The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-06-13

hill.
The streets
are quiet and
BOR ADDIE line d with
trees and the wind shuffles the
leaves in summer. Everybody
knows everybody else and some
times it's nice to 60 back after
years of wandering and find that
the moving fingers Of time have
left some places unchanged.
Of course. we have a new post
office and they tell me there's
four-stroy building on Main
Street now. Most of the people
I knew are still there. A lot OF
them are bald and the kids I
knew in school are married and
have families. Some of the old
boys are even older and frost
has settled on their heads.
Celebrities Too
They're playing out their
string and just waiting for the
final bell. They've seen lot OF
years march down the dusty
halls of time and what matters
love or Illustration or wealth or
fame? We've had our share of
sports celebrities, too. Like
Frank Carideo, the last quarter
back coached by Knute Rockne
and an All-America two years
straight.
Then we had Jimmy G. I am
reminded of Jimmy because 1
heard recently that the Junior
Golden Gloves tournament had
been discontinued in the Dis
trict. Too much boxing" was
the official reason by the au-
thoritieS. Too much boxing?
Listen to the story of Jimmy G.
Jimmy was always a big kid
for his age. At 10 he was 6
feet, 2 inches tall and weighed
1913 pounds. Jimmy was a
couple of grades ahead Of me in
school and 1 knew him as well
as anyone did. We caddied to-
gether on the golf links. He had
that natural ability and beauti-
full golfing form all caddies have
and he shot in the seventies
with regularity. But then Jimmy
could do anything. He was a
good baseball player first
base): he played whale OF a
tackle and he could fight.
He Became a Fighter
That's what got him into
trouble. Jimmy was always
fighting-mostly in the streets.
Finally our police chief got tired
of booking Jimmy for fighting
and said You should get paid
for fighting. I'm going to send
you to a manager"
He did. From the town bully,
Jimmy became the town idol.
He scored II knockoutS in a
row. We were sure proud OF
him. Whenever he said hello,
boy, we really sWelled up. He
was coming champion. Every
body said so. Now, here's the
funny thing. While Jimmy was
boxing, he was all right. The
rough edges were polished and
men like Gene Tunney, whose
sparring and golfing partner he
was, liked to have Jimmy
around.
But Jimmy had a girl. He
had lot to give, but she didn't
, want it. I wouldn't say directly
that she was the reason for it,
but Jimmy suddenly didn't care
anymore. He took a lot of I'm
necessary punches and he
started to hit the high spots.
Now you know a boxer can't do
that without skidding and
Jimmy skidded hard.
] Paths of Glory
The next time our paths
crossed I was a reporter on our
local paper. 1t was a Spring-like
night and after work I walked
Gown a street deserted except
for couple of men a half block
ahead and another group COM
ing toward me.
In the distance I saw some
thing that reminded me of Jim.
my He was arguing with one
of the men in the first group.
Then 1 heard a threat but Jim.
my walked toward the other
man-and right into barrage
of bullets. 1 could hear them
singing their song of death as
they crunched into his body,
Then all was confusion and
Jimmy was left there alone.
The police chief who had
urged Jimmy to be a boxer was
one of the first on the scene
There were tears in his eyes as
he called the hospital and the
ambulance carted away the per
forated body of the 24-year-olc
boy.
If Jimmy had stuck to box
ing, this wouldn't have hap
pened," the chief said. While
he was boxing, he was a flint
citizen, and now he's murdered.
just thought of the stor.
reading where the Junior Colder
Gloves tourney has been abol
ished because too much boxini
fe borrofI ,,