Classic American West Coast Boxing

[THEHAMMER321]

It takes a hell of a lot of guts to put some kid in the ring with a monster!! DD

Randy (thanks for mentioning Mel)

Randy, I talked to Sean O'Grady yesterday and asked him if his dad knew Mel. He said, "Oh yeah, Dad knew him. He thought alot of him." (Sean didn't remember stealing your towel. He also thought I was in his corner when he fought Danny Lopez. Danny must have really hit him hard if remembers me being in his corner that night. )

It's funny how all the old timers knew each other. Someone would come into town, wander into the gym and Mel knew him. Fighters would come into the gym from all over the country or from mexico, and Mel knew them. Pops O'Grady must have been the same way. This was before the internet. back then Mel would correspond by mail and news clippings with people across the country.

There is a picture floating around that was originally published in the Los Angeles Times that shows Sean with a towel slung over his shoulder. That was my mother's towel. Tell Sean I know it wasn't on purpose. It was the first day in town. It must have been hectic. Sean got whooped pretty good by Danny but showed tremendous heart going into that fight and in every fight that I ever saw him in. I was rooting for him against both Watt and Kenty. I hope to shake his hand again someday.

Randy

Unfortunately the only time I saw Sean fight was his final fight vs John Verdarosa, I remember Pat and Sean being interviewed after the fight, Pat said ''thats the end of the green machine'', I never heard him called that before, Tom do you know

[kikibalt]

Frank, that was classic!! I've been down that stretch of road before. I was laughing my ass off!

Thanks Randy. Even I have laugh at some of the things I remember about Willie...

Frank, for a guy that claims he can't write you sure have been spitting out some classics lately. You should write a book.

Go to http://Blurb.com

Have to give that some thought, Randy, thanks

[Randyman]

Looks like the meds are helping Lucky a little. Yesterday she wanted to go outside for a while. She walked around the yard and then went back in the house. She's also eating again. Neither she nor I are ready to throw the towel in just yet.

I understand what the humane thing is and if things turn I'll do what's right but I don't think it's time yet.

Randy

[THEHAMMER321]

Randy how is Lucky feeling,hopefully better

[Randyman]

This photo is from Wednesday. We're into our second week of the strike. Nothings changed.

Randy

[THEHAMMER321]

thoughts are powerful,I wrote that last post before I saw the last post you put up Randy

[kikibalt]

Looks like the meds are helping Lucky a little. Yesterday she wanted to go outside for a while. She walked around the yard and then went back in the house. She's also eating again. Neither she nor I are ready to throw the towel in just yet.

I understand what the humane thing is and if things turn I'll do what's right but I don't think it's time yet.

Randy

Good for Lucky,,We have her in our thoughts....

[kikibalt]

This photo is from Wednesday. We're into our second week of the strike. Nothings changed.

Randy

Good luck, Randy....

[Randyman]

Randy how is Lucky feeling,hopefully better

Yes, she is feeling better, thanks to the meds. I'm just not sure how long it will last. She has been a little more active and she has stopped crying. We'll see. :(

Thanks for asking!

Randy

[Randyman]

thoughts are powerful,I wrote that last post before I saw the last post you put up Randy

That was amazing timing!

[kikibalt]

Thanks Randy. Even I have laugh at some of the things I remember about Willie...

Frank, for a guy that claims he can't write you sure have been spitting out some classics lately. You should write a book.

Go to http://Blurb.com

They're reallly great aren't they? Keep them coming Frank!

I'll try, Tom....

[Randyman]

Thanks Frank, for Lucky and about the strike.

Randy

[Randyman]

Frank, Jeri was at a benefit a while back for the woman the was hit head on (I think it was a drunk driver) on the 5 fwy. All her kids were killed and she was in a coma. It was a horrible tragedy. Little Willie G was there.

Randy

[kikibalt]

Frank, Jeri was at a benefit a while back for the woman the was hit head on (I think it was a drunk driver) on the 5 fwy. All her kids were killed and she was in a coma. It was a horrible tragedy. Little Willie G was there.

Randy

Jeri is lookin' great, Randy, does Li'l Willie G still sing?

