The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-02-21
Georgian heavyweight i Versa.
tile with Left and Right
Hands During Bouts
~ i. NElI.

YORK, Fe0. 2l.-NeBM
Stribling has lifted his dukes In pro-
feSsional combat 2oo times. He has
flown 100000 miles In 200 hours in
the air. He has cracked up twice In
1900 landings. And the most serious
accident he ever had was . fell from
q bicycle. He was Knocked uncon-
scious and badly battered.
Striking loves speed. Every time
he gets his hands on the wheel of an
automobile sensible friends get out
and walk. He drives rs though he
were trying to qualify for tho cham
ptOnships ct indianapolis. He wants
to try speedway racing some day.
On the beach ct Daytona, Fla, he
showed a stock car up to lis miles an
hour.
Rode Bicycle
As q. y0ungster In Macon, Ga.
Nv. =" rode q wheel furtouslx before
he ever saw q pair Of boxing gloves.
When he got enough money together
he graduated to q motorcycle. The
wind rushing into his face, tearing at
his clothes, gives him Q tremendous
thrill. He holds a transport pilots
license now, owns several planes. and
the finest Of these is q big closed joh.
He'd rather have q motorcycle again
and the wind ripping at hts face.
Many fight critics believe he lacks
courage
Everything he does is. In . hurry.
He wears everyone out around him,
runs up and down stairs, bounees In
and out Of chairs, rarely has the pa
thence to read for any length Of time.
He Is impressive just before . fight.
Cautiousness In critical moments has
cost him at least two championship
shots. His father and manager, PA"
Stribling, Is white with anxiety dur
ing Bills matches. "a
BE careful. son. don't get hurt"
he tells him between rounds.
Likes Competition
stribling loves any kind Of . COM
petition and hates to lose . game or
IN argument. He plays cards, check
ers, dominoeS, and with nothing at
all at stake. perspires As though he
were carrying brick. He argues over
every point.
His father. head Of the acrobatic
troupe in which Bill got his Develop
ment, believes It Is unlucky to pass
beggars, whistle in q dressing room, and
two accidents will follow the first be-
fore the charm Is broken. Bill Isn't
superstitlcuS but he had PA" worn
out before big fights threatening to
violate the supernatural.
Light clothes and bright colors In
trigue him and he hates blue serge
suits because his mother clothed him
in so many Of them when he was
young. He is almost violent in his
likes and dislikes and speaks his mind
freely and fo~rcefully. He plays
roughly with his friends and family
but those he dislikes are left strictly
alone and are expected to fight shy
of him. He'll cock q fist If q slight
ing reference is made about q friend.
He is abrupt, often undiplomatic, but
mild hammered and hard to arouse to
anger. He. has the memory Of an
elephant when sighted.
Reads War Stories
One Of atribling's keenest disap-
pointmerts was his parents refusal to
let him play football when be was q
boy because the game was too rough.
He plays basketball almost as well as
q professional. but there are too
many rules. His big weakness Is Ice
cream. He fills up at least once q
day and often tucks away . large
portion OF the CONNECTION before he
goes into the ring. He likes war
stories but doesn't care for movies
unless trey are thrillers.
He shoots q gun. steers his plane
and mans q cue stick all with his
left hand. He writes ana knocks
fighters out with his right.
Next winter he intends to try speed
boat racing. He'd like to build =
racer after he gets the hang OF 1t
that could crack the late Sir Henry
segrave's 08-mile an hour record.