Evening star., 1956-12-24
WIN, LOSE OR
GNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
LuII Before the Storm

NINE OR MORE PROFESSIONAL football players in
cudng respected Kyle of the Giants and Norm Van
of Rams, will be trying up union this
in New York and bhooves them to be alert and stand
firm They going get anything easily except
ments from the National League clubowners.
The plain truth is that the and their commits
soner Bell making like osriches for years
Whenever the questions of pay for exhibition games,
a minimum wage scale, pension plan and opposition to
the college draft brought they bury their heads
In the sand Occasionally coming for air. they mo-
MOI" and dunk their heads again.
Well if the player representatives stick by their guns
the baseball fraternity did not they will
have to win out Or at least gain concessions 1t is
ridiculous for the clubownerS to suppose that football
which had it good financially as now will remain
100 per dominated by their rules The performers have
certain nalienable rights 1t is hard to work crying jag
on behalf of the owners
CREIGHTON MILLER, FORMER Notre Dame star and
Cleveland attorney the Norman Lewis of pro foot
ball What Miller and the player representatives will demand
after this weeks meeting is conectura but not highly
The of dissatisfaction too we'll known.
The idea of playing half dozen exhibition
for before the National League starts
is ridiculous Few if cubowners fail to harvest
from exhibitions And few if any pro fail to
lose one or more players via injury.
the middle of July, when the National League
training until the end of September when they
begin playing for keeps most of the players unsaared
Some given token handouts of $40 to $25 week for
laundry cigarettes although Philadelphia Eagles put
sufficient pressure their front Office to demand $50
exhibition for rockies and 500 for veterans 1t is not mpos
unprecedented,
six eghtgame exhibition batterng and then release him
the of the official season.
majority of the pro players married and have kids
Naturally they would like enough in training while
squads being pared from go 70 the limit
to pay the rent
IN BASEBALL THERE is pension plan, thanks to the
aertnesS and stubbornneSs of such Bob Fr Ralph Kner
and few others If you last 10 years the majors you qualify
for modest pension The football players want something
that order too, and you can't blame them.
lie Inn m hn
raised few days there occasion to talk to Cliff
Battles the Washington representative for Detroit
engineering firm Those who in late for the Redskins
Washington debut in 1887 missed Battles who absolutely
the greatest ball Nations Capital
Cliff played only that year in Washington Even
than Sammy Baugh he the first of two Redskins world
After the Chicago Bears beaten in
matte title payoff, and while the Redskins touring
coastocoast to exploit their title Battles disclosed that he
quitting
But you're only % years old you led league in
ground gaining and you're al-pro halfback!"
strated newspaperman on the barnstorm.
so STILL MADE LESS than s27Oo last year. Battles
replied III probably raise but it won't be 00O
And that is what I've been offered by Little an
assistant to him at Columbia"
There is no intent here to pour salt wounds
For Battles in the doghouse Of George Pres
ton Marshall boss of the Redskins that Marshals
salary figures differed from those of Battles according
the one time
George paid S256 game" Cliff now says Multiply
that by 10 He showed figures prove me wrong
but those included the exhibitions after the
ponship got 500 for each exhibition In turn showed
newspaperman my true salary from the exhibitions
and he published it,
Marshall was pretty at me. guess. but it's all
smoothed over and don't want to stir up anything"
NonetheeSS points up the woefu underpayment Of pro
footballs earlier heroes
IT is THE CONTENTION Of Marshall and presumably
that OF George Haa of the Chicago Bears owners
that is be had college talent that It is
presumpous the Of player representatives to attack
That brings up the most important point perhaps OF all
the annual draft
The football pros have been reading for some years
where the Pirates Tigers Phes and Red Sox have
been paying unted schooboy baseball players bonuses up
TO 100000 to sign About half mustard but they
had bargaining rights The National Football Leagues coll
lege draft bans such privilege The big college star at
Southern Cal might wish play the Angeles Rams
but, instead he drafted BY club the seaboard
He either plays with the that drafted him mo bonus
OF course or he doesn't play at all
This Is the biggest giyeaway show OF all in sports Base
ball prospects weigh offers roundbs attraction such
as Bill Russell hold out for the good offer as he did when
he signed with the Boston celtcs the star foobaer
either reports the club that drafted him. however ncon
venient or even dlstasteiul or Jump 10 Canada.
The unairnes OF the college draft got TO come up
unless the player representatives suddenly lose In the meet
ing room the courage they must display the field