Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-02-04


The Amateur Athletic Union
and National Collegiate Athletic
Association must settle their
giant power struggle this
month-in their "last chance"
Cancellation meeting - or face
direct intervention by Uncle
Sam.
This was the disquieting
prospect as Kenneth (Tug)
Wilson, president of the United
States Olympic Committee,
called a summit conference
February Hip in Chicago of
the wrangling parties in a move
to.end the alphabet war" jeop-
ardizing Americas international
sports structure.
There are men Of good will
on both Sides" Wilson says
hopefully. "They are not far
apart. I hope to get them to-
gether before February Is and
settle these issues. I am opti-
mistic."
The Olympic chief acknowl-
edged failure could be disaS-
trous.
Restlessness is reported in
Washington - as high up as
President Kennedy himself.
Congress is asking questions.
The State Department is con-
cerned. Bud Wilkinson, Okla
homa football coach who is the
Presidents personal consultant
in the youth fitness program,
has been asked to look into
the matter.
Cog In Propaganda Machine
Sports are no longer just an
incidental fad in our Nations
life. Along with the sciences
and arts, they form a giant
propaganda medium - utilized
to the hilt by the Communist
world. Beating a Soviet track
team has become almost as i'm
portant a factor in the cold
war" as putting a man into
orbit or shooting the moon.
I'm sure our country doesn't
intend to let our sports pres
tige be wrecked by a fight like
this" Wilkinson says. ITO pre-
vent it, there will be congress
sional Investigations and Gov
eminent moves, am sure"
Neither the AAU, which has
governed amateur sports in this
country since 1888, nor the
NCAA, which has directed I'M
dergraduate athletics since 1906
but has been active in inter-
national affairs only since the
1906, wants a Federal probe
Imagine the effect if Sen
ator Kefauver got to digging
around in these peoples clos
ets," one high-placed athletic
spokesman said. Even if you're
pure as driven snow, you come
out with a blackened reputa-
ton and lost prestige"
Neither Is Pure
1T so happens that neither
is pure. The colleges wouldn't
want a telescope focused or
their basketball betting scan
dals and football recruiting
measures. The AAU wouldn't
care for a too-close scrutiny Of
its administrative practices
which have been described az
autocratic and self-perpetuat-
ing.
The crux of the fight be-
tween the AAU and NCAA lie.
in the conduct of internationa
sports affairs - the selection
and handling of teams COM
peting in overseas events, such
as the Pan American Games
Olympics and the Russia United
States track meets, and the GER.
LITIGATION of foreign athletes
performing in the Unite {
States.
-. Domestically, there are NJ
clashes. The NCAA administer
the sports of it's $50 member!
and allied colleges. The AAJ
governs almost all the post
graduate sports except tennis
and golf, which have their owr
organizations. The high school,
and armed services handle thei
own affairs.
9. However, when a team i
picked for international compe
tition - in this country O.
aborad-the AAU has the fina
responsibility, even though higl
school, armed service and col
1ege athletes are involved.
;. Certifies Olympic Athletes
:. The reason for this is tina
the AAU serves as the Unitet
States agent in the various in
.ternational sports declarations
which not only govern thei
own particular games but Ger
.tify athletes for the Olympics
To be successful in their re
cent move to form rival Unitet
States declarations in track ant
field, basketball and gymnas
tics (Smothering those of tn
.AAU), the colleges would nee,
to win the approval of the in
tprnQtiOna1 hodioc