an anthology of creative writing based upon real-life events in sport. SSTO Publications, University of Central Lancashire,. Preston, UK. Other research web host:.
The Sporting Image: What If?
Book title:
An anthology of creative writing based upon reallife events in sport Edited by: Book Co-Authors:
Clive Palmer Clive Palmer, Iain Adams, Ray Physick, Mitchell J. Larson, Anthony Maher, Joel Rookwood, James Kenyon, Chris Hughes, Paul Hall, John Metcalfe and 26 students
With a foreword by Philip Caveney Author(s) and Chapter Publisher:
Aron Donovan and Iain Adams (Chapter 18: 249-258). Tunney vs. Dempsey – the short count SSTO Publications (School of Sport, Tourism and the Outdoors) University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
ISBN:
978-0-9566270-0-1
Date:
September, 2010
Notice: The contents of this book as presented are creative stories stemming from interpretations of real-life events. Whilst the accounts have some factual research to underpin them, the outcomes they propose are deliberately fictitious for the purposes of education achieved through developing writing skills and using of imagination to create a ‘good tale’. They are set out in good faith for the general guidance of student supported research and the promotion of pedagogical discussion in teaching and learning contexts. No liability can be accepted by the Editor or the Co-authors (first or second named) for loss or expense incurred as a result of relying upon particular circumstances or statements made in this book. To reference this chapter: Donovan, A. and Adams, I. (2010) Tunney vs. Dempsey – the short count (Chapter 18: 249258). In, Palmer, C. (Ed.) The sporting image: what if? - an anthology of creative writing based upon real-life events in sport. SSTO Publications, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK. Other research web host: https://www.academia.edu/3512859/Palmer_C._2010_The_Sporting_Image_What_If_An_Anthology_ of_Creative_Writing_Based_Upon_Real_Events_in_Sport
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sporting-Image-Anthology-Creative-Reallife/dp/0956627005/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283766937&sr=1-2
The Sporting Image: What If?
Chapter 18
Tunney vs. Dempsey – the short count Aron Donovan and Iain Adams
Research Preface
W
HARRISON DEMPSEY WAS BORN in Manassa, Colorado on 24 June, 1895. At 16, he left home and travelled around the small mining towns of Colorado and Nevada, working in the copper mines, mowing lawns, chopping wood, shining shoes and sometimes earning money in challenge fights. He often fought under the pseudonym „Kid Blackie‟, and in 1914, as „Jack Dempsey‟. In 1916, he made the step up from barroom brawls to professional bouts and earned a reputation as a quick and lethal fighter who usually knocked his opponent out within the first round. He had "fast hands, fast feet, and frightening power" (Litsky, 1975: 86). After over 100 semi-professional and professional fights, he defeated Jess Willard to become the heavyweight champion. Durant (1976: 68) maintained: ILLIAM
He had a perfect build and appearance of a fighter – high cheekbones, deepset eyes, a bull neck, and a beautifully proportioned body. He was hard all over, in muscles and in mind. He was always in condition.
Rice (1954: 116-117) felt that: It was his speed, speed of hand as well as foot that made him such a dangerous opponent … In the ring, he was a killer – a superhuman wildman … He was a fighter – one who used every trick to wreck the other fighter.
Gene Tunney was born in New York on 25 May, 1897. Dropping out of school at 15, he became an office boy in a steamship company before turning to professional boxing in 1915. When America entered the First 249
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World War in 1917, he joined the Marines and served in France, becoming the American Expeditionary Force light heavyweight champion. He resumed his civilian boxing career on return from Europe; known as the „Fighting Marine‟ he steadily accumulated victories and became the North American Light Heavyweight champion by defeating „Battling Levinsky‟ in 1922. However, he lost the title within months to Harry Greb in a mauling fight that went the full 15 rounds. Tunney regained the title the following year in another full distance match with Greb. Of Tunney, Beston (2007: 1) said: He was one of the ring's immortals, a master of defence and counterpunching, an early pioneer of strategy (he studied his opponents like a prosecuting attorney), and a fanatic about physical conditioning.
