New Britain herald., 1927-01-24

National Guards who was appraised of the conditions which surround the boy who used to thrill the crowds at basketball games, conferred with the members of the National Guard basketball team and decided that because Cronin was 50 long and so prominently Identified with basket hall, something would have to be done in his case.
 He immediately started to make arrangements to plan a benefit game for Tim. He conferred with Hart ford players concerning game with the old Dixie team of Hartford but this game will probably be shunted aside in favor of game with the Meriden Endees.
 Jack Curry of Meriden, one of Connecticut's finest sportsman, who played basketball since the days of Methuselah Tn this state, hearing of the plight in which Cronin now is expressed the desire of doing some- thing for him. Cronin played last year. his last season as a player, with the Meriden Endees. He was a member of many teams on which Jack Curry starred and was his side kick on the Hartford Kaceys in the old K. of c. league.
 A conference has been arranged between Manager Lanpher and Man ager Curry of the Meriden Endees for this afternoon to determine just what the details of the game will be-.
 The game will most probably be played here at the state armory. It might have been proper for the game to have been played In Hart ford because that Is where Tim Cronin lived, but because of the fact that basketball is practically dead in that city. everyone interested feels that the only place to play the game Is in Connecticut's finest sport- ing center, New Britain.
 If game is arranged between the Guards and the Meriden Endees, it will be billed simply as an exhibition game with no bearing on the stand ing between the two teams.
 It would be unfair to both teams to play the benefit game, an affair of the finest sort of charity, as a game which would decide the su- premacy between Meriden and New Britain. The two teams are bitter rivals and the benefit game would be Just as interesting as any other.
 Still, If the contest Is arranged, 1t will be played under the name of an exhibition game and the third game of the series between the two teams will be played at a later date determining which Is the better team.
 It Is fine example of sportsman ship on the part of these two men and the members of their teams, this taking up the burden of a play CT who is down and out. Tim Cronin always gave of his best to please the public before which he played. Now that he is lying only short dis tance away from deaths door, near ly down and out" it is touching thing to find out that people who have not even the attachment of friendship to bind them to him, are going to help him carry the load.
 Tim Cronin has played basketball played as a member of the Morse Business College team of Hartford in the days when he first started coming into prominence and since then, he has played in almost every part of the state.
 It may be supposed that the game itself had something to do with his present condition and as he gave the best years of his life to basket ball. so by the same token. basket ball owes him something.
 Further details on the proposed benefit game will be announced fol- lowing the conference between Man. agers Lampher and Curry this aft ernoon.
 Harry Ginsburg has suggested as a preliminary game the choosing of two teams composed of old timers who played basketball against Tim Cronin. This would make the bill a double featured one and would at- tract number to the game who otherwise would probably not so.
 The National Guards will play the Bristol Endees in Bristol Wednes- day night. This will be the third game of the five-game series be- tween the two teams. The Endees have been going like the team of last year in their recent games
 Tom Humphries, guard on the All-New Britain Football team who was severely burned by electricity several weeks ago, has so far im- proypd that it is thought that he will be able to leave the Green wich hospital this week and return to his home.
 The National Guards will play Elmwood in Elmwood Thursday night of this week and All Middle town at the state armory in this city Saturday night .-