Evening star., 1963-01-30
SEGH At LARGE
Old Arch Recalls
The Big Moments
BY MORRIS SIEGEL

BY MORRIS SlEGEL
BREAKFAST IN ST LOUIS the other morning con-
sisted Of orange juice Clipped beef coffee and course
the check Not continental but ntercontnenta 1t in
cluded Archie Moore la carte.
Moore is light eater and heavy talker, although
there have been times when the old Mongoose was both
He out there along with other travelling troops pick
hunk of merchandise rendered him by the ST. Louis base
ball writer's
The dinner was integrated to the point where they
cited boxers and football players along with the baseball
breed 1t easily of the seasons most charitable
events Even Sonny Liston honored.
Lston celebrated in abSentia. Had there been
similar arrangement in Chicago last September Floyd Pat
terson would still be heavyweight champion the
ming Sonny was asked to be in ST. Louis where his ref
ormation supposedly started, Liston guest of the
City Of Philadelphia 1t first time there for him.
but on this trip he was in PhiLy voluntarily.
MAURY WILLS, RALPH TERRY, Stan Musial and
lesser members of the sporting set who spend the winter
touching few bases in the banquet league also pres
ent Confronted by this of talent there nothing
this circuit rider could do to louise up the event
Archie, who less got his start in St. Louis
cited for meritorous service to sports Ills selection
tainy met with the approval of Cassius rcelus Clay,
who is where he is today chiefly because OF 'ourround
job on Moore last October
That CaSsius" Archie smiled Hes not e!4. aed me
yet he amt bigger taker than he is fighter-sN this
stuff about calling the round he whips Doug Jones like
he he'll do then got to tip my hat to him and say
he's ready for LiSton But not until then"
ARCHIE HIMSELF BROUGHT up the next matter
the sensitive subject of how the Mongoose might have
gone off the high diving board against Clay Some say
flopped for Clay" he said, ''but didn't He can hurt
man"
But Archie wasn't mad at Clay On the contrary, he
likes the Great Mouhpece Before he's through" 46
yearod vet of 26 years of fighting predicted "he might
make a contribution to boxing"
Arche'S fondness for Clay isn't accidental, although
there may be other aspects it. There's he might
have small piece of Clay
when Clay first to Los Angeles he told some
people he wanted to take his trainer adviser
and part owner" Archie mused But at the time wasn't
ready wanted to round out my spectac-
ula fashion But wasn't it awful nice of that boy wanting
to come study at the feet Of the Mongooe hmse2 That
fattered me-"
ARCHIE ISN'T SCOUTING around for opponents al
though he claims he's $5OOOOO worth of opposition Just
waiting to tangle with him. ANY time American fighter
gets licked there's always European who wants piece
of him next" he said Now of 'em want piece of
the Mongoose since that Clay bit"
Currently Archie is hunting around for writing pal
of which he has slew to my biog" as he puts it. His
manager, crafty Doc Kearns has his "biog due 1t
has wonderful title perfectly appropriate Larceny Is
Wonderful Thing Kearns testified before the Kefauver
Committee spell ago along the lines of his book title
The same committee seized by earlier spell Of
chronic nvestgatonis also had talked with Casey STEM
gel about matters not pertaining complicated financial
attractions. stengel doubetak perfect syntax
pared to Kearns oratorical stros through nostalgia
THE OLD MoNGoosE" just might be the title of
Archies book He likes the In fact he gave it to
himself In his long association with the fistfghting busi-
ness Archie said he thinks he's the only presiding
who studied the habits natural enemies in the ami
NAL field who fight the death" 1t gave Arch better
understanding of the racket he in.
He lkens himself to the Mongoose, he continued, be-
cause "the Mongoose is sly he gets hold you and
won't let He dees tradition like He strikes more
swiftly than the cobra, his natural enemy"
The old Mongoose's category of other animals who
fight to death include the pit bulldog the bull and the
gamecock Like himself Arch says they've all got CUTS
they born fighters"
WHILE HE WAS "woofing down" a bowl of dry cereal.
the Mongoose shadow boxing through his checkered
career, pausing here and there for a highlight.
Here in st. Louis in 1852 the ght-heavyweight
title from Joey Maxim but it wasn't thrill always knew
could do it if just got the chance 1t anti-cli-
max" Then he waxed philosophical for moment. ITO
fighting is the greatest expression of minority
ber desire for freedom It's the only way he had open to
him for years"
The chance to grab the heavyweight championship
from Rocky Marcano nine years ago. ranks No / in
Moores personal participation in that desire for free
DOM Marcano finally tagged Moore in the ninth But
$1,000 people in Yankee Stadium him get the chance
and that's what pleased Moore He eated he wired
Marcano the next day. Enjoyed that bit last night Let's
do it again soon."
There blood Moore's moon face that night but
in his analysis Rocky hurt He went right
to bed after the fight Archie said proudly Il went party
ing, as usual"
Be 1t ever so.