Evening star., 1946-09-24

MT. JACOBS mas hehfy McLemore.
proved through the years that he
has about as much need for advice
as Joe Stain has for a title, but ]
wanted to hand him some anyway
I wanted to advise him to quit look
ing in the pugilistic field for oppo-
nents for Joe Louis.
Mr.. Jacobs seems determined al
ways to have Joe Louis defend his
heavyweight title against some one
who has chosen the ring as a Ca
reer. After % unsuccessful searchers
one would think that Mr.. Jacobs
would be discouraged But no. When
Louis defends his title for the Oath
time next February the chances
are that his opponent will be a
gentleman who breathes heavily
through his nose, wears califiower
ears and has spent the best years
of his youth running up and down
roads and whacking stuffed
leather bag with his fists.
Should Look Further AfieId.
Why doesn't Mr.. Jacobs look fur
ther (or farther afleld for some
one to tangle with the heavyweight
champion? Why doesn't he invade
the field of medicine. of law, of bank
clerking, of dentistry, of poultry
raising of-well of anything? Could
any man chosen from these lines of
endeavor, or of any other lines that
you can name, do much worse than
professional pugilists have done
against the Brown Bomber? I know
catnip raiser who could do as well
as Billy Conn did, and, living three
doors south of me, is retired wrap
per of yeast cakes who could pro-
vide as much opposition as did Tami
Mauriello. I would like Mr.. Jacobs,
when he starts looking around for
Joe's next victim, to resort to the
phone book. Let him pick up the
Manhattan directory, open a page
and choose name at random. The
name of the man his finger lights
on will be the next challenger.
Say his finger lands on Runkus
Arthur j. Mr.. Runkus is informed
that. come February 10, he will fight
Joe Louis for the heavyweight title
Mr.. Runkus, just few days shy of
his 40th birthday, married, and the
loving father of three adorable chill
dren, will object, naturally. He will
say that he is fern transplanter,
hasn't fought since some one stole
his cap in the third grade. weighs
but lat pounds stripped at Liggett' S
and is behind in his insurance. He
will argue that not only does he
lack the necessary physical qualifi-
cations to fight Louis but that he
cannot afford to take time off from
his work to make an attempt at
training.
Size Means Nothing.
Mr. Jacobs can calm him on all
scores. Size means nothing to Louis
He toppled the towering Camera
and the barnlike Baers, Max and
Buddy, Just as easily as he did the
much smaller Conns and Pastors
Mr.. Runkus will make enough out
of the fight to pay up all his in
surance and have enough left over
to see to it that all the little Runk-
uses learn a trade. And, he won't
have to train. 1t has now become
apparent that men who train for
Louis are just wasting their time
The long runs over the wooded
hillside, the putting and snorting
against sparring partners, the knee
bends, the elbow jerks. the stomach
rolls, the special diet and the good
sleep in the clear air, far from the
city. are good for nothing.
Mr.. Jacobs can assure Mr.. Runkus
that he can go right on about his
business Of fern transplanting until
about z pm. of the evening of the
fight. He then can come to the
Yankee Stadium wearing his busi-
ness suit and see the preliminary
bouts from a ringside seat. Fifteen
minutes before the main 60 he can
retire to the dressing room, slip into
pair of purple or black trunks
make a last-second call to his wife
and mother, and then enter the
ring. Once inside the ropes, he
can't possibly do much worse than
Joe's other opponents. He can swing
wildly and then get the daylights
knocked out Of him. Two hours
later, wearing the last thing in
bandages, and with a check for
$75 900 or more in his kick, he can
go to sleep in his own bed.
If Mr.. Runkus doesn't want the
job, I'll take it. AS a matter of
fact, if the chance came to me I
would only be sorry that I had but
one life to give for the challenger's
cut of a heavyweight fight.
Mr.. Jacobs. my number is 1887
ring two. I weigh 146. have a good
right hand. and know how to talk
to reporters.
Distributed by MrEeurht syrdicate Jrc ,