Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-29
BY j. ED GRILLO.

While it is perhaps evident that for
while at least Jack johnson will have
nothing to fear from Carl Morris, yet it
must be admitted that this Oklahoma
white hope" is more than an ordinary
fighter. True he has not beaten anything
but has beens and fourth raters. but he
has been in the game only eight months
and in that time has scored six or seven
clean cut and decisive victories. There is
surely more to this fellow than was at
first supposed. Certain 1t is that he has
a punch in either hand and that will do
much to atone for his other shortcom-
ings.
But Morris stands chance to improve
himself. He has only started and is still
a young man. 1t is said that he lacks
speed and perhaps he does, for a man of
his size is not expected to make a success
at emulating a French Dancing master.
Morris weighs 245 pounds in condition,
more than any fighter of prominence has
ever weighed when entering the ring.
Even the pessimists who have looked
upon Morris as Sort of freak must
hdmit that he has demonstrated his
ability to hit and that for a beginner his
record compares favorably with that of
any fighter that has ever lived. He has
not met any fighters Of much class. but
he has disposed OF all of them by the
Knockout route in Jig time. In due time
he will undoubtedly be pitted against
tougher game, which will furnish a better
line on his chances of ever becoming the
worlds champion.
Two weeks from today the base ball
season opens with Boston playing the Ma
tionals here The Boston team has been
touring through the west for several
weeks. and, according to reports, will toe
klS@ to11 to- hAct inn, hot
the Nationals are not apt to have an
advantage, such as they are expected to
have when they meet the Highlanders.
team which is reported to be far from
ready to show it's best form.
With two weeks still remaining. with
the chances for warmer weather bright.
there is no reason why McAleer's team
should not be fit to do itself justice when
the seasons opens. There is surely every
reason for believing that McAleer's pitch
ing staff will be in shape this spring.
Every one of the twirlers who is to be
retained is showing up we'll in the prac-
tice games, and this fact should give
promise of a good start in the race.
The members of the National League staff
Of umpires have undergone examinations
by an occulist to determine the condition
Of their eyes, and according to President
Lynch every one Of them has been found
to have good sight. Lynch undoubtedly
knows that it is not the eye alone which
makes the umpire. but he has heard SO
many charges about his umpires being
blind that he decided upon the only logical
way to disprove these charges. even
though really nothing is assured by the
favorable reports of the Oculists so far as
competent umpiring is concerned.
But there has been a howl about UNI
pires in the National League for years and
Lynch is merely fortifying himself against
expected attacks this summer from the
club owners, SO that he will be in posi-
ton to show that he has done everything
in his power to secure competent staff.
If there was a chance to make a COM
parison OF the STATS Of the two major
leagues 1t would probably be found that
difference is that the American League
club owners have long since been taught
to keep their hands off of the umpires and
that makes some difference.
1t may Of course. be but a flash in
the pan, but there is not player on the
Chicago team who is making better
showing in the practice games than Jim
my Callahan. The fact that he was a
star pitcher fifteen years ago. and has
been out of major league ball seven years.
does not seem to have any detrimental ef-
feet on Callahan. AS said before 1t may
be that he will be unable to keep up his
present pace. but if he does he will do
much to make the White Sox contenders
in the race this year. Callahan is un-
doubtedly an exception to the rule that
an athlete can't come DICK.
1t would not be at all surprising il Man.
aver McAleer started the season with
Corbin playing in either left or right
| field The leader of the Nationals is fig-
uring on putting the strongest hitting
| team in the field, and Corbin appears to
be outhitting several of the veterans and
| for q time at least may be given a chance
| to show what he can do against major
| league pitching. Doc Gessler has ever
been a slow beginner in the spring. and
what is more. Doe has not yet shown
that he will be in better batting form
| this year than he was last. Corbin, on
the other hand. 10 hitting the ball with q