The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1961-05-12
SPORTS of TIMES
True Player
Is Loyal
An Open letter:
Dear Jimmy

~"AhTF
We understand that you've read in the papers
that some college basketball players we're cheating
their own teams while playing ball last season.
o PROBABLY NOTICED that they we're paid
money-big money-to hold down the scores of some
games so that their teams wouldn't win by more than
a certain number of points. In other words, they were
paid to miss shots on purpose or to 'loaf around"
instead of playing as best they could.
You probably read that sometimes they 'loafed'
too much and their teams lost close games which
ALL OF THIS, NO DOUBT, has been pretty
shocking and disappointing to you. Well, it has hit
us pretty hard, too.
No, Jimmy, it isn't easy to learn that some player
you looked up to with admiration was in the pay Of
some evil-minded gambler. We know because we went
through the same thing back in 1851.
But remember this Jimmy, for every college
player who let his team down on purpose, there were
a thousand who played as hard as they could to win
fair and square. And when these honest players lost,
they felt bad for a little while and then forgot their
disappointment. After all, they did their best and this
made them feel good again.
AS PAUL EMILE CARDINAL LEGER, archbishop
OF Montreal, said: The true player is loyal and can
show equal good humor in triumph and in defeat" Re-
member his Words-"the true player is loyal"
OF course, you probably read that some Of the
players said they needed the money pretty bad and
that's why they agreed to fix the games. This ex-
PLANTATION tugs at peoples feelings but remember this
it doesn't justify dishonesty. 1t doesn't make things
right.
Along with the news of the basketball fixes,
you may have noticed some people are wondering if
sports activities are worth the effort.
SPORTS KEEPS YOU YOUNGER fellows busy
and out of trouble. II helps "burn" up the excess ener-
gy you youngsters seem to have all the time. And
as you grow older, it helps develop your body, your
reflexes and impresSes on you the Importance of
sticking by the rules.
Pope John XIII recognized this when he told the
Olympic players last year that 'ft is certain that
healthy bodily exercises and athletic contacts of oood
repute should always be held in honor and strongly
recommended. In fact, a number of qualities are
foStered by means of athletics; with regard to the
body, there are health, physical strength and agility
grace and beauty with regard to the soul: per
severance. courage and the practice of Self-denial"
POPE Plus XII ALSO spoke out in support of
sports. One of his comments which seems especially
important is: THE athlete may fail at the end to
he ceases to be the best since to win in sport is not
SO important as to prove ones skill and fortitude."
Writing in the name of Pope John recently, Do
menico Cardinal Tardini said: the healthy pur-
suit Of sport, far from weakening a sense of morals,
strengthens it
So you can see Jimmy, sports is worth the
ANOTHER THING ABOUT SPORTS is that if
helps many fellows get a college education - some
thing they might have missed because their families
couldn't afford to send them to college. This is
basically good, Jimmy, when colleges do an honest
job OF passing out athletic scholarships.
MANY COLLEGES, however. have been carried
away with their athletic zeal and in their anxiety have
sunk to corrupt practices to support sports programs.
understandable pay to players is one example where
many colleges have gone wrong. Giving preferred
treatment TO players in the classroom is another.
You can see that if big respectable colleges do
some fixing, players might get the idea it's all right.
Well, it isn't and college officials who approve of or
close their eyes to hieh-pressure practices certainly
are failing in their duties.
Well, we've rambled on long enough. We hope
this has cleared up some things.
Cordially
I0I EApp0