Classic American West Coast Boxing

[bennie]

Jeri and I stopped at PoFolks, in Buena Park, this morning for breakfast. I'm not sure wha's going on lately but we have been having a streak of bad luck. The bad luck streak was still in effect this morning. Breakfast is served til 11:00 and we just made it, getting there at 11:00am. There weren't too many people in there today but for some reason it took about 15 minutes to get us seated.

PoFolks is known for it's southern style cooking, at least in theory, Once upon a time they were a top of the line restaurant, attracting hungry diners leaving Knott's Berry Farm looking for some good eats. It's become a tourist trap. I take some resposibility. I should have known better.

I ordered a country fried pork chop with two sunny side up eggs, home fried potatoes and biscuits and gravy. Jeri had two eggs over easy, hash browns and bacon, with toast. Did I mention that it took 30 minutes before we were asked if we wanted coffee? 10 minutes before we got our coffee and another few minutes before we ordered. I can't explain why we didn't walk out. As the waitress, Christine, was taking our order, she leaned on our table, just a little too comfortable and tells my wife and I, "I am just so tired you know, I'll do a better job for you when you come back next time". My wife and I just looked at each other. I asked for an orange juice with my breakfast and her response was "Okay but you'll have to keep reminding me, I'm bad with drinks". Again, my wife and I just looked at each other.

I should mentioned that none of the waitress' looked very sanitary and hygenic. To a girl, they were sloppy with messy hair that looked like it might end up in our food. You can bet your bottom dollar I checked before I ate.

Sometime later, and by now, sporting a five o'clock shadow, our waitress brought our food to the table. She reached in front of me to lay the plate down, and just as the plate was within an inch of the table, another customer called my waitress. Instead of putting my plate down, she hangs onto it as she goes to see what the customer wants, She's holding my plate in front of her as she talks. I'm worried, not knowing if she was a spitter or not. She comes back puts the plate down and again tells us how tired she is, and how much better the service will be when we come back next time. my wife and I continue to exchange glances.

My wife looks at my plate and then at me and says in her most sympathetic tone "those home fries look horrible, would you like some of my hash browns?" They were every bit as bad as theylooked. The pork chop was dried but the crust was greasy. In a word, the food was lousy.

Anyway, to make a short story long, as she brought us our bill, she apologized continously for her sloppy service. Now niether my wife nor I complained the whole time we were there. Though it might have showed on our faces. She aplogized because she knew, instictively that she was doing a lousy job, at our expense. As she was talking, I was writing my review.

Then I said to her as she was complaining, "You know, I write reviews for a ratings website and I'll be doing a review of the restaurant,...and your service. Suddenly, she snapped to attention, and I mean that literally, she staightened up and asked me, suddenly in a concerned and compassionate voice "How was your food? My response was "At best? Barely adequate" "And the service? she asked. "You tell me." I said. There was a shift in power now. She looked at me and said in a small pitiful voice "it sucks?" "Well. there you go, it sucks. Your words not mine" but what did I do? "Well for starters you brought me apple juice. I ordered orange juice to which she responded "Oh yeah, that's right, I'll go get" "Never mind were going".

She ran and told the manager that I was writing a review on the restaurant. Suddenly I was getting the full treatment, but it was too late, we were leaving.

Sounds like the kind of 'service' we get in England.

[kikibalt]

[kikibalt]

Courtesy-Dan

[kikibalt]

Raul "Raton" Macias vs Nate Brooks
September 27,1954, Mexico City, Mexico
North American Bantamweight Championship
Macias won a unanimous decision.

[kikibalt]

Raul "Raton" Macias vs Leo Espinosa
March 25, 1956, Mexico City
Referee Cesar Arroyo steps between
Macias and Espinosa as he is about
to count out Espinosa.

[kikibalt]

Bernard Docusen

[kikibalt]

Maxie Docusen

[bennie]

Camacho backing out
By Edgar Gonzalez


Junior middleweight contender and son of legend Hector Camacho,
Jr has denied that he backed out of a November 8 match up with
former world champion Luis Ramon “Yory Boy” Campas in Tijuana,
MX because of weight issues as claimed by the event’s promoter.

