mee amount to more than 28 tickets. To be perfectly frank with you, I gave those boys 32 tickets for them and their own large families, and in my opinion they deserved them. The other boys on the squad, with oar ex- / ception, were i living in this state wi th parents who naturally waquld desire to go to‘the gamed. The University of Kansas has a freshman team that as desired to see the varsity in action, and being in such close proximity to the game it took no stretch of the imagination to see that Ba ther the. Athletic Association would be forced to purchase tickets for them at A oeiee or else they would have to pay for them themselves or be denied the right to see the game. | Wie had no unpleasantries over the ticket situation, but our whole attitude in all of these administrative matters caused me to feel seiaremaccd in asking you for any relaxation of the rules. You will nite éhat I went to the Auditorium end got the tickets, pre- ferring to have on chaswe to us rather than to ask you to give them to us. There was nothing +0 en you from sending an allottment of tickets to the hotel if van aashess us to have them. I would not case asked you for a large ay of nAdd torial tickets because in my option you aie failing - see the very obvious en that you made - that the Kansas ir | wtuaek sett ace Cctiia fe ha HOA Vasing, team was drawing quite a crowd, But you failed to be generous enough “Gof to eer to give these boys the additional tickets for their efforts in drawing this crowd. The bo hie not asking for tickets to sell or : to make money from as so many of the, star athletes do when they get extra tickets. But they were ie for them for tieik Folks, and me was bent upon getting them because they were ene tron to them. Our boys came from areas close to Kansas City. The boys of the other teams came “from great distances, hence 28 tickets might be sufficient for some of them, oe ety a decided with no interpretation, but would follow strictly to the letter the rules as printed in the book. These.and other acts of yours caused me to feel very uncomfortable when I was dealing with you. | I had stated that I was not interested in playing in the tournament, and it was only because the boys desired to ole thet I calatgscas. I can assure you hoe that it will take more than that to ever get me into another tournament where the Universi oy loses a large _ sum of money and ‘the N.C.A.A. takes 55% of it. The 55% * lug” of: the NeCeAch. is an Solracieue discrimination against the sport of basketball. In no other sport that the N.C.A.A. supervises do they take more than 10% = swirming, wrestling, boxing, track and field. In order that the average layman can see the unfairness of this "ue" >» Let us anv a $5.00 bill the same.as the N.C.A.A. divides Umar First, the N.C.A.A. hea. 10% of the $5.00, which is 50g. Then they divide the reanining amount, $4.50, the N.C.A.A. taking 50% of that, which 4s $2.25. The N.C.AA. “show! ots 50g plus aes 25, making a totel of $2.75. The other $26 25 is divided ai ohteus eye, 2/18 going to each of the nad teams which play two games in the Western and the Eastern N.C.A.A. play-offs. That leaves the peteiolee 2/48 for the two teams in ie finals, such as dcstova and Dartmouth. One-eighteenth of $2.25 is 123¢. Therefore, Stanford «nd Dartmouth get three times 124¢, or 374¢ for pleying in the final NeCeAeh tournament and the two previous games. Colorado, Rice, Penn State, Kentucky State, Illinois and Kansas would Geran receive 2/18, or 25g foe playing two as, The most by wenoel wants get would - be 374¢, and the least any school would get would be 25¢, and the N.C.AA. would get $2.75. If that is nota "lug", what is it? The Rose Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the Orange Bowl, the World Series in baseball, orsany other supervised activity the participating penne get the major portion, but in basketball the NeCebeAe organization has seen fit to. gut the earnings of the NsC.A.A. ‘basketball tournament. Q Basketball in ‘the Dignoiea: WAS abtaiaad tetas much effort, Ke Buy LW. at dpi Bnd the writer were on the committee 5 ob= tain basketball in ‘die Olympics, but only the writer did any of the work. in obtaining ‘that result. After. basketball was placed onthe Olympic calendar, basketball was sold down the abet by the WeCeAsA. 