Show I Ir Y P CE S SEVERAL EVERAL time old-time ball players have suggested that the public at large should not judge Hank Greenberg in the same light as some of the other servicemen ex-servicemen who have returned to make good Two of those mentioned were Ferriss Fer- Fer riss and Benton Remember one of these said Ferriss and Benton hart hail a chance to play a lot of baseball before they were released from service Any num num- number number 4 r ber of star ball ballplayers ballplayers players have been r t playing on army or orna ory y na navy vy teams But Greenberg has played practically no baseball fo for over four years That's a long gap Hank Dank Greenberg I recall that old P Pete Pet e t e Alexander came back from the to keep on going at a winning clip but old Pete was only out of the game a year or less It will be remarkable if U Hank can start hitting home runs right away Even close to his old form he could murder a lot of these pitchers now around but it will take time This brings up the old argument again regarding Joe Joo Louis Joe has been away over three years But after alter all aU he be has had the chance to box In a a. long list of exhibitions for various camps and hospitals This isn't the same as actual ring fighting righting but at least it has given the thc heavyweight champion a chance to keep his Ws hand In The same is true of Billy Conn They probably wont won't be what they used to be but be-but but they can still get back into pretty fair boxing and punching form if they happen to get out before too long With the heavy play both army and navy are now making on the side of sport for servicemen in Europe Europe Europe Eu Eu- rope and the Pacific their chances for any sudden exit are none too warm Army and navy have made plans to get all the coaches and trainers they can collect and to build up as many star all contests as they can find find especially especially in the way of boxIng boxing box box- ing jag baseball and footbalL These are the three top sports that carry the leading soldier and sailor appeal ap ap- peal although basketball also has hu hasa hua a terrific call Louts Louis and Conn ConnI I asked Jimmy Johnston sage of ot the leather district how he figured Louis ouis and Conn would go after alter returning returning returning re re- re- re turning to the ring First of all he said Just tell me when they are going to get out That's important If It it takes much longer Id I'd say some tough young heavyweight soldier will come along who wont won't be afraid to tear in and punch He will also be younger and tougher No I dont don't know who he will be But with all the boxing training hundreds of thousands of these kids have had a few of them are sure to learn a lot and to have what It takes Just what does it take I asked Very cry simple the sage said To know how to box to know how to punch to be he able to take a punch You see thousands of 01 kids who might have been good fighters never had a chance to get any instruction before They never had a chance coonce to todo todo todo do any boxing The big majority had no chance to be a a. champion anyway But there must be many others oUters who are sure to move far up This goes for lor every class Some of our best ring fighters have been teaching thousands of these younger men It is for this reason that I think well we'll get Iet most of our oar ring champions after the war out of this group In this connection a friend of Joe JoeLouis JoeLouis JoeLouis Louis tells me that the heavyweight loader lander now has his golf gOIl game down into the low and expects to hold holda a big July tournament over one of Detroit's municipal courses It is much easier to get Louis to talk about golf gall and the golf goll swing than it Is to lure many words from him about boxing or the heavyweight championship Also Bowman Milligan manager of Beau Jack reports that while the lightweights lightweight's knee la is still bothering bothering bothering bother bother- ing him he is winning camp fights by quick knockouts Beau Jacks Jack's present weight is over pounds so he will have l his s share of trouble training himself back into the lightweight division But it wont won't be any great trouble in most cases to remove surplus flesh The big gamble will be what the returning veteran can do with the flesh bone and sinew he has left once he is down to weight And there will be a flock fiock of at different answers an to this problem Al Bentons Benton's Case There is for instance the case of Al Benton of at the Tigers Al AI is 11 6 tl feet 4 4 pounds age 32 He served two years in the navy Many people will refer to his record as proof that service in the armed forces does not affect a players player's ability but Benton spent all his time at Norman Okla had the position of athletic director and about all he did was pitch He had time to improve his curve ball balland balland balland and his slider his main pitch today Is this slider in fact |