Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-20
BEST BASKETBALL CITY.
NOT IN MAJOR LEAGUE
Philadelphia Once Had
Three Teams in Eastern
Circuit: No,U Has None;
Myers Blames Officials
"BAD MANAGEMENT

PHILADELPHIA basketball fans are
1 at a loss to understand why this city
has dropped out Of the basketball pic
ture as n major league attraction In the
cage game. For years the fame OF the
Quaker City has been spread broadcast
throughout America.
The best players in the game were
developed here and in fact basketball
and Philadelphia have always been re-
garded ms synonymous. 90 down the
line in the pages of cage history and
the greatest players Of all time will be
found listed Us from Philly.
Not only we're the best professional
stars educated here, but the. college
game also looks upon Philadelphia as
The birthplace Of some of the greatest
players in the Intercollegiate League.
| Such foul tossers rs Kid keinath. Mike
Sweeney and Dannie McNichol Will 1--we
! in the pages Of collegiate basketball for
all time.
Interest Still Keen
DESPITE the fact that there IS no local
representative in the Eastern Basketoal
I League, there has not been waning
! V interest In the sport here and all that
! is necessary for the sport to boom Is n
| frat class team. But that was i'm
possiblo" to acquire and was one OF the
main reasons why William j. Myers,
owner Of the Philadelphia franchise, de-
cided to quit.
Eastern League, the organization never
wos so successful as when this city was
! L.. nf bn q m
When the circuit was first formed De
Seri' Jasper and Sixth Regiment were
rho original local franchise holders.
During the first season Sixth Regi-
mont vas transferred TO Germantown
and the following year Greystock was
ou,nrded the suburbanites' franchise. In
those days the teams were composed OF
nlayers who had a pride in the club be
sides the weekly pay envelope. One OF
tbese teams won n championship and the
monthly payroll would hardly total the
present expenses Of week
Myers Has His Say
Ex- Manager Myers, Of the Phillies,
was the last to stick. Germantown was
in the circuit last year. but the team,
after winning the championship, was
NOT even consulted about entering the
|
Myers was not a bit backward In
discussing the affairs OF the organization
when asked for a reason why this city
Is out OF basketball.
"You can say for me that ] ain out
OF the basketball game because OF the
moor business methods Of the league
said Mr.. Myers this morning, land th'
fact that there was absolutely no en-
dcovor made to help the club when Il
was in a rut.
Teams like Coatcsville, which has
only few thousand population, are
rctotucd, while the home OF basket
BALI Is left out in the cold.
II made every endeavor TO put 9
winner here. but It was impossible tc
secure players. Several weeks ago
endeayored to secure Ripley and Grim
stead from Scranton when it was an as
sured fact that tlH Miners were
through, but no assistance was forth
coming.
''The league is run entirely to,
loosely" continued the ex manager
"Players are fined today and allowc'
to nlay tomorrow without paying III,
same. Men are suspended and the sam,
thing occurs. The CeltiCs copped tn
cream, Of the circuit at the start Of th'
season. and then are invited to mem
bershlp.
II brought out moro players thar
any other manager in the league. Mel
like Beckman. Reich and Dehnert. no
to saw a dozen more like Norman
Drevf,ss and Sheets Wright. Tn
league 10 a joke and will never amoun
) to anything under the present system
80 administration.