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Show Rough Sport May Become Criminal Hockey and Lacrosse. Players Ought to Try and Bo Genuine SportB-roen, SportB-roen, Not Rowdies. Hero's a llttlo Chicago comment on an ugly. Canadian gamo that sounds right: Recently In this column roforonco was madp to tho Inadequate ponaltlos prevailing prevail-ing In sovoral branches of sport, notably Ico hockoy and lacrosse. Last week tho grand Jury at Montreal, Canada, found a truo bill against a player of an opposing team. In its report the Jury strongly condemns tho growing tendency toward brutality In tho famous Canadian game, and notos that In several branches of sport, rough, brutal playoro aro lionized by hero worshlpors. The court In Its reply re-ply said that legislation might become nocessary to makq It possible to take Into custody players who were now penalized by bolng ruled off. This undoubtedly would bo a radical remedy, but If the "rowdy" players cannot bo suppressed by othor means, thon lot them feel tho majesty ma-jesty of tho law On many race tracks bad acting horses havo to bo schooled at tho barrier, and it might bo a good Idea to establish a system of schooling for bad acting athlctos. It would bo foolish to expect tho moro strenuous forms of sport to bo altogether frco from friction, but tho Increase In roughhouse methods is only an Indication of an Incrcaedng doslro to win at all costs. Possibly the true spirit of sportsmanship Is an Inherited quality. While tho schools aro talking of abolishing some of tho fads It would be well If moro stress wero laid upon playing play-ing fairly. Officials at athletic contes" can do much to purify sport, but right spirit on tho part of tho players is the thing most to bo desired. |