El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-08
WHY THE JOY OVER
DOWNFALL Of
A CHAMPION?
Jealousy and Thrill of the
Unexpected, Says
Naughton.

San Francisco, Cal, April S.-'Why
is it that there is always such acclaim
over the downfall of a prize ring cham
pion? Is it because a pugilist after
gaining the badge of supremacy, be-
comes a cad or a tyrant, or in some
other way renders himself so obnox-
ious that people generally find delight
in seeing him humbled."
The man who asked me this was at
pains to make me understand that he
hadn't "one drop of sporting blood" in
his veins. He read enough of pugi1-
istic news, he said, to give him a glim-
mer of what was going on from time to
time, and while informing himself as
to recent happenings he had gained
the impression that the world of sport
was agog over the fact that WolgaSt,
conquerer of the mighty Battling Mel
son, had been worsted by some eastern
tyro known as knock-em down"
Brown. The question struck me as
poser. but did my best to answer it
and this is how 1 proceeded:
told him that champions frequently
developed into cadsl and tyrants and
for this reason their downfall was
hailed with qualification by such as
had to do with them in a professional
dish propensities exasperated less for
tunate fighters who, on begging for
chance at the championship, were call
ed dubs or told to go and get repu-
tation.
No Sympathy for the Fallen.
These tyrannical methods incensed
promoters who had to operate at a
loss on account OF the champions in
ordinate demands in the matter Of
guarantees and purses. Needless to
say, in such cases, a toppled champion
finds little sympathy among his own
kind.
AS between the champion and the
public. I explained, there is but a sin
gle bond, if I might call it that AS
long as he can keep himself champion,
he will be mark for hero worship.
His personal qualities may be such
as to cause him TO be remembered
kindly long after he is defeated, or he
may be so devoid Of magnetism and
humane qualities that he is forgot
as soon as he IS downed. In any case
popularity Of that kind is an abstract
proposition. 1t is the fighting part Of
him that counts just as 1t is the run
ming qualities of a hero that appeals
to the public
The ending Of a fight. I argued. is
going to produce tumultuous excite
ment-Something approaching hySteria,
in fact No ring event. at least, none
that involves decisive victory-is COM
plete without it. All the world loves
a winner and the first instalment Of
the worlds homage to a fighter is
paid in ringside cheering and hat toss
ing. If it is the champion that wins.
they who have congra tulated him on
former triumphs are more demonstra-
tive than ever and hordes OF brand new
adherents trip over one another in
their mad desire to touch the hem Of
his bath robe.
The Unexpected Thrills.
If NORTHAMPTON wins. a tumult
is more ear-piercing and hysterical
Why? Because the unexpected is i'm
measurably more thrilling than re-
suit which seemed obvious. 1t isn't
a curious phase Of human nature-its
human nature itself. Just as all the
world loves a winner. all the world
loves @ change and no matter how
many times a champion may have
withstood the assault or challengers,
there is secret exhultation for the
great urwashed" IN seeing him
knocked from his pedestal.
The longer he triumphs. the greater
his fall The public. in its heart,
chafes at the idea that a man has been
found whom nobody can beat. Such