Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-04

g., Ing my years as
sports writer
Henry McLemore. is Of them, If
the historians care to know didn't
realize the hardships and suffering
that sports writer's endure. 1t was
not until I quit being one, with only
occasional returns to the profession,
that began fully to understand the
perils Of the craft.
A few days ago, because Of cir.
cumstance and train schedules,
found myself in Atlanta on the eve
of the Alabama Georgia football
game. Like an old flrehorse who
hears the four alarm bell, I volun-
teered my services to Ed Danforth,
the sports editor of the Atlanta
Journal.
1t was Mr. Danforth who gave me
my first job, back in the late and
not lamented eos. He is still trying
to live down the shame Of having
launched me in belles-lettres. He
still recalls with horror the first
day I went to work for him at the
handsome salary of 81 a week. On
my first morning he threw clip
ping from the morning paper on
my desk and told me to re-write it.
I remember the clipping. 1t con-
cerned a polo game between Fort
Mcpherson and Fort Benning.
Knowing nothing about polo Cup
until then the nearest thing to a
polo pony I had ever seen was the
mule, Jarhead. on my Uncle Clabe's
farm I simply copied the story,
word for word To me the word
''re-write" meant to improve. See
ing couldn't improve on the story
let 1t stand. When the paper came
out with the exact story carried by
the morning paper my salary was
cut to So week.
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But wander. Back to the
hazardous business of sports writing.
A sports writer is immune to any
and all temperatures. One of the
first things taken into consideration
when building stadium or park or
any building for the housing Of
spectators at sporting event is the
location Of the press box. 1t must
be so placed that no matter where
the wind and the snow come from
they must strike the sports writer's
in the face or the back of the neck.
1t also must be so located that the
sun, when it is shining, beats di.
rectly down on the press.
AS rangers or commandos the
sports writer's could be sent to such
climates as Iceland oreEgypt with
out preparation. The coolest spot
in the world is not in the Arctic
Circle. 1t is in the second row OF
the press box at Franklin Field.
Philadelphia, just as the hottest
spot is not in Africa. but in the
Polo Grounds press rotisserie.
Food would never be a problem to
sports writer. not after eating
swhat press relations men serve them
between halves of football game.
The man who worked out the be-
tween-halves menu studied dietetics
at the Baldwin Locomotive Works.
The idea of the food is to keep the
press happy and make them feel as
if the university had their interests
at heart.
So they serve recapped doughnuts,
tea that was salvaged from the
Boston tea party and sandwiches
made Of plastic material, which
now, thank heaven, is on the priority
list.
Occasionally they serve small
bottle Of spirits which is of the same
quality that caused the old colored
plantation worker to tell his boss.
after being given bottle Of whisky,
that 1t was perfect. "It's perfect" 5he
said, because If 1t was any better
you wouldn't have given it to me,
and If 1t was any worse I couldn't
have drunk It,"
That's old know, but It's per-
feet illustration of the sort of 1884,
spiked DR.. Pepper that the univer-
sity St. Bernards serve the press
between halves.
A sports writer has to keep in per-
feet physical condition. Press boxes
are always built just two steps this
side Of the shakespeare. That's why
games are always played in the af-
ternoon; the press has to spend the
morning climbing to their seats
among the angels.
When I volunteered to help Mr..
Danforth cover the Georgia Ala
bama game he took one look at me
and shook his head.
"You won't do" he said. you're
out Of shape. Your 10 months away
from sports writing have softened
you up. You couldn't take It. 1t
would be criminal to send you out
with the hard-bitten, lean, tough
sports writer's. You 60 help the So
ciety editor gather the names of
prominent persons occupying the
boxes"
So I did.
Distributed by McNaught Syndicate. Inc }
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