The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-17
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It's the unwritten law of the
sport world that they never come
back. Once an athlete hits the
skids, the wise ones tack onto
his shirt the placard, "A Has
Been" and let it go at that.
History of sports is filled with
cases of athletes bucking this
ancient law of the game. and his
tory is filled with stories OF their
failures. Occasionally. as pearl
may be found in pile of oyster
shells, is the glowing account of
some Has Been" who has come
back, and regained the glory
that once was his.
Random is on it's toes, SO to
speak, day by day, scanning de-
velopments in every line of sport.
The dashing deed of some young
champion Is appraised and COM
mended, the failure of chal-
lenger to dethrone the king is
noted, and often deplored. How
ever, amid the excitement and
enthusiasm of the whirl of sports
the fan flock always finds time
to follow with interest the eff
forts of some grizzled old veteran
to come back, and show the
world that not always is the rule
true, They never come back"
In boxing, as in other sports,
there are "Hns-Bcens," and in
the ring game are cases of
these down and cutters attempt
ing to buck the fate of the sport.
They have come back, mt times,
but more often, they have not,
and those who do are hailed as
the greatest Of them all. Old
Jess willard, fat and forty. has
come back for the moment.
Whether he can last remains to
be seen. Pete Herman came
back, as did Jack BrittOn years
ago. But Jim Jeffries and n
host of others did not and so we
have again that insurmOuntable
wall. "rhey never come back"
Baseball today lists among it's
FASTENERS several who are buck
ing the law of the game, and the
fan flock Is watching their eff
forts to regain their lost laurels.
Babe Ruth, once mighty king of
swat, has made valiant bid for
the home run crown he wore
year ago, but the veteran slug
ger Is being distanced by such
clouters as Ken and Cy Williams,
Rogers Hornsby and one or two
more.
If Babe will ascend the throne
of might again, he must quicken
his pace, for he is far in the rear
and his rivals are not showing
any signs of slackening theirs.
Ruth is still a young man and
can not be rightfully called
"Has-Been," but unless he shows
the critics reversal of form
this year, he too, will bear on his
chest that scarlet placard, HE
can never come back"
Nearer at home. we have the
ease OF George Cunningham,
Chattanooga pitcher. who is max
ing another stab at twiriinE
after two or three years of fall
ure on the mound.
A very few years ago, Cunning
ham was star. and the Look
outs sent him to Detroit for
trial with the Tigers. Something
went wrong and Cunningham
was returned to the LOOkOuts
with the brand, "a Has-Been."
George has had his arm worked
on. and is now making mans
sized effort to come back. So far.
his efforts have been rewarded
with success, for all season Cum
ningham has been pitching that
sa:ae brand of ball that beat the
BarOns Wednesday.
Roy Cohen, chairman of the
boxing committee at the Bir-
mingham A. c., tells us that
Claude Wilson, a particular pro-
tegee of his, has practically
closed for the semi-final bout at
Atlanta in July. when Harry
Greb and Jeff Smith meet for the
pleasure of Elks converting there.
Claude has been making rapid
advancement in the boxing game
during the past Is months. and
Atlanta folks have great respect
for the little Magic City scrap
per. In his July bout, he will
oppose crack ringster from the
east. one who will afford real
test for Wilson's ability.
Wilson and his manager,
Tommy Tompkins, at present are
up east, filling a few ring dates
Tommy had signed up for his
young star.
All roads are Leading to
Churchill Downs these days,
where ON Saturday will be re-
newed the Gagged in the wood"
kentucky Derby. Birmin CHAM will
send it's usual delegation of
Derby loving fandOm to Louisville
for the event. it il reported In
curbstOnc ciscIes. and interest
here IL as high as ever.
Last year II was fOreaOne
conclusion that Norwich, who
flashed across turfdOm's horizon
during the first three years of his
career as u meteor across a
cloudy sky. then sank into CONF
parative oblivion when he
cracked under the strain-wOuld
win the big event. and Norwich
came through. This yfar. 1t IN
different. Almost n scOfe of nags
will face the barrier Saturday.
hut not one has had such an out