Camacho not only vehemently denies that he is out of shape; he
also says he was never given a contract for the November 8 contest.
“I didn’t know anything about the bout,” Camacho said. “I would have
loved the match up (with Campas) but I never got a contract for it.
I don’t know where this rumor came from.” Camacho (46-3-1, 26 KO’s)
says he’s been training for a November 20 scheduled 10-round bout
with Dave Saunders in Altoona, IA. As to the question of Camacho’s
physical condition, the Orlando, FL resident says he is currently near
the junior middleweight limit of 154 pounds. “I’m at 155 now so I am in
great shape,” Camacho said. “So why would I back out of a fight?”

In Camacho last fight in May of 2008 against Roel Salinas at the Plaza
De Toros El Paseo, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The Puerto Rican looked
fat and weight 168. What are your thoughts about Camacho Jr.?

I would not believe a word either Camacho utters. Senior is currently in jail for breaking into a computer shop to steal his OWN computer, uriunating in the shop while he was in there. He is America's dumbest criminal, surely. His son once blatantly punked out of a fight with Jesse James Leija...
Frankie, what are your thoughts on Senior?

Hector Camacho Sr is a legend? Bennie, about Camacho vs Jesse James Leija, you took the words right out of my mouth. From a purely technical standpoint, Camacho Sr. had the potential to be great. He had talent to spare. It was his behavior, inside and outside the ring, and his inconsistencies that kept him from reaching true greatness. He had his moments but they were few and far between. If Camacho is a legend, what does that make Rocky Marciano and Sugar Ray Robinson?

As for junior, he's a far cry from his father, you can make of that what you will.

Randy

Legends don't lose their unbeaten records to Greg Haugen.
Good old Greg.

[Bobbin & Weavin]

Courtesy-Dan

I was just looking at Kendall's record on BoxRec; reads like a who's who of west coast light-heavyweights. He fought them all and did pretty well. This article says it all about how tough he was; any of you guys in L.A. see his fight with Andy Heilman I can't imagine that being anything but a war.
This article should be posted in the biography section of Kendall's record!
Bobbin & Weavin

[kikibalt]

Courtesy-Dan

I was just looking at Kendall's record on BoxRec; reads like a who's who of west coast light-heavyweights. He fought them all and did pretty well. This article says it all about how tough he was; any of you guys in L.A. see his fight with Andy Heilman I can't imagine that being anything but a war.
This article should be posted in the biography section of Kendall's record!
Bobbin & Weavin

Was not there for that fight, Bruce, don't remember what I was doing that nite, probably up to no good.....

[kikibalt]

Camacho backing out
By Edgar Gonzalez


Junior middleweight contender and son of legend Hector Camacho,
Jr has denied that he backed out of a November 8 match up with
former world champion Luis Ramon “Yory Boy” Campas in Tijuana,
MX because of weight issues as claimed by the event’s promoter.

Camacho not only vehemently denies that he is out of shape; he
also says he was never given a contract for the November 8 contest.
“I didn’t know anything about the bout,” Camacho said. “I would have
loved the match up (with Campas) but I never got a contract for it.
I don’t know where this rumor came from.” Camacho (46-3-1, 26 KO’s)
says he’s been training for a November 20 scheduled 10-round bout
with Dave Saunders in Altoona, IA. As to the question of Camacho’s
physical condition, the Orlando, FL resident says he is currently near
the junior middleweight limit of 154 pounds. “I’m at 155 now so I am in
great shape,” Camacho said. “So why would I back out of a fight?”

In Camacho last fight in May of 2008 against Roel Salinas at the Plaza
De Toros El Paseo, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The Puerto Rican looked
fat and weight 168. What are your thoughts about Camacho Jr.?

