The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-18

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belligerent posturingS with Jack
Britton, the weather beaten welter-
weight who is serving as a sort of
companionate sparring partner in
the preliminary work that is to pre-
pare the great Intellectual for his
June fight at the Yankee Stadium.
And at odd intervals Mr.. Tunney
plans to motor to the golf links
where he will cross amiable mashies
with his old pal and friendly critic,
Tex Rickard. A great white light
of mutual understanding has
dawned. and the two now are as
one in their moods, inclinations and
ambitions.
To the fellow who sits OH the
park bench and ponders the
mysteries of life, and even to the
fellow who just sits on the park
bench, this sudden manifestation
- of brotherIy affection and COM
mon loyalty must come as some
think approaching one hell of a
n puzzle.
TT was only three or four weeks
i ago that Tunney was referring
to the gifted promoter as THAT
man Rickard" in eXtemporaneous
outburts of INDICATION that Sizzled
with poisonous implications, and
Richard was making private cracks
! to the effect that he "has forgot
ten more about fights than Tunney
ever will know
But now, all is changed. The lit
tie bluebirds of happiness are carol
: ing furiously. Mr. Tunney looks
upon the promoter as a positive
genius among the rare cauliflowerS
and Rickard in turn can see only
that which is great and admirable
in the champion.
And who brought about this beau
tiful reconciliation? None other
than your old friend, Dempsey.
It's an interesting story why the old
man mauler is temporarily or per-
manently retired. depending upon
the degree of optimism with which
you view the situation
4
Dempsey wanted to fight in
midsummer, but ne didn't want
to fight Tunuey. This was o. K. with
Richard. II wasn't with Tunney.
Tunney brandished y fresh mOwn
uItimatum under the sensitive
- isostrils Of the promoter. 1t was
this: "If Dempsey fights any
body this year he fights me. and
he fights nc before lie fights
anybody. else"
T7HE ultimatum must have been
IL loaded with deadly properties
Rickard Succumbed. Dempsey was
eliminated from the promoters mid
summer plans entirely. Simultan-
eously, Dempsey developed, what
was reported to be, serious eye
trouble. Whether the condition will
be as serious by the time September
rolls around remains to be seen.
This is beside the point With
Dempsey sidetracked, Tunneye again
agreed to cooperate with Rlckard
and what had threatened to develop
into q nice, jolly year-long quibbling
match was automatically ended. 1t
was, if anything, one of those signal
triumphs for the champion.
Tunney's slant on Dempsey, right
or wrong, was this: He planned to
como back against the HeeneyS or
the Sharkeys and grab off another
100000 purse, after which he would
return to Hollywood and stay there.
Or, in other words. the first Demp-
Sey fight of the year would also be
his last.
vt y n
Tunney says he doesn't expect
Dempsey to fight again, and he
says it with all sincerity, and no
little logic. For the time being he
apparently is well satisfied with
himself in knowing that he has
kept Dempsey from coming back
against someone else and sub
sequentIy giving him the run
around.
c. d.