Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-31
ATCHISON'S
ANGLE
Famed Counterspy a Sports Fan
BY LEWIS F. ATcHISoN


LOS ANGELES, July 31-Matt Cvetc the former FBI
counerspy from Pittsburgh, who became national figure
result of his testimony at congressional hearings
years speaking on his favorite Subjectcombat
ting communism.
Take George Marshall, the who this Red
skin football team saying IF the Commies took
this country they have him executed charge of
exploiting the Masses"
lot of people who can't get good seats for the home
games would favor that we TESTED.
I'm not joking" Cvetc said earnestly Marshall or
any other club owner would be wiped Anybody who
works and builds up something his initiative is
considered enemy of the people, and that includes
everybody in sports"
CvETIC SPENT NINE YEARS in the FBI's service,
ntrating the higher echelon of the Communist Party
this country Since dropping the pose that lost him
many of his friends he has written book radio SERIES
and currently preparing TV series to carry the
fight against communism.
These athletes" he said, nodding at Redskins going
through their exercises at Occidental College couldn't
pack their suitcase and quit If they in Russia Nor
would they be allowed to do their own thinking"
Well we told him. there are athletes in this country
not permitted to do this such Paul Browns Cleveland
quareracks And there others who couldn't be accused
of it. But Cvetic was serious.
IF they didn't want to play football he said they'd
be put to work afarm or in factory They'd have no
choice in the matter"
NOR DID MATT. WHO seems to be quite sports fan,
look with favor the recent United saesRussan track
meet at Philadelphia.
"A good percentage Of those Russians were secret
agents with a definite mission" he said I'VE like sports
for recreation and pleasure To them sports is nothing
than political weapon. I'd say at least third of
their squad were agents of some kind"
We presumed that the idea for the American
athletes to try to the visitors around to way Of
thinking.
That may be true" he said but they are sent over
this country with Instructions They undoubtedly
had many sessions learning the replies to give to
tionS sure asked they did the field If you've
noticed, they're baf1ed when you throw an unexpected
question them They don't what to say because
they weren't given the answer
COMMUNIST AGENTS in this country, Matt said,
don't dare attend sports movies unless special
missions One party member in Pittsburgh caught
going to too many shows and hauled up charges
and sent back to New York to be "re-educated."
Il used to sneak off to Jamaica or to the ball game
every chance could Cvetc said but it wasn't very often
They watch you the time Even then I'd have to take
devious route to avoid detection"
There was a time when Cvetic accompanied high-leve
party members the horse at Hollywood Park and
couldn't get bet down.
Il itching to get to the 81 window" he said, but
we sat there dscussing-n Russan-what we'd do to the
people who the races, and those who played them,
when the Commies took over"
THE 5-FOOT-4 CVETIC, who weighs only 14O, acct
dentally stumbled to the Redskins PttSburgh-dom
mated coaching staff friend wanted to visit Bob Tonef
the Redskins tackle and Matt came along for the ride
Il love this game" he said Il love all American sports
because my parents who from Austria taught me to
love them But found out wasn't meant to play football
the day playing end in pickup game with some
college players home for a holiday in Pittsburgh The
back took me and the ball for a 10-yard gain.
Believe me- you won't find anything resembling a
pickup game like that in Russia That's considered deve
opng bourgeoiSie tendencies It's all work there
only hope America isn't ulled into false of security
by this friendship front they're putting through their
sports teams That's what I'm working against"