The Wilmington morning star., 1945-11-20
ARMY, PRO CHAMP
BATTLE BOOSTED
By WILLIAM TUCKER
United Press Sports Writer

NEW YORK, Nov. 10. -UD-
The argument would rage incon-
clusively through the years other
wise-so Why can't the magnifi-
cent Army football team meet the
champion of the National PROBES
sional league on Christmas day for
the benefit of crippled veterans OF
World War II?
Such a spectacle staged in New
York, Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleve-
land or Chicago would settle to
everybody's satisfaction the ques-
ton of whether a perfect amateur
football team, as Army is now gen.
orally conceded to be, can lick a
top-fight pro team.
With all the proceeds above bare
expenses ear-marked for the dis
abled Veterans Organizations, they
should serve to tear down all the
barriers against it. West Point Of
ficials have been flirting with the
idea of Army participating in a
bowl game anyway, preferably the
Rose Bowl.
But even they must admit now
that a game between Army and
any college in any bowl could only
bring a repetition of the Saturday
after Saturday slaughter Of the
best campus elevens that could be
thrown into the NAV Of the Army
moleskin machine.
An Army meeting with the pro
champ even as far west as Chicago
also would drastically cut down
the travelling time and expense
that Rose Bowl trip would entail.
After the Cadets sWab down the
Navy on Dec. l in Philadelphia,
there should be ample time for a
game with the pros without inter-
fering too much either with their
December examinations or their
year-end leave.
AS for the pros, they probably
would respond with alacrity not
only because of the charity angle
but because they have read too
much about the Army and would
be glad to settle on the gridiron the
question of which aggregation is
superior.
The Cadets opponent, as of now,
probably would come from one of
four teams-Cleveland and Detroit
in the Western Division of the
National League and Washington
and Philadelphia in the Eastern
bracket.
The professional play-off game
will be played about the second
week in December, providing plen-
ty of time to arrange for the Army
pro game, perhaps in the home
city of the National League cham
pion. Washington would almost
have to be ruled out because of its
limited seating capacity but if the
Redskins win the title the game
could be transferred to Baltimore,
Philadelphia or New York. We
guarantee it would be sell-out no
matter where it were played.
Before this idea can gain any
ground, a lot higher authority than
this department will have to pro-
pose an Army-pro champ game for
the football crown of the universe.
We can think of no one better than
President Truman, who as Com
mander-In-Chief of the Army and
Navy could challenge the Nation
al League champion on behalf of
the U. S. Military Academy. We
have an idea that the play-for-pay
people would accept the challenge
if issued from that quarter.
The old notion that amateur ath-
letes lack the physical equipment
to meet the more experienced pros
has been pretty well blast
ed by the excellent showing of col
legians in the annual all-star game
against the National Leaguers.
Any lingering doubts have been
shattered by the sight of Glenn
Davis and Doc Blanchard on the
move. Maybe they can't run over
and around the pros like they do
the collegians. But they look like
guys who won't get hurt trying.