CASH FOR WRESTLERS

Evening Star, Issue 20315, 25 October 1929, Page 15

CASH FOR WRESTLERS

BIG MONEY IN AMERICA. Wrestling fans in Sydney and Mel* bourne have formed the opinion that Australia is the happy hunting ground of the bone-crushers. That is not so (writes xil Haft, manager of John Pesek, in ‘Labour Daily’). The past live years have been very profitable ones in American wrestling circles. The heavy-weight title is estimated to be worth SUU.UUOdoI a year to a popular champion who wants to take all the engagements offered. Lewis and Steelier drew Ji.UOUdoi in a match at Boston last January. St.e.it'r and Lewis ureu fG.UuUdol m Si. Louis ten montns ago, riontieuo.. g and Staciack drew sU,uu,idol in Los Ango.es three months ago. Pesek and Glenn \\ adc drew oG.uUUdol in Cincinnati in February. Jim Londas and Pesek drew 4G,UUOdoI in Philadelphia last winter. Lewis and Pesek drew 62,UU0d0l in Kansas City, Mo.; ami Pesek and Steelier drew around SU.UUI) dol in Los Angeles a year and a-half ago. These are some of the high spots. It must be remembered that most of the above were held in indoor spots, as wrestling in the States is mostly staged indoors in the cold months. The above houses would have been even larger had they been outside with greater seating capacities. In the bigger cities the big “shots”' sell out. For the last Olympics over 6,000 American lads competed for places in tha American Olympic wrestling team. Seven were selected, and they made a very creditable record. All of the leading American colleges have wrestling squads to represent the colleges in dual meets and in wrestling tournaments. Once a year the leading college teams meet for the National A.A.U. open evens, which are staged in New York or Boston. Wrestling is a natural exercise. ft is a building exercise which will make strong, healthy men. The science of the sport requires that a man must have brains and condition if ho wants to shine with the leaders. Over 1,000 moves, holds, and counters must be at the champion’s finger-tips. The next Olympics are slated for Los Angeles, California. The wrestling events will attract a large entry from America, and the leading college coaches are now training men for the 1932 wrestling events, I hope that in 1932 1 will be able to greet some Australian Olympic entries at Los Angeles.