The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-02-07
THE COMMERCIALISM OF
THE SPORTS OF YOUTH

One of the worst results of inter
COLLEGIATE athletics is that the games
have become matter Of business
and, thereby have ceased to have, II
they ever had, any value as recrea'
tional or physical education. Fol-
this reason even the directors Of ply,
steal education in many Of the lead,
ing colleges and universities are pro
testing against the whole wretched
business.
Some days ago press dispatch
from New York brought out this fact
most clearly and forcioly. Il read as
follows:
'Unless q happy, rational medium
! is found very soon, we shall see the
complete abolition of intercollegiate
athletics, according to warning
sounded here Wednesday night by the
annual convention Of Society Of Di-
rectoGs OF Physical Education IN Col
legcs.
"The real value of athletic exercise
has been lost, The directors pointed
cut, in the commercialized frenzy of
big intercollegiate contests. Whole
some ;ntramural sports are of far
more benefit TO the mass of students,
they added.
"This warning, sounded by DR.,
Geoge r. Merriam Of Columbia, IS all
the more potent since he is known to
lbe an enthusiastic supporter Of inter
collegiate athletics.
''Dr. Edgar Fsuver CT Wesleyan, a
former athlete Of note, coach of many
winning college teams, and now a
faculty men!aer, advocated the I'M
mediate abolition of ali intercollegiate
athletic events and a substitution
therefor Of intramural activities with
universal participation"
These gentlemen are right. The
commercialization of intercollegiate
athletics means the corruption of the
sports OF youth.
This was pointed out by President
William T. Foster Of Reed college IN
an unansweralble article which he
published in the Atlantic Monthly
several years ago, when the corrupt
ING evil of commercialization had not
reached the extremes to which it now
has attained. He said:
intercollegiate athletics provide a
costly, injurious, and excessive re-
CINE of physical training for lew
students, especially those who need 1t
least, instead of inexpensive, health
full and moderate exercise for all stu
dents, especially those who need Il
most.
"Athletics are conducted either
for education or for business. The
old distinction between amateur and
professional athletics is Of little use
The real problems of college athletics
loom large beside the considerations
that define our use of the terms pro
fess;ona" and amateur. The aims
of athletics reveal the fact that the
inportant distinctions are between
athletics conducted for educanona
purposes and athletics conducted Tor
business purposes.
"When athletics are conducted fol
education the aims are (D to develop
all the students and faculty and to
maintain health; ~ to promote mod
crate recreation, IN the spirit of JOY
as a preparation for study rather than
as a substitute for study; and (3) tc
form habits and inculcate ideals OF
right living. When athletics are con
Quoted for business, the aims are ID
10 win games-to defeat another per
son or group being the chief end; (2)
to make money-as it is Imposslol<
otherwise to carry on athletics as
business; (3) 10 attain individual OF
group fame ard notoriety. These
three-which are the controlling aims
of intercollegiate athletics-are also
the aims of horse-racing, prize
fighting and professiona baseball
Intercollegiate athletics, notwlth
standing all that is said to the con
trary, are nothing but professional
games. High-priced coaches are palt
to make teams that can win games
gate receipts become so Indispensable
that insurance Of them against mis-
chances of weather is taken out; 'palc
players are drawn into colleges by de
vious methods and scholastic grade:
are given that the players may not o'
disqualified by any rules upon thf
subject. The simple truth is tha'
coaches are often paid higher Salarle: