The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-26
TALKING
IT OVER
~ ZOE WILLIAMS .

NEW YORK, March 26.-To
IN repeat for the millionth time,
the amateur in sports is a very
strange critter, and stranger still IS
the process by which this status is
established. Few people are ever
completely clear or uniform in their
interpretations as TO the moral code
which separates the amateur from
the professional. What is a damn
ing offense in one sport is trivial
in another What constitutes
serious breach in one country is
totally ignored in another.
At present there is a basketball
scandal in local collegiate circles.
A number Of distinguished players
have been disclosed as paid per-
formers parading under assumed
names. For odd pieces Of SLY
the college stars joined out on of
nights, with seni-professional
teams. A correspondent comments
as follows:
u an, not attempting to yigaigcate sr tne
once again the question Of professional
ism. Suppose We concede right Of that
the charges are true. WHAT OF itf Con-
slider a few parallel cases.
i'First Of all We have Joe K. spiltz
whose round shoulders attest to the pos
session Of various Greek letter keys, i'm
dicative OF excessive fertility between the
ears. He, in his senior year. has been
able to corral EoodIy collection OF nice
round iron men by tutoring less talented
brethren.
of the dean OF the something department.
or other. Is good old Joe suspended2 MOI
bv a tank full Most likely. at his COM
inencement. the president Of the university
viii hold him up as an example LOT We
generations TO come BY aLteeL az IT,, - AZ he
basketballer who picks up a few doilars
IN the town halls after school hours?
Gas our next exhibit we have Myron
r. Easel. the boy who would rather draw
than sleep. provided the said drawing
Yields an attractive assortment Of coins.
While in his junior year his carricatures
in the college weekly attract the atten-
ton Of one Of the local editors. He signs
contract. Is he promptly banished
from the arts department Of the school?
Don't be silly.
And vet. If his cousin. Red Olsen, man
ages to make q little summer money by
strengthening OUT the SlanbS OF some semi
pro pitcher, and is found out. he is pub
licly exposed az q traitor 10 his alma
mater as well as the high ethics Of anna
my purpose in writing you is to have
an experienced caampaigner at the head
Of the crusade for plain ordinary common
sense IN college athletics. Don't tell me
you are too old Surely there must be a
Few sparks left in the old engine.
There are two suggestions ! would
want our crusade to make. First, IL the
colleges want the athletes to remain
pure. let no one connected with the in
situations Of learning accent money for
any services whatsoever. Do away with
tuition. Danish paid admissions. But.
Of course, these things can never be.
More seriously. let the young men dis
pose OF their spare time in any manner
they deem IT. provided their activities re-
feet no discredit upon their characters or
the colleges. IF they attend classes regu-
iarly. II they are OF average college age
II their marks are up to the standard
their time outside the classroom should be
their own.
mo athlete has ever criticised the
dean of his department for picking up a
stray fee now and then over the lee
ture circuit. and vet the athlete might
with all reasonableness have suggested
that the dean remain at home and pre-
pare better lectures for the classroom"