Show a RICE TT IT T IS generally understood that the A postwar boom in sport will be on the he amazing side But it will be an entirely different matter from the sport boom after World War I I. I It will appeal to a far greater number number number num num- ber of actual players but I doubt very much that it will even approach the so-called so Golden age that followed followed followed fol fol- fol- fol lowed the First World war war those those years that brought us Babe Ruth Jack Dempsey Bob Bobby b y Jones Bill Tilden Bill Johnston Red Z f Grange Charlie Paddock Ear Earl 1 Sande and e R Rogers 0 g e r s Hornsby and many more in almost every every ev ev- ev- ev every ery line of sport Babe Ruth had been beena a a star pitcher before be be- r fore But it was not until after the war that he unwrapped his big mace and began hitting home runs I cant can't see any such stars in sight for some time to come For this has been a longer and far more punishing punishing punishing punish punish- ing war as far as our athletes are concerned It has arrested the playing playing play play- ing ng careers of far more young stars such as Bob Feller FeIler Ted Williams Billy Conn and so many others who were still short of their prime and peak when called to service Here an and anI there among the younger young young- er servicemen well we'll have a certain number of stars who may come close to the time old mark mark boxers boxers I Iball ball players and football players But anyone who expects to see a aRuth aRuth aRuth I Ruth Dempsey Jones Tilden- Tilden I Grange Sande and Hornsby parade Is likely to be disappointed i It could happen of course Since almost anything can happen in sport But it isn't a good bet The odds are against it There will be too many of our greatest stars around Pearl Harbor days back in 1941 who will be over the hill physically before before before be be- fore they have the chance to return to competitive sport They will still be good many of them but too many of them will have lost their best years Another Type Tyne o of 0 Boom The sport boom that will follow this war will be another type While it may not give the spectators such big names as we have mentioned so many outstanding stars it will accomplish something much more important It will lift the general average average average av av- av- av of play and skill far higher than it ever was before The First World war contributed nothing to the headline mastery of the Golden age The sport stars of that era had practically no connect connection connection t tion with the war in any way You Youcan Youcan Youcan can ring in Grover Cleveland Alexander Alexander Alexander Alex Alex- ander since Old Pete was a star pitcher back around 1911 I But it will be different after this war Army and navy now have from to men in inthe inthe inthe the service And army and navy have outlined one of the biggest programs programs programs pro pro- grams for sport ever known along the line of coaching training and ani competitive play This big swing in the direction o ot sport is a vital necessity Army and navy know this When the war in Europe is over there will be millions who cant can't be rushed home or on onto onto onto to Asia and the Pacific at a days day's notice They will need a vast sporting sporting sporting sport sport- ing program to keep them interested inter r ested in life while waiting for boats and planes to bring them back or carry them to other theaters of action The big weakness of sport in the United States is that we have been too much of a spectator nation nation and and not enough of a playing na nation tion This applies to our youngsters and to older older older old old- er men When out of year olds are rejected by the draft something is obviously wrong Army and navy now plan to give all these millions a chance to pJ v the games they like with greater skill even if few of them ever become become become be be- come champions There can only be one champion at a time after all But there can be a vast improvement improve ment in our average skill Postwar Football There is one knotty thorny problem problem lem that the pro football league or leagues will soon have to meet This involves returning servicemen who may maV have a year or two years of college football left leCt but who may want to play pro pro football football rather than return to campus life As the pro rule now works no pla pla- er can be taken into pro ranks until his class has graduated This regulation regulation regulation regu regu- lation has worked well weIl so far and has drawn the full approval of the colleges and the college coaches The war is almost certain to b bover be over in Europe before next fall Call That doesn't mean that all football players in army or navy will be re re- leased But many will be including a afew afew afew few from the Pacific Some of oC these college players will want to return and finish their college college college col col- col- col lege course Others wont One pro pro- football angle is this this this-IlIf If these men dont don't want to go back to college why shouldn't we use them Ulem Others believe the present rule that calls for waiting until their college time is over should be kept as it is 01 or was before the war r 1 |