Imperial Valley press., 1914-02-12
Frank Menke's
Sporting Letter

New York, Feb. 12.-Old Pop Time
is a mighty formidable foe, but rec
ords show that many athletes; in many
different divisions, have given him
some long and fierce tussles before
the referee finally counted them out,
while others, after nearly a score OF
years in active service, are still wag-
ing a merry little battle against their
unbeatable enemy.
There is no division in athletics
that uses up mans vitality so much'
none that makes young man age SO
fast, none that is so strenuous as
pugilism. 1t calls for everything there
is IN man every moment ne is IN
battle, and practically every battle
robs him of a little more OF his nat
ural strength, and leaves HIM just
little easier for Pop Time to conquer.
Yet, here is Bob Fitzsimmons, now
nearing his fifty-second milestone,
back in the ring again, and showing
much of the speed and the ability
that made him a champion. Bob be
gan fighting in 1891, yet few nights
Back. lust about % wears after his
! first entry in the ring, he swapp,ed
punches with a youthful and husky
white hope" and gave that white
hope" very impressive beating.
! Then there's Jim Corbett, another
ex-champion. who defed old Pop Time
for II years, and quit the hghtlhg
game. not so much before Pop forced
him out of it, as to avail hlmsen Oh
an opportunity to go on the "stoige."
Kid Mccoy, who began fighting soon
after the fall of the Roman Empire,
and who recessed in his efforts a few
wears back, is in Paris now attempting
a "come-back," despite the fact that
loving friends are trying to lure hlm
into the old mems home.
Some months before going to that
gay European city, Mccoy coaXed
three alleged fighters into the ring IN
the United States and, according to
reports. disposed of the trio in to-
tai of eight rounds-allowing one to
remain on his pedals three rounds,
another four rounds and sending the
third party to the mat IN less than two
minutes.
Battling Nelson, who began retiring
about six years ago, is still walking
around with his chin exposed, with
terrible look in his lockers, and VOW
ing that he can wallop the best men IN
his division, despite the fact that he
has been fighting for ID years.
"Philadelphia Jack" O'Brien is an
other gent who, after Is years of ser
vice in the ring, has decided that old
Pop Time hasn't conquered hlm yet;
Just now Jack is back in training, and
vows that soon he'll get match and
show the world at large that he's even
better than when he was in his prime.
George Dixon and Joe Cans, the
wonderful negroes, lasted more than
16 wears: George McFadden faded as
a ring star after Is years OF service;
Joe Choynski battled INCREASINGLY for
rs wears: Harry orbes lasted 10
wears, and Joe WalcotU saw IA years
of active service before he really dis
appeared from the radius of the pugl-
listic spotlight.
Melvin Shepard, the long distance
runner, has been at 1t almost con-
stantly for nearly II years, yet seems
as good as ever. George Bothner,
the wrestler, began indulging in the
graphing business about 20 years ago,
and still grapples with much vigor.
William Larned has been playing ten
mis- for Is wears, and even now has but
few peers.
Coming to baseball, one finds rec
ords of the wonderful resistance to the
attacks by old Pop Time, that was
shown by cap" Adrian AnsOn and
"Cy" Young. Anson played major
league ball for % years, and so did
Young-truly remarkable records.
Yet. there are in active baseball today
several men who may equal, or break
the records established by these two
"grand old men,"
Nap Lajoie of the Maps has been in
the big leagues Is years and looks
good for several more at the very
least. Honus Wagner, the great Pi-
rate shortstop, has been at it for II
wears and shows no real signs OF
"slipping." Jimmy Callahan of the
White Sox began his big league ca
reer 20 years ago, and still plays the
game, but he dropped out of big league
baseball for a few wears, and so can't
be counted as a consistent performer
in the exclusive circle.
Tommy Leach with the Cubs, be-
gins his eighteenth season this spring,
but Tommy is about through. Willie
Keeler lasted 10 years in the big
leagues, Hughey Jennings was an act
i've baseball man for Is, Bill Sullivan
lasted II, Harry Davis held out IT,,
Fred Clarke, manager for the Pirates,
has been connected with the game for
20 years, but part of unis time ne has
been bench manager. Johnny King,
after II wears, has announced his per-
manent retirement.
But after all, Old Pop Time is the
champion of championship athletes,
wonderful as they are, must sooner or
later fall before his merciless unceas-
ing attacks.