Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-04-19

Scandal Recalls
Buugh Episode
BY MORRIS SIEGEL

IF 1T WEREN'T FOR the lingering effects of the
chronic illness which practically has reduced him to the
status Of absentee overseer George Preston Marshall
would have rallied at the meekest suggestion that Paul
Hornung convicted Of the thing that had been
mentioned In connection with Sammy Baugh.
Back from four-an acknowledgements encampment Of
Miami Beach at peak seasonal rates. Marshall last night
weakly acknowledged that there slight kinshp in
the general area Of malfeaSance.
AS he did during the critical moments Of BaughS
career, the grand mahout of the Redskins again
exonerated Baugh Of any moral guilt just NFL Com
missioner Pete Rozee did in the case of Hornung.
$50
THE COMMISSIONER" Marshall said rising to
point Of interest only shade higher than indifference
Ibid the right thing You can't associate with those kind
of characters in our business"
Baugh'S companionShip with one Of WaShingtons
betterknown gambling figures denied not
by Marshall After printed hints that Baugh had become
to friendly with gamblers, Marshall pounced upon the
accusers with ferocity
To clear the air. he paraded his entire squad into
the editorial office of the newspaper which nstgated the
charges and demanded the undertaking authors stand up
and be counted before the accused.
Point out the man who is a tool Of the gamblers"
Marshall younger and interested demanded. Point
him out here and now-or forever shut up"
Baugh was in the group Of So Marshall mustered
There silence reaction Marshall Immediately &C
ceped innocence above and beyond the call of further
investigation.
HoRNUNG'S GUILT, AS implied by Rozelle, was a
guilt by association Not once was the Golden Boy
accused of not giving level best the Packers at all
times. Hornungs undoing not in betting. Were 1t
that alone he presumably would have gotten off with
only fine, like the five Detroit players.
Hornung's association with the wrong pack was not
on man-to-man level but a first-cousin basis He
effected craftsmanship arrangement with an honorable
friend who passed the word of HornungS feeling about
games to the bookies This is the Of the Hornung
If the Redskins had not taken lively interest in the
fharah oH hAnn q
commissioner attuned to the public interest Baugh
would not have gotten off scot free merely the judge
ment of his employer.
THE QUESTION BEING asked is: What specifically
did Hornung do wrong warrant expulsion for at least
a year2 1t is best answered by illustration.
Touchdown Mike superstar, and Joe Fan become
enamored of another During social moment, Joe
Fan says to his grdiron hero that his team is 7point
favoite to whip Sundays foe and asks Touchdown Mike
what he thinks about it.
The player candidly that it's his opinion his
team will literally thrash the opposition This is enough
information for his pal chronic bettor. He transfers
the information to his booe in the form Of much larger
wager than usual probably with few dollars in behalf
of his player friend The following week player friend is
told his team is an 18pont choice He says the other
team is too good, 10 points are far too many.
Joe Fan then wagers the other team Somewhere
in this conversation the friend nnocenty remarks that
his information is coming from Touchdown Mike. This
enough for the bookie always seeking word from the
horses mouth and in many cases, getting it.
The star player soon becomes regarded in the trade
reliable of information Point spreads await
his word. His influence" is distorted to the point Of
dishonesty His innocent relationship has failed him. The
game that made him becomes suspect
This Is the charge that weighed heaviest against
Hornung.