Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-12-29
SPORTS REVIVAL
WILL BE GRADUAL
Leaders Hope to Eliminate
Many Basic Ills in Its
Reconstruction.
ALL GAMES ARE AFFECTED
Amateur IA Well as Profes-
sional Regeneration Is
Being Planned.
ny CHARLES J. nRIi.i.

ny CHARLES J mill
Tho year 1918 was the darkest In
the history NJ the sport world 1919
should be the brightest
Each ~ these statements, how
ever. may bo qualified somewhat
Thrre was silver lining ia the dark
cloud ~ tho year just closing, that
hcing the birth OF "A world wid" de
termination to clean up sport during
the reconstruction. There IN also u
chance for gloom during the new
year, too. for those who are trying
10 institute reforms nrc going to
meet strenuous opposition,
Tn, war put sport on the blink.
vet the war has had great deal
In DO with fostering "A spirit ~ re
generation. Baseball schedules were
curtailcd. many n minor league went
10 the wall. golf championships were
abandoned. and 90 were most of tho
important tennis events. champion
ship boxing matches tabooed and
modified schedules made necessary
IN all kinds of amateur athletics
Football had "a fair season. better
than that OF the year before, per.
hnps, for scarcely major unit In
ANY OF the army or navy camps
failed TO put n football team In the
field
poxING PROFITS MOST
BECAUSE OF WAR.
or all the sports. however. boxing
profited most There In no question
hut what the ring game was headed
Nriight for the precipice. at the
foot OF which was the bottomless
ha "A u
saved n. hampionships were won
and defended out OF the ring instead
OF inside tho ropes. Promoters were
grabbing at the big money. as well
ns the boxers, and many were the
teams" that went barnstormins
nbout the country, notably tina. OF
Ted Lewis and Jack Hritton. The
siowan OF all connected with the
game seemed 10 get the money and |
ret 4, the easiest way possible ana |
the public be damned.
Mike O'Dowd was the only one
,o wit "A title during the year. as
cendlng to the topmoht round OF the
middlcweight ladder. However, n9,
has pa s~ed beyond the middleweish'
limit now. ,
IN weight ia true OF nearly every
ono OF 'nt NiH'' |
mic Wilde. flyweight champion hnu
less willard. heavyweight king
rrobably are the only pair mat are
,,lthIn their limits. Willard IN the |
the heaviest man In he gam" TO-DAY
hut IA. could weigh "A ton without
exceeding the heavyweight llm,'
wilde In we'll under lO5 poundH
wh,n he tries pete Herman. hnn-
tamve,rh, champion, In reality gel,
dom enters the ring at less than i2o
mounds. and u would crowd Nun
10 make the fcatherwclght unit
Johnny Kilhane, fea,hrrw"lRh,
champion. has become lightweigh' |
and is fighting lightwcights Kenny |
Ieonnrd. wenrer of the lightweight |
rrown. IN nothing less than weller
weight and Ted Lewis, claimant
NJ the weltcrweight supremacy IN
ripe for the middlcwcight class.
\ strenuous effort is being maue
70 reinstate boxing ~ legal SpotI
boxing hin being prepared Tor thr
Oklahoma. Illinois. Nebraska ana
.pcrnaylvania legislatures Unless
these measures can be put 'hroush
~ the approaching sessions. now,
ever. boxing is doomed. for the oli
guard will he able tn regain NV
Nranglehold before another year 'un
when II does, the game is gong 10
10 Killed 80 dead thcr" VIII "" NO
chance for resurrection