Evening star., 1952-04-29
Judge Streit Lambasts
Kentucky U. Officials;
Eases Stars Penalty
Says College Must Share
Responsibility With
Basketball Fixers
By the Associated Press

NEW YORK, April 29.-General
Sessions Judge Saul S. Streit to-
day gave suspended sentences to
three former University of Ken
lucky basketball stars for con-
spring to shave points on a bas-
ketball game and declared the
university coach Adolph Rupr
must share the responsibility"
The players. Alex Groza, Ralph
Beard and Dale Barnstable, mem
bers of Kentucky's fabulous five
of 1948 and 1949, were placed or
indefinite probation" Kentucky
represented America in the 194f
Olympic Games at London.
The three players had pleaded
guilty to fixing the point spread
in a National Invitation Tourna-
ment game with the Loyola OF
Chicago in Madison Square Gar
den March IA, 1949. Loyola won,
67-56. in a resounding upset.
Hits Use of Scholarships.
The judge issued his statement
before giving the suspended
sentances to the three former
stars. He described the extended
use of athletic scholarships IN
certain American colleges as 1.-The
darkest blot on American college
athletics"
Judge Street asserted the de-
PENDANTS and other athletes of the
teams with the full
of the coach, were
covertly subsidized in violation of
amateur rules" that unqualified
students were matriculated on
athletic scholarships" and that
"cribbing at examinations by these
was encouraged and
tolerated by university officials.
Last November and December,
Judge STREET, a tall, dapper, bach
elor of SO, blasted the CONNER
cialism and over-emphasis' on
athletics in the Nations schools
In sentencing other players and
fixers then, he blamed college au-
thorities, alumni and coaches for
widespread corruption and la
belled the attitude of many big
time coaches as "despicable.
Described as Racket.
Today he spoke out as plainly
He characterized the athletic
scholarship racket" as the most
fruitful device and scheme yet in
vented to destroy the amateur
CODE"
After citing the arguments of a
number of college officials in favor
of athletic scholarships, Judge
Streit declared:
"1t is appalling to contemplate
that American universities. the
of all our ethics,
morals and culture. continue to
sponsor the athletic scholarships
racket.
The judge noted that in addition
to Groza, Beard and Barnstable,
two other former members of the
Kentucky varsity basketball team
had admitted accepting bribes in
intercollegiate games, and that a
sixth had been indicted for per-
Jury. He also noted that a sew
enth athlete. a former member of
the varsity football team. had
pleaded guilty to bribing partici-
pants in an amateur game.
Exploitation of Athletes.
He added:
I found that intercollegiate
basketball and football at the
of Kentucky have been
highly systematized and CONNER
cialized enterprises; covert sub
sidization of players. ruthless
of athletes. cribbing
at examinations. illegal recruit
ing, a reckless disregard of their
physical welfare, matriculation of
students, demoraliza-
ton Of athletes by the coach,
alumni and townspeople and the
most fragrant abuse Of the 'ath-
letic scholarship
"The present athletic scandal
at Kentucky, and the plight of
these defendants can be traced
to the inordinate desire
by the trustees and alumni of
Kentucky University for prestige
and profit from sports"
Earlier Story on P.e A-ss'