Evening star., 1960-08-12
WIN, LOSE OR
HNAV By FRANCIS STANN
'Or Even to Stay Alive

IT COMES UP the 9th annual College An-Star game
tonight in Soldier Field Chicago AS usual the Astars
have been getting the pregame balyhoo but the pros
also as usual, probably will win.
When the idea of matching the National Football
League champions against the Of the graduated
college crop conceived by the late Arch Ward and
put into effect in 1884 there it, aside from
the charity angle But the pros have all but outgrown
the collegians.
In the beginning it a contest. 1t was Chicago
Bears, 0; A-Stars o. in the "a inaugural 1t was Sc
Bears in 49, and Detroit Lions, 7; Al-Sars T. in 36
The AlStars beat the Green Bay Packers in the next
one, 60 and made it two in against the Redskins
28-16.
In those days the pro squads were small and the
older up painting in the Chicago heat whereas
Ward promotersports editor of the Chicago Tribune,
sagely loaded the All-Stars who able substitute
two-to-one, at least.
DURING THE WAR YEARS the pros suffered when
the non-4Fs inducted while many coegians were
allowed to finish their schooling. There were some
pretty close games like the Bears 2421 win in "A But
when the pros marching home 1t became different
story. Thus the score in games going into tonightS
Speetacle-proS, 16 wins losses and ties.
There have been some almost overpoweringly dull
games IN the last decade and several factors held
responsible The pros of the early years, in addition
having small squads weren't accustomed to being ready
for formal game in md-August They hadn't latched
on to that bonanza of playing exhibitions from
to another.
The pros were overly confident too or so they said
Besides, they saving for when it counted in the
pocket Being practical men, they agreed foohardy
to get busted up before the paydays started.
Now all that is changed. Pro squads are bigger and
the better and job competition far keener 1t behooveS
many Baltimore Colt tonight to put out lest the fall
IF ANYTHING, the Al-Stars may be the ones who
play with caution in these modern games Most are the
property Of National League clubs the American
League teams and they will fly out after the spectacle
join their outfits 1t would not be advantageous try
make the grade with broken leg dslocated shoulder
There couple of other factors too that are of
vintage One is the lack of togetherness the part
the AStars who hail from all sections many schools
In month less they expected q? to be moulded
into team capable of competing with the pros who
established units.
In the of the Colts, for instance Johnny Unitas
knows pretty well what Ray Berry Lenny Moore and Jim
Mutscheller going to do, and vice Those i'm
pauSibly monStrous Baltimore linemen likewise enjoy
similar advantages.
ONE OF THE OLDEST complaints of An-Star coaches
who have been thoroughly whipped men like Herman
Hickman who defeated $780, by the Cleveland Browns
in 1851 that the Al-Stars esprit de corps was
not what 1t might have been.
The beat that not all of the All-Stars receive
the money for their time and trouble. The fee is
based players box-ohice appeal which makes sense
but not all of the young men who should get
what you throw bunch of kids together for month
and they're bound to start talking about what they're
getting" Hickman once said.
They don't always like what they find out. Some
times the bockers and the guys up front feel they've
been underpaid 1t makes difference You play the pro
champs and you've got to have everything going for
you to win"
The late Mr.. Hickman examined his pronouncement
briefly Then he added "Or even to stay alive"