New Britain herald., 1926-11-13
LACK OF RIVALRY TENDS
 TO KILL PRO FOOTBALL
Inter-city Games is What is Needed to Tone up Grid iron Game-Reason For Success of Sport in Years Past Was the Contests With Connecticut Teams Only State Teams Can Fill Football Park in a Neutral City-Managers Must Satisfy Fans.

 draw the interest that it apparently should?
 That is a question that besets every football fan and all others in- tcrested in sports. Reports from all over the country indicate that the sport has been anything but d successful return to promoters and managers who have invested money in teams and fields.
 There is one answer and only one to be made to the question as it re- lates to football teams and projects in this section of the country. It is the lack of inter-city battles with Its attendant rivalry that is fast killing the sport which in the fall always held the center of the sport stage. True it is that the weather this year caused great deal of ex- pense that under normal conditions would not have had to be borne by the clubs. but even at that, events Of the past and of the present, prove the contention that the lack of in- crest in professional football is due mainly to the fact that there is no rivalry between the teams engaged in the game.
 Travel back as far as you will, there is the proof of the assertion all along the line. Where can be found eny football games that can draw the interest of the fans like those that the old time Nutmegs used to play. Was 1t because the teams that visited New Britain. had on their rosters famous college stars whose greatest asset with regard to football seems to be a good pub licity agent? Was it because these teams were the champions of this league or that league that every game used to draw crowd?
 Rather. we think, it was because 1t was the Washington Glees of New Haven, the n-Bridgeports, the Williams of New Haven. Meriden. All-Hartfords or other teams from Connecticut were battling it out with the local team for an imaginary myth known as the state champion ship.
 Take for instance the meeting of a few years back between the New Britain Reds and the All Bridgeport team conducted by Mike Healeg. An impasse was reached between the managers and it seemed that no game was to be played. Finally after long time of arguing back and forth, it was agreed to have the game played on neutral field and Hanover Park. Meriden, was sc- lected as the site of the battle.
 Could the New Britain team, playing say, the New York Yankees, take the game to Meriden and have the fans of this city follow them in droves. Could the Hartford Blues, playing the Canton Bulldogs, go to Meriden and have crowds of fans from every part of the state at tend? Hardly. And yet. when New Britain and Bridgeport met in that memorable battle. Hanover Park
 
 not only from Bridgeport and New Britain, but from every point in the state.
 Has either the Hartford Blues or the All-New Britain team drawn this season the attendance at any game such as was present at either of the two games played at Clarkin Field last year? Has either team At any time, drawn half as many cash customers at single game as were present at either of the two games last year? We know New Britain has not; we doubt that Hartford has.
 It is the inter-city rivalry that keeps the sport alive. Give the fans a chance to wager some "gclt' or, a favorite team against an old-time rival and he'll advertise the game to everyone he meets Give the fans a battle between Hartford and New Britain without petty pickering on either side and the fans will pack any stadium.
 What team could come to New Britain and cause the fans to go wild, throw mp their hats in the air, fall off the bIeachers in their ecstasy at the line holding when a touchdown was imminent? Only one, that is Hartford. What game could draw more than t,o0o peo- pie from this city to q park in Hartford, pay q fairly good price for admission and have them de liriously happy if the game was won? No game but that with Hart ford.
 1t was the same case only a few years ago when Bridgeport had team. It was the same when the Waterbury E'ucs had q team. IL was the same 1o years ago when the fathers and grandfathers Of inc present generation played the game. And tt is the same today.
 Take any sport and the same an swer will ba found. What draws the crowds 10 a basketball game? Nothing except the hope that the home team will win from q rival. The same holds true in baseball. Does any game draw the interest like a city series? The answer to all these questions is "No,'
 This is not an argument for q football game between All-Nrw Britain and Hartford, That per tains to this article only in so far as it includes the two teams as Connecticut teams. II is tlther 2 hint to tho managers of profess sional football teams 10 save the sport by giving the fans what they want Until that is done. profcs- sional football will be a failure.
 WIN HOCKEY MATCH
 Niagara Falls, Ont. Nov. 13.-tP The New York Americans of the