The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-25
FOOTBALL

The following contribution has been
received by the sporting edltor OIL me
News SCtmitar relative to the, poor
support given Park fields footbaIi team
and the point is well taken. Memphis
is being given a brand Of football that
is rarely seen outside OF the big, Ten
and in no city in Dixie may suCh nlRn-
class contests be witnessed. SATURDAY ;
affair was a gem from a spectator ;
point Of view. ana there's no doubt thA,t
It was better than the memorable clasil
between Georgia Tech ana fltt but
the attendance was IA CRIME. ollS ii
mere handful. .,.
Here's the contribution, when lully
states the case.
TO the sporting editor; Saturday af-
ternoon Russwood park was the scene
of one Of the best football games reeled
off in this section of the country, IN
quite some while, and, despite the TACT
a mere handful of faithful fans sat
through the game. The temperature
was well above freezing point-m tact'
lust cold enough to furnish an excuse
for an overCoat, and in almost any
other city of similar size IN this couh-
try the same talent would nave drawn
a gate well in excess of 1000. The
actual gate receipts would not pay one
official for his services in the average
game between teams of the CaIlbef OF
Payne field and Park field.
1t Is high time that Memphians woke
up to the fact that after these men
are released from war service some
Of them might take up their residence
in this section, and no matter how
liberal they might be in their views,
the fact is that Memphis, whatever
she NAV have done for them IN the
social lire, has failed absolutely to
support any of their sporting events:
and It is to the everlasting shame of
the Bluff City that Charlottesville, Mo,
with less than 10000 inhabitants,
turned out something like 1000 people
to witness the flyers baseball team
in action last summer, While the best
they could ever draw in Memphis was
less than 800, Notwithstanding the fact
that a local favorite like Muddy Ruel
was billed to do the receiving for the
opposition.
The Chamber of Commerce, the bust
ness men Of Memphis. and the res.
taurant and hotel interests should get
together and advertise the activities
of these lads in khaki. because there
never was a football game that did
not bring more to a city than 1t TOOK
out of it, and Memphis, by reason OF
her geographical location. should be
the scene of some Of the best football
games in the South. There are any
number Of former football players whc
make Memphis their home, and these
men should get together and form some
sort of an organization, with a view
Of getting the football-loving people in,
terested and show the disinterested
part of our population that II Memphis
Is to rank with the leading cities OF
the South she will have to keep abreast
Of the times In every way, because thu
others are not sleeping,
When the war department was dot
ting the South with army cantonment'
we couldn't see why Memphis, witt
her central location and natural re
sources, was not entitled to one. ant
most Of us criticized our Tennessee,
senators and congressman rather Sc
verely. but the facts in the case arr
that Memphis has not patronized wha
We did get, and the individual Mem
phian is the party who is responsible,
for this shortComing. When Memphis
wants to stage any Kind Of a parad,
or outdoor affair. the first thing the!
think of is Park field. and if We be
lieve in reciprocity, the thing for u
to do is to get together and give thos,
boys our unstinted support. Mr.. Mem
phian, it's up to You.
FOOTBALL FAN.