The Washington herald., 1922-12-07
SPORT WORLD
NOW CENTERS
ON BASKETERS
Gripping Interest of Floor
Game Is Apparent In All
Quarters.
"TELCOME basketball-adie,
" football

"
wv football
And-"the worm has
turned"-from the peak Of interest,
holding sway since early fall, grid
iron sport is slowly waning-only
to be supplanted by the ever
increasing popular indoor pastime
basketball.
1t enters unceremoniously =
without pomp, and less the bang
of a Griffith baseball opening
and, too, with simplicity, when one
Is mindful of the roar beloved
forth at the Georgetown-Lafayette
football struggle.
There are no flag raising-nor
President to toss the oval from the
free line. In the least not the SEM
blance Of an official to utter some
words Of encouragement to lovers
Of the game.
True. it is in its infancy. There
are not many years to scrutinize to
learn its history. Unlike baseball
and football, it's heroes are not
heralded with the crowning glory
of a Ruth. a Frisch, and Flavin
and Schwab, and hosts Of other
baseball and football celebrities
Children of Washington-in fact,
those Of the elementary grades gen.
orally idolize the "Bambino," and
with equal enthusiasm worship his
juveniles in the cast Of stars.
ORIGINATORS STILL PLAYING.
But of the court classics dating
back to 1892 or thereabouts in the
towns of Lowell and Lynn. Mass,
where birth to this game had its
inception, are these players Of fame
and those that followed on the lips
of sport lovers. Certainly not of
the youngsters, and with almost
similar doubt of adult sport fratern-
ity.
In this particular department
there stands out most prominently
an Andy Sears. regarded the daddy"
of 'em all. Andy was guard and
conspicuous for his accuracy in foul
goal tossing. In a conflict while
playing with Reading, small East
ern Pennsylvania manufacturing
town, and champions Of the old
Eastern League. he hung up
twenty-nine tries, against Utica,
winners of the New York State
League pennant.
During that campaign 80 per
cent of Readings victories were due
10 Sears remarkable exhibitions on
fouls committed. Along side Of
him worked George Morris. proba-
bly, older in the cage service than
the veteran Sears. Morris is in the
game today. the iron man" of the
present Reading combination rep
resented in the new Eastern
League.
O'DONNEIL \ STAR.
1t was the old set wearing Read
ing uniforms that probably ad-
vanced basketball to it's present
status in athletic circles. On this
same club was Charlie O'Donnell.
recognized as the greatest forward
in the history of the game. Much
of O'DonnelIs success was attained
through his head work. Later
FiChtorn, now retired, and a pret-
zelite. without doubt was the flash
of the league. and as for Leon Egolf.
another forward. was exceptionally
well known for his dribbling.
Some Of the better known oppo-
nents of these stellar basket -ballers
were Joe FOgarty. Winnie Kin
kaide BOgio. Cavanaugh. Doc New
man and others from the old Jas
per, De Neri, Trenton and Cam
den teams.
Today there have been innumer-
able stars developed in the cage.
There is Nat Holman. the speedy
forward of the Celtics, now repre-
1f
Eastern League. Holman, beside
being a clever flOorman, can shoot
from any angle.
"Horse" Haggerty Is probably
the best pivot man. Haggerty
stands six feet. five inches in
height. Playing with the New
Atlantic City quintet, and getting
the tap-"ff in most of his jumps.
enables Holman to make easy shots.
Stretch Meehan IS probably the only
center who makes Haggerty ex-
tend himself at the pivot position.
INTEREST INCREASING.
RaSket-bail here is increasing in
popularity. II is starting in a |
way that is bound TO spell success.
Boys and girls in many of the
schools are being instructed in the |
game, and in some cases there are
teams and leagues being formed
Churches, too, are supporting
court contests. Gymna siums are
being whipped into shape and other |
aNaliabie halls cleared to afford !
sufficient space for games.
In the junior and senior high
schools similar interest in being
manifested. And the semi-profes- |
sionals are busting their uniforms
Tor practice. When the game will |
be thoroughly advanced to the de- |
gree OF keen competition, and some
starring players developed, fandom
will seek real professional basket |
ball