Randyman wrote:I finally got out of the house today. The flu was really kicking my behind. Now Jeri's getting sick.
Randy
Randy,thanks for the comment on Lady Day.Hope you're feeling better and I hope Jeri doesn't get sick. This flu thing is something to think about. Amanda was sick last night,but we think she was just over tired. She went to the movies today with her mother. Childrens' Hospital is getting a workout with mothers bringing their kids in because they think they have the flu. A little 7 year old girl died from it a few days ago.
I ran across these old photos. I had not seen them for quite a few years. The top two photos are from 1972, at Boot Camp at Camp Nimitz - Recruit Training Center in San Diego. It's been closed down since the mid 80's. It's funny but everything that I was connected to while I was in the Navy is gone. Nimitz is closed, the Naval base on Treasure Island is gone and has become a ghost town, the U.S.S. Coral Sea CVA 43 has been scrapped. Kind of makes me sad.
While I was in boot camp I signed up for "the Smokers". There were no trainers or anyone else that knew anything about boxing. The Smokers were called off because there were not enough participants. I never did get to fight. Looking back this was the beginning of the pattern. Guess it just wasn't in the cards for me. I did however win the rope climbing contest and fairly easy. I learned from my father, who was a Gymnast in his early years. I was 18 when these photos were taken.
Recognize me?
The bottom photo is from 1975. I had really been training hard and I think I got down to 135. That was too much for me. This photo was taken at a family camping trip. We would go camping at least twice during the summer, every summer, usually with my mother's side of the family. It was tradition. That's my father next to me
Last edited by Randyman on 17 Oct 2009, 21:01, edited 1 time in total.
Randyman wrote:I finally got out of the house today. The flu was really kicking my behind. Now Jeri's getting sick.
Randy
Randy,thanks for the comment on Lady Day.Hope you're feeling better and I hope Jeri doesn't get sick. This flu thing is something to think about. Amanda was sick last night,but we think she was just over tired. She went to the movies today with her mother. Childrens' Hospital is getting a workout with mothers bringing their kids in because they think they have the flu. A little 7 year old girl died from it a few days ago.
Go ahead and take me. Leave the kids alone.
I'm with you Rog, but the Flu don't care who he gets! :(
Randyman wrote:I ran across these old photos. I had not seen them for quite a few years. The top two photos are from 1972, at Boot Camp at Camp Nimitz - Recruit Training Center in San Diego. It's been closed down since the mid 80's. It's funny but everything that I was connected to while I was in the Navy is gone. Nimitz is closed, the Naval base on Treasure Island is gone and has become a ghost town, the U.S.S. Coral Sea CVA 43 has been scrapped. Kind of makes me sad.
While I was in boot camp I signed up for "the Smokers". There were no trainers or anyone else that knew anything about boxing. The Smokers were called off because there were not enough participants. I never did get to fight. Looking back this was the beginning of the pattern. Guess it just wasn't in the cards for me. I did however win the rope climbing contest and fairly easy. I learned from my father, who was a Gymnast in his early years. I was 18 when these photos were taken.
Recognize me?
The bottom photo is from 1975. I had really been training hard and I think I got down to 135. That was too much for me. This photo was taken at a family camping trip. We would go camping at least twice during the summer, every summer, usually with my mother's side of the family. It was tradition. That's my father next to me
Randy . . . Great photos and memories. Everything seems so different in today's world. You have some great memories.
From Rio Bravo - My Rifle, My Pony and Me - Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson.
I love this scene. You can tell Ricky Nelson is really getting a big kick out of singing with Dean Martin, one of the best in my book. Walter Brennan seems to be enjoying it as well. This is such a great western scene.
Randyman wrote:I ran across these old photos. I had not seen them for quite a few years. The top two photos are from 1972, at Boot Camp at Camp Nimitz - Recruit Training Center in San Diego. It's been closed down since the mid 80's. It's funny but everything that I was connected to while I was in the Navy is gone. Nimitz is closed, the Naval base on Treasure Island is gone and has become a ghost town, the U.S.S. Coral Sea CVA 43 has been scrapped. Kind of makes me sad.
