In Sports Psit • • • •
By Roy Cook I
My old friend Elton Casey, Conductor of “Along the
Sidelines’ ’sports column in Wilmington’s favorite after
noon Newspaper, yesterday asked what has happened to
the sports underwriting group that once tried to organize
here.
We quote the “Pillar”:
What has ever happened to the sports underwriting
group that was being planned here recently?
News was breaking fast on the group and several
meetings were staged. Then all of a sudden things have
died down. Why? Now should be the time for the by-laws
and constitution to be drawn up for the biggest sports
boom in the nation’s history is in full blast.
Wilmington needs to get in step and we think a sports
underwriting group would turn the trick on the local front.
There must be a reason for the quietness.
We would like to know!
Not to take issue with Brother Casey, but we can’t
get very excited about the Sports underwriting association.
Why, we would like to ask, should such a group be
organized for the purpose of bringing sports events here?
Wilmington definitely needs more sports and needs
them bad. But, we have this fact to face and we must face
it as it is.
Where in the Port City can a boxing match, wrestling
show or any indoor event be staged?
The American Legion Indoor Arena is not suitable ex
cept for one thing, which it was originally constructed, a
place to stage an exhibition or display of merchandise. The
i-rrre building, which resembles an over sized barn, cannot
be heated and is very unsuitable for anything else. There
arc ro dressing rooms, just one large room with a few
blpa'-w- seats.
Before we organize the underwriting group, lets
organize a group to build an athletic arena. As we have
often written in this column, Wilmington needs a modern
stadium and indoor arena.
Wilmington promoters of various indoor shows hang
their heads in shame when they bring out-of-town partici
pants here. It is hard to arrange boxing or wrestling cards
for there is no place to seat the spectators.
Lets face the facts—
The mam objective is to get a new modern athletic
plant for Wilmington and then the proper steps can be
made <o bring outstanding sporting events here.
Wilmington is a good sports town. Why not make ar
rangements to give our people a decent place to play and
a derent place to watch others play.
This is only my opinion. I have talked with hundreds
about the needs for a new athletic plant, but nothing seems
to have come of our conversations. I refuse to let the
matter drop until some action is tafcsn.
Tes, before we make plans to bring events here . . .
Let's make arrangements to take care of them.
Lets have a Stadium ! ! !
TAR HEELS START
SUGAR BOWL WORK
Skeleton Squad Holds Drill
Sessions For Georgia
Contest
CHAPEL HILL. Dec. 16. —(JP)—
“Here we go again” was the bat
ik cry as North Carolina’s Tar
Keels went back io their football
chores Monday, putting their first
stroke-; for the Sugar Bowl game
"';th Georgia’s Bulldogs at New
Orleans New Year's Day.
H was a skeleton squad with only
about 25 in uniform. Players who
finished their examinations last
Saturday were not required to re
pert until Wednesday. Some of the
others were still involved in exam
inations. This means the first full
"nrkout will be held Wednesday,
"ith the squad scheduled to leave
Saturday for their Gulfport, Miss.,
training grounds.
TIis Tar Heels in them initial
took a look at some of
Georgia’s basic ”T” formation
Pkys as outlined by scouts Russ
Murphey and Jim Gill. Chunk Sim
rcons emulated Charlie Trippi
^hile Max Spellman was under
Jayvee’s center Joe Raise as the
Georgia quarterback. "Defenses set
“P had fair success in throttling
‘he manuevers.
_ Most of the missing linesmen, the
BlenbibWiuskcj
Blended Wbiake? 86.8 Proof
-6Grain Nentral Spirit*
GLENMGRE DISTILLERIES COMPANY
Itictrporsttd
LOUISVILLE. KENTUCKY
two starting guards, Co-Captain
Ralph Strayhorn and Sid Verney
were absentees. Charlie (Choo
Choo‘ Justice flashy tailback, was
another one of those excused from
Monday’s drills.
Dan Stiegman, who is expected
to carry the burden of Carolina’s
offensive center play against
Georgia, with both Co-Captain Chan
Highsmith and Joe Swicegood out
with injuries sustained in the Vir
ginia game, was on hand and in
good shape.
While gridders toiled again,
Coach Mike Roman and his box
ing squad is at work in prepara
tion for the meet with Syracuse at
New Orleans and Coach Dale Ran
son had Jimmy Miller, his cross
country team captain, limbering up
for his appearance in the track
meet, another feature of the Su
gar Bowl sports program.
