The Apache sentinel., 1945-03-23
Pro Cage Title
Glanced in Chi.

The New York Renaissance and
the Harlem Globetrotters are out
to try to defeat the FIT. Wayne Zoll-
ners in the contest to determine the
World Champions in the profess
sional basketball world. This meet
will be held in Chicago.
At present the Fort Wayne Zoll-
ners hold this title and as it looks,
they will retain it. However. both the
Rens and the Globetrotters stand a
slight chance.
During the war crisis, neither of
these great Negro teams will sparkle
with brilliance as in pre-War days.
Court experts still believe that Ft.
Wayne will win because they have
Bobby McDermCtt, who is regarded
as the top player in pro ball today,
under their colors Yet they still re-
gard the Rens and the Globetrotters
as being capable of knocking the
Zollners out of the tournament
The outlook of the zollners would
not be so bright, if the Rens were in
tact. This famous New York cage
team has lost three of it's best play
ers to the Long Island Grummans, a
mixed team representing an aircraft
corporation. The players lost are
Dolly King, Pop Gates, and Charles
Isles, all employed by Grumman and
play under those colorS. Any team
having three. players of the above
named caliber is to be regarded as a
cOntant threat in the tournament
and throughout basketball.
Pop Gates is the best Negro pro-
fessicnal basketball player in the
game today. He might be better
than McDermott. Both can do every
thing and exceptionally well. King is
we'll known a in basketball circles,
since he starred with Long Island
University few years and later.
with the Rens and Washington
Bears. King is a coed pro player and
is very dangerous man in the pivot.
He isn't as good as Gates or Nc
Dermott. This is due to his tempera-
ment and at times he poutS if things
aren't as he thinks they should be-
Dolly's ability to play basketball is
his worst foe at times. When he isn't
feeling good," he may take it out on
the press, promoters or even the guy
sitting next to him. On the average,
his playing is good and he earns
every cent paid to him as player.
Charlie Isles ranks with the hardest,
roguhest and toughest courtmen.
He's a good player and above all
team man.. Pro promoters regard him
as driver" and d player always on
the move. In a close game, he's al
ways in there punching. These three
men make the GrummanS the team
they are and may be the next world
champs.
For the Rens, the bulk of the bat
tie will depend on zack Clayton,
Puggy Bell and Hank Dezonie. The
rest are average players. Clayton,
Bell, and DeZonie rate among the
best. Clayton and Bell have been "in
the racket" longer than ,Dezonie and
experience means a lot, DeZoni,
standing 6 feet inches can be good
when he wants but at times is like
Dolly King. Overall, the fate of the
Rens depends on how well the Big
Three" play and may be able to win
their second pro title.
The Harlem GlcbetrctterS are in
the same boat as the Rens. They are
counting on Bernie Price, Babe
Presley and Duke Cumberland COM
ing through. Their reserves are very
limited and Price, Presley and Cum
berland must turn the tide. Price,
who captains the squad, has been a
great shooter all season and this, if
done in the tournament, may be one
of the deciding factors. Presley and
Cumberland teamed with Price con-
stitute one of the best trios on the
floor in pro ball. If they aren't too
tired from their recent tour of the
Western states, they may still win
the tournament.