Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Me trying to look cool off the West coast of Ireland a few years ago. Note the can of Bud.

Bennie, you are cool! Nice shot.

Randy

Is that a 24 oz. can? looks like it.

[Randyman]

I feel like Charles Ingalls today. Instead plowing the field I'm tilling the lawn. I already chopped down two trees. I'm going to build a patio. I've never built one before but if I can build airplanes I can build a patio.

I went over to Orbit Rental this morning to rent a tiller. I was going to hire someone, anyone. Jeri kept insisting that I hire some one. I figured I can do this. I told the rental guy what I needed and what I was trying to accomplish. He asked me"Do you know what you're getting yourself into?" "I don't have a clue what the hell I'm getting into but what the heck, I'll give it a shot." "In this heat?" he said. "Yeah, I know."

As Ralph Kramdon was wont to say "Me and my Biiiiiiiig mouth." It's turning out to be one hell of a job. I'm about two thirds complete. I feel like I just went 12 rounds with Manny Pacquiao. There's no turning back now. I'm going to see this through. But damn it's hot!

Randy

I wish I was out there with you Randy.
I would give you a hand. I worked construction for years. Ive done all kinds of fun things including pouring concrete.
Ive worked alot of road construction , concrete, asphalt etc etc. I know what its like to operate a jackhammer on the tollway at 5am. My present occupation is alot better.
We would have a good time building your patio. Jeri might get a little mad with us not getting anything done because of all the boxing talk, but we would have some laughs my friend.

Brian, yes, we probably wouldn't get anything done. If I have to choose between taking boxing with a pal or working and sweating under the hot sun,...... well, the choice is pretty easy. Jeri would just roll her eyes. She knows me.

I respect the guys that work construction. They earn their money.

Randy

[Randyman]

Me trying to look cool off the West coast of Ireland a few years ago. Note the can of Bud.

Bennie, you are cool! Nice shot.

Randy

Is that a 24 oz. can? looks like it.

It does looks like a "Tall Boy".

[Randyman]

Thanks Randy, hopefully they will come out ok. Yeah! James is out a truck, he already turn it into his insurance, and we'll see what he can get out of them so he can buy another one.[/quote]

Well, the man thing of course, is that Linda and Ray are okay, but still, I hope James loss isn't too much.

Randy

[dagosd2000]

we're back home, as we were driving to Riverside Linda called me on my cell, said that Ray was been release from the ER, and that James got there to drive'em home and for us to turn around and come back home.
Ray was X-Ray and no broken bones were found, was told to follow up with his doctor, Linda decided to wait and go to the Queen of the Valley ER (West Covina) where she is at as I write this.

James truck? JUNK!

I'm glad to hear everything is okay with your daughter and son-in-law.

Just got to the thread. Glad to hear that everything's OK. Rog

[dagosd2000]

A MAN'S MAN IN THIS DAY AND AGE

If you get a chance to watch the HBO special on the life of Ted Williams,you get the go ahead with me. What struck me about the documentary was not so much Ted Williams the hitter,but his life off the field,and on, when he was going toe to toe with the sports writers and fans of Boston.His relationships with his wives. The relationships with his children. His five years of duty as a Marine Corps pilot.

Don't want to go into a lot of details. My observation is that Ted Williams was a real life John Wayne. It said so in the documentary,but I always thought that about Ted Williams when I tried to put his life together a long time ago.

When a sports icon like Williams starts to break down physically,the piss and vinegar remained with The Kid. Oh,he apologiized a bit,but he never was sentimental.

A guy that drove a lot of people away that loved him, got their second chance to re enter his life to care for him.

Ted Williams still had that edge at the end.He'd take you on. Tell what he thought. Maybe we saw a tear wiped away when they drove him out to the mound at the 1999 All Star Game,but the same old toughness was there. That's what the people who loved him, and the ones at one time who hated him, wanted to see. When he tipped his cap for the last time when leaving Fenway,Ted Williams was loved by everybody.

