Great, by now obscure character to get to. Some historians think that, rather than Rothstein, Atell started the Black Sox scandal. One theory goes that he set things in motion, figuring the players would go along since they figured he represented Rothstein and guessing that Rothstein or someone else would put up the money once he had the players in line.
OK. As a boxer, Attell may well have been the greatest featherweight of his age. This is arguable, but he did rule the featherweight division for title from 1903 to 1912, and some critics believe a fair number of fights he lost he tossed for the money. Which brings us to the second point. He doesn't appear to have been a very commendable person, notwithstanding the Black Sox scandal (in which he was a minor character, a bagman essentially). Still, how many great athletes weren't fine human beings: Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby etc. and lets not forget our quintessential American hero, Charles Lindbergh. Great pilot, crappy human being.
Great, by now obscure character to get to. Some historians think that, rather than Rothstein, Atell started the Black Sox scandal. One theory goes that he set things in motion, figuring the players would go along since they figured he represented Rothstein and guessing that Rothstein or someone else would put up the money once he had the players in line.
ReplyDeleteI wonder, is he one of the "minor" characters surrounding Rothstein in Boardwalk Empire?
ReplyDeleteOK. As a boxer, Attell may well have been the greatest featherweight of his age. This is arguable, but he did rule the featherweight division for title from 1903 to 1912, and some critics believe a fair number of fights he lost he tossed for the money. Which brings us to the second point. He doesn't appear to have been a very commendable person, notwithstanding the Black Sox scandal (in which he was a minor character, a bagman essentially). Still, how many great athletes weren't fine human beings: Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby etc. and lets not forget our quintessential American hero, Charles Lindbergh. Great pilot, crappy human being.
ReplyDelete