BESIEGED BY CALLERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 416, 26 July 1928, Page 1

BESIEGED BY CALLERS

Heeney’s Parents Sick of It

UNPERTURBED ON FIGHT DAY

Modest Pride In Battling Son

(Special to TUB SUN)

GISBORNE, To-day. “IF Tom gets a beating, he gets a beating, and that’s all there 1 is to it. All the worry in the world isn’t going to make any difference,” said Tom Heeney’s mother, discussing the prospects of the championship battle this evening.

That fairlv accurately sums up the attitude of both Heeney's parents. It would hardly be correct to say that the old couple are indifferent as to the issue, but it is certain that there are few people who display less anxiety.

“l want to say that I am a proud man to have reared a son who is the aecond-best boxer in the world,” said Tom's father. “If he gets no further than second best, nothing can lessen my pride in him. If it is that he is to be champion of the world, then I shall be very happy, but if he fails in this final test. I shall not be disappointed.” From the remarks of the old people, it might almost appear that they do not expect Tom to win. It may be that there Is a desire to conceal their real hopes, or more likely that they have made up their minds not to expect too much of their boy, so that if success does come his way their joy will be all the greater, while if on the other hand he has to lower his colours their regrets will not be so keen. QUIET TOILERS The fact that Tom is one of the most notable figures in the world has made not the slightest difference to the parents.

They still follow their regular routine of daily life. Mrs. Heeney, despite the fact that she has reached the allotted span of three score years and ten still does as much work as the average man. She and her husband do all the work of their small farm, and night and morning, wet or fine, Mrs. Heeney milks her cows and tends her fowls. “We are not worrying over the fight at all,” said Mrs. Heeney. “I don’t think we are even excited about it. Tom is a good boy, one of the best a mother ever had, and he deserves success. If he wins, no one will be more pleased than we will be. Tunney is a clever fighter. There Is no doubt about that. But our Tom must have a chance or he would not be matched with him. I know this much, Tom will do his best, and what else matters? “They can’t both win,” added the old lady, and if Tom is beaten he knows how to take a beating. He’s just as good a loser as a winner, and that’s how it should be. 'Anyhow, if a licking is coming to him, he’s got to take it, whether he wants it or not,” she said with a smile, "and It won’t be the first either. People keep coming along, asking if tom is going to win,” said Mr. Heeney. “How could we know what m going to happen? He has a chance. kfi°w that, and we know that if e doesn't win it will be because Tunney is the better man. Tom has been a credit to his mother and father, and ®. ar ® Proud of him. If he wius we will be more proud of him, if he oesn t we are not going to cry about shd neither is Tom.” olt l people, strange though it h ’ a J?i )ear . have no desire to talk all <i his prospects. They , i 1? success, but prefer to do a the quietude of their home. PUBLICITY RESENTED Mr. H eeney explained that they always lived a quiet life, and e was quite sincere in his resentJJJ °* the manner in which P Iclty had been given to what ini re ß artiec l as the intimate deta * of the family life. vceks past they have been be- _ by well-meaning, but thought-

less, people, who sought to make the acquaintance of Tom’s parents, and rejoice with them in his success. It is this more than anything else that has imposed a strain on the old people. The excitement and anxiety of their many callers could not fail to have a pyschological effect upon them, and although they have not been infected with the enthusiasm of others, the unaccustomed task of meeting many strangers has been a real hardship to them. “We are not used to it, and all we want is to be left quietly alone,” said Mrs. Heeney. If the old people had their own way they would remain at home tomorrow afternoon until someone brought the news of the fight. They are going to listen to the broadcast description, not because they are anxious to hear the result or know how Tom is faring, but solely because (as Mrs. Heeney puts it), “it is just possible that Tom may speak over

the wireless, and if lie does, It is our duty to be there to hear him/* Press Association WELLINGTON, To-day. The Pacific Cable Board has made arrangements for a special rush message giving the result of the prize fight. This is in addition to the ordinary cable channels and wireless possibilities. By whatever method it is received first, the result will be despatched immmediately as urgent news from Wellington.

DEMPSEY AS SECOND

WANTS TO HELP TOM (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) Reed. Noon NEW YORK, Wed. Jack Dempsey, the former champion, will probably be Tom Heeney’s chief second to-morrow. Dempsey expressed a desire to help Heeney, which Charley Harvey, the challenger’s manager, gladly accepted. Mr. Tex Rickard plans to ask the State Boxing Commission to licence Dempsey as a second, and the licence is practically certain to be granted.