The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-26
/ ALKING
IT Over
by JOE WILLIAMS

v year Is Hmplng lnV0 Ilie uuoe'
which reminds me that no decade
has produced as many great show
men in sports as the last ten years
Notably among whom might be
mentioned Dempsey, Tilden, Jones,
Hagen. Cobb, Ruth, Paddock, Weiss
muller and among the women,
Lenglen and Wills.
Il
WIN IN the past could compare with
thsmq sullivan YOU say? But was Sui
uvan the Snowman Dempsey was? As to
this there is plenty Of doubt. Dempsey
had a better background and better stage
for his show Prize fighting was generally
taboo in sulIivan's day; in Dempsey's day
il was a social rage.
n
And vet there is nothing in Dempsey's
career to compare with the romantic IN
cident which showed sullivan rlolng ~ ~
~ ops1 cab over the copied SsTleedsS on on
rs vay to meet James J. Corbett-the big
zert astic test in his life and at the same
inc the biggest lark.
aIaiiF ueopIe prefer Maurice McLough-
lin to Tilden. They were distinctly DIFF
ferert types. Mclaughlin with his red
head and cannon ball service was a
natural eye-popper. and with it thor
ouxh Snowman, but he lacked the fine dra-
matte sense OF Iilden. a man who stressed
every theatrical moment for all it was
worth.
IN the old days Honus Wagner was
4 a gallery god. He was one Of
the great hitters Of all time. Few
could field with him. His awkward
grace added to his appeal. He
dominated his team. Men came out
to see him swing a bat and field a
crounder. They weren't interested
in how the game went. But even
So Honus was not the Snowman
that Cobb was, or in later years,
Ruth.
Greater stars may appear in the future
hut doubt that they will carry the same
amount Of personal appeal that the head
line figures mentioned above had and have
samuel Crawford playing baseball In the
samc era with Ruth might have hit as
MANY homers as the Babe fas many
claim but he never would have compared
with the Yankee star as a drawing card
n II II
Crawford. 2 great slusser. was thor thor
ou1hlv mechanically and totaly laCHH l,ss
in color George siSsr h Aevs ms eHe
Cobb's batting mark and his fleldll5nE bat
sister lacking IRE and dash, would never s,s
sister vas great hitter and fine fielder.
but after YOU said that there was nothlng
else to say
Hornsby belongs to the same class
though his facility for getting into Jams
has brought him an odd sort OF glamour
You never hear anybody saw he Is going
to the pal Just TO sec Hornsby play IL
is an estal ished fact. established by cold
box office records. that many thousands
have gone to the park Just TO see Cobb
and Ruth.
A PERFORMER must have more
N than mechanical experiences to
appeal to the heart Of the gallery.
He must be able to thrill the Gus
toners. Cochet, a tennis genius. is
much better than the aging Tilden,
and has been for several years, but
the only time the Frenchman has
played to packed stands was when
Tilden was his opponent.
Il r
For years Bobby Jones has been the
biggest draw in golf All the attendance
records in golf arc traceable to Jones' sp-
pearances Just as are all the attendance
records in baseball traceable to Ruth's
performances. Winning losing, Jones
always had the gallery. So supreme was
his artistry that it was always a treat TO
watch him play his shots no matter how
far he was behind.
Il =
Jones represented one instance where
~superIative ability overshadowed gaudy
theatricalism in public appeal. BY no
stretch Of the Imagination was 1t ever
able to compare him with Hagen for
spectacular display and the unusual. There
Hagen which made him stand out. On the
other hand Jones, by his complete com,
mand Of the intricate game, sWayed
thousands.
PersonaIty-which is the same thing
that Is loosely identified as colOr--is the
personal touch that catches the eve and
holds the fancy of the crowd. To this
may be added The wallop. Most of the
great showmen in sports. today and in
tho past, had the wallop, plus speed. One
without the other does not seem to go
very far. Usually the leaders combine the