Commercial Graduates Basketball Club

Canadian, International and World Champions

EDMONTON, ALBERTA

June 6, 1939

Dr. Forrest Allen
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

Dear Dr. Allen:

Some time ago I received a circular from a publishing firm
advertising a new book which you have brought out. I intended
to order one at the time, but either mislaid or destroyed the
circular and haven't the address of the company. Perhaps you
have some of the books on hand; if so, will you mail me one as
soon as conveneient and enclose the invoice. I shall remit by
return mail.

I did not hear how your conference came out this year, but
I imagine you are still carrying on the good work. We have also
done well; we played 20 games (three against men), and won 16.
We lost a game to the provincial intermediate men's champions by
a single point,. and another to the University of Alberta inter-
mediate men by four points. We defeated another men's team by
12 points. I might add--in case you are shocked--that we do not
play men's teams except under unusual conditions. In the three
instances mentioned above, each game was played for charity.

We lost two games to girls' teams--one by a single point,
and the other by two. (St. Louis and Chicago) However, we won
each series of: games played, and retain all the titles which we
have held for so many years. A little later on, we expect to
bring out another.edition of our "Grad" record book, and I shall
send you a copy. This will give a complete summary of all games
played this season.

I have run up against a little trouble which hasn't made
things any too pleasant for the past year. In order to make my
job a little easier (I was trying to coach four teams as well as
look after my school), I induced our School Board to secure the
services of a teacher who was a former member of the University
of British Columbia men's team which won the Canadian title. He
was a good player, and I thought he would also be a good coach.
Unfortunately, our ideas clashed from’the outset. I have always
used a fast-breaking style of offense and a shifting man-to-man
defense, while he is a strong advocate of a delayed offense and
a zone defense. The result has been that players coming up to
the senior squads from the junior have to change their style,
with the inevitable confusion which you would expect.

Over a period of 23 years the “Grads” have won 460 official contests out of a total of 476 played