, 1923-04-01
HOLDERS
LOSE COURAGE
AT Grid GAME
Dempsey Would Pass Up
Crown Rather than Play.
BY WALTER EcKERsALL.


Although 1t is a known fact thai It
takes nerve to be successful in every
line of athletic endeavor-amateur and
professionally is not generally known
thai champions in one line of sport
would not compete in another branch
because of fear.
This is especially true Of most pro-
fessional boxers, who look Upon foot
ball as one Of the most brutal of sports,
including bull lighting. If this may be
considered in the sports category. Just
why this is even the fighters do not
know, but h majority will throw up
their hands in horror when asked IL
they would ike to take part in the
popular college game.
During the holidays when the Uni
versity of Southern California met
Penn State in Pasadena, Cal, Jack
Dempsey. heavyweight champion, was
among the interested spectators. 1t
was evident Jack did not enjoy the
game. He WINGED every time there
was a mass or pile up. He shrugged
his shoulders whenever a hard, clean
tackle took place in the open.
Dempsey Fears Football.
at would rather relinquish my title
than play football" Dempsey said be-
tween halves. They talk about box-
ing being brutal Why, hat game
should be abolished If the reformers
want TO do the country some good. In
boxing we may get knocked out for a
few seconds. but in football they not
oray knock each other cold, but they
take them to the hospital with broken
bones and fractured skulls.
at hay haap agEad ,,a,x, +fr,az g.
play. but 1 have not only refused but
walked away because some might ac-
cuse me of being yellow Maybe 1
am when it comes to football, but I will
stand the test in an eighteen or TWEEN
ty-four foot ring. I like to go to the
games to mingle with the crowds and
listen to the roofing. but I really do
not derive any enjoyment from watch
ing the struggles"
Tom Gibbons OF st. Paul, one Of the
leading contenders for Dempsey's title.
is another who has no love for foot
ball. Unlike the champion, he likes to
witness the contests. but when it
comes to playing, Gibbons is not to be
considered. When Tom was in Chi
Gag recently training for MS bout
with Andy Schmader of Omaha at
Peoria, H., he expressed in emphatic
tones that he would never be induced
to play football, no matter how much
money was involved.
Likes 1t as a Spectator.
Eddie Kane, manager of Gibbons.
likes football. Kane has frequently
stated he woul rather see one good
football clash than twenty boxing
bouts between champions. Gibbons
manager. however. likes football from
the spectators standpoint, but, like the
boxers, asserted there would b. moth
ing doing when 1t came TO being q par
ticipant.
Joe Burman of Chicago. who recent
1y won the popular decision over Joe
Lynch, bantamweight champion, in
Chicago, has seen but few football
games and has nc love for the sport.
which he claims is far more brutal
than boxing. Joe asserted football
mains players for life, while few box
ers quit the ring with any bad eff
fects except for cauliflower ears and
lop-sided noses. Burman also said it
Is far better to see a little blood in n
boxing match than leave the ring with
broken arms, legs or ribs, which is
generally the ease with the football
game.
Pal Moore. another Chicago bantam
weight who is widely known in this
country and abroad. likes to see foot
ball games. but never had any desire
to play. Moore comes from the south
and is a staneh rooter for Sewanee,
one of the leading football institutions
south of the Mason and Dixon line.
Moore, however. has a good excuse
for hiding his fear. Pal simply says
he is too light to monkey in n game
which requires men of Dempsey's
physique.
Malone Prefers Sock on Chin.
"Ill take the sock on the chin any
time in preference to playing that
game" Jock Malone. st. Paul middle
weight, stated recently. Il like to SEQ
them mix. but as for getting me out
there. nothing doing. 1 have followed
Minnesota teams for years n know
Johnnie McGovern. Johnson. Marshall.
and several other well known Gopher
stars, but they r welcome to tho
honor they have received"
Johnny Meyers of Chicago. claimant
OF the middleweight wrestling cham
pionship, has a great respect for
swimmers, but as far as competing is
concerned he will earn a living on the
Il "a ACN 81 obC NAAG %NhfoA PCSS
of the American Legion staged an ath-
lectic entertainment on the U. S. s.
Commodore. an old ferry boat which
had been partially dragged on dry
land in Grant park. Chicago. There
was no chance for the boat to float and
it was decided to put a foundation uu-
der 1t and use it for a sort Of naval
reserves armory.
Meyers Afraid Of Water.
When Meyers was old he had to
wrestle on the boat. which would be
taken out a few miles on Lake Mich
isan, Johnny refused to go through
with his engagement. When the joke
was explained, he never showed up
for the match and was not seen for
several days afterward.
Men like Dempsey and others mem
toned cannot explain why it is they
have the nerve to perform so brilliant.
ly in their speciality and lack the our
age-if 1t may be called such-to take
part in another line of athletic en-