4 the A.A.U. The eek. desired to name the coaches-in four. of ‘ee gports, track and field, wres ee swimming and crew, and: the officers of" the N.C. AAs made an agreement with the A.A.U. that if the A.A.U. would permit: the N.C.A. iC to name oe oo those four sports they would relinguieh any claim they man have eae permit the A.A.Us to name the coach of | biseo be in = Olympics. This was done. In the Sc eaiies fon of the TiC Ache henipionehip in bawket- ball, Harold Olsen as ‘chairman, John Pian ea the writer stotied ne the Executive Committee of the N.C.A.A. a plan whereby 80% of the money taken in the tournaments would be given to he competing teams, and 20% to the N.C.A.A. ii bnats failure to submit the does report to the Eeccadtiee Covi tse ar ce NeCehe Ass of eetieges saiees this not to be in 194, “ent, into athe tn. And after the Rites tournament in fenbns City er a large sum of ae was realized it was then that the N.C.AsA. took all. ° oF ‘the money, and only after the personal ee by ofie/ sob ae of the basketball committee was a compromise effected wianee the schools got any of the money whatsoever. ; : ; i ig tes i HE a H r i in . 3 gu ye i : ay i i iG > OH . f ik ee vga Hy 4 ee ey ka “il es ne : May 11, 1942. Chaneelior Deane We Malott, University of Kansas. Dear Chancellor Malott: It has been quite some time since I received the carbon copy of George Edward's letter to Gwinn the N.C.A.A. Basketball Tournament. I have taken some time to I And the discrimination is so evident against the sport of basketball that I am sure intelligent college adminis- trations will not long continue to allow this wfair discrimination. I have not pulled any punches in my letter and I have told George Edwards exactly what I thought was a true and correct | that he was the custodian Director of Physical Education and Recreation, Varsity Basketball and Baseball Coach. F J May 11, 1942. i. Gwinn Henry, Director of Athletics, University of Kansas. : - I would like to ask you first to re-read George Edwards letter of April 5, 1942, regarding the N.C.A.A. Western play-offs in Kensas City. Then I would like for you to read the letter that I have written him in reply. I have endeavored not him exactly what I thought was a true and correct version of the situation. The very fact that George Edwards was the custodian of nearly ten thousand tickets each night for these games and then for him to endeavor to hold a team that had twenty men to twenty-eight Very cordially yours, Director of Physical Education and Reerention, FCA: AH Varsity Basketball and Baseball Coach. May 11, 1942. : I am sending you in confidence a letter that I received from George Edwards, who managed the W.C.AsA. Basketball Tournament in Kensas City this past year. Some of this is quite personal and I do not care to mention that. However, the historical part of basketball being NeCeAels to the A.A.U. and the tournament by cee Wh ie ie Gite Bal le +e He 4 i i 2 eae pi ul a 2 e, iu 3aek ri ie. seit LF be called to the ! the public with a view of righting some wrongs. perused my letter. Sincerely yours, : , # : E bd _ Director of Physical Education and Recreation, # Varsity Basketball and Baseball Coach. F Mr. Jimmy Nixon, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo. Dear Jimny: I am sending you in confidence a copy of a letter that I received from George Edwards, which he addressed to Gwinn Henry, our Director of Athletics here at the University, and also a copy of my reply. I did not want to stoop tc the inclegant in dealing with my contemporaries. I also wanted you to kmow that I was taking full responsibility for getting the tickets and so far as I am concerned there will be no more N.C.A.A. play-offs for e These shortsighted money grabbing N.C.A.A. officers in grandmothers’ clothes are too much for me. The job was entirely too big for George's imagination or his ability. In a national tournament when the Wentworth Band was engaged for three performances, it shows to me that the man whe runs it is not putting on a national show, but endeavoring to get by without paying out any legitimate money more than necessity dictates. And the pity of it all is thet the major profits are not returned to the colleges which the boys represent, but rather organization without soul or fair play so far as the division of the receipts are concerned. Give all the boys at the Avditorium my kindest regards. You are at liberty to show this to your cooperators at the Auditer- ium, but keep it confidential otherwise. Won't you please, Jimny, buy a big “Mother Hubbard” for the old grandmother when he handles the tournament next year? Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Kincation and Recreation, Varsity Basketball and Baseball Coach. May 12, 1962. Mre Je We St. Clair, Direetor of Physical Education, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. Dear Saint: You and I have been personal friends for a long time and any administrative hiatus that may occur between one organization and another will not interfere with our personal friendship, I assure you, so far as I am concerned. I am sending you a carbon copy of a letter that — George Edwards wrote to Gwinn Henry, the Athletic Direoter here at the University, ani sent a carbon copy to ma. My reply to - Edwards is also enclosed herewith. I am sending the letters to you so that you can elie Shick aces dirk alleen tome ox senda tn ceeaine tee “N.C.AA. ExecutiveComittes and leaders with discrimination, lack of foresight, and intelligent administration - if not to say outright discrimination and petty manipulation. I have not sent a copy of this correspondence to Major Griffith, St. John or Olsen, but the tone of my letter gives you a correct diagnosis of my attitude. Very sincerely yours, . Director of Physical Education and Recreation, FCA: AH Varsity Basketball and Baseball Coach. , a eperne Pon rE eee A AE RINE A Peart! | . a May 14, 1942 qe ae i He i ii ail AS 4a H is i Te tf Hpegudts oe He a sate ie ah ryt ai 3 HT hi of state High sehool Athletic Associations fe i ‘ e Alien SOUTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE J. W. ST. CLAIR OFFICE Ss. M. U. Secretary-Treasurer DALLAS, TEXAS May 15, 1942 Mr. Forrest C. Allen Varsity Basketball and Baseball Coach University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Phog: Thanks very much for the copy of George Edwards' letter to Mr. Gwinn Henry, a copy of your letter to Mr. Goerge Edwards, and your personal letter to me. I, too, do not propose to let any differences that may arise between you and any individual or organizations in any way affect our friendship. I have a feeling that a lot of minor things could best be dropped at the pre- sent with so many more important things to be attended to. I feel that all small matters should be put by the wayside. Give my kindest regards to Mrs. Allen and the other members of your family. Yours truly, J. W. St. Clair Argyle Building, Kengas City, Mo. Dear Dr. Peeter I eam enclosing a copy of a letter addressed to Gwinn Henry, which George Béwards sent to me, and also a copy of my reply to George. I thought you would be interested in some of this correspondence. Mrs. Allen and I were very sorry it was impossible for us to accept your gracious invitation to the show. We are hoping that before long we cen have a good visit with you. I em leaving this efternoon for Humboldt, Nebraska, to deliver their commencement address this evening. With kindest personal regards, I am Very sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education and Recreation, Varsity Basketball and Baseball Coach. May 23, 1942. Mr. ©. & McBride, fhe Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Mo. Dear Mac: This is water over the dam, Cl sas entities stie Hei ol te finite purpose correspondence of Valentine Lents, basketball coach at the U. 5. Military Academy, West Point, and my reply to hin. You will notice he wrote me on August 7, 1941, and I replied on August 30. This was quite some time ago, but at that time I definitely indicated to him that the leadership in the National Basketball Coaches Association would be the means of splitting up the Basketball Rules Committee. On November 19, 1941, Nels Norgren, the president of the Basketball Coaches Association, wrote mp asking that I reconsider my decision not to serve as chairman of the rules committee of the Coaches Association. My reply dated November 21, 1941, is self- explanatory. Blair Gullion, of Cornell, Nat Holman of ¢.C.N.Y., and Val- entine Lents were the boys that caused most of the trouble at Hew Orleans. H. V. Porter is the executive secretary of the National Pederation of State High School Athletic Association. I sent Porter a copy of the letter that I wrote George Edwards, together with Edwards’ letter to Gwinn Henry. 