ILL WINDS

The past winter has been a hard one for those higher officials in amateur athletics around whose heads have centered the storms of controversy raised by the charges of commercialism and over-emphasis that seemed more numerous than ever this year. But the season has been even less carefree in those regions beyond the pale where the professionals exploit their prowess for financial gain. Tex Richard, the leading promoter of boxing talent, having taken the new champion, Gene Tunny, under his wing, organized what is known as an elimination tournament to select an opponent for him. But the result resembled that of the struggle between the Kilkenny cats, for when it was all over his several warriors had eliminated each other so thoroughly by a kind of round robin process that no one survived to make any claims to the honor.

In another field of activity, Mr. C. C. Pyle removed his attention from his tennis proteges long enough to arrange a transcontinental foot-race from Los Angeles to New York. With more than 200 starters and handsome purses offered by the cities on the route, prospects were good for a cleanup, but Mr. Pyle counted too much on human capabilities. So far less than half the runners are left with the borders of Arizona yet to be crossed, and the chances of any of them reaching the goal seem much reduced. The magic of the dollar sign does not always suffice to secure freedom from anxiety, and the harried amateur officials may be encouraged by the news that their rivals have troubles too.