The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-30
MEET TUNNEY-
50 GOOD THAT
IT IS PAINFUL
Champion Fails to Click With
Majority of Fans-Several
Reasons Given
HE IS TOO RESERVED
Brain Food Like Eggs, Not to
Be Gulped-Gene Left
Stains on His Chin
HE IS TOO RESERVED
By Jimmie Powers

Chicago, Sept. 30.-Just why
is Gene Tunney unpopular?
lie is honest. He is clean
cut. lie likes little Riddles and
he probably wouldn't push over
an old lady with bundles.
But that is like saying a boy
is good to his mother. He
ought to be.
This tall, blue-eyed, blond
athlete is unique as pugillsts go.
Even in this day when most OF
his brother nose busters use tooth
brushes. wrestl~ golf clubs and wear
clean underwear.
He reminds me of vaguely nerv-
GUS young man who. as life voca-
tlons 20, suddenly finds himself IN
drawing room. He insists on re-
naming there ard looks for all the
world a. if he fears his garter is
down or his shirt tail Is out.
Gene admittedly has failed to
click with the majority : fans.
Let 1t be understood at the out
set Of this alleged personality
sketch that that failure is not 20 be
considered IT, the same light as a
serious mental. moral or physical
deficiency.
To begin with then he has a
slightly frosty handshake. AS
soon as ono thaws out a set of
chapped knuckles, one cannot help
but note a pair Of China blue eyes,
minus the usual sparkle Of an Irish
smile, calmly appraising.
Then come words.
Choose Words Carefully
He chooses them so carefully you
gather the impression he is afra.l
Of making an error In speech -
which he occasionally does, tho
best Of men will. But, somehow,
when Gene errs. it comes unfortu-
nately IN the me sentcnc. that in
clides those kind with ere ,rehen-
sible' OF maybe "amphibious.
He dresse5 we'll. He eats simple
food. He is dcvoutly religious. He
is goodlooking
Only when you get real close to
him can YOU see the sears Of brutal
battle. He has a slight bulge to
| the starboard in his nose, the result
of compound fracture (ol, yes,
even Gene forgot one night tn duck).
His right ear has a tiny puff and
around his Puritanical chin are a
few lacy white lncs-healed cuts
that once spurted blood on rings
here and abroad.
| think it is rather hard to say
inst when tif it so happens) you
arrive at the conclusion that Gene
IS not the best Ill pal III the world.
Seldom Leads
/ Some fans first hold their nose !.
a quaint custom signifying disap-
prevail. when they watch his dull
boxing style. Gene seldom leads
lie was bounced out of several
rings for putting up what that bozo
there in the front row Of the gal
! lery would cali IA lousy fight
lie Is independent His business
associates are usually of the best
although he said he did sign ap-
proval of a contract under fake
name. The contract had dealings
Will notoriuos gambler and
"fixer"--one Abraham Attell (who
framed world series) and one Max
| (two-Boos) Hoff.
do not think the fans resent his
perfection Of morals. He seems at
times to be so good it hurts.
| And / do not defend satirical
scoffings at his clumsy attempts to
elevate himself. Gene seems to be
living i'll a make believe world OF
his own in which culture stalks ma.
jestically about. with cauliflower.
for background.
But brain food has lot in com.
mon with fresh eggs.
They may be Of excellent pedi
gree but they should never b.
gulped. Gene seems to have left i,
few stains on his chin, that's all.