[Randyman]

Frank, Jeri was at a benefit a while back for the woman the was hit head on (I think it was a drunk driver) on the 5 fwy. All her kids were killed and she was in a coma. It was a horrible tragedy. Little Willie G was there.

Randy

Jeri is lookin' great, Randy, does Li'l Willie G still sing?

Yes, but I believe all his music is now Christian and gospel music, for the most part anyways.

[Randyman]

Frank, Jeri was at a benefit a while back for the woman the was hit head on (I think it was a drunk driver) on the 5 fwy. All her kids were killed and she was in a coma. It was a horrible tragedy. Little Willie G was there.

Randy

Jeri is lookin' great, Randy, does Li'l Willie G still sing?

Yes, but I believe all his music is now Christian and gospel music, for the most part anyways.

Frank, here is an update and bio on Little Willie G. http://markguerrero.net/13.php

[kikibalt]

Jeri is lookin' great, Randy, does Li'l Willie G still sing?

Yes, but I believe all his music is now Christian and gospel music, for the most part anyways.

Frank, here is an update and bio on Little Willie G. http://markguerrero.net/13.php

Thanks, Randy....

[raylawpc]

Randy, I talked to Sean O'Grady yesterday and asked him if his dad knew Mel. He said, "Oh yeah, Dad knew him. He thought alot of him." (Sean didn't remember stealing your towel. He also thought I was in his corner when he fought Danny Lopez. Danny must have really hit him hard if remembers me being in his corner that night. )

It's funny how all the old timers knew each other. Someone would come into town, wander into the gym and Mel knew him. Fighters would come into the gym from all over the country or from mexico, and Mel knew them. Pops O'Grady must have been the same way. This was before the internet. back then Mel would correspond by mail and news clippings with people across the country.

There is a picture floating around that was originally published in the Los Angeles Times that shows Sean with a towel slung over his shoulder. That was my mother's towel. Tell Sean I know it wasn't on purpose. It was the first day in town. It must have been hectic. Sean got whooped pretty good by Danny but showed tremendous heart going into that fight and in every fight that I ever saw him in. I was rooting for him against both Watt and Kenty. I hope to shake his hand again someday.

Randy

Unfortunately the only time I saw Sean fight was his final fight vs John Verdarosa, I remember Pat and Sean being interviewed after the fight, Pat said ''thats the end of the green machine'', I never heard him called that before, Tom do you know

That was his ring name from day one, actually. Look at the logo on his trunks from the Danny Lopez fight. The logo says "Green Machine" He even had the logo painted on the side of a Mustang that he owned. (Sounds hokey, I know, but the way the body shop guy did it made it look pretty cool.)

[raylawpc]

It takes a hell of a lot of guts to put some kid in the ring with a monster!! DD

Randy (thanks for mentioning Mel)

Randy, I talked to Sean O'Grady yesterday and asked him if his dad knew Mel. He said, "Oh yeah, Dad knew him. He thought alot of him." (Sean didn't remember stealing your towel. He also thought I was in his corner when he fought Danny Lopez. Danny must have really hit him hard if remembers me being in his corner that night. )

It's funny how all the old timers knew each other. Someone would come into town, wander into the gym and Mel knew him. Fighters would come into the gym from all over the country or from mexico, and Mel knew them. Pops O'Grady must have been the same way. This was before the internet. back then Mel would correspond by mail and news clippings with people across the country.

There is a picture floating around that was originally published in, either the Los Angeles Times or the Herald Examiner, that shows Sean with a towel slung over his shoulder. That was my mother's towel. Tell Sean I know it wasn't on purpose. It was the first day in town. It must have been hectic. Sean got whooped pretty good by Danny but showed tremendous heart going into that fight and in every fight that I ever saw him in. I was rooting for him against both Watt and Kenty. I hope to shake his hand again someday.

Randy

I think those Old Timers thought alike too. Everytime you and Rick quote something that Mel said, I think, "That sounds like something Pat would say . . ." Sean wishes he could be at the CBHOF banquet to meet all of you guys too. I know I'm sure looking forward to meeting you!

