The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-16
WRESTLING.
Lack OF Good Heavyweight Grapplers Is
DeplOred by Mat Followers,

II is rather surprising that America pos
sesses very few wrestlers who may be said TO
be great A. the present time there are only
five men In this country who have any right
to be considered important factors in the
wrestling game. They are Frank Gotch,
Tom jenkins. Dan Mcleod. Farmer Burns
and James parr All these men have suffered
defeat at some time during their careers. and
are opponents Of one style only and that is
catch as catch can Gotch, jenkins and
Burns are ideal heavyweights. while Parr
and Mcleod may be said to be nothing more
than middleweights But owing to the lack
OF good available talent In the middleweight
class, boJn Parr and Mcleod have been
forced to give away number Of pounds and
20 out Of their class.
The last two years or so wrestling has
been a popular pastime and it is strange that
some good big men were not developed.
Wrestling is strenuous exercise and ought
to attract the big men, but somehow II
doesn't. Once in a while really clever
grappler appears, but il ia not long before
he disappears while the oldtimers keep on
at their old pace. getting matches and losing
and winning number Of times with the iden-
teal opponents whom they in all probability
met when they first started out. Gotch and
jenkins have already met three times. Jen-
kius has faced Parr at least five times, and
Mcleod and Jenkins have had II out on so
many occasions that il is a difficult task TO
keep track OF the bouts. Without the APP
pearance of new blood on the mat the sport
r. sure to lose its attraCtiveness for the general
public. The patrons Of wrestling are de-
srous OF seeing new faces. and this fact
has helped 10 make Gotch as popular as he
is to-day. A well known wrestler said the
other day:
There would be in all probability but
little taking II the game had more good men
in it.. or at least representatives who are
able 70 give each other good and genuine
tuS-e Under present conditions wrestler,
no matter how honest his intentions may
be. cannot be on the level. suppose he is
uyiuClble aud has the strength ana all that
and goes through the list Of opponents, beat
former Of such feat must necessarily De
considered great. For a WINE lhe pubic
wall treat him as such. But he cannot remain
idle, for wrestling is Ills living, lie naturally
goes ahead and seeks other adyersaries, but
fails TO ind them because there aren't any.
What Is he TO do them ,NatuIaIy ne must
easily obtained. But suppose ne beats them
and IN the same fashion as hls previous
matChezg All the interest IN thlrd contest
l. wiped out and the public viii not pauoniZe
an exhibition Of skill where one slqe has es-
tablished bus superiority over the OIher:
70 fraud and allow his man 70 beat MN.
In this way he may be able 20 work up interest
for third match, and keep the pot sizzling.
IT, a peculiar situation tor an honest man,
but what Is he going TO doy
1T would be a good idea n professional
wrestling tournament was started IN this
city at both GrRco- Roman and catch as
Catch-Can styles Such bouts should be
held on an average Of twice every three
months Undoubtedly some good man 10
sure 10 be developed aud In this way wrestling
will have a chance TO sustain It's popularity.
il would not be a bad idea 10 hold Just such
a tournament for the purpose OF defining
the heads OF the various glasses. am an
Old hand at wrestling, but " you were TO
l. 1 uof fell
fersut champions at both styles in the vari-
Gus classes ! have been asked occasionally
TO settle wa0ers anent the question, but was
forced TO plead ignorance HHCkenschmidt
h beyond doubt the champion GRECO Roman
wrestler OF the world But who is the king
me Of his defeat over Gotch, claims the
honor But has jenkins ever defeated the
champions OF Australia and England Tor the
laurelsY This Is an interesting subject and
/ would like to see IL settled one way or the
a her 70