The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-08-15
"
DR.. ROLLER IS REAL
ADMIRABLE CREIGHTON
The Famous Athlete Worked His Way Through
College and Came Out at the Head
of His Glass;

Take my case for instance. I was try
ing to qualify myself as a doctor.
knew that I had talent and that
could do good for myself and others by
becoming a practitioner. | had talent
as an athlete, why then should I not
work at this which would actually help
my college and receive pay for it when
| was taking that pay merely to get
me through eollegea
Don t You suppose that my heart
would have been as much in the games
as the purest amateur on the feld2 OF
course it would and probably more 90
for l would feel an even added re-
sponslbility. No it is not the boys who
are actually working for an education
that make professionalism harmful, il
is the lads who are attracted to a Ger.
tain college by offers from the coach
or student body authorities and, who
have no desire or thought to study, who
harm the game.
eff it should be made a matter Of
proficiency of study as to whether a
boy should play or not and if the stan
dard were made properly high, then
poor boys who really wanted to get an
education would be able to receive pay
for their services on the field without
any stigma attaching to them or the
colleges. 1t is the coaches who fish
round for athletic material and offer
inducements that do the harm and not
the struggling youth who is striving TO
better himself physically and mentally
by going through college"
After taking postgraduate course
in medicine and acting as one of the
faculty of the University, DR. Roller
went West TO Washington where he
lectured at the University of Washing
ton and took charge of the athletics
of that institution. Later he started a
practise in Seattle and became very
successful
Two years ago he decided that there
was big money to be made in the wrest-
ling game and he turned professional
to such good effect that he has made a
name for himself as the second wrestler
of the world with every possibility OF
taking the championship away from
Gotch whom he has technically defeated
once and been defeated by him when
not in the best of training
In the first go with Gotch the latter
agtted to throw him in one hour or
forfeis $500. Not only did Gotch lose
the bet but he was actually unable to
throw the doctor at ALL This match
took place in the Grand Opera House
IN Seattle October 13, 1906 The house
was crowded to the roof and DR. Roller
took, beside the side bet. seventy-five
per cent of the gate receipts which net.
ted him a very tidy sum, not far short
of $4,000
DR.. Roller has some very interesting
"reminiscences of his professional career.
How he tussled with Farmer Burns, the
gigantic Canadian, and took fifty MN
utes to throw him the first time, over
whelming his opponent in less than half
an hour for the second fall How Ollie
Donelson, a huge Swede from South
Carolina, weighing 247 pounds without
an ounce of fat on him. came TO Seattle
with the intention of making short
work of the doctor and how he put the
big man TO the mat the first time IN
eleven minutes and the second time in
sixteen. How he had a hard struggle
with Fred Beel. the only short man he
ever met. Beeie was ) feet 4 inches
high and weighed 176 pounds, he was
as strong as an OK and quick as flash.
Those who witnessed the match say
that it was the latest bout ever seen on
the mat. And many other interesting
anecdotes. all Of which must be heard
from the big hearted athlete himself to
be appreciated.