Regarding the towel. I told Sean your story about the towel a few months ago in Oklahoma City, and he got this funny look and says, "Really? I tried to steal his towel huh? . . . is he pissed?" "No," I say, "it was 35 years ago, he's good with it. He thinks its a funny story. He's a fan of yours." "Well, that's good. I wouldn't want to piss anybody off." Typical Sean to be worried that he pissed off somebody over a towel 35 years ago.

[THEHAMMER321]

It's funny how all the old timers knew each other. Someone would come into town, wander into the gym and Mel knew him. Fighters would come into the gym from all over the country or from mexico, and Mel knew them. Pops O'Grady must have been the same way. This was before the internet. back then Mel would correspond by mail and news clippings with people across the country.

There is a picture floating around that was originally published in the Los Angeles Times that shows Sean with a towel slung over his shoulder. That was my mother's towel. Tell Sean I know it wasn't on purpose. It was the first day in town. It must have been hectic. Sean got whooped pretty good by Danny but showed tremendous heart going into that fight and in every fight that I ever saw him in. I was rooting for him against both Watt and Kenty. I hope to shake his hand again someday.

Randy

Unfortunately the only time I saw Sean fight was his final fight vs John Verdarosa, I remember Pat and Sean being interviewed after the fight, Pat said ''thats the end of the green machine'', I never heard him called that before, Tom do you know

That was his ring name from day one, actually. Look at the logo on his trunks from the Danny Lopez fight. The logo says "Green Machine" He even had the logo painted on the side of a Mustang that he owned. (Sounds hokey, I know, but the way the body shop guy did it made it look pretty cool.)

Before the time I saw him fight I read in boxing magazines his nickname was ''bubblegum Sean''.

[kikibalt]

Kerry Riley

When I was in the seventh grade at Mary Meller Junior High School in Pico Rivera I had a friend by the name of Kerry Riley. In appearance, mannerism and almost every other way, he was the living incarnation of Opie Taylor of Mayberry. There wasn’t a friendlier or more innocent guy to be found. He was from either Kentucky or Tennessee , I don’t remember which. He was a red haired, freckled face kid. He couldn’t fight worth a lick but he a had a champions heart and I will never forget him.

Kerry moved away at the end of the seventh grade. He was gone and I never really expected to see him again. Time moved on and so did I. Sometime after ninth grade began Kerry came back to California and to Meller Jr High. I had other friends by this time and he no longer fit in with the crowd that I hung with. We remained friends but we no longer hung out together. We were both okay with it and we would talk from time to time.

One day at lunch time one of my friends came up to me and said “Hey Randy, your friend Kerry is fighting Ribachi after school!”. Ribachi was Richard Ribachi. Now Ribachi was almost twice Kerry’s size, both in height and in width. He was a known fighter and Kerry was no match for him. I had to find him. There was just no way that I could let Kerry fight Ribachi. Ribachi had that high pompadour that was popular in the fifties and sixties and a walk to match, sort of like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was an acquired walk and one he perfected. You had to be a good fighter to walk the way he did and get away with it.

I caught up with Kerry after school was out. They were going to fight in the alley behind the old McDonald’s on Rosemead and Mines. I saw him walking by himself and walked with him. He didn’t really have any friends at school. I said to him “Kerry. Don’t do it man, Ribachi is a good fighter, he’ll kick your ass. Just go home and forget about it” I figured he would listen to me, but no, he was determined not to back down. All he said to me was “I have to”. I never saw a braver or more determined guy than Kerry. I was suddenly filled with admiration for him, and a little ashamed of myself for not being a better friend to him when he came back to school. I just followed him and said nothing. I thought to myself, the least I can do is be there in case anyone jumps in.

When we got to the alley it was jam packed. Every kid in school came out to see Kerry get his ass kicked. You just knew it wouldn’t end any other way. To Ribachi’s credit, he kept it clean. As Kerry walked into the alley he took off his shirt. He had a white tee shirt on underneath. He didn’t have anything remotely resembling a muscle. I was beginning to panic for him. With courage that I never knew he had, and with out so much as the slightest hesitation, he walked straight up to Ribachi and put his hands up in the best boxing form that he was capable of mustering up.

