New-York tribune., 1922-02-17

One OF the pianks in the platform
OF the association, as tennis followers
know, is the expressed intention to do
away with the throwing of points by
players when they believe an umpire
or linesman had wrongly called the
point in their favor. There is Il
division OF feeling upon the part of
players and followers Of the game con
corning the wisdom of such a plan, and
am one of those who do not believe
The existing practice in this regard is
harmful, but, on the contrary, that it
ia an expression Of the finest kind of
sportsmanship.
Mr.. Black, in his letter, makes a
strong case out against my stand, and
it is only fair to print his side of the
discussion. The letter, in part, fol-
lows:
II suppose | ought to express my
regrets that you do not agree with
"a on the throwing Of points, but
second thought assures me that you
only add to the desired publicity
when you start a friendly contro-
versy, and, AS we confidently expect
to convert you some time, you will
thereby be a stronger champion for
our argument.
Sporting Spirit of Tennis
Il confess I looked at such mat
tcrs last year very much as you do,
but a year with mon who had really
given the subject some analytical
thought made nc change my opinion,
and I only regret that did not pre-
sent their side in better shape. |
sporting spirit of tennis or the
players who we're responsible for IT,
"Those ideals ought never 20 be
relinquished (they are, as you say.
above those Of sny other sport>, but
our whole idea is, that with the i'm
provement in lining the necessity
Tor this particular action upholding
these ideals has passed. We grant
that we are falihle, but when the
mistakes arc few and far between
why should not the players accept
these fralties rs rub of the
green? A player does not throw
point if his opponent receives bad
bound He just says, Hard luck
and goes on playing
81 fail TO see how you have dis
lodged what consider one Of our
strongest arguments that a player
throwing p point really has placed
an equally fair opponent in an un-
comfortable position. Ii point fol-
lows later only tho least bit doubt
full the opponent starts thinking:
does he expect me to throw the
next" His mind wanders bit
from the matter in baud. and while
this is a fine psychological point.
think you Will grant it has its effect
in a close match.
II also beg to disagree with you
very cordially om the word serious
as applied to our sports. Certainly
it was lack of seriousness that
it is the first quality that we now
demand in an official, or, as our
slogan has it, BE keen 1t is one
OF the qualities most necessary in
the player also. !, myself, ara
rather proud that it is one of the
foundation stones of American
sports and I cannot see that it i'm
plies lack Of generosity. Did you
ever see player that was more serl-
3us, and at the same time more gen
aroua. than Shimidzu at tosest
Hills"
Seriousness and Generosity
As to the remark about the hypo-
thetica Uncomfortable position Of a
aver who has Just received thrown
point from an opponent "a contingency
that might not arise in a whole season
Of play between the same mcn). | de
not believe the player in question would
hesitate minute to throw that next
point, if he believed the point wrongly
called.
As to the use Of the word "serious"
1oC 70 I,
wrote to this effect: "In this age.
f.y--''s-s-'