New-York tribune., 1910-07-11
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Mental Vigor as Necessary as
Physical Power.
LESSONS OF BIG FIGHT
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

and Professional.
So many reasons have been advanced for
the utter collapse of a previously unbeaten
fighting man, SO many post-mortems have
been held to account for the easy way in
which Jchn Arthur johnson earned q clear
title TO the worlds pugilistic champion
ship. so many ifs have been offered to
account for the poor showing of James J.
Jeffries in his. effort TO come back that
one is forced 10 wonder how so many i'm
portant details We're overlooked by those
who made the onetime champion such q
pronounced favorite for a battle in which,
as IL turned out. he was i'll prepared to
meet so clever q boxer. So running q
ring general and so strong human as
Jack Johnson. A post-mcrtem may be sat
isfactory for the DOCTORS but 1t does the
patient mighty little good. and in this case
no amount Of excuses or explanations will
make up TO Jeffries for coming out of his
retirement 10 meet inevitab BILE defeat and to
lose his high place in the pugilistic hall
Of fame II should serve as lesson. how
ever, TO those who believe that they can
burn the candle st both ends and still re-
tain their physical strength and mental
vgor.
The one outstanding reason for the de-
fea; Of Jerries lay in the fact that he met
g better and stronger man in the ring on
July I It seems hardly necessary TO go
further: and while q dozen or more reasons
have been advanced to account for his un-
expecfeely weak stand, few If any have
carried the weight OF conviction. Some have
shouted. Youth must be served" This
saying true as il is in many cases has
little bearing here. Three years is hardly
& span by which q fair measure can be
made between youth and old age, particu-
laTly as johnson boasts thiTty-two summers
and Jefries only thirty-fve winters. Both
men are IN the prime Of life, when, every
thing else h.eing equal, q year or two is
only as al hour. It was not youth but
the manner Of living IN the last few years,
that marked the difference between the
Two men Johnson has been fighting his
way TO the top and keeping himself in we'll
nigh perfect physical condition; Jefries. on
the other hand, had been living a life of
ease and luxury, and indulging, it is said
IN some dissipation, from the effects of
which he could not recover in spite OF a
full year devoted to hard and conscientious
training.
Other reasons have been suggested. one
and perhaps more going so far as to ac-
Or poisoned before entering the ring, a sug-
Eestion almost too absurd to repeat; but
the one which appeals to me as worthy Of
most consideration was offered by William
Muldoon, who from a long study Of the
physical side of men is qualified TO speak
He puts it down 10 lack of proper mental
vigor. being quoted as saying:
Jeffries was physically great enough for
any undertaking, but he was not mentally
strong enough or great enough. The i'm
portance Of this undertaking had preyed
upon his mind and as the thousands of
people swermed into this little town TReno1
from an over the world and the thousands
Of kilograms came in for news and informa-
ZION from the training camp. with the thou
sands Of letters Cor / know personally
that his mail daily amounted TO no fewer
than from fifty 10 seventy-fve letters,
many Of which he was foolish enough 10
read or have others read to him. the i'm
portance of the whole thing worked him
up TO such a pitch that ne completely sue
cumbed TO the mental and nervous torture;
and the climax came as he entered the
arena and saw seated upward Of twenty
thousand persons waiting patiently In the
hot sun TO see him whip the negro cham
ricn- His power Of mind over matter
failed completely. and that magnlncently
developed 225 pounds of bone and muscular
tissue was without pilot to steer il in
the right direction
This is side Of the question which is
worthy Of careful thought and study. and e
lesson has been taught which perhaps could
not be emphasized SO clearly in any other
way.
IN reply tc q number of queries 10 decide
wagers whether Jeffries was or was not
Knocked out. there can be only one answer.
A foul was committed when Jeffries was
helped to his feet and pushed into the ring
after the second knockdown in the f1f-
-eenth round Jeffries was knocked out TO
all intents and purposes, but. as matter
OF fact. the fight was awarded TO johnson
on the technical disqualification OF his op-
moment Tex Rickard. the referee, seems
70 have settled the controversy for all time
nv saving: 'tJeffries was not counted out,
although am positive he could never have
GOT I'D within the ten seconds when ne
went down the second time if his seconds
had not put their hands on him and pushed
him I'd This assistance disqualified Je1-
fries and I was trying 10 stop the nght
on that account when Johnson sent him
down for the third time with a left ana
right TO the jaw The pictures VIII snow
thar I got between them as this third
knockdown came, and 1 gave the fight to
Johnson before the tinnekeeper could count
ten. Therefore I believe II should staho
Is q disqualification. although. as have
said. Je<1rie6 wOuld nave pt6n CoNnNSo o0t
had the foul not occurred
Jack Johnson says he refused 10 seI
Che fight; johnson offered Jeffries the
choice oe corners. and cheerfully accepted
sbe one with the sun in his face; johnson
laughed OF the efforts OF Jim ("Gentleman
Jiua") Corbett TO rouse his temper by SIDE
remarks; johnson in his prosperity re-
raembered old associates with gifts; john
son is a great fighter, but. after all, John
son appears 10 he something more than
the brute he has been painted
Once more the Giants are making
round Of the Western clubs, and the
fans are hoping that 81 will be less dis
estrous than the first one. when they lost
seven out Of the first eight games played
Much depends on the present series with
The Chicago Cubs, and II begins to look
as If the champions of 1908 were the ones
the Giants had TO beat TO win the Ma
ftonal League pennant Up 10 this time
Chicago has a big lead on the games be
tween the. two clubs. having won six and
lost two The Giants had stormy time