Norwich bulletin., 1918-04-01
EFFECT OF WAR ON SPORTS
Sol Metzger Points Out That Effect of Great Conflict On Sports Has Been Just the Opposite of What Was Ex- pected-War Is Settling Many Problems In Sporting Goods Business.
---n-i@

war. Take the amateur and profess sionaI argument The army and the navy do not recognize it as a prob lem. And there is no good reason why they should. Men advance or are denoted in the service according to their efficiency. The matter of atn- letic ethics in so far as money is con-s cerned, professionally speaking. has no bearing whatever on efficiency. In so far as it concerns the standing of the individual in army athletics again we find no difference or distinction drawn. A soldier may go forth and compete for cash and immediately participate in sport in his organiza- 1 tion The army. if it figures the thing at all, figures that the soldier has a main object in life which it can very well take care of-and this it does. Beyond that and his efficiency it is l little concerned. Consequently. pro- fessionaI sport may be indulged in and what we know as the professional given as good a standing in army ath- letics as the amateur.
 | As result of all this the amateur purist may have sleepless nights ahead, especially as another problem presents itself for his unraveling with the coming of peace. This other prob | lem is an odd and amusing one. It | draft age OF ineligible for service have jumped into the work of the Red Fri angle and are devoting their athletic ability to helping the extremely busy l officres of the army carry along the army athletic programme. Of neces- | sity many of these men, purest Of amateurs, are being paid. They are technically athletic trainers or man agers and as such are technically bar red from amateur sporting ranks in the future, no matter how patriotic their record. Yet they are not pro- fessional in spirit One might say
 they are patriotic in spirit.
 While it may. be all right to say that the mere fact they are doing their
 bit will free them from the stain of professionalism we have the very re- Icent and amusing case Of Francis
 Ouimet, golf player extra ordinary, in peace times professional, according
 to the records of the U. s. G. A., but
 now, since he is doing his bit in the
 service, an amateur though he gives
 us his own word that he has in nc
 way cast aside those nefarious busi-
 ness pursuits--selling sporting goods
 in his store-which were the basis fol the peace time attitude of the ruling
 golf body in declaring him a pro.
 For this hair-splitting work of the
 future we have no kind thought. i
 reminds us very much of the informa sport attitude of certain colleges, oi
 rather of a story we overheard in this connection at Camp Dix.
 Jeff Smith, the camp boxing in
 structor. was one of group listening , to an officer telling of an impromptl
 and unexpected fight he got into witl ] 8 lumber jack. It was mix-up with. . out governing rules of any sort ant , the story was filled with eye gough.
 ing, kneeing. kicking and biting epi
 sodes. When the officer had com pleted his tale, Jeff. veteran of man! a hard battle in the ring. piped il with these words:
 That's the trouble with informa sport!"
 Copyright. 1918, by Sol Metzger)