By Rusty Rubin, managing editor, of Ringsports.com, and author of “Off the Canvas”, a historically accurate view of American history and the social problems of the times, as witnessed by an 80-year old ex-champion. “Off the Canvas” takes you from the time of the Great Depression till the World Trade Center disaster and 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.***

To say that I was shocked to learn of the passing of boxing writer and friend Jack Welsh, in Las Vegas on April 25th, would be a huge understatement. I was numb. To say that the scoop of his death (got a call from the LV coroners office) was one that I didn’t want to break, would be right on point. It’s never easy losing a friend or loved one, and in many ways Jack qualified for both with many of us in print and broadcast journalism.

Jack, who was getting up in years (estimated in his early 80’s at passing) was constantly having some hearing problems and his favorite line seemed to be “I have to get a new telephone”. A hearing aid would have made more sense, but Jack was not a wealthy man, at least financially speaking.

Jack Welsh however, was quite wealthy when it came to making and keeping loyal friends, both in and out of the boxing community. Jack was the kind of guy you had to like, and who, if he could, would give you the shirt off his back. He had a great sense of humor and was always fun to share a drink, usually more with.

I was blessed. I was fortunate enough to know Jack, and call him a friend, for almost 25 years. He rarely complained and always had kind words for everyone. He was much more than a boxing writer as in his day; he covered many sporting events, including horse racing and football.

Jack was a tireless worker who told everyone who would listen (and often those who didn’t) that you could call him 24/7, and you could. I will never know how he got by with so little sleep, but he always managed to.

To the end, Jack was always asking me to come to Vegas to attend the Boxing Writers of America dinner at Mandalay Bay on May 6th. Sadly, if I do make it to Vegas it will be for a more solemn occasion, Jack’s funeral or wake.

I have not been to Vegas in more than five years. A combination of the passing of my best friend Sue, and my own health problems have limited me in the area of travel. I wish I could have seen Jack Welsh one more time, to tell him how much I valued our friendship, while he was still with us. Perhaps that is what hurts the most, but Jack would always understand, at least he would if he could hear you properly.

I will be running a tribute to Jack in my June issue of Ringsports.com, the magazine. All his friends are asked to contribute their remembrances of Jack Welsh for this edition.

Jack Welsh was a good friend and will be dearly missed by this scribe as well as many, many others.

Agree or disagree, I always welcome comments.

Al Bernstein, is now hosting an internet show, Ringside Report every Tuesday at 8 PM PST. Check out WWW.CEN.TV or go to the archives at www.cen.tv./shows/al/al.html. Knowing Al, I can promise that you won’t be disappointed.***

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 ‘America’s Most Wanted’ posters.***

Agree or disagree, feel free to express your views.

Glove2Glove:

Prayers are requested for the soul of long-time friend and boxing writer Jack Welsh, who past away in Las Vegas on April 25.

Prayers for Crystal Platzner, wife of boxing good guy, Harrin. Crys will be undergoing some serious surgery and needs your prayers for a complete recovery.

Prayers for boxing promoter and all around good guy Clem Crowley who could use a push in the get well ranks just about now.

Prayers 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 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: Finally, just as I was giving up on it, a great idea from a member of Congress. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has threatened to shut down the government if the Republicans vote on an up and down vote for the President’s judicial nominations.

Shutting down Congress will do two wonderful things for our Country; it will allow us to save money on Congressmen’s salaries which can help fund our social security system. Of course that’s assuming that our Representatives (the good old boys club) won’t do their usual ‘take the pay for doing nothing routine’ or go on junkets at taxpayer expense.

And think of how much energy we can save, in this case in the form of hot air, the noxious gas that rises all the time from both houses on Congress.

What I don’t understand is why the Republicans, when they can’t get their way, (and they have had 95% of the Presidents judicial nominees approved) decide to go into the crybaby routine and threaten to force the issue. These are supposed to be full grown men who are running our country.

The filibuster that the Dems threaten to use is far from a new precedent. It was put into the Constitution to allow for fairness, when the majority of one party of Congress tries to ram their will down the other party’s throats, and it’s something that both parties have used to their advantage over the years. It is not an illegal tactic.

The bottom line here is that if the Republicans enforce a one man – one vote here, think of the problems that will occur when the Dems are in power, and that will happen, although I don’t see that anytime soon.

And with President Bush traveling with (and thus endorsing) Tom Delay and pushing for John Bolton for UN Ambassador, I have to wonder who is giving him advice on these guys, because it’s divisive and bad advice anyway you look at it. Loyalty is one thing, and rigidity quite another.

Let’s look at the list on who our President considers to be his friends: Along with Bolton and Delay, we have Vincente Fox of Mexico, who has no respect for this Country and seems to want to turn it into a third world nation. Then there’s Vlad Putin of Russia, whose forces refused to join us in Iraq and who usually votes against us in the UN. Mr. Bush, with friends like this, we don’t need enemies.

There is however a plus side for President Bush, he decided to take my advice (he must be reading this column) and now wants to build new refineries on closed military bases (that’s his idea). Great idea if I do say so myself. Guess he didn’t like re-opening the ones that closed under his watch. What, however, Mr. Bush has added on, is government subsidies for the oil companies for building them. Like they aren’t making enough money from us as it is. Our dyslexic President Hood Robin strikes again.

Paying companies to do the right thing is not what I can a novel idea in American politics, particularly in regard to this administration’s ties to big oil, but in this case it’s simply not needed and becomes yet another drain on our already over-expanded budget deficit.

Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you (Rusty@ringsports.com), and feel free to pass this along to your representatives, most of whom aren’t really your representatives anyhow.