The Washington herald., 1922-12-13

nSAYS S DAM o N
kunyOn::
Sport Loses Fine Friend.
Corbett Offers Rules.
Offers Some Leeway.
Threatened to Kill Him.
Makes Boxing Bad Game.

By DAMON RUNYON.

BY DAMON RUNYON.
E Universal Service Staff Correspondent.
Copyright. 1879. by Universal service.)
NEW YORK, Dec. 12.-Sport
IN loses a fine friend in the
death of John Wanamaker.
He believed in amateur ath-
letics as a diversion, as an es-
sential to the molding of char
acter in young men.
He organized the famous
Millrose. Athletic Association and
the Meadowbrook Club, made up
Of employees Of the Wanamaker
stores. The meets of these or
ganizations are among the most
important sport events Of the
year.
Mr.. Wanamaker encouraged
tennis. The indoor courts on
the roof of the Philadelphia store
are widely known. He took an in
terest in golf, bringing to
America some of the most IA
nous English golfers. He did
much for the game that is now
one of the leading American
pastimes.
Mr.. Wanamaker realized that
good condition would contribute
to the efficiency of his en-
ployes. He spent time and
money arousing their interest
In clean competitive sport that
produced physical condition,
mental alertness. He was him
self, all the days of his life,
an example of clean. living.
I'm CORBETT, once great
- heavyweight champion, al
ways a fine man, offers the The
odore Roosevelt boxing rules.
These rules, named for box
ing's distinguished patron, en-
body Corbett's idea for improve
ment of the present rules.
Most of Corbett's ideas are
good. All should have careful
attention. Corbett has been box
ing for more than thirty years.
He knows what he is talking
about.
The trouble with boxing is
that it is being handled in many
quarters by men who do not
know what they are talking
about.
Corbett suggests one referee
to decide bouts. A good idea.
Artie McGoyern, a young ref
cree, resigning not long ago IN
disgust, pointed out in a letter
how coliusion is possible under
the system of two judges and a
referee that prevails in New
York State.
Such collision has frequently
been hinted at in connection with
bouts in this city. Boxing peo-
pie generally seem to prefer to
submit bouts to the judgment Of
one man rather than several.
Strange how they are willing to
trust to the honesty of one man,
but they are suspicious when
several men are involved.
CORBETT classifies weights
~ to permit ten pounds leeway
in each division. Not a good
idea. 1t would allow one boxer
too much weight advantage over
another, a very important consid-
Grafton in the lighter divisions.
He suggests that hand band
ages and gloves be put on after
they enter the ring; another
good idea. In New York the
bandages and gloves are ad-
justed before the men enter
the ring.
1t is possible under this ar
rangement for one man to
'load" his gloves with tin foil,
plaster of paris or other hard
substance. He is thus equipped
as if he wore a caestus, "the
glove of death" of the ancient
gladiators-
This loading" has been done
In New York.
A representative of each
fighter watches the other
fighter as his hands are being
bandaged and gloves adjusted.
This representative is supposed
to prevent attempts at load
ing"
The writer had knowledge of
an incident that occurred in
the dressing-room of a we'll
known local, fighter before a
bout not long ago.
The representative of the op-
posing fighter entered the room
and found the local fighters
handlers "fixing" his hands.
When he protested one of the
handlers showed a gun against
his stomach, threatening to kill
him if he did not keep quiet.
The representative had plenty
of nerve. ---.- .--------------
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