The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-09-10
Late Sport Neze,s
Sport SNAPSHOTS
(By Jack Keene.)

/ Branch Rickeyts action in Yolun-
teering his services for war work
brings to mind the fact that the
| president of the Cardinals caused
considerable comment as a manager
and magnate because he did not
favor Sunday baeeball. When man
aging the st. Louis Browns Branch
| turned the reins over to Jimmy
! Austin, veteran third sacker, on
Sundays. Hickey was glad when the
team WAS in the east, as that eIimi-
| mated Sunday. contests-Sabbath ball
being banned in that part OF the
circuit. -
This attitude of Rickey's and the
fact that he is college graduate
caused many OF the fans and players
Of the old school to class him as a
mollycoddle. They called him the
Sunday school pilot" - IT.
Now Rickey. though head of a
million doIlar corporation, which has
taken long hours to put 1T on a pay
ing basis, has applied for and re-
ceived a commission in the gas and
flame division OF the army for over
seas service. In other words, he has
sacrificed his personal interests and
will risk his life for his country's
cause Which proves once again
that We are prone to take snap judgs
let the judgment stand S%
We can enember-and we aren't
gray-haired when tennis was called
a moliycoddle game for women and
children. Golf was considered VI a
game for plutocrats. milIionaires, old
folk and the. idle rich.
Both sports now have taken, their
places as major games, played and
watched by thousands all over the
country. These thousands have come
to realize that both games demandta
maximum of physical perfection and
science. Steady nerves and a. keen
eye are necessary. Each pastime de-
mands absolute fair play and true
craftsmanship. ~
Men such as Chick Evans, Jerome
Travers, r.. Norris Williams IL
Maurice Mclaughlin and others in
dicate the type of men these sports
produce.
Nine of the ten ranking tennis
players of two years ago are now. in
service. The tenth, Ichyia Kumagae,
GrantIand Rice, one of the best
known golf authorities in the game
and q premier golfer himself, was
one of the first nationally known
men to join the colors. He is an
officer in the field artillery.
The outstanding feature in the de-
velopment of these games, as we'll
as other sports which have gained.
popularity in recent years. lis the fact
that they have not been commercial
lied as baseball has been. These
branches always have been conduct
ed solely for the love of the sport.
There never has been any attempt to
Join the great stars into a closed
organization to promote the inter-
ests and appease the greed of a
small group OF capitalists. This,
just what occurred in baseball and
Is what has placed the game in dis
repute as far as the professional
game is concerned!
Michael McDermott, worlds cham
pin breast stroke swimmer is an.
ensign in the naval aviation service.
He has been with a dirigible balloon
corps and Is going to France as al
dirigible pilot.
Miss Molla Bjursted, considered
one of the greatest women tennis
players in the game. says. that a set
or two of tennis every day will cure
many Of the ills and dmaginary ills
of women. Molla seems TO be rather
,ealthy herself, which would tend to
prove that she has the right dope.
Toronto's victory in the Interna-
tional league race was a close one.
The Canadian team won the pen
nant by winning double header on
the closing day, beating BinghanHton
twice. One victory came In the
twelfth inning.
The Chicago Cubs have broken
even in four worlds series without
losing once. But that means moth
ing in particular as regards the
present series.
President Charles "A. Coniskey of
the White -Sox has sent a. large sup
ply of baseball paraphernalia to
Fort Leavenwortn.