Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Randyman]

Frank, how was the fishing trip? No pics?

[Randyman]

Andrew Salazar De La O


In the blink of an eye, that;s how fast the last 30 years have flown by. Today, May 7, 2011, marks the 30th anniversary of our father's death. He's been on all our minds lately. My mother and I were talking the other day and she remarked that the years that she spent with my father were the best years of her life. That makes me glad that she remembers him that way. Same with my brother Dennis, he remembers the 1970's as the time when we were all together, still a complete family. My mother was 52 when our father passed, my sister Evelyn was 31. My brother was only 16. My father passed the day before my 27th birthday.

Tomorrow I'll be 57, the same age my father was when he died. That's significant to me. A part of me thought I would never make it. Soon I'll be older than my father was. So in one sense, yes, it has been in a blink of an eye, in another sense, it was a lifetime ago. We'll be together again someday.

Today, before heading up to the high desert to celebrate Mother's Day with my wife and mother, we'll stop at my father's grave site to pay our respect and to remember.

Happy Birthday, Randy. And God bless your father's soul.

Thanks Rick.

[Expug]

Happy Birthday Randy.
God Bless you and Dad.
I remember when my wife turned 45 and passed the age that her mom was when she died.
It was a significant time for her as well...

[CNorkusJr]

Two Firefighters Burned

http://framework.latimes.com/2011/05/06 ... rs-burned/

A reminder about how firefighters put their life's on the line for us

Thanks Frank. The outer gear today would be a little bit more protective than what they were using back then.

Older fireman-pre 1960- are referred to as "Leather Lungs". Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)- the air bottles that you see on firefighters today, did not come around until late 1950's early 1960's. Fireman before that dealt with it by wetting a clothe rag and putting it in his mouth to cool the air he was breathing, and way before that, firemen wore LONG beards to soak up water and put in their mouths.
Pre 1960 you didnt have the burning chemical exposure that we have now either-PCB's,heavy carpets,chemicals,asbestos and such.
You still see many "leather lungs" alive today holding on-and the term is used endearly.

[Randyman]

Happy Birthday Randy.
God Bless you and Dad.
I remember when my wife turned 45 and passed the age that her mom was when she died.
It was a significant time for her as well...

Thanks Brian!

45? Wow, that had to be tough for her. Catching up to your dad (or mom) is a hard concept to wrap your head around. My belated condolences on your father-in-law.

[CNorkusJr]

Andrew Salazar De La O


In the blink of an eye, that;s how fast the last 30 years have flown by. Today, May 7, 2011, marks the 30th anniversary of our father's death. He's been on all our minds lately. My mother and I were talking the other day and she remarked that the years that she spent with my father were the best years of her life. That makes me glad that she remembers him that way. Same with my brother Dennis, he remembers the 1970's as the time when we were all together, still a complete family. My mother was 52 when our father passed, my sister Evelyn was 31. My brother was only 16. My father passed the day before my 27th birthday.

Tomorrow I'll be 57, the same age my father was when he died. That's significant to me. A part of me thought I would never make it. Soon I'll be older than my father was. So in one sense, yes, it has been in a blink of an eye, in another sense, it was a lifetime ago. We'll be together again someday.

Today, before heading up to the high desert to celebrate Mother's Day with my wife and mother, we'll stop at my father's grave site to pay our respect and to remember.

Happy Birthday, Randy. And God bless your father's soul.

My sentiments exactly Randy. God Bless.

[Randyman]

Two Firefighters Burned

http://framework.latimes.com/2011/05/06 ... rs-burned/

A reminder about how firefighters put their life's on the line for us

Thanks Frank. The outer gear today would be a little bit more protective than what they were using back then.

Older fireman-pre 1960- are referred to as "Leather Lungs". Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)- the air bottles that you see on firefighters today, did not come around until late 1950's early 1960's. Fireman before that dealt with it by wetting a clothe rag and putting it in his mouth to cool the air he was breathing, and way before that, firemen wore LONG beards to soak up water and put in their mouths.
Pre 1960 you didnt have the burning chemical exposure that we have now either-PCB's,heavy carpets,chemicals,asbestos and such.
You still see many "leather lungs" alive today holding on-and the term is used endearly.

