Chicago Cardinals to Sue Jumper: Plan Legal Action in U. S. and Canada, Daily Racing Form, 1953-08-22

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Chicago Cardinals to Sue Jumper Plan Legal Action In U. S. and Canada Football Star Ayatus Stone Bone of Contention Between American,Canadian Leagues LUBBOCK, Texas, Aug. 21 UP . Another full-blown legal battle between Canadian and United States pro football teams appeared in the making today with the Chicago Cardinals threatening suits in both U. S. and Canadian courts over halfback Avatus Stones "jumping" to Ottawa. Walter Wolfner, managing director of the Carduras said attorneys were preparing the suit as he arrived here with the National Fotball League team for Saturday nights exhibition game with the Baltimore Colts. The threat drew an immediate reply from Ottawa Rough Riders - president James McCaf f ery that the Canadian league entry would be glad to settle the dispute in court. Wolfner claimed Stone jumped the Cardinals to go to Ottawa after having accepted a 00 bonus for signing a Cardinal contract arid also a 00 advance on his 1953 salary. tt Fight to End, Wolfner Says Hb- "We shall fight this case through and the cost doesnt matter," Wolfner said. "We fr keep our end of the bargain and we expect our players to do the same." If the Cardinals threat blossoms into reality, it will mark the second attempt this year by a NFL club to turn to the courts for relief against "jumpers" to its fast-stepping rival north of the border. Only recently, a Canadian judge turned down a Cleveland Browns injunction plea in an effort to keep tackle John Kissell from joining the same Ottawa club. The Browns reportedly have not given up in their legal battle however, despite the set- Several years ago, the Los Angeles Rams were unsuccessful in trying to keep tackle Dick Huffman from jumping to the Canadian circuit. Stone, who played at Syracuse University, left the Cards last Saturday after the team was brought in from its Lake Forrest training camp to see the AU-Star game in Chicago. Wolfner said the rookie let it be known x that the Ottawa club sent his mother ,000 to help influence him to leave the Cardinals. This charge, McCaffery refused to either deny or confirm. He said the Rdugti Riders had a prior claim on Stone and "well be glad to thrash it out in the courts." He asked if the Cardinals said they gave Stone any money and when told the American club claimed it had paid the player 00, he replied: "Well, our story will be ,told in court." Wolfner admitted the Canadian clubs had a right to dicker with American players before they had signed a contract. "But," he declared, "a contract means we expect a player to fulfill his end of it." At Ottawa, Stone emphasized that he wanted to stay in Canada. "I wont play for Chicago even if they stop me from playing with the Rough Riders," Stone said.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1953082201/drf1953082201_2_1
Local Identifier: drf1953082201_2_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800