Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-06-03
STRUMS IKE,
SINGS BLUES
Jack Has Patriotic Feeling
Whipping Him Into
Fighting Frenzy
By EDWARD J. NEIL.
Associated Press Sports Writer

ORANGEBURG, N. Y, June B.
N)-The dining room of GU Will
sons fight camp was jammed with
the froth Of the ring game-spar-
dry partners, handlers, hangers
M, beer-barons and baronesses,
visitors and curious neighbors, all
mLnching food and killing time at
the end OF the warm lazy day.
They were there because Jack
Sharkey was on the premises, train
ing for the climax Of his third
campaign for the heavyweight
championship. Some of them, the
sparring partners for instance, had
seen more Of Sharkey than they
wanted. TO the handlers he was
an old story, but for the remainder
he was the object OF a long dusty
ride from tn city. the savage demi-
god OF the prize ring that stirs n
prlmeval in ordinary citizens as
nothing else in sport can.
An ~itinerant negro musician.
stunning his guitar and singing
blues. amused the eaters with his
melodies and annoyed them fire.
quently by passing his hat around
for coins. Then Sharkey. restless
anC Gagged by training. lured by
the music. strolled into the room.
Give me that uke." he demanded.
Tenor
Sharkey tilted his hat down over
his eyes, leaned a chair against the
wall, and twanged a few chords.
He was providing the show the
guests had been waiting for.
He played The st. Louis Blues"
played II in a way that shamed
even the negro's facile stunning.
He played it with variations, and
IL was good. Then in a soft tencr
voice he sang the Blues.
Sharkey tossed the instrument
back to the negro. the show was
over, and the curious were salts
fled. The house cleared and he
came across the room 70 sit and
talk fight, the thing that fills his
mind every minute OF the day and
follows him 20 bed at night.
Learned to play that thing in
the navy" he said with q big grin.
.g&hn't know I could sing tenor.
hun I'm not SO good In a quartet,
but I IAN be drafted"
This Sharkey, printing for his
June y battle With Max Schmel-
ing. seems more matured, calmer.
and more capable than at any time
in a career that has carried him
twice within one fight OF the
heavyweight crown. He blew a
battle TO Jack Dempsey when he
seemed to have well in hand a
victory that would have meant a
match with Gene Tunney in the
man mauler's place in 1927. He
fought lazy fights against Johnny
Risko and Tom Heeney in the
elimination tournament to decide
Tunney's final title opponent and
lost the nomination.
Jack fright"
He Gems mentally and physical
" right" for his third opportunity.
His training has been uneventful.
and ten days before the l5-round
test in the Yankee Stadium he is
a marvellous picture Of a fighting
machine. heavier than ever about
the shoulders. thinner through the
legs and thighs. the best boxer In
the heavyweight ranks. a sharp
Furnishing hitter. There hasn't been
q single irritating incident In the
preparatory campaign TO loose his
hair-trigger temperament.
The big problem Sharkey has
always faced-that of controlling
his own emotions. restraining him
self 50 that he fights sensibly-
seems a worry OF the past. He Is
buoyed by recent public acclaim.
strengthened BY the thought that
he is the American. defending the
championship against an invading
foreigner.
For five weeks" the Boston
sailor said. "I've been studying to
hold myself in check. When my
sparring partners hurt me, I pay
NJ attention and stop them with
f3Nts. I won't lose my head against
Schmeling."