The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-19

The heavyweight champion Of the
world rose quickly to that one.
Yes, did" he snorted, and they
robbed me-, too"
Gunboat Smith got a 20-round de-
cision over Willard in San Francisco In
1913. long before Jess figured as any
thing like a championship possibility.
1t was not so long after their Denver
ehAtter that Willard and Dempsey were
signed up by Tex" Richard for the
Iotedo encounter. Since the signing
Dempsey has appeared only in exhibit
tion bouts, as the terms Of his con
tract with Richard prevented him from
engaging In any real battles before the
big fight.
He went out with another show,
which worked as far as the Mississippi
river Then Dempsey and Kearns spent
some weeks at Excelsior Springs. Mo-.
where Jack did a little light training
bile.
The next chapter Of his history must
be written after July 4.
We-Mr. Dempsey and myself-hope
we ave entertained you to some ex-
tent with our tale as we have gone
along. We have at least ~endeavored to
tell the truth, and ] submit we have
told Il even at times when 1t reflected
no great glory upon our hero.
IA | have known Dempsey, he pos
sesses the possibilities of the greatest
personal popularity ever enjoyed by a
tstic CHAMPION, should he become
champion. The burden of life rests
lightly on the wide shoulders of the
young man from Manassas. He Is hap
py-go-lucky, friendly and full Of fun,
and h morrow bothers him not at
all
| repeat what I have said before,
that ! do not believe Dempsey would
hA EntNRh 1tHfRVrhAl 10 L. ts,,.R IwAlAft
tonight and had to get u the old
o~veralls again and go hunting a rat
tier" bound for some friendly Western
port.
Money seems to be the least Of his
troubles, though he is getting plenty Of
II. He spends 1t freely; he has gone
IN for trick apparel, automobiles and
diamonds, but this ia not surprising in
view OF the fact that Jack vas as
loose MS the proverbial ashes with his
money even back In the period when
he never had more han a few nickels
and dimes at a time.
His head apparentlN remains normal
and his heart is still with his old asso-
eiates and his own people out West,
His fondest memories are of his days
on the road.
He may change IL ne gets to be
champion, They generally do. | sup
pose It's n good eVen money bet right
row that If Dempsey beats Willard he
will first be hailed as the greatest
fighter the world has ever seen. and
In the same breath we will be told that
there Is no man In the land of the living
fit TO even suggest meeting Our Jack,
Whereat, and w~hereupon, Dempsey
will probably go circus-ing yor bulesque-
ing around. raking in the dough and
s~tudiously avoiding the MOL and tur-
mol of the ring until such time as
the %populace begins TO proclaim him
a large ham and a big stiff and what
| not.
For such, my friends, Is the way OF
the heavyweight pugilistic champions,
and the way Of the p%opulaCe, and such
have been both way for quite a spell.
You really can't blame the champs,
but you do blame EN-, And there you
are
But II Jack Dempsey should chance
to be that unusual n wholly irregu-
lar champ who doesn't change; who
passes up the circus and the burlesque,
and who continues In the occupation
for which nature seems TO have In
tended him; who gives the Meehans
and the Miskes and the Wills, and the
like, all a crack at his title, then !
say he Is going to be a most popular
| figure. indeed.
For ! tell YOU, Jack Dempsey can
fight, Shoulders ~shlmmying, head bob
bing and fists flyinE-biff, bang-how
/ he can fight And all the world loves
a fighter who can fight and who will
| fight!
The End
Copyright, 1919, by Damon Runyon }