The Miami times. [volume] (Miami, Fla.) 1923-current, 1949-07-23
Beating The Gun
Discussion on Ebony's Selection of Top 10 Negro
BY AL MOSES

Athletes
New York = CAMP - Just take any subject at Ran
dom and you'll find outraged group who cngs to this
that sport immortal descending upon your should
you neglect to mention his name.
In Ebony magazines August issue, SO reporters
called the nations top authorities sports voted into of
lice these athletes the 10 best of African blood Jesse
Owens. Joe Louis Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige Sam
Langford Henry Hank Armstrong Joe (Old MASTERY
Cans, Harrison (Bones) Dillard Fred (Frtz) Pollard
and Jack Johnson in that order of greatness.
Johnson's Social Side (??)
Our national "Question-and AnsWers-box' provides
me weekly with excellent coss-sectona view of what
students of the sport overa picture think about such
ratings with respect to favortes not considered in the
nomination voting. Here is line from my friend Josh
Crandall, Iowa university graduate who rarely misses
major sports event.
Since 1920 have been close to the American sports
setup Alvin and while think Ebony" did creditable
Job in selecting the 10 great athletes would think Jack
johnson for all his social drawbacks rated much higher
than tenth In the "AlAmerican ratings not based
color can't imagine John L. Sullivan losing face in this
connection the basis of his being a saloon
brawler and heavy drnker
Nat Fleisher most renowned of boxing experts rat
Cd Johnson above Joe Louis still this pury of wse men,
relegates him to post below Armstrong Was that be-
Johnson selfish in day in which the big-boxing
title meant for Negro ownership refused to meet
LangfOrd Jeanette and McVey? Then must also be
membered that prior to becoming champion, johnson
twice kayoed Sam McVea and fought Joe jeanette many
times In 1906 at Chelsea, Mass. whipped Langford Ga
wonder) who scaled mere 1876 to Johnson's 1876 in Is
rounds. merely pose this question: Al: did Johnsons
social escapades restrict the voting to the point he barely
edged out Duke" Slater alumnus of mine and man
of unimpeachahle character???
Drop Line To The Jurymen
This is not the first nor hope the last letter re-
ceved from your prolific pen, Josh Grandal Might
geSt that you exact from Dan Burley OF the
New York Age; Wendell Smith of the Pittsburgh Courier
Sam Lacey of the Afro-American All are topfight
scrbes and all members of the Ebony Magazine poll
Just For Comparisons Sake
Rarely does an athlete "all time ranking in
the matter of few brief In the Ebony poll it
should be noted that siXOfthe 10 men selected enjoyed
fairly lengthy There is Jack Johnson who boxed
than quarter of century. Then comes Sam Lang
ford the Nova Scotia wonderman called the Boston Tar
Baby, who in for almost as long. There is Satche
Paige who he born in 1907 anyway he has been
pitching over 20 years Other athletes named who played
tai 'Fritz Pollard Joe Cans the Baltimore oysershuc6
ster and Joe louis, who reigned heavyweight; king
years All the glory to the modernday performer
named: Owens, Dillard Robinson ard Armstrong.
Cycling-Basebal-Bas ketbal-Grid
In a recent magazine article Of mine titled "Real
Vanished Americans, wrote:
Isaac Murphy, called the BLACK Archer due to his
racing savvy and cheer genius in pacing thoroughbred
horse is altme" Amercan-Negro figure in the pic
turesque sports scene still feel that way IN any vote
that counts up to 10 beyond Maj Taylor was undoup
edly great athlete white black and one difficult 10
rule of any poll when limited to so small num-
Der as which admit is easy task measured by any
yardstick employs
John Henry Lloyd Andrew (Rube) Foster, Oscar
Charleston called the Black Ty Cobb" when like Jackie
Paul Robson Bill Lews( first Walter Camp All Amer1-
ca seectes) and Basketbals towering figure the late
Cumberland (.'CumO Posey Leond Club, Pittsburgh
Montice To- Delaney Rifles, etc.. haunt my memory.