Evening star., 1926-06-20
RADIO TALK SHOWS
A.P. SPORTS TASK
A. J. Gould. New York Office
Expert, Describes Work
on Big Events.


NEW YORK, June 19.-The task of
handling big sports events for the As
sociated Press was described by Alan
u. Gould, New York sports editor, IN
i radio talk broadcast from VIZ. He
said:
'TypeWriters begin to click, the
buzz of telegraph instruments grows
souder as writer's and operators close
j. wedged together along narrow pine
benches. bend to their tasks under the
pulplish glare of arc lights.
There is wild swarming of hui
nanity about the ringside press box.
Some of the more enthusias site, labor
ina under the delusion that reporters
are nothing more or less than stepping
stones start 4 rush over the top in
The direction of the ring, where the
champion is in the grasp Of a few eN-
fitted friends and handlers. Several
editorial necks and backs are sprained
hv the onrush until the stampede is
checked. The click and the buzz start
up again and the story of the cham
pion's dramatic defense of his title is
sped along thousands of miles Of wire,
simultaneously reaching Seattle and
Tampa, Los Angeles and Boston.
There you have a sketchy idea of
the circumstances as well rs some of
the difficulties encountered as the AS
sociated Press with its staff of sports
experts. told to millions Of fans the
story Of Jack Dempsey's successful
defense Of his heavyweight crown
against the onslaught of Luis Angel
Firpu in the ring at the Polo Grounds,
September Il. 1928.
Sensational Spectacle.
Even to the writer who has had to
pui up with such trying conditions,
With manifold difficulties and obsta
eles. there is q thrill to story such
as this. covering as sensational
sporting spectacle as the modern gen
GRAFTON of fandom has witnessed. But
the task alone is not simply one OF
occupying front-roW seat in the press
box and describing what happens
Back of the teamwork there that pro
duces the story from all its varied
angles is long preparation. careful
planning and extension of facilities
all the factors in the far-fung organi-
Zation of the Associated Press that go
to make up q service to more thah
120O newspapers in all parts or the
country. Latin America, the Philip
pines, as well as to other parts OF the
globe through cooperating foreign
agencies.
"At the ringside for the Dempsey
Eirpo fight. for instance, there were
three Associated Press wires, one
CARRYING direct cable dispatches to
Latin America, the two others Hnked
up with the entire domestic WIRE sys-
tenn The story of the fights actual
progress was received simultaneously
over 'hook-up involving close to
10000 miles OF wire.
1T required a staff of II men, eight
writer's and three telegrapherst TO
handle the various features of this
job Five of the editorial men were
IT the ringside-one writing con
tinuous descriptive story of the crowd
its emotions. ETC., another debating
the fight, blow by blow, and a third
preparing brief cable dispatches. Still
fourth wrote leads, then topped the
whole performance off with a general
descriptive story taking in all fea-
lures While this was being trans
mltted, other members of the staff
interviewed promoters. obtained state.
luents from the principals in their
dressing rooms, and got the official
tinekeeper's version of as hectic a
knock k-down-and-drag-out fight as has
ever been witnessed.
World Series Task.
Arrangements of equally elaborate
character are required to handle the
anhua. world series, an event which
sustains national interest to greater
extent than any other sports fixture
In fact. it is only for either d world
heavyweight championship boxing
match or a world base ball champion
ship that the whole wire system of
tile Associated Press is hooked up to
provide simultaneous service through
out the country.
None of base balls title battles
have had any more thrills packed into
them than those of the past two years
Both have gone the limit, testing edi
torlal as well as playing endurance.
The dramatic story of Pittsburgh's up.
hill victory over Washington last Oc-
tober, for instance. came from q rain
drenched corps of some 500 CORE
Spondents, herded in a muddy dug
out" wrestling with soaked score
books and trying to make out the de
tails of combat through the driZzling
rain and muriy haze that shrouded
the diamond. When Hazen Cuyler
lashed out the hit that won the game
and beat Walter Johnson it was sew
eisi moments before any one in the
press box knew whether it was a
home run or a tWo-base hit, as it ac-
tually turned out to be.
Organization and Attention.
Here again it was organization
and attention to detail that pulled the
Associated Press staff through try
ltlS ulHe-uaN OFQe2i tEGt lnFOIEed
many sensational episodes. The edi-
torial work was handled by four men
of the New York sports staff. aided by
members of the Washington and Pitts,
burgh bureau staffS. At the fields one
man dictated a complete play-by-play V
account, another wrote supplementary
matter and leads, a third made up the
box score, while the foGrth was in
contact with the playing field and club
houses. After the game NIGHT leads
rounding out a picture OF The DAYS
play, clubhouse statements, composite
averages and sidelghtS were prepared
for morning papers.
'WatchfulnesS was necessary off as
2 we'll as on the playing field. Thus
after the third game in Washington
threatened to develop protest by
Pittsburgh over sensational, but dis
puted catch by Sam Rice, an A. p. man
was on the job TO interview Manager
Mckechnie of the Pirates and Rice
When Bluege, star Washington in
fielder. was knocked out by q ball
pitched by Aldridge in Pittsburgh, an
A.-P. man was at the clubhouse to get
first hand reports When word of the
death of Christy MatheWson came
over late at night. following the first
game, A. p. men quickly got in touch
with the games nOtableS. Within Z