I would not believe a word either Camacho utters. Senior is currently in jail for breaking into a computer shop to steal his OWN computer, uriunating in the shop while he was in there. He is America's dumbest criminal, surely. His son once blatantly punked out of a fight with Jesse James Leija...
Frankie, what are your thoughts on Senior?

Hector Camacho Sr is a legend? Bennie, about Camacho vs Jesse James Leija, you took the words right out of my mouth. From a purely technical standpoint, Camacho Sr. had the potential to be great. He had talent to spare. It was his behavior, inside and outside the ring, and his inconsistencies that kept him from reaching true greatness. He had his moments but they were few and far between. If Camacho is a legend, what does that make Rocky Marciano and Sugar Ray Robinson?

As for junior, he's a far cry from his father, you can make of that what you will.

Randy

Bennie, I never cared for Camacho as a person, as a fighter, he, like Randy said, had the potential to had been a great fighter, but it was not to be, because of the way he carried himself in and outside the ring.

[kikibalt]

Leo Espinosa

[kikibalt]

Gus Lesnevich vs Joey Maxim

[kikibalt]

Manny needs to pay up
By Edgar Gonzalez

Last Friday in Chengdu, China, WBC president Jose Sulaiman read a statement during their convention castigating Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz who reportedly reneged on their promise to pay the sanction fee for the David Diaz fight last June.

“I would like to read a press release that has been prepared because there have been many recent attacks on the WBC for requiring Manny Pacquiao to pay his sanction fee within 15 days, and also to ask him to pay what he should if he wants to use the WBC’s title. The release reads as follows: ‘The World Boxing Council would like to make a clarification of the position taken unanimously by the Board of Governors and the general assembly during its 46th annual world convention held in Chengdu, China.

” ‘First of all, the WBC would like to express its profound respect and admiration to Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the president of the great country, also to the great people of the Philippines , nation that founded the WBC in 1963.

” ‘The whole World Boxing Council considered an embarrassment and humiliation, as well as an act of disrespect by Mr. Mike Koncz, who with his communications ill-advising the great champion of the world by disrespecting the organization that opened the doors to opportunities for him to show his greatness.

“‘First, the WBC has a rule that all champions and challengers must pay a three percent sanction fee to the organization. They humiliated the WBC by questioning the pending $30,000 in his fight against Juan Manuel Marquez, which he himself promised to pay months ago, and didn’t pay. But now Mr. Koncz is informing that he has to talk with the promoter to see if they are paying or not such debt to the WBC.

“‘Second, they requested permission to fight Oscar De La Hoya with the WBC approval. In this fight, we estimate that he might make more than $10 million, at least, and he offered to pay the WBC only $20,000, like if we, the WBC, were beggars. The WBC rules are very clear regarding WBC champions fighting without defending his title.

” ‘Third, after the De La Hoya fight without defending his title, he requested the WBC for one other permission to fight Ricky Hatton or Floyd Mayweather - let me clarify: not Manny Pacquiao, but his representative, Mr. Koncz - which means the WBC must freeze the WBC lightweight title for much more than a year, taking away all opportunities to all fighters who are fighting every day to win and fight for the title, to find that there is a barrier and they cannot fight because their champion is not available.

” ‘Therefore, by a unanimous voting of the delegates of the 164 nations present in Chengdu, China, we are granting the representatives of champion Manny Pacquiao 15 days to pay such $30,000 from his fight against Marquez that they promised before his fight that took place against Diaz.

” ‘In regards with his fight against Oscar De La Hoya, instead of the 1.5 percent that he must pay, which is half of the three percent stated in the rules, he must pay $100,000, which is much less, as a sanction fee if he wants to keep the title of the WBC.

“‘The WBC has nothing against boxers, as we have a pension plan to help with food and medicine for many ex-boxers in the world. The WBC is only working for the safety of boxers, and not one single member officer of the WBC gets any compensation from the WBC or boxing whatsoever.

