Wednesday,
January 12th.

Dear Mr.Allen:-

Thank you very much for writing me on December
thirtieth and please permit to extend profuse apologies for the
delay in acknowledging same. I know you must be busy and want you
to know that I really do appreciate your kindness in writing to me.

I read with great interest the article regarding

your new book and glan to obtain it at my very first opportunity. I
enjoyed your Basketball Bible and am certain the new book will prove
of great interest to everyone interested in basketball.

Our team has had more success than we anticipated
by winning three of our first four games. To be honest about however
I must say that the competition was not stiff. Am afraid that when
we meet up with the strong teams we will have a tough job on our hands
in trying to defeat them. After all with the very limited practice
we enjoy I am surprised that our shooting has been as accurate as it
has thus far proved to be. Of course,the physical condition is not
what it should be were we practicing and playing at least several times
each weeke

Perhaps it is because I am old fashioned but to
tell you the truth I do not care for the game as now played. Seems to
me that right now most games consist of running first in one direction
then in the other with but very little time and effort spent on using
set plays and a proper defense. Evidently most teams operate on the
theory that a good offense is the best defense. While that may be true
to a certain extent nevertheless I enjoyed much more the old game.

I have always enjoyed playing with men who keep up. a short fast passing
game working the ball around with a weave and screening until a player
is broken open. From my observations the average player now dribbles
in as far as he can get - if blocked from going under the hoop - he
leaps into the air and xxyxuxaxmnaxhandedxshek. attempts a one handed
shot. The other players are never certain as to just when he is going
te shoot hence are in poor position to follow.

I dislike intensely the player who dogs it on
defense - he is constantly playing for sleeper shots - never plays:
more than half of the court. In the former game the player whb
lagged on defense was quite readily seen by the spectators. Under the
present set up his lack of defense ability or at any rate his lack
of desire to do his part by guarding his man is not so readily
apparent - do you not agree ? Of course,in say your game - the
players know you are watching them and that such tactics will not be
tolerated hence they make at least a stab at guarding - but in the
independent game there is seldom a coach - or if a ceach one who will
stand up and face to face accuse such a player because in most cases

that player is the main scoring threat. And why shouldn't he be when
he only participates in the offensive feature of the game ?