LOST STATUS?

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 111, 13 May 1938, Page 8

LOST STATUS?

BUDGE AND MAKO.

AUCKLAND INCIDENT.

STRONG COMMENT IN U.S.

PLATERS MAKE STATEMENTS,

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SAX FRANCISCO, April 26.

While Americans had just recovered from the severe drubbing which Australian tennis experts had administered to Donald Budge, the much-worshipped champion of the tennis world, a veritable thunderbolt from the blue entirely upset the opinion held in America relative to the prowess of the red-headed Scots-American.

The first inkling that Budge had apparently violated the strict lawe governing amateurism in the field of tennis was provided in the "Los Angelee Times," when Braven Dyer, a noted sports writer, under the caption "The Sports Parade," stated that a "Xew Zealand publication eaid Don Budge and Gene Mako demanded and received the sum of 100 dollars each for playing there." Prominently Displayed. The allegations ivere immediately wired all over the United States and were prominently displayed on the sporting pages of all the leading newspapers of the country. Dyer, in his story, wrote: "Don Budge, the tennis champion, Is witk us. If he reads the New Zealand papers or has big ears they must be burning. Because they are claiming that red-headed Don is no longer an amateur net shark. They say he forfeited his amateur standing when he demanded and was given 100 dollars special expenses before taking part in a scheduled exhibition at Auckland during his recent tour of the Antipodes. "It all aprpears 5n the *New Zealand Sportsman,' a publication which has just reached these parts. Shame on you, Don, turning professional for a measly 100 dollars. Why, only six months ago, I understand, you turned down 75,000 dollars to join Ellsworth Vines and Fred Perry on their professional tour. At any rate, here's what the cross-the-water paper has to say about the matter: — Details Emblazoned. " 'In a radiogram from Budge on board an American liner, the world tennis champion demanded £20 each for himself and Gene Mako. The cable left no doubt that they would not fulfil their advertised appearance in Auckland unless they were paid. " 'It was agreed here that never before had such a cold-blooded demand been made to the association by a player. What was to be done? There was the public to be considered. To stand on its dignity and not accept. the demand meant that the association would disappoint many hundreds. So the money was paid and Budge appeared. What happened to the £40 Budge and Mako received? There were no travelling expenses involved. Budge and Mako were returning home from Australia and Auckland was a stated port of call. Before the toani left the United States the fares had been paid to Australia and return.

" 'C«in it be said there wvre expenses involved in getting from the boat to the wharves ? Hardly, because the players were met at the boat by association officers and taken places at the association's expense. Next is the question of hotel expenses. There were none. Budge and MaKo remained on the boat. " 'On what grounds, in view of all available evidence, can those "expenses" be justified? There is only one ground —the fact that if it would retain the Davis Cup, the United States must continue to have the services of Budge. Everything else will be subordinated to that one fact. One would not be stretching it too far to say that the United States Lawn Tennis "Association would give him a fortune to keep him as an "amateur." ' " Mako Makes Admission. Mr. Dyer attempted to reach, both Budge and Mako who were at the time of the arrival of the New Zealand newspapers staying in Los Angeles, figuring in some minor tennis tournaments. "Budge could not be reached last night for his version of the New Zealand incident," wrote Dyer, "but Mako talked over the 'phone. Gene readily admitted that he and Budge had each received 100 dollars for their appearance, but denied that they had demanded the money. When asked how long he and Budge had remained on shore his reply was: "Juet one day. It is ridiculous to say we demanded the money. We would have played whether they gave it to us or not.'" A day afterwards Budge followed up Mako's denial by another by himself, and it was of a most definite character. He denied that he had demanded the money in the Auckland exhibition, and did not believe he or Mako had violated the laws of amateurism. There were many tennis experts in Northern and Southern California who wore strongly of the belief that both American players had transgressed the strict rules of amateurism, and had automatically made themselves members of the professional ranks. Your correspondent interviewed several well known tennis experts in and around San Francisco, and without exception they said the act of Budge and Mako receiving the £40 made them professionals. They were of the opinion that Budge and Mako could not qualify to appear in Wimbledon or in defence of the Davi* Cup. as they had violated amateur rules in Auckland.

Directly the New Zealand newspapers reached Los Angeles and excerpts were published there and in San Francisco, a resume was cabled to London where it was prominently printed in leading newspapers in Britain, together with the San Francisco expert opinion.