Irish Wants to Duck Gambling Charges

Good old Ned Irish. co a tee
- The-acting president of Madison Square Garden hastens to brand
basketball “fix” charges by Dr. Forrest ‘“Phog” Allen, University
of Kansas Basketball coach, as so much hogwash. oe j

‘It’s actually comical how these promoters, fight or otherwise,
pare their bleeding hearts to the public and attempt to besmirch
those who have a wholesome love of clean sports.

Like the fight. game, that plays such an important part in the
financial life of New York's Madison Square Garden, basketball has
been coming in for its share of “unusual” happenings, but when a
decent, respectable and responsible college coach, with no axes to
grind, tries to prevent what will ultimately develop into.a rotten
mess, the fellow’ is immedidtely tossed to the wolves.

‘Remember the fate of Willie Ritchie suffered here in California.
Willie was presumptuous enough to call the fight game a “filthy,
rotten business. .

Willie was literally slaughtered by the fight mob and a lot of
the folks he sought to protect, sided with that. element of boxing
that’s on the ugly side. :

Now watch ’em go to work on the Kansas coach. Irish fired the
opening gun yesterday, when he answered Allen’s charges with
the flat statement that “here is nothing more than a baseless repeti-
tion of allegations which he picked up by way of ‘heresay.” -

It’s amazing how these promoters can always come up with that
“baseless charge” gag, wherever the gamblers are concerned. —

Irish, in further replying to charges by Allen that gamblers had
arranged to “fix” the results of certain college cage games played
in Madison Square Garden, said: “There is nothing new in what
Dr. Allen alleges. ga : : wee “
Watch Attempt to Besmirch “’Phog” Allen

That Brother Irish would like to get out from under and duck:
the whole issue, a well known habit of those who are trapped, is
clearly indicated in his further comments. Irish says:

“The situation he refers to was investigated thoroughly by local
authorities and the newspapers, when the rumor first: developed last
season. : sey :

“That investigation: proved that the rumor was baseless. No
player was ever disciplined and no other action was taken. I would
like to let the entire matter drop rather than give Allen a chance to
talk again. om oe ;

“He has been doing that sort of thing for years now, and the
mystery to me is that people take him seriously in the light of his
previous false prophecies. a Bees

“However, in this instance, it was a very serious thing for him
to do, based strictly on a second-hand story, and in justice to the
players he named, I feel moved to say there was nothing to it.” .

Good old Mr, Irish confirmed that he had received Allen’s tele-
gram in which he named the players allegedly involved. in the “fix.”
But he doesn’t want to hear anything more about it.

How like the average boxing promoter is Brother Irish. He gets
the lowdown ona dirty mess, but he would “like to let the entire|
matter drop." |

In my book, the guy has everything—but courage.

ae : se te Me