The Ely miner., 1943-09-02

Jack Dempsey its beginning Tor the
sake of physical de-
velopment, or as part of war train
ing. This isn't true. Sport came
directly from religion.
In the pre-dawn age of man GER
tain forms of spiritual exercises
came along. These were accompan-
led by certain phases where masses
of people swayed, stamped and
jumped to give vent to their emo
tions.
''It was from these demonstra-
tions that sport began, where run
ming, jumping, wrestling and box
ing were undoubtedly on the pri-
mordial list. Religious pageants
were soon blended with sporting con-
tests in the worship of early gods"
What Athlete Means
"How many know" our expert
continued, ''just what athlete first
meant?
''It indicated training and compe-
tition in preparation for war. Early
Greeks were smart enough to dis
cover that good boxers, wrestlers,
runners and jumpers made the best
soldiers. Sport gave them an edge
in speed, stamina, quickness, and
all refexes needed for action.
"Hitler used the Greek idea in get
ting ready for this war.
"He began training not a few
thousands, but actually millions of
boys and young men over ten years
ago. Up to 1886, Germany had al
ways been the biggest Olympic flop,
winning practically nothing. But
seven years ago that country had
one of the strongest all-arOund
Olympic teams ever sent into COM
petition. And in addition to the
team itself, there were several mill
lion others who had come into far
better physical shape for the game
of war;"
I happened to be at the 1886 Olym-
pic show in Berlin. Before this time
Germany had gone in largely for
mass calisthenics.
But some time before that year
the Germans largely discarded cal
isthenic drills for competitive sport
soccer, football, rowing, boxing,
running, jumping and hard riding,
where not just few stars were fea-
tured, but the vast majority of those
athletes between IL and 81 were sent
into hard training.
1t was this, plus her hard me-
chanical strength, that gave Ger
many her terrific army in 1941.
Il Lesson to FOlLOtU
This is lesson the United States
can use-sport, competitive athlet-
ic exercises for the millions in place
of the few.
We need far greater all-around
development of those youngsters
ranging from IL to 20, where mil
lions today get little chance to play
developing games.
As Jack Dempsey told me at his
coast guard headquarters, "Of the
5000 men am trying to help train,
less than thousand have played
any games, boxed, wrestled, or in
dulged in football or baseball. Nat
urally, they are clumsy, awkward,
slow, and lacking in confidence at
the start.
"You should see the difference
just few weeks means when they
find out that punch on the chin or
head-hold doesn't kill them, also
when they learn to throw a few
punches on their own. 1t never oc-
Cured to me before what big part
of our young population never had
a chance to get physically and men,
tally equipped for contest games."
Some one in authority should 60
to work along these lines.
Both army and navy could stand
more competitive sport than they
are getting today.
Certainly the kids from IL or Is
up to 18 can. This is one of the
reasons why navy's decision to keep
football going was a fine thing for
both navy and the country at large.
Secretary Stimson has forbidden
men in the army colleges to engage
in any intermural sport.
We still believe the army made a
serious mistake in stopping football
in spite of the fact that over 90
per cent of its higher officers were
strongly in favor of navy's plan.
The Impossible Spot
There are any number of impos-
sible spots in racing, but I can give
you the top one-"Don't buy or own
a race horse"
This reflection came to me while
discussing the big yearling sale that
was held at Keeneland in Lexing-
ton, KY, few weeks ago.
There are two good reasons:
One is that the odds are 80 to 1
you'll never make a quarter, but
will be likely to lose important cash.
The second is that you will soon
be losing your friends.
Only a few horses out of many
thousands ever break even.
If you own a horse all friends and
acquaintances come up and ask:
'sHow about it? Can he win today?"
As rule the owner hasn't the
slightest idea unless his horse hap
pens to be Count Fleet, or few
others who are odds-on.
He tells you not to bet on the
horse-and the horse wins.
So he is promptly put down as a
crook, trying to keep the odds up.
He tells you to bet on the horse
and the horse loses. So he is dumb
er than an iron OK.