PROFESSIONALISM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 21 February 1931, Page 9

PROFESSIONALISM

TILDF.N AND THE GOLDEN TALKIES (From our own correspondent) LONDON, Bth January. Like Bobbie Jones in golf, W. J. Tilden is to exploit Ins skill on the lavTii tennis court for the purpose of talking pictures. In the circumstances he will be lost to the game as a player; lie will never appear at Wimbledon again. He has been pleased to say that this is his chief regret in undertaking his new , work. The position of these two star athletes is not clear. Neither intends to become a professional in the ordinary sense. Yet thev have surrendered their amateur status and there apparently the matter is to be left. But if they are neither amateurs nor professionals to which class do they belong!? Apparently a new one must. be formed to accommodate them. I think both Jones and Tilden would have been more honest to themselves if they had said, “We are going to commercialise our skill, and in the circumstances Aye must henceforth be professionals, inden’s film work is t d he descriptive, and, needless to say, lie is to be hapdsomely paid. . ~ I understand that the American authorities are closely watching the tendency to commercialise lawn tennis. It is even officially urged that no player, should he chosen to represent America in more than three successive years no matter what his playing ability might be at the end of this period. When the same players are selected year after vear, it-is pointed out, a‘premium is put on the playing of the game because of the advantages to be gained through it. On this question Mr Louis B. Dailey, who is a member of the Association, says that for the next Davis Cup matches he will oppose the choice of the players who competed last year. They have all been recently married and have entered on business careers. “I believp,. lie adds “that we should encourage them to concentrate on their careers and not tempt them to devote several months playing as members of the International team.” I am afraid Mr Dailey is an idealist, and I do not imagine that his proposal will he accepted. America will do everything possible to put the best team in the field. , Thev are too keen to win hack the Davis Cup.