While I was in boot camp I signed up for "the Smokers". There were no trainers or anyone else that knew anything about boxing. The Smokers were called off because there were not enough participants. I never did get to fight. Looking back this was the beginning of the pattern. Guess it just wasn't in the cards for me. I did however win the rope climbing contest and fairly easy. I learned from my father, who was a Gymnast in his early years. I was 18 when these photos were taken.
Recognize me?
The bottom photo is from 1975. I had really been training hard and I think I got down to 135. That was too much for me. This photo was taken at a family camping trip. We would go camping at least twice during the summer, every summer, usually with my mother's side of the family. It was tradition. That's my father next to me
Randy . . . Great photos and memories. Everything seems so different in today's world. You have some great memories.
-Rick
Thanks Rick, I do have good memories and you're right, it is a different world.
Eisi Arvisu is the daughter of the late Art Arvisu, who was Danny Valdez's manager all through his career, Danny himself is also quite a singer.
Frank, This is one of my favorite versions. Los Lobos also does "Sabor a Mi".
In 1978 the first year that Jeri and I lived in Whittier, my neighbor was sitting in his front porch drinking with few guys so I wandered over with a six pack to have a few with them. There was this guy there, a Chicano, that had just got out of prison that morning. He was a friend of my neighbors brother in law. As we were talking it came up that he was pretty good with the guitar and that he could sing too. I asked what songs he knew and as he went through some song titles he mentioned "Sabor a Mi". Well this is one of my favorite songs. I said "wait here" and I went back to my house and grabbed a beat up, out of tune, guitar that I had.
When I got back he tuned it and warmed up a bit and then he sang "Sabor a Mi". I was awestrucked, all of us were. What he did with that guitar alone was amazing but when he sang it was almost blissful. I have never again heard anyone, anywhere sing "Sabor a Mi" like this guy. His voice was so rich and packed so much passion into it that it has ruined it for any one else. It's almost impossible to describe. We must have made this guy play that song about a hundred times that night. the drunker we got the more we wanted to hear it.
I don't know what ever happened to that guy. No one ever heard from him again. Maybe he went back to prison, I don't know. Whenever I hear that song I think of that night.
Randy
Last edited by Randyman on 18 Oct 2009, 13:19, edited 1 time in total.
Bernard “Big Duke” Docusen one of boxing’s’ uncrowned champions of the 1940’s-1950’s died on January 11. 2009. Docusen suffered several heart attacks and lapsed into a coma. The 81 year old Docusen was best known for his terrific fight with Sugar Ray Robinson for the welterweight championship of the world on June 28, 1948. Docusen , who had just turned 21 years old 9 days before the fight, lost a very close 15 round decision to the man most consider to be the best pound for pound boxer of all time. In the days of only 8 weight classes and one champion per division, Bernie never got another crack at a title.
As an amateur he won the National AAU bantamweight championship at 14 years old. Turning pro at 15 he attracted big crowds in his native New Orleans due to his exciting, smooth boxing style. He defeated former champions and contenders Phil Terranova, Johnny Bratton, Tippy Larkin, John L. Davis and Gene Burton on his way to a 73-10-6 pro log. He retired from boxing after suffering a TKO defeat to Joey Giambra in 1953.
After retiring from the ring, Docusen relocated to the Detroit, MI area where he worked as a welder and later as a custodian for a local high school. An active family man he also hand wrote his memoirs which were later published in book form.
Bernard was inducted into the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1976 and the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.
Docusen is survived by his wife of 64 years Ernestine, 6 children, 15 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and 1 great, great grandchild.
Feb 14, 1948 - Bernard Docusen, a bouncing stylist from New Orleans, stabbed shut Gene Burton's left eye tonight in winning a 10round Madison Square Garden ... Docusen at 143 had a slight weight edge over Burton.
Eisi Arvisu is the daughter of the late Art Arvisu, who was Danny Valdez's manager all through his career, Danny himself is also quite a singer.
Frank, This is one of my favorite versions. Los Lobos also does "Sabor a Mi".
