Musings From an HBO Weekend…

[jpmesq0332]

Another Cintron booster

Nice article. I'm almost in the same boat-- living outside Philly (North Penn area) and a Kermit Cintron fan and his story going back to his hs prep wrestling days (good thing the NPer I knew from my golf course wrestled at a division higher (145) than Kerm back then). And, even putting aside the all the obstacles which life has thrown in his path, just the thought of a local kid from nearby burbs (not exactly a "hotbed" for gyms) who just started boxing in college becoming world champion and then continuing to face all challenges head on is great stuff -- its always nice to see good things happen to good people-- and Kerm is a great guy.

But, its always puzzled me as to why Kerm's rise in the boxing world was "under the radar" locally. Philly ALWAYS loves its fighters--- but for some reason (maybe the relocation to Reading?--which is still Philly area in my book) Kerm never seems to get the kind of positive local press media coverage I think he should. (The Intelligencer and Reading Eagle did stories-- but I don't recall any in the Inquirer, much less the Reporter/Times Herald). His "local boy makes good becomes world champion" story is the type that ordinarily gets lapped up in these outlets, isn't it? Why do you think this is the case? Bad management/promotion on Kerm's people's part? Kerm's own reluctance/preference to keep a low profile? General media disinterest in the sport? I got to be honest (and it shows my own cluelessness), for many years I didn't grasp the connection between Kermit Cintron, the prep wrestling champ I saw from Tenant at 140 in the late 90's, and Kermit Cintron the rising boxing star from Puerto Rico-- for many years (frankly-- until I saw the profile on Kerm and his uncle on HBO before Margo II, making that night's disappointment all the more tough to take), and I'm kicking myself for missing his rise and not supporting him more along the way.

In any event, hopefully Lou DiBella is the man that can give him a higher and more lucrative profile (sounds like he already has taken some steps that way), and he can be a name player (and have more leverage) at both 147 and 154 if he takes care of Martinez like I'm hoping he will. In any event, I won't be missing any more of Kerm's fights from here on out, hopefully, he'll have some locally or in AC in the near term, and we'll be pulling for him every step of the way as he goes for another belt.

[mrlopez]

I reference to all those people who are getting on Lyle's back. Louis Callazo is of Puerto Rican decent, not mexican, therefor PAPA's pronunciation was incorrect and kellerman's was right........Lou-ee Callazo, how about you all get your facts before you speak up.

Mr 2 post is puerto rican???? ***, had no idea...

[michvlamar]

Hey Michvlamar your comment was funny but hurtful buddy. Why does he have to have a mexican gardener. Cant he be Cuban or Puerto Rican. i like to assume that its because Mexicans are the better workers but we can do more than garden, we can also play soccer and we go to work in the parking lot of Home Depot every morning. At least you didnt call us Grass Cutters lol. but is cool.

What r u talking about bro. Whats a puerto Rican? Whats a Cuban? Im from california everyones mexican. If you speak spanish your Mexican. Over hear mexican is a race not a person from a country. Your black, white ,asian, and Mexican. IS puerto Rico And Cuba a city in Mexico.

Hope you catch the sarcasm Ive actually heard a white girl ask if puerto rico is in Mexico.

[RL_GMA]

Thats fine in Spanish speaking countries but the fight was in America...

That doesn't mean your name is supposed to be pronounced differently LOL

In Spanish, English, Dutch, Chinese...it's pronouced "Lou-eese" unless he likes to be called "Louie"

[michvlamar]

Nice article. I'm almost in the same boat-- living outside Philly (North Penn area) and a Kermit Cintron fan and his story going back to his hs prep wrestling days (good thing the NPer I knew from my golf course wrestled at a division higher (145) than Kerm back then). And, even putting aside the all the obstacles which life has thrown in his path, just the thought of a local kid from nearby burbs (not exactly a "hotbed" for gyms) who just started boxing in college becoming world champion and then continuing to face all challenges head on is great stuff -- its always nice to see good things happen to good people-- and Kerm is a great guy.

But, its always puzzled me as to why Kerm's rise in the boxing world was "under the radar" locally. Philly ALWAYS loves its fighters--- but for some reason (maybe the relocation to Reading?--which is still Philly area in my book) Kerm never seems to get the kind of positive local press media coverage I think he should. (The Intelligencer and Reading Eagle did stories-- but I don't recall any in the Inquirer, much less the Reporter/Times Herald). His "local boy makes good becomes world champion" story is the type that ordinarily gets lapped up in these outlets, isn't it? Why do you think this is the case? Bad management/promotion on Kerm's people's part? Kerm's own reluctance/preference to keep a low profile? General media disinterest in the sport? I got to be honest (and it shows my own cluelessness), for many years I didn't grasp the connection between Kermit Cintron, the prep wrestling champ I saw from Tenant at 140 in the late 90's, and Kermit Cintron the rising boxing star from Puerto Rico-- for many years (frankly-- until I saw the profile on Kerm and his uncle on HBO before Margo II, making that night's disappointment all the more tough to take), and I'm kicking myself for missing his rise and not supporting him more along the way.

