Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-18
BELFAST TO HAVE
+. FAST SEMI-PR0
BASKETBALL TEAM
Special to Kennebec Journal.

Belfast, Me-, Dec. 1I.-Ine DuSl-
ness and professional men of Bel
fast in a great measure are back of
proposed basketball team to be
made up of local men with a pro-
fessional player-coach. There is a
good deal of material in the city at
present and the plan is to start with
all local players and strengthen the
team if necessary as the season pro-
crosses. The Belfast Armory can
and will be leased for the games and
the popular choice Of coach seems
to be Red Kenney, of Boston, who
it will be remembered, came down
last spring to play with Belfast
against the Colby Comets in Belfast
and in Rockland.
Among the local talent are Getch-
ell. Roberts. Norton and Mac
Vaughan of last seasons team, all
fast men, Salter of the high school
teams of several seasons ago, Say
ward. who made a good showing last
winter with the City National Bank
team, ali of whom will be tried out.
The coach will try out the material
at hand and there is every reason to
believe that a snappy team can be
made up.
1t is a mistake, the local fans be-
lieve, to get too strong a team fo-
II is hard to get teams of the same
standing to come here and the pub
lie will not stand for one-sidcd
games, no matter which side is win
ming. Evenly matched teams, even
if not as fast are preferable. Be-
fast easily walked away with the
championship last season, and tie
team gave the public some of the
best sport it has had in years. There
is no game that can draw the pat
ronage that basketball can and a
team is sure of loyal support.
A representative of Gray, the own
err of the Colonial Theatre, who also
Belfast this week. and made cam
Nass of the business and professional
men to see if they wanted basket
ball. He found that to a man, they
were strongly in favor of it. He did
this. so he said to the Journal COR
respondent. to ascertain the concen-
sus of opinion, as Mr.. Gray had been
informed that people in Belfast did
not want basketball. Mr.. Gray. Re
said, had been very much exercised
when he learned that there was dis
satisfaction in this city, because he
~ -, 1,o~
ketball except to the high school.
He had been misinformed, it APP
pears and is now very anxious to
right himself in the minds of the
public. He was told that the public
do not want professional or semi
professional basketball, while those
who have been interested in organ
izing such a team were led to be-
lieve that Mr. Gray was opposed to
it.
Now that the matter has been
brought into the light and each IN
derstands the other. it looks very
different Mr.. Gray has no idea, so
his representative stated, of dictat-
ing to Belfast what she shall or shall
ri have in way of entertainment.
and he is glad to let the Armory at
any and all times for basketball o.
anything which Belfast people see
fit to use it for.
If there is one thing that Belfast
enjoys more than anything else in
winter. it is basketball. for there is
little in way of winter sports and
there are so many who do not care
for dancing. which aside from the
moving picture theatres, is the chief
form of amusement. Basketball in
terested old and young and is al
WAYS we'll SuDDOrted.