The New York herald., 1921-04-03
An Ironfca1 Fan.

DR. Thomas A. Neafsey OF 35s West
Fifty-sixth street, who Is a wrestling
enthusiast, writes as follows from At
'lantic City in protest against the elirni-
nation of the head lock:
1T see that Jack Curley, to please his
lady patrons. has caused Lewis to elm
mate his head lock- This indeed Is well
come news to all true lovers OF the old
sport For the head lock being the most
natural in the world and the one all
boys have used, it is fitting and proper
that It be the first to go If wrestling
In to be changed to comply with the
demand Of the new era.
But does friend curley 20 far enough :?
Don't you think that all holds where
one man might hurt or even discomfort
the other should be eliminated? You
know that Ward. Douglas. Cammeyer
and all good shoe men have been fight
ing for years against the toe hold, for
II wrestlers have their tootsies deformed
II hurts sales. Therefore. / would sug-
gest that the following rules be adopted
by all wrestling boards OF the United
States, and copy be sent to all Eu-
ropean countries, even to Turkey:
4. That no man be permitted to yvres-
Tie until he presents a diploma from the
Isadora Duncan or other certified school
of woodland dancing.
"2. That all wrestling costumes be
made by recognized costume makers and
that the ribbons and netting worn by
each wrestler be of different and distin-
gushing colors.
"2. That each wrestler be provided
with beautifully decorated wand.
A. That the contest be decided by ~
grace, CD difficulty OF the execution Of
The movement and (3) number of times
each wrestler Unexpectedly touched the
other with his wand.
Just think what superb contents this
would make between Lewis and Stanis-
iaus Zbyszko or Linow, our wild Cos
sack friend. and cute little Hevonpoa.
the gentle Finn Then indeed would we
have real society gathering and see
wrestling come into Its own"
The ironical disciple of Esculapi1s is
decidedly entertaining. but the record
VIII not be complete without Curley,s
explanation as to the reason for the
elimination or the head lock- Curley
says:
The New York wrestling public. the
press and the wrestlers asked prohibit
tion or the so-called Lewis head lock. /
never was in favor OF barring this hold
Lewis and his manager, Billy Sandow.
were right In objecting to the ruling
But finally persuaded them to wrestle
Witnout The use OF this hold for this rem
SON. Because agitation is liable 10 in
1ure the game. and there were real art.
tators who were loud in their objection
not because they felt the head lock I'm.
fair, but Just because they wero anxious
TO KIN the game"
o'Dowd VIII Appeal.
Mike o'Dowd, who is recuperating in
al
from the effects OF an operation for
hernia, due TO a series of foul blows
landed on him by Johnny Wilson. ex-
poets to get on his feet within a few
days, and when he energies from the
sick room he with petition the Boxing
Commission to reverse the decision
given In favor OF Wilson.
A close observer OF pugilIstic affairs
writes as follows:
"A formal written petition cannot
either courteously or honestly be ir-
ncred by a public commission, provided
the person or persons filing such petit
ton have the right to DO so.
II therefore suggest that either
O'Dowd or his manager file such a De-
tition with the Boxing Commission re-
questing reversal OF the decision
handed down by Judge Shortell and
Referee McAvoy Euch an action WILL
force the commission 10 awake from
their lethargy and compel them to act.
Unless such action Is taken the COM
mission can avoid the issue on the tech
nieality that they have not been Off
cdally notified"
The Boxing Commission has finally
taken action In reference to the faulty
manner Of announcing decisions nj the
close of boxing contests. II has been the
custom for the announcer to exhibit the