THE SPORTING SPIRIT

Franklin Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 20, 19 February 1934, Page 6

THE SPORTING SPIRIT

THERE is none who is truly interested in the development of sport who will not heartily agree with the sentiments expressed in a Sporting Life (London) editorial on this subject. During the year just ended there were some deplorable examples of the kind of thing to which Sporting Life takes reasonable exception, and none more deplorabLe than the wretched wrangle, now happily disposed of, over the use of “ body-line ” bowling. This futile controversy occupied more space in the news and editorial columns of newspapers in every British community and was more widely and heatedly discussed in sporting and other circles than a great many matters of real importance. Disputes have even been given prominence concerning sportsmen in our own country. The newspapers can scarcely be blamed for publishing reports of the developments of the squabbles, as the first business of a newspaper is to give the news. Perhaps, and it is to be hoped it will be a consequence, all the publicity that has been given to various affairs will have the effect of directing attention to the menace that threatens the destruction of friendly relationship and understanding between countries which contend with each other in different sports. The danger is that these “ incidents ” in international if exalted to a false prominence far above their real importance, 'may actually become of first-class importance when they tend to strain the quality of friendship between even small sections of the respective communities.

Unquestionably most sports to-day are evolving into “ gladiatorial contests ” which tend to spoil the “spirit of the game,” but possible causes have only been touched- upon in passing. The spirit of “ My country first ” undoubtedly permeates international contests, and rightly so. However, how much the playerwriter is influencing these contests to their detriment was seen in the recent cricket tests. It does not' take a big stretch of imagination to see the anomaly of a man playing in and writing of an international contest. Can he write detrimentally of himself or a team mate and yet be one of the team? "Of course not. Then he must sidetrack the actual play and “ scoop ” incidents. It is here where the newspapers and broadcasting associations commit their greatest sin—in engaging men who, no matter how honorable, cannot in sporting decency comment in an unbiassed manner. The great evil in the lesser contests in all forms of sport is the chasing of trophies. Two decades ago the game was the thing. To-day the outlook in many cases is that the game has to be won, irrespective of written or unwritten rules, for the sake of the trophy hanging to it. Eliminate the trophy and there is nothing left but the enjoyment of the game and honour.

“RUGBY PURITANS ” New Zealand and Australian Rugby Union footballers will be interested in the following notes from its Paris correspondent, appearing in the London Evening Standard: — “An attack on the four British Rugby Unions for * offhandedness ’ in connection with the efforts of France to resume international Rugby relations, is made by the Paris Soir.

“ Pack them off home for good—these professors of morals, of virtue, and of the art of teaching other people their business,” is the policy advocated for adoption against the Home unions who broke off relations with the French Federation early in 1931. ‘ ‘The Puritans across the Channel, continues the writer, “ deliberately shutting their eyes, have for three years maintained an atitude of entire indifference with regard to the overhaul of French Rugby which has taken place.

“ To-day, we must not be afraid of saying aloud that we are tired of this British offhandedness. Shall we, uncomplaining, agree to appear as guilty before those people who, since 1896, have not ceased to regard us as small boys, and have never allowed the French to have a say before the International Board which, according to them, is reserved for the only grown-ups —England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.”

BRADMAN’S SCORING ABILITY “ I saw D. G. Bradman playing for the first time when I was in Australia recently,” said Mr. Da» Reese on his return to Christchurch. “In the Blackie- Ironmonger benefit match at Melbourne he scored 55 and 101. I was tremendously impressed with his batting, and there is no doubt that it Is Bradman al-

most alone who has revived Australian cricket, for the interest at the moment is tremendous. Bradman has not the grace and genius of Trumper, but has wonderful scoring ability and reminds one more of Macartney. The most refreshing part about his batting is his tremendous energy and disposition to look for runs. After an hour’s dull, slow play by the opening batsmen, Bradman lifted the game on to a different plane and fairly thrilled the fmblic, particularly with his first innings score, which he made in very quick time. He truly brings the heart of youth back into the game in Australia, and cricket is benefiting enormously by it.”