The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-10-17
SPORTING NOTES

Ing coach.
 SPORTING NOTES
 Jack Root knocked out Dick O'Brien in the third round at Chica- go on this date in 1900. Root, a Bo- hemian, was a top-notcher among the middleweights in those days, and afterwards fought Marvin Hart for the heavyweight title. O'Brien, who lived in Lewiston, Me, was also a mighty good man and might have reached championship calibre if he had trained properly. Dick entered the ring that night with a bay win dow, as usual, while Root was fit and fine. Jacks superior condition en- abled him to take the lead from the start, but the fight had not progress ed far when he grew overconfident. The Maine lad waited his chance, and when 1t came he shot over right that sent the Bohemian down in a heap. He struggled gamely to get up, but 1t seemed hopeless. Finally he succeeded, with only the fraction of a second to spare. O'Brien, known as the Butcher Boy" went in to fin ish Jack, but the latter was willy and managed in spite of his groggy condition to get through the round. In the next chapter Root was fully recovered and out for revenge and he put over a punch that sent OBrien down so hard that he didn't ever try to get up.
 Boxing in the navy is not alone encouraged by the officers, but the lat ter see to it that the game IS carried on in clean manner. The following example proves that boxing rules must be kept by men in the navy if the wish to avoid severe punishment. Frank Mallory, a white Sailor, sta- toned at Goat Island, on the Pacific coast, and a negro sailor serving at the same place, were recently match ed for a bout. In the first round Mallory landed a hard blow on the negro's mouth. Brown decided to quit right then and there, declaring that the blow had loosened his teeth. An examination of Mallory's gloves revealed the fact that he had broken a whetslone in half and put a piece in each glove. Mallory's superior of- ficers sentenced him to the camp pris- on until Thanksgiving Day, a pun ishment which he justly deserves. The incident was not without humor, how ever, for when Brown was asked why he quit so soon he answered that he had been invited to a chicken dinner and did not want to injure his teeth before the big feed.
 Norman Selby, better known as Kid Mccoy, will celebrate his 45th birthday today. The former Hoosier middleweight can still give occasional flashes of the form which made him one of the cIeverest fighters in the world when he was in his prime. Norman Selby was born Oct. IT, 1878, in a Hoosier village about 40 miles from Indianapolis. As a lad he was afflicted with the wanderlust, and beat his way over & good part of America. His first real battle was pulled off in Indianapolis in 1890, 0,when the Kid, who had become jack of all trades, was working as a waiter in restaurant The Kids employer was an ex-pugilist, and his place was a
 
 | connection. One day young Selby got into a dispute with another waiter and the boss ordered the turbulent lads to wait until evening to settle 1 their quarrel, when they could put on | the gloves in the ring upstairs, the loser to loose his job as well.
 | Mccoy had a fondness for his job, and he put 1t all over the other chap. | His employer was so pleased with his showing that he gave the Kid his start in the boxing game. In 1893 he got a job as assistant cook in Bob Fitzsimmons' training camp, and, without letting it be known that he was a professional boxer, he watched Bob at work and finally got a trial S sparring partner Mccoy was then little more than lightweight, and he i took a lot of hard knocks from the freckIed fellow, but at the same time
 he gained some valuable experience. When Fitz quit the middleweight di- vision Mccoy claimed the title, and held it against all corners, although his claim was disputed by Tommy Ryan. Mccoy whipped Gus Ruhlin, ! Peter Maher Joe Choynski and other
 good heavyweights, but was knocked out bv Jim Corbett. The Hoosier retired in 1905, after which he spent considerable time in Europe, being
 boxing instructor to Maurice Mater linck, the Belgian playwright. He
 has made several come-backs in the
 ring. The Kid has been married no less than eight times-maybe more, 1 since it is difficult to keep ta& on his
 matrimonial activities.