I give all praise to Firefighters everywhere. There is no more heroic profession! There ought to be a "Hall of Fame".

[Randyman]

Andrew Salazar De La O


In the blink of an eye, that;s how fast the last 30 years have flown by. Today, May 7, 2011, marks the 30th anniversary of our father's death. He's been on all our minds lately. My mother and I were talking the other day and she remarked that the years that she spent with my father were the best years of her life. That makes me glad that she remembers him that way. Same with my brother Dennis, he remembers the 1970's as the time when we were all together, still a complete family. My mother was 52 when our father passed, my sister Evelyn was 31. My brother was only 16. My father passed the day before my 27th birthday.

Tomorrow I'll be 57, the same age my father was when he died. That's significant to me. A part of me thought I would never make it. Soon I'll be older than my father was. So in one sense, yes, it has been in a blink of an eye, in another sense, it was a lifetime ago. We'll be together again someday.

Today, before heading up to the high desert to celebrate Mother's Day with my wife and mother, we'll stop at my father's grave site to pay our respect and to remember.

Happy Birthday, Randy. And God bless your father's soul.

My sentiments exactly Randy. God Bless.

Thanks Charlie

[Randyman]

On my way out. I'll be back Monday. Have a great day and enjoy the fights tonight!

[kikibalt]

Frank, how was the fishing trip? No pics?

Yes, there's a link couple of pages back....

[Cholo]

Rick, Do you know were The Fugitive was filmed starring David Janssen, and how about the Mod Squad and the lovely Peggy Lipton, The Mod Squad had a episode starring Sugar Ray Robinson and Rocky Graziano titled the Comeback.....

The Fugitive was on TV before I was in the business, but I do know where it was filmed. Like many Quinn-Martin productions it was filmed at what was then known as the Samuel-Goldwyn Studios (now it's Warner-Hollywood). The studio is on Santa Monica Blvd. at Formosa Ave. Across the street from the studio entrance is the famous "Formosa" restaurant, once a major hangout of celebs and mobsters back in the day. The Mod Squad also filmed around Los Angeles and had stages at Paramount. I remember that episode with Robinson and Graziano.

Rick, Thanks for the info buddy....

[kikibalt]

Frank, how was the fishing trip? No pics?

Fishing trip was great Randy. Below is a link to the pics.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 1186556979

[kikibalt]

Andrew Salazar De La O


In the blink of an eye, that;s how fast the last 30 years have flown by. Today, May 7, 2011, marks the 30th anniversary of our father's death. He's been on all our minds lately. My mother and I were talking the other day and she remarked that the years that she spent with my father were the best years of her life. That makes me glad that she remembers him that way. Same with my brother Dennis, he remembers the 1970's as the time when we were all together, still a complete family. My mother was 52 when our father passed, my sister Evelyn was 31. My brother was only 16. My father passed the day before my 27th birthday.

Tomorrow I'll be 57, the same age my father was when he died. That's significant to me. A part of me thought I would never make it. Soon I'll be older than my father was. So in one sense, yes, it has been in a blink of an eye, in another sense, it was a lifetime ago. We'll be together again someday.

Today, before heading up to the high desert to celebrate Mother's Day with my wife and mother, we'll stop at my father's grave site to pay our respect and to remember.

Happy Birthday Randy. Enjoy your time with your mom and Jeri on Mother's day...

Btw, tomorrow is also my granddaughter Keanna's birthday...she'll be 14....

[Rick Farris]

Two Firefighters Burned

http://framework.latimes.com/2011/05/06 ... rs-burned/

A reminder about how firefighters put their life's on the line for us

Thanks Frank. The outer gear today would be a little bit more protective than what they were using back then.

Older fireman-pre 1960- are referred to as "Leather Lungs". Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)- the air bottles that you see on firefighters today, did not come around until late 1950's early 1960's. Fireman before that dealt with it by wetting a clothe rag and putting it in his mouth to cool the air he was breathing, and way before that, firemen wore LONG beards to soak up water and put in their mouths.
Pre 1960 you didnt have the burning chemical exposure that we have now either-PCB's,heavy carpets,chemicals,asbestos and such.
You still see many "leather lungs" alive today holding on-and the term is used endearly.