“‘We love Manny Pacquiao. He is our superstar. He is the pride of the WBC and he represents one of the most beloved countries in the world in the WBC, such as the great Philippines , but Mr. Pacquiao is very ill-advised and they are hurting his image and the people that helped open doors for him, without any knowledge of what is fair or what is not and those people advising Manny are not only not doing their right job, but they are hurting his image for what is the truth and with the intention to destroy the image of the WBC, as if we were beggars and belt merchants.

“‘We will always love Manny Pacquiao whether he stays or not, but we ask him to give consideration to the institution that opened the doors for his greatness.’ That’s the end of the press release.”

[kikibalt]

I found this story on the web, its about the barrio that I grew-up in.

[kikibalt]

[dagosd2000]

A SORT OF FAITH

Kikio's mother died today. We got the call fom my sister in law. I told you about Kiko. He was born a little simple. His house was near the templo. That's where he lived with his mother. I always thought he lived with his sister,but he lived with his mother. I don't know what she died of.

Kiko knows everyone.People look at him as good luck. His teeth are all crooked. You can tell because he always smiles even when he's doing nothing. The only thing about him is I don't think he takes a bath. I gave him a ride down the hill into town. It was a long ride even with the windows down.If he's not walking around the plaza,he stays close to the church. He usually spots you first. He knows everyone's name.
"Rogelio,que andas?"
"Nada Kiko. Como estas?"
"Se muerio mi hermano anoche."
Kiko always has the same response when you ask him how's it going. His brother died last night. His brother died ten years ago.

But he's smiling when he says this. He's happy. The only time I saw him cry is when my mother in law died. He wept uncontrollably at the cemetary. I'm sure Kiko will cry hard tomorrow at the cemetary . But if I know Kiko, ten years from now if you ask him how's it going,he'll reply that his mother died last night. He'll be smiling.

[kikibalt]

A SORT OF FAITH

Kikio's mother died today. We got the call fom my sister in law. I told you about Kiko. He was born a little simple. His house was near the templo. That's where he lived with his mother. I always thought he lived with his sister,but he lived with his mother. I don't know what she died of.

Kiko knows everyone.People look at him as good luck. His teeth are all crooked. You can tell because he always smiles even when he's doing nothing. The only thing about him is I don't think he takes a bath. I gave him a ride down the hill into town. It was a long ride even with the windows down.If he's not walking around the plaza,he stays close to the church. He usually spots you first. He knows everyone's name.
"Rogelio,que andas?"
"Nada Kiko. Como estas?"
"Se muerio mi hermano anoche."
Kiko always has the same response when you ask him how's it going. His brother died last night. His brother died ten years ago.

But he's smiling when he says this. He's happy. The only time I saw him cry is when my mother in law died. He wept uncontrollably at the cemetary. I'm sure Kiko will cry hard tomorrow at the cemetary . But if I know Kiko, ten years from now if you ask him how's it going,he'll reply that his mother died last night. He'll be smiling.

KiKo

[bennie]

A SORT OF FAITH

Kikio's mother died today. We got the call fom my sister in law. I told you about Kiko. He was born a little simple. His house was near the templo. That's where he lived with his mother. I always thought he lived with his sister,but he lived with his mother. I don't know what she died of.

Kiko knows everyone.People look at him as good luck. His teeth are all crooked. You can tell because he always smiles even when he's doing nothing. The only thing about him is I don't think he takes a bath. I gave him a ride down the hill into town. It was a long ride even with the windows down.If he's not walking around the plaza,he stays close to the church. He usually spots you first. He knows everyone's name.
"Rogelio,que andas?"
"Nada Kiko. Como estas?"
"Se muerio mi hermano anoche."
Kiko always has the same response when you ask him how's it going. His brother died last night. His brother died ten years ago.

But he's smiling when he says this. He's happy. The only time I saw him cry is when my mother in law died. He wept uncontrollably at the cemetary. I'm sure Kiko will cry hard tomorrow at the cemetary . But if I know Kiko, ten years from now if you ask him how's it going,he'll reply that his mother died last night. He'll be smiling.

KiKo

All the very best to Kiko.

