Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-06
ATCH|SON'S
ANGLE
Owners Have Had Their Moments
BY LEWIS r. ATcHIsoN

1T PROBABLY is ONLY matter of time until pro
football players get their union-probaby with hveday
week and time and a-ha for holidays And who to
they shouldn't have it,? But the thought here that
union give dement's old-me owners George
Haas, Art Rooney Tim Mara ana George Marshall have
provided when a fellow really needed friend
Tight-sted penny pnching coldblooded monsters who
could squeeze buffalo nickel until the Indian yelled?
Hardly Tough business beyond shadow of doubt,
but underneath loyal to their players especially those who
shared the hardships Of day when there doubt
whether pro football would make the grade major
league sport
"Tarzan" Taylor broke into pro football with the
Chicago Bears 1921 talking about Halas at the Ma
tona League meeting Philadelphia last week The Bears
known the Staey then and cocks the walk
in the unwedy. loose-ftting league.
Hes great guy" Tarzan related Spent every morn
ing with me when was sick the hospital while back
and everything wanted got He won't let anybody say
anything things he does for his players could
tell you lots of stories about him. he wouldn't like it.
Just take my word for that he's great guy and real
friend"
IT CAN'T BE CONFIRMED because of the pro clubs
will talk about finances out in the but sources close
to the Chicago Cardinals and Pittsburgh Seelers say they
advanced about 100000 to players before the start Of the
last year. And it wasn't the first time they'd gone
in hook for the boys
theater at Saranac Lake told land Ernies
reporting to camp since Business good
he can't leave until after Labor Day But Art doesn't mind
He's always done little things for the boys tuckng few
dollars their envelopes here and there with nothing ever
said about It,"
more recent case is that of Lowell Perry rookie end
who badly hurt playing for Pittsburgh last season ne
underwent surgery rupured spleen and may be through
player The Steeers picked Perrys hospital BILL paid
him years salary, and the word that If he can't
play next Art will add him to the coaching staff
ThatH Lowell the first Negro coach in the National
Football League Meanwhile, he's also on the payroll for
small, weekly stipend, not called for in his contract
ANDY FARKAS. FORMER REDSKINS halfback now in
the insurance business Detroit had financial troubles
while with the Redskins. Andy needed raise and was
determined to get It,
"If could only get by Dud DeGroot" he said land
Mr. Marshall I'd get the raise and bonus for signing"
DeCroot was coaching Redskins at the time He left
his flank unprotected day. and the Farkas
around It, Marshall and got his raise II one were
to ask Andy about the sporting goods business which he
tried for several years. think he'd that Marshall
did than little to and help him. not only
a customer but also as advertising agent.
Similar stories are told about other around the
league although those teams controlled by several partners
corporations don't have the personal touch But
there have In which players using
football stepping stone to something better and more
permanent got helping hand in places like Detroit Ceve-
land, San Francisco and even little Green Bay.
Maybe unionism is best pro football We don't know
and don't But rights and privileges balanced by
obligations and responsibilities and in trying to strike
happy medium something could be lost to the detrmen
OF both sides We had the foolish notion that college
who played pro ball merely meant TO get quick capital
hoped to get their foot in the door Of In
other field The list of graduates Of the pro league who be-
lawyers doctors and successful business long
which 70 bear out this theory But maybe $50 week
pean' more to the boys coming along now.