Evening star., 1941-12-21
Californian Is Only
One 10 Get More
Than Expenses
Jacobs Is Hard Boiled
MoeuI Who Is Quiet
About His Charities
BY GAYLE TALBOT,
Wide World Sports Writer.

NEW YORK, Dec. 20.-With Joe
Louis and Buddy Baer safely in
stalled in their rural training quar-
ters. Promoter Mike Jacobs is be-
ginning to work up an impressive
head of steam over the charity battle
he is engineering between the ebon
champion and the tall Californian
at Madison Square Garden the
night of January 9.
Orders for choice seats at $50
copy are pouring into Mikes Broad
way Office and ii appears likely the
fund for the relief of naval families
will receive check for more than
100000 when the excitement sub
sides. The only other beneficiary
will be Baer. with Louis receiving his
training expenses.
There amt been anything like it
since the cid days said Jacobs i'm
pressively, referring to his happy as
sociation with the late Tex Rickard
back in the era of million dollar
fight gates. You ought to see the
names we're getting. We're getting
names so big they amt even III
Who's Who.
Compares 1t to Opera.
ITS going to look like opening
night at the opera. the way societys
buyin' tickets. You know-like that
golden horseshoe they got down
there. Half of them won't know
which is Louis. but their money is
okay Their checks don't bounce
Mike was asked if he would pre-
fer that the members OF the working
press dust off their dinner jackets
for the occasion. and after due con-
sideration he said
No. it would spoil the at
mosphere.'
Some have professed to see an in
congruity in Mixes enthusiasm
about a money-making venture in
which he does not mean to share,
but those who know the old ticket
on the level. He is a tough man
about dollar, ordinarily, and his
rivals in the promoting business
have accused him Of keeping the
top fighters in a form of bondage.
Yet he has another side so soft that
mostly he keeps 1t secret.
Has Cared for Orphans.
ChildleSs themselves. Mike and
Mrs. Jacobs have reared something
like % children. Some were or
phans-othe1s were children of par
ents who were i'll or otherwise un-
able to support them. Some of those
brought up in Mixes home now are
married and have offspring of their
own. There are five kids romping
around Mikes fabulous estate over
in New Jersey now
Loaded them all in the car and
took them into town to get ready
for school the other day" Mike VOL
unteered in one of his rare but
proud references to the youngsters.
Cost me nearly s100. That's lot
of dough"
As a matter of fact. 500 isn't
even pocket money to Jacobs He is
conceded TO be a wealthy man,
though he swears with every other
breath that he's going to get rid
of it before he dies"
Il amt going to leave a lot of
dough for people to fight over" he
grumbles. Tex had the right idea.
He had close to a million dollars
a year before he died. and he said
he was going to spend it all. He
came mighty near doing it, too"
Fond of His Gardens.
Next to the children, Mike is
fondest of the flowers and vege-
tables and other products are given
away. Nothing ever is sold.
Though Mike employs squad of
expert gardeners. he fancies him
self as top hand in the field and
potters around contentedly when he
is at home, no doubt getting in the
wav of the hired help.
There isn't anything We can't
raise" he challenges. Il got garden
ers that can raise any flower or rose
you ever heard of. Why, we've got
whole trees of roses that have to be
dug up every winter and buried
We've got plants there amt any
others like them in the country"