Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-25
ATCHISON'S
ANGL E
BY LEWIS 2. ATcHlsoN
In the Situation


1T WOULD BE NO surprise today If the first question
was, where were we at?" when the House Antitrust
Subcommittee reconvened its pro football hearing.
1t difficult in the situation to say exactly where
things stood yesterday when Bert Bell finished 2 hours
of testimony, mixed with anecdotes personal opinions
and memories At times he made Casey Stengel sound
like cold, i-dotting logician with oxford accent
You would have there laughter than
has been heard the Hill in the since certain party
into power the portly National Football League
commissioner pleaded for footballs relief from the Supreme
Courts antitrust ruling.
Bell made some grammatical U-turns but never
wavered There times when committeeman counsel
whistled him to stop and blunty asked for yes or
mo- Plainly law school had not prepared them for
thing like this But it interesting and everybody
seemed agreeable, If bit puzzled at times
THE QUESTION OF gambling football games
kicked around Bell explained how former FBI agents
keep tabs undesirable characters who might prey on
unsuspecting youngsters Players he pointed out,
warned against becoming chummy with strangers and
against frequentng rendezvous Of known gamblers
There's such thing fixing games" Bell ex-
planned Gamblers operate by the uctuation OF the
pont-spread They try to strike up acquaintance with
kid buy him dinner and FORTH and in the situation
the next day the gambler spreads the that he
knows what's going on-didnt they him with soand
so at dinner? That cause the odds to huctuae and
If they get the pont-spread down to 7a from 10h
they win everything"
Chairman Celer wanted to know If the private eyes
followed club we'll players to if they
sorted with gamblers.
I'VE don't follow anybody, we just keep an eye on
the gamblers" Bell retorted.
Celler said he was in well-known eating establish
ment the other night and asked where he could place
football bet He told that big gamblers who frequent
tracks would take the wager.
"You won't get big bet down." Bell replied There
only about is big bettors in the country and they
bet among themselves"
How much do you want to betP" Representative
Taakin os1v1v al f6a cha
BELL SAID HE opposed pay Tv for pro football, be-
it might deprive youngsters Of seeing the games
He said he also doubted there would be much further
expansion of the present TVradio coverage because of
the expense.
Gable charges payment for time the station and
forth, would make it too expensive for the sponsor
he said.
The derived from this source Bell stated,
made the difference between red and black ink on the
ledger.
without radio televson and the preseason games
he noted wed 60 back to 500 players saaries
II they played"
The commissioner also read a portion of Federal
Judge Grm's decision upholding the leagues partially
restricted method Of teevison The decision noted that
while teams must compete as hard as they can all the
time" the playing field 1t would be"unwise" for them
to compete strenuousy against each other in busi-
ness way.
BELL GOT THROUGH only some nine pages Of his
3opage prepared statement before the bell rang sum-
moning the Congressman to pressing legislative mat
ters but they touched all the high spots before time
called
The player draft bonus pick, franchise situation and
players union other topics that Bell never
was at loss for in contrast to some baseball
officials who testified before the committee several week;
ago. Nor was he at loss for explanation although
agreeing to go along" with the committee If 1t thought
something should be changed "in the situation"
Celler said he doubted II the commissioner could
Adequately, cogenty and successfully" argue the
players union when he was hired by the owners
at $4,000 year Bell denied this vigorously and insisted
that the players would be better of dealing individually
with club than by having union bargain for them
He said he thought expansion Of the l2-team league
was inevitable, mentioning half dozen cities from
which he had received queries
You might get together with Walter oMaley anc
put franchise in Brooklyn" he told Celler They usec
TO have there"
Il wonder why Brooklyn is always losing franchises
the chairman unused. He 10 . native Of Flatbush