NED IRISH

NINE ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK CITY

January 6, 1942

Dr. Forrest C. Allen
Director of Athletics
Kansas University
Lawrence, Kansas

Dear Doc:

I have read with quite some interest a lot of the
material which you forwarded to Harry Grayson at N. B. A.
A good deal of this is very interesting and well taken. On
one point quoting you, however, I would like to clear up a
misunderstanding on your part so that in the future you
would realize that I have nothing whatsoever to do with the
officials or officiating in Madison Square Garden.

The conduct of the games in all phases is entirely
in the hands of the colleges competing. The officials in
this case come within that classification. The College
Basketball Bureau under the direction of Asa Bushnell of the
Central Office for Intercollegiate Athletics is the only
authority in this section which has anything to do with
college basketball officiating. This bureau was founded by
the ten metropolitan colleges who comprise the Metropolitan
Intercollegiate Basketball Committee. ‘these colleges, seven of
them using the Garden court as their home court for all major
games, derive their revenue for the support and maintenance of
the official bureau from the National Invitation Tournament
which they caduct in Madison Square Garden every Merch.

Mr. Bushnell'’s bureauappoints all officiais for varsity,
freshman, and junior varsity games, including the games in
Madison Square Garden. Mr. Bushnell has two former officials,
Dave Walsh and Ellwood Geiges as his field observers. They
inspect the actual work of the officials and emduct three
clinics for instruction during the course of the season.

I attended one of these clinics last night and from my
own observation I would say thet the question of “intent no-
longer is a factor in Eastern officiating. I do not believe
any foul is called where there is no substantial body contact
and where it was not in direct violation of the rules.

I have observed games in the Middle-West, Pittsburgh,
Buffalo, and in Philadelphia so far this season. Other than
exceptions which you expect between any two officials work, I

have not noticed any particular variance of interpretations.