[bennie]

An interesting 12-rounder this weekend in Nashville pairs 'name' fighters Kermit Cintron and Lovemore Ndou on the Jermain Taylor-Jeff Lacy card.
Cintron, 29-2 (27), is a huge-punching welterweight with only one conqueror in eight exciting years as a pro: Mexican iron man Antonio Margarito. Unfortunately, for Cintron, Margarito licked him twice in 'world' title fights (and has the chin to beat him every night of the week), but nobody else comes even close. Cintron last needed to win a fight on points five years ago when he punched out a landslide 10-round decision over Mexican-American Jesus Felipe Valverde in August 2003. He took a six-round decision over Detroit's Leon Pearson in May 2001 - and the rest of his opponents have been flattened. The 29-year-old from Reading in Pennsylvania still has time to win that world welterweight title.
Ndou clearly lacks the time at 37, a pro since 1993, but the Aussie is tough and brave and has never been stopped in 57 fights, a resume that includes 12-rounders with Miguel Cotto, Junior Witter, Sharmba Mitchell and Paulie Malignaggi. Witter broke his hand on Ndou's hard head, as did Malignaggi. Ndou twice extended Malignaggi for the IBF light-welterweight title but makes his welterweight debut for this one and you wonder if his chin will prove so resilient against Cintron.
Make no mistake, Cintron will be looking to better big welterweight rival Cotto.

[Rick Farris]

Jeri and I stopped at PoFolks, in Buena Park, this morning for breakfast. I'm not sure wha's going on lately but we have been having a streak of bad luck. The bad luck streak was still in effect this morning. Breakfast is served til 11:00 and we just made it, getting there at 11:00am. There weren't too many people in there today but for some reason it took about 15 minutes to get us seated.

PoFolks is known for it's southern style cooking, at least in theory, Once upon a time they were a top of the line restaurant, attracting hungry diners leaving Knott's Berry Farm looking for some good eats. It's become a tourist trap. I take some resposibility. I should have known better.

I ordered a country fried pork chop with two sunny side up eggs, home fried potatoes and biscuits and gravy. Jeri had two eggs over easy, hash browns and bacon, with toast. Did I mention that it took 30 minutes before we were asked if we wanted coffee? 10 minutes before we got our coffee and another few minutes before we ordered. I can't explain why we didn't walk out. As the waitress, Christine, was taking our order, she leaned on our table, just a little too comfortable and tells my wife and I, "I am just so tired you know, I'll do a better job for you when you come back next time". My wife and I just looked at each other. I asked for an orange juice with my breakfast and her response was "Okay but you'll have to keep reminding me, I'm bad with drinks". Again, my wife and I just looked at each other.

I should mentioned that none of the waitress' looked very sanitary and hygenic. To a girl, they were sloppy with messy hair that looked like it might end up in our food. You can bet your bottom dollar I checked before I ate.

Sometime later, and by now, sporting a five o'clock shadow, our waitress brought our food to the table. She reached in front of me to lay the plate down, and just as the plate was within an inch of the table, another customer called my waitress. Instead of putting my plate down, she hangs onto it as she goes to see what the customer wants, She's holding my plate in front of her as she talks. I'm worried, not knowing if she was a spitter or not. She comes back puts the plate down and again tells us how tired she is, and how much better the service will be when we come back next time. my wife and I continue to exchange glances.

My wife looks at my plate and then at me and says in her most sympathetic tone "those home fries look horrible, would you like some of my hash browns?" They were every bit as bad as theylooked. The pork chop was dried but the crust was greasy. In a word, the food was lousy.

Anyway, to make a short story long, as she brought us our bill, she apologized continously for her sloppy service. Now niether my wife nor I complained the whole time we were there. Though it might have showed on our faces. She aplogized because she knew, instictively that she was doing a lousy job, at our expense. As she was talking, I was writing my review.