OKLAHOMA SOONERS
. BEGIN BOWL DRILLS
NORMAN, Okla., Dee. 16—(IP)—
The University of Oklahoma foot
ball team started in earnest Mon
day (preparations tor its New
Year’s day meeting with North
Carolina State in the Gator Bowl
at Jacksonvville, Fla.
Coach Jim Tatum stressed
fundamentals in a two-hour period
devoted to passing offense and
punting defense. Last week, the
Sooners held three light dirlls.
Father Roche To Ref eree Boxing Matches
X X X X J. _1_ -1 i i i i i i i i i . , . ■ —
College Center To Meet Campbell Quint
--—- — ■ ■
Accepts ‘Tigers’
Executive Position
Vfa&Bsrsmaa*....- ..
William G. (Billy) Evans,
(above) president of the Southern
Association and veteran baseball
uir\pire, has accepted the position
of executive vice-president of the
Detroit Tigers.
BILL EVANS TAKES
DETROIT POSITION
Released From Southern
Association; Assumes
New Duties Jan. 1
DETROIT, Dec. 16—(/P)—Presi
dent Walter O. Briggs announced
Monday that William G. (Billy)
Evans, president of the Southern
Association, has accepted the post
of Executive Vice President of
the Detroit Tigers baseball team
of the American League.
Evans has obtained release of
his contract with the Southern
Association, Briggs said, and will
assume his new duties Jan. 1.
He succeeds George M. Traut
man who resigned the post to be
come Commissioner of Minor
League baseball.
Evans was an umpire in the
American League for 22 years and
at one time acted as General
Manager of the Cleveland Indians.
Briggs statement read:
“I have just received notice
over the telephone from Billy
Evans that he has obtained the re
lease from his contract with the
directors of the Southern Associa
tion and will accept the offer of
the position of Executive Vice
President of the Detroit Baseball
company tendered him a few days
ago.
“Mr. Evans also informed me
that he will arrive in Detroit for
a conference with me on the sign
ing of his contract within the next
few days. He will assume his duties
on Jan. 1.”
Pesky Not Interested
In Mexican Loop Offer
BOSTON, Dec. 16 — (ff) — John
ny Pesky, star Boston Red Sox
shortstop, said Monday he was not
interested in a $45,000 offer to play
in the Mexican Baseball League
or in an invitation to vacation in
Mexico as the guest of south-of
the-border baseball tycoon Jorges
Pasquel.
Pesky, back in Boston after a
visit to his boyhood home in Port
land, Ore., disclosed he received a
written offer from the Mexican
League. He said the offer was
vague — whether the $45,000 was
for one season or three.
GAME SCHEDULED
THURSDAY NIGHT
Undefeated Locals To Meet
Strong Opponents In
High School Gym
The Wilmington College Center
basketball team, undefeated in
three starts, goes up against its
strongest opposition thus far this
season Thursday night, when they
encounter Campbell College at the
New Hanover High school gym
nasium at 8 o’clock.
A special feature of the Campbell
College contest will be the home
coming of two of NHHS’s best bas.
ketball players, Walter Deal and
Jimmy Cashwell. Both boys are
members of the Campbell College
quintet, which Coach A1 Chiemiego
says is the strongest junior col
lege five in North Carolina. The
Campbell outfit is reported to have
an unmarred record this year.
Rumors sneaking out of the Col
lege Center say that Leonard Mc
Koy, probably the best basketball
player ever produced here, may go
to the freshman school following
the Christmas holiday. This is only
a rumor, however, but if so it will
give the locals orie of the best
rounded organizations in North
Carolina with McKoy and John
Bates at forwards, John Tsantes at
center, and A1 Collie, Doug Prid
gen, or R. L. Church at guards.
AUDITORIUM RENT
MUST BE REDUCED
Southern Loop Tourney
Given To Raleigh On
This Condition
RALEIGH, Dec. 16 — (ff)—Me
morial Auditorium here must re
duce its rent in order to obtain
the Southern Conference basketball
championship tournament - in
March. • «
The conference, at its Charleston,
S. C., meeting Saturday, awarded
the tournament to Raleigh for the
15th successive year, on condition
that Raleigh meet certain unspeci
fied requirements.
Dr. H. A. Fisher of North Caro
linas State college, retiring con
ference president, said Monday
that a rent reduction was the
“primary requirement.”
