Show UT COM GENE TUNNEY is afan an expert in the art or science of winning competition and this happens to be the day and time when great competitors are needed at the front or back of the front we caught the roving commander on the run to get his slant in this general direction just what we asked tunney is needed to make a winning competitor in war or work or sport af there are two main sections to inis this matter tunney said one is physic althe the other is mental certainly physical condition is a big item hem no one physically unfit can be of much help in any form of competition and we are now in the middle of the toughest competitive struggle straggle the world ever has known this is an all out scrap tor for everybody now living and it is no part of a pushover push over or a sure thing in my own case I 1 gave seven years to the matter of getting ready for jack dempsey Demp scy I 1 never tried j y 4 COM GENE TUNNEY not thousands but millions to ease up or spare myself I 1 knew the job it would take even to have a chance we were supposed to be a nation ot of athletes but when this war broke out everyone was amazed to know how unfit physically so many millions were I 1 say thousands I 1 said millions millions and more millions there had been too much ease too much softness too few willing to pay the price needed to get in shape by shape or condition I 1 mean legs and stomach eyes and ears especially to me exercises that develop the right stomach muscles plus the right diet are among the most important factors I 1 have never quit these exercises since my last fight with tom heeney years ago we have needed more performers and fewer spectators fewer in proportion not for granted you cant take condition for granted it is something for which you have to work but as some philosopher once said it is better to train today than to wait for tomorrow to be outclassed well have to get more iron into our bodies and our hearts and souls there is another big side to the making of a winning competitor tunney said this is the mental angle in the first place no smart person ever underrates underrated under rates a rival or an enemy this is especially true roe in war A team can afford to lose jos ie a football game fame or a pennant rac race e but no nation can afford to lose a war that means losing everything the only smart thing to do is to figure you have a strong tough able opponent in the road who can 01 only ily be beaten by greater strength toughness and ability it would be interesting to know just how many contests have been lost through overconfidence I 1 dont believe there can be a greater shock than to find suddenly you are up against more than you looked for and not be ready for it it is too late then to have your regrets no one pays off on regrets we are today in a much rougher tougher war than we expected to meet too many of us have underrated the evemy enemy two ener enemies nies who have had ten years preparation against our ten months other angles no winning competitor tunney continued can afford tear fear or discouragement di coura gement or self pity cowards as shakespeare put it die a many ny times t imes before their deaths the valiant never taste of death but once there must be confidence but not overconfidence there must be full determination to wins win whatever the price to be paid in im my own case ii 1 worked as hard bard on the mental side on the side ot of nerve control as I 1 ever worked on the physical when I 1 was boxing for example I 1 had bad full respect for jack dempsey but no do tear fear of him I 1 bad made up my mind in advance that I 1 would let him kill me before I 1 would quit I 1 was prepared to be knocked d down own but mentally I 1 also prepared myself f to be ready to get up again and k keep beep on ficht fig ht ing rug someone has said that each must suffer to grow strong I 1 believe in that theory or idea |