The Wilmington morning star., 1945-12-12
-zr Cat Cagers Drop Shipyard Five, 50-30
SIDELINES
By Edward K. Sachs
Star Sports Editor

OA1 0tOA AsSSS 6As A0Ot1u&
Shuney Brittian to the effect that
Wilmington's bid for a franchise
in the Piedmont league was moi
promptly handled, brought a
prompt reply from Jimmie Wade
the man who did most of the talk.
ing when the city made its offer.
Shunney pointed out that the pic
lures of American Legion were
not sufficient for the Piedmont Of
ficials as they showed more of the
running track than the baseball
field. The absence of representa-
tive from Wilmington at the Colum.
bus meeting also handicapped the
local offer, Brittian said.
Wade answered these charges by
saying that the pictures were in a
form of a panorama and showed
the entie stadium. He said that he
had told the Piedmont directors
he would come to Columbus if
necessary but was informed that
the data he had prepared would
be sufficient.
We think that Wade has missed
the point of the matter.
First, of course the data he had
prepared was sufficient for the
Piedmont directors. They didn't
want Wilmington in the league and
a picture of the Cape Fear hotel
would have been enough for their
purpose of refusing this city's
offer.
Second, as a real estate man,
Wade knows that when you are
trying to sell an idea to a reluc-
tant customer, the personal touch
is important. After the directors
had left Wilmington, this city's
chances of getting Piedmont
league franchise were about as
good as New Hanover Highs foot
ball team beating Army. That was
the time, more than any other to
exert pursuance, # the franchise.
We think Wade did very fine
job through most of the dealings.
He spent his own time and money
trying to bring organized baseball
to Wilmington.
However, in view of his state
ment yesterday that he agreed
with Brittian that the negotiations
were doomed from the beginning,
may we suggest that it would have
been a good idea at that point for
Wilmington to start looking around
for a berth in another organization.
As the matter stands now. Will
mington's sports fans are without
any organized baseball for the
coming season.
Brittian also suggested the for
nation Of an organization in this
city-on the lines OF Charlotte's
Quarterback Club-which would be
composed of businessmen and civic
leaders who are interested in
sports and seeing that better sports
are brought to this city.
In the form of a luncheon club,
the group would invite leading
athletic figures-such as univer-
sity football mentors-to speak at
their meetings. Motion pictures of
outstanding sports events could be
shown at the meetings.
The club would also be nucleus
around which efforts could build
to bring college football games,
baseball clubs and other sports
features to Wilmington.
The sports world should return
to normal next Sunday when the
Washington Redskins get the holy
heck knocked out of them by the
Cleveland Rams. Not that the win
ming of the professional champion
ship by the Ohio club is a normal
event. The Rams have never fin
ished above the third spot in the
Western division.
The return to normally will be
marked when young team wins
the event instead of a bunch of
has-beens who 60 back to the
thirties for their best days.
In the past week, sports fans
have had a chance to see just how