December, 1940 11

LET'S IMPROVE THE BOX SCORE!
By William G, Mokray
Director of Athletic Publicity, R, I. State College

The average reader would enjoy accounts of basketball games far more if the
box scores and summaries were more complete than they are today, The current style
as generally presented by newspapers everywhere only includes the line-ups and in-
dividual scoring feats, thereby leaving the rest of the game to the imagination of
the reader,

On the other hand, baseball, for instance, is far more complete, It pre-
sents a true picture of the offensive as well as the defensive side of the game,
The very fact that many a newspaper enlarges the present-day basketball box score
whenever there is an important tournament or championship game indicates very
strongly that the current practice is sadly in need of revision,

May I employ the records of one team in a game recently played, showing how
the suggested box score is especially superior to our current system? They follow:

Suggested box score: Current box score:

Min, PF A FG Fouls Pts, 7. Pes

Smith 1f 32 41 4 6=5 13 Smith if 4 5 13
Jones 8 0 0 2 6-0 4 Jones 2 0 14
Black rf 40 2 8 68 22 18 Black rf 8 2 18
Churchill c 13 30 0 40 0 Churchill ec G::0 0
Murphy 27 1 1 . &.. 344 9 Murphy 41 9
Murray lg 39 $3 2:2... 23 4 Murray lg 2 -D 4
Coleman 1 2.0 .0. Ge 0 Coleman 0 0 0
Nichols rg 25 48 3 44 10 Nichols re 3 4 10
Towers Ins +0 0.4... 3-0 » Towers Ep 8 _9O
Total 200 1917 23 29-12 58 Total 2aie 56

Undoubtedly, the box score on the left provides much more information and
permits the reader to comprehend the facts more easily, without the necessity of
demanding the reporter to resort to superlatives and criticism to paint a true
picture of the game,

Some might explain that the box score on the left would be too difficult too
maintain, This isn't so, since, seldom as it seems, it shows that it can be done
if one sets out to keep it. Some newspapers not only maintain the record of the
actual number of minutes one plays, the personal fouls drawn, assists, etc., but
also the number of shots individually taken from the floor by both teams, This
gives even a more vivid picture, although some folks might be discouraged by that,
easy as it is for some of us!

How can the box score, as illustrated in this article, be made universal ---
one might ask, That would be very easy, if the coaches, at next spring's conven-
tion, ruled that the box score be enlarged, Colleges easily could prevail upon
their local newspapers to carry such additional information, since it will create
greater reader-interest,

To the average coach, the box score, as suggested here, will be of immense
help, because it will tend to minimize selfishness and build up greater team-work,
What clory awaits a hard-working player, if, after all is said and done, three ct
phers stand out along side of his name and the fellows he has fed all evening get
all the points and attention from sports writers and spectators alike? owever

(contimed on page 13)