Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-19
AMATEUR STARS
GRABBING CHANCE
TO Be SALARIED

New York. Feb. 1S.-tBy the Assoc
ciated Press)-While commercialism in
amateur sports has been furnishing a
subject for discussion and no little
agitation, professional sports, whose
foundation avowedly is commercialis-
tic, have been developing with longer
strides than ever before.
There has been more or less Of
general turnover in the athletic per-
spective for the past few years, OBJ
servers feel, but the past few months
have witnessed developments which
show a marked increase in demand Tor
professional competition, chiefly in
hockey, wrestling and swim
ming.
The Significance Of 1t all, however,
appears to these critics not to be that
amateur sports have lost any of their
appeal-for in the instance of football
the pro sports success was due to
the high tide of an unprecedented coll
lege season-but that professional
sports have attracted greater interest.
Toward the close of last year it was
the trend from amateur to profession
al ranks of numerous star perform
ers that focused attention. Harvey
Snodgross of the tennis first 10"
turned pro" Gertrude Ederle and
Aileen Riggin, famous swimmers, fol-
lowed the example of Helen VAIN
wright in accepting offers to capitalize
fame. Red Grange raced off his last
field of college victory to don profess
sional uniform and start a trans-conti-
mental tour. He was followed by two
30 q Am hapl<fa16 mates
George Wilson of Washington and
Ernie Nevers of Stanford.
Now the features of the. situation, in
stead of being individual, revolve
around the general development of pro-
fessional sports. Professional football,
after a somewhat stormy season. seems
likely to branch out next fall with
more effective resources and back
ground. A fight resembling in a way
the battle between the major leagues
of baseball quarter of a century ago
looms with Grange and his manager. c.
C. Pyle. sponsoring a circuit opposed
to the present National League.
The professional circuit which edged
it's way into New York last fall and
managed to garner expenses there. is
not very old and in reality had not
gained a foothold when the fight ap-
peared. Grange applied TO thdt league
for a franchise after leasing the YAM
kee Stadium for period of five years
but was refused when Tim Mara, own
err of the New York Giants, objected
Now Grange has formed circuit of
his own. The Pacific coast has a six
club project.
Ice hockey perhaps has established
itself with more startling rapidity than
any other professional sport in years
Instead of going through an expert
mental season, the game has met with
phenomenal and immediate financial
| success in New York, as well as, to a
lesser degree. in Boston and Pitts.
| burgh, where franchises are held, along
with four Canadian teams in the Ma
| tional League. This is the big
| league" of professional hockey in the
| east. So optimistic are its hackers
that another season is expected to see
a second club representing New York
| with Detroit and Chicago also likely
to obtain franchises.
? Professional wrestling has staged
| something of a return from Elba," SC
much so, after considerable hiatus in
popular favor here. that capacity
| crowds have witnessed weekly cards
| one of them recently featuring the first
! championship match New York has had
! in four years.