Classic American West Coast Boxing

[CNorkusJr]

d

[coach greg v]

In a perfect world, I'd live Memorial Day to Labor Day in Sweden, and Labor Day to Memorial Day in Scottsdale, Arizona.

As my Cockney mate Dave Wescott would say, "And why not?"

Not quite enough $$$$ and a wife who likes "seasons". . . My wife's from Minnesota. She likes snow and cold.

Last weekend, we were visiting her relatives in Minnesota. When we were driving around town, I noticed that all of the fire hydrants had metal poles painted red and white attached to them. These poles were about five feet tall. "What's with the poles on the fire hydrants?," I asked her. "So you can see where the fire hydrants are when they are buried in the snow during winter."

Tom, our granddaughter lives north of Scottsdale, in Flagstaff..[/quote]
> arizona is nice. I like it there but I got 7 boys and I took them away from the city schools where all the crap is.....we got boxing gyms a small farm guest houses all of u should come up with ur wives if u see the aurora borealis u will never need little blue pills ever..trust me bantam wonder[/quote]
Sounds like a pretty good life Greg. Wouldn't mind visiting myself someday! :)[/quote]
>always welcome. we can talk of o'grady u can see 5 different fights going on in the recroom the university of alaska boxing team works out in my gym. we have a bull a cow and few other 4 legged creatures.....[/quote]
[/quote]
> we have a boxing paradise there 5 tvs going all the time fights. a separate boxing gym pleanty of leisure space...

[coach greg v]

Alaska ! To heck with Alaska, drenched in sunlight much of the 24 hour day most of the year,I heard. Men wear those felt eye covers to bed. Dont know if your coming or going.
With global warming chasing the beautiful elk down into Canada,Alaska will be a mudbowl in a few years.The only good thing about Alaska is the amount of oil thats underneath it-and hopefully soon oil drills will be pumping up the liquid Gold !

If I ate Salmon-maybe, but our Salmon on the East coast comes from Nova Scotia.

. norkus are u punch drunk

[coach greg v]

Alaska ! To heck with Alaska, drenched in sunlight much of the 24 hour day most of the year,I heard. Men wear those felt eye covers to bed. Dont know if your coming or going.
With global warming chasing the beautiful elk down into Canada,Alaska will be a mudbowl in a few years.The only good thing about Alaska is the amount of oil thats underneath it-and hopefully soon oil drills will be pumping up the liquid Gold !

If I ate Salmon-maybe, but our Salmon on the East coast comes from Nova Scotia.

. norkus are u punch drunk

>despite mr norkus running down my state he did help me with some vids so I have to thank him and hes still welcome from whatever blue state hes from...

[raylawpc]

Alaska ! To heck with Alaska, drenched in sunlight much of the 24 hour day most of the year,I heard. Men wear those felt eye covers to bed. Dont know if your coming or going.
With global warming chasing the beautiful elk down into Canada,Alaska will be a mudbowl in a few years.The only good thing about Alaska is the amount of oil thats underneath it-and hopefully soon oil drills will be pumping up the liquid Gold !

If I ate Salmon-maybe, but our Salmon on the East coast comes from Nova Scotia.

. norkus are u punch drunk

That would be quite an accomplishment. I don't think Chuck has ever boxed.

[coach greg v]

Alaska ! To heck with Alaska, drenched in sunlight much of the 24 hour day most of the year,I heard. Men wear those felt eye covers to bed. Dont know if your coming or going.
With global warming chasing the beautiful elk down into Canada,Alaska will be a mudbowl in a few years.The only good thing about Alaska is the amount of oil thats underneath it-and hopefully soon oil drills will be pumping up the liquid Gold !

If I ate Salmon-maybe, but our Salmon on the East coast comes from Nova Scotia.

. norkus are u punch drunk

That would be quite an accomplishment. I don't think Chuck has ever boxed.

> do not know why he has to run down where I live I love his boxing articles

[raylawpc]

In a perfect world, I'd live Memorial Day to Labor Day in Sweden, and Labor Day to Memorial Day in Scottsdale, Arizona.

As my Cockney mate Dave Wescott would say, "And why not?"

Not quite enough $$$$ and a wife who likes "seasons". . . My wife's from Minnesota. She likes snow and cold.

Last weekend, we were visiting her relatives in Minnesota. When we were driving around town, I noticed that all of the fire hydrants had metal poles painted red and white attached to them. These poles were about five feet tall. "What's with the poles on the fire hydrants?," I asked her. "So you can see where the fire hydrants are when they are buried in the snow during winter."

Tom, our granddaughter lives north of Scottsdale, in Flagstaff..[/quote]

Flagstaff gets too cold in the winter for me. I loved those 70s and 80s year-around, hence Scottsdale and Sweden for me!![/quote]
>excuse me sweden its colder there than where I am at I know what u mean[/quote]

Not when I want to be there. I want to live there May to September, and in Scottsdale from September to May.

[raylawpc]

. norkus are u punch drunk

That would be quite an accomplishment. I don't think Chuck has ever boxed.

> do not know why he has to run down where I live I love his boxing articles

He was kidding. Chuck is the nicest guy in the world.