1 his reply. You can see now why I told Edwards certain things I did in my reply to him concerning the letter he wrote Gwinn Henry. I do not believe that I go off half-eocked in these things because I have been in the association long enough to endeavor to ao constructive things for the geme of basketball, rather than to receive personal aggrandizement in an executive capacity. é Sinserely yours, | Director of Physical Education and Recreation, FCA: AH Varsity Basketball end Baseball Coach. Ence ¢ May 23, 1942. I am sending you some date which is self-explanatory. i think you will see now that certain things I told George Edwards are very apt to come to pass, if they have not al- to Director of Physical Education and Recreation, — Varsity Basketball and Baseball Coach. Dr. Don Carlos Peete, argyle Building, Kansas City, Mo. Dear Dr. Peete: I am enclosing certain data which is self-explanatory. This is a follow up to show you that I had previously said some of these leaders were riding for a fall. With best wishes, I am Sincerely yours, Director of Physieal Education and Recreation, Varsity Basketball and Baseball Coach. ce ETT LPO ET = is tee |, ae ake cer oa ee ae % si f ; (copy to Dr. F. C. Allen) _ April 6, 1lo42 Mre Gwinn Henry Director of Athletics University of Kansas Lewrenee, Kansas Dear Gwinn: Inasmuch as your letter of April 1 contains some statements whieh imply that the Manager of the NeCeAsds Weetern Playoffs in Kansas City was discourteous to Kangas authorities, and believing that such was not the ease, I will reply at some length. Copies of this letter are being sent to those persons who, I feel, ought to know the details in this controversy. The list will inelude Dre Allen, He G. Olsen, and John le Griffith, Secretary of the N.CsAsA. For the information of those not familiar with our previous corres pondence, I will review the situation. Following the Final Geme on March 26, the Auditor of the Municipal Auditorium handed me a memorandum on a piece of reilread stationery, which said "To Kansas" and listed an expense report of $32.50 for - bale of tickets to NeCoAsds gamese The auditor wished to subtract that This review brings the matter up to date. In your letter which arrived yesterday, Gwim, you wrote as follows: "This account was turned in by Mr. Falkenstien for the Athletic Office when it was discovered that no complimentary tickets would be allowed the University of Kansas coaches, Athletic Board, ete. Having the tickets here we were necessarily sub- jected to some pressure by the above named persons and tickete were furnished them at the expense of the Athletic Department." 2 * "Had any tickets been allowed, he would not have sub« mitted the expense report. « « + + « « it is also un» , weual that a school's team competing receives such a emall amount of the reeeipte and is not allowed any eomplimentary tickets for those who ordizarily receive them to events in whieh their teams are eonpeting." he stated earlier, the implication is plain that the Manager of the games was discourteous to Kansas. He certainly was not only diseour~ teous, but very foolish, if your statements were true. But, Gwinn, someone "discovered" something that I did everything in my power to "YD uot She Memes ah kd Gem 0b thn shathen whens the party eevivet in Kansas City on Thursday. One of my first remarks covered the come plimentary situation and I told Dr. Allen, that while we wished to keep complimentaries te a minimim, I expected him to let me know just how many he would need. He said that there was a movement on foot when he left Lawrence to have a)1 Kensae officials buy their own tickets. I insisted that | a act would be very embarrassing to mez requested that it not be handl d in thet ways and again asked his assistance in distribution of passes te proper Kansas people. That night I called a meeting of coaches and referees. The Stanford and Rice coaches were delayed by rail connections. Present were ‘coaches Allen and Coxs four referees; and Reaves Peters, There I outlined details of the pase regulations which ineluded two arena baleony seats for each member of the school's traveling squadj and a, Cael, “sie ant oan ts ae eee of his school. Coo; ion was asked for the protection of all, but I made it emphatic thet since Kansas wes so close to Kansas City, thet _ g@heol probably would require more passes than any of the others, This was justified, I explained also, by the fact thet Kansas patrons une questionably would be liberal in their support of the tournament. Another meeting was held on Friday morning, with only the four coaches in attendance. It was expected that game arrangements would be dise cussed, and I had tickets on hand fer distribution. The opening topie concerned the type of backbeards to be used. Over Dre Allen's vigorous protest, the majority voted for clase backetops«< the vote of the Menager making a 3 to 2 result. Immediately, Dr. Allen left the meeting, although much other business was not touched. I plea@ed for him to stay and suggested again that I wanted to diseuss the complimentary situation with hime I was —_— courtly, ‘that there was nothing more to discuss. — | Prom 1250 Ps My to 4100 Pe Me, I tried to reach him by 'phone-