Evening star., 1952-10-29

look at Jeffres" whichever popped
try vain in 1910 regain the heavyweight
boxing had vacated about five years
Johnson too much for him." Willie recalling. "If
kept going I'd eventually bump into somebody who
much for me- too
THE LITTLE MAN. who looks more like clergyman than
the greatest artist time
championship in 1905 at the of 49, his 64pus
outstayed all the boxing champions Tommy
Charles; all the golf champions Smith
Jerry TraVerS all the ecetera He was world champion when
Ty Cobb rookie and before Johnny Hayes his
orable Olympic marathon from Dorando
he saying, is in better position to spend
time at his favore hobbywatchng sporting events Taking
in the big football and baseball roofing his hockey
favorites comparing Rocky Marciano with Dempsey and
Jefries and the other heavyweight champions.
Even if the Wonder of yeseryear not the worlds
greatest biardist retired he would be gentleman treat
moreover an eyewitness to many OF the greater spctaces OF
the last half century Jack Dempsey? The best Willie
Next Jeries Louis Johnson and Gene Tunney Just like
that because he saw them all.
HOPPE SAW JOHNSON and Mathewson and Chesbro and
Kid Nichols and all the other great pitchers not to overlook
Ed Walsh. The best Johnson" Id say and then Matty
and Walsh in that order But who what think? I'm
just fellow with billiard cue"
But he knows knew all of the greats of the half
century, Frank Goch and Stranger Lewis and Earl Craddok
and Joe Stece the wresterS Hans Wagner and Ty Cobb
and Joe Jackson and Hal Chase Weismuler of swimming
fame Tod Sloan and Earl Sande of the track "You
know what miss?" he asking "The old cycling events
Those sitting in the Polo Grounds and pulling for Mccraws
Giants.
"McGraw a billiard parlor in City in 1910
and 1911 about that time. managed for him. When
wasn't in the paror at the ball park Willie almost
chain smoking he talked He's apparently catching
his tobacco intake since his retirement because when he
the world champion when challenging for it when
he temporarily dehroned he rarely smoking and
almost never drinking
HOPPE is PHILOSOPHICAL about the decline of cycling
of his pet sports and also about that in which he exceled
billiards "Ths different age he sghs "Now there's
racing golf pro football plus baseball and
basketball There's televon and RADIO which biadistS
didn't the old
Young people these days don't want spend the minimum
of 10 years takes become billiards champion. They
from the four six hours of practice takes each
day to walk around table and angles
And kidding you have to train and abstain both"
the magic old of Hoppe brings many people
to witness his performances these days. After beat the
Frenchman Maurice Vgnaux in Paris in 1906 Willie recalls
with sgh II back to New York to defend Four thou
people bought out the place paying $25
1t paid to be champion because it winner all
basis"
That day in Paris in January 1906 when the 8yearod
Willie beat Vgnaux the Lion of Billiards. Hoppe recalls that he
hosted the shoulders of countrymen Zone
Tod Sloan, the jockey he remembers "And then let's
Eddie Foy. Sloan really great jockey I'm told
sorry him ride but he just little before
my time"
Which makes Tod Sloan very, very old timer, indeed.