Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-24
BY J. ED GRILLo.

None OF the heavywe1ghtS, not even
barring Jack Johnson, are yearning for
a meeting with Sam Langford. The easy
victory of the Boston fighter over the
Australian, Bill Lang, recently seems to
have created a doubt in the mind OF Al
Kaufman whether he could beat Lang
ford, for he has just turned down ten
thousand-dollar guarantee to meet Lang
ford in Paris shortly Kaufman's ex-
cuse is that he has decided not to enter
into another match unless his negotia-
tons for a meeting with Johnson faii;
but the real reason for his holding back
undoubtedly is that he does not see where
he can gain anything by meeting Lang
ford, who stands good chance to beat
him.
On form Langford would be the IA
vorite, for Kaufman found it hard
matter to beat Lang. though the Aus
tralian broke his wrist In the second
round of their six-round bout.
Langfords next fight will be with NC
Vey and If he wins this, which he should,
Jack Johnson will virtually be forced to
fight him. Johnson no doubt realizes shlS
fact, for he is now in secret training in
California, expecting the call at any time
to go abroad to fight the Boston Tar
Baby" Mcintosh, the fight promoter,
has offered Johnson $4,000 for such a
fight, but the champion wants $3OOOo,
which he will undoubtedly get just as
soon as the I4angford-McVey fight is over,
providing, OF course, Langford should be
the victor in this bout.
Carl Morris. the Oklahoma white
hope" has finally clinched his fight with
Mike Schreck, to take place at Sapulpa
March 3. Schreck Is in training at Pitts
burg, where Kid Cotton is helping him
out. and he expects to weigh about 1872
pounds when he enters the ring. Morris
now tips the beam at 3D.. and he expects
to beat Schreck in a few rounds. Odds
of to are offered that Morris will win
by the Knockout route in less than six
rounds. OF course, a victory over
Schreck will prove little so far as Nor
ris' pugilistic ability is concerned. but
there is whole lot of interest out west,
and 1t is estimated that there will be
10000 spectators at the ringside. In the
event of a pictory for Morris arrange
ments are to be made to have him meet
Jim Flynn, Tony Ross and Jim Barry,
and victories over these worthless will
place him in the first rank Of the cham
pionship aspirants, and fight with
Kaufman or Johnson will then be imme-
diately tried for.
The chances Of the Detroit team in the
coming race depend largely on whether
or not Pitcher Summers will thoroughly
recover from an attack of fever from
which he is now suffering, and which has
forced him to quit the Tigers training
camp
The loss Of the services Of pitcher of
Summers ability makes a lot OF differ
ence In a ball teams chances. Few teams
are so we'll fortified that they can afford
to spare one of their best twirlers Where
would tho Giants be without Mathewson.
Chicago minus Ed Walsh. the Athletics
with Coombs out of the fold, and Wash
ington without Walter Johnson.
1t is this element of danger which makes
the pennant races uncertain. There Is
hardly any one who does not believe that
the Athletics will repeat. The team looks
stronger than any of its rivals. and yet
should one Of the star twtrlers be inca
pacitated. even the remarkable resource
fulness of Connie Mack could not prevent
disaster. No team SO far outclasses the
in the pitchers box. which. after all. is
the most essential department Of ball
team.
Had it not been that the Chicago Cub
management had high opinion of Jack
Flynn, Washington would now probably
be the possessor of one of the most
valuable young first basemen IN the coun-
try.
F1ynn's showing last. year with the Pr
rates was far from UP to the standard
club was willing to part with Flynn for
Washington offer had not the Cubs
stepped in and refused to waive. Now
Pittsburg does not want to help Chicago.
one Of its rivals in the pennant fight, and
as q result held on to Flynn, who is
training at Hot Springs and Is showing
SO much better form this spring than he
did at any time last year that it begins
to look like a certainty that he will again
win the first baseman's job. where, IL
Chicago had not been so vigilant, he
would now be on the Nationals pay roll
and how nicely he would have fitted into
that infleld.
The unexpected death Of Stanley Rohi-
SON, owner Of the st. Louis National
League Club, means that that bit Of base
ball property will pass into new hands