Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-14
HOLD FLORIDA TILT
/. MORAL OBLIGATION
Pushed Miami Beach Affair
Even When Money Loss
Seemed Certain.
BY WALTER TRUMBULL.

" OR the benefit of those who hold
l. that friendship Is a reed which
will not stand under the burden
L of gold, it should be recorded
that Jack Dempsey undertook
his present labors at Miami Beach when
every indication pointed to personal
financial loss.
1t is true that Dempsey planned to
| invest in Richards Florida enterprises,
but you will remember that he arrived
at Miami after Rickard was i'll and it
| is doubtful whether Jack had as yet
committed himself to the point where
he could not have pulled out at COM
| paratively small sacrifice. The garden
certainly was not interested in Richards
outside ventures, but both that corpora
| ton and Dempsey felt real obligation
| to Richards memory.
| With Tex at the helm, there was
| small chance of the Miami Beach bout
| falling. He wasn't forced into that
match. He made it with mis- eyes open.
1t may be said that he merely wished
to boost his other interests. Don't be-
| lieve it. Richard told me that for two
seasons he thought a heavyweight
match in Florida, properly promoted
and timed, would pay.
Tex Believed Bout Sound.
11C NdS AlOI UlLlu W Vic 1dCG OIldG ou~ll
bout might help him in other direc-
tons, but he was certain that it would
stand on its own feet. He had statistics
on Florida's Winter population, on the
number of inhabitants of surrounding
States and on what the match would
cost. He believed that Stribling, with
the best opponent available, would be a
drawing card in the South.
Tex had lost on the Tunney-H eeney
| fight through circumstances over which
he had no control. To lose on his next
both his prestige and the boxing game:
He had no such idea. So sure was he
of profit that he was<willing to guar
antee the garden against loss.
With Richard gone, the situation was
vastly different. So sure were many
that the bout would be bust that there
were wholesale predictions it never
would be held. But the Garden felt
moral obligation to go through with
Richards announced plans and Demp-
| sey felt that the one thing he could do
for his friend was to complete the I'M
| finished job.
| Rickard had promoted seven bouts In
which Dempsey fought. These drew
gross Of $9,164,86i.82. They made Demp-
| sey millionaire, and he was grateful.
Moreover, Richard and Dempsey were
pals Tex had helped Jack over several
| rough spots and there was real affection
between them. To carry out Richards
plans appeared to Dempsey duty he
must perform.
Dempsey Asks for Chance.
The greatest gate attraction in his
game. and one of the greatest that pro-
fessional sport ever knew, there we're
many lines in which Jack might have
assured himself of profit. He didn't have
/ to gamble, but he never hesitated. He
| offered his services to the Garden with
out any sure financial recompense or
guarantee.
If the Miami Beach affair loses money,
or If it merely breaks even, Dempsey
doesn't get cent. If it goes over the
top Jack shares in the profits.
Just after Richards death, the Gar
| den probably would have been more
than content at the idea Of breaking
even. Dempsey might have driven a
harder bargain But, If there are prof
its, not only will Dempsey and the Gar
den share them equally, bat Jack has
said that portion of his share would
go to Richards widow and child.
1t looks now as If the bout would
make money. 1t may even prove fairly
| profitable venture for all concerned. But
that was not the main idea with which
1t was carried to completion. There
were those who. win or lose, were de-
ternired to make good the pledges of e
master builder, called away before his
final job was done
(Copyright, 1922 by North American News-
paper Alliance)