Evening star., 1946-12-18
|Bribe Case Outcome
Ito Guide Owners at
January Meeting
BY Lewis F. Atchison

By Lewis F. Atehison
National Football League club
owners have a whole month to
ponder their narrow escape from a
BLACK Sox" gambling scandal in
last weeks championship play-of at
New York, but just how they will
combat the betting evil is not clear
at this time. The matter will come
up at the mid-winter meeting at
Chicago, January %, "a and Is, when
a 1947 schedule will be adopted and
action will be taken on rule changes
proposed yesterday by the coaches
at New York.
Commissioner Bert Bell made the
first move yesterday to discourage
gambling, asking that the try for
extra point be eleminated. Bell,
whose handling of the attempted
bribery of Merle Hapes and Frank
Filchock earned him a handsome
new five-year contract, disclosed
that Miami gambler telegraphed
him for information whether the
extra point would be attempted in
the event of sudden death play-off
in the title game.
"That is a good indication of how
important one point is In the gam
bling Odds" Bell said, And I think
it would help eliminate some betting
if we took it out. After all, few OF
our games are decided by one point
It's practically automatic with most
teams and I don't think 1t adds to
the game"
Suggestion Is Rejected.
The commissioner suggestion fell
on deaf ears. Assistant Coach Luke
Johnsos Of the Chicago Bears said
gamblers would find another way OF
making odds If the extra point was
dropped and his cohorts agreed with
him. But Bells proposal undoubt-
edly will be revived next month al
the owners meeting. Yesterdays
action was not final. AL changes
okayed by the coaches must be ap-
proved by eight Of the 10 club
owners before becoming official, and
even those proposals not adopted
yesterday may be brought up again
by a minority report.
1t is plain the league must take
some positive action to show the
public it not only wants to dis
courage betting but will take vigor-
OILS action to prevent it. Article x
section /, of the league constitution
prohibits betting on games, and any
transgressor is subject to expul-
sion, but the rule does not cover q
situation such as that which arose
in New York last week. A new code
to plug this hole is expected in
January.
Whatever the league does will be
guided by the outcome of the bribery
case against Alvin Paris in New
York. There seems to be no legal
ground for holding Hapes, who was
approached by the dapper novelty
salesman, but did not accept bribe
Filchock denies even receiving q
direct offer from Paris in return foI
throwing the game, and has been
completely exonerated of any
wrong-doing. But the outcome OF
the court trial will guide Bell and
the owners in drawing up what they
hope win be an alright rule to pre-
vent players from consorting with
gamblers and to discourage bettors
from seeking association with the
players.
Fifth Official Approved.
At least one rule change okayed
by the coaches yesterday was aimed
directly at the Chicago Bears, who
voted against it. Eight clubs voted
for a fifth official to patrol mo
mans land" or that territory on
the opposite side of the field from
the head linesman. Greasy Neale
of Philadelphia also voted against
putting another whistle-blower" or
the field.
Coach Turk Edwards, remember
ing the wave of injuries that Grip
pied his Washington Redskins anC
blasted their Eastern title hopes
persuaded the meeting to approve
faster whistle" on the part o.
officials. This, he said, would elm.
mate lot of unnecessary rough.
ness, resulting in numerous injurie:
that occur long after the ball obvi.
ously is dead.
The coaches said yes to new
tangled idea to permot the team
scored on to have its choice O
receiving or kicking off, but this il
certain to be rejected at Chicago
The sudden-death idea for regular
league games was disapproved or
the ground that games in unlightec
parks would continue in total dark
ness and in other places might g
on all night,
Redskins Win Changes.
The Redskins also got their pie,
to have a chance of declining tn
penalty for delaying game, ant
successfully asked to have a tr,
for extra point ruled dead when tn
ball is blocked. Teams still ma.
try a pass or rush, but when ,
kick fails there will be no chanc
to run the ball across.
The coaches decided to return II
previous rule forbidding the run
out Of punt or a field goal attemp
when it goes into the end zone
They also asked that when a pass
incomplete in the end zone it shal
be treated like any other throw
with penalty enforced from tn
previous spot. Formerly this wa
an automatic safety.
They rejected Neale's plea for
more liberal clipping rule and afte
much haranguing decided not, t
4 change the substitution rule.