New Britain herald., 1928-11-21
DRUNDAGE WANTS
 RULES ENFORCED
Amateur President to Drive
 Commercialism From Sport

New York. Nov. .1.-tRl-A firm hand, one which only a decade ago was being used to hurl the 56 pound weight and the hammer is to guide the Amateur Athletic union through the coming year.
 Taking office as president shortly before the 10th annual convention came 10 a close. Avery Brundage of Chicago made it clear at once that the amateur rules are in for strict enforcement.
 'It is not the rules that arc at fault" he said. but the administra- ton of them."
 Chatting informally he brought up the cases of athletes who have grown in ability in. say tennis or on the track. to such point that they arc wanted in all sections of the country"
 Undoubtedly, he added. "Tilden has done the sport of tennis great deal Of good whether he Is an ama- teur or not. About the merits of his case l know little.
 But my personal opinion is that unless man has some source of in- come. some regular employment. outside of sport. he is a profession al"
 Promoters who offer financial re- wards to amateur athletes are largely responsible for violations of the code. the new president said. and he indicated that a tight rein will be kept upon them.
 The only move made by the con- vention during its sessions here to make the amateur rules moro strict was passage of a change which makes man ineligible as an amateur for exploiting his athletic prowcss whether or not he actually receives compensation for SO doing.
 Asked what could be done in the case of an athlete such as Paavo Nurmi who might come to the United States, win additional pres- tige through amateur triumphs and then turn professional overnight, President Brundage replied: T am afraid nothing-unless We knew that was the intention and then we would withhold sanction.
 Men obviously brought over here for someone's private interest will not be allowed. to take part in sma- teur competition
 On the Olympic games Brundage has very definite ideas. He said he intended to propose to the Olympic committee that between one million and two million dollars be raised in the near future in order that tho interest accommodating before the en- suing Olympiad might be used to pay the expenses Of the team. The principal would go on earning the necessary sum from Olympiad to Olympiad if once established.
 There is diplomacy as well as iron In the makeup of the new head of the A. A. U. He hopes to break down the antagonism of the western conference colleges and the national Collegiate A. A. which have not al- lied with the organization. by win- ming the support and interest Of former college athletes from that sector. like himself: His own unani- nous election was a triumph for this plan of conciliation which is expect ed to make the A. A. |. a more unified and effective body.
 'The attack of the N. C. A. A." he said. has been based on the con- tention that the A. A. |. is domin- mated by the east. That is a fallacy which is soon to be done av-sv with. The A. A. U. has been very much maligned out there in the middle west.'
 President Brundage knows sports intimately from the athletes point of view. He was discus throwing champion of the Big Ten" when at Illinois twenty years ago, as well as national all-around champion in 1914. 1916 and 1918.