Maxie Baer, the retiring violet of the resined arena, who has earned quite a reputation as a soft-spoken, girl-shy, modest young man was talking to Tommy Loughran the other day at the Garden publicity offices. This was before the Walter Neusel fight, and Tommy, that grand old war horse, was still able to speak.
Tommy told the California Baer just how Carnera had managed to retain his heavyweight crown in that Miami tussle not so long ago. But Maxie seemed to know all the answers and promised the veteran Philadelphian a scrap with himself, merely for auld lang syne, just as soon as he won the title from Da Preem and had taken in a couple of night clubs.
‘A BUNCH OF THE BOYS WERE WHOOPING IT UP”
“Cut out the night life and lay off the cigarettes,” said Tommy, “it takes too much out of a guy, and a top flight fighter can’t afford the whoopee business before a big scrap.”
“Whatever you do, don’t forget to keep your tootsies out of the way of the Italian armada. When he lands you’ll understand just why Arthur Murray advertises the benefits of ballroom dancing.”
It developed that Tommy’s pedal digits have a set of enviable corns. Carnera’s scouts had discovered this weakness and the behemoth had capitalized on this so greatly that Loughran’s feet hurt him before a rain and every time he hears the champ’s name. As you no doubt remember, in that Southern special between Da Preem and Tommy, Carnera would feint with his right, hide behind the referee, and lead with a smashing left foot that would invariably land on the pet and pride of the Loughran toes with the terrific force of a year’s garlic crop.
POPPA BAER, BUDDY BAER, AND MAXIE BAER
“That’s perfectly okay with me,” replied the young Hebrew yodeller. “I’ve had my kid brother, Buddy, rough me up something pretty in my exhibition bouts all the way from the coast. Buddy is built on the style of Carnera, in fact he’s even bigger, and every time I’ve been in the ring with him I have sharpened my defense against the champ’s footwork.”
Before they left, Maxie, the Livermore larruper, promised his old friend that he would take up the torch where the Philly fighter had left it in Miami. This doesn’t seem such a bad idea to us, provided Baer could meet the champ immediately after a ten-round ###crap with a chap like Tommy.
About this time Poppa Baer called up to check on Maxie’s whereabouts. He’s not taking any chances on his youngster going on a binge before he leaves for Asbury Park and intensive training.
“And remember,” sang out Tommy before he ducked out of the door, “I licked you three years ago and I still can beat you.” Whereupon, Poppa Baer, Buddy Baer and Maxie Baer, together with the trainer and the manager broke down and wept.
CONTRACT SIGNED
The first time that the Garden had arranged for the formal bally###oo of the contract signing event, Baer was out in New Jersey looking for a training camp site with the aid of his manager, Ancil Hoffman. However, he did not disappoint anybody last Thursday when he put his John Hancock on the line.
His youthful ebullience had the upper hand over his usual modesty when he met the Italian champion. “Hi feller, you’re looking at the next champ now,” the Baer growled. For answer the more subdued Carnera merely shook the challenger’s hnad with a clasp that made Maxie wince.
After the signing Hoffman announced that Baer would train at Asbury Park. Carnera will get into condition at Pompton Lakes, New Jersey.
FORD FRICK SAYS
We received a letter the other day from one of the best known sport writers in the country. At present he is in charge of the service bureau of the National League Professional Baseball Clubs. He is none other than Ford Frick and in this letter to which we are referring he says:
“My dear Morris:
I am particularly pleased that the Jewish Daily Bulletin is going in for sports. With the tremendous Jewish population in and about the Metropolitan District, we feel that such papers will be particularly valuable.
(signed) FORD FRICK.”
THE SPORTING CALENDAR-THE NEW YORK COLISEUM
Tuesday night the Bronx wrestling fans will be able to watch a very attractive card at the N.Y. Coliseum. Paul Boesch, Brooklyn Adonis, and Casey Columbo in a special attraction. Of course any wrestling show in the city could not be complete without the presence of Abie Coleman, who will tackle Joe Shimkus. Jim Browning the world’s champion will meet Rudy Dusek in the finish fray.
THE RIDGEWOOD GROVE
Last week Abie beat Dusek and thereby won a crack at Jim Londos, the Greek Strumberry man. There will be four other bouts on the card for Wednesday night.
Every Tuesday night, the New York boxing fans have a chance to watch the best amateurs in the city slug away at each other. The sentiment that this sport has built up for itself is an enviable one. Many people would rather watch a pair of amateurs in action than a couple of hacks wheezing in the ring. There are amateur boxing bouts held at the Ridgewood Grove every Tuesday Night.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
