SPEAKING ON SPORT by John MacDonald ================= (Milt Dunnell is on vacation. During his absence, his column is being written by members of the Star sports staff.) LACROSSE IS THE KING UP HERE Peterborough, Aug 10, 1955 - It's not football. Nor is it baseball. Or some other summertime sporting endevor, but lacrosse is the main topic of conversation for the city's 42,000 burghers these days at the dinner tabl, on the street corners and in the bistros. The ancient Indian game is suffering from a bad case of malnutrition in every other place. But here it's as healthy as a lusty infant - and wealthy. There once was a time ago when lacrosse was the big game in this country. Many of our football and hockey heros of the past got their start playing lacrosse. But for several dozen reasons - everyone seems to have a different idea - the sport has just about folded up. Toronto was once the centre of the game with crowds up to 16,000 to watch a match - but now it's forgotten, and the smae goes for many other Ontario cities. Now there are only four senior teams operating, with three of them - St.Catharines, Hamilton and Fergus - having to watch every penny to keep the wolf from the door. Peterborough is the exception. Here it's a going concern. The players on the Peterborough senior team are the city's sports heroes. The team is backed by some of Peterborough's top industrialists. It also got the solid backing of the civic government. The city gave the club a brand-new lacrosse "box" in 1946 on a 20-year lease, tax free. And the civil parks department helps keep the buildings and grounds in shape, for free. There are three reasons for its local popularity. First, the club is operated by a young, energetic executive, headed by Bob Pearson. Rather than follow the traditional ways, which has often led to bankruptcy, this executive is always coming up with new ideas and schemes to keep the game in the public eye. Secondly, there is an extensive minor set-up which creates interest among the small fry and develops talent so that local boys and not outsiders comprise most of the senior team. And thirdly - and the most importand - it's the best lacrosse team in the country. Ever since 1951, the Peterborough club has won the Mann Cup, symbolic of the Dominion Championship. And it looks as if they may do it again, for the fifth time in a row. The race for the Ontario title is all over but the shouting as the Petes last night clinched the provincial laurels with an easy romp over Hamilton. Until last night, Fergus had a chance to tie the Petes. But now it's all wrapped up with the Eastern Canadian crown and the Mann Cup the next two items on the list for the Petes. BUT THEY'VE WON TOO MANY But, according to prexy Pearson, all these little winings aren't good. This may sound like heresy, but Bob feels, "We've won the Dominion title so often that it's become old stuff to the folks around here. They seem to expect it from us. And it hasn't helped the gate this season, either. They still talk and read about us as much as they used to, the public interest is still there. But the attendance has dropped off. For one thing, we're as good, or better, than last year, but the competition has slipped. People just won't come out to see us play poor competition. Also, we're monotonous for the spectators." Sitting in the stands last night watching the Petes work out against the visiting Hamiltonians, it's no wonder they are the best. For on thing, Bob Curtis, who was manager last year and took on the added chores of coaching this season when Bobby Thorpe had to quit his pilot's post because of busines,, has done a thorough job in rounding out the team. It's a small club, but a speedy one with a potent offensive. And then there's ageless Lloyd "Moon" Wootton in goal. He's the best in the business. And when Moon isn't in the net, a 15-year-old youngster by the name of Pat Baker (Pat Baker was actually 16 in 1955) takes over like he did for a while last night and played like a veteran. Up on the scoring line, the most impressive was 20-year-old Bobby Allan. This youngster is a wizard at fakery. he can almost make the ball do tricks. Then there's Ike Hildebrand, who is on his way to setting a new league scoring record. And Harry Wipper, who's a star on both defence and offence. Besides being an outstanding member of the senior team., Wipper is in charge of the city's minor lacrosse operations. During the summer months, he teaches and coaches more than 300 Peterborough youngsters - ranging from 8 to sixteen years of age - in the game. THAT MANN CUP IS A COSTLY PRIZE Both Curtis and Pearson voiced the opion last night they'd like to see someone else take a crack at winning the Mann Cup. It may be a Dominion championship, and the Mann Cup may be steeped in tradition, but it's a costly thing to win. "In our four years of winning the Mann Cup, it's cost us $9,056 out of the kitty just in the cup series," said Pearson. "In 1951, when we first won the title, we had to go out to the west coast for the Mann Cup finals. That trip cost us more than $4,000 above the expenses given us by the Canadian Lacross Association. and last year we had the Mann Cup series in Peterborough, we didn't get five cents - yet we had all of our bills. "The CLA is trying to build a $25,000 reserve fund - reserve for what I don't know - and already they've got $18,000," added Curtis. "If they would quit living in the past and going by the costs of transporting and feeding a team for 25 years ago, and make it worthwhile for a team to win the Mann Cup instead of making it a hinderance - that would go a long way to getting more and better teams playing the game again."