The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-08-29

evils nave grown AHO al q b-So
MIST Control The Playsrs
Tho problems confronting the sport
are largely those OF dealing with ln0
players. Tho salaries earned by some
OF ,he stars OF basketball last winter
would make major league baseball stars
Jealous. Mora than $1,000 a week was
paid TO soms. and players VINO rsce.soo
$500 or more were not uncommon 1n's
WAS made possible by tho tAct tnA1 she
stlrs played with three. four even uFe
,.nms IN a week. under different names,
representing different cities In TWO IN
stances practically entire cams moved
from place to place. representing one
town ono night. another another and 30
on and usually winding up playing as
a star New York team on SATURDAY anu
Sunday. In one case Brooklyn payer
worked on ono team In the Afternoon
and another at night
The result was contract jumping.
agreement breaking. disruption OF
teams at the last minute and kinored
evils. In one notorious case two play
ers signed and advertised TO play with
ono club In a very Important match
appeared In the uniform OF the oppos-
ing team at the last minute. Managers
and promoters accused each other Oh
stealing players and even worse.
Besides that the gambling evil crept
In last winter 10 q dangerous extent.
Heavy betting marked some OK the
games. In one case a man wanted to
depos!t $4,000 with me as side bet on
a rame between two teams neither OF
which was especially strong. This heavy
betting Inevitably resulted In charges
M
result In worse charges.
Sport Must He 9rotsetsA
Tn. sport Is entirely too good and tho
business end OF It Is too promising 10
be permitted to b ruined. The nrst
step should be to form a national or
ssnixation Of some sore. much after tho
plan Of organized baseball. II . man
Of the character Of Judge lands could
be secured. Tho next should DO local
examinations and governing bodies In
each town and city. cooperating with
and belnK under tho national orEanisA-
tion.
In the New York district step already
are being taken to rorm a governing
body TO correct abuses. to formulate con
tracts and 20 punish by expulsion play
erS VINO NlOIol0
break agreements and to protect promo
tors and ma ua gers who invest In theae
ventures
This body will be formed by the pro-
motors Of the professional end or tho
sport. which has been hit hardest by
the growing evils. In addition . similar
and cooperating body IS TO be formed
10 govern the amateur and semi-pro
teams. Many Of the men who are Inter
.sted In amateur and semi-pro baseball
In summer are also In basketball in
winter. and their proposed government
follows tho lines that have worked out
so we'll IN handling baseball.
The principal drawback TO the or
ean!ntlon plans thus far has been .
few Of tho larger and more prosperous
teams. which fear to lose their prestige
and .elnshly are holding out Of tho or
ganixation In order to grab tho best
players developed and Get thsm for
their own cluba Undoubtedly these
will como IN eventually. for they are
first 10 suffer from abuses.
II 10 now proposed TO call confer
ence for early October 10 adopt COM
ple.e plans for the protection and pro-
motion Of tho sport 1t IL = big prob
lem. but the game must be protected
and kept clean. and its friends can DO
Il better than It's enemies could.
(Copyri.h,. 1921. Tn, Now York Eve
ming MaiO.