Then I said to her as she was complaining, "You know, I write reviews for a ratings website and I'll be doing a review of the restaurant,...and your service. Suddenly, she snapped to attention, and I mean that literally, she staightened up and asked me, suddenly in a concerned and compassionate voice "How was your food? My response was "At best? Barely adequate" "And the service? she asked. "You tell me." I said. There was a shift in power now. She looked at me and said in a small pitiful voice "it sucks?" "Well. there you go, it sucks. Your words not mine" but what did I do? "Well for starters you brought me apple juice. I ordered orange juice to which she responded "Oh yeah, that's right, I'll go get" "Never mind were going".

She ran and told the manager that I was writing a review on the restaurant. Suddenly I was getting the full treatment, but it was too late, we were leaving.

Randy . . . Your "review" was brilliant. It may not have produced a great dining experience, however, it's effect on the staff was funny. Intersting how things "change" when you add another perspective. This post should be run in the local newspaper in the "Dining Out" section.

-Rick

[kikibalt]

Visit Tecate by train for dose of border goodwill

A leisurely ride by the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum sets just the right mood for a day trip into the genial town -- site of the famous brewery.


A young boy takes in the scenery from the Campo-to-Tecate train ride. This part rumbles through eastern San Diego County.
(Jay Jones)

By Jay Jones, REPORTING FROM TECATE, MEXICO
November 11, 2008

The air is already laced with diesel fumes as the conductor shouts, "All aboard!" The engineer sounds the whistle, and the locomotive lurches forward.

Squeals of delight emanate from the passenger cars. This train ride is a first for many of the children. The adults share their excitement because they are setting off on a unique international adventure.

One or two Saturdays a month, nearly 250 passengers -- kids and grown-ups -- climb aboard the 1930s-era passenger cars in Campo in eastern San Diego County for the one-hour trip to Tecate, a town that provides a tranquil alternative to bustling and crime-ridden Tijuana, about 30 miles west.

Volunteers from the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, which runs the trips, have restored the cars to their original appearance. Until they were retired in the mid-1980s, the cars trundled across northern New Jersey for more than five decades, carrying New York City commuters.

But now there's not a single suit-wearing, briefcase-carrying businessman in sight, and no one is forced to stand. (The original rattan was, thankfully, replaced with vinyl-covered foam about 30 years ago.)

The engine chugs along at 15 mph. Train aficionados, including Bob and Sandy Schussler, share the history of this stretch of track, which until the mid-1950s carried passengers traveling east from the coast.

"We are preserving the legacy of railroading in Southern California," says Bob Schussler, a former Marine who, with his wife, has spent more than a decade as an active volunteer with the museum. "I don't ever want to hear a little kid ask his father, 'Daddy, what's a train?' "

He tells visitors that the international railroad was built in the early 1900s to connect San Diego with the crop-rich Imperial Valley. Trains leaving San Diego traveled south into Tijuana before turning east. They remained on Mexican soil -- which was both flatter and cheaper than the land a few miles to the north in California -- until they were about 10 miles east of Tecate. Today's excursion trains travel on the same tracks that were laid nearly a century ago.

The point at which the tracks cross the international border, inside a 600-foot-long tunnel, is one of the highlights of this train trip.

"The Mexican border is about 20 feet from the far end," Bob Schussler says.

"The border is delineated by a white painted stripe," he continues, while shining the beam from his powerful spotlight along the rock wall.

"There!" exclaim dozens of passengers in unison.

Round-trip tickets cost $43 for adults and $23 for children. The trips often sell out weeks in advance, especially during the milder spring and fall months, when extra excursions are added to meet the increased demand. Through next May, American citizens will need only a driver's license or other government-issued photo ID to make the journey. As of June 1, all travelers will need to present passports or passport cards.

Within minutes of leaving the tunnel, the desert scrub begins to be replaced by homes on the dusty outskirts of Tecate. Children scamper out of the ramshackle dwellings and run alongside the tracks, exchanging waves with the passengers.

As the whistle announces the train's arrival at several busy crossings, motorists wave from their stopped vehicles. And, as the engineer applies the brakes outside the depot, even the policía -- rifles slung over their shoulders -- are waving hello.

