Evening star., 1928-11-22
DEMPSEY OUT, TEX
. CHOOSES GEORGIAN
Ex-Champ, Though, Liked by
Garden MoguIs in Odd
Title Figuring.
BY EDWARD J. NEIL.
Associated Press Sports Writer.

n YEw YORK, November 22.-seven
of the wealthiest sportsmen in
NJ the United States, clad in I'M
i maculate full evening dress,
lolled behind clouds of
rich tobacco smoke in the exceedingly
massive and comfortable chairs in the
private Offices of Tex Rickard.
In through the closed doors filtered
the sounds that rise from 10000 howl
ing fans immersed in the thrills two
smashing hockey teams were producing
on Rickard pond, in the heart Of Madi-
son Square Garden. AS directors of
the Garden they had just presented to
the New York Rangers the Stanley Cup,
emblem of the world professional cham
pionship, and their work was done for
the evening.
They talked of hockey and then OF
fights, and out of the discussion came
rabid argument, and finally one of the
strangest wagers ever made in sport
A pool was organized on the next
heavyweight champion of the world
Each wrote his choice on slip of
paper, tossed large wad of bills or a
check into hat, and agreed that the
one who had chosen the ultimate win
! ner should gather unto himself the en-
tire pot"
But strangest of all we're the
choices. Tex Rickard. whose name
heads all the rest when 1t comes to the
moulding of champions, placed his
trust and money on the husky frame
of Young Stribling, acrobatic young
heavyweight. from Macon, Ga. and ig-
nored the possibilities of the one man
he idolizes as a f1ghter-Jack Dempsey.
May Not Come Back.
1t seemed to the rest almost breach
of friendship, an admission behind
locked doors that the old Manassa
Mauler would never draw on 6-ounce
gloves again despite the ballyhoo that
presages another comeback
Dempsey had a supporter in John
McEntee Bowman, hotel magnate. Tex
warned him that Jack might never re-
turn to the ring, that he had no di-
rect knowledge on the subject, that the
odds on Dempsey ever regaining the
title Gene Tunney discarded were long
enough without adding the uncertainty
surrounding the former champions
plans. Still Bowman took Dempsey.
When the list was made up, 1t was
found that James I. Bush. the traction
magnate, also favored Stribling to win
recognition as the next heavyweight
king, Bush and Rickard, therefore,
were paired In their entry, and each
posted the required fee. Walter Chrys-
Ter, who makes automobiles, chose
Knute Hansen, the melancholy Dane,
along with Col. John Hammond, pres
ident Of the Rangers Hockey Club.
former amateur heavyweight and
firm friend Of Gene Tunney, Bernard
Gimbel Of department store fame, placed
his hopes and dollars on Pauline Uzcu-
dun, the bounding Basque from Spain.
Richard Hoyt Wall street banker,
chose Jack Sharkey, while Rickard and
Bush, still competing as a team, took
the "field"-all' the remaining heavy
weights-on the payment of four times
the individual wagcrs.
When they had finished, they argued
the matter out and then agreed to say
nothing about it for several reasons,
none of which mattered. But the story
was too good to keep and Rickard con-
fessed the details-all but the exact
amount of the wagers.
I'D have picked Dempsey" he said.
except that honestly don't know
whether he'll come back. He changes