[coach greg v]

In a perfect world, I'd live Memorial Day to Labor Day in Sweden, and Labor Day to Memorial Day in Scottsdale, Arizona.

As my Cockney mate Dave Wescott would say, "And why not?"

Not quite enough $$$$ and a wife who likes "seasons". . . My wife's from Minnesota. She likes snow and cold.

Last weekend, we were visiting her relatives in Minnesota. When we were driving around town, I noticed that all of the fire hydrants had metal poles painted red and white attached to them. These poles were about five feet tall. "What's with the poles on the fire hydrants?," I asked her. "So you can see where the fire hydrants are when they are buried in the snow during winter."

Tom, our granddaughter lives north of Scottsdale, in Flagstaff..[/quote]

Flagstaff gets too cold in the winter for me. I loved those 70s and 80s year-around, hence Scottsdale and Sweden for me!![/quote]
>excuse me sweden its colder there than where I am at I know what u mean[/quote]

Not when I want to be there. I want to live there May to September, and in Scottsdale from September to May.[/quote]
> i hope u get ur wish I am off to bed thanks u guys for a most interesting night...

[Rick Farris]

> thank you somebody else sees it

Thanks Randy and everybody else for the kind words....

> frank if u dont shape up im gonna get charlie el jefe to explain it to u

Hey Frank, saw an over-the-top SUV today. I think GMC?
Big wheels, lo profile tires, the brightest red, etc. On the side the factory label read- "El Jefe".
I thought maybe Charlie had cashed in a few chips?

[Chuck1052]

Boy, I wish I got in earlier on this one.

Bklyn Dodgers history-no other teams made World Series appearances like The Yanks & Dodgers did throughout the 1940's & 1950's. If you were a Yankees fan-you got any arguement beat by a mile, but the Dodgers wrapped up the National League solid during that time period. The only problem was that they came away from all those series as losers except one-1955.
Brooklynites had Brooklyn and Queens solid,Yankees the Bronx,The Giants had Manhattan and let the good times roll.
You could see the animosity that O'Malley brought to Bklyn feelings still to this date.
When the Giants left-Giant fans cried, but eventually went over to the Yankees.
But Dodger fans still hate OMalley with a passion even though he rolling over in a grave for years.To make matters worse, 2 years ago, there were several bars & Restaurants here in the New York area that in some form or another used "Ebbets Field" in their names, not "Dodgers",just Ebbets Field. LA Dodgers sued those small-time bars and rests. as they (LA Dodgers) owned the "Ebbets Field" property name. After a few months of legal posturing-LA Dodgers won, causing changes to the names.
Best advice for anyone visiting Bklyn these days-dont wear any LA Dodger shirts or hats !
Us Boxing Fans remember that the sport of Boxing in those days ran a close 2nd behind baseball in US sports interests then. Now football,then baseball ans all the rest and boxing coming up at the bottom behind water polo, I feel.

Tom, correct me if I'm wrong-didnt the St Louis Cardinals football team bail out on St.Louis awhile back to go to Arizona, thus opening a need for the Rams.
I will not argue that St Louis baseball is one of the biggest and most successful franchises in history,behind the Yanks.Stan The Man,still draws a standing room only crowd.

Rick, there is a Jets ticket here with your name on it whenever you wish to use it. !!!

Partly due to the advent of television, attendance at major league baseball games decreased dramatically during the early 1950s. It didn't help that many Americans were moving to the suburbs with many central parts of major American cities going downhill. Many of the major league ballparks were old and located in such central areas.

The Brooklyn Dodgers' yearly attendance went from about 1.8 million to about 1.1 million within a decade by the middle 1950s. This was despite the fact that the Dodgers won six pennants and one World Series during the period from 1947 to 1956. Moreover, Walter O'Malley was having trouble getting a new stadium built to replace the aging Ebbets Field.

The New York Giants were drawing an average of about nine thousand fans a game just before the team moved to San Francisco in 1958. This was at a time when the great Willie Mays was at his peak while playing for the team.

Due to having very low attendance figures while playing in Boston during the early 1950s, the Braves moved to Milwaukee, where the team started attract about two million fans a year on a regular basis while playing in a new ballpark. By the middle 1950s, the Braves had a very talented team and were contending for the National League pennant on a regular basis. Think of this....the Braves had Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn, Eddie Mathews, Joe Adcock, Lew Burdette, Del Crandell, Bob Buhl and Johnny Logan at the time.

To be sure, Walter O'Malley was a hard-nosed businessman, which didn't make him the most sympathetic figure. But there were some very valid reasons to move to Los Angeles from Brooklyn. Moreover, the Dodgers would have the highest attendance on a regular basis for many years while playing in Los Angeles.

- Chuck Johnston

[Rick Farris]

Boy, I wish I got in earlier on this one.

