'C tV EIY, 13 'U II Y 10, 1946.
SUNDAY, FE~UUARY 10, 1946 r1~uri MIt [IIGAN flAtLY
Illinois
Wrestlers
Overpower
Wolverine
Squad,
+ SPOUT S +
NEWS 0 VIEWS *COMMENT
Dy BILL MULLENDORE, Sports Editor
T HE SUSPENSION of Babe Pratt, veteran defenseman of the Toronto
Maple Leafs professional hockey team, has once more brought the
matter of gambling in athletics squarely before the public.
Pratt, for many years a top-notch performer in the National Hockey
League, was handed a life-time suspension from the circuit by President
Mervyn (Red) Dutton for alleged association with professional gamblers
and for placing bets on games in which the Maple Leafs were participants.
In making this charge, Dutton averred there was no evidence to show that
Pratt had wagered against his own team.
Although the case has not yet been finally decided, it is expected that
Dutton's action will be upheld when Pratt appeals to the League's
Board of Governors February 15. All this despite vigorous protests from
fans and players alike who contend, in effect, that Pratt is being rail-
roaded.
We are inclined to agree with the fans. As long as no proof exists that
Pratt did not bet against his own club, we see no reason for any action as
drastic as a suspension.
Pratt admits he did place bets on the Leafs from time to time. We
do not intend the discuss the normal issues of gambling, but it seems
to us the mere placing of bets by a player does not constitute sufficient
grounds for suspension.
If it does, we suspect the majority of America's athletes are liable to
suspension. Of the athletes we have known, most of them have, from time
to time, laid varying amounts of money on the outcome of games in which
they were to play. That applies to amateurs, as well as professionals.
NATURALLY, the world of sport cannot condone an individual's betting
against his own team. Such bets imply, by their very nature, "throw-
ing" games. The Brooklyn College basketball case of last winter is the most
outstanding example in point.
But mere betting is not, by common consent, a heinous offense. _
Again, there may be some objection on moral grounds, but the fact
remains that most people, athletes or otherwise, do place bets occasion-
ally. The gambling instinct is peculiarly strong in America.
Athletics, we think, should also guard against the influence of pro-
fessional gamblers. Friendly wagering is one thing, Commercialized
gambling is quite another. The efforts of baseball and basketball moguls
to control the gambling interests deserve the commendation of all sports
fans.
Big League Ball
ClbsTo Open
Pl" aye rBidding
NEW YORK, Feb. 9-(/P)-Base-.
ball's most interesting spring train-
ing season opens today with the New
York Giants and Yankees and the
Brooklyn Dodgers forming the van-
guard of more than 900 Big Leaguers
returning to warmer climes after
three years absence.
Each club has a topheavy player
roster that must be pruned by sale,
option or outright release. Who will
go and who will stay depends largely
on the playing condition of the re-
turning servicemen who will decide
the 1946 pennant races.
Once the decisions are made, the
biggest selling bee since the Florida
land boom will be under way. Every
club in baseball hopes to land a
Cardinal pitcher and the bidding
may go sky high if the right players
are put on the market.
As all returning servicemen must
be given a 30-day training camp
trial (15 days in the regular season)
and receive 15 days pay before they
can be shunted to a lower league,
little trading action is expected be-
fore March 15. But the teams then
will have an entire month before
the season opens in which to make
their changes.
Although the Detroit Tigers and
Chicago Cubs won the 1945 flags
there is no assurance that they will
be favored to repeat. Most of the
early pickers are tabbing the Yan-
kees and Cardinals.
Most of the teams are holding
special early camps for their ex-
GI's, some in connection with the
regular training and one, the Cubs,
at a different site.
Keen's Men Win Three Bouts
As Capt. Courtrioht Is Pinned
Dworsky Beats Illini Heavy in Overtime;
Stark, Allred Also Gain Decision Trimnphs.
