88 years ago today!!!

Tunney was a businessman first and a pall bearer/greb friend somewhere further down his line of priorities. The image concious Tunney never let personal loyalties or friendships get in the way of how he wished the public to percieve him. Considering he spent the rest of his life fostering the myth that he defeated Greb in four subsequent contests tells me all I need to know. So does that fact that mere days before his death Greb blasted a local newspaper for publishing Tunney's story of his life in which he continues to claim Greb defeated him through dirty tactics. They may have had a professional respect for each other borne out of their five fights but that didnt mean that tunney wasnt going to spread lies to make himself look better and that didnt mean that greb wasnt going to call him on it. As i said, it just so happened that Tunney, and the minority of newspapermen who either had an interest in their hometown boy or were getting paid off by him, outlived Greb.

 

I beleive Tunney ended up a drunk.

 

Tunney did end up a drunk and did indeed lie about several things in regards to his fights with Greb. Remember Greb was the ONLY man to beat Tunney and I suspect Tunney felt the need to minimize this defeat (as it was a legendary beating) whenever he saw the opportunity. This is a guy who dropped one of the most capable managers/cornermen in the sport (Bagley) so he could sign up with Billy Gibson who he admitted was one of the most "connected" fight managers in the sport. He did this to give him an edge, an unfair edge in my opinion. Gibson had the financial backing of notorious gangsters such as Arnold Rothstein and Max Boo Boo Hoff. Tunney wasnt afraid to appeal to the darker aspects of the sport in order to gain an advantage, fights, wins, or purses.

He was later named the head of the board of directors for a major business (I cant remember the name) through the influence of his millionaire wife Polly Lauder. It was a figurehead position and was later stated by many in attendance that Tunney would often show up drunk to the board meetings, pass out in his chair, and sleep through them. Things continued as normal as if he werent even there.

 

I can't beleive that Greb would ask anyone to take it easy on him, he defines the term , reckless bravery to me.
He gave no quarter, and certainly expected none in return.

Tunney ,from statements he made over the years ,appears a rather pompous individual.
But I do like the story of him sparring with Hemingway,Hemingway was a decent bar brawler and a dirty one at that . Apparently they were moving around pulling their shots ,when Hemingway threw a low punch that hurt Tunney,Tunney feinted Hemingway's guard down, and threw a right hand that stopped a millimeter short of his face.Tunney said" dont ever do that again" and the sparring finished.

 

My Parents can go die, There scum! Shouldn't of brung me into this world

 

Well your here now,so make the most of it,and contribute something god damn it!

 

It can be found in George Plimpton's book" Shadow Box", I recommend it.:good

 

I would add I've read some N.Y.C. reports of Greb-Tunney One indicating a draw would be fair verdict, so corrupted were they from influence $$$
Trying to remember the sportswriter, himself now passed on, who told me of the small crowd surrounding Gene Tunney, holding court in his rather pompous, bragging, in his usual cups way. My guy interjected "Then what about Harry Greb!!??
Tunney turned and walked away!