The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-05-22
SPORTS

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A we'll known athletic manager said
this week:
Terry McGovern's breakdown will
not be altogether of the nature of ca
lamity if it shall teach other champions
now on the way to collapse to stop
their luxurious and foolish careers.
Terry is a mere boy in years-not yet
| 25-but SO far as athletic pursuits are
concerned, he is an old man. In the
language of the racing game he is all
| in. No true lover of fighting can hear
the news without deep regret, for Ter
| ry McGovern was one of the finest
bravest best men who ever fought for
a living.
How did this clean living, sober
boy travel the pace that kills? His
temperance in living has been a pro-
verb for years. He has been a model
has he broken down? Why is he in
the mental ard physical condition that
has saddened his thousands of friends
and admirers?
THE answer is not hard to find.
Stage life with it's luxurious habits, ir-
regular hours for eating and sleeping,
the hardships of travel, and lastly it's
temptations have undermined the con-
stitution of one of the ruggedest boys
ever known in the ring-the fastest,
hardest hitter of his weight that has
been seen in many a day.
Terry a Good Boy.
Terry McGOvern was more than a
mere champion pugilist. He was a
good man, true man, loyal to his
friends, VINO never took an unfair ad-
vantage or did a mean thing. Curious
ly enough the intense, highly nervous
organization which enabled him to
throw off all his energy into a broad
side of terrific punches was in great
measure the cause of his downfall.
ITO begin with, McGovern should
never have gone on the stage. He
couldn't act. But the melodrama in
which ne boxed and tried to act served
to exploit him and gather in the gate |
money Therefore, he stayed out on the
road and lived irregularly, when ne
should have been in hard training for
After two weeks of strenuous train |
ing, which really did him more narm
than good, Terry was quickly knocked
out. His championship having vanish
ed as a direct result of his life on the
stage, he promised his friends that
very night that he would give up his
Theatrical life, live simply somewhere
in the country, build up his strength |
and regain his lost laurels
Could Not Quit Stage.
But the boy did nothing of the KIND. |
The attractions of the stage, the race
track and the betting ring were too
much for his good resolutions. He
lacked the moral backbone to give up |
the old life and go into the tiresome
country and devote himself to the bus
mess of getting strong. He trained
few weeks. fought Young Corbett again
and was beaten again.
This was the beginning of the end.
McGovern. though never boastful nor
vain was at heart a proud and sensi- F.!
tive lad. His championship meant as
much to him as any merchants or
statesman's good name meant to the
owner. To have lost that champion
shin. to know that ne could not get
if back ate into the boys heart like
acid. He never complained; he suf-
fered in silence Every doctor knows
that prolonged worry will either kill
man or rob MIN of his strength.
"McGovern had financial losses. The
stage offered a sure way of earning
living. for the scores of thousands of
admirers of the plucky, honest little
fellow still turned out to see their ia
vorite. The hard life of the actor on
the road still further ground away the
hov's vitality. Then came the death OF
favorite child and Terry's collapse