On September 23, 1926 at Sesquicentennial Stadium in Philadelphia, Tunney dethroned an out-of-form Dempsey before 120,757 fans. Dempsey had not fought for three years and was “thoroughly out-boxed over 10 rounds” (Lamkin, 2003). Howbeit, due to the huge interest in the fight and the commercial potential, “a rematch was all but guaranteed” (Lambkin, 2003). But he noted: The beating that Tunney had administered in their first fight was so great and decisive, that Dempsey would have to fight another ranked heavyweight in order to prove himself worthy of another title shot (Lambkin, 2003).
Dempsey briefly considered retiring, but in July 1927 he returned to the ring to defeat Jack Sharkey and earn the rematch with Tunney. The Tunney-Dempsey rematch was of epic proportions; two heavyweights fighting for the biggest prize, in front of 145,000 fans in Soldier Field, Chicago. The fans included Hollywood stars, politicians and gangsters such as Al Capone. Lowitt (1999) pointed out that “there were rumours that Al Capone had tried to fix the fight. Authorities took it seriously enough to replace referee Dave Miller with Dave Barry, a veteran of about 600 fights, at the last minute.” Before the bout began, Barry took the boxers aside and reminded them that under the rules a fighter scoring a knockdown had to retreat to a neutral corner before the referee could begin his count. Tunney took charge of the fight from the start, racking up points and keeping Dempsey at bay. In the seventh round, however, Dempsey knocked Tunney against the ropes and then felled him with three strong punches. Tunney went down, and Dempsey took a step back to the nearest corner, but not a neutral corner. Recalling the incident, Lowitt (1999) wrote: 250
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Jack Dempsey's fist crashed into the champion's jaw. This was his chance. He waded in and Gene Tunney crumpled to the canvas. In 10 seconds, it appeared, Tunney would be counted out and Dempsey would be heavyweight champion again.
Barry rushed over to Dempsey and yelled, "Go to a neutral corner, Jack!" but Dempsey just stood there, glassy-eyed. Finally, Barry grabbed him and shoved him on his way. Dempsey shuffled across the ring, finally remembering the new rule that had been twice told to him before the match. Barry then began the 10-count, and Tunney got up at nine. Tunney's total of 14 seconds on the ground allowed him valuable time to recuperate from Dempsey's assault. Tunney ducked and swayed, backpedalling from his opponent for the rest of the round and then came back to dominate the eighth, even knocking Dempsey down briefly. Tunney won the bout by decision again. Jack Dempsey retired after the fight, going on to open the successful Jack Dempsey’s Broadway Restaurant in Times Square. In May 1983, Dempsey died of natural causes aged 87. Gene Tunney was not married to boxing and as a result was not beloved by the fans. Beston (2007) thought he was “complicated and aloof, he never captured the imagination of the sporting public then or since, except as a poseur who had the gall to discuss his reading habits.” Tunney died in 1978. The fight went on to become Esquire Sports Poll‟s greatest fight of the century. Graffis and Cannon (1943: 180) concluded “those 14 seconds of that ten-round heavyweight championship fight, out of more than a billion and a quarter seconds that have been ticked off since the beginning of the century, compacted the drama of the sporting event.” In 1990, both fighters were inaugurated into the Boxing Hall of Fame.
References Beston, P. (2007) The man who wasn‟t there, The American Spectator [online]. Available at http://spectator.org/archives/2007/02/22/the-man-who-wasnt-there (Accessed on 30 March 2010). Durant, J. (1976) The Heavyweight Champions.: Hastings House Publishers, New York.
