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Show Hp THIS matter we are about to tackle may be a trifle over our head, but we'll take a shot at it just the same. It concerns concentration, concentra-tion, reflexes and instinct, which at least work together, although entirely entire-ly different. But they are the main foundations of any winning effort. Reflex action, as you probably know, is co-ordinated response of eye, brain and muscle to some situ- j ation. For example, in boxing the eye sees an opening as brain and muscle respond In a split second. There's no wasted delay. But as one gets older reflex action gets , slower. The eye will ' Vt see the opening but ,t' ' I the muscle usually I " I arrives a trifle too 1 late. 8 j As a concrete il- !f 1 lustration consider &' ' J Mel Hein in foot- V f ball. Year after ' 1 year Mel had a j " j J quick flash of what fi'-" . '! was happening and fcsi ne was usually on 1 Gene.Tunney top of the play, tie can still see what is , taking place In a half-flash, but nat- urally after so many seasons of wear and tear his legs may not quite get there in time, although it is still amazing how many times big Mel is on hand at the right second. Instinct and reflexes are something some-thing that can't be taught, You have them or you don't have them. Eddie Arcaro and Ted Atkinson will tell you that in any close spot it is instinct in-stinct that directs the next move, for It must be done in less than a breath. The instinct and the reflexes of such ball players as Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and other leaders worked perfectly per-fectly as a rule. They did the right thing subconsciously without any direct conscious thought attached. They rarely did the wrong thing. Jack Dempsey will tell you in his two closing fights with Gene Tun-ney Tun-ney that he could see openings which he could have used effectively effective-ly in his earlier years. But he was no longer the Dempsey of Toledo, To-ledo, especially against the cleverness clever-ness of a Tunney. Mental Discipline But concentration is another af- I fair. It doesn't call for. the split-second, split-second, the powder-flare speed the other two ingredients demand. Concentration Con-centration demands the discipline of the mind or brain that in turn controls con-trols muscular movement. It is one of the rarest of all the competi- Live species, since it goes with men- tal punishment. It is something that must be forced and watched. It can never be taken for granted as it may slip from your hold like a greased eel. To begin with, any extended concentration con-centration means punishment. "One of the reasons I quit tournament tourna-ment golf," Bobby Jones told me, "was that I got tired of taking the beating I had to take through 72 holes of play, where I knew I couldn't afford to take my mind off the job." Jones was one of the best of all concentrators. "I find I can hit the ball as well as ever," Gene Sarazen says, "but I can't keep concentrating as I used to. I can't keep thinking through every shot to be played. My mind begins to wander." Tunney was one of the best concentrators concen-trators in all sport. Gene worked as hard on directing his mind as he ever worked on his legs or arms. A few hours before facing Dempsey Demp-sey In Chicago, Tunney read some book I've forgotten the name. But he could tell you everything he had read In that book. That means the top of mind control with a million dollars at stakf! and Jack Demp-sey's Demp-sey's punch just on ahead. Few would believe the number of hours Tunney forced himself to practice this combination. "And it wasn't any fun," he added. "It was the hardest sort of work." Walter Hagen could kid with you and laugh with you one minute,, and a second later concentrate entirely on the shot to be played. Few are i that lucky. Think of Next Play j Few football players know the I value of concentration as Mel Hein knew it. While the opposing team had the ball, he continually faced the possibilities of a pass, a hidden ball, a line thrust, a spinner or an end run. A good defensive back or a defensive lineman must have complete com-plete control of his thinking apparatus appa-ratus through every playing second. IIumbci'K of Navy belonged In this class, Blnnchard and Davis of Army have this ability. Most Notre Dnme teams hnvo been keen, slort, able concentrators concentra-tors on the next play. "I want your bodies physically relaxed your minds always alert." Knute Rockne told and taiiftht them. Jack Johnson's concent nil Ion was nlinost ejitiiely on defense Jack s Dompsoy's on attack. Ty Cobb used to map out certain plays weeks In I ndvnnco, and then be ready to use thorn when tho rliiht time arrived. He rarely overlooked tho rli;ht time. Without coiu-cnlrntlon you nli;ht not bo uhlo to use such natural tlfls ns redoxes or Instinct |