Maybe at that moment we became sentimental,but I don't think it overwhelmed Williams. A Man's Man doesn't allow that to happen.We are the ones that are left crying at the end.

[Expug]

Glad to hear things look to be okay with your daughter and son in law Frank.
Thats rough stuff.

[Expug]

A MAN'S MAN IN THIS DAY AND AGE

If you get a chance to watch the HBO special on the life of Ted Williams,you get the go ahead with me. What struck me about the documentary was not so much Ted Williams the hitter,but his life off the field,and on, when he was going toe to toe with the sports writers and fans of Boston.His relationships with his wives. The relationships with his children. His five years of duty as a Marine Corps pilot.

Don't want to go into a lot of details. My observation is that Ted Williams was a real life John Wayne. It said so in the documentary,but I always thought that about Ted Williams when I tried to put his life together a long time ago.

When a sports icon like Williams starts to break down physically,the piss and vinegar remained with The Kid. Oh,he apologiized a bit,but he never was sentimental.

A guy that drove a lot of people away that loved him, got their second chance to re enter his life to care for him.

Ted Williams still had that edge at the end.He'd take you on. Tell what he thought. Maybe we saw a tear wiped away when they drove him out to the mound at the 1999 All Star Game,but the same old toughness was there. That's what the people who loved him, and the ones at one time who hated him, wanted to see. When he tipped his cap for the last time when leaving Fenway,Ted Williams was loved by everybody.

Maybe at that moment we became sentimental,but I don't think it overwhelmed Williams. A Man's Man doesn't allow that to happen.We are the ones that are left crying at the end.

Ted Williams was definitely a mans man.I have respect for him.
Its a special breed that can be a hero on a battlefield and on a playing field.

[bennie]

Me trying to look cool off the West coast of Ireland a few years ago. Note the can of Bud.

Bennie, you are cool! Nice shot.

Randy

Is that a 24 oz. can? looks like it.

Randy, a top bloke on the boat was dishing out the cans.

[bennie]

Also in West Ireland, in County Mayo. Check out those 'tasteful' brown shoes. I'm a dedicated follower of fashion.

Great shots Bennie.
My Wifes Family comes from Mayo. Ive been there and its beautiful.
My Family comes from Sligo. Not quite as scenic.

The Black Lake Pass in Mayo is surely one of the greatest drives in the world.

[bennie]

[kikibalt]

"Tony Baltazar vs Howard Davis"

Imo a case can be made for either guy winning the fight on the round system, though I had Tony winning 6-4, but for anybody to score the fight even on the point system is beyond me, two knockdown rounds, 5th & 8th, and Tony is up by four point, you would have to say he just about lost every other round to call it a draw, NO WAY!

[kikibalt]

Glad to hear things look to be okay with your daughter and son in law Frank.
Thats rough stuff.

Thank Brian....

[dagosd2000]

A MAN'S MAN IN THIS DAY AND AGE

If you get a chance to watch the HBO special on the life of Ted Williams,you get the go ahead with me. What struck me about the documentary was not so much Ted Williams the hitter,but his life off the field,and on, when he was going toe to toe with the sports writers and fans of Boston.His relationships with his wives. The relationships with his children. His five years of duty as a Marine Corps pilot.

Don't want to go into a lot of details. My observation is that Ted Williams was a real life John Wayne. It said so in the documentary,but I always thought that about Ted Williams when I tried to put his life together a long time ago.

When a sports icon like Williams starts to break down physically,the piss and vinegar remained with The Kid. Oh,he apologiized a bit,but he never was sentimental.

A guy that drove a lot of people away that loved him, got their second chance to re enter his life to care for him.

Ted Williams still had that edge at the end.He'd take you on. Tell what he thought. Maybe we saw a tear wiped away when they drove him out to the mound at the 1999 All Star Game,but the same old toughness was there. That's what the people who loved him, and the ones at one time who hated him, wanted to see. When he tipped his cap for the last time when leaving Fenway,Ted Williams was loved by everybody.

