The guardian., 1952-01-26

- JOG LOOAOs
Sa 80 -
JOE LOUIS, in his now his
toric contest against the Profess
sional Golfers Association, has
again proven to all Americans
he is still a great champion.
Some experts rate JACK DEMP-
SEY over Louis. And Dempsey
was great. But Jack fought
mostly for individual glory while
Joe has had to fight for his en-
tire race. Dempsey could re-
tire but Joe can never stop
punching. And by such degree,
Louis is a greater champion.
&& 80 ~
GENE SARAZAN, who in 1888,
won his third PGA champion
ship (also won the British Open
in 1882 and won and tied for
the U. S. Open in other years,
represented the paleface PGA
players who backed Louis. In
Dec, 1851, sarazan wrote in
Golf World, II do not go along
with the PGA ban against col
ored golfers. There should
be no ban in the Los Angeles
Open" Other PGA player
agreed with Gene.
RR ~ nS
LLOYD MANGRUM, the south
ern Texas PGA veteran, writing
in the same magazine last year,
disclosed the startling fact, II
have been long fighting for the
rights Of qualified colored golf
ers. am now trying to get the
PGA to name Rhodes and Spiller
and a couple of other approved
pl ayers. This discrimination
should not exist in the PGA."
S% ~ -
so MAJOR LEAGUE Golf has
toppled its "color line" in 1852
and it came about through the
attitude and action (unanimous)
of paleface players as we'll as
colored, all led by Joe Louis, an
American Of character and In
spring respect, who was per-
haps born to make and hold
friends among many races, ma
tionalities and creeds. A true
champion.
EDDIE DUG G E r, another
champion, last week became the
first BOSTON POST sports-fan-
voted colored athlete to make
the New England track Hall of
Fame. Many readers know Ed
die or have seen him in action.
He is a native product from
Medford but Eddie represented
everybody, his city, his state,
nation. all nationalities, His
vote came from every race, a
grand tribute to his modest
craftsmanship and great record.
- && 80
BOSTON TRACK fans who
enioved the recent KC Garden
meet and will soon witness the
annual BAA classic, will recall
Eddie skimming the hurdles,
with repeated triumphs for BoS-
+o,,, AGAINST the best in the ma
tion as well as some from abroad.
In one year Eddie won "a dit-
ferent titles. He equalled the
worlds record and only war
cheated him from the Olympics.
His name with many others will
grace Boston Garden for gen
erationS to come.
R@ ~ -
HALL OF FAME honors GER
tainly belong to many of our
athletes. white and colored, who,
in their way, have done so much
to erase color and religious
prejudice in this country In
track Eddie Dugger has been
chosen as Ned Gourdin and
others will be chosen in coming
polls. In baseball I would choose
Nose Sisco, Jackman and 9TH
ers. Certainly Bill Lewis belongs
on the football roster. Many
deserve such honor.
NOBODY CAN predict how
some originally obscure colored
youth like Eddie Dugger or Joe
Louis may again someday rise
to fame. and even more import
ant. create a wide inter-racial
goodwill to help our nation.
How many Boston Amateur box
ing fans realized the import
ance of Joe Louis when he came
to the Garden and lost a de-
batable decision to some anna
teur now forgotten? The les
son? Give each man a chance.
Forget race.