Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-03-31

was IL m nu S
which gives an idea
of how much the fans got for their
money.
The fourth fight was for the world
championship and Louis used eight
rounds to finish Jimmy Braddock al
though he could have done it sooner
if he had wanted to take chances.
In the Braddock fight Louis hand
lers evidently gave him explicit in
structions to make it clean. They
did not want the fans to see the spec
tacle of the popular and courageous
Braddock being knocked down again
and again, fearing the racial reaction.
This was especially true because the
fight was being held in the White Sox
park in the heart of Chicagos Black
Belt.
Therefore, Louis carefully weak
ened Braddock and did not shoot for
his knockout until he was sure it
could be done with one almighty
punch. When that punch was deliv-
cred Braddock was wide open for it
and there was not the slightest doubt
it would be the finisher.
Now Louis is ready for his fourth
fight and the only point of specula-
ton seems to concern how far it will
60. Will Harry Thomas, the gameSter
from Eagle Bend, go quickly as Retz-
laff and Levinsky went or will his
strength and toughness enable him
to stay in action long enough to give
the customers show for their money?
Louis doubtless has it in mind to do
quicker job on Thomas than Max
Schmeling did, which was quick
enough.
But, in spite of the fact that Chi
cago fans have been given three of
the least entertaining of Louis pro-
fessional fights and are given no
promise this won't be another of the
same, they are going to pack the
Stadium with $4,000 customers. The
reason? Well, Thomas can punch and,
although the chances are 1000 to l
that this won't make any difference,
the fans want to be there on that once
chance.
Spring Hope.
There is something about spring
training that raises false hopes in
even the most conservative breast
There is DOME Bush, for example,
saying that the Millers may not need
any more pitchers, after all.
Bush watched old Pat Malone, old
Walter Tauscher, old Belve Bean in
spring training and that old bug OF
false hope has bitten him in spite OF
the fact that he has been through the
same ailment for many, many years
''They look so good,' says DOME
''that 1 am expecting each of them
to have great year; and what a
pitching staff that would be with
those three smart old timers all pitch
ing in top form!"
But Tauscher and Bean have been
with the Millers for several seasons
and are no younger this season. Ma
lone has been hanging on-just bare
ly-in the major leagues and now has
definitely fallen back.
It must be great climate down
there at Daytona Beach that can put
such visions in the piercing eyes of
Old DOME, who should know better
Tourney Was Great.
True to form the 1888 state high
school basketball tournament thrilled
its thousands of spectators and, again,
won great respect for the kids who
made the show. How those kids
fight!
In quality is was easily the best of
all state tournaments. / mean by this
that the weaker teams were up to the
level of the stronger teams of other
tournaments. The four teams who
went out in the first round, Virginia,
Faribault, Luverne and Appleton were
the strongest set of losers we've ever
seen in tournament field.
This is evidence that the class of
basketball being played around the
state is steadily improving.
Maybe it would not mean so much
to say that the winning team was the
best in tournament history; but when
we say the losers were all above grade
it tends to show general improve
ment. This is especially true when
we recall the large number of close
games and overtime games that were
played in district and regional tourna-
ments which selected the final eight.
It is proof enough that each that
came to the tournament left several
teams which were just about as good
back in the home region.
IN MEMORIAM