The Good, the Bad, and the Downright Ugly

[Ted The Bull]

"Good article, but I think that a little verbal jarring outside the ring doesn't always reflect on a fighters amount of class or lack thereof. I think Shannon Briggs is an outspoken fighter and his rhetoric is done in such a way where it's not hurtful or meant to be a personal attack on another fighter. He called Brock, "brocoli"; I mean how hurtful or classless could that be?"

The mere fact that he would diss a guy who had just been iced in brutal fashion says more about Briggs than it does about Brock. There was absolutley no need for it.

[Holly McCall]

Then there is Paulie Malignaggi, blessed with uncanny boxing ability and cursed with no power. This brash product of Brooklyn seems to have followed in the footsteps of Hector "Macho" Camacho when it comes to showmanship. He even had to be carried out of the ring as a spectator at Foxwoods because of his heckling and behavior targeted at another fighter. Perhaps this makes up for the fact his fights are dreadfully and predictably boring with the exception of his effort against Miguel Cotto.

[Holly McCall]

Staged and phony press conference brawls to stoke up interest and gate figures have worn out their welcome. Can you imagine SSM, Jerry Quarry, Bob Foster, Evander Holyfield or Floyd Patterson engaging in this?

[Njord777]

Staged and phony press conference brawls to stoke up interest and gate figures have worn out their welcome. Can you imagine SSM, Jerry Quarry, Bob Foster, Evander Holyfield or Floyd Patterson engaging in this?

No, I can't. But I can imagine others - Tyson, Leonard, Ali - either running their mouths or taking it even further and having success. The names you mentioned are legendary inside the ring. The names of those who act in sometimes deplorable ways are often legends at the box office, though. It may be unfortunate but trash talk sells.

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

ACTUALLY, If you want to get technical about it, Ali aka CASSIUS CLAY was heavily influenced and even counseled on the art of trashtalking by the white wrestler Gorgeous George back in 1962 or 63' in Las Vegas.... many of Ali's most famous lines are actually ones he stole from George.

[Ted The Bull]

ACTUALLY, If you want to get technical about it, Ali aka CASSIUS CLAY was heavily influenced and even counseled on the art of trashtalking by the white wrestler Gorgeous George back in 1962 or 63' in Las Vegas.... many of Ali's most famous lines are actually ones he stole from George.

That is correct, George was a great actor. Ali took his stuff to a new level in the early 60's calling everyone a "bum" or a "chump." That's when the "trash" part of the game started. What he did to Smokin Joe to make him appear as an "Uncle Tom" was as mean spirited and viscious as you could get. Joe was from dirt poor beginnings and Ali was from a reasonably sheltered environment in Louisville, but by the time Ali got through, it seemed like the other way around.

[Ted The Bull]

From Scott Neufield via email from Boston:

Fascinating take on this modern trend Ted, what's even more fascinating is the fact that Ali may have been the one to spark it not only in boxing but in sports in general... Fascinating.

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

From Bear Stern via email from Florida:

Great piece, especially on wonder boy Cassius Clay. I refuse to call him Ali.

He should have been shot for refusing to serve. Now he is treated as hero. What has happened to us?

TED, Please tell this FOOL BearStern that his refusing to call Ali by his name is beyond ridiculous.... he should have been shot for refusing to defend a country that at the time allowed whites to make blacks like him drink out of specific water fountains and not be able to eat at certain restaurants????? Ali was the greatest BECAUSE he stood up to that craziness. You know what I love? I LOVE the fact that many of the people that refused service to blacks are still not yet 70 years old and they are alive in the world as it is today and they are forced to sit in restaurants, three seats away, with black kids wearing doorags, gold chains and Public Enemy T shirts.

[Ted The Bull]

It's so conflicted for me. I went down to Miss. with the Jesuit priests from Chicago back in the early 60's to help register the voters. That was scary stuff. Then the Cicero riots. Then I got caught in the MLK riots in Hartford and my ass was saved by a guy named Ned Coll. Then Viet Nam. So many cross currents, but at the end of the day, I realized I had experienced things and saw injustices in the late 40's, 50's and early 60's to which no young kid should ever be exposed. Back then, Chicago was as racist a city as any in the country and I could not wait to get out. I did and never looked back. As for Ali, I am not a great fan but I certainly understand that he was the Right man for a bad time....and what he did to stand up against the establishment was righteous. I will call BearStearns and talk with him. He was in the Nam and I know where he is coming from but perhaps I can give him another perspective to think about.

[Ted The Bull]

From Boxing announcer Brad Dudley via email from Blatimore:

The good, the bad and the downright was a "Fistfull" to read but as usual a great read...........Brad
bye the way our next pro show is March the 10th.......C-ya