Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-08
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY j. ED GRILLo.

Admission is made that the proposition
to divide the purse 60 and 40 came from
Jack Johnson. who also proposed to split
the purse even. This would surely prove
that Johnson was not as sanguine Of VIC
tory as he pretended to be- and the fact
that Jeffries accepted a reduction of the
winners end from IS to 60 per cent
makes it appear that he, too. was weak
ening on himself. though not enough to
accept Johnson's proposition to split the
purse on even terms.
There are many things connected with
the fight that begin to look rather queer
The fact that Richard admits that the
lighters had both signed up with him
long before the bids were opened in New
Jersey, and that that performance was
mere bluff. shows that the public was
being hoodwinked right from the outset.
There is no longer any doubt either
that every one connected with the AFFAIR
knew hours before the men stepped into
the ring that Jeffries' condition was such
Johnson was probably paid to allow him
to stay as long Is he did, for in his help
less condition the colored man could I'M
doubtedly have put jeff away in a very
few rounds. Now that it is openly ad-
mitted that there were lot of things
done for effect. there may be whole
lot more to tell which is being kept from
the public.
Connie Mack is one Of these who be-
Heves that the spit ball is a detriment 10
the game as well as to the pitchers using
this delivery. He has two members of his
staff who resorted to the mOistened
sphere think almost exclusively. Morgan
and Dygert, and yet this pair is Iar
from being the classy end of the twirlinG
staff
SPIT balls.'' said Mack, will not win
any more pennants. OF that i am con-
WINGED. / am trying to break the pitchers
1 have who use this delivery into using
everything but that, and I believe they
would be more successful. Any team
which relies on spit-ball pitchers to win
in tine race, in my opinion. for they are
inconsistent and lose many games by
reason of having moistened the ball"
And there is usually lot Of logic in
what Mack says.
The impression sometimes gets out that
a losing team does not draw the salary
of winner. This is even offered as a
reason for numerous defeats, and yet II
the truth were known there are many
clubs with losing teams whose pay roll
is larger than that Of several winners.
1t would no doubt be an ideal cond1-
ton If ball players were paid for what
they deliver, but they are not. If they
were many players would get much less
salary than they do and few would get
more.
1t is usually the case that the owners Of
loser want to do everything they can
natural. for in their anxiety to change
conditions they make all sorts of cOnces-
lsions during the off season in the hope
that an incentive may be offered which
will make the players win games.
1t would not be at all surprising. Tor
instance. il the salary >list of the Wash
ington club was much greater than that
of the Athletics, the team which is lead
ing the race and picked to win the flag
this year. To begin with, Mack has a
lot of young ball players when he start
ed a a low salary, and their increase has
been very gradual. On the other hand,
were taken from other clubs. where they
were once stars and drew big pay The
local club had to assume these contracts
and once a player has taste of high
salary he will not be reduced and stay
in fast company.
1t is. of course, conceded that horse
racing without some form OF betting is
never going to be popular and for this
reason those anxious to restore the sport
to something like it's former standard
must give the speculative end serious
consideration.
sport is obnoxious with this connection.
SO that it might as well be dismissed
from consideration.
There really appears to be but one fu-
ture for the game. and that seems to lie
in the adoption Of the pari-mutuel bet
ting system. 1t will. of course. take time
to educate the public to this mode of
speculation, but the game could prosper
with these devices in operation. 1t seems
hard to believe that racing is to be killed
entirely in this country. There appear to
be too many enthusiasts in the sport for
that, and yet its future depends entirely
in adopting a system Of betting which
cannot be attacked.
Though this is Christy Mathewson's
eleventh year in fast company it promises
to be one OF his very best seasons. There
is not the slightest indication tnat the
strain of years of pitching is having the
slightest effect on his arm which ap-
pears as strong as ever. This. however.
perhaps. because Mathewson pitches as
much with his head as with his arm. He
never exerts himself unless he has to.
which accounts. no doubt. for the fact
that he is just as great a pitcher today
as he ever was in his career.