Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-08-21
WHILE CLIFF BATTLES
NAME WILL 60 DOWN
IN PRO FOOTBALL
HISTORY AS ONE OF THE
ALL-TlME GREAT.
eEtL- CARRlERS........
KARAMAT|C'S TOE
CHIEF GRID ASSET
Modest Redskin Bidding for
Battles Berth Also Hard
and Shifty Runner.
nv BILL DISMER, JR.

What do I think about taxing Cll1
Battles place? All I'm thinking about
now is how to keep from being kicked
of the squad when the first cut IL
made tomorrow"
Coming from George Karamatic
that was the most surprising statement
that has been made by or about any
member of the 1898 Washington Red
skins to date. And yet it bespeaks
the innate modesty of a 21-year-old
youth whom such famed coach as
Tiny Thornhill called the best back
on the Pacific Coast last year and who
represents the National League foot
ball champions most hopeful invest
ment to fill the shoes Of the mighty
Battles.
Karamatic. whose feats for little
Gonzaga in Spokane. Wash. were SC
consistently perfect the last three sea
sons as to earn him the sobriquet
Automatic. has no illusions about
the task confronting him if he would
make the Washington fans forget Bat
ties.
Fears Battles Spoiled Fans.
Il never saw him play says Kara :
matte wistfully. but I wish 1 had
There are so many small pointers you
can get just from watching a great
back in action. Gosh. I guess Wash
ington fans are spoiled now after
watching Battles That seems to pu
all Of us rookie backs on the spot
Karamatic says that the idea Of be-
ing one Of those being groomed tc
take Battles place doesn't afford hin
half the thrill as he got that day last
March when he received a telegram
from Ray Flaherty informing him that
he had been traded to the Redskins by
the New York Giants in exchange fol-
Nello Flachi.
That was a real break" says the
Automatic one. "Of course. I woule
have played with the Giants, but
was sorry l hadn't been drafted by thu
Redskins" (The Giants were priv.
legged to pick before the Redskins In
last DEFENDERS draft and Karamatie
was lltSG CI1OlC6.)
Since the trade. Redskin official.
have lost no time in digging up paral.
lels between Karamatic and Battles
Both, it seems. rose to national fame
while participating for small schools
Battles for West Virginia Wesleyan
Both were 81 years OF age when signed
to their first professional contracts and
both weighed about 1876 when they
reported to the Redskins. Karamatic
however. is 4 inches shorter thar
Battles.
Keen Placement Kicker.
And to show that they were seriou,
about impressing the analogy on pro.
fessional football fans, they have
given Karamatic Battles old number
30.
Karamatic isn't quite the passel
that Battles could be when Slingin
Sam wasn't slingin' EN-, but he is 9
superior punter and has extraordinary
talents as placement picker. Indeed
he may prove as valuable a man in
that respect as did Riley Smith last
year. Karamatic's greatest stunt alone
that line last year came in the East.
West game when he missed a field
goal from his own 4s-yard line by
about feet.
In practice the Automatic one has
shown himself to be an exceedingly
hard runner with plenty of leg drive
He is fast and Shifty and his ability
to pick holes opened for him by his
linesmen has wreathed Coach Flah.
erty's and Owner George Marshall's
faces in smiles.
Karamatic's statement about worry
ing over the pending cut in the squad
numbers" brought a grin to Flaherty's
face. THE kids either q practical
joker, obtuse or modest" said Ray
and I don't think he's a joker OF
dumb" Which confirms our thought
in the first place.