Evening star., 1933-12-25
MAX TOO POPULAR
/ FOR HIS OWN GOOD
Now Doing Six Turns a Day,
Four in Vaudeville and Two
at Night Club.
BY SPARROW McGANN.
YFW YORK December Is


i penalty of his immense
popularity. He cannot see
it that way, for he feels he is
having the time of his young life.
Plenty of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
scores of beautiful women guSh-
ing all over him, and some Of the
niftiest chorus girls on Broadway
to help him out in his act.
Baer does four turns day at vaude-
club, where he has to do 1t all over
twice again. He rarely sees daylight,
and he may have to admit later on that
the merry game was not worth it after
oil.
Here is young man with every phys
ical attribute of the perfect athlete,
sharpened to trigger edge and with a
keen mind for the business of fighting.
There is no other boxer mentioned in
the same breath as the challenger for
the worlds heavyweight title, To pass
his time as he is doing seems sheer
waste of the physical advantages with
which he has been endowed.
Is Willing to Fight.
Fight! Sure, Max will talk fight upon
the least provocation. He knows what
it is all about and would undoubtedly
fight at the drop of hat. But this Is
neither the time nor the season to think
of staging prize fight involving much
money and Baer. according to his man.
ager, is doing the next best thing to
earn all the money he can.
History repeats itself in cases like this.
Back in the days when John L. Sulli-
van was the hero of fight lovers, he
took to the stage. Hard drink had
something to do with his downfall, but
1t was admitted that the first time he
fought in defense of his title he was
soundly beaten. Jim Corbett, when
champion, went on the stage and con-
tinued even after he left the ring.
Corbett was a clean-living man and
moderate in all his tastes. But his de-
feat brought on by blow to the wind,
might have been averted had he kept in
strict training instead of making over
night jumps to theaterS all over the
country. Bob Fitzsimmons also went on
the stage, but weight handicaps beat
him more than anything else.
Jim JeffrieS was not much of a mixer
What little he ever did on the stage
Earns Money and Trouble.
Jack johnson flashed his golden smile
over the footlightS and not only earned
a good deal of money, but plenty of
trouble in the bargain. This eventually
led to his becoming an exile from his
homeland and final surrender to the
Federal authorities to serve out a SEN
tence in the penitentiary. Jess Willard
is1 "a nj h
SO little of the gloved game that he
fought but once as champion, and that
in a no-decision bout against Frank
Moran. before he was dethroned by Jack
Dempsey.
Dempsey took the stage and screen.
He fought but seldom after he had
crossed more than a million dollars,
and he was physical and mental
wreck after being pounded around for
10 rounds by Gene Tunney He was
not any too strong against Jack Shar-
key. The best proof that his recupera-
tive powers were not what they should
have been was noted in the memorable
seventh round at Chicago when he
chased Tunney around the ring and
staggered wearily to his corner.
From then on it was SO one-sided that
the fans felt that Jack was through
for good. His series of exhibitions and
short fights were just so much bunk.
Dempsey. knew he was through and
has not kidded any one into believing
he has any notion of staging a come
back.
Tunney was different sort entirely.
He made but one picture and then had
a short Whirl on the stage. He knew
what was good for him. Gene was
fighter and did not care to set himself
UP as an actor.
IdIeness Hurt Schmeling.
MAX sCHMELING did not go in
VI for vaudeville, owing to his in
ability to speak English fluently.
He did make one picture. but that was
in his native Germany. Schmeling can
blame his downfall to lack of ring work.
He stayed away too long between fights
to be in shape to beat a hell-bent
swinger like Baer.
Sharkey never hankered for the pub
lie. He knew he was too widely dis
liked to risk public appearances The
movies never did interest him. He
came along too late in his fighting
career to hold the title longer than he
did.
Primo Carnera went over big in his
only picture, but he was ably seconded
by Baer. Dempsey and a galaxy Of
sport stars and Hollywood beauties.
Whether Baer can stand the pace he
is setting without seriously impairing
his health and stamina should be seen
when he answers the bell in his next
fight. Outwaroly he may appear more
powerful than last Summer. But how
will he react when the pace gets hot
and he takes a couple of solid snashes?
Not until then will the fans, and Baer
himself learn whether he can dodge
the sunlight and play around at night
to his hearts desire.