The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-17
Times Sporting Section .sz$ = = s E=s
.PORTORIALG
ROGER TERRI

- under no condition box Kid Nor -olk, the colored heavyweight, whom Promoter Terry Lee had intended to use at his show at the Casino a week from next Monday. Neither will Larry Williams ever again apear be- fore a Bridgeport crowd of fans.
 This is what Larry told me last night. And he meant every word he said, too. Williams feels. that while out of this city he has always been given n warm and cordial reception, here. right at home. he Is booed and hissed even before he gets into ac- ton- Williams Is discouraged.
 The writer can not help but sym pathize with Larry. Bridgeport box ing fans are a cold lot. Very seldom does a local boy get full credit for what he does The only way a local boy can win popularity right here in his homo town seems to be to pass up scientific and clean boxing for bar Ibarous, careless and vicious slugging. Others than sluggers don't seem able to oatch~on in this city.
 Larry Williams is disgusted. And this is no surprise to those of us who watched Wednesdays bout. In the first place Larry was wrongfuIly and un5ustly accused of having selected SOSop- Lh1S was aDSOluIelE false and circulated by idle takers who had not even heard of Eddie Hinley. They took 1t for granted that hecause they had never seen him in 0r heard of the Soldier that Larry's opponent must have been a f1ivver. But Bddfo was anything but a setup. He gave Larry a stiff argument.
 RUT the point is this: Williams was - mildly applauded. There were Many who hissed and booed the local Monde heavyweight And for no req uon whatsoever. Certainly such a re- caption would dishearten the ordinary boxer. Yet in spite of this cold re- ceptfon Williams proceeded to battle his best And although he didn't stop his supposedly inferior foe, he gave a good account of himself
 Bridgeport athletes need encour- agemcnt--not Encouragement Larry Williams is personally and pugilistic- ally one of the finest fellows in the game. He has always tried his best and given the best in him in all his local appearances. If he has no; satisfied all 1t cannot be said that he did not try-for he has always done that
 It is no wonder that Bridgeport VIII alVdyS lag Den1nd. Not until Bridseporters learn to encourage and boost local talent when that talen. deserves credit, boosting and encour- agement, will this city be prepared to be teamed with the more pro- gressivc communities of the state. It invites the ambitious to come here but once here no inducement is of fered to encourage them to stay.
 We don't blame Larry Williams. Tn fact. we congratulate him on his fraH%ness in stating that he does not care to appear in a local bout again surely that booinC and hissing of the other night is indicative of but one thing-Larry Williams is not want ed.
 But Larry will lose no sleep over the fact. although his heart may ache in the knowledge that right in his home town a barrier has been built and for no reason at all.
 However. it would help Bridgeport a whole lot for local fans to hand out a little encouragement to its promising ones. Let's boost every thing beariing the stamp "Erdge- port" on 1t Let's really "B" for Bridgeport. Outsiders will knock us enough without Bridseporters Knocking Bridgeport-made talent. IT HE Bridgeport club won its third straight yesterday. All of which speaks highly and encourag- fngiy for the local aggregation. which has every indication of developing z into topnotcher when one compares 1t with the work of the other teams on the O'Neil circuit
 Tomorrow the locals make their appearance again on Newfield Park. and this time the Pittsfe1d contin- gent win be in the opposition. If the weather is good the team will be deserving of capacity attendance. nAvE FTTZGERALD of New Ha- " ven is being boosted by New Haven writers for the refereeship of the Jess Wiiiard-Jack Dempsey bout at Toledo on July 4. Be it understood that the New Haven papers are alone on this stand. The name of Dave Fitzgerald was mentioned by Joe MrLvfhill at a kidding setto staged in the lobby of the Biltmore Hotel one night three weeks ago.
 Kiddinsly one of the boys" fol- lowing a discussion on referees and who was the most competent one for such a match. asked Joe:
 Well, Joe, Connecticut hasn't named a referee get. Who would you like to pdck?"
 And Joe mentioned Dave F4t7ger- ald. Of course, the boys had a good laugh. but that was the beginning and the end of tho entry of MT. Da- vid Estzeeraid of New Haven, Conn.,. into the field.
 <SDED' ALLEN has quit Sam
 n Driver. The two had differ epces over money matters. Red is hot under the collar and now wants to meet Louis Bogash of this city. Drivers premier lightweight. Allen is confident that he will win He wants to meet,the Italian hshtwei~At in worse way, but wisely macs one condition: that Bogash take of weight for him
 IA match between such Q pair would indeed be a big card for any club in Bridgeport. No trouble would be en- oounterec in matching "Rcd" for such q bout, for he is sincere and deter mined about taclrling BogAsh.s
 ANsn. if must be understood. is one of the most popular boxers in Con- no0s5cut. Surely he 1s the best liked cau,rs fo