The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-01-24
star AT FOOTBALL,
BOXING, WRESTLING,
HOCKEY AND TRACK
Played With Toronto lnterna.
tional League Champs
Under HowIey
COACHED RUTGERS ELEVEN
Brought to Y. s. by Pop Warm
or and Starred on Grid
at Duquesne

Chicago, Jan. 24.-The greatest all
around athlete in the United States is
not Jim Thorpe, the famed Carlisle
Indian, nor is he Jim Bausch. the
Kansas cyclone who ran rampant on
gridirons and won the 1882 Olympic
decathlon with q record number of
points. He isn't even a native-born
citizen-he IS Lionel Conacher. great
est athlete ever to come out Of Can
ada.
Conacher, now defense for the Chi
cago Blackhawks, National Hockey
League entrant, is one of the greatest
hockey players ever developed In the
Dominion
But did you know that he was the
amateur welterweight and heavy
weight boxing champion Of Canada,
q successful pro wrestler, one Of the
greatest lacrosse and football players
ever to wear uniform, 10-Second
man in the 100-yard dash, member Of
the Toronto Maple Leafs the year
they won the International League
pennant and little world series under
Dan Howley, and football coach at
Rutgers University?
Well, Gus, If you didn't know those
things you're excused, for the modest
Conacher isn't one to 60 around toot-
ing hts own horn. But he was all Of
those things, and more!
\ X \
Connie started his colorful career
back in 1916 At Is, he won the On
tario wrestling championship at 125
pounds, and scored % professional
victories in row.
In 1918 he took up hockey as an
amateur, and has been batting puck
hither and yon ever since, with the
exception of brief excursions into la
crosse, football and fighting.
His football stardom started In 1920,
as fullback of the Toronto Argonauts.
After playing rugby in Canada, he
switched to the American game when
Pop Warner took him to Pittsburgh
with the idea of making him a star
in this country.
He played at Bellefonte Academy
with Gibby WEIGH, and outsmarted
the fellow termed by Jock Suther-
land, present Pitt mentor. the great
est football player he ever saw. He
matriculated at Duquesne where ne
starred two years on the gridiron.
Bob Zuppke, wise old Illinois coach.
has made the remark that Conacher
was the greatest punter ever to toe the
leather. There is a record Of Connie
having booted a 75-yard drop kick.
Along with his football activity and
hockey, young Conacher took up box
ing in 1921. That year he won the
Interchangeable championship OF
the Dominion, and the same year
boxed four rounds with Jack Demp-
sey.
firing OF football, Connie turned to
baseball. While he didn't reach the
major leagues, he did star in the In
ternational League pennant drive and
little world series of 1926, and might
have reached the big leagues If he
had chosen to remain In baseball.
y
But hockey was in his blood, and he
devoted most Of his time to that
game, clicking as defense star with
the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York
Americans and finally the Black
hawks.
knowledge Of all these sports has
helped Conacher In his hockey game,
he says.
1.-THE reason I stop those attacks on
the net Is because, unconsciously,
i fall back on other sports" Conaches
asserts. II use tackle, maybe, that
I've learned in football. Perhaps ]
use q check borrowed from lacrosse
Maybe hook slide as In baseball"
But whatever he uses, mates, thu,
/ Lionel lad of "a Is q great defense
man. His acquisition by the Black
hawks has made that team chief con.
tender in the American division Of th<
National League this wear.