The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-02-16
WANTS TO KNOW

/ would like to use a little OF your
space in behalf of the Scout basket
ball team, in order to clear up, so
far as / can, misunderstanding
which has arisen in regard to them.
AS I see it, a team has just two
reasons for existence: first, to pro-
vide the public with the best enter
tainment that they can put on; and
second, to develop jim the players
such qualities as grit, resourceful-
ness, and the ability to stand the
gait" If a team does this, it de-
serves support; if it falls down on
either, it will get no backing.
Several weeks ago, much talk was
in circulation to the effect that the
Scouts were looking for lot. of
easy teams, in order TO make an i'm
pressive record, and avoid defeat. In
regard to this, / can only state that
at the beginning of the season, it is
very hard to Judge an out-of-town
team, especially of boys, as their
weight and age are no indication OF
their ability, and they have no re-
cord to prove their worth. A man.
ager is bound to pick a lemon once
in while; l picked two this sea-
son, though in each case / had cre-
dible information that the teams were
a good match, for the Scouts. l
have since refused games with Sc
veral teams who were anxious to
play, but who would not have pro-
wded a good contest. / have en-
deavored to book teams as good as
the Scouts, or better, and thorough
ly expected a defeat in the last game
played, against the B. A. c. The
way the team handled themselves in
that game showed whether they can
stand the gait or not.
The latest turn that the criticism
has taken is to the effect that the
Scouts would have nobody but Mr..
Ritchey referee their games, as they
needed help from him to win. This
is an undeserved SANDER on Mr..
Ritchey, and is absolutely false. Some
people have their own notion of what
the rules of the game are, and they
will not take the trouble to get the
information straight; the angel
Gabriel couldn't referee a game to
suit them. Anyone who really
knows what constitutes foul, by
the rules, will admit, if he has
watched TIE games conscientiously,
that MIR. Ritcey has endeavored to
give the visitors the benefit of the
doub., an. las made his decisions
fairy.
Tn this connection, I might say that
Mr.. Ritchey asked to be excused from
refereeing the B. A. C. game, and
declined to referee any more this
year. Mr.. Bell consented, at the
last minute, to officiate at the game,
and has since been engaged for all
future home games played by the
Scouts. And it was rather curious
to see that the same people who OBJ
jected to Mr.. Ritchey's decisions al
SO took exception to Mr.. Bells.
This is free country, and a man
can think and talk pretty much as he
sees fit. l do not deny anybody the
right to critic the Scout team, as /
have learned lot from such cri-
ticism; nor to cheer for their op-
ponents, as good playing deserves re-
cognltlon from both sides. But
there seems to be a group in town
whose purpose is malice against the
team, as evidenced by their audible
eileen when foul is called On a
Scout. or when one of them is in
jured, and that is along way from
what / have been taught to consider
good craftsmanship. Some may
not be able. to forgive the Scouts for
not going out for the High School
team, forgetting that the Scout team
had been practicing together for two
months before it was assured that
there would be any High School team
at all this year. / know that this
feeling is not promoted by the High
School coach, who, has developed the
best High School team | ever saw in
Washburn without any help from
the Scouts; nor by the High School
players, teachers or superintendent;
and if these people have no kick, l
must confess that / can't see why
others need concern themselves about
it.
In all their history, the Scout team
has met just one team lighter than
themselves, and two teams of the
same weight; all others have been
heavier. They have never hesitated
to go Up against odds. have asked
few favors of anyone, ard have play.
ed the best game they knew how.
may be prejudiced, but | believe that
they have met, and are meeting, the