Omaha daily bee., 1919-07-20
OFFERS TO THROW
JOHN PESEKTW|CE.
IN 80 MIN UTES
PIestina Posts $1,000 Cash In
Bee Office to Bind
Match, Winner to
Take All.
BY KID GRAVES,

BY KID GRAVES.
A line here and line there, is all
that has been said of Marin Pies
tina In most cities in America, but
recently this giant Serbian wrestler
has shown New York sport follow
ers that he really has the goods and
the New York papers are boosting
him for a match with Caddock,
Stecher. Zbyszko, Lewis or Peseli.
Twice before this, Plestina and his
manager, J. c. Marsh, have crossed
America from the east to the west
and back again in search Of what
they term a square deal" from the
fans and sport writers, and is now
on his third trip. He wants to show
the wrestling fans Of the country
that he is entitled to a match with
the leaders of the game.
For the past four days, Plestina
and Marsh have been in Omaha,
visiting old friends and trying to in
duce the local promoters to give
him chance, without success. Last
night he called at the Bee Office with
$1,000 in cash to post as a forfeit
for a match with any of them, stat
ing that they had heard that John
Pesek had made the remark that he
would accept the def of Plestina
to throw him twice in ninety min
utes for a thousand dollars, if Marsh
would post that amount as for
felt.
Had Cash With Them.
Last night Marsh had the cash
with him and offered to post it at
once, actually peeling the bills off
a roll. The managing editor of this
paper requested that he bring i'll
check Monday morning, for this
amount, Marsh promised that ne
would and the M. E. instructed me
to get busy on it and see if tie
match could not be put on. He told
me to get that match arranged,
stage j, it myself if had to, to put
it across.
Now that is just what is going to
take place. Marin Plestina is gong
to get his chance to wrestle in Oma
ha, if it is humanity possible to get
an opponent of reasonable ability to
meet him. He will post his 81, 200
check with me tomorrow morning
to bind a match<with Stecher, CAD
dock or Pesek. He offers to throw
either Caddock Or Pesek twice III
ninety minutes for $1,000 a side. As
soon as this article is written, I will
wire Stecher and Pesek, making the
offer and will publish their reply.
The big wrestler and his manager
say that the local promoters will
not give him tumble" so I will
to stage the match my
self. Plestina's manager says he
will agree to winner-take-all prop
osition or anything his opponent
may desire. He will bet Pesek
81 900 that he can throw him twice
in 90 minutes and if Pesek wins one
fall, he wins the match. The purse
can be split according to Pesek's
desire, winner all, or otherwise. He
has already accepted my offer of 90
per cent of the gross receipts for
the match, and it is now up to Mart
Slattery Pesek's manager.
More for Stecher.
More than this, if Joe Stecher
thinks that amount too small to
take a chance for, Marsh will in
crease the wager to $4,000 or as
much more as Joe wants. Plestina
claims to be the best wrestler in
the world, and I am going to give
Omaha fans a chance to see wheth-
.r he is or not. Joe Stecher, Earl
Caddock or John Pesek, one or the
other OF them is going to have to
take Plestina on in Omaha. The
receipts for such a match woul ID
rival those of the recent Stechet-
Lewis match and would prove real
Iy worth while to the winner, to
say nothing of the side wager.
While Earl Caddock is considered
the worlds champion, which title he
undoubtedly holds, Plestina also
lays claim to the title, for the rea-
SON that Caddock has refused to
meet him. He is so confident that
he can beat Caddock for the title
that he will meet him under almost
any conditions and make him a
side bet of any size desired. Here
is a man who practically lays his
money down and says, IF you can
beat me, come and get Il" His at
titude must be admired and he is
going to get his chance, if the
sporting department Of Ihe Bee
1as any influence at all. He bars
10 man in the world, but first Pc
sex, whom he will agree to throw
vice in 90 minutes or lose, and he
will lose the match if he loses a
all.
Now, fans, you can wait until the
,ther parties are heard from and if
t can possibly be arranged, Omaha
will see this wonder wrestler in
action. If it cannot be arranged,
he fault will lie with the local ia
,orites and not Plestina or this de-
,artment. Here's the money, come
md get it.
As Told in Kansas.
Muscotah, Kan, July l9-The
-,pL Growth due 70 the heavy rains |