Evening star., 1963-01-05
SEGH AT LARGE
NFL Can't Afford
To Take Chances
BY MORRIS SIEGEE

MIAMI BEACH, JAN. 5.-"The only honest sports in
America philosopher whose identity escapes recall
said "are professional wrestling and the Harlem
GlobetrotterS. Nobody bets EN-"
Despite his overSatement the man had little some
thing there AS long there is betting there will be an
accusing finger pointed by the losing wagerer screaming
hanky- -panky.
In than SO per cent of the the talk just
that, cheap talk 1t is that other per cent which
haunts promoters and This is the dilemma of the
National Football League today
The revelation by George Halas that he has asked
Commissioner Pete Rozelle to check several of his
players accused of consortng with undesrabes is moth
ing new Rozee himself called the matter to the attention
of HalaS than year ago. When Halas undplomati
cay made it public last night he unwttingly dealt his
fraternity damaging blow.
FOR UNDERSTANDABLE REASONS, the NIL and
similar groups don't like to their dirty linen aired pub
lcly any than spatting husband and wife would
want to have their kids tell the neghborhood that nom
and dad have had doozy of an argument
Since 1946 when the celebrated Fchock- -Hapes
broke the of the GiansBears championship
in New York. the NFL has had its posse tracking down
the slightest of scandal The late Bert Bell who had
better knowledge of point spreads and odds than gen.
orally was known recognized the tremendous amount OF
betting pro football and the evils that could result
Bell hired a number of ex-FBI agents to make daily
checks odds fluctuations In fortnight approach
NFL still does the thing Any undue fuctuation of
points brings immediate investigation The pro foot
DdllerS naive lney writer's ABOUT
Odds They have contacts among bookmakers, and who
would know better?
THREE YEARS AGO the league office became con-
cerned when the odds the Steelers who opened g.
point favorteS the Redskins suddenly dropped to
money on Thursday This was too great and too sud
den switch in odds to be routine The check revealed
that Quarterback Bobby Layne had spraned finger the
previous Sunday and the Seeers concealed the informa
tion until three days before the game
1--WE maintain constant concern and constant
surveillance" Commissioner Rozelle here for Sundays
Runnerup Bowl game said last night There currently
three four teams under investigation Last year
checked into is 20 and found nothing of Grim
inal nature nothing to bring action by law league
The NFL, Rozele continued, always is the lookout
for players who strike up acquaintance with the socaed
undesirable element" He meant naturally gamblers or
people in the gambling business. These people Rozelle
said, like to be with players 1t gives them
vcarous thrill of being in the know at least in the eyes
of their fellow travellers"
SEVERAL WEEKS AGO RozeIe and his staff ran down
story appearing syndicated Broadway gossip column
that the Justice Department checking big scan
in pro football The NIL check found the Justice
Department didn't know thing about any so-called
big scandal"
But the point is Rozele said I'VE can't afford to take
chances We've got too much at stake to anything
make honest effort ferret anything we hear
matter how trivial it might appear how certain we
are the information is wrong"
At his noon session with the NFL Players Association
meeting in nearby Hollywood Beach, Rozele told the IA
player representatives it their duty to help police the
league much it the leagues He warned against
consortng with unknowns in public places.
Il agree with the commissioner, said Pete Rezlaff
of the Eagles the association president but it they
who seek US out"
UNFORTUNATELY, THE NFL can't keep people from
talking What tries to do is to give them nothing to talk
about Most of the gossip starts when player is in
an ff-beat public place keeping late hours.
I'VE tell them to stay away from such places" Rozee
said land in number of even name the places
they shouldn't in Unfortunately of the boys
don't heed the advice. They the who the
trouble"
Interestingly enough celebrated quarterback on an
Eastern Division team is free with his advice in such
spot Each Friday he gives his personal opinion to
which teams will win and lose The bartender kept tabs
on the stars predictions He picked three all year.