Some coaches at the Charleston
meeting suggested moving the
tournament to Duke gymnasium,
which* seats more than twice as
many spectators as does the city
or Raleigh’s 4,000 capacity audi
torium. The basketball committee,
in reporting to the conference,
reccommended that the tourney re
turn to Raleigh if requirements
were met.
Mayor Graham Andrews of
Raleigh said Monday he had not
heard from the conference. He
said he could not say what new
financial arrangements might be
made.
Andrews said the city receivved
$1,600 from the tounrey last lear
but that this was exceptional and in
other years "we have failed to
break evven.”
The mayor said the city’s agree
ment with the conference called
for Raleigh to receive $140 of the
first $9,000 m gate receipts and
25 percent of the net profits above
$9,000.
Dr. Fisher said the conference
considered the rent “too high”.
Automotive valves are classified
as wet or dry, depending on
whether they drain dry during
periods of inactivity.
Veteran Toddy Fennell Looks
Forward To Best Year In 47’
By GENE WARREN
Star Sports Wr'ler
Fitzhugh “Toddy” Fennell,
varsity player since his sopho
more year at New Hanover
High school and one of the best
all - around cagers on this
year’s club, was the outstand
ing hoopster yesterday after
noon at NHHS basketball prac
tice. A
The dark-haired Fennell,
whose younger brother, Bill,
plays for the Junior Varsity,
was at peak form, pumping 14
points through the net during a
short scrimmage between the
first and second teams. Stand
ing five foot, 10 inches tall, Jr n
nell is not the usually tall type
player who is usually seen on
the basketball court, but he
makes up for his average height
with splendid ball handling
ability and sharp-shooting per
fection.
Toddy can ring goals with
either hand and is the only
eager on the varsity who can
drop in a crip shot going full
speed down the court. Fennell
started his basketball career at
Hemenway. He played on toe
YMCA Cadet club during toe
eighth grade, and starred for
the NHHS . Junior Varsity out
fit as a freshman at New Han
over High. When Billy Auld
graduated from school in 1944,
Fennell was put on the Wild
cat varsity squad, and, to the
surprise of all, made the first
team as a sophomore. Fennell
has been improving steadily
since, and now, after playing
regularly for two seasons, looks
forward to possibly his great
est year.
Toddy is planning to attend
the University of North Caro
lina when he graduates next
summer. He has a fine chance
o f receiving a basketball
scholarship since he was select
ed on the second All-Star bask
etball quint at the Duke-Dur
ham tournament last February, ,
and may play in the tourney
again this season if the Wild
cats win the Eastern Confer
ence championship.
Toddy is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Fitzhugh Fennell of 68
Lee Drive. The youngster Is
one of the most popular boys at
New Hanover High school, and,
besides playing basketball, is
a returning member of the
Eastern Conference champion
Wildcat baseball team of 1946.
High Steppers For The Sugar Bowl
These high-stepping drum majorettes, Betty Gaither (left) of
Elizabeth City, and Margo Martin (right) of Roanoke Rapids, will
add zip to the crack University of North Carolina band at the Sugar
Bowl game in New Orleans New Year’s Day. They and the band,
under the direction of Prof. Earl Slocum, of the University Music
department, will accompany the Tar Heel team to the battle with
Georgia. ((/P) Photo)
Paris Indicted On Attempted
Bribery Charge In N.Y.
Filchock And Hapes Testify
Against Novelty Con
cern Officer
By SID MIRKIN
NEW YORK, Dec. 16. — (AV- A
grand jury late Monday indicted
Alvin J. Paris, 28-year-old novelty
concern officer, on charges of at
tempted bribery of two backfield
stars of the New York Giant’s foot
ball team before Sunday’s National
league championship battle with
the Chicago Bears.
Frank Filchock, halfback, and
Merle Hapes, fullback, who were
gridiron stars at Indiana University
and the University of Mississippi
respectively before entering pro
fessional football, testified before
the grand jury as to the bribe of
fers allegedly made to them.
Paris was indicted on two counts
charging violation of a penal code
section outlawing bribes, attempt
ed bribes or other measures to
“influence the outcome of a pro
fessional sports contest.”
Assistant district attorney George
Monaghan conferred with Filchok
and Hapes for several hours before
their grand jury appearances.
Earlier, alleged extensive book
making activities of Paris were
disclosed in court in telephone con
versations recorded by police. A
police complaint filed in municipal
court charged Paris with book
making and gave the text of re
corded conversations dealing with
thousands of dollars in bets.