Bklyn Dodgers history-no other teams made World Series appearances like The Yanks & Dodgers did throughout the 1940's & 1950's. If you were a Yankees fan-you got any arguement beat by a mile, but the Dodgers wrapped up the National League solid during that time period. The only problem was that they came away from all those series as losers except one-1955.
Brooklynites had Brooklyn and Queens solid,Yankees the Bronx,The Giants had Manhattan and let the good times roll.
You could see the animosity that O'Malley brought to Bklyn feelings still to this date.
When the Giants left-Giant fans cried, but eventually went over to the Yankees.
But Dodger fans still hate OMalley with a passion even though he rolling over in a grave for years.To make matters worse, 2 years ago, there were several bars & Restaurants here in the New York area that in some form or another used "Ebbets Field" in their names, not "Dodgers",just Ebbets Field. LA Dodgers sued those small-time bars and rests. as they (LA Dodgers) owned the "Ebbets Field" property name. After a few months of legal posturing-LA Dodgers won, causing changes to the names.
Best advice for anyone visiting Bklyn these days-dont wear any LA Dodger shirts or hats !
Us Boxing Fans remember that the sport of Boxing in those days ran a close 2nd behind baseball in US sports interests then. Now football,then baseball ans all the rest and boxing coming up at the bottom behind water polo, I feel.

Tom, correct me if I'm wrong-didnt the St Louis Cardinals football team bail out on St.Louis awhile back to go to Arizona, thus opening a need for the Rams.
I will not argue that St Louis baseball is one of the biggest and most successful franchises in history,behind the Yanks.Stan The Man,still draws a standing room only crowd.

Rick, there is a Jets ticket here with your name on it whenever you wish to use it. !!!

The Brooklyn Dodgers' yearly attendance went from about 1.8 million to about 1.1 million within a decade by the middle 1950s. This was despite the fact that the Dodgers won six pennants and one World Series during the period from 1947 to 1956. Moreover, Walter O'Malley was having trouble getting a new stadium built to replace the aging Ebbets Field.

The New York Giants were drawing an average of about nine thousand fans a game just before the team moved to San Francisco in 1958. This was at a time when the great Willie Mays was at his peak while playing for the team.

Due to having very low attendance figures while playing in Boston during the early 1950s, the Braves moved to Milwaukee, where the team started attract about two million fans a year on a regular basis while playing in a new ballpark. By the middle 1950s, the Braves had a very talented team and were contending for the National League pennant on a regular basis. Think of this....the Braves had Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn, Eddie Mathews, Joe Adcock, Lew Burdette, Bob Buhl, Del Crandell and Johnny Logan at the time.

The Dodgers were such a financial success under the O'Malley's in L.A.
In addition to the Stadium, they owned Dodger Town in Vero Beach. Everything they touched turned to gold.
There was a time when the Dodgers were the only team in major league baseball to operate in the black.

[Rick Farris]

In a perfect world, I'd live Memorial Day to Labor Day in Sweden, and Labor Day to Memorial Day in Scottsdale, Arizona.

As my Cockney mate Dave Wescott would say, "And why not?"

Not quite enough $$$$ and a wife who likes "seasons". . . My wife's from Minnesota. She likes snow and cold.

Last weekend, we were visiting her relatives in Minnesota. When we were driving around town, I noticed that all of the fire hydrants had metal poles painted red and white attached to them. These poles were about five feet tall. "What's with the poles on the fire hydrants?," I asked her. "So you can see where the fire hydrants are when they are buried in the snow during winter."

Tom, our granddaughter lives north of Scottsdale, in Flagstaff..[/quote]

Flagstaff gets too cold in the winter for me. I loved those 70s and 80s year-around, hence Scottsdale and Sweden for me!![/quote]
>excuse me sweden its colder there than where I am at I know what u mean[/quote]

Not when I want to be there. I want to live there May to September, and in Scottsdale from September to May.[/quote]

I lived in Arizona, not far from Scottsdale. Winter the weather was OK.
There was a name in Az. for those who would invade the land of the sun from the Mid-West each winter - "Snow Birds".
9-out-of-10 cross the border in huge motor homes towing a Saturn behind.
When the weather gets warm, they pull up stakes and run for their lives!

[raylawpc]

In a perfect world, I'd live Memorial Day to Labor Day in Sweden, and Labor Day to Memorial Day in Scottsdale, Arizona.

As my Cockney mate Dave Wescott would say, "And why not?"

Not quite enough $$$$ and a wife who likes "seasons". . . My wife's from Minnesota. She likes snow and cold.

Last weekend, we were visiting her relatives in Minnesota. When we were driving around town, I noticed that all of the fire hydrants had metal poles painted red and white attached to them. These poles were about five feet tall. "What's with the poles on the fire hydrants?," I asked her. "So you can see where the fire hydrants are when they are buried in the snow during winter."

Tom, our granddaughter lives north of Scottsdale, in Flagstaff..[/quote]

Flagstaff gets too cold in the winter for me. I loved those 70s and 80s year-around, hence Scottsdale and Sweden for me!![/quote]
>excuse me sweden its colder there than where I am at I know what u mean[/quote]

Not when I want to be there. I want to live there May to September, and in Scottsdale from September to May.[/quote]

I lived in Arizona, not far from Scottsdale. Winter the weather was OK.
There was a name in Az. for those who would invade the land of the sun from the Mid-West each winter - "Snow Birds".
9-out-of-10 cross the border in huge motor homes towing a Saturn behind.
When the weather gets warm, they pull up stakes and run for their lives! [/quote]

Except for the motor home (I want a nice two-bedroom condo just off Scottsdale Avenue), that's my plan . . . but for my "seasonal" wife.

