Evening star., 1938-06-14
PRESENT SPONSOR
HAS TH0RNY PATH
Vines-Perry War, Big Drop
in Receipts May Cause
Harris to Quit.
BY LAWRENCE PERRY.

NEW YORK, June ia SaQ COM
n1entary upon the present status Of
professional tennis develops from the
fact that the question of Don Bulge
turning mercenary is complicated by
doubt as to who the promoter or pro-
moters will be.
No one, least of all those concerned
with the conduct of the amateur
branch of the game, doubts that Don
Bulge will turn pro after the Davis
Cup matches and national singles next
eptember-provided a promoter OF
personal responsibility and capacity
for sponsoring a national tour bids for
him. Will sponsor thus endowed ap-
pear?
The recent tour of Ellsworth Vines
and Fred Perry was conducted by
Jack Harris of Chicago. man known
chiefly to the lawn tennis world by his
activities in the production of a COM
mercial program of one of the U. S.
l.. T. A. Journeys in Chicago a few
years ago.
Tough for Promoters.
Whether, in view of the continued
friction between Vines and Perry, of
receipts much lower than those which
the pair earned last year and in
view Of all the strain and stress of
keeping the campaign going, Harris
would be willing to undergo another
ordeal is questionable.
A curious thing about these profess
sional tennis projects is the constant
appearance of new promoters. Bill
O'Brien started the enterprise and
stuck to it for two or three years. Then
Bill Tilden took hold; then he hooked
up with Frank Hunter, and last year
Hunter and the late Howard Voshell
paired as sponsors.
Talk is that Howard Voshell would
be alive today had it not been for the
worry and arduous work which the
1887 tour demanded. III with cold,
despite advice of physicians and
friends. so goes the gossip, he remained
at the helm, incurred pneumonia and
50 gave his life. When the second Joint
tour of Vines and Perry was projected
Frank Hunter evidently had all he
wanted. At any rate, he disappeared
from the picture and Jack Harris took
hold.
Crowds Growing Smaller.
Fred and ELY made what they prob
ably regard as fair money during their
recent tour. It is estimated the two
protagonists will split about $4,000.
1t is the last split Of any fair size
they will ever make. Everywhere they
attracted much smaller crowds than
IN 1887, and at some places the frost
was thick. They will get sparse at
tention indeed next year unless Bulge
comes in, and If he doesn't pro tennis
will be practically dead.
AS to Bulge, no one, as said, has
any doubt that the national amateur
champion will go over if conditions for
the change are right.
why should he not turn pro this
year?" asked an important member
OF the national lawn tennis organ
tzation, HE has served his time as
an amateur and has served it well.
He has played the game. Turning
mercenary, he will leave the amateur
ranks with the friendship and good
wishes and respect of all associated
with amateur tennis"
Tennis His Best Asset.
The remark of another authority
was rather interesting, inasmuch as
1t emphasized how completely a boy
who has attained stature in tennis
and wishes to keep that stature must
concentrate upon his calling.
"Of course, Don will 60 over next
fall" he said. THE time Is exactly
ripe, and since he has been SO busy
at tennis for so long q time what
alternative has he? No business pros
poets, no profession, no calling out
side of sport. Delaying departure from
the amateur ranks another year would
be silly from his standpoint. The
motor car smash-up in which he fig
ured last winter shows how fate might
at any time intervene in this way or
IN fact q number of ways to end his
career on the courts"