Evening star., 1942-12-15
Athletic Groups
Plan Cautiously
For Next Year
Leaders Feel Ruling
From Monpower Head
Will Settle Issue
BY SID FEEDER,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

NEW YOtth, Dec. l5.-Recent &C
tivities in professional football and
baseball left the definite impression
today that sports generally have
decided not to get too far out on a
limb and so have adopted a mark
time" policy until there is some line
on their outlook for l943.
You can't blame the boys II they
don't want to do anything too
definite one. way or the other Just
now concerning c',rtailment, suspen-
sion or continuation of their affairs
for the duration, especially since no
one knows just what the situation
will be by next April or September.
So. until the fog lifts they're appar-
entity trying bravely to keep the
business as usual" sign out, with
certain necessary wartime variations.
You don't need crystal ball to
figure out that conditions are un-
certain, at best. for sports next year.
The reports going around Washing
ton yesterday at the National Foot
ball Leagues December meeting
were that there might eventually be
some ruling from Manpower Com
missioner Paul McNutt on just where
athletes and athletics fit into the
picture
Promoters Are Cautious.
One of these reports, heard by
some men In the league, was that
the place of spectator sports In
entertainment value for war work.
ers v\s being given consideration
and that eventually the green
light" might be given. But in the
meantime, the folks with invest
ments In sports promotions are
marking time.
This was more than a little obvi-
Gus when the National Football
League club owners failed to hold
their annual draft of graduating
college players yesterday at the De-
cember meeting, which is held each
year specifically for that purpose.
The owners did vote unanimously
to continue the leagues operations,
subject to whatever regulations or
conditions might arise" and then
adjourned until April. But since
the drafted players each year go to
make up almost half of the loops
entire playing personnel the fol-
lowing fall and since much of the
material available during the just
concluded campaign is headed for
armed service, you wondered just
what the owners had in mind for
gridironing talent for 43.
Baseball Awaits Rulings.
OF course, the draft could be held
at the regular meeting in April,
or any time Commissioner Elmer
Layden might call a get-together
for that purpose. In that case,
however. the moguls run smack into
the problems of where to begin
drafting on the graduating colleg-
ians, because most OF them, too,
are ear-marked for duty with Uncle
Sam.
Veteran baseball writer's, who have
covered" the major league meet
ings for years, point out that the
recent conclaves in Chicago had
less doing" and the least action of
any In a long lime. The loops went
through such motions as agreeing
to continue their 25-player club
limits, assigning their All-Star
game to Philadelphia next year and,
at the request Of the Ofice of De-
fense Transportation, began study
looking to the elimination of some
% 900 miles in travel for next years
pennant chases.
Yet, they, too, are looking forward
to any official ruling that may be
forthcoming, before they 60 all the
way In lining up their activities for
the immediate future.
Collegiate conference and Sec
tional meetings have been going
on in many parts Of the country
the last few weeks, but the wait
and see" attitude has been most
marked.
War Hits Boxing Steadily.
Boxing has felt a particularly
heavy touch Of war, because a great
portion of the flight wallopers
are in the armed forces and most
of those taking their place are dis
tinctively Of lower grade.
While one weaker member of a
team may be inserted in a football
or baseball lineup without attract
ing too much attention, a fight is a
case Of just one guy against anoth-
er. And some of the fights and
fighters around and about recently
have had an odor that wouldn't
be that of altar Of roses.