[Rick Farris]

In a perfect world, I'd live Memorial Day to Labor Day in Sweden, and Labor Day to Memorial Day in Scottsdale, Arizona.

As my Cockney mate Dave Wescott would say, "And why not?"

Not quite enough $$$$ and a wife who likes "seasons". . . My wife's from Minnesota. She likes snow and cold.

Last weekend, we were visiting her relatives in Minnesota. When we were driving around town, I noticed that all of the fire hydrants had metal poles painted red and white attached to them. These poles were about five feet tall. "What's with the poles on the fire hydrants?," I asked her. "So you can see where the fire hydrants are when they are buried in the snow during winter."

Tom, our granddaughter lives north of Scottsdale, in Flagstaff..[/quote]
> arizona is nice. I like it there but I got 7 boys and I took them away from the city schools where all the crap is.....we got boxing gyms a small farm guest houses all of u should come up with ur wives if u see the aurora borealis u will never need little blue pills ever..trust me bantam wonder[/quote]
Sounds like a pretty good life Greg. Wouldn't mind visiting myself someday! :)[/quote]
>always welcome. we can talk of o'grady u can see 5 different fights going on in the recroom the university of alaska boxing team works out in my gym. we have a bull a cow and few other 4 legged creatures.....[/quote]
[/quote]
> we have a boxing paradise there 5 tvs going all the time fights. a separate boxing gym pleanty of leisure space...[/quote]

Sounds like a great place, Greg!
One question, can you see Russia from your front porch?

[Cholo]

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Bob Terrance Nov. 20, 1952
The gong ending the second round of the Art Aragon, 146, Bob Terrance, 148, tussle at Hollywood Stadium, was a cruel chime for the Golden Boy. It not only robbed Aragon of an early victory, made his chore a tough one, and caused him physical pain, but also necessitated the postponement of a lucrative match with Billy Graham. Aragon had pounded Terrance to the canvas so convincingly that the tolling off of ten seconds seemed the only thing necessary to end the bout. But the bell interrupted the count, Terrance was revived and back in action in the third. And it was this third round that packed the grief for Art. In an effort to score a KO, Aragon again decked Terrance and belted him all over the ring, but Bob kept his button well covered and many of Art's blows landed high on the gamester's head, which caused injuries to both of Aragon's hands. The allout effort slowed Art down a bit and his bruised hands caused him to ease up on his punching, so Terrance, keeping up his persistent attack, copped two of the next six rounds and kept two others even..

Frank, I agree with the rest of the guys you gotta write a book..

[kikibalt]

Sounds like a great place, Greg!
One question, can you see Russia from your front porch?

[kikibalt]

Thanks Randy and everybody else for the kind words....

> frank if u dont shape up im gonna get charlie el jefe to explain it to u

Hey Frank, saw an over-the-top SUV today. I think GMC?
Big wheels, lo profile tires, the brightest red, etc. On the side the factory label read- "El Jefe".
I thought maybe Charlie had cashed in a few chips?

Maybe, you know El Jefe has friends in high places...

[kikibalt]

> in my sports room we have 80 inch tv boxing ring pool table easy chairs and a view to die for.....

I don't wanna die....

[kikibalt]

Here's an old story that I have posted before Greg.

"Going To The Fights....1951


Eddie Gomez was watching a boxing match on a nineteen inch TV when his dad, Rudy, came in the house and told Eddie.
“Eddie, look what I have here”.
“Pops, did you get some tickets for the title fight?”
Eddie had been bugging his pop to take him to see the Art Argon vs Jimmy Carter lightweight title fight at the Olympic Auditorium for some time, his pop thought that Eddie; been twelve years old was to young to go to the fights.
“Yes, Eddie, I bought four tickets, your uncles, Tony and Ray, will be going with us. Now I hope your mom doesn't get mad at me, she too thinks you are to young to go to the fights”.
Eddie's mom, Lupe, was not too crazy to see Eddie going to the fights, but she did agree with Rudy; that their son would be disappointed if he was not allowed to go with his pop and uncles, so she gave her okay for Eddie to go.

Eddie couldn't wait to find his best friend, Cheno Diaz, to tell him the good news. He found Cheno tending his two cows and one goat at a nearby pasture.
“Cheno, my pops is taking me to see the Aragon and Carter title fight”.
"Gee Eddie, you are lucky, I wish I could go”.
“I'll ask my pop if he can get another ticket for you. Cheno, you think your mom and pops would let you go?”.
“I'll ask them” said Cheno.
Eddie ask his pop if he could get a ticket for Cheno.
“Yes, I'm sure I can get one, Eddie, you tell Cheno, that if his mom and pop say its okay for him to go; we'll take him with us”.
Next day in school, Eddie told Cheno the good news.
“Cheno, my pops said that he'll get you a ticket if your mom and pop say that's its okay for you to go”.
“Eddie, mom and pop said I could go as long as your father was going, they trust your father, but not your uncle Ray, they say he is crazy, that he himself will get into a fight at the fights”.
“Yeah, uncle Ray is a bit wild, especially when he is drinking beer, but pops won't let him drink too much, he'll be okay”.