Ribachi threw a right hand that immediately bloodied Riley’s mouth and sent him straight to the ground. He got back up, tried to throw a punch but missed. Ribachi just moved in a threw several punches. Every one of them landed. Again Riley was on the ground. He got up again. This time he had a bloody nose and his face was scuffed up from all the punches. There was no quit in Kerry Riley, not an ounce. All I could do was stare in disbelief. He got up over and over. It wouldn’t end. By this time, it was quiet. No one wanted to see this guy get hurt. They were screaming at him to stop but he just kept getting up. He braced himself for what was coming but he never took a backward step. It never occurred to him to duck.

Finally and to everyone’s relief, Ribachi had a look of compassion on his face. He didn’t want to hit him anymore. He walked up to him, took his hand and helped him up, smiled at him and left. Riley was a mess. His face was bloodied and bruised, his clothes filled with dirt and oil from the alley. but he had the respect of everyone there that day. He moved again before ninth grade was out. I never saw him again. It’s been forty years, and I have never forgotten him, or that fight.

to kerry

[Rick Farris]

Randy, I talked to Sean O'Grady yesterday and asked him if his dad knew Mel. He said, "Oh yeah, Dad knew him. He thought alot of him." (Sean didn't remember stealing your towel. He also thought I was in his corner when he fought Danny Lopez. Danny must have really hit him hard if remembers me being in his corner that night. )

Hey Tom . . . Good to know you will here for the CBHOF lunch. Is Sean coming?

Unfortunately, no. He has had a long, standing conflict with that date, so Frank has kindly asked me to accept for him. The main reason I called him was to make sure that his schedule hadn't cleared. He'd like to come, but he just can't.

d

[Rick Farris]

The Best from Ringside . . .


I've seen some great lightweights during my life, but only a few great ringside boxing announcers, and Sean O'Grady is one of them.
The cable TV executives (Who aren't yet 30 years old) would rather strangle their audience with idiots like Larry Merchant & Jim Lampley.
They could entertain us with real boxing words coming from the mouth of a true former world champ.
The thing is, he isn't just a former boxing champ, but better speaking, more knowledgable, experienced, has the looks, knows how to talk to a fighter.

Here is an example of what I'm referring to. As a boxer, I was taught early the deadly results of a left hook to the liver.
My stablemate, Dwight Hawkins, taught me what it felt like, and how to throw it.
But it was Sean, who explained on his TV broadcast (Long after I retired in 1976), the physiological effect the punch had on the body.
Why a fighter freezes a moment before he collapses to the canvas. Sean was taught by his old man, Pat.
When Sean explained it on camera, he did so like a doctor talking in lamen's terms.
Only a real pro could do that, but don't expect that from Lennox Lewis, Foreman, Leonard, Jones or anybody else.
Sometimes I think I know a lot about boxing. I learned a few things I didn't know watching Sean O'Grady, when he did the USA Tuesday Night Fights.

One thing I did learn from Mel Epstein was what to do when you can't stand a boxing announcer . . . TURN OFF THE SOUND!
That is what Mel would do when Howard Cosell was at the mike, or Jim Healy (our local LA broadcaster).
Healy took over the Thursday night spot when the Thursday Night Fights shifted from Channel-5 to channel-13.
Mel disliked Jim Healy as much as he did Cosell, and would refer to him as "Fish Eyes"

We had the best ringside boxing duo I've ever seen between 1965-67.
That was a young sportscaster named Dick Enberg (who was 30-years-old) and Olympic matchmaker, Mickey Davies.
In 1967, Enberg moved on to bigger and better things, and Davies left the Olympic to promote on his own.
To replace Davies, Aileen Eaton brought in a new matchmaker, Don Chargin.
Calling the fights from ringside after Enberg-Davies, was Tom Harmon & my dad's drinking buddy, Tom Kelley.



-Rick Farris

[CNorkusJr]

My father, Charley Norkus with The O'Gradys' about 1985 ? at Downtown Athletic Club,NYC

[Rick Farris]

My father, Charley Norkus with The O'Gradys' about 1985 ? at Downtown Athletic Club,NYC

Thanks, Charlie.
Great Photo!