Evening star., 1938-02-28
TABLE NET VICTOR
ABOVE EGAME'S[AW
SChih Permitted to Baq
Eastern Title, Despite
Rule Violations.
Bv BILL DISMER, Jr,

Local misinterpretation of a national
rule allowed the country's No. / table
tennis player, who should have been
disqualified in his semi-f1nal match, to
capture the Eastern championship at
Heurich's gym last night, District OFF,
Gals admitted today.
Such an opinion. reached after a
consultation with Carl zeisberfi, presi-
dent of the u S. T. T. A.. who was
witness of the rule violation, ap-
parently would have been welcomed
by the majority of crowd of $50
whose animosity toward Sol Schiff, the
eventual champion. developed from
gradual kissing into general booing.
The national rule says that when. in
any game. the ball has crdssed the net
more than Is times in one rally, the
current server automatically loses the
game The rule is an effort to stop
"chiseling," the name given to the
practice of players merely trying to
keep the pall in play without trying
to win the point.
Schih Ignores Rule.
Although the rule is supposed to
be general. local officials admitted that
tourney entrants had not been in
formed that it would apply and that
they did not deem it fair to impose it
suddenly IN the midst of the semi
final match which Schff was playing
with Isadore Bells. the country's elev-
enth national ranking paddler and
one OF its better junior tennis players.
But when one exchange in the fifth
and final game resulted in the ball
crossing the net 106 times by actual
count, the referee was instructed to
put the rule into play. Because he
never had been forced to play under
the rule. Schiff protested bitterly and
threatened to walk off the floor.
Morris Bassford, former president
of the D. c. T. T. A. and in charge
of Americas Swaythling Cup team
which went abroad and of which
Schiff was member. prevailed upon
Schiff to continue. Three times there
after. however. Schiff could have been
declared guilty of "chiseling,' accord
ing the national president. and the
match awarded to Bells
R0oter Upsets Bells.
AS matter of fact, it was a we'll
intended. but ill-timed bit of vocal
encouragement to Bells from a spec
tator that probably cost him the
match. For when he was leading
Schiff 1914, in the final game,
supporter yelled out in the midst of
a rally: Give it to him, Izzy." The
sudden Shrek visibly upset Bells. who
lost the point and 8 of the next IL and
the game. The scores of the entire
match were 1921, 2l-18, 1921. 1921.
1921
Schlff thereupon proceeded to beat
Jimmy jacobson of New Rochelle for
the championship, 22-20. 2l--17.
22-20 jacobson previously had elm
mated the last local hope and District
champion, Elias Schuman, 2l-ls.
2l-l0. Alt.
Other title matches. devoid of fire.
works. but not of excellent table tennis,
found Schift pairing with Emily
Fuller. the successfully defending
Women's champion, to win the mixed
doubles from Leslie Lowry and Mae
Clouther of Massachusetts. 2l-13,
21-l5, 21-19; jacobson and Lowry
getting revenge on Schiff by beating
him and Lloyd Waterson for the mems
doubles crown, ALL. 2l-18. 2O-22,
16-2l. 2l-19. and Miss Fuller WIN
ming the women's singles from Mrs.
Clouther, 21-16, 21-ll, Alb.