Two weeks later, they all piled into Rudy's 1946 Dodge and headed west on Washington Boulevard. Eddie and Cheno were so excited that they couldn't sit still and it was starting to bug uncle Ray.
“If you kids don't sit still, we are going to stop and drop you off here; and you are going to have to wait for us to pick you up after the fights” said uncle Ray.
“Leave them alone Ray, they are just excited to be going to the fights, after all, its their first time to see boxing live. You remember when you went for the first time and you got all crazy on us?, wanting to fight everybody there” said uncle Tony.
“Yeah, but I was drunk; and let me remind you that I was doing okay until that big guy cold-cock me and knocked me on my ass” uncle Ray laughed.

The area was so pack that they had to park 3 blocks away. Eddie and Cheno were shadow boxing as they walked up 18th Avenue.
“Hey Eddie, Cheno, you two want to become fighters, because if you do, I'll train you guys” said uncle Ray.
“Ray, what the hell do you know about training fighters? asked Rudy.
“Hey, Rudy, I have fighting experience”.
“Yes, you do but, its street fighting experience, an I don't think you ever won a fight”
“At least I've never been ko, always finish on my feet” laughed Ray.

As the group approached the front entrance of the Olympic, they started seeing movie and boxing celebrities hanging around the sidewalk of Grand Avenue.
“Cheno! There's John Wayne and Pedro Armendariz” said the excitable Eddie.
“And over there is Rosemary Cooney and her husband Jose Ferrer” said uncle Tony
“I see Tommy Campbell, Frankie Muche, Bob Murphy, Enrique Bolanos and Freddie Babe Herman over there talking to two men” said Cheno
“That's Cal Eaton and Babe McCoy they are talking too, they are probably talking about upcoming fights” said Rudy.
Before entering the Olympic, they all bought the Knockout program from Speedy Dado. Eddie and Cheno started getting autographs on their programs to show their friends in school the next day.

They found their sits in the second to last roll in the peanut gallery. No sooner had they sat down when rolls of toilet paper started flying around, soon some ladies underwear were flying by. Eddie and Cheno started making paper plane and would fly them down to the ring.
“This is fun, Eddie, thanks for bringing me” said Cheno.
“Thank my pop, Cheno, he is the one who bought your ticket”.

The fighters for the first fight came in the ring. Rudy, Tony and Ray started betting on the fights, they would bet one dollar on the white or black corner, what ever fighter went to the corner they had, that was their bet.
The first fight was won by Al Galindo over Bobby Brewer, Rudy and Tony won a dollar each, Ray lost a dollar.
Second fight was between Joey Gurrola and Sammy Figueroa.
“Cheno, see that big guy in Figueroa's corner? That's big Jake Horn, he's a great trainer” said Eddie.
The fight ended in a draw.
“Guess it didn't help Figueroa having Jake Horn in the corner, did it, Eddie? Said Cheno, as he threw a roll of toilet paper.
“He didn't lose did he?” said Eddie.
“Well no, he didn't”.
.
After a couple of more fights it was time for the main event, Art Aragon and Jimmy Carter would be coming into the ring soon.

Aragon looking weak is the first to come into the ring.
“Aragon is going to lose” said Eddie.
“How do you know? Asked uncle Ray.
“Look how pale he looks, I read in the Mirror that he was having trouble making '35” said Eddie.
Carter comes into the ring looking great. After both fighters have been gloved in the ring they are introduce by Jimmy Lennon , referee Mushy Callahan calls the fighters to the center of the ring for their instructions.
The fight started fairly even for the first four rounds, from the fifth round on it was all Carter who won an easy 15 round unanimous decision.
Right after the fight ended uncle Ray wanted to leave.
'Okay guys, our guy lost; so lets get out of here”.
“No! We have to stay and watch Keeny Teran fight Bobby Garza, they are fighting a six rounder” said Eddie.
“Ray, Keeny is the toast of the town, we have to stay and watch him fight” said uncle Tony
They stayed and watch Keeny win a unanimous decision.

On the way home Uncle Ray asked Eddie and Cheno if they wanted to fight.
“Guys, if you want to fight, I'll train you, after you train for a couple of months; I'll take you to the downtown CYO where Johnny Flores run the boxing program, I'm sure we can get you some sparring. Johnny is my friend and he'll help us out.
“Ray, you don't even know Johnny Flores” said Rudy.
“Well maybe not, but I know where the CYO is at” laughed uncle Ray.

Next day at school Eddie and Cheno were the toast of the school as they were holding court with their friends.
“You should have seen Aragon land that left hook of his” said Cheno as he threw a left hook.
“To bad he didn't landed it enough” said Eddie.
“He was too weak from making weight”.
“He was” agree Eddie.
“But you should have seen that little Keeny Teran” Eddie and Cheno said in unison.
“Guys, Cheno and I are going to start training next week, my uncle Ray is going to train us” said Eddie.

[kikibalt]

A real old short story I posted some time back. The story takes place circa 1949...

