Evening star., 1925-05-04

There is not any doubt that Kearns
made Dempsey in a financial way as
we'll as in the ring. 1t has been
charged that he has been too keen on
the dollars but he has no illusions on
the score of sport His theory is that
while the crowd is with you that is
the time to gather in the coin, that
they will drop you quick enough
when you are a has been"
Some critics of Kearns are pointing
To the fact that while he was han
ding Dempsey he had poor success
with Joe Benja jmin. Hyman Gold and
others. This is true enough. but it
should be borne in mind that these
men were not champions and that
kearns did better with them-at least
with Benjamin-than any other man
ager would have done.
In getting Walker, Kearns has
taken over first grade fighter.
Mickey has never made the money
that man in his position should
have made. More than any other
champion. he has been compelled at
various times 10 take much less for
fight than he had counted upon
getting. Now ii would look as though
he is to bask in the golden sunlight
OF great prosperity.
Just now Walker is working on
=
shortly start training for his bout
with Harry Greb for the middle
weight championship. 1t is under
stood that Joe Degnan. who has been
managing Mickey, but not on a con-
tract basis, will cut in on this fight
and that kearnS will not figure until
after the New York encounter, but
1t is said that Jack will be in Mick
ey'S corner. getting running start
for his duties as Walkers friend and
guide.
May Be Looking Ahead
Whether kearns would have signed
FOR long term contract with Walker
If he did not feel that his relations
with Dempsey were nearing an end
is a matter of opinion. The writer
believes that while there may he no
immediate retirement of Dempsey in
prospect his career in the ring is
drawing to a close and that KearnS
has merely been looking ahead
Jack Dempsey's visit in New York
Mas been different from any visit he
has ever made here.
Back in his early days when Demp-
sey blew into the metropolis pretty
much of hobo and fought under an
assumed name-PinSky-he thought
he was having pretty good time He
was making enough money to live at
a 5O-cent-a-day hotel and he didn't
mind the wallopings he got
When he was matched to fight less
Willard he came to New York in tow
OF the manager he had acquired
Jack kearns. He had taken pains to
identity all the sporting writer's by
their first names and was aiming TO
please in every way.
Lived Life of Riley"
Jack had the money by this time to
live pretty well in the big town, and
While no one was giving three cheers
Tor nm or photographing him when
he appeared on the streets, he was
satisfied with things as they Law and
realized he was getting as much of a
hand as any little known contender
for the heavyweight title could ex-
peCt-mOre. in fact.
Having f1attened Willard. Dempsey
came into his own. Whenever he ar
rived in New York he was treated like
Hlndenburg in a junker election dis
trict. The streets leading from the
railroad station We're blocked. police
had to fight to make a way for him
into his hotel and everything he did
and everything he said got wide
spread publication.
Through the years in which Jack
has held the title this has been the
case-until he arrived in New York on
his present visit. There was no crowd
Waiting for his train to come in; only
newspaper men, photographers and
movie folk were on hand. The public
was absent, Indifferent.
When Dempsey reached his hotel
with his beautiful wife there was no
more stir than if John WhooZis of
Sioux Falls and his frau had blown in
TO celebrate their 25th wedding an
niversary.
His goings and comings have eX-
cited very little interest.