Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-11-06
LARGE SALARIES
SWING AMATEURS
into PRO RANKS

New York, Nov. 5.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press) The lures of profess
sionalism in the modern era of hlSh
nressure athletics are becoming
harder to resist than ever before
among the amateur talent.
The ethics or advantages involved
NAV be d subject for debate, but 1t
is a fact that opportunities are wild
ening for the amateur stars to capl-
talize their prowess and that many
are promptly Selling them.
Professional football, now being
carried out on a larger scale than
ever before, furnishes one of the
most interesting examples of the
amateur to pro" trend. The grid
iron sport always has been consid-
cred strictly amateur, but the llst
of former all-American players now
wearing professional molesklns is
impressive and perhaps an indication
that the game may be put on d
firm basis, affording the general
nublic an attraction, denied to 1t so
far as college games are concerned
because of the ticket monopoly by
grads" and old gradS.
MANY of this falls outstanding
stars probably will be offered lucra-
tive professional berths to be the
most sought-after of all. In tact
there are some reports that the Ia
nous Illinois ace already has been
approached with record contract
but it is certain he would give no
consideration to this until after he
Ii af
Such former all-Americans OF re-
cent years as Walter Kuppisch, Lynn
Bomar, Century Milstead. SWede
Youngstrom, Harry Stuhldreher and
Charley Berry are all in professional
ranks this season,
The tempting attractions of pro-
fessionalism also have cut heavily
into the ranks of women swimming
stars. The leading mermaids of
Americas last two Olympic teams
now have forsaken amateur ranks
with the decision of Aileen Riggin
and Gertrude Ederle this week to
occupy posts as instructors in Flori-
da. They have followed the foot
steps of Ethelda Bleibtrey and Helen
Wainwright.
Golf end tennis reflect similar
signs of the times, although here the
movement is not so marked. Even
so, there have been reports that
Bobby Jones, two times amateur
king. has been approached with pro-
fessional offers, despite the Atlanta
stars firm intention of remaining n
Simon-pure. Big Bill Tilden, too,
was linked with rumors of a pro-
fessional career at the time his con-
troversy with the United States
Lawn Tennis Association, when the
player-writer question was at its
height.
Tilden led fight that established
his right to continue writing with
out jeopardizing his amateur stand
ing SO that the six time national
champion. though remaining an
amateur in competition, still is able
to profit indirectly from his playing
fame, along with Vincent Richards
and number OF other court stars.
No amateur athlete in history
probably has withstood any more
pressure to turn professional than
Paavo Nurmi, the phantom of Fin
land. who burned up the boards and
cinders OF this country early in the
year. From various sources, it was
estimated that Nurmi was offered
practically quarter of a million
dollars to forsake the Simon-pure
trail. AS matter of fact, Paavo
might have accepted some of these.
such as writing offers, without jeop-
ardizing his amateur standing but
he declined them all with charac-
teristic stoicism.
Hockey, basketball, boxing and
wrestling are other sports in which
the drift of amateur stars from col
leges or clubs to professional ranks
mas been conspicuous. Just now.
with the launching of the reorgan ,
lied National Jockey Club. amateur
ranks are being hard hit because of
the attractive offers extended to
them by the "pro" outftS