THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GENERAL OFFICE
SO ROCKEFELLER PLAZA é
NEW YORK, N. Y. FEBe 159 1944

DEAR PHOG,,

: [T WAS WITH GREAT ENTEREST THAT I READ YOUR OBSERVATIONS ABOUT ©
BASKETBALL IN GENERAL. AND 12=FOOT BASKETS IN PARTICULARe I SHOULD HAVE
LIKED TO HAVE QUOTED A LOT MORE OF THEM, BUT THERE'S NOT MUCH SPACE THAT
CAN BE GIVEN: TO ONE SUBJECT IN THIS "BREATHLESS" WRITING.

1'LL HAVE TO CONFESS THAT I HESITATED TO SAY MUCH ABOUT THE
12-FOOTERS UNTIL § COULD QUOTE HANK IBA. ON THE SUBJECT BECAUSE 1 DIDNIF
WANT ANYBODY TO THINK I WAS "GOING FOR PHOG ALLEN'S CRACKPOT IDEAe" TO
ME IT SEEMS THE LOGICAL IMPROVEMENT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE BIG BOYS AND
WHILE THERE'S ALWAYS AN ARGUMENT THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE SEVEN-}FOOT PLAYER,
THERE ARE PLENTY SIX#SIX AND UPWARDS AND BOYS AREN'T GROWING ANY SMALLER.

PERHAPS THE BIGGER BASKETS OR SMALLER BALL WOULD HELP, TOO« AND
I'D STILL LIKE TO SEE IT TRIED AND FORM MY OWN IDEAS} WITHOUT CLAIMING TO
BE ANY BASKETBALL EXPERT, ['VE REACHED TWO CONCLUSIONS: ONE THAT THERE -
MUST BE SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE GAME WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE
SO MANY IDEAS ABOUT MAKING CHANGES THAT WOULD IMPROVE IT, AND THE OTHER
THAT ANYTHING THAT WOULD KEEP THOSE BIG BOYS FROM CROWDING INTO THE SPACE
WITHIN 20 FEET OR SO FROM THE BASKET WOULD BE THE BEST IMPROVEMENTe

EVERY TIME | SEE A GAME IT LOOKS LIKE AN AWFUL CROWD IN A. SMALL
SPACE, WITH ALL THE BOYS MAKING FUTILE EFFORTS To kK

EEP FROM BUMPING ONE