OCTOBER 14, 1948
MY CHOICE FOR TOP CONTINENTAL MANAGER
This decision was not taken lightly. We had a repeat winner in the Continental Association just like the Federal loop and while both of those managers should be commended on their efforts, I like to find the nuggets. Or what I feel is truly exceptional work.
The Montreal Saints have not had a winning record since 1930, when they finished 3rd in the CA with an 86-68 record. And while they still haven't achieved a winning record, they did finish the year at an even 500 77-77 and had to win their last 4 games to do it. They also went 38-34 after the All-Star break and showed some improvement. The Saints Manager Jim Cator has been on the job roughly 1 1/2 seasons since taking over in 1947. The Saints finished 33-38 down the stretch under Cator in the 47 season which was a drastic improvement over the 32-51 they were before he arrived. In my mind Jim Cator is the CA Manager of the year having done something that hasn't happened in almost 20 years. A non-losing season for the Saints. Can Cator and the Saints management improve on that and finally get back into a pennant race in 1949? For long suffering Saints fans the answer is a hopeful, Oui!
I took a hard look at Toronto's Bob Call, who has been embattled the last several years in the press and from the ownership box. The Wolves have had some success this decade, evening winning the World Series in 1940 and 3 straight 2nd place finishes along the way. The last couple of years saw a lot of struggles and the Wolves were not figured into being a contender this seasons. But they surprised everyone and improved 8 games and went from the 2nd division to 3rd place just 5 games out. Call's contract is up and there has been no word on his status in Toronto.
KNIGHTS CONFIDENT HEADING INTO SHOWDOWN WITH ST MAGNUS
The Detroit City College Knights are finally in the spot they thought they should have been in at the end of last season - ranked number one in the polls thanks to a 3-0 start and a little help from their friendly rivals down the road in Lansing, who crushed St Blane's dreams of another perfect season Saturday.
The Knights have outscored their three opponents by an 85-13 margin in earning road wins at St Ignatius and Whitney College sandwiched around a closer than expected 9-0 shutout of Tommy Norwood and his Portland Tech Magpies. Quarterback Paul Erdinger is now a seasoned veteran, starting for the third straight season as a senior and has guided the Knights to a 22-1 record over that stretch. The Knights have not lost in Great Lakes Alliance section play since falling to Central Ohio back in 1944 -that was the year the Aviators were perfect but like the Knights a year ago had to settle for being considered #2 in the polls.
Meanwhile, in Latrobe this week the Fighting Saints have been saying all the right things despite the fact that the loss to St Ignatius on their home field Saturday all but doomed St Blane to having no chance at a record third consecutive national title. Christian Trophy candidate Joe Fulgham, the senior jitterbug who dabbles in baseball as well and has 335 yards rushing in just three games although he was held to a season low 97 by the Lancers Saturday, says the team is not worried about the polls. "We can only control what we do," explained the senior halfback/centerfielder. "We are obviously disappointed with the loss but it is a long season and we are confident we will get back on track."
This week seems like it is tailor-made for a bounce back from the Fighting Saints who travel west to face College of Omaha. The Raiders are 1-2 and should hardly instill much fear in St Blane with losses to Minnesota Tech and Boulder State over the past two weeks.
DESMARAIS DECLINES TITLE SHOT
Will Fight Melanson, Then Return To France
Former World and Current European Middleweight Champion Edouard Desmarais has told the American Boxing Federation thanks, but no thanks. The 33-year-old Frenchman, who beat Frank Melanson in July to win the world title only to lose it in a controversial split decision in Montreal to Canadian Adrian Petrie nearly two weeks ago, was granted an immediate rematch by the ABF after their investigation of the bout. Desmarais took a few days to consider it but has declined the opportunity to be the opponent for Petrie's first title defense and will instead fight Melanson at New York's Bigsby Garden January 8 as had been agreed to last month.
"I do not want to be given anything," said Desmarais in a brief press conference, "and I certainly don't want anyone thinking that Petrie did anything wrong so I will respectfully decline the ABF's invitation for a rematch."
Desmarais did not rule out perhaps fighting for the world title again but said he missed his home in France and planned to return, but would settle the score against Melanson before heading home. Melanson-Desmarias III was supposed to be a third title fight between the pair until Petrie got in the way with his split-decision win. It is still expected to be a large payday for the Frenchman and his rival from Pittsburgh -a favourite of the working man who always draws a large following- as the duo battle for bragging rights once and for all. Melanson won the first fight between the pair during his first run as world champion back in October of 1946 before Desmarais took the belt away from Frank the Tank with a 5th round TKO win in Philadelphia in July.
Melanson camp acknowledged that their fighter was very happy that the rubber match between the two rivals would go on as planned.
As for Petrie, he offered no reaction beyond saying he was going to take a few weeks to relax while plans were being finalized for who the Canadian, and now World champ would face in his first defense of the middleweight title.
UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS- Oct 15- Denny Arena, Boston: HW contender Roy Crawford (27-3) vs Todd MacKinney (26-10-1)
- Oct 17- Washington DC: Former MW champ John Edmonds (25-3) vs Eric Deal (9-8-1)
- Oct 22- London, Eng: World Heavyweight champion Hector Sawyer (58-3-1) defends his title against Grant Knowles (31-4-1)
- Oct 29 - Los Angeles: MW Nick Harris (23-5-1) vs Ron Davis (7-3-2)
- Nov 3 - Memphis, TN: MW John Baker (20-5-1) vs Mark McCoy (13-0)
- Nov 16- Lakeside Auditorium, Chicago: HW Joey Tierney (12-0) vs Gil Hilliard (24-8-2)
- Jan 8 - Bigsby Garden: MW Frank Melanson (33-2-2) vs Edouard Desmarais (42-2)
The Week That Was
Current events from 10/11/1948 to 10/13/1948
- Despite all of the rhetoric of a heated Presidential campaign, Secretary of State Marshall returned back to Paris in efforts to solve the Berlin situation. Marshall told the Russians that bi-partisan statements over the weekend showed the world "we have a completely united foreign policy."
- Most world leaders appear to be of the opinion that the Berlin crisis should not, but may, cause another world war.
- Gov. Dewey speaking in Miami assured Government career employees that their jobs would be protected under a Republican administration "regardless of political affiliation."
- As he campaigned in the midwest, President Truman used Gov. Dewey -instead of the Eightieth Congress- for his number one target, declaring that Dewy "put his stamp of approval" on a Congress which put the Nation's prosperity "in grave danger."
- Electric power was cut throughout France as a Communist-led industrial strike sapped the nation's industrial life.