AMERICAN SPORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19768, 16 February 1927, Page 4

AMERICAN SPORT

A “BLACK EYE” CALL FOR A CZAR OF BOXERS. With the ushering in of the new year more baseball scandals were added to the revelations which have given America’s most popular pastime a “black eye” in sporting circles in the United States, and all patrons of the game demanded a thorough cleansing of the Augean stables, in view of the. .sensational admissions of several loading baseball players of the country (says a San Francisco writer). This newest of baseball scandals has given impetus to the ever current demand for a boxirtg “dictator,” whose duties would be similar to those of Commissioner K. M. Lamlin, “Czar” of the ball game. Derelictions from copybook conduct among fighters arc more common than among ball players, according to most followers of professional sport, and a cry for a thorough “airing out” of the pize-ring has been gaining in volume and vehemence. Difficulties in the way of immediate selection of a commissioner of boxing are obvious. Baseball had already an organised interstate proposition before Judge Landis appeared to take over the reins. But boxing is ruled over by State boards, with hundreds of petty jealousies to deal with, and the national association of the sport thus far has failed to function satisfactorily. Attention of other States, however, i/s directed toward New York, which may soon turn to a one-man overseer of boxing. Governor Smith is expected to abolish the present Athletic Commission and appoint a man who has the confidence of the followers and boxers alike to control ring activities in the State. The present commission of three has done little to forward the sport. Com.missioners Farley, Muldoon and Brower have disagreed on virtually every important question put before them, and have aroused managerial ire by considering match-making a part of their business. The recent arrest of Gene Tunney at the reported behest of Commissioner Farley is said to have aroused the Governor’s indignation. Many of the game enthusiasts believed the heavyweight champion was persecuted for political reasons, and Governor Smith, not a boxing enthusiast himself, has been embarrassed by som.e of the trick rulings and activities of the Athletic Commission. If a boxing dictator should prove capable within New York State, eliminating much of the present shadiness, an increase of his duties to national scope would be possible. Responsible officals of every State are anxious to clean house with the pugilistic game, but are hampered under existing conditions because of the situation which permits a boxer disqualified in one State to fight in another.