I a
Due to lack of experience and a
veteran star-studded Illinois aggre-
gation, Michigan's wrestling squad
was defeated, 19-9, last night at
Champaign.
According to Coach Cliff Keen,
the Illini had too much stuff for the
Maize and Blue grapplers to handle.
Illinois' contingent was just way
above the caliber of any team that
Keen's charges have met to date.
Keen said as a whole the team
wrestled well but was unable to cope
with the experience on the mat and
the skill shown by Illinois.
The surprise of the evening was
in the 165-pound class, in which
Captain Bill (Corky) Courtright,
stalwart of the Wolverines' squad,
was pinned by his Illinois adversary,
Dave Shapiro. Shapiro gained a pin
at 4:12 in the second period and
again garnered another fall at 1:20
of the third frame. At first it looked
like anybody's match but Shapiro
came through after his first pin to
take full control. It was Courtright's
first loss of the season, for before
meeting Shapiro he had three
straight wins to his credit.
The only other pin of the match
was the victory of Illinois' 175-4
pounder, Norman Anthonisen, over
Wigs Farm Two Vets
DETROIT, Feb. 9-tIP)-Syd Howe became ranked as one of the gan
and Mud Bruneteau, veterans of sev- top scorers. He holds the league pc
eral campaigns with the Detroit Red record of 528 and 237 goals and
Wings of the National Hockey assists.
League today were farmed out to the One of his greatest feats was
Indianapolis Club of the American Feb. 3, 1944 when he scored six gc
League. as the Wings routed New York 12
The pair-veterans of many cam- 2.
paigns-were released today, ac- Bruneteau joined the Wings in 1
cording to an announcement by Man- and was one of its chief offens
ager Jack Adams of the Wings, threats for several years. His mr
Howe, 34, came to the Wings from memorable goal came in 1936 when
the St. Louis Eagles in 1935 and dur- 'rammed home a shot after 116 mi
ing his years of Major League Hockey utes and 30 seconds of overtime
Michigan's George Chiames at 2:30.
Chaimes wrestled at his best but the
Illini grappler was just too tough
f or him.
The 145-pound division produced
the closest match of the day. Wayne
Smith, Michigan entrant, carried
his opponent, Bob Bohannon, to the
limit, and on one occasion almost
had the match but Bohannon
emerged victorious after the regula-
tion nine minutes by a score of 7-6.
Dan Dworsky, Wolverine heavy-
weight, was forced to go into over-
time before overcoming his adver-
sary, Chuck Gottfried, 12-10. Dwor-
sky displayed great courage which
was necessary in order to defeat his
much more experienced opponent.
His good condition was another fac-
tor in the victory.
Jim Stark and John Allred, 121-
and 128-pounders, respectively, gar-
nered Michigan's other two decisions,
and both wrestled expertly in down-
ing their respective foes, Bill To-
maras and Ed. Burnadonni, 5-2 and
9-3.
Freshman Carl Grunwald dis-
played too much ability for Mich-
igan's 155-pounder, Stu Snyder, and
subdued the Wolverine grappler, 7-2.
"'
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1
,
Wrestling Summaries
121-pound-Jim Stark (M) defeat-
ed Bill Tomaras (I), 5-2.. .. .... . .
128-pound-John Allred (M) de-
feated Ed Burnadonni (I), 9-3
136-pound-Joe Garcia (I) defeat-
ed Maurice Smith (M), 4-0
145-pound-Bob Bohannan (I) de-
feated Wayne Smith (M), 7-6
155-pound-Carl Grunwald (I) de-
feated Stu Snyder (M), 7-2
165-pound - Dave Shiparo (I)
pinned Bill Courtright (M), 4:12 or
second period, 1:20 of third period
175-pound - Norman Anthonisen
({1 pinned George Chiames (M),
2:30
Heavyweight-Dan. Dworksy (M)
defeated Cnuck Gottfried (I), 12-10
~i4~YS 1______ , . _
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