The station is dwarfed by the huge brewery behind it, which bears the town's name: Tecate.

Andrés Contreras Camargo holds a large placard that reads, "Brewery guided tours," and as the passengers alight, he invites them to accompany him inside. Dozens oblige. Many already know that there's free post-tour cerveza in the adjoining beer garden.

Contreras, a university student who works part-time as a marketing intern, begins by explaining that the town was here well before the brewery. It was incorporated in 1892, but the brewery didn't open until 1944. Photos depict the early history of both.

During the 45-minute tour, guests see the huge copper kettles in which beer was first brewed. (They've been replaced by equally enormous stainless steel vats.) There's also a visit to the assembly line, where the still-warm and bubbly beer is pumped into 750 bottles a minute.

In the beer garden, visitors get a ticket good for one free beer. The guests can choose among the several brands made here, including Dos Equis, Sol and of course, Tecate.

If hunger is an issue, visitors, using a map distributed onboard by the train's crew, can make the five-minute walk to the town plaza, where the aromas of onions, peppers and garlic waft from more than a dozen restaurants on the streets around the square, known as Parque Manuel Hidalgo.

Locals flock to Los Amigos, a hole-in-the-wall that serves tasty and inexpensive carnitas.

Train passengers, on the other hand, tend to head for El Jardín. It's right on the square, and its outdoor tables are good for people watching, which proves better than the food. Women stroll past with their shopping bags as men wearing cowboy hats engage in animated conversations. A boy, probably in his early teens, weaves his way through the crowd, peddling a colorful variety of hard candies from his wheelbarrow.

For a better meal, the Schusslers amble north across the busy plaza to D'Arce, where the chef serves an all-day breakfast. Just beware of the red salsa that's served with the tortilla chips; it's red-hot.

Tecate, a town of 91,000, is enjoying an economic boom, thanks more to new manufacturers -- Toyota included -- than to tourism. The prosperity is evident a couple of miles east of the plaza at the town's newest, and finest, restaurant.

Perched on a hilltop, Restaurante Asao offers delicious meat and seafood dishes, delightfully presented with the panache of four-star restaurants in the U.S. but at lower prices. (The shrimp in mole sauce is outstanding.) Owner José Manuel Jasso offers free transportation around town for diners who book in advance.

Upon leaving Asao, guests may want to be dropped off outside El Mejor Pan for dessert. The town's most popular bakery, just two blocks east of the square, is well-known across northern Baja. More than 20,000 pastries, cookies and breads are baked here each day. Tecate isn't known for its handicrafts. "You don't find [craft items] in the center here," says José Villalobos, who manages the town's economic development commission. "That's a shame."

Villalobos and his colleagues are working on proposals to improve the visitor experience. His ideas include guided tours to various attractions, including the ancient petroglyphs near the town of La Rumorosa, and, not surprisingly, the development of an arts and crafts center.

"We can provide a lot more to the people who come by train," Villalobos says.

That may be true, but as the train's wheels squeal into motion for the return trip to Campo, none of the passengers is complaining about Tecate. In fact, they're singing its praises.

"I think it's pretty darn nice," says Bill Marthens, a retired trucker from Long Beach. "If you've gone into some of the [other] cities in Mexico, there's a big difference as far as cleanliness goes. It's quite clean here."

Marthens' wife, Gleda Anderson, agrees. "We didn't see any begging," she says. "We didn't have anyone approach us to ask for money. . . . Everybody we went by smiled."

It's also a relatively safe place for visitors. Bob Schussler says he'll never forget the trip on which he left his wallet behind in a restaurant. "They chased me for three blocks to give it back," he recalls.

Jones is a freelance writer.

[email protected]

[Rick Farris]

"Irish" Frankie Crawford's son, Jeff . . .

