Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-06
WIN, LOSE OR
OKAW By FRANCIS s1ANN
With Malice Toward None

grees of integrity Many unmitigated liars and pests
few like Harry Mende who died who hated
obituaries This in the nature of obituary. chiefly
it is intended show there two sides press
agenry.
He scarcely tall fat at-footed and generous
The man in the street wouldn't know Harry Mende although
for years much of boxing the papers
coast to coast had been aned Harry At the time of his
death he attached to the International Boxing Club
Years ago. when John Chapman retired the premier
xday bike promoter Mende who his press agent
his place Could there be who loved play
and watch sixday bike Mendel And when
the xday bike died after the the roaring 20s
he never ceased to mourn.
But bike racing will back in this country"
Harry admitted long 1T sport the
grants, especially those fresh off the boat The Italians
SWedes French BeganS and CzchS knew nothing of base
ball and American football But bike racing they under
sderstood and could buy cheap ticket
Madison Square Garden at hour day night and root
sfor his countrymen until it time to go to work"
SO FOR RECREATION Mendel plotted his horse parayS
went to the track when he wasn't working the scratch
TO indulge ne worked for Mike Jacobs and later Jim Norris
pavng the way boxing writer's the training camps and
suggesting the angles that could be built in the papers
One of the most famous fight trainers of the Ray
Arcel who became known the meat man" because he
worked in the corners of of Joe Louis victims In
Louis heyday few could stand him. But there
always outside chance and the fateS kind those
underdogs wanted the possible attention
Mendel was good publcist that he rarely worked
with winning fighter The IBC hrewdly planted him in the
camp of the ongshot and Harys little white lies easily
forgiven by the press welcomed He given Harry
kid Matthews before the Rocky Marcano fight for
Stance Ditto Archie Moore and, blimey Don Cockel
When the Britisher Cockell training the West
Coast Mendel mailed big postcards showing closeup
Marcanos split photo taken minutes after the
Ezzard Charles fight
Marciano easy" Harry wrote on each in longhand
f"and Cockel is very tough"
WAS THIS DISHONEST? Not strictly. Rocky had been
cut frequently. AS for Cockel Mendel didn't say he was
good fighter Just tough must been because
lacking bombs own Cocke took all Marcianos for
eight rounds
Mendel may have died without an enemy, probably be-
he like everybody At least Harry never
was heard to speak i'll of person, Jockey who
loused up horse for him In effort to sell tickets Mende
often wrote from the enemy camp that Marciano crude
and unimaginave and beeder Rocky ofense
Instead he acknowledged Mendels analysis and his
firm friend
the days he was publicizing Louis opponents
Harrys favore target the Brown Bombers inability
to take stiff punch to the head. Two lesser than
Louis and Mende might have become enemies On the
ary they too we're friends and this bond always gathed
Mendel who proudly remembers time when he travel
ing with Louis exhibition tour.
They arrived very early morning in Detroit and
there redcaps at the railroad station 1t
long walk from their Pullman to the taxi stand and Mende
had suffered heart attack not long before Louis picked
world for redcap" Harry later marveed.
Imagine having the heavyweight champion Of the
world for redcap," Harry later marveled
MOST MEN WHO WORK in cities would welcome a
places like Spectator Grossngers Kutchners Madame
BeyS or Pompton Lakes in the lush rolling hills of upstate
New York or New Jersey Mende dreaded it. The forests
Z and lakes and frogs and crickets not for him
There was never more delightful place for fighter
to train than North Adams Mass, where Archie Moore
prepped for Macano 1t sleepy picturesque nestled
In the Green Mountains Harrys headquarters large
inn surrounded by shade The floors stone and
the cuisine excellent
Harry happy only when the daily press contingent
arrived from New York when he could and dine the
newSmen and talk about Belmont and jamaica After the
workout the mob would depart and Mendel would be
lonely He missed the horns and subway and
Broadways lights
MENDEL AND MOORE made incompatible team So
much copy was filed out Of North Adams that Marciano
the champion was almost forgotten AS result it
whoppng gate and both fighters got fat. Harry
restrained IN his admiration for Moore a con man.
4 wouldn't be surprised If Archie sold the Mohawk
Trail TO somebody before leave" he said one day
few days later visitor who heard OF Mendels re-
mark asked Harry If Moore had sold the Trail yet.
is miSS.rg'