Great Falls tribune., 1922-01-12
Greater Popularity
Than Ever Is Seen
for Sports in 1922
Baseball, Football, Tennis and All Other Games
Have Taken on New Life Which Prom
ises to Be Permanent.

come. The fact that huge stadiums
erected but a few seasons ago are now
unable to accommodate all those who
desire to witness the games is the best
evidence Of the increase in interest.
This enthusiasm, which also extends
to many other sports and games, should
be used as lever to improve the ply
sical welfare of the country at large
A more sane and proper understanding
of the physical development of the
younger generation-the boys and girls
from 10 to Is years of age-wouid
prove tremendous boom to the ma
ton. Properly developed they will not
only desire outdoor sport but will par
take in it with greater satisfaction and
less risk.'
Trap Shooting
A fifty per cent increase in the popu-
larity of trap shooting and record
| entry of more than 200 contestants
| in the Grand American handicap at At
lantic City next September, is the pre-
| diction of Secretary Manager McLinn,
of the American Trapshooting associa-
ton for the 1922 season.
"Trapshooting is one of the few
| sports permitting a man to participate
| under organization recording so that
the result of every shot is credited
said Secretary McLinn. 'As a result
the sport is growing in manner which
surprises even the veterans of the
game. Our application lists, sanction
requests and other office date clearly
indicate that 1922 is going to be the
biggest year by far that we have ever
had.
part Of the popularity of the sport
is due to the aftermath of the war
Thousands of young men learned to
thu fo afInn nf
shooting while in service and ninety
per cent are eager to continue shoot
| ing either as competitive sport or
recreation. We now have one of the
| most complete sport governing and
recording organizations in the world
With this system constantly improving
! the inclusion of the amateurs bodies
| and the knowledge that target shoot
! ing can be indulged in almost the year
round, l believe I am safe in saying
| that the followers of this sport will
double the next year or two
| Boxing
1.-The American people like excite
ment," said Tex Rickard in discussing
the remarkable growth of sport in the
| past two years and the outlook for the
coming season. This demand for ex-
citement is shown by the manner in
which those sports which supply thrills
are patronized. Boxing of course,
ranks well to the fore in this category
and, while the last IL months has wit
messed great increase in interest, rec
ord attendance and gate receipts. l am
inclnd to believe that the new year
will surpass the old in this respect.
. while 1922 is net likely to witness
another bout of the international cali
Der and interest of the Dempsey Carp
| entier contest / think that there will
be an increase in the number of bouts
and the localities In which such
matches may be held in conformity to
the law. Boxing is not alone advanc-
ing In popularity for all sport SO far
as can learn, is on the increase.
Various reasons have been advanced
for this gain. Personally | think that
it is due to a number of causes. The
advent of prohibition with the closing
of the saloon has sent thousands Of
men, young and old, to watch or play
games or contests such as boxing. The
relief from the strain imposed by the
war and the growing belief in the bene-
fits of exercise and competition have
all helped to increase the popularity of
sport.
80 far as boxing is concerned, the
Walker law has helped the sport Won
derfully in New York state, and l
would like to see similar enactments in
all other states. The new Boxers AL
lance, if it means business and has no
private axes to grind, should be great
boom for boxing If champions could
to increase in popularity for years tt
I am certain that football will continue
{ by the thousands who watch the play