Brian Oldfield was a legend of Shot Put. It must of been a thrill to meet Brian at your 21st birthday. And from what I can remember about him,quite a character too. Those moments are great to remember.Thank You.Rick Farris wrote:Shot Put . . .
Charlie, one of Bob's friends was shot-putter Brian Oldfield.
Brian was at my 21st birthday party, and a few weeks later he went one-on-one with Wyomia Tyus, a Gold Medal sprinter in the '68 Olympics.
In pro track, they would stage contests not done in amateur comp, like the 6'8" 280lb. shot-putter vs. female sprint legend Tyus in a 100 yd. race.
People would expect Tyus to blow the big Oldfield off the track, but Brian was timed at 10.0 in the 100.
On this day, Oldfield edged one of the greatest female sprinters of the 60's at the L.A. Sports Arena Indoor meet.
My old Track & Field coach Mr Michael Byrnes had Wantagh HS Track team throughout out a long career at my school.Many State Championships under his belt. He was also a Social Studies teacher during school hours.
One day in 7th or 8th grade,maybe 9th (my brain cant remember)-I had Mr Byrnes as a teacher. At this particular time in the Norkus household, my father aquired The Norkus vs Nardico II fite on 16mm film. Coupled with a few Jake LaMotta fite films, we watch it from time to time.
I was acting up in class one day,talking during his lesson. Mr Byrnes stopped, sat down and of course all chatter (me) stopped. He looked in my direction and said to the class " How many of you know that Charlie's father was a prizefighter ?" My friend Don raised his hand and that was it. Mr Byrnes said" I used to watch Charlie's dad on TV when he was a heavyweight, and one night he fought a big fellow named Charlie Powell. Charlie Powell was 6'4 220 lbs(not far off his rememberance) and Charlie's father hit him so hard it lifted him off the ring floor 2 inches and sent him across the ring." Now at this time, I did not know this info.
My father never gave exact details of his fights to me at this time.(He later did).
Of course my chest was held out high and Mr Byrnes continued with his lessons-that day and for the rest of the year I said nothing to be disruptive. After class one day, Mr Byrnes cornered me in the hallway and asked me to join the track & field team as a shot putter and discus man. Wantagh did not have a field man for those two events. I told him I did not know the sport well, but he taught me everything. I brought onto the team two friends that were huge. To cut it short-we scored points for the overall team that won otherwise close various meets and tournaments & myself and friend Kevin McSweeney competed in the Penn Relays which was big for us as individuals.
Several years later-my father acquired the Norkus-Powell I fight so I can see it myself for the first time. And in remembering what Mr Byrnes said that day will forever be in my mind-sure enough, Mr Powell was raised off the canvas by my fathers left hook to his jaw and Charlie Powell landed across the other side of the ring.
A few times I had a chance to meet Al Oerta, a great shot putter here from the east, and my father introduced Mr Bob Mathias, one time to me. Bob was a inspirational-speaker for large corps back in the early 1980's. Quite accomplished in life,a two time Olympic decathalon(48 & 52) champ,considered the best athlete in the world at that time, he was a former Marine too. My father met him several times during the 1950's, and would see him in NYC when he came to town. One time he brought me in to meet him as he was giving a speech at The Seagrams Company HQs on 6th Ave back then.My father worked with Seagrams products and would go in to see events put on by the company.A great guy to talk to. Sorry to say, I have no picture to post with Mr Mathias.
Like yourself Rick, great memories to have.
