The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-04-13
This
World
Basketball Bows
Out With Dignity
By JOHN A. CLUNEY

1t would be difficult to imagine a
nicer closing of the basketball sea-
son IN any city, town or hamlet of
this country, than that which mark
ed the local farewell of the hoop
sport last night at the YMCA.
Coming, as it did, the night after
the championship game of the In
dustrial league. and with the Amer
lean Red Cross as the chief and only
beneficiary, the entire affair was a
complete SucceSS-athletically, So
cially and financially.
Major share of credit for the sue
cess goes to one individual, Tom
Wagner, Waterbury-born basketball
star of the 1920'S whose ability as
q guard for Crosby. Manlius and
the University of Pennsylvania was
never questioned. 1t was he who
arranged for the appearance of the
New Haven division, FBI squad in
this city, a stellar attraction, in
deed, for he got them to play for
the American Red Cross shortly
after their impressive win over the
strong Wesleyan Navy Coaches of
Middletown, who have shown In Wa
terbury for the Infantile PARALYSIS
Fund.
Wagner rounded up his gang
to give him a lift with the many
details necessary for the proper
handling of the affair. There was
Bill Pierpont, the husky jeweler,
Jack Creedon, Of Root and Boyd
and Magner's brother, Sergeant
Jim OF the PD. Pierpont took
tickets at the door, Creedon sold
them and jim made himself gen.
orally useful. Chick Kelley, sports
editor Of the American accom-
plished the work of three men In
making contacts for the sale of
tickets, after having 1000 of them
printed, dashing around to get
them in as many places as posi-
BILE. within short time. The
YMCA people. Herb Smith and Joe
Rimany in particular donated the
gym for the game and helped with
details. IRA committee members,
George Ryan, Ed McGrath, Jack
Henry and the various plant rep
resentativeS jumped in the min
ute their cooperation was asked,
took more than 300 tickets which
were distributed to labor and
management; and l6 players from
all ten members of the league
readily consented to play one
more game at the end of tough
and trying season. AS expected,
the FBI came up with a good
team, were given plenty of ac-
ton by the local lads while d.
rected by Ronnie Phillips from
the bench, Syracuse All-America
player who did not play last night
because of an injured leg. All
in all, the affair was a grand sue
cess, for which Tom Wagner and
the local sportswriters, compris-
ing the sponsoring committee, are
deeply grateful.
There were plenty of laughs, too
especially at the auction, when
Comrade Robert Angelo Kelly. the
well-known man-about-town bid on
bath salts and powder set which
was knocked down to him for FIFTY
CENTS value $3.50 and a ladies'
handbag for 800 which sells for
three dollars more in any local
store. DR.. Joe May parted with $14
for pair Of NYLON stockings and
$500 for a dozen golf balls which
he hopes to keep on the fairways
for the first three weeks of the sea-
son. Uncle Harry DeVorken's en-
trance to the game was delayed by
some slight difficulty at the door,
and somebody bought a COFFEE
BREWER, thinking it was quart Of
10 year old Rye. All money from
the merchandise auction went to the
Red Cross War Fund, which is the
IMPORTANT part of the situation.
When it was all over, everyone con-
cerned with the presentation and
promotion of the game felt he had
done his bit for an organization
which rates as much money and
blood as any American can possibly
afford.
once again, folks. to those Of
you who helped with your half-dol-
lars and more, the committee is
deeply grateful, for you will hear a
great deal more about the Ameri-
can Red Cross after the European
INVASION gets under way. and it
will be comforting TO be able to say
to YOURSELF DID MY BIT WHEN
HAD THE CHANCE.