* Indestructable is the word for Sonja Henie, Olympic ice skating champ prior to the Second World War and a professional skater for more than 20 years. Still going strong, she recently starred in a 90-minute television show, as head of a large cast of skaters, comedians and “dry land” talent, Gert Whyte'e SPORTLIGHT HREE letters in the mail this morning; one saying the PT should enlarge its sports pages; a second thinks the paper gives too much space to. sports; and a third advo- cates the banning of boxing because of its alleged brutali- ty, and offers as evidence the fact that Sandy Saddler, world featherweight champ, is going blind. I'd like other readers to ex- press their opinions on the amount of space the PT should devote to sports, and the re- lative emphasis we should give to amateur and professional sports. Final decision on this question should rest with our readers, who are “the actual owners of this paper, because they raise the money to keep the presses rolling. On the alleged brutality of boxing as a sport I will say a few words. In the first place, Sandy Saddler didn’t damage his eyes in the ring; he may suffer partial blindness because of injury incurred in an auto ac- cident last July. Having said that, just to get the record straight, let me add that in my opinion professional boxing is beset by many evils, including mis-matches which often lead to boxers taking unnecessary beatings in the ring. But I believe that there is no finer sport than amateur boxing, and no better builder of character, courage and skill. Boxing has been popu- lar since the ancient Greeks revived sports of various kinds. Under proper supervision, box- ing is one of those sports which help to develop healthier young citizens, That’s my say on the matter, Readers can take it from here. Dempsey likes Patterson, other experts are cagey Ex-heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey thinks Rocky Marciano could whip Floyd Patterson if he fought the 21-year-old champ this summer, but nevertheless predicts that the young Negro titleholder will develop into ‘‘one of the great champs of our time.’’ Unless Marciano ‘‘unretires”’ Patterson a brisk workout, opines Dempsey. The old Manassa Mauler has seen a lot of champions come and go since he lost the crown to Gene Tunney in a rain- swept Philadelphia ring back in 1926, but he holds Patterson in high regard “because he’s got plenty of stamina, heart and punching power.” Other boxing experts agree that Patterson. is the © best heavyweight in sight at the moment, but ridicule the idea that he stacks up well in com- parison with past champions. Charley Goldman, who trained Marciano, says that Patterson will never be a great champ and should not be compared with fighters like Dempsey, Louis, Tunney and Marciano. “Still,”_ adds. Goldman, “Floyd is only a baby yet, in ring experience, and he might develop into a great fighter.” Eighteen men have held the heavyweight title (in the era of modern boxing, with gloves) Is new basketball scandal in offing? Could another basketball scandal like the one which almost wrecked the sport in 1951 break sometime this year in the United States? There are indications that gamblers are again tinkering with players, and that some players, eager to pick up “easy” money, are contacting gamblers at the present time. In 1951 players at City Col- lege, Bradley, Kentucky and elsewhere were convicted of taking money to “throw” games or win by narrow mar- gins (giving the gamblers an edge on points betting) and were barred from the game for life. Now it is reported that some mid-western U.S. college bas- ketball players are searching out gamblers and offering their cooperation in return for a share of the profits. Although five players were caught in 1951, others escaped detection and some are now playing pro basketball. Wheth- er pro games are being fixed is anyone’s guess, Basketball has never caught on as big-time spectator sport in Canada to the same extent it has south of the border, and there has never been even a breath of scandal associated with the game here, But thou- sands attend games regularly in the U.S. and it is a “big time” sport with and bookies. Most of the bookies want to keep the game clean. They have the odds on their side and are afraid that another scandal would kill the goose that lays so many golden eggs for them. A basketball “fix” js easy to set up and exceedingly hard to detect. Perhaps that is why so many college kids think they can pick up some crook- ed money and not be caught. : Everyone knows that wrest]. ing is not on the level, but wrestling promoters bill their bouts as “exhibitions” and the fans pay for the -entertain- ment, gamblers * Sophomore s-nsation Wilt (the Stilt( Chamberlain shows how easy it is for a seven-footer to dunk a basket. The Kansas Jayhawker had a 45-point average in his first two college basketball games, but in recent weeks the oppo- sition has caught onto his style and lowered the figure. FEBRUARY 1, 1957 — there is no ohe in sight who can even give _Dempsey and Louis were eas” before Patterson. The list. reads like this: John L. Sullivan (last of the bare knuckle fighters); James J. Corbett; Robert Fitzsim- mons; James J. Jeffries; Tommy Burns; Jack Johnsons Jess Willard; Jack Dempsey: Gene Tunney; Max Schmeling: Jack Sharkey; Primo Carneré) Max Baer; James J. Brad- dock; Joe Louis; Ezza 3 Charles; Jersey Joe Walcott Rocky Marciano. ; : Corbett, Jeffries, -Johnsot; ily the pick of this bunch, folk — lowed by Tunney and Marci ano. Right now Patterson is rated i behind every previous champ: — ion, but he shouldn’t feel ba about it. Rocky Marciano was also regarded as an “accident when he won the title, but hé proved himself as rugged 3 his name, and as tough as they come. At 21, Patterson is te youngest man to ever win the heavyweight crown. Oldest was Joe Walcott, who was 3 before he made it. Biggest.champ was Jess Wil lard, 6 feet 6% inches and 252 pounds. Smallest was To Z Burns, 5 feet 7 inches and 178 © pounds. Bob Fitzsimmons wa a few pounds lighter thal Burns, but several inches tal ler. He was built like a light weight from the waist dow) but had blacksmith’s shoul ders. James J. Braddock was known ‘as the “Cinderell@ champ.” He had retired from the ring and was making # working on the waterfront i the depression days. Persuad’ ed to come back and meét Baer, he couldn’t resist thé temptation to pick up: a Dl of scratch. In the back of his mind he thought he might beat the over-confident Baer, wh? did most of his training 1 night clubs. It turned out h® Was right. Jack Jolinson was the first Negro heavyweight champiow although Peter Jackson woul almost certainly have achiev: that distinction if John L, Sul livan had not drawn the colot — line many years earlier. Th — Boston Strong Boy liked t boast that he could “lick 2DY man in the world” but he stU* — diously avoided tangling with Jackson. or | In recent years Negro fight ers have almost dominated th® heavyweight picture — Louls Charles, Walcott and now Pat terson. Perhaps a decade from now Floyd Patterson will:be rank | ed near the top, instead of at : the bottom of the list. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PA@