By Rusty Rubin, managing editor, of Ringsports.com, and the author of “Off the Canvas”, a view of American history and social problems as viewed by an 80-year old ex-champion. A book that has been getting rave reviews. With Christmas right around the corner, it would make a great, inexpensive gift for that boxing fan in your life.***
It wasn’t a big deal, but I’m glad some folks were astute enough to catch my error in the last article. Cory Spinks is indeed Leon’s son, not Michaels. Thanks for being knowledgeable enough to pick up on my goof and calling it to my attention.
But at least my picks were right on, (a fairly easy task this night) got to do something right to keep my limited credibility. Cory Spinks was much to fast for the hard hitting ex-champ, Miguel Angel Gonzalez and won a fairly easy unanimous decision.
The other fight figured to be and was more problematic, and was. In today’s heavyweight division anyone can beat anyone else on any given day, and for a while it looked like Kali Meehan would take the measure of champion Lamon Brewster.
It was a close fight, with most fans thinking Meehan had done enough to win the decision, but the judges, on a close split decision, thought otherwise. So, I wound up batting 1000 for the day.
Right after the fight we were informed that Lamon Brewster’s next fight will be against Evander Holyfield. Don King feels that Evander, even though he’s ancient and has looked bad in recent fights, deserves another shot at the title.
I like Evander and wish him luck in everything he does, but please, not in boxing. I want to see a 43 year old Holyfield fight again as much (or little) as I do want to see Riddick Bowe return to the ring.
Our sport needs new and talented blood in the heavyweight ranks, and the Olympics obviously didn’t provide it, anymore then Bowe or Holyfield will. Some friends from the U.K tell me that even Danny Williams is a flash in the pan and has no heart, even if he beat Mike Tyson. What does that say about Tyson? What does that say about today’s heavyweights?
The blood that’s being provided to us by Don King and friends is iron-poor, tired blood that even Geritol can’t help with.
I’ll repeat, this is the worst heavyweight division I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been in the fight game for more then 50 years.***
And I want all our great readers to keep in mind that Rick Schroeders new movie, Black Cloud, will soon be coming to a theatre near you. I urge you not to miss it! It’s a great boxing that deals with both Olympic style boxing and the evils of racism and other problems of the Native Americans.
My good friend Stephen B. Acunto, who founded the American Association for the Improvement of Boxing, along with Rocky Marciano, now has his book “Champions Boxing Guide” available in Spanish. For details visit Steve’s website: AAIB.org
Please help me with my upcoming new book. Send all jokes, quips and boxing oddities to Rngsports@aol.com, thanks, and members of the boxing media are free to send this most welcome information as well.***
Update: We are again taking orders for autographed copies of my new book, “OFF THE CANVAS”. Check our website for details, or for an autographed copy, just $15, send me an e-mail. It’s also available on the web at Authorhouse.com, ID#22873, or through major on line book stores like Borders, Barnes and Noble, Waldenbooks or Amazon.com, and some of the major bookstores. If the store you frequent doesn’t have copies, you can ask them to order if for you.***
Agree or disagree, feel free to express your views.
Glove2Glove:
Herb Platzner, father of RS.com scribe Harrin is having heart problems. Prayers for his health would be much appreciated.***
Dub Harris, WWII hero and founder and past President of the World Boxing Hall of Fame has suffered a stroke in Southern California. Please pray for his quick return to health.***
Please say prayers for the return to health of Helen Wambolt, wife of our East Coast World Boxing Hall of Fame writer Danny Wambolt. Cards will also be most welcome.***
Prayers are requested for Donna Jean Landers, boxing fan from Oklahoma, who has been fighting cancer for three years. She needs your help my friends.