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Graffis, H. and Cannon, R. (1943) Long Count Fight. Esquire, U.S.A. Lamkin, M. (2003) Historic Fights of the Century, Part III- 1920's: Gene Tunney vs. Jack Dempsey II (September 22nd, 1927) [online]. Available at: http://www.fightbeat.com/judgejake/tunneydempsey2.php (Accessed on 30 March 2010). Litsky, F. (1975) Superstars. Derbibooks Inc., Secaucus, New Jersey. Lowitt, B. (1999) Long count allows Tunney to keep title. St. Petersburg Times [online], November 30, 1999. Available at: http://www.sptimes.com/News/113099/Sports/Long_count_allows_Tun.shtml (Accessed on 30th March 2010). Na (1978) Gene Tunney dead at 80. The Miami News [online], November 8, 1978, Available at: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=71XFh8zZwT8C&dat=19781108&printse c=frontpage (Accessed 0n 1 April, 2010) Rice, G. (1954) The Tumult and the Shouting: My life in sport. =A.S. Barnes and Company, New York.
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Creative Story
Tunney vs. Dempsey – the short count Aron Donovan and Iain Adams
…8th November 1978, 93 Palm Avenue, Palm Island, Florida.
T
HE BLOATED OLD MAN LIES BACK ON HIS SUN LOUNGER,
Baccarat tumbler of moonshine in hand, watching the two naked blondes frolicking in his pool. He had acquired a taste for Minnesota girls during his St. Paul days. It‟s chilly for skinny dipping, but that‟s the way he likes them and he likes the effect of the chill; after all, they‟re his personal assistants. He‟s proud that he still distils the best moonshine in the country and still „interviews‟ every girl seeking work in his brothels. He smiles to himself as he glances down at the Miami News’ sports headline “Gene Tunney dead at 80”. Sap, hadn‟t even made the front page, his mind wanders … …22nd September 1927, Soldier Field Stadium, Chicago, Illinois. Boxing‟s biggest prize, the talk of the world; the greatest boxers to ever grace the ring, Gene Tunney, world champion, and Jack Dempsey, former champion. Everyone wants to see this fight. Soldier Field holds 61,500 people, but tonight there‟ll be over a 100,000. In barbershops, offices, factories and at shoeshine stands, confrontational discussions, one man says Tunney, the next Dempsey. “Tunney‟s the champ; he‟s gonna win”. “Dempsey wants it bad, he needs that belt, he‟s gonna prove himself a winner again.” It‟s a year ago yesterday that they previously met; Tunney out-boxed Dempsey and became the world champion. Today, Tunney may conclusively prove he‟s the best or perhaps Dempsey will gain revenge and retribution. Nearly fight time; the stadium filling, 145,000 people cramming in for the big one, it‟ll be an epic, monumental. People will say “Where were you when…” Well, tonight, they‟re all here, politicians, entertainers and gangsters. Secretary of State Emerson moves towards his seat, his 253
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entourage includes US Solicitor General Mitchell and Chicago Mayor Thompson. They pause as Al „Scarface‟ Capone rises, “Mr Secretary, Mr Solicitor-General, this is Al Capone” says the mayor. The men shake hands, “I know Al” says Mitchell to the mayor, “I was his lawyer in St Paul before Washington called.” Capone smiled, “follow my advice gentlemen, you may be Tunney men, but put money on Dempsey, but Dempsey‟s been workin‟ hard”. “Thanks for the tip” frowns Emerson leading his group off. Mitchell pauses at the next aisle by an aide who scurries off. Tex Rickard, the promoter, moves to the centre of the ring, “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to tonight‟s main event…” Tunney appears with championship belt resplendent. Appreciative noise fills Soldier Field, 145,000 fans clapping and shouting. Tunney boogies into the ring, a quick sliding shuffle from left to right as the crowd chants “champ, champ!” Dempsey emerges, the noise is painful; Chicago loves Dempsey, the working class brawler. His magnanimity in last year‟s loss has moved him to sainthood. His name pulsates round as the fans stomp and scream, the juddering and throbbing resonate the ring ropes violently. Dempsey skips down the red carpet, bounces up the steps and into the ring, fit, energetic, ready to go, this man is prepared. The fighters stare, the prefight stare-down, who