Tales From The Simons Brickyard
By Frank Baltazar


Around the block from my house some people were having a party, an adult party, us young teenagers, 13-14 years old at the time wanted to go to the party, we thought we were chingones and should be allowed at the party, but the people having the party said no, we were too young they said. We left and got a long rope, came back to the party and tied one end of the rope to the house wooden fence and the other end to the rear bumper of a car park in front of the house, we waited in the dark until the party was over, at some point the people that owned the car came out to go home, they said their good-byes got in the car and drove away taking the fence with them....

[coach greg v]

Sounds like a great place, Greg!
One question, can you see Russia from your front porch?

> I am near fairbanks but I will tell you this once you see it. Like you see a boxing ring.It has power....

[coach greg v]

Here's an old story that I have posted before Greg.

"Going To The Fights....1951


Eddie Gomez was watching a boxing match on a nineteen inch TV when his dad, Rudy, came in the house and told Eddie.
“Eddie, look what I have here”.
“Pops, did you get some tickets for the title fight?”
Eddie had been bugging his pop to take him to see the Art Argon vs Jimmy Carter lightweight title fight at the Olympic Auditorium for some time, his pop thought that Eddie; been twelve years old was to young to go to the fights.
“Yes, Eddie, I bought four tickets, your uncles, Tony and Ray, will be going with us. Now I hope your mom doesn't get mad at me, she too thinks you are to young to go to the fights”.
Eddie's mom, Lupe, was not too crazy to see Eddie going to the fights, but she did agree with Rudy; that their son would be disappointed if he was not allowed to go with his pop and uncles, so she gave her okay for Eddie to go.

Eddie couldn't wait to find his best friend, Cheno Diaz, to tell him the good news. He found Cheno tending his two cows and one goat at a nearby pasture.
“Cheno, my pops is taking me to see the Aragon and Carter title fight”.
"Gee Eddie, you are lucky, I wish I could go”.
“I'll ask my pop if he can get another ticket for you. Cheno, you think your mom and pops would let you go?”.
“I'll ask them” said Cheno.
Eddie ask his pop if he could get a ticket for Cheno.
“Yes, I'm sure I can get one, Eddie, you tell Cheno, that if his mom and pop say its okay for him to go; we'll take him with us”.
Next day in school, Eddie told Cheno the good news.
“Cheno, my pops said that he'll get you a ticket if your mom and pop say that's its okay for you to go”.
“Eddie, mom and pop said I could go as long as your father was going, they trust your father, but not your uncle Ray, they say he is crazy, that he himself will get into a fight at the fights”.
“Yeah, uncle Ray is a bit wild, especially when he is drinking beer, but pops won't let him drink too much, he'll be okay”.

Two weeks later, they all piled into Rudy's 1946 Dodge and headed west on Washington Boulevard. Eddie and Cheno were so excited that they couldn't sit still and it was starting to bug uncle Ray.
“If you kids don't sit still, we are going to stop and drop you off here; and you are going to have to wait for us to pick you up after the fights” said uncle Ray.
“Leave them alone Ray, they are just excited to be going to the fights, after all, its their first time to see boxing live. You remember when you went for the first time and you got all crazy on us?, wanting to fight everybody there” said uncle Tony.
“Yeah, but I was drunk; and let me remind you that I was doing okay until that big guy cold-cock me and knocked me on my ass” uncle Ray laughed.

The area was so pack that they had to park 3 blocks away. Eddie and Cheno were shadow boxing as they walked up 18th Avenue.
“Hey Eddie, Cheno, you two want to become fighters, because if you do, I'll train you guys” said uncle Ray.
“Ray, what the hell do you know about training fighters? asked Rudy.
“Hey, Rudy, I have fighting experience”.
“Yes, you do but, its street fighting experience, an I don't think you ever won a fight”
“At least I've never been ko, always finish on my feet” laughed Ray.

As the group approached the front entrance of the Olympic, they started seeing movie and boxing celebrities hanging around the sidewalk of Grand Avenue.
“Cheno! There's John Wayne and Pedro Armendariz” said the excitable Eddie.
“And over there is Rosemary Cooney and her husband Jose Ferrer” said uncle Tony
“I see Tommy Campbell, Frankie Muche, Bob Murphy, Enrique Bolanos and Freddie Babe Herman over there talking to two men” said Cheno
“That's Cal Eaton and Babe McCoy they are talking too, they are probably talking about upcoming fights” said Rudy.
Before entering the Olympic, they all bought the Knockout program from Speedy Dado. Eddie and Cheno started getting autographs on their programs to show their friends in school the next day.

They found their sits in the second to last roll in the peanut gallery. No sooner had they sat down when rolls of toilet paper started flying around, soon some ladies underwear were flying by. Eddie and Cheno started making paper plane and would fly them down to the ring.
“This is fun, Eddie, thanks for bringing me” said Cheno.
“Thank my pop, Cheno, he is the one who bought your ticket”.

