PLAYERS WHO WRITE.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1924, Page 7

PLAYERS WHO WRITE.

AMERICAN CONTROVERSY

TENNIS AND JOURNALISM.

AMATEUR STATUS DEFINED. By Telegraph—Press Aasn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 14. 5.5 p.m. New York, Dec. 12. The special amateur rule committee, including Senator Pepper and W. T. Tilden, which was appointed following the player-writing controversy, has filed with the Lawn Tennis Association a unanimous report defining amateurism and professionalism, on which all members of the association will vote early next year. The report consists of a statement of the amateur rule and outlines the specific infractions which cause the disqualification or ineligibility of individuals. The report adds, however, that the violation of the rule, while excluding a player from Tennis Association tournaments, would not place him in the category of a professional athlete nor imply habitual professionalism.

The report, after defining the amateur status, declares that it is forfeitable by an individual who plays for a money prize or gate receipts, enters a competition open only to professionals, accepts money for using goods of a manufacturer, permits himself to be advertised as a user of such goods, or permits his name or initials to be used on such goods. Finally, the report settles the playerwriter problem by declaring ineligible any person using or sanctioning after January, 1925. the use of his titles or a statement of his tennis reputation in connection with books, journalistic articles, cinemas, lectures or radio talks, for which he receives compensation. A player would likewise be declared ineligible who receives pay ; for writing newspaper articles covering ‘ tournaments in which he is a competitor.

A VICTORY FOR TILDEN.

BEST SOLUTION TO DIFFICULTY.

Received Dee. 14. 11.5 p.m,

New York, Dec. 13. The executive committee of the United States Lawn Tennis Association adopted a rule that a player will lose his amateur status by receiving compensation for tennis action motion pictures of h’mself, by sanctioning the use of his name in connection with articles not written by him, and by writing for pay or umsideration in current newspaper articles on a match in • which he is competing. _ It is considered that certain provisioils will be ratified at the association’s annual meeting, since the executive committee is the association s advisory body, whose acts are usually fully endorsed.

The amateur ruling, while considered a victory for Tilden and Richards, is believed to be the best solution of a delicate situation, which threatened temporarily to disrupt the association. The ruling definitely permits Tilden, Richards and others to continue writing as a profession, while definitely retaining their amateur standing and continuing to participate in the principal American tournaments and international contests, such as the Davis Cup.