Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

James J. Jeffries

[dagosd2000]

The Hugging Match

I was invited by a friend of mine to watch some of his old boxing movies he's got on DVD. The real matches,not the Hollywood stuff.His last name is Baker and everyone calls him Bake. Bake's from Philly and around my age.He owns one of the last two remaining sports card collectable stores in San Diego. Bake's dad would take him to see the fights like my dad did when we were growing up. He remembers seeing Giardello beating Robinson. I told him I had some movies too.He told me to bring whatever,but I figure he's got it covered. Besides you could spend a year watching a guy's collection. I'll bring him a program from one of the Cal Boxing Hall of Fame events.

We were talking about how many great fights were never filmed. Add that there isn't any film on some of the greatest fighters either. But if you go back to the early part of the 20th century there isn't much film on sporting events let alone athletes. You can throw in just about anyone else of greatness too. I guess the only amount of film on famous people of that era are movie stars.

We look on Youtube for anything we can of an old fighter or an old fight. I get to thinking about a lot of the legends. Sure they went a lot of rounds in some of their bouts. But a lot of it was hugging,holding,and clinching. I don't want to stir up a controversy on their skills,but to see some of them planted in their wide stances,arms by their sides,and chins sticking out.Try throwing a jab from that position. Your glove will get as far as your front foot. Makes me think that guys like Nat Fleischer were only boasting about those boys because he was old enough to see them. You know,"I was there,you weren't,so I should know."

I saw an old Leave It To Beaver once. Wally and Beaver were playing in the back yard with Ward. Wally asked Ward if Johnny Unitus was better than Sammy Baugh. Ward shook his head looking down at his son.
"Wally,Sammy Baugh was better than Johnny Unitus."
My son played football in high school when I was coaching him in the 80's. I never had the audacity to tell him Johnny Unitus was better than Joe Montana.

Ward Cleaver,Nat Fleischer-go F yourselves.

[dagosd2000]

Jem Mace at 79 years of age. Nat Fleischer,if alive,would probably say Jem Mace could have beaten Muhammad Ali-at age 79.

[El Gallo]

Jem Mace at 79 years of age. Nat Fleischer,if alive,would probably say Jem Mace could have beaten Muhammad Ali-at age 79.

Especially if Mace was being promoted by MSG!
Madison Square Garden put "The Ring Magazine" in business, and the rest is history.

[dagosd2000]

Jem Mace at 79 years of age. Nat Fleischer,if alive,would probably say Jem Mace could have beaten Muhammad Ali-at age 79.

Especially if Mace was being promoted by MSG!
Madison Square Garden put "The Ring Magazine" in business, and the rest is history.

Rick,I remember when Nat Fleischer referred to his Ring Record Book as the "Bible Of Boxing."Did he mean we should worship it or put our faith in it?A lot of those records were screwed up not to mention all the typos.Always called Ali, "Clay", even after he changed his name.Yet Fleischer never stripped Ali of his title like all the other commissions did after he didn't go into the Army.

[El Gallo]

Jem Mace at 79 years of age. Nat Fleischer,if alive,would probably say Jem Mace could have beaten Muhammad Ali-at age 79.

Especially if Mace was being promoted by MSG!
Madison Square Garden put "The Ring Magazine" in business, and the rest is history.

Rick,I remember when Nat Fleischer referred to his Ring Record Book as the "Bible Of Boxing."Did he mean we should worship it or put our faith in it?A lot of those records were screwed up not to mention all the typos.Always called Ali, "Clay", even after he changed his name.Yet Fleischer never stripped Ali of his title like all the other commissions did after he didn't go into the Army.

Very true, Rog. I respect Nat Fleischer for his stand that a title must be lost in the ring. Yes, those Ring Record Book records were not 100% accurate, including my own and a few other fighters I've known over the years. In my case, two wins were lost, and one loss, which transferred right over to Boxrec. It would have been very difficult to account for all boxer's records as many fought in situations where there was not a commission, or wins/losses actually buried by promoters, etc. Today with the internet we can follow fighters records much closer, the world is a smaller place. But The Ring was created to promote the interests of Madison Square Garden, and grew into "The Bible of Boxing" as it was more than a monthly publication, but also a small Museum and Hall of Fame and annual "Record Book". The Ring's office was located insde the old Madison Square Garden Building on Broadway. Fleischer died in 1972, didn't see Ali's career to the end, but enough to realize this guy was pretty special. I don't disagree with Fleisher or Ray Arcel when they believe that Dempsey might have whipped Ali (if both were at their best). I think Ali would have beaten Joe Louis every night of the week, but not Dempsey. I also believe that Louis would have beaten Dempsey, but that might be way off when you consider the 5'6" Two Ton Tony floored the Brown Bomber, which tends to make me think Dempsey would have left him on the deck? But who knows. Interesting to ponder, but none of us know.

