Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-04-01
Judgments
. ES DARCY is now willing
yea, even anxious and eager


the fistic prowess over which Aus
tralia went completely nutty. Lester
has made it known that he will in
the future turn an attentive ear and
give due consideration to all offers
made him by western and southern
boxing clubs. Testers sudden de-
cision to cease keeping his talents a
secret need occasion no surprise, 1t
follows in logical sequence the ban
placed upon him by the governor OF
new York. Quotations on Les Darcy
in New York are about the same as
on the car in Petrograd. The Aus
tralian made very messy muss OF
matters in New York. The west and
south alone remain as prospective
fields. II, he is refused permission to
fight in these locations, the recruiting
office alone remains. Minnesota and
Wisconsin boxing commissions are
giving Lester some time and thought.
Darcy's suspension by the governor
of New York, while perhaps deserved
although if slackers are to be barred
Darcy shouldn't stand alone by any
means-has all the ear marks of a
crafty political move and it is prob
able that if nothing more than this
Punishment can be found against Les
he will be granted full permission to
accept $4,000 or $4,000 for stepping
thirty minutes with some ham mauler
who owns a haymaker that might
land on paralytic, and glass jaw.
The clamping down of the lid on
all amusements in Iowa on Sunday
through the state "blue laws" may
prove serious to the Western league.
Sunday is the big day in every city in
the league. 1t is, in fact, about the
only day in the week that large
crowds turn out to witness the dia-
mond clashes in the Zehrung loop
and the existence of every club in
the league practically depends upon
its Sunday attendance. Each club,
for instance, draws ten Sunday dates
at home. An average attendance
probably would be 5000 a game un-
less some city is so unfortunate as to
lose several Sundays through bad
weather, in which case the average
would be lower. This means 10000
persons and the total attendance of
all other games during the year will
not greatly exceed this number, il at
all. II Sioux City and Des Moines
are prevented from playing Sunday
ball, neither club is likely to last
long. They can't afford to lose 10000
admissions. The very existence of
the Western league is likely to be
threatened unless these clubs are
allowed to play on Sunday.
A hve-year contract at $4,000 a
year is the choice plum John McGraw
has plucked from base ball. John
should be grateful to the grand old
game. But McGraw, If anybody in
base ball is worth $4,000 = year, is
the man. McGraw is a good man
agcr. He knows base ball from the
ground up and he instills the fighting
spirit in his players. He seldom over
looks bet. McGraw will hang onto
young player who shows promise
longer than any other manager in the
big leagues. Ferdie Schupp is strik-
ing example OF this. And by so cling
Ing to the youngsters McGraw helps
10 build base ball up. A club man
aged BY AcGraw will land in the
position in the percentage column its
ability and skill justified and it may
even land a notch or two higher. In
addition, McGraw is drawing card.
Almost frebrand on the field, the
fans like to see him in action. He'll
almost draw his salary through the
gate in a season. Fifty thousand dol
lars year is a lot OF money, but
McGraw, il anybody. is worth it.
After giving the western clubs OF
the National league the visual for
ward and back one wonders il it will
be possible for any one OF them to
land in the first division, and then
decides probably it will not be. The
Chicago Cubs look to be the weakest
of the four. The infeld is woefully
weak, the catching staff is poor, the
outfeld only has Cy Williams and
the pitching staff is nothing to brag
about. Unless Fred Mitchell turns
out to be a miracle man or some new
talent is obtained, the Cubs appear
to be the poorest club in the two big
leagues. Pittsburgh will depend
largely upon recruits. II several stars
are uncovered, the Pirates might, Of
course, leap toward the top, but II
the rockies fail to deliver, Dreyfuss
hands are carded for the toboggan
The st. Louis Cards are far from
strong, and Cincinnati doesn't seen,
to contain much class. It'll be an
upset if the four eastern clubs in the
National don't hold the pennant race
all by themselves.
Washington university is making
an effort to land the services of Dicl
Rutherford as director Of athletics
The St. Louis school would be for
tunate If the Cornhusker lad consent.
to accept its offer. Rutherford is /
good coach at foot ball, basket ball
base ball, wrestling and swimming
He has been a participant in all thes,
lines and he understands them thor
oughly. He is consideration
worker and he is the kind who make,
friends. Coaches with as many vir
tues as Rutherford are scarce an,
Washington could make far wors,
selection.
Hitting doesn't promise to be s,
free in the Western league this year
For several years the Western leaqu
has used ball which has been note,
for Its life" It travelled farther an,
It bounded higher and harder. Blu
this year the Western league ha
adopted bali Of different manufac
ttire. II Is not so lively. As resul