The Washington times., 1938-01-19


come close to filling, the Garden.
But a sports scribbler with a
column such as this to fill every
week can't devote it to Braddock
and Farr for an entire week.
There isn't that much untold
story in the two noble gladiatorS
put together.
The result is that at this time
of the year the ColumniStS Of the
fraternity are apt to take to
heckling one another. Some OF
it friendly heckling. Some not so
friendly. Some in good taste,
some bad.
ANfIABLE DISCUSSIONS
Not. I hope. because I am a
pollyanna, but because l be-
lieve that readers prefer pleas
ant reading about sports, this
space is generally given over to
amiable discussion of current
events in its field. 1t is my idea
that sports are for Sportsmen
and that their purpose is to
amuSe and entertain.
If they fail to do that, they
are not worth while. And that
is also true of the stories we
write about them. A good sports
story should be at least as thrill
ing as the event itself.
It is my conviction and con-
tention that the sports pages
of this country give a fair ratio
of entertainment value, in sea-
son and out. That no part of
the American scene is more
thoroughly and accurately and
honestly reported.
TAKES EXCEPTION
That's why am going to take
exception to certain statements
In Walter Winchell's program
for elevating the standards of
Journalism.
Walter writes:
There ought to be better
reporting on the sports pages.
All the sports columnists and
baseball editors proclaim from
time to time that Babe Ruth will
never work as a major league
manager. Why, somebody must
know. If any other industry
operated that kind of freeze
out Senator La Toilette would
have its leaders squirming."
I question that many COM
petent sports writer's ever said
that Ruth would never work as
a major league manager. Ger
tainly not all of them have said,
and those who did were guessing
and taking in a lot of territory.
There is no organized boycott
against Babe in baseball. No
secret league against him. No
untold tale of why he is on the
Sidelines.
WANTED TOP BERTH
Putting a long story in a few
words: Ruth insisted on be-
coming a big manager right off
the reel because he had been the
biggest player. 1t doesn't work
that way. Not in baseball or
any other business. 1t is con
ceivable that Winchell, bril-
liant columnist, might not be a
brilliant managing editor.
Ruth is older and wiser now.
He'll start with a minor league
team when he gets the chance.
And, barring the unforeseen,
he'll get the chance. If he makes
good, he will in time step into a
managers job in the majors.
The professors second point
begins:
There should be more strife
between the rags. -"
And, inferentially, between
the writer's. Okay. 1t so hap
pens that Winchell, in common
with most Broadway chron
iclers, is not at his happiest
when he invades the realm o.
sports.
HYPE EXPLOITS ANGLE
Four or five days after the
Schmeling Thomas fight, Walter
announced that no reporter GOV
ering the fight had noted that
Thomas had been on the flool
eight times and only taken
count of three or four, all told
Probably a record. Hype Igo'
had devoted almost his entir,
story to that angle the da,
after the fight.
Another time. and all the wa,
from Los Angeles, by golly, tn
old professor announced that /
was a dandy press agent hokun
story about having the old figh
manager die in Max Schmt
ling's dressing room at the Var
kee Stadium. And it was.
corker! Only the press agen
overplayed his hand a little
They had to bury the old fe
low.
I like Winchell and admir-
the tremendous success he ha
made of his newspaper career
He should strive, however, to n
member that, present compan
always excepted, those VIII
write and edit sports pages ar
apt TO know the score in thei
own private domain. Kee
pHnching, typewriter!