Please say prayers for wife of RS.com writer Marty Carson (auto accident) who is having health problems) of Indiana. Marty is a long time friend and a boxing. expert.***
Please say prayers for the return to health of Orazio Esposito, father of our photographer Richard Esposito.***
Sandy Johnson a staff member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission is fighting breast cancer. A call, e-mail or card, along with your prayers would really do a lot to raise the spirits of an old friend.***
Special prayers go out to Mills Lane for his complete recovery. Mills, who suffered a stroke a few years back may be down, but knowing him, he’s far from out.***
Prayers for the return to health of Don Donelson, father of writer Tom, and Gene Sebastian, brother of former middleweight champ Billy Soose. Both are suffering from congestive heart disease. And to Arthur Terciera, father of writer Keith, also having heart related problems.***
Prayers are requested for Ringsports.com photo journalist Dale Hausner of Arizona, who is having problems with cancer.***
Prayers are requested for Kenneth E. Ryther father of our photo journalist Amy Green. Kenneth is suffering from Parkinson’s.***
Prayers for Ed “Whitey” Hadar, a former boxer who is having some serious health problems.***
Please say prayers for Phill Grazide of Santa Rosa, CA. a big supporter of amateur boxing, who is suffering the crippling effects of rheumatoid arthritis.***
Needless to say we need prayers for the return to health of both former champs Greg Page and Gerald McClellan, both confined to wheelchairs.***
Glove2Glove is a non-denominational group set up to aide those boxing folks and their relatives in need of prayers and cards. We accept no money and only contact our members when someone is in need. It’s free to join. Simply send us your e-mail address. And even if you’re not a member, feel free to contact us if you are aware of some boxing person in need.
Touching on politics briefly: A few people asked why I didn’t write anything about the Republican Convention?
Simple, I watched as much of that as I did the Democratic Convention and that amounted to absolutely nothing.
I know the good old boy rhetoric that you hear at these events, trying to make a case either for re-election or to make a change. The speakers they have simply extol the party line or the bullshit they want to have you believe. The speeches are simply meaningless because promises made today, do not necessarily equate to what happens tomorrow.
When I was younger (a lot), I took the time to watch these conventions and make up my mind from what was said. And I learned it meant nothing. The majority of the promises made were broken.
I vote on the real issues and for the candidate, not for what they say in approved speeches. I’ve learned that at conventions you have to read between the lines and pay more attention to what is not said, rather than the lines the viewers and attendees are fed, and that goes for both Parties.
Unless there is a convention where the nominee is not decided in advance, I have no interest in wasting my time watching it. At least then it has some meaning as to what candidate may be guiding us over the next four years.
At the Democratic Convention, those who addressed the crowd took a more moderate approach than the party platform called for. The Republicans did the same.
The one thing that both parties generally do at these events are to showcase an up and coming candidate for the future. Dislike her as I do, Hilary Clinton was one of the keynote speakers for the Dems, and there were a number of moderate Republicans showcased at their convention, as both parties were carefully laying the groundwork for the 2008 campaign.
And why would a NY Democrat like Ed Koch speak at the Republican Convention and endorse George Bush? Because in four years, Hilary wants to run and she’s the Senator from Koch’s State (do I smell a possible appointment?)
And Zel Miller? He’s a Democrat who represents Georgia, a conservative Southern State and rarely votes with the Democrats anyway, so why not endorse Bush? Maybe there is a political appointment down the road for him if Bush gets re-elected? Or maybe he just intends to switch parties, which is his right, and at least he’d be honest with his constituents.
I’ve often stated that we need a three party system. Not Republicans and Democrats, but Conservatives, Liberals and Moderates so everyone in office and seeking office can be comfortable in their own skin and the public knows who they are really voting for.***
Patronage (jobs for assistance) often happens in political campaigns, but usually it’s after the election. Too bad the election isn’t held today, because with less than 60 days to go before the vote, I was amazed to read that President Bush appointed two Swift Boat Veterans who appeared in the anti-Kerry ads, to be advisors on his Veteran Affairs Committee. We know there’s a quid pro quo, always is, but isn’t this action a bit premature, giving Kerry an issue and perhaps getting some egg on the President’s face? Bush should have waited. If he’s elected in two months, as now expected, Bush wouldn’t have any explaining to do.
And according to a news story that passed this way yesterday, Bob Graham of Florida said that General Tommy Franks told him as early as 2000, that in effect we are going to war in Iraq. Whoa. This is before the 9/11 attack wasn’t it? So what did/does Iraq have to do with the war on terror? Wouldn’t we have gone in anyhow, without the excuse provided by those terrorist attacks?
Like I said two months from now those questions would be moot, but don’t be surprised if they become issues during the next two months.***
Marie Antoinette said to the hungry masses “let them eat cake”. To paraphrase this to all the terrorists I say: “Let them eat pork!”***
Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you.