Maybe at that moment we became sentimental,but I don't think it overwhelmed Williams. A Man's Man doesn't allow that to happen.We are the ones that are left crying at the end.

Ted Williams was definitely a mans man.I have respect for him.
Its a special breed that can be a hero on a battlefield and on a playing field.

Watching the documentary on Williams,at the end of his life,his son,John Henry took over and made sure his dad's finances were in order. John Henry was with him constantly caring for his personal needs. Protecting him from exploiters.Ted had the typical comment.
"Yeah,John Henry is a pain in the ass,but I love him."

Yeah,Ted,you were a pain in the ass,but we loved you. I think he would have taken that as a compliment.

[bennie]

"Tony Baltazar vs Howard Davis"

Imo a case can be made for either guy winning the fight on the round system, though I had Tony winning 6-4, but for anybody to score the fight even on the point system is beyond me, two knockdown rounds, 5th & 8th, and Tony is up by four point, you would have to say he just about lost every other round to call it a draw, NO WAY!

Don't worry, Frankie, Graham Houston (who wrote it) has always been one for playing it safe in his writing.

[kikibalt]

Bennie, I think that some of the writers, especially the ones from the east coast were trying to hide their embarrassment because they all pick Davis to win easily, none of them gave Tony a chance against their Golden Boy, so they just wrote, 'It was a close fight, but Davis won'...

[kikibalt]

What do you get when you mix PMS with GPS?


A crazy bitch who will find you

[kikibalt]

1984 Olympians today



Boxers Paul Gonzales, left, Richard Sandoval and Henry Tillman were
all Olympians. Gonzales won the light flyweight gold medal in 1984.

[dagosd2000]

Diamond Joe Esposito

[dagosd2000]

BRIEF ENCOUNTER

"I think there's something wrong with the alternator,"I said to Teo.
"What makes you think that?",asked the mechanic.
"The needle keeps going to the left."
Teo,the mechanic, turned to go inside the garage. He came out with the voltage meter.
"Open the hood,"he said.
I popped up the hood of my van and Teo connected the meter to the battery terminals.
"It's charging perfectly,"he said reading the screen.
"Then why is the needle to the left?"
"You're car is old. Maybe the gauge is bad."
I didn't care about the gauge. I was satisfied that the van was running properly and it wasn't something else.

I'd been going to Teo's garage across the border for years. The garage was about 100 feet inside the border from the U.S. side. You could see the fence with the razor wire seperating the border. The fire station was across the street in front of the fence.
"Well I'm glad it's nothing,"I said. "By the way where's Alex?"
"Oh,he's in the back,"said Teo nonchalantly.
"How's Alex's kid? He said he was in the hospital the last time I saw him."
"He passed away."
For some reason I slapped Teo's shoulder. I sometimes do this when I'm surprised by something. I don't know why,but I often react like that.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. He just passed away."
"Where is he? I want to tell him how sorry I am."
"He's in the back,"answered Teo.

I walked through to the back of the garage thinking of what I was going to say to Alex. I saw Alex with a lamp in his hand looking under the hood at a car engine. Another guy was looking with him at the engine. I walked close to Alex thinking he'd notice me. He kept looking at the engine with the lamp in his hand. The other guy was looking at Alex waiting for a reply to what was wrong with his car.
"Alex,"I said.
Alex slowly looked up and then peered down again studying the problem. The other guy didn't look at me.
"Alex,I heard about your son. I'm sorry."
Alex looked up again at me. I tried to give him an embrace,but he didn't step away from the car.
"It was devastating,"Alex mumbled. He then looked at the engine again. The other guy was silent.

I paused waiting for a reaction. A response,but Alex still was holding the lamp looking at the engine. Then I heard the other guy ask Alex a question about something. I couldn't make out what he said. I slowly walked out to my van. I saw Teo talking to someone who had driven up in a pickup truck.
"No,"said Teo. "I don't want to buy this oil."
Teo looked upset with the driver.
"This isn't what I wanted,"said Teo.