will look away first. The Manassa Mauler glares into, and through, The Fighting Marine. The referee, Barry, stands between Tunney and Dempsey. “Both you boys have received a book of rules of this boxing commission. They are the rules under which you are going to fight. Now I want to get one point clear. In the event of a knockdown, the man scoring the knockdown will go to the farthest neutral corner. Is that clear?” Tunney nods sharply, Dempsey bobs his head once. Then Barry continues, “in the event of a knockdown, unless the boy scoring it goes to the farthest neutral corner, I will not begin the count, OK, LETS GET IT ON!!!” Round 1 - Dempsey charges out, older in years and much older through life, he wants this over. He throws a right, missing as Tunney glides back, and then slides forward to sneak in a jab to Dempsey‟s body, first points. Dempsey scores with a left and shoots out a vicious straight that finds only air. Tunney successfully jabs and takes a half step back as Dempsey rushes forward, a hard straight left into his face stops Dempsey in his tracks, an overhand right to his head drives him back. Tunney sashays forward to jab and Dempsey catches him with three short hard brawling swipes. The crowd roars its approval, “Get in there, Jack!” Tunney grimaces and coolly steps closer and pinions Dempsey‟s arms in his vice-like grip. Dempsey growls in rage and struggles to get free. “Break!” commands Barry. They 254
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step back, Tunney skips in and scores with another jab. The bell signals the end of round one, and its gone Tunney‟s way. Round 2 – The champ‟s in control, circling the ring, Dempsey chasing; the big 20 foot ring not to Dempsey‟s liking. Dempsey swings erratically and unpredictably as if his body and brain are out of sync, he hasn‟t landed a clean punch yet. Tunney, the shrewd tactician, weaves away waiting for an opening. Abruptly he fires a blistering left to Dempsey‟s body. Dempsey steps back, settles into his familiar crouch and then presses forward shooting hooks at the fast-moving target. Tunney dispatches a stinging straight left to Dempsey‟s jaw stopping the charge, Dempsey tastes and swallows blood. Then a shower of short jabs from Tunney confuses Dempsey who covers his face and absorbs the punishment. As Tunney pauses, Dempsey moves close and for 10 seconds he is landing head shots, jabs, hooks, body shots. But Tunney steps in and wraps his arms around Dempsey pinning his arms to his side until the referee forces them to break. They swing around sparring until the bell rings, “Dempsey‟s trying, but its going our way” enthuses Emerson to Mitchell. Round 3 – The fighters charge out; Dempsey tries to close, get Tunney into the maul zone for a few quick combos. “Keep on crowding him Jack, hold him close” yells „Boo Boo‟ Hoff sitting by Capone. Tunney won‟t oblige and keeps boxing from a distance; he‟s spent too long analysing Dempsey to mix it in close. Tunney looks for the openings, building points. Dempsey tries left hook, right hook and a jab, but its thin air. Another rush, another straight left into his face, a cut opens above his right eye. “That‟s another round to Tunney, this fight‟s going the same way as the first” laughs a woman loudly. Round 4 – Dempsey wants to finish this and comes out to land that killer blow. He crowds forward but is again stopped by Tunney‟s ever ready straight left, an overhand right to Dempsey‟s head shoves him back. And then they‟re both standing in the middle of the ring, trading blows; Dempsey jabs, Tunney uppercuts, Dempsey uppercuts, Tunney jabs. Dempsey moves in like a barroom brawler. “Tie him up like a bag, Genie” screams Emerson from the front row willing Tunney to use his steel bandlike arms to pinion Dempsey again. Tunney obliges skating in and holding Dempsey, forcing another break. The crowd is roaring, screaming, going nuts. The bell rings and the referee splits them again. Tunney‟s fans are ecstatic, their man‟s streets ahead. 255
