Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-23
THE LINE.
BY W. o. McCHEEHAN-


some OuCunCS OA SPuEbs
THE decline of the million-dollar
caulifiower industry came with
startling swiftness. 1t started
before the passing of Tex Rick
ard. The gilt of the fight racket showed
that it had worn out at the Tunney-
Heeney match. Still laboring under the
delusion that the imitation would last
indefinitely, Richard gave Tunney a
half -million-dollar guarantee for this
bout Altogether Richard and his asso-
ciates lost upward of 100000 on this
venture.
Rickard was baffled and dazen man
that night as he looked over the vacant
seats in the base ball park. He could
not understand it. He blamed every
thing for it, even the radio. He limited
that Tunney was unpopular. At any
rate, the cash customers stayed away IN
great numbers.
This could not be blamed on the gen.
eral depression, either, because at that
time the market was booming. There
was no depression and there was no
unemployment. 1t seemed that the
customers suddenly had soured on the
overballyhooed racket. And the more
conservative and saner newspapers had
begun to sour on it, too, and reach the
decision that this sort of thing has been
oyerballyhooed gratuitously.
The final blow came Immediately after
that fight. Gene Tunney, the heavy
weight champion of the world, an
nounced very calmly that he was
through with the game. He did not I'M
burden himself to any great extent. He
merely announced his retirement and
his complete indifference as to who took
the title that was supposed to be worth
$1,000, 900 year to the holder.
That gesture from Tunney was a
final shove for the slipping Rracket. 1t
meant a lot Of elimination contests"
and the selection Of a new champion be-
fore anything like the old interest could
be revived. Then, too, by this time the
game had become considerably comph-
Gated by politics.
COME Of the prize ring clan could not
~ bear to see Tunney get out Of the
game with that much money. There
followed the suit of Tim Mara, the book
maker, for Is per cent Of all of Tun-
ney's earnings. The allegation was that
re (Mara) was entitled to this for agree
ing to use his political influence to help
Tunney in getting matches that would
make him heavyweight champion.
OOuCuIT61C WIFI II1e h4dEA sui was
the suit Of Max (Boo Boo) Hoff of
Philadelphia for another 25 per cent of
all Of Tunney's earnings. Mr.. Hod did
not specify in his papers just what sort
Of influence he had used or had prom
ised to use in aiding Tunney to win the
heavyweight championship.
Now, If Tunney's contract with his
manager, william Gibson, had been the
usual contract sanctioned by the New
York State Boxing Commisson, Tunney
also would have been obliged to pay his
manager SO Ia per cent of his earn
ings. You can figure for yourself just
how much that would have left the
heavyweight champion of the world. He
would not have retired from the game
a millionaire. but his manager and the
two gentlemen who were to aid him
with political influence would have been
able to retire quite comfortably.
All Of these matters accumulated I'M
til the prize fight fans, the most gullible
In the world, seemed to sicken Of the
game. Today we see professional wres-
ting and even tennis match outdraw-
ing prize nights in its stronghold, the
new Madison Square Garden, which
was dedicated IS temple to nstiana.