The fighters for the first fight came in the ring. Rudy, Tony and Ray started betting on the fights, they would bet one dollar on the white or black corner, what ever fighter went to the corner they had, that was their bet.
The first fight was won by Al Galindo over Bobby Brewer, Rudy and Tony won a dollar each, Ray lost a dollar.
Second fight was between Joey Gurrola and Sammy Figueroa.
“Cheno, see that big guy in Figueroa's corner? That's big Jake Horn, he's a great trainer” said Eddie.
The fight ended in a draw.
“Guess it didn't help Figueroa having Jake Horn in the corner, did it, Eddie? Said Cheno, as he threw a roll of toilet paper.
“He didn't lose did he?” said Eddie.
“Well no, he didn't”.
.
After a couple of more fights it was time for the main event, Art Aragon and Jimmy Carter would be coming into the ring soon.

Aragon looking weak is the first to come into the ring.
“Aragon is going to lose” said Eddie.
“How do you know? Asked uncle Ray.
“Look how pale he looks, I read in the Mirror that he was having trouble making '35” said Eddie.
Carter comes into the ring looking great. After both fighters have been gloved in the ring they are introduce by Jimmy Lennon , referee Mushy Callahan calls the fighters to the center of the ring for their instructions.
The fight started fairly even for the first four rounds, from the fifth round on it was all Carter who won an easy 15 round unanimous decision.
Right after the fight ended uncle Ray wanted to leave.
'Okay guys, our guy lost; so lets get out of here”.
“No! We have to stay and watch Keeny Teran fight Bobby Garza, they are fighting a six rounder” said Eddie.
“Ray, Keeny is the toast of the town, we have to stay and watch him fight” said uncle Tony
They stayed and watch Keeny win a unanimous decision.

On the way home Uncle Ray asked Eddie and Cheno if they wanted to fight.
“Guys, if you want to fight, I'll train you, after you train for a couple of months; I'll take you to the downtown CYO where Johnny Flores run the boxing program, I'm sure we can get you some sparring. Johnny is my friend and he'll help us out.
“Ray, you don't even know Johnny Flores” said Rudy.
“Well maybe not, but I know where the CYO is at” laughed uncle Ray.

Next day at school Eddie and Cheno were the toast of the school as they were holding court with their friends.
“You should have seen Aragon land that left hook of his” said Cheno as he threw a left hook.
“To bad he didn't landed it enough” said Eddie.
“He was too weak from making weight”.
“He was” agree Eddie.
“But you should have seen that little Keeny Teran” Eddie and Cheno said in unison.
“Guys, Cheno and I are going to start training next week, my uncle Ray is going to train us” said Eddie.

>frank on one of those nights at 40 below. I could see myself reading your book and laughing my ass off...

[coach greg v]

Here's an old story that I have posted before Greg.

"Going To The Fights....1951


Eddie Gomez was watching a boxing match on a nineteen inch TV when his dad, Rudy, came in the house and told Eddie.
“Eddie, look what I have here”.
“Pops, did you get some tickets for the title fight?”
Eddie had been bugging his pop to take him to see the Art Argon vs Jimmy Carter lightweight title fight at the Olympic Auditorium for some time, his pop thought that Eddie; been twelve years old was to young to go to the fights.
“Yes, Eddie, I bought four tickets, your uncles, Tony and Ray, will be going with us. Now I hope your mom doesn't get mad at me, she too thinks you are to young to go to the fights”.
Eddie's mom, Lupe, was not too crazy to see Eddie going to the fights, but she did agree with Rudy; that their son would be disappointed if he was not allowed to go with his pop and uncles, so she gave her okay for Eddie to go.

Eddie couldn't wait to find his best friend, Cheno Diaz, to tell him the good news. He found Cheno tending his two cows and one goat at a nearby pasture.
“Cheno, my pops is taking me to see the Aragon and Carter title fight”.
"Gee Eddie, you are lucky, I wish I could go”.
“I'll ask my pop if he can get another ticket for you. Cheno, you think your mom and pops would let you go?”.
“I'll ask them” said Cheno.
Eddie ask his pop if he could get a ticket for Cheno.
“Yes, I'm sure I can get one, Eddie, you tell Cheno, that if his mom and pop say its okay for him to go; we'll take him with us”.
Next day in school, Eddie told Cheno the good news.
“Cheno, my pops said that he'll get you a ticket if your mom and pop say that's its okay for you to go”.
“Eddie, mom and pop said I could go as long as your father was going, they trust your father, but not your uncle Ray, they say he is crazy, that he himself will get into a fight at the fights”.
“Yeah, uncle Ray is a bit wild, especially when he is drinking beer, but pops won't let him drink too much, he'll be okay”.

Two weeks later, they all piled into Rudy's 1946 Dodge and headed west on Washington Boulevard. Eddie and Cheno were so excited that they couldn't sit still and it was starting to bug uncle Ray.
“If you kids don't sit still, we are going to stop and drop you off here; and you are going to have to wait for us to pick you up after the fights” said uncle Ray.
“Leave them alone Ray, they are just excited to be going to the fights, after all, its their first time to see boxing live. You remember when you went for the first time and you got all crazy on us?, wanting to fight everybody there” said uncle Tony.
“Yeah, but I was drunk; and let me remind you that I was doing okay until that big guy cold-cock me and knocked me on my ass” uncle Ray laughed.

