The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-08-22
Yankees Cubs Causing Upset
in Sports Forecasters' Dope
Athletics, Early Favorites,
Fal to Show Stuff So Far
-Tunney Given Odds Over
Jack Dempsey in Title
Bout = Grange Making
Cash on Football Field
BY ALAN j. GOULD
Associated Press SPORTS Edit

New York, Aug. 22-(P)-The dope
takes many Il strange twist in sports
Only a few months ago the Athlet-
les and Pirates were odds-on favor
ties to win the major league pen
nant races. But with little more
than month to go, the Athletics are
out OF the running while the smuggling
Yankees have lead that ONLY a
train wreck or an earthquake can up
set.
The Pirates, Of course, are not out
Of it, but their chances Of pulling
through have lessened as the Chicago
Cubs have set Il convincing pace.
May BE Dope Upset
If the Cpbs win, it will be the big
gest dope upset in the National
League since the miracle team of
Boston Braves swept to the top in
1914.
Out Of AZ baseball writer's around
the major league circuit who gave
the Associated Press their opinions
in advance Of the 1927 races only one
picked the Cubs. Even this bold
choice was qualified by the predic-
ton that either the worlds champion
Cardinals or the Cubs would win.
Only one other expert on the list
rated the Chicagoans as high as sec
ond place. The majority picked them
to finish fifth.
Jack Dempsey was a 3 to l favorite
to trim Gene Tunney last September
but with their return fight exactly a
month off, Tunney is a 2 to l shot
to repeat his victory.
Apparently the experts who could
see nothing but the devastating
puncher Of old in the Dempsey pre-
pairing for last years battle now are
almost as strongly convinced that the
erstwhile Manassau Mauler is still
mostly "hollow SHE'LL" in spite Of
his knockout Of Jack Sharkey. They
believe Dempsey should have been
disqualified for fouling Sharkey, in.
stead of being awarded knockout
victory. They further contend that
Dempsey, but for his so-called break,
would not have gone much further
against the Boston COB anyway; in
other words. that he is through.
Is He Regaining Power?
1t may be in the minority, but there
is just as insistent school of fis-
tic thought convinced that Dempsey,
regaining confidence and punching
power if not his old speed, will turn
the tables on Tunney at Chicago.
Dempsey, these observers argue, still
can take it and come back to apply
the decisive wallop. He took plenty,
they point out. from both Tunney and
Sharkey, the difference being that he
showed against Sharkey an ability to
connect that was sadly missing
against Gene.
Tunney may figure to be too smart,
too fast and too good boxer for
Dempsey, improved though the lat
ter may be. But the same factors
were held to be in Sharkey's favor.
They did not work out because Demp-
sey crowded the Boston sailor from
start to finish.
The answer, if any, seems to be
that Dempsey must carry the fight
to Tunney from the opening gong if
he is to win; conversely, that Tun-
ney's main reliance is to hold off the
plunging ex-champion, spear him at
long range or tie him up at close
quarters.
Two years ago the debate was red
hot between the east and far west
over the relative gridiron merits of
Red Grange, the galloping ghost Of
Illinois, and George Wilson, sensa-
tional University of Washington
halfback.
Both were all-American selections
and both turned to professional grid
irons, where their performances
aroused fresh argument. The dis
cussion ceases abruptly, however,
when it comes to comparing their rel
alive drawing powers. As a gate at
traction, Grange is alone. He is the
Babe Ruth of his sport.
Grange Makes Real Money
It takes only casual squirt at the
figures Of c. c. Pyle, to prove this.
The promoter made over 100000
with Oranges New York eleven last
season and is surrounding Red with
all-star cast for the 1927 season. He
lost $4,000 with, Wilson's Wildcats,
rowing outfit, which will be among
the missing this year, although Will
son himself may land q pro berth
with one of the teams in the newly
consolidated national football league.
Oranges playmates this fall, Pyle
says, will include Eddie Tryon, form
err Colgate star; "Wild Bill" Kelly,
crack Montana player; and jeff Cra-
vath, southern California center last
year. Morton Kaer, southern Cali.
fornia half back and 1926 all-Ameri.
can choice, also may come into the
Pyle fold.