By Rusty Rubin, managing editor, of Ringsports.com, and author of “Off the Canvas”, a view of American history and the social problems of the times, as witnessed by an 80-year old ex-champion. “Off the Canvas” is a book that has been getting rave reviews. Copies are $15.00 each available at Ringsports.com and on-line major book retailers. For a list of the reviews please contact me.***
I have to come out of the closet and admit it, sad but true, I am a hockey fan. And I’m very upset that the NHL season has been cancelled. I lost whatever interest I had left in baseball, when they went on strike some years back. But I find that unlike baseball, I actually miss hockey. A fan of hockey and boxing? Maybe a need a shrink. Most people don’t like either, but love baseball, as the ratings show all to well. I’m not knocking any sports here, everyone has different tastes, some you like, some you don’t. I used to love baseball, but not since the Dodgers left Brooklyn, and now if I watch nine innings a year, including the post season, it’s a lot.
I don’t know how many fight fans are hockey fans as well, but along with boxing and football, hockey is one of my three favorite sports. I guess I enjoy watching football because I played a bit, and enjoy seeing a well-executed play, both offensively and defensively, similar to boxing. If you know the game, you know what to look for.
As for hockey, I can’t even ice skate, but I love the non-stop end to end action. The body checks that accidentally can cause some very serious health problems. Hockey players go all out, end to end, giving the fans more than their money’s worth. So why are hockey ratings even lower than boxings? Great question and I’d be hard put to find an easy answer.
Truth be told, I go back to the original six team National Hockey League, and like most sports, I feel that expansion has hurt, rather than helped it. The strange thing is that while I enjoy watching ice hockey, I can’t stomach most other ice events, like figure skating. The gals are usually good enough to leer at, but as a ‘sporting’ event, it just puts me to sleep. Of course at my age, anything can put me to sleep.
As I age, not too gracefully, I tend to enjoy (maybe need is a better word) the fast action sports. Baseball has become too slow moving and predictable. Basketball has its moments, but just doesn’t do it for me. I admit to enjoying live horse racing, but live nowhere near a racetrack.
I know that I’m old school, and probably that’s why I prefer the ‘pure’ aspect of sports. I’d rather see a goaltender (that’s hockey and soccer speak for someone who is supposed to prevent the opposing team from scoring) make a great save than see a 10-9 shootout.
I’d rather see a boxer like Willie Pep, Billy Soose, Charley Burley, Jack Johnson fight and display their great ring skills than a behemoth score a one-punch KO. And I’d like to get back to eight or nine weight divisions instead of eighteen or more.
I don’t watch as much sports on TV as I used to. I still watch football (when it’s not on Fox) and major fights (can’t watch PPV as Dish Network is a monopoly trying to force those of us who have satellites to but their product, or miss out on the action). And I’m stubborn and won’t give in to nothing less than blackmail.
Maybe there’s a good side to being old school as well.***
Good for Robbie Pedan, taking care of favorite Nate “Big Mouth” Campbell in Australia. Campbell isn’t a bad fighter, and probably a decent enough guy, but I’ve had it up to here with trash talking in sports. It may sell tickets, but it really is uncalled for, and, in this instance, a forewarned Pedan obviously wasn’t going to give Campbell a chance to ‘splatter his brains all over the ring’. Getting your opponent angry can have the desired effect, causing him to make mistakes, but it can also anger him, as it did Pedan. The name of the game is boxing, not who can do the most “I’m gonna kill ya’s”.***
Now for this weeks fight, in Puerto Rico, where Demarcus “Chop Chop” Corley tries to de-rail the fast rising star, Miguel Cotto. The fact that Cotto is from Puerto Rico is also a plus here, because unlike Cory Spinks, he figures to fight well with the home field advantage.
Corley should be no match for Cotto, who is too fast and talented for the wily veteran, whose nickname sounds like he belongs in the kitchen of a Chinese restaurant.
My call is Cotto my stoppage midway.***
Great News: “Black Cloud” the boxing movie that I’ve written about here in the past, premiers on March 11, in NYC, L.A., Boston, Hartford, New Haven, and New London Ct. as well as Providence, RI. The Mohegan Sun in Connecticut will be hosting a screening or you can visit Blackcloudthemovie.com. Don’t miss this one.***
Agree or disagree, I always welcome comments.
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 boxing jokes, stories, quips and boxing oddities to (Rusty@ringsports.com), thanks, and members of the boxing media are free to send this most welcome information as well. All submissions used will be given full credit, if used in the book, and it will be given on who submits the story first, basis. Here’s your chance to have your name in print, instead of American’s Most Wanted posters.***
Agree or disagree, feel free to express your views.
Glove2Glove:
Please say prayers for the soul of former heavyweight contender Jimmy Young, who died of heart disease at age 56.***
Prayers for the soul of long-time Minnesota boxing promoter, and great friend of the sport, Tommy Brunette, who passed away suddenly last week.
Prayers requested for the return to health of former New England featherweight champion, down but not out with a brain tumor as well as Ray Lampkin, former top contender who underwent triple bypass surgery recently. Also prayers are needed for the return to health of Sheila Sepulveda, widow of Reno based Ahora Spanish News Publisher Miguel, and mother of Steve Sepulveda.
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.***
Prayers needed for the return to health of Alfonso Luna, father of our outstanding photographer Ray Luna, who has taken ill in Southern California.
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.***
Please say prayers for wife of RS.com writer Marty Carson (auto accident) who is having health problems) of Indiana. Marty, who is a long time friend and a boxing expert, is also ailing a bit.***
Please say prayers for the return to health of Orazio Esposito, father of our photographer Richard Esposito.***
Sandy Johnson a great gal as well as 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 moved from Reno to New York, suffered a stroke a few years back. He may be down, but knowing him personally, 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 number of folks who either like or dislike this portion of the column, are asking if I have my own political site, or do I write for one. The answer to both questions is no. And no, no one has made me an offer that I can refuse. For those who enjoy this part of the column, keep on reading, for those who don’t, stop right here!
As the price of oil skyrockets in America once again, you have to feel sorry for those who cannot afford the price, or who have to freeze because they can’t pay the high heating bills. And with this crazy weather this year, no place is immune from the problems created by the cold.
It’s a hard issue, to be sure, and made even harder because of our dependence on foreign oil. So here are some questions for you to ask your legislators: Why aren’t we building more refineries in this country?
Why did the President change his mind, without asking Americans, about Iraqi oil? As I recall we were supposed to be paid back for the sacrifice of Americans in Iraq, by a cheap supply of crude. Of course, talk is cheap, and all kinds of lies can be told to convince you that going to war is worth it. Cheap oil prices aren’t happening and will not happen, at least certainly not as a result of the Iraq war.***
I thought the revelation of the secret Bush recordings (pre-Presidential) gave a good insight into the man, and shed him in a good light.
While I don’t agree with secretly taping anyone, at least this was far less damaging to the Oval Office than the taping done during the Clinton/Lewinsky tryst, which certainly did not help the image of our leader at that time, although it probably helped boost cigar sales.
Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you (Rusty@ringsports.com)