Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-27
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

With every one who has seen Jeffries
in action agreeing that he has regained
his old form, and is in perfect condition
for his fight with Johnson, it would seem
that the only doubt as to the outcome Of
this battle has been removed. With JEFF
fries fit and ready the dope becomes
valuable as giving a line on the two
men who are to battle for the worlds
championship July 4. Figured on past
performances. Jeffries should win, and
that without much trouble. There is
nothing that Johnson has ever accom-
plished in the ring that really puts him
in the same class with Jeffries. His
fights have been with class of men who
would not have dared to enter the same
ring with Jeffries when he was defending
his title.
The claim is made that in none of his
fights to date has Johnson ever fully ex-
he has allowed his opponents to remain
with him for longer period than was
necessary.
1t seems a bit absurd to think that
these are the facts. johnson. like most
any other fighter, undoubtedly tried to
get to the top of the heap as soon as
possible. He never made any money until
he gained the title by defeating Burns,
| and he certainly must have had the am
bition to go to the top, SO why would ne
not extend himself?
That Johnson apparently only toyed
with Burns and ketchell is perhaps cor
rect. but he had SO great an advantage
over both of these little fellows that he
could afford to do this. When he faces
Jeffries he will be up against a differ
ent proposition. Furthermore john
sons success has been due entirely to
his style OF fighting. and il he has held
back anything it remains to be seen If
he is as formidable when he fully ex-
tends himself.
Five years ago johnson went down to
defeat before Marvin Hart, who never
was anything but a third rater. john
son was twenty-eight years old at that
time and should have been at his best.
There never was time when il Hart
had been pitted against Jeffries he
to one shot, and yet the man he de-
feated is given great chance to beat
Jenries simply because he has since
his defeat al the hands Of Hart beaten
a lot of fighters who never had enough
class to be anything moro than pre-
liminary attractions compared to JEFF
fries.
| from SO severe and unexpected drub-
bling as the Tigers have suffered at the
hands Of the st. Louis Browns during the
past week. 1t was on the long series
| with the tailenders that the Tigers fig
ured on regaining the lead in the race.
but instead they have lost five of the
seven games. and SO much ground that
it will require a most remarkable squirt
to bring them back within hailing dis
lance of the lead in the race.
The collapse of the champions has
proven a hard blow to the teams admir-
ers II is undoubtedly the strongest team
| in the league. and IL 1t had regained the
| form it displayed a few weeks ago would
| not be leading by q long margin. But
| the slump against the Browns Is the Sec
| ond jennings team has encountered this
| spring, add 1t remains to be seen IL 1t
| can overcome this great handicap.
With the followers Of the American
League the fall of the Tigers Is popular
| for the reason that the team has failed
| to show good form in the worlds series
| in the three times it has represented this
| league in those important games. and yet
it is doubtful If either the Athletics or
New York. the two other teams which
| seem destined to fight ii out for the pen
| nant, will do much better than did the
| Tigers against the winner of the National
League nag, for the Athletics showing
against the Giants few years ago was
| anything but impressive. and the Giants
| were hardly as formidable a team as the
Pirates last year or the Cubs this sea-
| son.
| With very few exceptions the pitching
/ of most of the major league stars has
| been rather inconsistent this year. There
are but few twirlers In either major
| league this year who have worked up to
| last seasons standard, and there does
not seem to be any good reason for their
| slump, unless IL can be attributed to the
| unreasonable weather which all teams
encountered during the first few weeks of
| the season.
| On the other hand a great many young
pitchers, who are virtually seeing their
| first year in fast company. are making
good with q vengeance Most every team
in the major leagues. barring, perhaps.
the Nationals. has a youngster or two
who are winning q majority Of their
games, while the pitchers who were sup
| posed to be their teams rnainstay hav,
| failed to make good. Whether these per-
| formances by the younger set are mera
| fiashes in the pan remainc to be seen.
Bender and Plank. Connie Mack's two
stars, have been an exception to the rule
and have shown consistent form all
| spring. but there II hardly another team
| In the American League which can boast