The Washington herald., 1921-11-29

men interested In the sport. II has
been done, OF course. but honesty isn't
the only requirement The sport should
be governed by honest men with repu-
tations to uphold. fearless In enforc-
ins< honesty and Furnishing dishonesty,
with a knowledge of conditions and
At least as much ability as a man
might need to make a success Of
digging bitches.
II the governor of New York tries
to get out from under"-to kill box
ing because Of the possible effect of
petty squabbling INDUCED in by few
Insignificant people who have horned
their way into the sport-then the
governor Will be tactily admitting that
he isn't big enough to handle a very
small situation. that he Is unable to
ind among his constituents half a
dozen men both honest and capable
enough to do the work of administra-
ton called for by a very fair and plain
law.
The Wrestling "Trust.7
As for washington a good many
years the sport has been controlled
nearly all over the country by a group
Of professional promoters usually
called the wrestling trust" That is.
to fake their bouts according to sched-
ules arranged at headquarters. cum
ninsly planned to draw the greatest
amount in gate receipts through the
year.
The wrestling trust. like other trusts,
has no soul What 1t wants is the
coin. and II doesn't care how It gets
II. Lately there has been some dis,
position on the part of people not con-
trolled by the trust to try d hire
well-known wrestlers and run wrestling
matches on the level
Naturally; the trust resents this in.
reference with business. Every
thing possible has been done to dis
credit promoters who are not In the
trust, and the trusts wrestlers have
been cvnningly used to give the sport
a black eye.
The boomerang effect OF this Is likely
to be the complete barring of wrestling
matches in New York State-just as
certain taking promoters have been
barred from conducting any matches
in Chicago In recent years, by police
orders.
Like any other sport, wrestling is
all right in itself. Unfortunately
any professional sport that is ex-
citing and interesting enough to
draw crowds to the gate usually
falls into the hands OF crooked pro-
motors sooner or later. That Is
what has happened to wrestling
Strict and efficient control by State
authorities would clear the crooks
out. 1t would take a little time
and some effort, but II can be done
1 recommend that course to the
governor of New York. both In box
ing and wrestling. instead of TAX
ing the easy way out" by trying to
kill two good sports.
The popularity of boxing has been
demonstrated more clearly this last
year than ever before. Any time a
single match can draw s1.600.000 &c
the gate. and $1,000 spectators, as
the pentie.-Dempsey match did
II proves fairly well that the pub
lie likes and wants boxing.
II isn't necessary to consider only
the big matches. either. Hundred.
of small bouts have drawn capacity
crowds to arenas like Madisor
Square Garden, armories and bal
parks.
Wrestling would do fairly well
too, IL honestly conducted.
A Questionable Decision.
Saw a funny one the other might
when Dundee and CLANCY met. Dun.
dee outboxed Clancy and had the
best of the bout until CLANCY be-
gan walking in straight up, with.
out block or guard, careless of any
punch Johnny could deliver, driving
blows into Dundee's body. Dundee
wilted quickly under the punish.
ment and claimed foul. A moment
later someone exhibited a dente6
cup to prove his claim.
That dented cup thing is a Joke
doubt that any blow delivered
with a boxing glove-covered fist
could dent one OF the strong alumni
| mum protectors worn by boxers. IN
any case 1 sat close to the ringside
and watched every blow carefully
| CLANCY landed or Dundee's belt
twice in an earlier round Dundee
wears an extraordinarily high bel,
with wide nap above it to camou-
fage the part of his body that Ia
fair target, so these blows were
probably not foul.
In the round when Dundee
claimed a foul. and II was allowed
he was hit fairly, and no possible
doubt of it. In other words, Dun
dee quit, and got away with ,ns
decision and the belt.
It's possible that Dundee was SO
Afafraagad bxv
blows that he thought he was
fouled. Referee Mcfarland gave
him the decision on the evidence OF
the dented cup.
Mcfarland is as square as a die,
and he tried his best to do the right
thing. Which is evidence that even
square referee can't always see
everything.
But there's satisfaction in know
Ing that he tried to.
A New Billiard Marvel.
The magnificent playing OF young
Jake schaefer In the international
billiard tournament at Chicago
shows that Willie Hoppe at last
has q rival who will give him a
battle any time they meet. -
sehaefer, youngster breaking
worlds records that have stood
,or many years. is just such a figure
IN billiards as Willie> Hoppe was
when he appeared. Only when
Hoppe began winning champion
ships and cracking records he was
SO young that he had to stand on
oox to reach the table.
Hoppe has had a remarkable ca
reer as q champion. and isn't any
where ner the end of II. But no
champion ever was so good that
his record performances couldn't be
bettered.