New Britain herald., 1922-01-28
.HIGH SCHOOL WR0NG'
 IS OFFICIAL REPLY
Echo of Bristol Clash Is Heard
 From State Officials


 school and one today from the Gen. tral Connecticut Board of Approved Basketball Officials.
 In each letter 1t is explained that the High school version of the un- fortunate affair in Bristol, as well as the version furnished by Coach Cassi- dy, is not entirely in accord with others opinions.
 At the time the original story was published the Herald made no attempt to take sides on the issue, but simply published a printed statement from the Bristol High school principal and also statements in reply as given by Coach Cassidy of the High school
 With the publication of the follow ing letter from the basketball officials It is hoped that the entire matter will be strengthened out; that the local team if 1t has been an offender. will profit by past experiences and will live up to the record of high sportsman ship that has been established by teams in the past:
 The Reply
 Wallingford, Conn.
 -.rr Jan. 26, 1922 Sporting Editor, New Britain Herald.
 As secretary of the Central Connec- ticut Board of Approved Basketball Officials, I deem it necessary to issue the following reply to an article which appeared recently in the New Britain Herald and which has just been brought to my attention. In the course of an article which is discussion of the Bristol High-New Britain High game of January 18th the New Brit ain writer states that the referee was the cause of the whole thing" the thing" referred to being a free for all fight precipitated by New Britain player. He further states that "the referee was a boy from Choate school by the name of Percy Rogers and it is because of the fact that he let the game get beyond his control that the fight was possible. How far his in the basketball world goes back is not known but from the way he handled last weeks game, it appears that he is far from being eX- perienced. His decisions were for the most part weird and the interpretation that he placed on some of the rules were certainly novel,"
 First just word in regard to MT, Rogers qualifications. Mir. Rogers is at present an instructor at Choate school, is on the coach staff there and is actively engaged in the sport. He is graduate of Wesleyan University where he played on class and varsity cams. He also coached Bellefonte Academy for a year and oftlciated at he Penn State games. At present he s handling all the home games of the Wallingford High school teams and also of the Meriden High games as we'll as many outside games and is loing excellent work.
 He is member of high standing in central Connecticut board as we'll as l member of the approved list of the Connecticut Intersh plastic Conference All this shows that he is fully qualified 70 handle basketball games.
 From reports given me by members of the board and men who witnessed he game that night, the following can be drawn. The referee lid all in his power to hold the game town to a fast clean contest and any incident that occurred, happened not because of his inability but rather be- cause of unsportsmanlike conduct of players and supporters.
 Too many teams fail to realize that High school athletics are not devised wholly for the object of defeating a rival but rather for the clean sports and benefits derived by meet ng and competing with other organi- winning team and too many schools It the present time have as their motto Anything to Win" This atti- ,ude is all wrong and until such time comes that coaches and men in charge of school athletics 'see the light" very title progress can be made in cleaning ID athletics in the state.
 Unsportsmanlike conduct of the nen in charge of the New Britain High school athletes seems to be the main cause of the past disturbance nore than the conduct of the athletes which by the way is not he first time that this same offense las occurred.
 Bristol was leading at the time that he Bristol police deemed it wise to all the game and Rogers did the nly thing that any referee could do- ward the game to Bristol, with a core of 1S-16 as 1t stood when time | vas called. He did not declare the | .ames forfeited to Bristol as stated | n the paper
 In closing let me state that the Gen. ral Connecticut Board of Approved | Officials entirely approve of ,ogers' work in the Bristol game and | t the present time stand ready to de- end any men who stand approved by s examining committee. The officials committee of the Connecticut Inter- choastic Conference also voice their pproval of Rogers as an official.
 ] trust you will see fit to give space your paper for the publication of he above article
 Yours for clean sports
 l.. R. NIXON
 Sec. Treas. Cen. Conn. Board |