01.06.2004, 20:40
Wednesday, October 15, 1952
Humboldt Standard
Eureka, California
Jim Londos, The Golden Greek, Has His Say About Wrestling
By Tim Canty
United Press Sports Writer
Chicago – Jim Londos, former Golden Greek of wrestling, today threw a half nelson on modern critics who claim that all the bouts are fixed and that grappling has fallen of as a sport.
Londos, last of the legitimate world champions, still is active in the sport that gave him world-wide prominence.
Past 50 – but looking 20 years younger – Londos wrestles about wrestels (sic) about twice a week and wins most of his matches.
“I get sick and tired of everybody knocking wrestling,” Londos said. “Actually it’s three or four times better than it was 20 years ago.”
The handsome grappler said that most sports fans who go to matches today would die of boredom at the wrestling bouts staged in the sports’ hey-day.
“It might have been interesting from a scientific angle,” he said, “but today you couldn’t fill a phone booth with those experts who would pay their way into an arena.”
Londos, who marathon struggles with Ed “Strangler” Lewis packed Wrigley field in 1934 pointed to the big crowds drawn by wrestlers such as “Gorgeous George,” “Cyclone” Anaya and “Argentine” Tony Rocca.
“These guys all have a style and they’ve capitalized on it, but what’s more important they can really wrestle,” he said.
“You take this kid Vern Gagne,” Londos said. “Well, he could have tired most of the wrestlers 20 years ago in knots. So could Ruffy Silverstein.”
Londos said that wrestling’s renewed popularity is proved by the fact that “wrestling in Chicago actually outdraws boxing.”
“And you have to remember that wrestling is televised here three times a week – that proves that the fans come out to see it even though they coud sit in their living room and get it for nothing.
“Another thing,” Londos said, “wrestlers have fan clubs all across the country and the top attractions in the business make more money than the country’s top boxers.”
Londos admitted that many of the present day grunt-and-groaners could double for some of Hollywood’s leading men when it comes to giving out with the pathos.
“But that’s what the fans want and it makes a better show,” he said.
“One thing,” he said, “a guy in this sport can just put on so much. He’s got to be in shape. I’ve seen wrestlers get thrown out of the ring and bounce on the cement of an auditorium.”
Humboldt Standard
Eureka, California
Jim Londos, The Golden Greek, Has His Say About Wrestling
By Tim Canty
United Press Sports Writer
Chicago – Jim Londos, former Golden Greek of wrestling, today threw a half nelson on modern critics who claim that all the bouts are fixed and that grappling has fallen of as a sport.
Londos, last of the legitimate world champions, still is active in the sport that gave him world-wide prominence.
Past 50 – but looking 20 years younger – Londos wrestles about wrestels (sic) about twice a week and wins most of his matches.
“I get sick and tired of everybody knocking wrestling,” Londos said. “Actually it’s three or four times better than it was 20 years ago.”
The handsome grappler said that most sports fans who go to matches today would die of boredom at the wrestling bouts staged in the sports’ hey-day.
“It might have been interesting from a scientific angle,” he said, “but today you couldn’t fill a phone booth with those experts who would pay their way into an arena.”
Londos, who marathon struggles with Ed “Strangler” Lewis packed Wrigley field in 1934 pointed to the big crowds drawn by wrestlers such as “Gorgeous George,” “Cyclone” Anaya and “Argentine” Tony Rocca.
“These guys all have a style and they’ve capitalized on it, but what’s more important they can really wrestle,” he said.
“You take this kid Vern Gagne,” Londos said. “Well, he could have tired most of the wrestlers 20 years ago in knots. So could Ruffy Silverstein.”
Londos said that wrestling’s renewed popularity is proved by the fact that “wrestling in Chicago actually outdraws boxing.”
“And you have to remember that wrestling is televised here three times a week – that proves that the fans come out to see it even though they coud sit in their living room and get it for nothing.
“Another thing,” Londos said, “wrestlers have fan clubs all across the country and the top attractions in the business make more money than the country’s top boxers.”
Londos admitted that many of the present day grunt-and-groaners could double for some of Hollywood’s leading men when it comes to giving out with the pathos.
“But that’s what the fans want and it makes a better show,” he said.
“One thing,” he said, “a guy in this sport can just put on so much. He’s got to be in shape. I’ve seen wrestlers get thrown out of the ring and bounce on the cement of an auditorium.”