Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-27
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meet Adolph Ernst IN San Francisco, but
he suddenly called the bout off for an
indeterminate period. As reason for
the act he declared he did not feel his
physical condition warranted an attempt
to throw a man the caliber OF Ernst twice
in an hour as was the agreement made
A very good reason. indeed, and Gotch
has once more shown himself a foxy
wrestler whose motto is safety first" A
young man. strong and sinewy, possessed
of the speed OF old. and indomitable en-
durance, Gotch would find throwing
Ernst once in an hour no gentle task, let
alone twice. And Gotch realizes he is
not the Gotch OF old. And that brings to
mind the possibility OF a match between
the retired champion and Joe Stecher.
4 Gotch knows he will have to be in the
very best of shape to tackle the Nebraska
youngster Perhaps the little touch of
ego which exists in all men will persuade
the Iowan to the belief that he is as good
as ever and capable of taking Stecher's
measure. In that case a big purse will re-
suit in the match. But on the other hand.
Franks better Judgment may overrule
the ego and In that event there will not
be any match because Gotch. unlike most
retired champions who essayed come
backs that quickly proved fatal. has
Iowa land, ana a huge purse will not be
the powerful inducement 1t usually Is.
And carefully weighing the two points Il
is not bad judgment-even though the
sport world seems to take 1t for granted
the match will eventually be made-to
venture prediction that there will not
be any Gotch-Stecher wrestling match.
Incorporation into the rules of an ar
ticie calling for the numbering of all foot
ball players is. a question which will be
an issue at the coming meeting of the
foot ball rules committee. Numbered
players adds much to the convenience of
spectators when the numbers are clearly
discernabie and when a key to the num-
bering is provided in a program, But
many schools have a tendency to provide
numbers which are so indistinct as to be
totally unreadable other schools fail to
provide key TO the numbering eystem.
III the colleges would conscientiously
number the players so that they could be
seen and understood, numbering of the
players will be benefit to the game. II
they continue to adopt the half-hearted
measures they did in the Missouri Valley
last year, numbering of the players is
nuisance which adds to the Inconvenience
instead OF convenience of spectators
Ted Lewis is stealing Jack DiIlon's
stuff, After Dillon. who weighs about l7i
pounds had informed the world he was
willing to take a chance with the 24O-
pound Jess Willard, Lewis comes 10 bat
with an offer to concede Mike Gibbons,
Les Darcy or any other middleweight
eighteen pounds in a twenty-round battle.
Dillon made a distinct hit with fight
fans by his apparent willingness to do
battle-a virtue few fighters of modern
times possess-and Lewis evidently is
calculating on the same result. But
Lewis hasn't record like Dillon. He
hasn't put over the forty-two-centimete
swing on anybody twice his size as Dillon
has. He hasn't much more than held his
own among the weIterweight So put Mr..
Lewis down as plaGiarist. or his press
agent as one; it's the same thing.
Base ball players are hardly 70 be
censored for their greediness. Once more
this is vividly brought TO mind by the
case of Joe Wood. Still very young
man Woods days are at least through
as high-saiarted bail player. An op-
GRAFTON robbed him of his usefulness and
So1N
Wood only had g few short years of
- sunshine during which 10 make his hay,
If he didn't make IT. It Is regarded as his
own fault And while we realize a good
many ball players are highly overpaid
relative to their ability in any other line
of endeavor. they really are not to be
blamed for getting their share while the
getting is good.
Freddie Welsh wni fight" In New
York Tuesday with a person NAMED
Bloom. You have 20 hand Il 20 Gotham,
a wrestling tournament and then Freddie
Welsh. Gotham is certainly a glutton
for punishment.
Eight Western league managers predict
first division clubs. Six predict pennant
winners Showing that base ball man.
ager regards elementary arithmetic as
completely fallacious.
George Sutton has CHALLENGED Willie
Hoppe for 1850 a side. Either George Is
getting philanthropic or should be in the
asylum instead Of Calvin Demarest.
Base ball peace has had one benevolent
effect at least. 1t has transformed the
rip-snortinE wild-cateh George stoval intC
a eooing dove.
Joe stecher has wrestling match on
this week. Who the opponent might be Il
OF little importance.
Two years with the Feds cost Phil Bal
slS2,OO0 But some day Ball may be ar
angel for a musical comedy.