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Round 5 – The crowd stands as the bell rings, wild shrieking and screaming as Tunney backpedals, Dempsey leading with a wild right trying to get in close; Tunney ducks, but the right was a fake to disguise a rush. A booming straight left into Dempsey‟s face rocks him backwards, his left eye begins to shut, another overhand right to the jaw piles up the points. “Atta-boy Genie, get some combos in.” For long seconds the two stand toe to toe Dempsey swinging and Tunney blocking. The crowd are still screeching at the bell. Round 6 – Another stupefying roar as the round opens, but the noise subdues, the pace is slower, the fighters are tiring, Dempsey breaks through and lands two hard blows, again Tunney is forced to step in and bind Dempsey‟s arms to his sides; Dempsey scowls and struggles. “Break!” Tunney dances away, Dempsey follows and leads with another right; Tunney responds in kind, Dempsey jabs, slips another jab but receives a hard overhand right to the jaw, it‟s beginning to swell. Several sharp blows follow on, points accumulating in Tunney‟s favour. “Jack got a couple of doozies in there” cries „Boo Boo‟ as the bell clangs. Round 7 – Tunney presses forward, looking fresher, Dempsey advances and Tunney retreats, but is momentarily constricted by the ropes in the corner. Dempsey seizes the opportunity and launches a combination of punches, two rights, two lefts to the chin, Tunney staggers disoriented; “This is it Jack, FINISH HIM”. Dempsey suddenly metamorphoses into the Dempsey of old, the blows he has been dreaming of unleashing flow as four catastrophic punches, left-right, left-right, crash the champ to the floor. Tunney grabs the middle rope to stop the world spinning, shaking his head. He hears the timekeeper intoning “ONE…TWO”, the referee shouting “Go to a neutral corner, Jack!" “THREE.” The referee moves away pushing Dempsey towards the neutral corner, “FOUR”, the referee is back above Tunney and Tunney hears him join the timekeeper‟s beat “FIVE…SIX,” “Five! The referee started his count at five, that‟s not fair” shouts somebody in the crowd. “SEVEN.” “How can he start his count on five” exclaims another indignantly. “EIGHT,” Tunney gets a knee under himself balancing with his right glove on the floor, “NINE”, it‟s all in slow motion, “TEN”. The stadium erupts. “Jesus, that‟s an outrageous end to a brilliant fight” moans a Tunney fan. “And It‟s spoilt by an innumerate referee who can‟t count” yells his wife. Dempsey, glassy eyed, is led by the referee to the middle, cries of “fix! Fix! FIX!” come from sections of the crowd. “This is madness, a controversial end to such a magnificent fight. No one can take away this victory from Dempsey, he was magnificent tonight, but what a 256
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horrible way for Tunney to lose, a short count” notes a journalist. Rickard steps into the spotlight, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you your new world heavyweight champion, Jack „The Manassa Mauler‟ Dempsey, the first man to re-capture the heavyweight title of the world”. Dempsey‟s arm is hoisted into the air as the title belt is fixed around his waist. Rejuvenated old legs carry Dempsey to Tunney‟s corner, “Gene, y ou were
best. You fought a smart fight, kid. That’s it for me, I retire right now!” He hoists Tunney’s arm aloft to a roar of approval from the hordes. Emerson makes his way out, Mitchell pauses as a runner gives him a package, moving past Capone he briefly stops and shakes his hand .“Your boy lucked out tonight; don’t forget to pay your taxes on the winnings!” He glances back as Emerson leads them off; Capone catches his eye and mouths “You owe me one.” …8th November 1978, 93 Palm Avenue, Palm Island, Florida.
The old man chuckles at memories, only one year in prison. Those bastards Elliot Ness and Frank Wilson tried to put him away for ever, but Mitchell, Attorney General by then, threw out most of the prosecution evidence. He paid his dues. The very thought of Ness and Wilson brought on chest pain, Jesus, crushing pain. Through gritted teeth he wheezes “Holly, Vicky”. They rush to him. Suddenly he is floating above watching the two naked girls performing CPR on him, Doc Phillip’s taught them well. Crash teams like that would improve Emergency!’s ratings. It’s been a good life, if this is death, it ain’t so bad. …9th November 1978, 93 Palm Avenue, Palm Island, Florida. „Scarface dead at 78‟ screams the Miami News.
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