I wanted to say goodby to Teo,but I could see he was upset with the guy in the truck.

[kikibalt]

1984 LOS ANGELES OLYMPICS
Monday, July 30, 1984


Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times
Southland native Paul Gonzales, the smallest boxer on the U.S. team, defeats Korea’s Kwang Sun Kim at the Sports Arena.

Boxers Evander Holyfield and Paul Gonzales advance; Pat Spurgin wins the gold medal in the women's air rifle event.
July 30, 2009

Los Angeles was host to the Summer Olympics 25 years ago. This third part of a 16-day series looks back at Day 3, Monday, July 30, 1984:

The U.S. boxing team was out to match the 1952 and 1976 U.S. teams that had each won five Olympic gold medals. Paul Gonzales, a light-flyweight from East L.A., got it off to an impressive start by routing his toughest competition, Korea's Kwang Sun Kim, at the Sports Arena. Though Kim was ranked No. 2 in the world and Gonzales No. 3, the smallest boxer on the U.S. team had predicted he would win the gold medal and this match had people suddenly believing it.

Meanwhile, teammate Evander Holyfield, the No. 1 light-heavyweight, also advanced, easily stopping Taju Akay of Ghana in the third round. And middleweight Virgil Hill easily beat Edward Neblett of Barados. All three Americans were lifted up by the raucous, U.S. flag-waving crowd.

[bennie]

Bennie, I think that some of the writers, especially the ones from the east coast were trying to hide their embarrassment because they all pick Davis to win easily, none of them gave Tony a chance against their Golden Boy, so they just wrote, 'It was a close fight, but Davis won'...

Houston is one of those 'least offence' writers - a pussycat.

[bennie]

1984 Olympians today



Boxers Paul Gonzales, left, Richard Sandoval and Henry Tillman were
all Olympians. Gonzales won the light flyweight gold medal in 1984.

To be a little picky (because it is a great shot), Richie was not officially an Olympian. He was picked for the Moscow Olympics in 1980 but the US team never went. Tillman did a good job four years later. He got lucky in the semis against Italy's Angelo Musone but I thought he definitely did enough to outpoint pre-Olympic favourite Willie DeWitt in the final, although some people swear DeWitt was also robbed. DeWitt had sparked Tillman a few months earlier in the first round, a bout I have on tape.
Tillman scored those two Olympic trial wins over Tyson, of course.

[bennie]

1984 LOS ANGELES OLYMPICS
Monday, July 30, 1984


Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times
Southland native Paul Gonzales, the smallest boxer on the U.S. team, defeats Korea’s Kwang Sun Kim at the Sports Arena.

Boxers Evander Holyfield and Paul Gonzales advance; Pat Spurgin wins the gold medal in the women's air rifle event.
July 30, 2009

Los Angeles was host to the Summer Olympics 25 years ago. This third part of a 16-day series looks back at Day 3, Monday, July 30, 1984:

The U.S. boxing team was out to match the 1952 and 1976 U.S. teams that had each won five Olympic gold medals. Paul Gonzales, a light-flyweight from East L.A., got it off to an impressive start by routing his toughest competition, Korea's Kwang Sun Kim, at the Sports Arena. Though Kim was ranked No. 2 in the world and Gonzales No. 3, the smallest boxer on the U.S. team had predicted he would win the gold medal and this match had people suddenly believing it.

Meanwhile, teammate Evander Holyfield, the No. 1 light-heavyweight, also advanced, easily stopping Taju Akay of Ghana in the third round. And middleweight Virgil Hill easily beat Edward Neblett of Barados. All three Americans were lifted up by the raucous, U.S. flag-waving crowd.

Not quite a "rout". Kim really hurt Gonzales in the second round and the American copped a break when his headguard came loose and he was taken to the corner. However, he came back in brilliant style in the third.
Holyfield's opponent, Akay, represented Ghana but lived in London and went on to win the British cruiserweight title as a pro. Sadly, he died recently in his early forties (heart attack).

[kikibalt]