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

Ra.k.,haIl. which has become tho
,.aa,ng indoor game OF the youth OF the
United States and which In winter -
taking tho place in popularity "ni'"
baseball holds IN summer Is set''"s
ready TO open up again. the Spot =
which has grown moro rapidly 'nsn any
.nort .yar grew. IL Rt the critical point.
"a rol..s so,ne action IS taken BY tts
nromotsrs and friend, the chances arc
ts,t Il viii suffer irreparaeie injury
ard setback rom which 1, Will be
long recovering.
Th.rs are Indications that The eFAS
x.hich cren, Into tho spor, last winter
.l,.ady havo caused Il q setback IN pop
MARTY and tho best thinkers smohS
IN. nromoters Of the professional emu
Of baskstball are anxious concerning KS
future. Plans have been laid 1or 'he
opening OF larger halls and development
~ ,hs commercial end OF the sport
along broader limos. yet the promoters
themselves are hesitAtinE and rearing
that tho game will not STAND up Ane!
believe tina, basketball. as sport mas
an large an appeal as baseball mas Soe
they are hedging and afraid 10 invest
because Of conditions which now tnEeA'
en- tho welfare OF the game.
Number Of Players orsss
Increased In the last three years Is al
most beyond comprehension. Ono pro-
moter figured for me that there arc
a 400 orrani1ed basketball teams In New
York and the metropolitan district
alone, and he carded for me more then
nfty paid professional teams IN the
sa1n. district. II would seem conser-
yatlve estimate 10 say there are At least
$4,000 teams in the United states. Tor
the sport has seized upon the West ana
Central West even with stronger ep-
peal than IN tho East. the snsteF
towns have taken Il up and IL nas De-
.....,c costly mo most popular OF grade
school and high school sports. l have
:. ,...,.rf from ono Ohio Town OF about
:. 0un inhabitants which maintains n
professional team. two high school
teams more than . dosen other teams In
school. a Y NJ {. A. team and church
league. besides seven independent teams
The game has an appeal because IL Is
the Ideal gymnasium game. ana coming
At a season when exercise Is most need
cd Il gives ali that and the contest IN
terest besides. II Is a big help In max
Ing athletes and in keeping young men
and boys IN good physical condition
Girls play Il TO large extent and IL mas
added appeal on that account. It's
strongest 9QNtCalcS AIo NVN' NN'S @''N 49,
structors. whether In schools or other
organizations.
Under those circumstances the value
of thhe game Is beyond doubt. and the
necessity OF preventing !, from falling
into evil ways becomes moro imperative.
Needs Of Strong Government
Basketball has come upon US 30 SUD
dsnly tina, no provision WAS or could
be made for regulating Il and prevent
ing evils from creeping In. We AL
rather regarded Il as good gym game,
ana few suspected that Il had tremen-
dous commercial possibilities. So long
~ II remained purely amateur and pure
" sport all was we'll. But tho rapid
rrowth Of its popularity and the moro
rapid DEVELOPMENT Of expect Players
were followed by development: OF tho
mort along commercial Nnes There
are ut least 500 recognized professional
Basketball teams In tho towns and cities
east Of the Missouri river. New York
and Brooklyn have more than forty. and
tho surrounding territory raises tho
number OF teams playing professionally
70 moro than 100 for me district. T
thssa perhaps q dozen are OF rea! major
league calloer IN basketball There Is
q League In Brooklyn composed OF eight
stronE clubs. and an interclty league
with twelve OF tho stronEest clubs re-
presented Is being talked Of now.
All Of this without adequate rovern-