Wanted to share with you all....

This past Friday, I had the pleasure and opportunity to visit Kronk Gym. Ladies and Gentleman...I was in Boxing Heaven...I learned about this a few days before Friday and the anticipation was killin' me. I have heard so many stories of Kronk and I have seen soooo many pictures, but even living here, I have never been there. From all the stories I have heard, you need a ticket in...ya' gotta know someone who has access. You could I imagine, just walk in, but if no own knows ya' , you will be questioned. I have heard stories of the heat in the basement of this old beat up building, and yes it is true, its hot. I heard stories of the smell, and yes, I have never smelled that smell before. I have heard stories that its a rough place, with rough people, and the fighters in that gym are there for serious business, and all of that too is true. I walked into the basement, and the heat and smell is overwhelming, people sitting along one wall. There is only one ring, and it was recently covered with a new canvas...preped for Jermaine Taylor, 1 heavy bag...1, thats it, and it is new because the last one they had punched a whole through it, and no amount of duck tape was going to fix it. They has 2 speed bags, thats it, 2. I heard stories that it was a small place but I never dreamed it to be that small. All those fighters sharing such little amount of equipment...it's a dog eat dog place. I heard that Jermaine Taylor recently quoted as saying that he has to stay on his toes because his sparring partners are trying to rip his head off. Sitting there, watching the fighters, smelling the smell, watching the trainers work with their pro's...trainers that have been there for years...Champion level trainers, old timers and not so old timers, it was overwhelming. Thinking about Tommy Hearns down in this gym 30 years ago as a young boy, Hilmer Kenty, and the dozens of other Champions who learned their craft there, the stories that those walls could tell...even though I am an up and comin' cutman...I am still....A Fan....and as a fan...I couldnt have been more thrilled. I think every fan deserves a day like that....got to Emmanuel and yes he does look like the mario guy...but he is still a hell a va trainer...Have any of you had an experience like this...here is your chance to post it...