The ep12 Grannys Story of Gene Tunney

This is Jimmy Powers and Happy to Becoming Your Way with another Grantland Rice story. Again, this is Jimmy Powers transcribed with another chapter from the colorful keys of Granny Rice's famous typewriter, the one that beat out the history of headline American sports

for more than half a century. Today we meet Jean Tunney, the man whose entire dedication in life was spelled in two words, Jack Dempsey. Jean Tunney, typified by Granny as a study in concentration and dedication, so with a salute to the every young spirit of granny rice I take up his autobiography, the tumult

and the shouting, and in first person pick up the narrative. I vividly recall the first time I met Toni. The New York Giants were playing at home, and Haywood Bruin and I were in the press box at the Polo Grounds.

Walter Trumbull, sports editor of the Old New York Post, appeared in our midst with a young fellow in tow. His name? Jean Toni. Bruin made quite a fuss over the handsome youngster. What are your plans?" I asked.

My plans are all Dempsey, he replied. Very interesting, I said, but why not sharpen your artillery on Harry Gribb, Carpentier, or Tom Gibbons before you start hollering for Dempsey? I suppose I'll have to beat them on the way up, Tunney said, but Dempsey is the one I want.

I said no more and turned my attention back to McGraw's Giants. I recall Tunny later volunteered that he was 23 years old. I couldn't help thinking that this forthright young fellow would make a fine insurance salesman, but certainly had no business having his features and brains scrambled by Dempsey's steel fists.