I give all praise to Firefighters everywhere. There is no more heroic profession! There ought to be a "Hall of Fame".

[Rick Farris]

Thanks Rick. A visit to a movie studio would be awesome but I wouldn't want to put you out of your way on my behalf. Though you do having me think now on those kisses from the "Housewives" !!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm watching the fights tonight with friends from the Desperate Housewives crew.
I assure you that it would be no trouble on my part to arrange for you and a guest to visit a set that normally does not allow most guests.
If you are here, and the show is in production, you'll be a special guest. Simple as that!

[Rick Farris]

Shane . . .

I kinda enjoyed watching Pacquiao bust up Oscar De La Hoya. I knew Oscar would gross more than $60 million for his whipping.
On the other hand, Shane never had all the edges that Oscar had. He was always in Oscar's shadow despite whipping him everytime they fought from the time they were kids.
I won't enjoy watching what I think is going to happen with Shane tonight. Shane is an L.A. guy, the best of his era.
Oscar was a bigger personality, Shane was a greater fighter. My opinion.

[kikibalt]

Shane . . .


Oscar was a bigger personality, Shane was a greater fighter. My opinion.

[Rick Farris]

Two good men . . .

I watched a little of the weigh-in and pre fight hype.
It's so nice not to see boxers acting tough, glaring looks, saying they hope to kill their opponent.
This is what boxing has become, a three ring circus featuring clowns posing as warriors.
Not so tonight. I watched Pacquiao and Mosely smile, shake each others hands and take a "may the best man win attitude."
In the ring, the congeniality will go away from first bell to last. These guys are real fighters, they will fight until there bodies will allow no more.
With Mosely and Pac, the fight will take place in the ring, and only in the ring. And you can bet it will be a fight.

And as our pal Randy always says, may the best man win!
It's no secret that I'm a big supporter of Manny Pacquiao, but if anybody is going to beat him, I'd want it to be Shane Mosely.

[Expug]

Agree one hundred percent Rick.
I cant stand the tough guy posing that goes on at the weigh ins and press confrences etc in boxing.
I look back at the old weigh ins with guys like Billy Conn and Joe Louis and it was always professional. Shake hands polite. These guys knew exactly who they were and what they were capable of. They knew that later on they were gonna be trying to stretch each other so why bother with the pre fight bs. They were gonna fight anyway so why get riled up and act like a gavoone?

[Rick Farris]

Agree one hundred percent Rick.
I cant stand the tough guy posing that goes on at the weigh ins and press confrences etc in boxing.
I look back at the old weigh ins with guys like Billy Conn and Joe Louis and it was always professional. Shake hands polite. These guys knew exactly who they were and what they were capable of. They knew that later on they were gonna be trying to stretch each other so why bother with the pre fight bs. They were gonna fight anyway so why get riled up and act like a gavoone?

Gavoone's!

[Rick Farris]

When we were kids . . .

I'll never forget what things were like on those Jr. Gloves fight night's at the Teamsters Gym.
While guys like Frank Baltazar, Louie Jarequi, Johnny Flores, etc. were trying to make matches, some of the little kids would be running around, playing, etc. A little later, two of the little guys who were playing a little earier, would be slugging it out in the ring.
After the bout was over, they'd be little kids again, and I really don't remember any hard feelings, aside from one feeling disappointment after losing.
That's how we were raised in boxing. That's how Shane was raised. This the way boxers really are.
But the youthful cable execs believe that boxing sells better if people believe that boxers are enemies.
Sometimes a grudge match is legit, but very rare does it go there.
I have had my ass whipped, and I have whipped a few myself. I never hated an opponet or hoped he would suffer after our bout.
However, if I saw a hint of anything suggesting he was hurt, I would try to jump onhim and take him out. And he would do the same.
Nothing personal, it was our business, our job, our sport.

