MOST GRUELLING SPORT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 371, 4 June 1928, Page 7

MOST GRUELLING SPORT

Tttnney Says Its Rowing

AMERICAN FOOTBALL IS THE ROUGHEST

ROWING is the most exacting of all sports, says Gene Tunney, the world’s champion boxer. In the following article he tells why he thinks so.

In the course of an interesting sport ‘a k with some friends the other day w as asked: ‘ What do you consider the most strenuous sport?” Without hesitancy I replied. “RowThis started so lively a discusllon that I was tempted to revise my 'Pinion, for 1 now believe that the float strenuous of all sports is a sport argument. But it’s lots of fun. I’d *ooner sit around swapping views on *P°rts matters than eat. I’m an incurable fan, and my interest applies 10 most of the major sports. Do you mean to say,” my surprised en d went on, "that you consider ■owing more strenuous than boxing ?” “AGONISED EXPRESSIONS’'

many as a half-dozen men knocked out in a football game. I’ve never seen more than one man knocked out in a boxing match. CALLS WRESTLING BRUTAL

I’ve always regarded wrestling as the most brutal sport, and still do. There are certain holds in wrestling that are cruel; much too torturesome for the comfort of the spectator, who knows what’s going on. Many a spectator at a wrestling match is unaware of the torture inflicted by vice-like holds that cause terrific pain. I don’t like a test of mere brute’s strength. In wrestling the man who’s weaker physically hasn’t much of a chance, regardless of his knowledge of the game. In the end his opponent will wear him down and beat him. In boxing the man who hasn’t anything but brute strength is frequently beaten by the cleverness of a smaller and less powerful man.

* s *uck to my story. I have always considered rowing the most taxing and •faring of athletic sports, and I re**ted this belief, to the utter aston*ft*nent of a group that obviously exme to nominate boxing. A hard°ught four- mile crew race takes more ®ut of a man than any other type of 1 s Port contest that I know. I’ve seen ttrsmen crumple and fall limply over . of the shell, and almost topple the water. Look at almost any at fhe height of a tough race. a fsal close-up of the oarsmen by tJ, ,. g a l* ai T of field-glasses. If ySti’ve of v T don . e this you’ll get the surprise n‘ r You’ll see agonised exfcss^d 06 that you never before wit-

And now for the next question. 1 believe that championship tennis has more action than any other sport. Men like Lacoste or Tilden cover a terrific amount of ground in the course of a match.

jiving classified rowing as the most 3ie n ?T. s Port, my friends kept after insisted on my classifying .pj * ®Ports. The questions flew thick -ethr** * found perspiring as r.; as if I’d just boxed ten rounds. as if a hundred questions I said, "one at a time.” T£ NNIS HAS MOST ACTION

this whole group of was tossed at me almost in •S}** *® the roughest sport?” Wb* 18 mos t brutal sport?” I ®P° r t has the most action?” *>ths* as well give you my answers, of vam- y ° u ca -n start a. little argument OWn on these interesting ques-

nothing like a good hearty iag ae bate to while away the eventinfij*® ? 11 start at the top of that I coß.iU naire an(i work my way down, ■an ?oot ball (he means Ameri- * *). the roughest sport—yes, er thin boxing. I’ve seen as