Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-06
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY J. ED GR1L1o.

Danger Of legal interference with the
JenrleS-JOhnSOn contest seems to be dls'
appearing. The acquitta1 Of Owen Moran.
whose blow was responsible for the death
Of Pugilist Mccarthy last week, together
with the notice sent those protesting the
fight, from the governors Office. that the
law permits boxing bouts, seems to put
an end to the efforts to have the fight
prevented.
The laws of California permit boxing
bouts, not prize fights. There is, OF
course, distinction between the two
Prize fights in the old days, when the
London prize ring rules were in vogue;
We're brutal affairs. The contestants did
not wear padded gloves, and were allowed
to do about everything to gain an advan-
tage that is allowed in a rough and tum
BILE Scrimmage. The rules now governing
the game are quite different. There is
not as much danger involved as in the
ordinary foot ball game. Men of the type
of Jeffries and Johnson will enter the
ring fit to go the route. 1t really becomes
a contest of endurance more than any
thing else.
The old bare knuckle fights of years ago
have passed out of existence. 1t would
be hard to get two fighters to engage in
this sort of contests now. Boxing, when
conducted as it should be, is a harmless
and yet most interesting sport, which will
always exist.
.a,ing managers seem to be a thing
of the past in the American League.
Not one of the eight clubs in the circuit
is now handled by a man In the game,
though few years ago nearly every
team could boast of a playing manager.
This change because it has been
found that those who can manage and
yet hold up their ends as players are
be played today requires one mans en-
tire attention to handle the team. There
is as much in the scientific end as there
is in fielding and hitting. and there must
be one guiding hand which has nothing
else to do but direct.
In the National League there are still
four teams who have playing managers,
the greatest of which undoubtedly are
Clarke Of Pittsburg and Chance of Chi
cagO. Both of these players are beyond
the stage where their managerial duties
interfere with their playing, and both
are great ball players.
Bresnahan and Doom. the two other
playing managers, are vet experiments
as managers. though both are in the up
per class as ball players.
1t is, Of course. too early to think Of
plans for next season. but it seems GER
follow it's plan of not stocking up its
team in the fall with lot Of youngsters.
The present season shows that a great
many ball players have come up to stay
not purchased. The local club did not
make draft last season, because it was
figured that the chances of picking up
material which it could hold in this way
was rather slim. But the chances are
that this fall no opportunity to gather
together a lot Of youngsters to be tried
out in the spring will be overlooked
The system of taking such players as
other major league clubs were willing to
part with has not proven a success here
1t would seem better policy to take a
chance on developing a team and having
it for many years than to take players
who, while still capable to give good serv-
ice, have been in harness too long to
promise any development.
There are reasons for believing that
Jim Jeffries does not underestimate Jack
Johnsons prowess and that he will go
into the ring in the best possible condi-
ton he can get himself
John L. Sullivan figured Jim Corbett an