The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-03-26

LIEUT.. COM. GENE TUNNEY
Not thousands :. but millions -.
to ease up or spare myself. / knew
the job it would take even to have
a chance.
eve were supposed to be a nation
of athletes. But when this war broke
out everyone was amazed to know
how unfit physically SO many mill
lions were. I didn't say thousands
I said millions. Millions and more
millions. There had been too much
ease, too much softness, too few
willing to pay the price needed to
get in shape.
"By shape or condition mean
legs and stomach, eyes and ears,
especially. To me exercises that
develop the right stomach muscles,
plus the right diet, are among the
most important factors. have new
er quit these exercises since my
last fight with Tom Heeney, years
ago. We have needed more perform
ers and fewer spectators, fewer in
proportion.
Not for Granted
"You can't take condition for
granted. It is something for which
you have to work. But as some
philosopher once said, 1T is better
to train today than to wait for to-
morrow to be outclassed.'
"We'n have to get more iron into
our bodies and our hearts and
souls"
''There is another big side to the
making of a winning competitor"
Tunney said. '"This is the mental
angle.
Gin the first place, no smart per-
son ever undertakes a rival or an
enemy. This is especially true in
war. A team can afford to lose a
football game or a pennant race.
But no nation can afford to lose a
war. That means losing every
thing. The only smart thing to do
is to figure you have strong, tough,
able opponent in the road who can
only be beaten by greater strength,
toughness and ability.
at would be interesting to know
Just how many contests have been
lost through overconfdence. I don't
believe there can be greater shock
than to find, suddenly, you are up
against more than you looked for
and not be ready for it. 1t is too
late then to have your regrets. No
one pays off on regrets.
eve are today in a much rougher,
tougher war than we expected to
meet. Too many of us have under.
rated the epemy-two enemies who
have had ten years preparation
against our ten months.
Other angles
''No winning competitor" Tunney
continued, "can afford fear or dis
couragement or sef-pity. 'Cowards,
as Shakespeare put it, die many
times before their deaths; The val
liant never taste of death but once.
There must be confidence, but not
overconfidence. There must be full
determination to win, whatever the
price to be paid.
elm my own case, worked as
hard on the mental side, on the side
of nerve control, as ever worked
on the physical when / was boxing.
For example, had full respect for
Jack Dempsey, but no fear of him.
had made up my mind in advance
that l would let him kill me before
/ would quit. I was prepared men
tally to be knocked down. But
also prepared myself to be ready
to get up again-and keep on fight
ing.
"Someone has said that each
must suffer to grow strong I be-
ieve in that theory or idea"
The Summing Up
Suppose we sum up the things
needed for the winning competitor, !"
I suggested.
Here is Lieutenant Commander
Tunney's lineup:
l. Physical fitness. The condition
needed to carry on.
2. Respect for enemy strength.
8. Full determination to pay price
for victory in all sacrifices needed.
4. Taking nothing for granted.
S. Refusal to be discouraged
against any setbacks.