In any event, hopefully Lou DiBella is the man that can give him a higher and more lucrative profile (sounds like he already has taken some steps that way), and he can be a name player (and have more leverage) at both 147 and 154 if he takes care of Martinez like I'm hoping he will. In any event, I won't be missing any more of Kerm's fights from here on out, hopefully, he'll have some locally or in AC in the near term, and we'll be pulling for him every step of the way as he goes for another belt.

The reason why he isn't seen as a philly fighter is because he is puerto rican. To people who write these articles he will always be seen as a puerto rican fighter and not a philly fighter. Although i agree with you that he should be known as a philly fighter because thats where he was raised. I honestly think either him or his promoters like it this way. Its not really bad management. There is more money in advertising him as a puerto rican fighter than there is a philly fighter. Its a broader fan base. My question to the puerto rican people is whether they see him as a philly fighter or as a true puerto rican fighter? Who would they support in a cotto cintron battle.

[revs1227]

Note ******: Luis Collazo is Puerto Rican.

his name is louis (louie) he is american ! only half pr

[daju_99]

It doesn't matter where you're from, "lou-ee" is spelled Louie. "Lou-eese" is spelled Luis. Just like Luis Collazo. "Lou-ee"? He's hispanic, therefore the "S" at the end is not silent. "Lou-eese Coh-yahz-o".

[Soda Popinski]

exactly. I dont hear white people calling their mexican gardners Jesus with a J because they are in america. They pronounce it Hesus. Why not prounounce other spanish names correctly as well. Just because its in america doesnt mean we have to kill peoples names especially one as simple as Luis.

Watch who you're calling Hesus!!

[IMG]http://i339.***********.com/albums/n442/dogearedpete/the_big_lebowski_jesus1.jpg[/IMG]

[jpmesq0332]

The reason why he isn't seen as a philly fighter is because he is puerto rican. To people who write these articles he will always be seen as a puerto rican fighter and not a philly fighter. Although i agree with you that he should be known as a philly fighter because thats where he was raised. I honestly think either him or his promoters like it this way. Its not really bad management. There is more money in advertising him as a puerto rican fighter than there is a philly fighter. Its a broader fan base. My question to the puerto rican people is whether they see him as a philly fighter or as a true puerto rican fighter? Who would they support in a cotto cintron battle.

I see where you are coming from Mich. Much of the passions felt by boxing fans is marketing -driven. (It was wild to watch the Cotto/Margarito crowd as a third party bystander (full disclosure-- I was rooting for Cotto).

Just to be clear-- maybe I've internalized my EEO/diversity work a little too much, but I don't necessarily think I was saying that the Philly/Puerto Rico dichotomy was an "either/or" mutually exclusive proposition, nor creating an expectation that he makes any choice as to whom he "represents". I'm going to be pulling for him whether he considers himself to be "primarily' a native son of Puerto Rico or a resident of Warminster/Reading (and I respect that he's both--- as Tennyson wrote "I am a part of all that I have met" and so are we all). I think his story to date is admirable/inspiring/interesting, and he's a great role model /athlete in these days where flawed heros abound-- and yet he and his story wasn't on my radar screen despite having a connection literally to my own backyard-- and I have been a pretty fair boxing fan for many years (though paying a bit less attention in recent years and lack of awareness is probably my fault more than anything).

My larger point was that there just seems to be less and less media attention being given to the sport of late. I'll give you a non-Cintron example which doesn't involve any PR/Philly dichotomy: Steve Cunningham--another Philly champion off my radar screen until I saw him lose his belt on Versus last month. Along those same lines (although not involving a Philly fighter)-- I checked the Inquirer over the weekend-- not even a blurb on the Collazo/Berto fight (will they mention the Magarito/Mosley results next weekend? They did cover DLH/Pacman). I can recall when I was a kid-- the local papers ALWAYS covered fights involving Mike Rossman, Matt Franklin/Saad Muhammed or Joltin Jeff Chandler and the other "champs" and even other non-champs (Bennie Brisco, Willie the Worm Monroe). Those days of the "boxing beat" seem gone-- do they ever come back?