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Show QNE of the high spots In this w sporting existence is that an argument can run along for over 40 years and still remain unsettled. We discovered this in quoting Doc Kearns, Jack Dempsey's former manager, to the effect that Bob Fitzsimmons weighed 157 pounds the day he faced Jim Corbett, back In 1897. Doc has many supporters In this argument, but Just as many who di agree, claiming that Fitz wobbled the scales at 177 before the Carson City party. Both sides will swear to their side of the debate. Jim Corbett, before he died, told me that he had a private pri-vate checker on hand, who reported Fitz at 177. Fitz had the legs Grantland Rice of a welterweight and the arms and body of a big heavyweight. He was tough to guess. A short while ago a good bunch threw a small party for Barney Ross. Benny Leonard, one of the all-time tops, was referred to at a "Philadelphia lightweight." "What" asked one of the younger element, "is a Philadelphia lightweight?" light-weight?" A Philadelphia lightweight used te le whatever you weighed, ao long s the scales only registered 138 pounds. That part ef It could be easily handled through the proper use ef chewing gum, or glue or oth er skillful devices. An Important Factor We see where Beau Jack hat been advised to take a rest after losing stamina from a combination of lighter light-er eating and overwork in the desire de-sire to keep his weight down. Weight-making is an important factor in every game boxing, horse racing, baseball, football and other sports. But it goes far beyond that. It is something that affects the majority ma-jority of all people beyond the age of 21. It is something that doesn't belong to the athlete alone. The greatest weight defter in sport was a fellow by the name of Bab Ruth. The Babe defied most conventions con-ventions and most rules of life. He was the greatest of all the exceptions. excep-tions. "Here's a funny thing," he told me a little while back. "They were always after me about keeping down my weight, which at that time, in the 1928s, was around 230. Ten remember re-member the year I bit those 60 home runs? Too know what 1 weighed that year? Just 253 pounds. I had that much extra hulk and bulk to put hack ef my awing." That might have worked for the astonishing Babe, but it would have been destruction for the average ox normal citizen. The Argument We were not present when Corbett Cor-bett and Ruby Robert met at Carson Car-son City those 48 years ago. But we've always doubted that Fitz won that title at 157 pounds, three pounds under the middleweight limit There was nothing that made Jim Corbett madder than to be given these weight figures. It was tough enough to lose, but much tougher to lose to a light middleweight A year or two later Fits was fighting fight-ing around 177 pounds. But outside of his skinny legs, he was built on the order of a strong 190-pounder from the waist op. For all that the freckled Cornish-man, Cornish-man, as both a boxer and a puncher, was one ef the top fighters of all-time. all-time. He was on beyond 35 when Jim Jeffries stopped him, well beyond be-yond his prime. Pound for pound, I'll still nomi- nate Harry Greb. Pace Raters Pace-rating is a distinct science In any game. Years ago, I recall the tall and willowy Robert Moses Grove facing the Yankees. The big left-hander struck out six or seven of the first nine Yankees that came to bat He had more smoke than a burning oil well. He put everything he had lute every ball he threw. Before the end of the sixth lantag, Lefty was oa his way to the cooling showers, taking a tired arm along the melancholy route. Counting his baseball experience in Baltimore and Philadelphia, It took Grove eight years te learn the correct way te conserve his left arm. This was ln 1928 when he won 24 games and lost only 8. In 131 he won 31 and lost only 4, one ef the greatest ef an major-league pitching pitch-ing years. No pitcher knew better than Christy Mathewson hew to. rate himself when he was winning ever SO games a year and saving 8 or 10 others ln relief work. Also, Cyrus Dentoa Young, the Paoll Phenom. "I had four different deliveries," Cy told me once, "and I used to mix 'em up te save my arm." Old Cy oaly won 111 ball games in 23 lessons. Matty had no Interest in my earned run record. After getting get-ting the Jump, Big Six would then tarn part of the game ,ever to his mtfleiaers. It was a small differ-ince, differ-ince, of course, with the deader ban. |