The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-08-14

have had something to do with
/ do. not think so.
For the second time IN my career
/ found man facing me when the
referee called us to the center Of
the ring for instructions who did
not seem to mind what / said.
Always 1t Is good ring psychology
to attempt to impress on the mind
OF an opponent the fact that you
are carefree and totally Indifferent
to his capabilities before the match
starts. One good way is to s.kid''
his manager ais the boxers and at
light for the final word from the
referee.
Jack Sharley. for q time. used
q baleful glare to initmidate oppon-
ents. There are many other his
toric examples Of goat getting. I
Bob Fitzsimmons and Jim Corbett
were among the best In this line.
Dempsey's snarI and lowered
eyebrows were often effective,
My method usually Is to talk ia
the opposing manager and
ignore the opponent. This time
could not help talking directly
to Heeney.
II you were in attendance ct the
spectacle yon win remember that
Tom came int the ring wearing i
peculiar robe that later learned
was made by 4 tribe of MaOris,
natives Of New Zealand, and sent
to the challenger as good luck
token to wear into the ring. Ut was
white as to background with black
feathers, several inches dotted ali
over the outside surface. Heeney
wore 4 draped around his shoulders.
As we met In the center OF the
ring could not hide my surprise
AZ this cOloT.ful decoration. After
the greeting, / still gazed At the
robe and Tom seemed i bit sheep.
lEsh when asked him where he
got It.
Some friends In New Zealand
sent ii he explained very seriously
and he smiled bashfully as though
he had been caught walking on
Fifth Avenue with rs trousers N.
It's Maori robe. Those black
/ $1,000 49, ~ AAAK7A 81 ~ 4Sx@NAAt5LGs
It's very nice, was all could
say In answer to Tom obvious
seriousness and intent to relieve my
on my part to gain the upper hand
before the match started.
1T was different, however. with
Jimmy Bronson, my chief second.
Still angling to break Heeney's con.
fidence. IL possible, Bronson called
Immediate attention 10 the rules az
though looking for an argument.
Speaking directly to Ed
Forbes, the referee. Bronson
asked IL the New York State
Athletic Commission rules were
to prevail In this match. Some
what surprised Forbes said
Eyes"
Then Bronson went on 10 out
line what the rules called for and
particularly that pertaining to.
breaking clean from cIincfes In an
effort to forestall any possibility
Of later argument. The rules insist
that both boxers take one step back.
ward after q clinch before resunling
the contest. This il something
Heeney had to learn In America and
reference TO 1t might have instiiled
In him at that time something not
to do. thereby hating he mental
machinery which at that time
should have been busy thinking only
Of things to do.
Considering that Heeney was ac-
customed to boxing abroad, refer
ence to the rule was apropos at
that time and could not be con-
sidered unsportsmanlike. In many
foreign countries where the rules
call for both boxers to defend them
selves at all times hitting on the
break and in the clinches. no mat
ter how one boxer is holding, IS
permitted and Is no violation of the
rules.
In defense of this custom Of
"goat-getting' can only say that
1t Is one of the time-hoaored Gus
toms OF the ring and acts somewhat
ais preliminary joust to test
nerves and mental stability. 1t had
no effect whatever on Hasney. He
gazed calmly at Bronson and my
self and then turned TO watch the
referee and listen to his instruc-
tons, as though content with what
he saw and no longer interested in
the sight until the bell rang.
Continued Tomorrow)