The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-29
TALKING
ITOVER
By JOE WILLIAMS

NEW YORK, March 2o.-The
IN papers are printing pictures Of
Jess Willard getting ready for an
ether comeback. The old champion
is broke again. Strange thing about
these old champions, Sooner or
later they all wind up in the bread
lines.
The exceptions arc rare. jim
Corbett is one and he came along
before the golden era Of beak bust
ing. The odds are against Gene
Tunney ever going broke but they
tell me even his fortune has dwin-
died sharply. Tunney found Wall
Street less profitable than cauh-
flower alley.
substantial annuity insures Jack Demp-
sew a lie long protection-nOt enough to
maintain him IN the luxuries TO which he
IS accustomed put comforting guarantee
Of security nevertheless Jim Jefiries Is
doing the best he can on a little farm out
in California. II Congress ever gets around
70 relieving the farmer. Jefierles Will be
much Obliged for any slight eonsidera-
The last I heard Of Jack johnson he
Cub A5out ali P he has left 81 SHIsp quarter fs
for al I know the, international bankers
fighters are good business men. so it
shouldn't be surprising that in the end
fiRht. with the sheriff
Still nobody can call Benny Leonard
dumb. Benny himself used to say, they'll
never have to hold a benefit for me"
Benny made more than any other three
lightweight champions Ana yet the last
time l saw him he was catching a mid
night train for some flag station TO bat
Ne the local pride. II he got $500 for
that engagement u was lot Of money.
Benny wasn't like some Of the other
aVav on dolls and side cars. Not Benny.
yestments. blue chip stocks. stuff YOU buy,
puC away and forget. You know what
around from the panic than he ever had
20 take IN the Prize ring.
A YEAR ago I sat on the beach
"a in Florida with Mickey Walk
err. He was training to meet Risko.
I've got to beat this fellow said
Mickey. Il haven't a quarter left"
Lest ! should get the notion he was
putting on the weeps, Mickey quick
ly added, I'm not complaining,
though, because I've had hell of
good time"
as career but the contrasting adventures
Of Mickey and the pav boy and Benny
the investor suggest the inquiry; What
I could mention dozen other cham
ppions who we're ono. IN the big money olel.r
deploring the exaggerated values placed on
the militant left hook. But these values
his sugar are soon parted.
But to return to old man Willard ana
his come back. Every time he goes broke
he turns to the ring. In the past the ring
has been generous to him. ms time ne
WIN be lucky # he Is even permitted ob 70
he is Al wears old 1t would be safe to
bet that he can't stand UP for ten rounds.
Il saw saw him I'M in his last comeback against
Luis Firpo over in JERSEY; That's the nignt
Rnee aui in an altitude Of prayer as if inn
ploring the gods for a return Of his youth;
He wasn't out but ne was beaten ana
his legs had carried him as far as they
4 round or so before he quite he gave
a flash of his old fighting form thai
vocal uproar. ever heard. willard caught
Firpo with right upp.ehrcHt ,aIwsy ud ms
crowd. as If prompted by an invisible staff
Of cheer leaders. took up the chant. come
throughout the remainder of the round
This chant echoed and re-echoed over the
vast wooden bowl as the old champion
numbered around the ring trying 10 nut
over the finishing punch. IT was a strange
curious that it was reserved for willard.
never a popular figure with the masses. II
S SEN mem that chant must still be ring
ing in his ears.
T MUST confess 1 did not see a
l. great deal of the fight I was
seated back of Mr.. Haywood Broun
and when you sit back Of Mr. Broun
at any time the best you can hope
for is an intimate study of a large
pair Of sprawling shoulder blades-I
do not wish to create the impression
that I am lacking in artistic appre-
citation and that the unique and the
unusual in shoulder blades do not
appeal to me, but massiveness alone
is not sufficient to keep the excite
meht high. They tell me that after
time, mountain ranges pail on cow
boys.
I am reminded incidentally. that on one
occasion Mr.. Broun stooged. or doubled,
for willard This was back in the spring
of 1915 when Mr.. Broun was travelling
through the south with the Giants. Ills
manager. in the manner speaking. was Da-
At each train stop. Runyon would take
Mr. Broun out on the rear platform ana
Introduce him to the natives as willard,
1.-THE man who is going to bring the heavy
weight championship back to the white
race"
Whereupon. Mr. Broun would strike. a
rladiatorial pose and deliver a rea ssuring
speech For the most part. Mr.. Broun's
audiences were made uD OF gentlemen OF
color. and since the man he was supposed
to massacre was Jack Johnson ne was not
ALWAYS happily received.
A. A. CAM