The text included one talk in'
which another bookmaker purport
edly refused to take a bet on the
title football game from Paris be
cause “you are trying to throw
the market around.”
Police and the district attorney’s
office continued their probe of
local bookmaking activities which
reportedly resulted in revelation
of the attempt to fix the game.
The immediate aim of the investi
gation was to determine whether
Paris acted alone in offering bribes,
they said.
Hapes was suspended early Sun
day by Bert Bell, National foot-,
ball league commissioner, because
Bell said, he had not reported the
proferred bribe to officials. Fil
chock, said by Bell to be “absolute
ly in the clear,” played and suf
fered a broken nose in the contest
which the Bears won 24-14. There
are no police charges against the
players.
Paris was held in $25,000 bail
Sunday on the bribery charge and
an additional $3,500 today on the
bookmaking count.
Monaghan declared that Paris
had the backing “of a very large
bookmaking outfit outside of the
state of New York” and added that
“they would not hesitate to get
this man out of the jurisdiction of
the state or even tamper with
witnesses.”
Monaghan quoted Paris as say
ing in a signed statement that he
had offered each of the players
$2,500 in cash and a $1,000 bet on
the Bears.
Paris admitted, Monaghan said,
that the players turned him down
flat, but he pursued Hapes through
the week, taking him to dinner and
a night club, and following him to
the Giants’ Bear Mountain train
ing camp on Friday.
.
Union Hardware
ROLLER SKATES
PH KARO’S ::
209 Market St. Dial 2-3224 ! !
JAYVESS PREPARE
FOR FIRST GAME
Linwood Taylor Looks
Good In Practice; Gris
som Joins Club
With their initial game only
three days away Coach Wallace
West sent his Junior Varsity squad
through a strenuous practice yes
terday afternoon at the New Han
over High school gymnasium.
The Jayvees, strengthened great
ly by the return of Jerry Hilburn
and Linwood Grissom, displayed
a vastly improved offense and a
tighter defense.
In a fast scrimmage the first
quint defeated the second five,
18-10. The whole show of the
scrimmage was the brilliant shoot
ing of 6 ft. 1 in. Linwood Taylor.
Taylor dipped in 12 of the first
string’s 18 markers, while Bobby
Crowley and Linwood Grissom
sunk two goals each to top the
seconds.
DODD SHOWS INTEREST
IN BAYLOR VACANCY
WACO, Tex., Dec. 16—(A*)—Bobby
Dodd, head coach of Georgia Tech,
conferred with Baylor University
athletic officials regarding the Bay
lor coaching job vacated a week
ago by the resignation of Frank
Kimbrough.
Dodd met informally with ath
letic director Ralph Wolf and rep
resentatives of the school’s board
of trustees and athletic council,
and Alva Bryan, chairman of the
council.
Dodd told newspapermen he was
interested in the job. After the
conference, from which no official
announcement was made as to whe
ther or not Dodd would be appoint
ed, the Georgia Tech mentor left
for Houston where on Jan. 1 his
team plays St. Mary’s or California
in the Oil Bowl.
It’s the Quality of leadership
that makes Leaders M 2
1
■A
BUNTING ELECTED
FEDERATION HEAD
New Hanover Wildlife Unit
Names Officers At Meet
ing Last Night
J. Edwin Bunting was elected
president of the New Hanover
Wildlife Federation last night at
a meeting of the organization held
in the Superior court room. W.
H. Wendt was appointed vice
president and Johnson Harriss was
re-elected secretary and treasurer.
The following were elected to
serve as the Federation board of
directors for 1947. Tom Murrell,
G. M. Levender and John Funder
burg, Jr.
Plans were made at the meeting
to revive the activities of the club
during 1947 and a drive to increase
the membership was decided upon.
Johnson Harriss said last night
that plans for future meetings
were discussed at length and it
was decided to hold a banquet or
oyster roast in the near future.
DUKEANNOUNCES
SWIM SCHEDULE
Coach Carmen Falcone’s
Grapplers Will Open
Season January 14
DURHAM, Dec. 1.(ff)—Duke
University’s swimming and wrest
ling schedules for 1947 were an
nounced here Monday.
The Blue Devils prapplers will
meet seven opponents including
five Southern Conference rivals.
Opening the season on January
14, against Davidson, the Duke
team will appear for the first time
under its new coach, Carmen
Falcone.
