Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-29

~ EFORE the Tunney-Heeney bout
- there were any number OF totally
unfounded stories to the effect
IL that the meeting never would
take place. It was said that
only a handful Of tickets had been sold
and that Richard was unwilling to face
the loss entailed.
These stories were little short Of
ridiculous. Richard never had the
slightest idea of calling off the bout.
He knew that he would lose money on
it, and he knew the gate was not helped
any by these stories.
But Richard was man who lived UP
to his agreements. His reputation and
his success were based on that fact.
Moreover. on his series of eliminations
and other heavyweight fights he had
made enough so that any loss he
suffered would still leave the balance
on the books overwhelmingly in his
favor. No man complains very bitterly
OF debit of S250,oOO when he has a
credit of $1,000,00O.
Richard did complain Of some Of the
stories. 1t seemed to him that when a
man was working on big field deal.
which did not affect outsiders, 1t
was hardly fair for those who had no
interest at stake and who knew nothing
of the inside state of affairs to go
around believing to the world in general
that the deal was a gigantic bust. He
thought that they might at least wait
to see how it came out
Then he figured they were entitled to
tell the facts, If they knew them. Nor
written merely through a passionate
desire for truth.
Now stories have started concerning
the Sharkey-Stribling bout at Miami.
1t is said that this may be called off
or moved north. These statements may
be true-I don't know-but it does
appear trifle strange to me that Col.
Hammond. acting general manager of
the Madison Square Garden CORPORA
ton, doesn't know either. Col. HAM
mond assures me. and I always have
found his word that of a soldier and
a gentleman, that he knows nothing of
any plan to call off the battle of Miami
Beach, and that so far as he knows, It
VIII neither be called off nor moved
north. 1t strikes me that Col. Ham
mond Is in a better position to know
what he is talking about than others
who disagree with him.
It also might be said that yesterday
received letter from Jack Dempsey
in which he stated that everything was
going well. That doSen't mean quite
as much, for the simple reason that
while Jack needs no introduction as a
fighter he has yet to prove himself as
promoter. He wouldn't say that every
ahirg was going well unless 1t looked
! that way to him, but his experience In
this line Is limited and his opinion
m GIT not be worth as much as 1t would
after he has run few more bouts.
1t may be that Carey, who is on the
ground. dosen't like the looks of things
and has so informed the directors Of
the garden, but in that case one would
suppose that Col. Hammond would be
told something about 1t. The last IN
terview I had with Bill Carey was to
the effect that he had arranged for q
boat and special train for Cuban Gus
toners.
What the advance sale may be is
another thing I do not know. I do
know that orders total over SIS, 1000 for
rlngside seats and that the bout is
month away. The orders later may total
many times that amount or they NAV
not. only know that the MANAGEMENT
at least reports that figure now.
IL would seem that as a large part
OF the attendance for this fight will be
drawn from comparatively near at
at hand, that the seat orders might
not begin TO come in heavily until
later. More especially is this so, as the
arena is not yet erected and 1t was
not until late last Friday evening that
1t was determined definitely lust
whether Jack Sharkey or Meyers
Christner would be Stribling's opponent.
From now on the bout is set and the
fans will have a better idea of what
they are going to do. might also say
that yesterday received a cable from
Gene Tunney The retired chapopio,,
did not, however, say a single word
concerning the battle of Miami Beach.
tCopyrIsht, 1929 by North American Neu,s.
paper Aiiiance) "