The Washington times., 1922-11-14

To a BOstOnian football seems
Boston is also called "the cradle {
When Harvard Is playing Prince
ton or Yale everybody in Bosom
seems To be intensely interested
They watch for the scorebOards
hey read everything that Is print
ed, and even though they. have not
seen the game they know all the
important phases.
Furthermore. they have deer
knowledge OF the individual play
ers on the Harvard eleven. One
of the porters at the COpley Plaza
tried to involve us in an arugment
last night as to the merits Of Char
ley Buel as "a quarterback.
Boston has always been one OF
the great spori-loving centers OF
the country. 1t was patronizing
and understan nding baseball long be
fore many other big cities knew
he game az anything more than
corner lot pastime. 1t was in
Bos; on that the big league history
has been written.
II was Boston that put over "A
baseball deal that startled the
country long before Babe Ruth
was ever heard Of. The Boston
clubs Of the past few years have
not brought much glory to the old
town, but Boston still holds the
distinction Of having the largest
ward In the country I'm Braves
Field.
George Washington Grant the
nresident of the Braves, Is gwen
credit for at least trying TO assem-,
bile a club by the fans, but all
Harry Frazee, head of the Red SoN'
gets is discredit. They cannot Sc"
Harold at all over here since NJ
went into the general merchandising
business in ball players. -,
Boston. II not the birthplace OF
golf in America, was at least one
of the very first towns 10 try tht
game out. Many think that wher
George Wright. the old pasepai
player. brought set OF SUCKS ahc
some golf balls from Scotland am
displayed them in his athletic goocs
store window here years ago that u
was Americas first introduction u
the game. ,,,
There are now numerous big goii
clubs around Boston, and Boston ha'
produced golf stars such as frahci'
Quimet, in past years. fropapiS
more Boston people play golf thar
in any other city in America pr'
portionately TO population.
John l.. Sullivan came from Bos
ton. and is still Boston's greatest
hero. SO far as boxing is concerned
Death has not dimmed his fame
with the oldtimers hereabouts.
The game flourishes in the Hub
There are about four clubs alternat
ing in putting on cards, and gooc
card brings out the attendance and
the money, as in any other town
Wrestling has also been going fairly
well up here.
For years and years Boston was
regarded as one of the biggest bet
ting towns in the country on any
sporting event, but this is probably
not the case now. The town takes
an interest in horse racing 20 the
extent that quite number OF hand
books are operated around here
under cover. and get good play.
When all Is said and done, how
ever. Il Is football that eXcites
the most interest. Boston College
had a big following and drew a
big crowd the day that Princeton
played Harvard when every seat
in the biz stadium at Cambridge
was filled.
OF course, the explanation may
be found in the fact that the Bos
ton newspapers give tremendous
amount of space to the doings ol
the footballers, but the game
wouldn't get the space II the read
ers did not want 1t.
No, II seems to us that Bostor
Is just naturally a dyed.in-the-woo
football town. The Boston young
ster dreams Of becoming a gridiror
star instead of a jockey, or a boxer
or a great outfielder. You can sec
the kids kicking a football arount
on every vacant lot.
II we were a red-hot football fan
we would live i'm Boston. You car
have It for breakfast, dinner ant
supper the year around. Brown
Dartmouth, or any Of the big uni
versities nearby in which the Bos
tonian feels that he has a persona
interest second only to Harvard
can always fill a yard with a gam
here.
As this is written. the weathe
Is not very footballish. but stirrin,
Up football argument is TIL
easiest thing in the world. Jus
ask any man you meet. He vii
want to talk about the Yale.Har
ward game, which Is Boston's nc
tion Of the biggest event of tn
year.
No matter what Princeton did I
Harvard. Boston thinks Harvar
will lick Yale.