One of the most ambitious swim
ming slates in ihe history of the
school will be undertaken with nine
dual meets scheduled with such
outstanding teams as Yale, Rider,
and North Carolina.
THE WRESTLING SCHEDULE
Jan. 14—Davidson _there
Feb. 1—Georgia Tech _-here
Feb. 8—V. M. I. _there
Feb. 12—North Carolina_here
Feb. 18—N. C. State_here
Feb. 21—Washington & Lee_here
Feb. 24—Virginia _there
THE SWIMMING SCHEDULE
Feb. 1—V. P. I. _here
Feb. 5—Yale _there
Feb. 6—Rider _—_there
Feb. 8—V. M. I. _here
Feb. 14—Emory _there
Feb. 15—Georgia Tech_there
Feb. 22—Virginia _there
Mar. 1—N. C. State_here
Mar. 5—North Carolina _here
Mar. 7-8—Southern Conference
Championships.
EDWIN DAVIS WINS
DUKE TENNIS CROWN
DUIHAM, Dec. 16—(£>)—Edwin
Davis of Baton Rouge, La., ninth
ranking junior tennis player in the
nation, Monday won the intra
mural singles championship of
Duke University by defeating
Lewis McMasters of St. Petersburg
Fla,, 8-6, 6-2.
Both are members of the fresh (
man class at Duke.
Davis and McMasters teamed
last week to defeat Ray Brown of
Baltimore, Md., and Frank Cannon
Tampa Fla., for the doubles title.
Hie score was 6-3, 6-3.
SHOULDER PADS
(BOYS)
AT YOUR
114 MARKET DIAL 6022
BOUTS SCHEDULED
AT LEGION ARENA
Buddy Best To Meet Kid
Baggett In Main Attrac
tion Friday Night
ALL-STAR CARD
Sgt. Jesse Wade Booked To
Battle Add Padgett In
Semi-Find Event
Father Allen Roche, former
Golden Glove champion and direct
or of the “Silver Gloves” tourna
ment here, was last night selected
to referee the all-star boxing bouts
at Legion Arena Friday night, it
was announced by the promoters
of the card.
The former champion has had
considerable success with the
“Silver Gloves” events at St.
Mary’s Hall. In addition to se
curing his services as the third
man in the ring, it was also re
vealed that he will present at
least two-three round exhibition
bouts of his “Silver Glove” fight
ers.
The bouts are under the spon
sorship of Porter Davis, J. D.
“Skeet” James and Tubby Bryan,
all well-known local boxing en
thusiasts. They said last night that
ducats for the bouts will be placed
on sale Tuesday at various business
establishments in the city.
Buddy Best has been signed to
meet Kid Baggett of Macon, Ga.,
in the 12-round main event. In
the semi-final battle Sgt. Jesse
Wade of Camp Lejeune will meet
Add Padgett of Aiken, S. C. The
promoters have announced that in
addition to these two main events
and the exhibition bouts of Father
Roche’s “Silver Gloves” at least
two mbre preliminaries will be
given.
Father Roche said last night that
he will send four of his 140 pound
battlers into the ring. Bobby Le
moyne is booked to battle Bill
Miller and Don Arthur is scheduled
to mix with A1 Keniesler. These
bouts will go three rounds each.
The first bout is scheduled to get
underway at 8:30 o’clock. James
said last night arrangements will
be made to heat the indoor arena.
The complete card will be an-1
nounced as soon as possible, it was
pointed out.
PHILS WILL NOT BUY
MINOR LEAGUE TEAM
PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 16-4F>—
The Philadelphia Phillies Monday
abandoned their campaign to buy
a Triple A baseball club with
President Bob Carpenter declaring
club owners “asked ridiculous
prices."
The wealthy young president of
the Phils, who returned from mili
tary service with a promise to lift
the club from the National League
cellar and then saw his team take
over the loop’s fifth spot, has long
been in the market for a top flight
minor league club.
“I tried to buy a club," he said.
“But the other club owners asked
such ridiculous prices I decided to
forget about a Triple A club for
a couple of years.”
“Besides asking inflated figures,”
he added, “the owners also tried
to include some of the best young
players who are now playing on
our farm clubs.”
• TRICYCLES |||l
• KIDDIE KARS i!
• SLIDING ROARDS
• WAGONS
• SWINGS
• STROLLERS §1
ANCHOR I
HARDWARE CO.
Front and Dock Sts. Dial S043