The Chronicle star the Moss Point advertiser., 1949-12-30
Report
From
Britain
BY James w. Silver
Head Ole Miss History Dept.l
Aberdeen, Scotland

VIZ w - 49, ~ ~
but who sometimes furtively
grasp at a straw which gives
promise of one more fling at
youth.
Several weeks ago | was
blessed with a very formal
letter from the secretary of the
Basketball Club Of the Aber-
deem University Athletic Asso-
citation announcing my unani-
nous selection as honorary
president for the coming sea-
son.
I took the blow in stride and
read further: Although il was
imported about 10 years ago.
basketball has not yet estab-
lished itself as a major sport
in the country. still being in
its infancy. Aberdeen unver-
siiY can claim 10 be a most dill
igent wet-nurse (perhaps n
of the wettest TO this infant
-. II was thought fitting that.
as an American coming from
the home of basketball. you
should be asked to accept this
hon. presidency"
In such fashion was shattered
an Illusion which had been rap
idly forming in my mind. At
first I thought my reputation
as coach of the famous Ellerbe,
N. c. high school team of 1927
% (without my services the
boys would have been state
champions), or as the star stand
ing forward of the Ole Miss
faculty club of the late thirties,
had preceded me into this land
of soccer and Gay reels.
| was completely ignorant of
the rights and duties of a "hon.
president" though l suspected
that these uncanny Scots could
do with a new ball or were an
ticipating a free dinner at the
end of the campaign.
After a period of modest in
decision, | accepted the sacred
trust in the interest of cordial
British American relations and
dashed off one cold rainy SAT-
urdaY afternoon to see my glad
iators take on The University of
Glasgow.
The game I saw simply could
not happen in America. 1t had
been advertised in obscure fash
ion and it took me 80 minutes
to find the only open door to
the Aberdeen Training School
where there was an improvised
court. | use that word advised
ly for here was a narrow old
gymnasium with exercise bars
of another era from floor to
ceiling and a regulation black
board replete with a frail little
basket at each end. Fifteen to
20 benumbed spectators (who
probably wanted to get out of
the rain) and the substitutes
scrambled to the top of the ex-
ercise bars to keep from being
trampled under foot in the
game, for the walls were out
of-bounds.
The Glasgow outfit sported a
half-dozen jerseys which gave
them the glow you would ex-
pect from the second team of
Junior boys in a Christian en-
deavor league. Stalwart Aber-
deem fielded a conglomeration
of swimming trunks, gym pants
of various c%olors, and regula-
ton tennis sneakers.
The young man who had
written me was draped in a
gray wooden handknitted slip
over which would have brought
on considerable scratching in
the heat of battle. but il was
evident from the start that his
chief aitainments were strictly
of a secretarial nature. Both
teams were shooting at one of
the goals with a single ball.
Upon my arrival the players
stopped practice long enough
for me to be introduced all
around. The captain of Aber-
deems team turned out TO be
a well knit colored boy from
the West Indies. an old timer
IN his third year of basketball.
Neither team had a coach. A
couple of byStanders were chos-
en- as referees and they did a
hang-up job without disearding
coats or ties. At no time was a
referees decision diSputed-in
fact, the most amiable of spirits
prevailed on both sides even
though the lads played fast and
furiously.
Only occasionally old the ball
reach the vicinity of the basket.
Glasgow led at the half Ga.
but pulled away as Aberdeen
wilted TO win easily at about
1873. At the half. one of the ref.
erees kindly explained TO the
grateful audience that each bas-
ket brought two points and
the fouls one apiece. Afterwards