Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-22
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY j. ED GRILLO.


match was made there have been insinua-
tions of every description. 1t has been
charged that the bout is a frame-up;
that it will be held merely for the moving
pictures, and last. but not least. Jeffries
really never intends to fight and that
some excuse would be found to allow him
to crawl out of the match.
At least one of these many theories
seems to have been exploded, for were
Jeffries looking for an excuse to get out
of the fight it was furnished him when
Gov. Gillett put the ban on the bout
being held in California. There was a
glorious chance to sidestep the fight il
Jeffries were SO inclined. But instead We
find him the nrst to jump on train and
hurry TO Nevada. This step on the part
Of Jenries would indicate that the former
champion has great confidence in himself.
He has been convinced that he is in con-
dition to do himself justice. and conf
dence will do much to decide the winner
July 4.
There has never been any reason for
believing that the fight was a frame-up.
Jeffries has never Deen connected wien
any shady transactions since he entered
the ring His. record is clean and there
would ue no occasion to be crooked this
late in the game. Win lose Jeffries
will retire from the ring after this bat
tie. and 1t Is worth perhaps q million dol
lars to him to win it, for should ne de-
feat Johnson he would become one of the
greatest theatrical attractions that ever
emerged from a prize ring.
Since the public's experience with Gov.
Gillett of California too much stock cam
not be taken in any statements of state
executives relative to the fight, but Gov.
DickersOn of Nevada sort OF makes a nit
when he says that there will be no inter-
ference with the battle at Reno, prOvid-
ing it is on the level, and he believes 1t
will be.
More power to the governor. If it is
not on the level, let him put stop to
the farce and place the two principals
behind the bars. Gov Dickinson does not
want to interfere with the fight, but he
wants to protect the puDlic against be-
ing fieeced.
George Browne has played good ball
since joining the White Sox, but even
II he should be instrumental in winning
the flag for Chicago there would be no
reason for regretting Manager McAleers
action In Kidding the team Of this PLAYER
One of the essentials in building up
winning ball team is discipline. There
can be no friction and every man must
have the best interest OF the team at
heart McAleer has been in the game
too long not to realize this. and when he
round that Browne was not pulling with
the rest Of the players there was but
one course to pursue, and that was to get
rid of Browne.
Wonder what the odds should have been
yesterday against the Athletics winning
both games from the Highianders with
Ford and Vaughn. Stallings' two most
successful pitchers, working against
them? 1t looks like certainty that the
best the sMackmen could have hoped for
was an even break, which would have
been considered a good showing. but in
stead they took both games and hit both
OF the crack twirlers hard.
1t Is simply impossible to done base
ball There is form. of course, but 1t is
so often upset that 1t cannot be relied
upon 1t may be that Stallings' pitchers
nave done their best work. and that the
long predicted slump has finally over
taken the New York team. for unless it's
pitchers do alright work there liz but
little chance for 1t to win. for the ason
that It's hitting is of the weakest kind.
But that dual defeat helps to make the
race more interesting. What looked like
a runaway for the Athletics a few weeks
ago Is now one Of the most interesting
fight In the history OF the American
League.
Considering the fact that Hugh Duffy
has team almost entirely made up OF
youngsters. it's showing is much better
the circumstances. This. however, is
entirely due to the strong pitching
staff the Sox can boast Of From a
team OF veterans the Sox were changed
to one of youngsters in a single year
and il that aggregation can finish well
up in the second division a good show
ing will have been made. Comiskey
found. after several years experience
with veterans. that il he ever expected
to get up in the race again it would be
necessary to reconstruct bis team. and
there Is but one way to do that nova
days. and that Is to go out and dig up
youngsters. Comiskey spent an enor-
nous sum of money in an effort to get
the best young material available but
he will not get the benefits Of this In
vestment for a year or so yet, II ever
Perhaps no young player ever broke
into the American League with better
recommendations than Lena Black
burn. the White Sox shortstop, and yet
there is. great difference of opinion
as to whether he is really OF major
league caliber. The Chicago public ap-
pears to be of the opinion that in pay
ing a fancy price for Blackburn Comis-
key was slipped a lime. and yet there is
not a manager in the league who does
not predict great future for the
| youngster, notwithstanding the fact
that his work to date has been most
erratic. Experienced base ball men
| who have looked Blackburn over pre-
!, dict that he has the making Of a won
derful infelder. though the laymen
cannot see him at all. He does show
| an occasional nash. but is unfortunate
| to blow up when the pinch IL tight. Q
failing from which most young players