Distracted

During the last few pages of this section all he talked about was DiMagio's father during an arm wrestling match. He and another man were even for 1 day straight until it was called a draw. This could be Hemingway and another writer competing? Also while this was the only thing he talked about we do not know whether the old man still has the fish on the line or not. It could have slipped away while his mind was distracted or he could still have it.