The Phoenix index., 1940-06-15


in professional sport Many of us would like to gain in the
plaudts OF the crowd and the pats the back along
with the dollars Louis appears to have chosen the
least dangerous method
However, I still say he is not a popular champion
There fewer stories about Louis than there are
about who held the title in the past No ring le-
gends growing up around Jolting Joe He does not
appear to have any developed of hunor He is too
stod even for the vast majority of his race and this
may be traced to the fact that he has Indian blood
the Cherokee"
Those the opinions of Daniel NJ Daniel famous
white New York boxing baseball expert the current
RING magazine (page g..
Much of what Mr. Daniel says is the opinion of this
observer is true. But the other hand lot of it seems
unwarraned
Mr. Daniel is right in his contention that Joe Louis is
retiring champion Louis is that in the sense that he
elects spend his outofheng time off the streets and
out of night clubs and public dance halls than be
primrose path
do not agree with Mr.. Daniel that Negro champion
should not be retiring think that especially in of
live strict and exemplary lfe sacrificing the amusement
spots usually requented by of pleasure
seekers and their bacchanaian delights
think Louis has used excellent taste in retiring and
mixing Immediately after most of his fights if he isn't
200 tired he will form line of march with his handlers
down the ammeed thoroughares and greet his many admir-
ers, proceeding to reputable night club long enough
to his respects and the show. Then he departs
cutting off the afterdar spots from his program until aft
another bout
However the champion does sally out to the public links
regularly and play golf He goes horseback riding and
tends played by his favore team, the Detroit
Tigers, when not in training the crowd again at
some OF his wtes style show appearances He appears
referee in various towns charity cards largely to
good turn for the unfortunate and his friends and
wOrshpperS. He has been much public figure with
his sOftba team the Brown Bombers playing first base
on the team for a while.
At his training camp despite the fact that he is by
nature not talkative type (Which consider asset)
Louis has been courteous and far from recent
permen.
In fact it is difficult for the column to see how he could
live ideal and exemplary life. If Mr.. Daniel had
been absolutely fair in his article he would have cr
cized JOes habits of living without suggesting how instead
he thinks the champion should conduct hmse-grantng
that Louis would hardly have Mr. Daniel live his life for
him.
Back in the old days champion was associated with
beer saloons and rbady much with the prize ring 1t
thing for characters like John L. Sullivan
and Bob Ftzsmmos to be in saloon pool
ordering drinks for the house.
Jack Johnson affected great deal by the example
of these predecessors. appealed to his too exalted
fancy to the straghtletter T and he literally went to
town.
Times have changed The public saloons-as such
have and folk those in pugstc endeavors have
become civilized. Tony Gaento is of the few
frequently associated with the old tendencies and most of
it is and has been bayhoo rather than fact The trend
is toward culture exemplfied by such Gene Tun
ney, Jimmy Braddock Lou Nova, and other clean white
heavyweight fighters of the later period Louis has been
affected by the pattern of the time and the urgent necess
for aonng for the arOcous mistakes of his predecessor
Jack Johnson) the heavyweight throne
The fact that Louis is such striking contrast to John
explains the laterS many niggardy attempts to BELT
tie the Brown Bomber This is accenuated by the fact
that there widespread tendency to rate Louis greater
than "Lfl Arthur" This sort of purple envy is
thing But how much finer if old Jack Johnson had TAX
paternal racial and counaelng attitude toward YOUNG
II would have his stock By leaps and bounds