The area was so pack that they had to park 3 blocks away. Eddie and Cheno were shadow boxing as they walked up 18th Avenue.
“Hey Eddie, Cheno, you two want to become fighters, because if you do, I'll train you guys” said uncle Ray.
“Ray, what the hell do you know about training fighters? asked Rudy.
“Hey, Rudy, I have fighting experience”.
“Yes, you do but, its street fighting experience, an I don't think you ever won a fight”
“At least I've never been ko, always finish on my feet” laughed Ray.

As the group approached the front entrance of the Olympic, they started seeing movie and boxing celebrities hanging around the sidewalk of Grand Avenue.
“Cheno! There's John Wayne and Pedro Armendariz” said the excitable Eddie.
“And over there is Rosemary Cooney and her husband Jose Ferrer” said uncle Tony
“I see Tommy Campbell, Frankie Muche, Bob Murphy, Enrique Bolanos and Freddie Babe Herman over there talking to two men” said Cheno
“That's Cal Eaton and Babe McCoy they are talking too, they are probably talking about upcoming fights” said Rudy.
Before entering the Olympic, they all bought the Knockout program from Speedy Dado. Eddie and Cheno started getting autographs on their programs to show their friends in school the next day.

They found their sits in the second to last roll in the peanut gallery. No sooner had they sat down when rolls of toilet paper started flying around, soon some ladies underwear were flying by. Eddie and Cheno started making paper plane and would fly them down to the ring.
“This is fun, Eddie, thanks for bringing me” said Cheno.
“Thank my pop, Cheno, he is the one who bought your ticket”.

The fighters for the first fight came in the ring. Rudy, Tony and Ray started betting on the fights, they would bet one dollar on the white or black corner, what ever fighter went to the corner they had, that was their bet.
The first fight was won by Al Galindo over Bobby Brewer, Rudy and Tony won a dollar each, Ray lost a dollar.
Second fight was between Joey Gurrola and Sammy Figueroa.
“Cheno, see that big guy in Figueroa's corner? That's big Jake Horn, he's a great trainer” said Eddie.
The fight ended in a draw.
“Guess it didn't help Figueroa having Jake Horn in the corner, did it, Eddie? Said Cheno, as he threw a roll of toilet paper.
“He didn't lose did he?” said Eddie.
“Well no, he didn't”.
.
After a couple of more fights it was time for the main event, Art Aragon and Jimmy Carter would be coming into the ring soon.

Aragon looking weak is the first to come into the ring.
“Aragon is going to lose” said Eddie.
“How do you know? Asked uncle Ray.
“Look how pale he looks, I read in the Mirror that he was having trouble making '35” said Eddie.
Carter comes into the ring looking great. After both fighters have been gloved in the ring they are introduce by Jimmy Lennon , referee Mushy Callahan calls the fighters to the center of the ring for their instructions.
The fight started fairly even for the first four rounds, from the fifth round on it was all Carter who won an easy 15 round unanimous decision.
Right after the fight ended uncle Ray wanted to leave.
'Okay guys, our guy lost; so lets get out of here”.
“No! We have to stay and watch Keeny Teran fight Bobby Garza, they are fighting a six rounder” said Eddie.
“Ray, Keeny is the toast of the town, we have to stay and watch him fight” said uncle Tony
They stayed and watch Keeny win a unanimous decision.

On the way home Uncle Ray asked Eddie and Cheno if they wanted to fight.
“Guys, if you want to fight, I'll train you, after you train for a couple of months; I'll take you to the downtown CYO where Johnny Flores run the boxing program, I'm sure we can get you some sparring. Johnny is my friend and he'll help us out.
“Ray, you don't even know Johnny Flores” said Rudy.
“Well maybe not, but I know where the CYO is at” laughed uncle Ray.

Next day at school Eddie and Cheno were the toast of the school as they were holding court with their friends.
“You should have seen Aragon land that left hook of his” said Cheno as he threw a left hook.
“To bad he didn't landed it enough” said Eddie.
“He was too weak from making weight”.
“He was” agree Eddie.
“But you should have seen that little Keeny Teran” Eddie and Cheno said in unison.
“Guys, Cheno and I are going to start training next week, my uncle Ray is going to train us” said Eddie.

>frank on one of those nights at 40 below. I could see myself reading your book and laughing my ass off...

>frank rick when was the last time you really got jacked up to see a fight. I mean had to see it.....????

[Rick Farris]

Sounds like a great place, Greg!
One question, can you see Russia from your front porch?

> I am near fairbanks but I will tell you this once you see it. Like you see a boxing ring.It has power....

Alaska . . .

All fun aside, I know you come from a beautiful place.
I've never been to Alaska, but I came kinda close once.
After a difficult divorce a cinematographer I used to work with took a job up in Vancouver.
He asked me to go with him, in fact begged me.
"It's going to be a hit show, I believe," he told me. "It's all supposed to take place in Alska, but we'll really film it in Washington State."
He told me they'd begin filming in Alaska, where they would shoot "stock shots" that could be edited in as establsihing shots for the season.

I read the pilot script, considered it for a few minutes, but felt myself start to shiver as I read some of the scenes.
I thanked my friend, but had to turn it down. He hired my referral and the two of them spent a couple seasons on the job.
They made a lot of money and had very few places to blow it up there, and returned with a nice bank roll.

The name of the series was, "Nothern Exposure."