The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-12-06
Competent Referee
IS GREAT need OF
ALL SPORTS TODAY
BY PALLADIUM SPORTING EDITOR

BY PALLADIUM SPORTING EDITOR
"Clean Sports" has come to mean
more to the average American in the
past few months than any other term
in the sporting vocabulary. The Amer
lean sporting fan Is a real enthusiast
and when he goes to witness contest
he desires to see the most scientific
the brainiest, and the best man or
team win.
One thing the real sport does not
like to see is dirty" underhand play
ing. Intentional roughness and I'M
fair tactics are deplored by all gen.
uine fans. The first thing a person
will tell you when you ask him about
game is whether it was a clean"
game or dirty" game. These two
terms are familiar to the sport follow
.er and denote certain tactics that are
employed in athletic games.
Methods Hold Back Sports.
Independent basketball and football
have never attained the following of
amateur games because of the general
methods used by players on these
teams in trying to win a game. In
spite of all that can be said in their
favor it is all too often that independ
{ ent games end in some kind of fight
or motley tbrawl which disgusts the
true sports on the teams and turns
the spectators away determined never
to witness another contest of this
order.
Sports have taken on great i'm
petus around Richmond during the
past year. At the present time there
are independent basketball teams of
great number scheduling from one to
four contests week Reports from
.nany of these come in, in which T. is
stated that a certain game was extra
ordinarily rough and that spectators
interfered with the playing of the con-
test. These things can be remedied.
1t is no easy matter to lay down set
of rules that if followed would guar
antee an absolutely clean game, from
the point of spectator and player alike.
And to make the rOoters of one side
see the game the same as ones from
tn eother, is an absolute impossibility.
However. there are a few things which
managers, players and fans should all
remember
One of the most important features
10 any contest is a competent referee.
This individual has complete charge
of the playing of a basketball game
rules of the game and functions Of an
official he should not be allowed on
the floor. His decisions must be abso-
lutely unbiased and if he is a home
man officiating at contest his breaks
should be in favor Of a visiting team
if there are any.
Personality A Factor.
The greatest power Of referee In
any game is personality He does not
have to be monster who can whip
any man on the floor if occasion
arises, but if he has the personality
touch WHICH makes the players feel
that they are getting a square deal he
can handle game even though below
thn average in size.
There are al kinds Of officials and
""ch ore has his Individual way of
E"Hd'ing a contest One Of the most
Norular football officials in Indiana
f7W wears ago was big Indian. This
man stood six feet seven in his stock
ing feet ard was a giant in every way.
We wac especially good in handling in
dependent football games. working in
many OF the famous Pine Village and
Wabash A. A. contests. 1t was moth
ing uncommon to see him pick a
player out OF a scrimmsga and shake
bad caught him using some method
that he deemed unfair. He was popular
with all the players and his games
were above reproach
Another man that mas worked foot
ball games in indianapolis for several
VESTS is HeZe Clark. former Indiana
university football star Clark is be-
low ordinary size but knows foot ball
from. beginning to end. He has a way
with players that make all of them
respect hi mand as a result his games
are clean.
In selecting officials managers Of
toarl9 should be extremely careful and
if thov have competent man. much
Of the trouble that is common in MANY
towns will be. eliminated. Pay little
more for your referee and have good
game and the crowds at Your games
will soon pay back the little extra
money.
BE a sport, That is the secret of
success in athletics Of any kind, and
might be anplind much more broadly
Players and spectators alike should
practice this in all the contests they
play in or witness.
The word sport has two very diff
ferent meanings. One relates to mock
cry and derisiOD. This IS what
game dcgenerates into when players
persist in committing Intentional fouls
end spectators take the handling of
the game into their own hands and
attack players and officials.
The other meaning refers to some
thing that diverts. and furnishes
means for mirth and amusement. This
can be applied to all concerned and
the results will be beneficial to play
ers and spectators alike. The latter
meaning is the only one which has any
real place in athletic contests as they
ere staged in this country at all times,
hotter brand Of independent sports
VIII he furnished.