Evening star., 1945-10-20

pll1c 1lSllt OF o"en NAeiies''
football or baseball game, say the
sports writers, what we get mostly
Is fiction and they think that isn't
right.
The recent series of baseball
games between the Chicago Cubs
and the Detroit Tigers which re-
suited in the Tigers being declared
the champions of the universe, ap-
pears to have brought the matter
to head. If we can believe what
the sports writer's wrote each day
and they seemed to be pretty unani-
nous about it-that was the worst
series of baseball games ever played
outside girls seminary or a home
for the aged and infirm. If we can
believe what we heard on the radio,
each days game was the most
thrilling battle since little David
waded into Goliath with his sling
shot.
Demands Of Sponsor.
The sports writers say they under
stand how this discrepancy occurs.
1t is due, they say, to the conditions
under which the radio reporters
operate. The radio reporter simply
must make the game or the fight
exciting from beginning to end. If
he let's down and lapses into real
ism for a moment he is likely to
lose his audience. And like any
body else who makes his living on
the air, losing his audience means
losing his sponsor. The sponsor
demands that the broadcaster keep
the customers glued to their receiv-
ers lest the fragrance of the COM
mercial announcements be wasted
on the deserted air.
That's the way the sports writers
explain it, but it is possible that
they are unfair to their radio
brethren. 1t is possible that the
radio boys are not commercial
minded, but just the reverse. The
broadcaster, it may be, conceives of
his listeners as people who have
either tuned in to be entertained,
regardless of who licks whom, or
people whose hopes are tied up
with one of the contestants.
Well, the broadcaster could tell
himself, there is certainly more
entertainment in an exciting contest
than there is in dull contest, sc
let's make it exciting; it doesn't
hurt anybody.
AS for the earnest fireside rooters
pulling for Old Siwash, the broad
caster could ask, why not keep them
happy as long as possible even after
it has become clear that Old ST.
wash hasn't got dogs chance; why
not let 'em believe that a succession
of miracles may yet occur?
Congress, Play by Play.
This armchair sports addict is
inclined to be on the side of the
sports writer's. but for reasons hav-
ing nothing to do with sports. One
of these days, as sure as we're born,
the networks are going to start COW
ering Congress, play by play. And
when that happens I don't want
to listen to any fairy tales. I don't
want to be told that the Battle of
the Century is in progress when
nothing more is happening than a
dull discourse by a dull speaker or
a dull subject. Think of the posi-
hilities:
Radio reporter: This is getting
good, fans! Don't go away. Sena-
tor Wheeler is warming up and Is
liable to split an inflnitive at any
moment! And Senator Taft is get.
ting to his feet. The stamina of thai
Ohio bulldog! He's been on his fee
all day, but he's still going strong
He's facing the chair. He's about
to open his mouth. He's got il
open! Listen now; I'll try to catch
his exact words. No, it's feint
He's not going to speak! He's NOV.
ing into the back field. 1t looks like
the Republicans are trying out q
new play or that they're expecting