In 1996, when I was working on the movie CON AIR, Carlos Palomino and Mando Ramos visited our sound stage at Hollywood Center Studios. I hadn't seen Mando in years and it was a nice reunion. As we talked, the late Frankie Crawford's name enters the conversation, and Palomino tells me that Frankie's youngest son, Jeff, was training for a pro career under Jackie McCoy. Carlos said that Jackie was impressed with Jeff's one shot KO power, and a toughness that had been his father's trade mark. Like his old man, Jeff Crawford liked to fight.

In his first pro bout, Jeff flattened his opponent in the opening round, just like I remember his dad doing to a tough vet named Chuey Loera at the Olympic, during the mid-60's. I didn't see Jeff's fight, but I'll never forget young Frankie's whistling left hook, that nearly decapitated Loera. Referee Lee Grossman didn't even bother to count. Sadly, Jackie McCoy would soon pass away, and so would the boxing career of Jeff Crawford. At this point, I don't know all the details, however, thru a mutual friend, I'll meet Jeff Crawford soon. I knew his dad, I boxed with him in the gym, saw him away from the gym, we have mutual friends, I know his sister Cris, whom Frankie called "Choo Choo".

I've been writing about Frankie Crawford for years, and I'm putting all these memories into one full story. I look forward to meeting Jeff Crawford. Jeff is in his late 30's. His older brother, Frankie Jr., passed away earlier this year. Another family tragedy. Frankie Crawford is one of the most interesting charactors I have ever met. Everybody who knew him says the same thing. I wasn't close with Frankie, as was our mutual friend, John Brumshagen, however, I was close enough to him and right in the mix of the era. You hear a variety of opinions regarding Frankie Crawford, I guess it depends on how you knew him. Like most fighters, Frankie was a different breed of cat. I liked Frankie Crawford, and I respected him. He had a certain class that you never hear about. He was crazy, but I don't mean that in a bad way (although he could be bad). I mean, what more can you say . . . he was a FIGHTER. One of the best of a great era.


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

"Irish" Frankie Crawford's son, Jeff . . .

In 1996, when I was working on the movie CON AIR, Carlos Palomino and Mando Ramos visited our sound stage at Hollywood Center Studios. I hadn't seen Mando in years and it was a nice reunion. As we talked, the late Frankie Crawford's name enters the conversation, and Palomino tells me that Frankie's youngest son, Jeff, was training for a pro career under Jackie McCoy. Carlos said that Jackie was impressed with Jeff's one shot KO power, and a toughness that had been his father's trade mark. Like his old man, Jeff Crawford liked to fight.

In his first pro bout, Jeff flattened his opponent in the opening round, just like I remember his dad doing to a tough vet named Chuey Loera at the Olympic, during the mid-60's. I didn't see Jeff's fight, but I'll never forget young Frankie's whistling left hook, that nearly decapitated Loera. Referee Lee Grossman didn't even bother to count. Sadly, Jackie McCoy would soon pass away, and so would the boxing career of Jeff Crawford. At this point, I don't know all the details, however, thru a mutual friend, I'll meet Jeff Crawford soon. I knew his dad, I boxed with him in the gym, saw him away from the gym, we have mutual friends, I know his sister Cris, whom Frankie called "Choo Choo".

I've been writing about Frankie Crawford for years, and I'm putting all these memories into one full story. I look forward to meeting Jeff Crawford. Jeff is in his late 30's. His older brother, Frankie Jr., passed away earlier this year. Another family tragedy. Frankie Crawford is one of the most interesting charactors I have ever met. Everybody who knew him says the same thing. I wasn't close with Frankie, as was our mutual friend, John Brumshagen, however, I was close enough to him and right in the mix of the era. You hear a variety of opinions regarding Frankie Crawford, I guess it depends on how you knew him. Like most fighters, Frankie was a different breed of cat. I liked Frankie Crawford, and I respected him. He had a certain class that you never hear about. He was crazy, but I don't mean that in a bad way (although he could be bad). I mean, what more can you say . . . he was a FIGHTER. One of the best of a great era.


-Rick Farris

Rick, I didn't know that Frankie's son also boxed, btw, thanks so much for all the Frankie Crawford's stories.

[kikibalt]

Roberto Duran