The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-10-05
SPORTS of TINES
Getting your
moneys wOrth
by Lou Fabro

Fight fans who crowded 26o major theaters across the
nation and those who elbowed their way into Chicago's Co
miskey Park to witness what was billed as an intriguing
boxer VS.. slugger bout" found very little to be intrigued
about last week.
They hardly got settled in their seats when the world
heavyweight title battle between moody Floyd Patterson
and bad boy Sonny Liston came to a lightning-fast fin
ish - in two minutes and six seconds of the first round to
be exact.
FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF WATCHING Liston win
the heavyweight crown from Patterson in 126 seconds, in
person fans in Chicago sheled out $40, $50, $50, $50 or
S100-depending on the location of their seats. Theater
watchers - at least those in Columbus - torked over
$40.
These are steep prices. Considering how swiftly the
bout was decided, fans hardly got their moneys worth. And
many said as much. In comparison, a ticket to watch Woody
Hayes much-maligned grind-t-out style football is a steal
at $3.50 a ticket.
Fight fans. however, are very much aware that a box
ing bout can end any time between the first and 18th round
and so they really can't kick over the length OF the hgnt.
And in some distant future, they can impress friends and
relatives by telling them they saw the fight in which Sonny
Liston took Floyd Patterson in two minutes and six seconds
of the first round.
THE SPORTS WORLD, MEANWHILE, has a new but
unpopular heavyweight champion. Listens unpopularity, of
course, stems from the fact that he served a prison sentence
for armed robbery and, since his release, has had a series
of minor brushes with the law.
Listens police record can't be denied but the sugges-
ton that because of it he will cast a dirty shadow on pro-
fessional boxing seems a bit ludicrous.
Prizefighting has been so riddled by hoodlumism, gang
StcTlSTn, likes ana ring brutality lI 81 ldly years tH"' -
can hardly claim to have any kind Of responsibility to pro-
tect-especialy from a single man.
IT'S HOPED, HOWEVER, THAI LISTON will be able
to keep on the straight and narrow and will resist any at
tempts Of control by shady characters. With a champion"
ship title, he does have a sense Of direction.
He also has plenty Of help. The new champion got INTO
prize fighting through the efforts OF a Catholic priest VINO
helped rehabiitate him in prison. He's managed by Jack
Nilon, a reputable businessman who has been cleared by the
FBI for government work and who was recommended TO
Liston by a Jesuit priest. Nion also has a brother VINO IN
the religious life.
Home run hitting was overshadowed somewhat this
past baseball season by the supposedly dead art OF base
stealing. II was a refreshing experience.
MAURY WILLS HAS MADE BASE STEALING seem
perhaps baseball managers will employ this exciting tactic
even more. Baseball needs more action to hold spectator in
terest and the fashy Los Angeles Dodger shortstop has
shown how to do 1t.
An interesting footnote to Wills base path heroics con-
Germs the modern baseball record Of 96 thefts piled up by
Tv Cobb of the Detroit Tigers in 1915. Wills stole his 95th
base in game 154 and swiped Nos. SO and 81 in his 156th
game.
Cobb stole his oath in game 154. Since there were two
tie games that season, Cobb played two extra games IN
which he stole two more bases for his 96 total.
BASEBALL COMMISSIONERS FORD Prick had rul-
ed earlier that Wills would have to steal 81 bases in l54 de-
cisions Ia break Cobb's official record. The tie games, ne
noted are not considered decisions. Somehow, this doesn't
seem to be a fair ruling. A tie game may not be a decision
but all hits, errors, stolen bases, etc, 90 into the books Ana
Cobb had two extra games to make SO.