In 1978 the first year that Jeri and I lived in Whittier, my neighbor was sitting in his front porch drinking with few guys so I wandered over with a six pack to have a few with them. There was this guy there, a Chicano, that had just got out of prison that morning. He was a friend of my neighbors brother in law. As we were talking it came up that he was pretty good with the guitar and that he could sing too. I asked what songs he knew and as he went through some song titles he mentioned "Sabor a Mi". Well this is one of my favorite songs. I said "wait here" and I went back to my house and grabbed a beat up, out of tune, guitar that I had.
When I got back he tuned it and warmed up a bit and then he sang "Sabor a Mi". I was awestrucked, all of us were. What he did with that guitar alone was amazing but when he sang it was almost blissful. I have never again heard anyone, anywhere sing "Sabor a Mi" like this guy. His voice was so rich and packed so much passion into it that it has ruined it for any one else. It's almost impossible to describe. We must have made this guy play that song about a hundred times that night. the drunker we got the more we wanted to hear it.
I don't know what ever happened to that guy. No one ever heard from him again. Maybe he went back to prison, I don't know. Whenever I hear that song I think of that night.
Randy
Randy, I had a second cousin, Chuey, he died a little over a year ago, that could sing, and he always sang better as he got into his cups, he for years owned a bar "Chuey's" just a couple of block from Steven"s, this guy was so soft spoken you had a hard time hearing him when he spoke, but man could he sing, on mine mom and dad's 50th in 1984 he sang song after song for them. God Bless him.
Johnny was nicknamed, "Mr. Golden Gloves" in Los Angeles.
He was a highly decorated disabled WW2 vet that became an Los Angeles boxing icon.
After WW2, Flores and Louie Jarique, of the Teamsters Gym established the Junior Golden Gloves program in Los Angeles.
Thru L.A. amateur boxing programs, Johnny Flores and L.A. coaches would develop some of the greatest talent in the world.
National championships and world class pros emerged from the program.
However, the programs that Johnny Flores helped sponsor not only contributed to boxing, but also to the community.
Often the qualities necessary in creating a first class fighter are the same that build a first class human being.
I was lucky to have been a part of the Johnny Flores boxing stable.
Earlier this year, WBHOF President, Armando Muniz, and I were discussing how lucky we were to have had boxing to keep us out of trouble as kids.
We then came up with an idea to create an award that can be dedicted to the people who have dedicated themselves to developing youth thru amateur boxing.
When considering a name for the award, it was unanimously agreed to name it after Johnny Flores.
Who should be the first recipient of the award? I suggested the guy who took over the Jr. GG's after Flores & Jarique, Frank Baltazar.
Mando smiled when I mentioned the name, "Yes, Frank. He worked my corner with Louie in a couple pro fights."
We ran it past the E-Board and all agreed that Frank Baltazar was the ideal candidate.
Fast forward to the week before the event and I'm again talking with Mando about next saturday's banquet.
I'm going to present Lucia Rijker with her bronze, along with Josie Mejia and Gwen Adair.
I'm going to announce the posthumous induction of George Dixon, and historian Tony Triem will do the same for Alphonse Halimi.
Most of us on the board will have some on-stage duty. However, there was one that both I and Armando Muniz wanted to do.
Both Mando and I planned to present Frank Baltazar with his award.
Mando and I are both pretty fair, but we both wanted to do this.
I start to negotiate . . . "OK Mando, I'll trade you the George Dixon induction for the Flores Award, how about that? Dixon was the first black champ ever," I added.
Muniz protested, "But you're the historian, that's your job." He was right.
I started to offer up Lucia Rijker but Mando came up with a solution. "We'll both do it. We'll both say something. He's special to us both."
Thanks, Armando.
Frank is special to ALL of us!
Last edited by Rick Farris on 18 Oct 2009, 18:06, edited 1 time in total.
Eisi Arvisu is the daughter of the late Art Arvisu, who was Danny Valdez's manager all through his career, Danny himself is also quite a singer.
Frank, This is one of my favorite versions. Los Lobos also does "Sabor a Mi".
