Slants on Sports

According to the ballyhoo and press reports that keep coming out of Lake Tahoe, California, where Baer is in traning for his fight with the Italian Armada, Max is having quite a time.

First, we believe, we should take you back a few days and tell you just how the sixth battle of the century was arranged. You see, it was this way. Young Ancil Hoffman, manager of the prizefighter of lady fame, came out of the west. He blew into town on the tail of a breezy March wind and said that he could remain in New York only until the twentieth. Unless the Garden came across with terms satisfactory to him he would take his pugilistically-in-clined lad and barnstorm the country.

Ancil had no idea of impairing the looks of his talented boxer in any vulgar matches on this trip. Instead, he claimed that he had offers in his pocket for a new movie, called the “Redhead,” and for radio broadcasts that would net the Jewish scrapper $6,500 per week.

“Sure,” said the shrewd Hoffman, “we can get a thirteen-week radio offer with the Shtrudel people on their kiddie program with a nation-wide hookup. Unless the Garden bends a little in their exorbitant demands there will be no fight.”

CONTRACT SATISFACTORY

Ancil was wise to the fact that the boys from the Garden intended to freeze him out but he turned the tables and dictated in his own terms. Hoffman finessed his queen through his king, held trumps without batting an eyelash, and played like old man Culbertson himself so that he didn’t lose a trick. As a result Baer will receive twelve and one-half per cent; Carnera will receive his legal share–thirty-seven and one-half per cent; and the Milk Fund will get an even ten per cent of the gate.

But here is where the city slickers trumped their own ace. They agreed to let Jack Dempsey, former manager of Baer, in on a seven and one-half per cent cut. The howl that the Garden let loose when it was all over made us think that another raw decision had been announced at the Fiftieth street arena. But their squawks didn’t help, and Hoffman left the Johnston shebang with everything but a mortgage on the Garden and a lawyer-proof contract in his pocket. Ancil went straight to the California belles on his return trip. He was sure he would find Baer in their midst.

With these preliminaries over, Maxie started his traning campaign almost three months before his scrap with the circus giant. Trainer Mike Cantwell figured that it might even take longer to steam the night club life out of the challenger’s blood. But it seems Mike can’t do anything about the women.

THE OLD ARMY GAME

The first day that camp opened the ballyhoo gushed forth in terrific torrents and it hasn’t let up since. Ancil Hoffman once again proved the smart boy when he hired a live wire press agent.

Of course, you should realize that Maxie’s first month of training will just be a long vaction. Despite what the papers say, the only hardship that will be imposed on the challenger will be the fact that he has to go bed about eight or nine each evening. Otherwise, we believe that Maxie would be stale at the end of six weeks if he kept up his training pace the way the ballyhoo has it.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF BAER

After having seen some movie shorts of this Jewish boxer in training and having read all the baloney about him (as our friend Al Smith would have it) we imagine a day in the life of Max Baer to be something like this:

8. a. m. Baer is awakened by his cook, Mrs. Fisher, who hands him a bowl of spaghetti.

8:30. “I’ll whip Carnera easy,” says Max shyly. “I’ll be the next heavyweight champion of the world.”

9. Spends morning looking at Carnera’s picture so that he will be able to recognize him in the sing. The California Baer growls what the champ had better not step on his feet.

11. Goes nudist to get that smooth even than that you love to touch.

Noon. Baer is awakened by his cook, Mrs. Fisher, who hands him a bowl of spaghetti.

1 p. m. The challenger walks his daily three miles to town. Buys papers and reads that he is spending his days in gruelling road work.

3. Announces to the press, “Musolini has held the title long enough.” “What title?” someone asks.

4. Poses for cameraman.

5. Still posing.

6. Baer is awakened by his cook, Mrs. Fisher, and is handed a bowl of spaghetti.

7. Announces that his deep sense of responsibility to the customers–his public–will make him start intensive training the next day.

7:30. Reads De Maupassant.

8. Goes to bed with De Maupassant.

9. Meets Mike Cantwell on the road to town. “Where are you going?” asks Mike. “I’m hungry,” says Max.

10. “What are we having?” asks Max. “Two bowls of spaghetti,” says Mike.

IS A HARD WORKER

When Baer really gets serious about his training he shapes into topflight form. The fact that Max is in camp and working is sufficient evidence that he intends to be in the pink the night of June 14.

We saw Baer work out in Atlantic City while training for his fight with Schmeling. Even though he had a fondness for cutting capers he was in real earnest each time he stepped through the ropes. As a result when Max went into the ring against the Dutchman some time ago he was in the top condition.

The California boy’s problem when he meets the Italian behemoth will be the latter’s left. Carnera is seemingly tireless and he keeps jabbing his left into his opponent’s face throughout a fight. In itself it couldn’t send Max through the ropes but dished out in steady and unceasing doses it will cause Baer sufficient trouble.

Then again, Primo is not the lumbering ox that he was when he first came to these shores. He has taken off at least twenty pounds of blue ribbon avoirdupois. He has improved his speed and his boxing technique tremendously. Though the fans may scoff at the big boy’s ability, Max shouldn’t forget for one moment that II Duce’s pride and joy can handle himself when he is in the ring. Regardless of where he puts his feet.

MAX A HARD PUNCHER

Baer has a haymaker in his right hand. This may prove to be the cause for his triumphs, if he does win. Carnera has only a left. There should be plenty of action the night they meet, with these lefts and rights swinging freely.

It is because of Maxie’s weaving and bobbing style, his nonchalance when in the ring, his looseness of action, his tenseness when he is ready to hit and his powerful right hand that we’re placing our money on him.