The Arizona post., 1957-04-26
Sports Report:
Sports Report:
PodoIoH Strong Leader
In Professional Ball
By HAROLD U. RIBALOW

PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL, it is clear by
this time has become truly time The Bob Cousys,
Bill Russels, Bob Pettits and company national
heroes and the championship hoop team is recognized
as the finest in the world
The recent championships in basketball have
come close attaining World Series status and the
scramble for franchises MEANS in cold financial terms
that the court game is major one.
1t is therefore, time to pay tribute to 66yearold
Maurice Podoloff president of the National Basketball
Association since its inception in 1916
Hugh Fullerton, Jr, an Associated Press sports
writer recently wrote fascinating personality sketch
on Podoloff, and has revealed some rather unusual
aspects of Podoloffs life "Podoloff" Fullerton tells
u.s. lis one of the most influential if not powerful,
men in the peculiar world of sports
He is at the mercy of the leagues board of gov
ernors, which pays his salary, and can fire him at
will
HE HAS been subject to much criticism, it seems,
as company man, for he is subject to the Whims of
his bosses vet as Fullerton points out he has ridden
out some shaky periods of financial instability,
strained relations and the threat of scandal when
some of the leagues top players were found to have
been the most fragrant bumpers in their college
days"
But-and this is significant -''Podoloffs rulings
and decisions always seem to stand up" The players
accept his good faith and the his integrity and
financial skill.
PODOLOFF is PORTLY and plan-spoken. 1t is
hard believebu it is true nonetheless-that ne IS
a Yale graduate, and also graduate of Yale's Law
School, He was president of the American Hockey
league and later of the MIA. He has seen 10 teams
emerge and fold up and todays heads much stronger
circuit which, he now visuaiZes will come to a coast
to-coast hook-up
Big league basketball is here and Podoloff de-
serves much of the credit for t-hoding together the
league in tough times, swimming through scandals,
and running athletes who syrocket to seven feet TALL
Podoloff is chubby five foottwo But he is in very
unusual way the talest man in the league.
SOME MONTHS ago, in this space commented
on the past career of Andy Cohen, the New York
Giant second-baseman in the 192O's, the man who
succeeded for few years, the great immortal Rogers
14orsbv and who was one of the first Jewish players
to hit the big time.
Andy is the manager OF the Indianapolis
(American Association club.
During spring training, some or the reporters
talked with him about old times.
OF COURSE they reviewed Andy's career but
of some interest apart from the statistics, is what
ANDY said about the men who managed him. II played
under three wonderful managers during my active
career" he stated "McGraw, Iris Speaker and Dome
Bush They were all great baseball men, and profteo
tremendously by their teachings.
GAS far as McGraw was concerned, you either
liked him or hated him. There no in-betWeen He
was hard loser, but certainly not poor loser. l.
norsonallv loved the guy" Which is rather remark
able for Andy was let go by the Giants when ne sport
od hating average of 294-rather good at any time
/ proscrinfiOn Ground