[CNorkusJr]

Agree one hundred percent Rick.
I cant stand the tough guy posing that goes on at the weigh ins and press confrences etc in boxing.
I look back at the old weigh ins with guys like Billy Conn and Joe Louis and it was always professional. Shake hands polite. These guys knew exactly who they were and what they were capable of. They knew that later on they were gonna be trying to stretch each other so why bother with the pre fight bs. They were gonna fight anyway so why get riled up and act like a gavoone?

There was very little hype at the weigh-ins of contenders. Championships were more the show, of course, but your right pug-there were handshakes at the end and respect for each other. (exceptions to the norm were rare).Mostly weigh-ins were held in medical office backroom of respective State Athletic Comms. with a few reporters on hand to gather the info. Who am I to tell you guys, you guys walked the walk-and I have great respect for you gentlemen. Boy, Times have changed.
Here's a couple of examples I have on hand.

Weigh-in Norkus vs Powell I San Fran 1954



Norkus vs Ezz Charles 1955 NYC
Famed NYC Dr Vincent Nardiello does the honors.

[Expug]

Charlie and Rick, the posts you guys just made were fantastic.
Imagine if it was still like that. I wish it were. Nowadays its gotta be smack talk and disrespect. No class at all.
Of course we can find examples of this just walking down the street any day of the week too I guess.

[Rick Farris]

Agree one hundred percent Rick.
I cant stand the tough guy posing that goes on at the weigh ins and press confrences etc in boxing.
I look back at the old weigh ins with guys like Billy Conn and Joe Louis and it was always professional. Shake hands polite. These guys knew exactly who they were and what they were capable of. They knew that later on they were gonna be trying to stretch each other so why bother with the pre fight bs. They were gonna fight anyway so why get riled up and act like a gavoone?

There was very little hype at the weigh-ins of contenders. Championships were more the show, of course, but your right pug-there were handshakes at the end and respect for each other. (exceptions to the norm were rare).Mostly weigh-ins were held in medical office backroom of respective State Athletic Comms. with a few reporters on hand to gather the info. Who am I to tell you guys, you guys walked the walk-and I have great respect for you gentlemen. Boy, Times have changed.
Here's a couple of examples I have on hand.

Weigh-in Norkus vs Powell I San Fran 1954



Norkus vs Ezz Charles 1955 NYC
Famed NYC Dr Vincent Nardiello does the honors.

Ezzard Charles, Charlie Powell, Archie Moore . . . all these great heavyweights Charlie Norkus fought, and the greatest thing are the pics of the men together, some right before a match, and some years later after they had long retired. The respect, the friendship, and the great moments they knew they shared together. Hard moments, moments that define the spirit of real fighters. Thank you for these photos Charlie.

[CNorkusJr]

Those were the days. I am glad my dad taught me all about those days too.
As time moved on you can see the evolution of media and the hype infiltrating the sport.

The 70's still had small club fights here in NYC but much dimished from its hey day of the 30's-60's. TV took much of the blame of diminished crowds at live events and the small fight venues started to disappear.
Once that happened, something had to generate the interest of showing up in public arenas.
Some names were big enough to generate a sell out though they were fighting other stiffs.
Others needed a boost, and what better way than to stage all the shenanigans we seen over the years including one of the biggest of them all- Ali-Frazier on ABC interview w/ Cosell
Then it went to the weigh-ins with the staredowns and entourage fighting.
Many I believe were not ideas from the fighters, but from promoters and TV itself looking for interested crowds.
All in the name of big dollars $$$$. As experienced ring affecionodos we might see through the hype and we hate it. But this shit works, as I remember a friend come to me and said
" We gotta order this Holmes-Cooney fight, they really hate each other and its gonna be a big fight !!!"
Besides the whole Black-White Champ issue thing going on. But the hype sells and is here to stay.
Believe you me - I hate it too, but its the $$$$.
But I'll tell you this too- if my father found out he could make an extra $1,000 doing this silly stuff-he would do it I believe. Its really no different than putting "Charley Murphy Norkus" on the back of his robe,which he did, to sell more tickets and get the Irish to back him up at his fights in the Garden. Hint-we are not Irish.
There is a hilarious family story to go with that- I will tell later on.