In 1978 the first year that Jeri and I lived in Whittier, my neighbor was sitting in his front porch drinking with few guys so I wandered over with a six pack to have a few with them. There was this guy there, a Chicano, that had just got out of prison that morning. He was a friend of my neighbors brother in law. As we were talking it came up that he was pretty good with the guitar and that he could sing too. I asked what songs he knew and as he went through some song titles he mentioned "Sabor a Mi". Well this is one of my favorite songs. I said "wait here" and I went back to my house and grabbed a beat up, out of tune, guitar that I had.
When I got back he tuned it and warmed up a bit and then he sang "Sabor a Mi". I was awestrucked, all of us were. What he did with that guitar alone was amazing but when he sang it was almost blissful. I have never again heard anyone, anywhere sing "Sabor a Mi" like this guy. His voice was so rich and packed so much passion into it that it has ruined it for any one else. It's almost impossible to describe. We must have made this guy play that song about a hundred times that night. the drunker we got the more we wanted to hear it.
I don't know what ever happened to that guy. No one ever heard from him again. Maybe he went back to prison, I don't know. Whenever I hear that song I think of that night.
Randy
Randy, I had a second cousin, Chuey, he died a little over a year ago, that could sing, and he always sang better as he got into his cups, he for years owned a bar "Chuey's" just a couple of block from Steven"s, this guy was so soft spoken you had a hard time hearing him when he spoke, but man could he sing, on mine mom and dad's 50th in 1984 he sang song after song for them. God Bless him.
Frank, there is so much talent out there. They may never make it big but man, can they sing. I feel pretty lucky when I find myself hearing someone like that.
That IS Jerry Quarry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great work, Roger. That is brilliant! Man, you nailed him!
Now I gotta re-write my damn story to do it justice.
Johnny was nicknamed, "Mr. Golden Gloves" in Los Angeles.
He was a highly decorated disabled WW2 vet that became an Los Angeles boxing icon.
After WW2, Flores and Louie Jarique, of the Teamsters Gym established the Junior Golden Gloves program in Los Angeles.
Thru L.A. amateur boxing programs, Johnny Flores and L.A. coaches would develop some of the greatest talent in the world.
National championships and world class pros emerged from the program.
However, the programs that Johnny Flores helped sponsor not only contributed to boxing, but also to the community.
Often the qualities necessary in creating a first class fighter are the same that build a first class human being.
I was lucky to have been a part of the Johnny Flores boxing stable.
Earlier this year, WBHOF President, Armando Muniz, and I were discussing how lucky we were to have had boxing to keep us out of trouble as kids.
We then came up with an idea to create an award that can be dedicted to the people who have dedicated themselves to developing youth thru amateur boxing.
When considering a name for the award, it was unanimously agreed to name it after Johnny Flores.
Who should be the first recipient of the award? I suggested the guy who took over the Jr. GG's after Flores & Jarique, Frank Baltazar.
Mando smiled when I mentioned the name, "Yes, Frank. He worked my corner with Louie in a couple pro fights."
We ran it past the E-Board and all agreed that Frank Baltazar was the ideal candidate.
Fast forward to the week before the event and I'm again talking with Mando about next saturday's banquet.
I'm going to present Lucia Rijker with her bronze, along with Josie Mejia and Gwen Adair.
I'm going to announce the posthumous induction of George Dixon, and historian Tony Triem will do the same for Alphonse Halimi.
Most of us on the board will have some on-stage duty. However, there was one that both I and Armando Muniz wanted to do.
Both Mando and I planned to present Frank Baltazar with his award.
Mando and I are both pretty fair, but we both wanted to do this.
I start to negotiate . . . "OK Mando, I'll trade you the George Dixon induction for the Flores Award, how about that? Dixon was the first black champ ever," I added.
Muniz protested, "But you're the historian, that's your job." He was right.
I started to offer up Lucia Rijker but Mando came up with a solution. "We'll both do it. We'll both say something. He's special to us both."
Thanks, Armando. Frank is special to ALL of us!
I can't think of a more deserving guy than Frank Baltazar Sr. Seeing Frank receiving this award will be the highlight of my evening. having both Rick farris and Mando muniz present the award will make it all the sweeter.
