already is evidenced by some of the
! .eforms agreed upon. One Of these caused
| quite discussion in the Eastern this year.
| II is the now-fouled- shoot your -own-foul.
| This will be one of the rules. 1t Is In
effect in several other cage organizations
| There is quite a sentiment in this vicinity
in favor of the rule. and its adoption has
| already been desided upon,
Men Can Play Outside
At present there is a rule prohibiting
| players from participating IN contests with
| any other club than the one in which they
| are under contract, but the players will bt
| allowed - compete with other teams. This
| has always been source of discomfort
| with Eastern League players, and the fact
| that they will be allowed to participate out
side will no doubt he an incentive to join
| forces with the new promoters,
Speculation Is Rife
The new circuit is the talk Of the cage
| world and fans everywhere are anxious to
! learn the details, which. of course will be
! withheld Until the proper time.
1t has not been horn in few weeks
Last summer it was rumored that the East
ern League was to have opposition, and
| when the writer inquired OF the hackers
| they all denied knowledge of the same. In
| formation is only being impaired to those
| in whom confidence can be placed anc
the news of the new league was not ever
to be published for three or four weeks.
One Of the biggest reforms will be thu
working on a percentage basis. This Il
big drawback of the Eastern but tn,
works have been set to have that leagu,
work on the same basis nextN year also.
Reading Fans Unconcerned
Reading. once considered one of the great
est basketball towns in the country, is no
drawing well this year. The game is no
proving a paying proposition to Messrs
|
was on deck TO witness the extra perio
clash with the Greys on Saturday night d
Neri will be the attraction at Reading thl
evening Charley O'Donnell is in poo
shape, as he susta ined deep cash in hi
| forehead as a result Of a collision with All
Mcwiliams in Saturdays game. Lo
Sugarman's arm was also cut open in tn
SAND game, which was an exceedingly roug
| one.
The third and extra round In the Indus
trial League gets under way this evening a
the Ryan A. C.. Twenty-sixth and Dauphi
streets when Standard meets Brill and Mi,
vale tackles Disston. The battle betwee
the first two promises to be a thriller. a
they are bitter rivals. and the match prom
ses to be keenly fought Brill is travelin
at a fast clip and with the addition Of Nc
Nance has good chance OF defeatin
Standard.
The second game will feature a pair {
Roller sen ssss s"s s,snip Miiss:s ~