The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-24

quickly, moving down cham
pions almost before the cheers
stop ringing in their ears.
Those of us who saw the Joe
Louis-Arturo Godoy fight at
Yankee stadium were wildly
reminded of how brief is the
strut of an athletic hero in the
spotlight of fame.
To enliven the 10-minute
wait between the last prelim-
mary and the main bout, the
announcer asked all Of the
former heavyweight cham
pions in the crowd TO step
into the ring for a bow. The
request WAS intended rs a gra-
cious gesture to the titlehold-
ers Of earlier years and .
treat for the spectators.
1t proved an embarrassment
to the old boys and a bore to
the crowd.
SHARKEY FIRST
The first to step under the
lights of the ring was Jack
Sharkey, the Boston COB, who.
to those of US who write of
fights, seemed only to have
stepped into the shadows of re-
tirement a few days ago. But
the crowd scarcely knew him
as, insure and paunchy, he
clasped his hands above his head
in the age-old salute of the
fighting man.
He drew only a smatter of
applause and boos, and quickly
stepped back to lean against
the ropes. AS time is measured
in other business Sharkey is a
young man. but as a sports
champion whose day has passed.
he seemed old.
Jim Braddock followed Shar-
key into the ring. He was given
q greeting so lukewarm that 1t
seemed TO clothe him In the raj
ment Of an old man, and put =
halt In his step. Yet. actually,
the champion who was soon to
step into the ring and defend
his fitle-Louis-won the right
TO defend II by beating Brad
dock.
Still. so swiftly do the hours
pass in sport, Braddock seemed
an oldtimer. a box-fighter whose
name would not seem out of
place when grouped with that
of Corbett, Fitz. Jeffries and
johnson.
JACOBS INFLUENCE
Then Dempsey came in. Usual
~ the oil Manassas Mauler's en-
trance into a New York ring is
heralded by an announcement
packed with such words as inn
mortal. idol, hero, and champion.
But because of Jacks feud with
Mike Jacobs. the announcer.
who is paid by Mike Jacobs. in
troduced him simply as another
former titleholder."
He was just another ghost of
the past to the crowd. The man
whose name was once enough
TO set any crowd electric with
excitement. got only polite and
sedate applause.
Looking at Jack As he stood
there under the harsh lights.
which brought out every line in
his face. every middle-age bulge
In the once wolf-lean body. one
almost wished that he had
Acknowledged the introduction
from the shadows Of his ring
side seat.
One also wished that he
wouldn't go through with the
RIDICULOUS fight he has agreed
to wage with a wrestler in At
lanta next month.
Sharkey, Dempsey. Brsddock.
They stood uncomfortably in the
ring, shaking hands, talking to
one smother in loud. unnatural
voices.
Then Max Baer came through
the ropes. The passing Of time
really struck you In the face
with his appearance. There was
a time-and II couldn't have
been more than . week or two
ago-that Max. big. laughing.
strong. unmarked Max, came
out Of the west TO look on all
the world with laughing eyes.
Yet. there he stood. Tired.
Awfuliy old for one so young.
No bounce. No sparkle His
face a retreat for shadows and
lines. And by his very efforts
TO be light and buoysnt. reveal
Ing what the years and fists