Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-06
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Just how good fighter Jack john
son is his victory over Jim Jeffries
has failed to prove. That fight did
not give a line on Johnson's ability. for
the reason that he was not forced to
extend himself. He was UP against a
helpless man, who could neither de-
fend himself nor inflict punishment, and
yet il required fifteen rounds to put
him away. Truly there was nothing
about Johnson's performance that
made him stand out as a marvel. Not
once during the fight did Jeffries sting
Johnson 1t may be argued that this
eSoves the wonderful defensive ability
of the colored champion, but that hard
ly holds good. for the reason that lit
tie men like Burns and Ketchell got to
him. 1t more probably shows the pitt
full condition that Jeffries was in. Not
being under fire at any time, Johnson
did not have chance to show how he
would act under such conditions 1t
remains TO be shown how he would
have come out of fight in which he
was getting as good as he sent. 1t
may never be known what sort of stuff
Johnson is really made of, for there
is no one 10 fight him now of his own
size or class.
Any sort of a fighter. ii is more evil
dent now than ever, could have beaten
Jefries Monday The former champion
seems to have gone into the ring in a
dazed condition. Either Ketchell OF
Burns. who We're at the ringside. could
have stopped Jeffries in twenty rounds
and not been hurt for their trouble
There cannot be the slightest doubt
that those in Jeffries' camp We're famil-
lar with the condition of the big fight
err They may have believed that he
M a Gsyh ri Or al
but his actions sunday We're those of a
man who knew what awaited him.
No doubt il was general breakdown
OF system. brought about by physical
exertion OF over u year and a half.
ana much mental worry. 1t is no
doubt true that Jeffries was better in
any of his boxing bouts with his spar
ring partners than he was when he en-
tered the ring to fight Johnson. He
was mere punching bag for the
colored champion. and had the latter
wanted to take chances he could prob
ably have finished him in a very few
rounds.
At the rate the local team is going il
IL by no means assured that it will win
as many games this year as il did last,
when forty-twO victories were annexed.
TO date twenty-five of these games have
been won. but for the past two weeks
victories have been scarce that the
distance between Washington and st.
Louis in the standing is getting uncom-
Portable from a Washington standpoint.
Can II be that are destined to finish
last again?
The best manager for a ball team is
the one who can get material for the
team Without the proper strength the
manager hasn't chance.
The locals were apparently an improved
team this spring over last year. The ad-
ditfon of Elberfeld and the return of
Milan TO good form promised much, but
seem to have accomplished little.
Last year the cry went up that the rea-
cause Cantillon did not treat his players
properly. and therefore did not get the
work out OF them. McAleer has resorted
TO different plan. He has not been
driver. has treated his players with every
consideration. and has yet to use a harsh
word TO one OF his men, and Yet the
team IS not winning.
So IL would seem that all these various
systems OF handling and managing ball
teams amount TO nothing unless the ma
terial is there.
A team to finish we'll up in the race
must have certain amount of strength.
After that has been obtained luck may
cut lot of figure. but there is not much
cnance OF luck boosting a weak team up
N the race or keeping good one down
Dame Fortune figures to cast an even
number OF smiles in all directions during
. a seasons campaign.
Thee Is but one prescription for a
loser and that is get winner.
There has perhaps never been such a
complete collapse of a pitching staff as
That OF the Tigers this season. For the
past month or more Jennings pitchers
have shown but little form. the best per-