The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-27
tn
/ ALKING
IT OVER
by JOE WILLIAMS

NEW YORK, Aug. 27.-In spite
a Y Of its complex pattern and
Nicissitudes, theh news of the world
doesn't change much from day
to day.
There are always floods in China,
scandals in Tammany Hall, stock
slumps in Wall Street, Wickersham
reports and beer barons who defy
cops.
And to be sure that no constant reader
is moved to protest against discrimination
II should be added that Jack Dempsey Is
always getting ready to stage come back.
You may have noted that the gentle
man is back in the ring bowling over a
lot Of animated hat racks and umbrella
stands out in the far west and he is
telling the newsmen that II he can fight
himself back into shape he viii challenge
for the championship again.
And in the meantime. he is stepping up
to the box office and helping himself TO
some very interesting money. The other
night for instance. 1900 customers paid
nearly $4,000 to see him test his punch
against such savage man eaters OF the
ring as Big Bill Hartwell. Dave McRea,
Denny Lenheart and Bob Mariels.
Maybe you never heard of these ferocious
beasts Of the squared circle before but then
the chances are the old man mauler
hadn't heard Of them either until it was
time to start swinging. Apparently it
doesn't make much difference whether the
promoters hand him a night Waterman
or street car conductor. The customers
still Ike to see Dempsey make 'em bounce.
It's remarkable the way the fellow holds
his following, In two exhibitions in minor
league towns he has attracted close TO
$4,000. setting new attendance records for
the communities Schmeling. the cham
pion. cleared less than $4,000 on an active
six weeks tour This at least proves that
CRATES should not wear bow ties. and
what Yale needs Is more diversified Of
Tense
Still It is not hard to analyze Demp-
seys enduring appeal. Most of the drama
that has been written around the heavy
weight field in the past fifteen years came
from his fists. He gave them something
20 remember him by. Willard. Carpenter.
Firpo. Sharkey and that blazing seventh
round against Tunney.
Another and more material factor con-
tributing to his box office renaissance is
the unkempt level to which the current
situation has slipped. There is nobody IN
the game with enough fire to spark the
public Imagination. Schmeling improved
his standing out in Cleveland. but after all
you can't improve your standing much by
beating a Stribling.
TT may be that the customers
Il have given up on all the heavy
weights and have decided to turn
back to Dempsey. At least ne
was a good guy when he had 1t.
There are a lot of people who would
rather watch Babe Ruth hit long fly than
see Hack Wilson smack the ball over the
Garden wall One is an artist. the other
a plumber. similar emotion seems TO
be present in the acceptance Of Dempsey's
nudge over campaign.
And speaking of nudge overs Dempsey
seems we'll on his wav to out-Carnera
Camera. both as to the mediocrity OF
clowns and financial dividends. Indeed.
doubt If some OF the young men upon
whom Dempsey has been operating would
have been permitted to EXPOSE their eager
laws to the fierce grimaces of the Italian
monster.
OF course. I hasten to add that there Is
this difference. Dempsey can hit. Even AT
eighty he should still be able to knock out
n room full of Big Bill Hartweus with
half-hearted punch. But even so nudge
over is a nudge over any way he goes out
! mean when you are in there banging
away at a tramp. the ethical difference
doesn't mean much.
There is nothing new about this nudge
over angle of the racket. 1t remained
Tor Camera and his handlers to put It
in the big money class. and now it looks
as II Dempsey is going to step out and
do still better.
Some Of the boxing commissions are
talking about barring Dempsey. Why?
Personally. I'd rather watch Dempsey beat
carpets than see most of those other gaf-
fers fight all night