Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-18
EXPLOITATION
IS CHIEF MENACE
AMATEUR ATHLETES

New York, Dec. 17.-(By The AS
hociated Press. )-Exploitation In the
opinion of athletic authorities, who
have scanned closely the waning
years evidence, is the chief menace
confronting the athlete who catches
the public eye in the current high
pressure era of sports.
Paayo Nurmi and Red Grange,
whose performances rank among the
greatest Of 1925, are pointed to as
the leading victims Of feverish
haste to capitalize their spectacular
talents.
Nurmi, a sensation from his first
race on indoor tracks, was rusneo
from CITY to city in response to the
sreat demand for his running exhibit
tions. In three successive nights ne
connected in New York, Chicago ana
then here again. Even as rugged
constitution as that of the phantom
rim was unable to stand such a
mace and he finally broke down IN
one of his biggest races in Madison
Square Garden. j..
There is a parallel to this IN
Oranges performance in 1ootpali'
where the tax on stamina anu en-
6urance is much greater than tnat
in running. Where Nurmi kept up
his whirlwind stride for nearly three
,oonths without let-up, however,
Grange reached the limit In ABOUT
three weeks. Worn out by compe-
+ition in five eastern cities in SIX
days the galloping ghost OF the
rridiron suffered injuries at Plus
burgh which have forced MIN 10
nuit playing for some time.
While the exploitation OF NuIhi,
.nd Grange has been along paraIlei
lines. the cases of the lndlVlouais Or
as far apart as the poles Granse
undertook his strenuous Work aS
full fedged professional seekins
dr hos GAINED astonishing results,
,nb;Ie NIrmi competed as an anna
teur for clubs and promoters VINO
reaned the major share of the man
cial harvest from popular interest IN
the Finnish marvel.
Nurmi. whose vogue last winter
was almost as great as that OF
Grange now. turned down pro1es-
sionaI offers and contracts which, II
accepted, would have netted MIN
close to $250,000.
while Grange and Ernie Nevers
of Stanford, who is ready to sign
SOS, 900 "pro" contract, are the lead
ing all-American stars to decide on
leaving college ranks, others on the
1925 .all-star list compiled by The
Associated Press have rejected over
lures from professional promoters.
These include Ed Weir, Nebraska
IInIUnrSifV
Washington half back, who turned
down a $4,000 offer; Swede Ober-
lander, Dartmouth ace, and his
!. teammate, Mike Tully, end, who
7 changed his mind after first decid-
ing to accept "pro" contract Ed
die Tryon of Colgate also turned
deaf ear to several bids for his serv-
ices.
OF last years all-American galaxy,
which also included Grange, the
"pro" game has acquired Harry
Stuh1dreher, Notre Dame quarter
back; Charley Berry. end, of Lafay-
cite, who starred this year on the
Pottsville, Pa, eleven, and Ed Nc
Ginley, guard, of Pennsylvania. Ed
Garbisch of the Army. 1924, all
American center, has resigned his
commission to play football on the
racine coast.
Unbeaten gridiron outfits will bat
To for post-season laurels for the
second straight year in the Far West,
when the University of Alabama,
champions of the Southern Confer
ence, meet the University of Wash
ington. Pacific coast titleholders, in
the Tournament of Roses contest
New Years day at Pasadena. In the
game there last January 1. Notre
Danes champion "four horsemen"
rode to triumph over Stanford in
one OF the most thrilling inter-sec-
t1onal encounters on record.
In eight tournament" games at
Pasadena since 1916, the Far Vests
defending forces have come off VIC
toriously four times and the invaders
twice. while two contests ended in
ties: The record follows:
l9l6-Washingto State IA. Brown
1917-University of oregon IA
Pennsylvania 0.
l920lHarvard 7, University of
Oregon 6. u
: lg21-California %, Ohio State q
I922-California 0. Washington e.
Jefferson 0. ~
l923-Southern California IA
Penn State 3.
l924-Naval Academy IA. Univer-
sity Of Washington IA.
l32o-Notre Dame q. Stanford IN