Evening star., 1940-07-31
The
SPoRTLIGH7
Sports to Feel Druft
Strongly Next Yeor
BY GRANTLAND RICE,
Special Correspondent of The Star.

BY CRANTLAND RICE,
Special Correspondent of The Star.
NEW YORK, July 81 tNA.N.AJ.-
As an advance note to the rumble
of the distant drums, possibly not
so far distant, the point comes up
regarding the effect of the draft on
competitive sport-football, boxing,
baseball, racing and the rest of it.
1t generally is recognized that
every form of competitive sport,
professional and amateur, is COM
pletely secondary to the call for
this country's defense. 1t also must
be understood that an athlete, on
the younger side, should be better
equipped for military purposes than
any one else. The trained athlete
is supposed to have the stamina and
the coordination needed for any
form of Army, Navy or Air Service
work.
1t hardly is possible, however,
that the draft will have any Sc
rious effect on the late summer or
fall campaign. 1t hardly will go
into effect until the World Series is
over and the football teams have
just about finished their schedules.
If members of the R. o. T. c..
are called out shortly, this may af-
feet any number of teams and in
stitutions that have military side,
such as Tennessee, Texas A and M.
and Georgia Tech. In fact, most
of the State universities would be
hit. If present plans are rushed
through, this might have a very
vital effect on many teams this
fall which, is, of course. unimpor-
tant, compared to national defense.
But it will be far different story
in l94l, when the draft sweep
could include many well-known
names in amateur and professional
sport.
Texos Aeeies Likely
To Be Hord Hit
have been asked just what will
become of Texas A. and NJ, for
example.
Texas A. and M. has one of the
star football line-ups of the year
one of the great teams of football
Texas A. and M. also has strong
military system, and at least 10
members of the football squad be-
long and are subject to the Gov
ernment's military call on quick no
tice.
When I dropped in at Georgia
Tech with Bill Alexander and Bob
by Dodd they showed me the en-
phasis Georgia Tech was placing on
both Army and Navy training with
the best-looking bunch of young,
smart recruits have seen in many
years. Both units were under the
command of experienced Army and
Navy officers. And they included
many stars on Techs high-class
football team, with which Alexan-
der and Dodd have proved that
brains can meet Drawn on more
than even terms.
Looking a year ahead. what will
happen to such star as Bob Feller,
the Cleveland Cyclone? He will be
only one of many who will have to
answer the call of the bugle.
Not Much Help Expected
From Nations Boxers
The same thing will apply to pro-
fessional football Both pro and COL
lege football will be heavily depleted
a year from now. So will pro base
ball unless some form of miracle
takes place that can't be seen this
far ahead.
1t would make no great difference
as far as boxers are concerned, since
there are only three or four around
who are important in their sport.
Most of the present crop are just
fllers-in for ballyhoo program.
Most OF them can't even fight lick
at the game they follow. They
might make better soldiers, but they
are not to be compared with ath-
letes in other games
There always will be competitive
sports in this country.
Football, baseball and the rest of
It will suffer nothing, or little, this
next fall But there will be many,
many changes as far as 1941 is con-
cerned. You can write that down.
And this is the way it should be.
Why should there be any exception
for the type that should be the best
for the country's defense? After ALL
national emergency isn't picnic
Football Develops
Officer Material
Gen. Douglas Macarthur once told
me that if he had his way West
Point would consist of 1900 football
players, for the good of the Nation.
Why?
Because" he said, football play
ers on general average make the
best officers"
Gen. Macarthur was 100 per cent
right. Football players also make
the best non-coms and the best
fighting men, with the same train
ing
I'm speaking here of the general
average. They have to be in better
physical shape. They know what
the rougher competition means.
The future still is heavy with fog
and mist No one can see through
the clouds. But it is quite evident
that the main need is the best pos
sible fighting defensive force-sea,
air and land-that the country can
find.
This problem is sure to bring about
Snf1ae Sfa rtlifao cha nueS in football