Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-30

oeemiuSiy from the immense
49, sums of the wherewithal that
ambitious promoters with a
view toward reaping a harvest from the
gullfble public are insistent upon offering
for ten-round bout between Willard
and Moran, the box fighter will be
shortly placed upon the pedestal occupied
by our bloated plutocrats. One promoter
offers Willard a guarantee OF SS250o or
IS per cent of the gate receipts and 81
per cent of the moving picture rights.
Another promoter offers the champion
$50. 500 flat guarantee and a cash bonus
Of 5000 for siguing articles. while a third
submits the tempting bait of $4,000 for
two ten-round bouts. Moran, in the role
of challenger. does not fare so we'll but
has been offered as high as $4,000 for
two bouts, one of which shall be the af-
fair with Willard. Apparently the pro-
meters do not regard prosperity as merely
a prospect. but q reality right in the
midst of the fight fans. Perhaps they
ara correct and the mill will attract a
gate OF nearly $4,000. but IL does not
seem that prize fighters are compensated
away out OF proportion. II will be re-
membered that Corbett and Sullivan
fought'for q purse Of 81. 900. Other great
fights in the bsloyon days of the prize
ring were staged for sums of similar
amount and less. And they were to the
limit, not mere ten-round boxing exhibit
lions. And It was thought fighters re-
ceived almost fabulous sums, too. It
seems strange, indeed, that a Kansas
COW Observation-Disclosures a Pennsylva-
mia coal miner-Moran-should be able to
command as great a sum for thirty min
utes of exhibition as an. ordinary man
could for several years Of hard toll
Tho year OF 1916 unless the dope
goes mighty wrong, will bring forth a
new set OF champions. The field Of PROS
pective candidates for championship
honors IL wealthy in every line of sport
and 1t does not seem possible that the
old guard will rule another year. In
the field of base ball the odds rule
very strongly against the chances of
repetition by the Boston Red Sox. In
the American league. st. Louis. New
York and Chicago all look stronger than
Carrigan's crew. In the National the
Giants and Cubs have a long edge on
the dope. Even Ty Cobb has a rival
now. in the person OF Benny Kauff. Stu
dents Of tennis anticipate a victory for
Norris Williams this year and do not
accord William Johnston, the 1915 champ.
a chance to repeat. John Anderson
comes to the front as the logical con-
tender for the golf title held by Robert
Gardner. while Frank Moran and Fred
Fulton are vociferousy disputing Will
ARDS bid TO supremacy in the prize ring
and, IN the lighter divisions. Johnny Dun
dee and Charley White are making life
miserable for Freddie Welsh and Kewpie
Ertle il hot on the trail of Kid Williams.
the bantam leader. Perry McGillivray
is bidding for Duke Kahanamoku's
swimming honors with an even chance
Of getting them and to cop the climax
Jose capablanca n expected TO gather
IN LaAker's chess crown during the year.
willie Hoppe appears to be the only
champion with an even chance TO retain
hlA ,laursls during the 1916 campaign.
Unlike previous years the number of
heldouts this winter is very. very few.
The peace pact has brought most of the
players to their senses and others are
under long-term contracts and couldn't
kick II they wanted 10. Fred Toney. Gin
ctnnAti hurler, and Harold Janvrin. Red
Soz utility man. are the only exceptions
outside of Benny Kauff, whose chief de-
light In nfR seems TO be creating a
rumpus. roney is dissatisfied with the
figures IN his contract. He was offered
= raise OF $500. but says It is q couple
of thousand shy. Evidently Toney be-
hiSved some of the things Cincinnati
fans said about him when he had his
sensational winning streak next year.
But one Lincoln Herzog, who is Toney's
boss. doesn't believe them or at least
isn't inclined to turn them into dollars.
for. he has emphatically announced
Toney can accept his raise OF $500 or
Jump to the Honduras league. For a
guess Toney, who is like a large ma
jority Of ball players in that his abilities
outside OF chucking base ball are
limited to driving a truck OF plotting
q street car. will come down off his
high horse when the grass turns green
and the Jingle in his pocket is confined
to the ring OF few vagabond Jitneys.
Freddie Welsh has been licked again.
But he'll be a champion as long as he
can find promoters who will stage no
decision bouts.
As we look over the leaders OF the
watchful waiting policy we must hand
the bouquets to Kenesaw Mountain
Lands.
The white sox have an advantage in
the coming pennant race. They are one
lap ahead OF their opponents
Those cornhuskers. one might say. did
Chamberlain through the Burgess-Nash
team last night
Pretty soon Jess Willard will be listed
~ the New York Stock exchange.