Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-30
SPORTING COM ENT.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

The betting ODDS on the fight do not
give line on the result. The fact that
Jeffries is the favorite does not mean
that he will win by any means.
1t was to be expected that JeffrieS
would be the favorite. There are four
or five reasons for it. Johnson's unde-
served reputation of being a coward,
also his reputation of being a weak hit
ter. and Jeffries hard one, his color
and the suspicion that if there is any
thing doing in the crooked way Johnson
would be the one to lay down. all these
have contributed to make Jeffries a red
hot favorite
But there are numerous instances where
long shots have won championship bat
ties. Sullivan was a to l favorite over
Corbett, yet he never had chance, and
Corbett was to l favorite over Fitz-
simmons and yet Bob won the fight in a
canter
But the odds are going to influence a
lot lot OF people, of that there is no doubt,
The public Is swayed by the betting on
anything. 1t always was, and it is this
| that makes speculation on all events.
There is really no good reason for JEFF
fries being anything like d 1-to-2 shot.
In the first place, he must prove by his
fight that he has come back and, what
is more, no one knows much about John
son. for the reason that he is said never
to have been forced to extend himself.
He may be a much better fighter than he
has ever been given credit for being.
Even JefrieS may underestimate him.
| There is no way to get correct line on
the fight. Dope may be convincing that
Jeffries will win if he is as good as he
ever was. but if there is anything in the
claim that Johnson has always fought
| under wraps there may be a surprise in
store for the fight fans
Ever since Washington has had berth
in the American League its team has been
at the bottom or decidedly near it, Re-
CARELESS of what efforts have been made
to get winner here. they have failed,
and II seems only reasonable to blame
this on the system followed to strengthen
the team.
Few young ball players have been deveI-
| Oped here. 1T seems to have been the
idea always to strengthen the team with
seasoned material from other ma jor
league clubs. There may be instances
where this system has proven a success
but it has certainly been failure here
The occasional youngster who has made
good here has been surrounded with play
ers who have seen their best days. and
before other youngsters have been Sc
cured the ones who had won their spurs
have been found on the down grade
There has been a tendency all along the
ma or league line for the past several
years to rely on young blood for building
up winners. There are innumerable cases
where this has proven a success. The
Cubs were built up of unheard of mate
rial, and in the American League there
are Philadelphia New York and Boston,
| though Connie Mack has retained many
Of his veterans Chicago, too. is expert
menting with youngsters and the team
has done about we'll it did last year
with a team of old men, and there is q
| good chance for much Improvement.
| But here in Washington the seasoned
players have always had the preference
a
George Stallings made the assertion the
! other day that by securing young ma
| terial winner can be built up in three
! years, providing clean sweep is made
of the veterans. This may or may not be
true, but the Washingtons can do no
worse by giving this system a trial
| In appointing a referee to take the
| place of Rickafd in the event Of an emer-
! gency the fight promoters have made a
| wise move This precaution will prevent a
| serious state of affairs should the third
| man in the ring be in any way incapaci-
| tated during the contest, for he will have
| substitute within call who can take
| up the work at a moments notice.
| In selecting Charley White no mistake
| was made. White knows the game, has
| a spotless reputation and enjoys the con-
| tidence and respect of the sport loving
public.
| Judged by the showing made by the
| Washington team against the eastern
| teams of the league, compared with it's
| showing against the western contingent,
| the east must be fully 80 per cent strong
err than its western rivals. OF course,
| Detroit is a team of class and one which
| figures to beat the Nationals, but the
| other teams do not seem to have much
| on the locals, judged on past perform
ances Perhaps it will be when the Ma
| tionaIs meet three western teams that
| they will again begin to better their
standing. but as all equal number of
games will be played with every club
there will have to be considerable Inn
lprovement IN the showing against the
eastern clubs il it is even hoped that
the team will finish higher UP than it
did last year.
| Arden Mitchell sAXe1lfAen Years old and