New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-01-11
Eastman ON ROAD
BACK TO Health
New York U. Grid Captain
SnatChed From Hand Of Death

OudlCuN FIUll naIQ Vi UAlu
New York, Jan. II R-A giant
figure stirred under the white sheets
of the hospital cot. A shaggy head
with wax-white features and red
trimmed eyes lifted from the pillow
and stared toward the doorway of
the tiny room.
Hello" said Al Lassman. Hell
To-"
The mammoth shoulder heavei
cut of the bed clothes while eyes
still strained to focus picture of
the tired brain. Then the foggy
mind cleared, a below of welcome
rang out into the hospital corridors,
and the giant all but lifted himself
right out Of the cot.
This was Al Lassman, football
captain of New York University's
Violent Violets, on the road back to
health at last after one Of the clos
est engagements any athlete ever
played with death. This was the six
foot-four tackle. with his 200
pounds of surging, tearing Drawn,
a tackle who his coach, Chick
Meehan, declared was the greatest
ever to pull on shoes"
It was seven weeks ago almost
to a day, that Lassman played his
last game of intercollegiate football!
In a battle that stole the pigskin
show for that one day at least. his
Violets smashed the Tartans Of Car
negie Tech. unbeaten up to that day.
After playing probably the finest
football OF his career for three
quarters, Lassman was kicked In the
head in the fourth period. For
weeks he lay unconscious, critically
i'll.
Now he is coming around again,
slowly but with the almost positive
assurance Of medical men that he
will be completely recovered within
a few months.
Lassman wants that, for he has
designs on the heavyweight boxing
championship left vacant by Gene
Tunney. Two years ago. as a sopho-
more Eastman won the intercolle-
giate title and fight managers con-
sidered him grand prospect. A
broken leg, suffered on the football
field, kept him from the ring last
winter.
But for this day at least, the huge
patient is rather pitiful. The blow
on his skull caused blood clot on
the brain affecting his entire left
side. While Eastman is not paralyzed,
that part of his body is numb and
hard to control. He cannot remem-
Der single game or happening Of
the football season, and even more
distant events are difficult to recall.
His eyes blink constantly.
ITS just as though my body was
split down the middle" he said.
Everything on the left side is blank.
Only half my mouth tastes things
when ! eat. The doctors stick pins in
my arm, but I can't feel them. 1t
hurts to think. but I'll be o. K"
I'm no cream puff" he grinned
in twisted fashion. Pm rugged.
They tell me had close call. II I
hadn't had a tough skull I'd have
gone out. I can walk some now.
though. and I'll soon be ready for
more. Doctors say I've got to have
a lot of aunshine"
A nurse came in then with the
that 1t was time for
exercise. The Jimmy shirt OF the
bed-ridden youth was replaced by
pajamas and bath-robe. Eastman
hauled himself to HIS feet and tot
tered gleefully out into the hospital
corridor.
1t was a grand occasion, swaying
from side to side, his left leg hitch
ing a bit and left arm crooked to his
body. The tall broad shouldered
youngster swung slowly down the
corridor, stopping at each room to
below greetings and thanks for some
tidbit sent to him by another pa
tient. They shouted back and the
bedlam. SO strange in such a place.
brought nurses. orderlies and in
ternes a-running to gloat with the
happy youth over his progress.
Doing road work" he told them
az he swung proudly along, right
hand touching the wall to keep bal
ance.
Not satisfied with that the bat
tered warrior leaned his great bulk
against the wall and lifted his hands
to a fighting pose.
"A few more months and I'll be
doing this again." he said. Want
ed to fight this winter. See, I can
hook little with my left. Love this
footballs all right but boxing is the
greatest game of all.
Back to bed for you. You're too
said the little nurse and
Lassman went, sheepishly.