[dagosd2000]

The Little Grave


"So Amanda now that school is ending are you going to start that book on Mickey Mantle?"
"Yes,after finals."
I was driving her home from school. Next year she's going to drive herself to school. It will free up some of my time,but I'll miss it a little.
"That book was written while he was still living,"I said.
"Is it a good book?"she asked.
"There were a lot of books written about him after he retired. Even some autobiographies ghost written by someone else.They're all similar."
"How?"
"Well you'll hear about his escapades about having a good time with his teammates.The stories have been told over and over again.Then the story about how his father nurtured him along as a boy and then when he did make it how he made him stick it out when he wasn't playing well. Mantle wanted to quit,but his dad challenged him."
"How did his family feel about him being a party boy?"
"Mantle lived in Oklahoma where he grew up . Instead of taking his family with him to New York during the season,he kept them at a distance so he could have good time."
"He was married?"
"Yes. He had three sons too."
"She must have suffered."
"He made sure they had money,but when the sons got older they started abusing drugs and alcohol.One of the boys was autistic I think. Then she would hear the stories of his philandering."
"Didn't he try to make amends when he went home?"
"If you call getting drunk with his sons making amends."
"Is he alive?"
"No he died about 15 years ago of a bad liver. There was another woman in his life at that time. Before he died he spoke about how a terrible roll model he was. He said his dad would have been ashamed."
"And he's a hero?"
"Remember the fans choose their sports heroes."
After dropping Amanda off I went home and changed into my bathing suit. Several times a day I swim in the condominium's pool. With my arthritis, swimming loosens me up. When I finished my laps I saw Lisa ,who lives in one of the units,approach me. She had a trowel in her hand.
"Roger,our dove died today,"she said.
"Oh, I didn't know."
Last week he fell out of the nest.She must have broken her leg or something. She couldn't move.I called animal control. They said to leave her there."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Her parents came everyday to feed her,but the ants finally got her."
"Gee,I'm really sorry."
"Roger,I want to bury her in the ground by the pool. I don't want to put her in the trash."
"Please,go ahead. Give her my blessing."
"I want to be sure the hole is deep enough. I don't want some cat to dig her up."
"You did all you could do,"I said.



Amanda when she was 9 years old with her instructor Miguel Vargas-Seville,Spain 2005

[dagosd2000]

Monica The Creator

I go to the gym on Monday and Friday. I used to be a stud in my day. Now I'm just a dud.When you're 66 years old you're not going to impress anyone in a gym.I know my place. I sit there on the nautilus machine and go up and down with a weight on a pulley. At least I'm still moving. I walk and like to swim in the condo's pool. On Friday I asked the other old farts what they have planned for the weekend. The usual answer is nothing or I have to clean the garage or I'm taking my wife to see her sister,watching the game onTV,etc.Oh,I do that stuff too. So what's it like for me to be retired?

When they ask me I feel a little strange with my reply.
"Oh, I paint and write a story on the forum."
They're probably not impressed and don't understand it. But I look at it this way. I'm creating something. Yeah,I could say I'm an artist,but I'm creating something new and different everyday. It gives me energy. I use my imagination.

Today my buddy Rick Farris's wife ,Monica,sent one of her homemade handbags to my wife ,Maria,for her birthday.It's beautifull.The colors. The size and shape.The different pockets.All a product of Monica's imagination.

Where's the worth? It's creating the handbag,the painting,the story. People put their money or credit card on the table to buy it,but the real satisfaction is the creation of it.Being able to make it.

A life's worth is often being able write,paint,or sew something new. The juices flow. The imagination opens up. It's keeping pace with the stars.



Monica Farris' beautifull handbag for my wife Maria

[dagosd2000]

Yada Yada Yada

"Yeah,what's so funny about it?"
"Come on you're a Neopolitan. Their songs are the best in Italy,"said Louie.
My goomba Louie was barbecuing down at the bay with his family. He invited all his Italian friends to attend.There was a lot of goombas. The sausage and peppers was what I had my eye on.The chianti bottles were on the table.Louie was blasting his CD player. After going through Sinatra,Dean Martin, and Tony Bennet,Louie felt it was time for some real Italian music. Neopolitan songs.
"Maybe it's that I don't speak Italian,but I've never gone overboard for Neopolitan songs or any Italian songs,"I remarked.
"I'll explain the lyrics,"said Louie.
"I like some of the opera arias. Not the whole opera,but some of the arias are very beautifull."
"But this song is really funny.Strictly Neopolitan. He says that he really loves his sweetheart,but he 's sleeping with her sister."
"Yeah,real funny. Real Neopolitan."
"Where's your sense of humor?"
"Go play it for the wives."
"Loosen up buddy."
My wife brought me over a couple of sausage and pepper sandwiches and a beer.
"The wives understand words like that,"said Louie.
"They've understood those words for all their lives."
"Your wife is Mexican. I bet she understands."
"I bet she does.Sometimes I think Latin women know there is nothing they can do about it.It comes with the territory."
"But they do make the best wives,"said Louie.
"And the best mistresses."
"Now you're talking,"Louie said with a wink.
Louie's wife brought him a glass of chianti.
"You know Lou,if you're on that kick,you might as well put on some Louie Prima. At least I can understand the words."
"Good idea goomba."



Louie Prima-Just A Gigolo.
http://youtu.be/O-a8kLtJSJ4
Keely Smith will attest to that

[dagosd2000]

Erotic Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

"I saw your latest painting on the forum,"said Ed.
"Which one?"I asked.
I stopped in for a beer at Champs.Ed the bartender drew a beer and put it in front of me on the counter.
"That one of that old time fighter."
"You mean Jem Mace,or was it the one of Jeffries?"
"The old guy with the white hair,"said Ed.
"That was Jem Mace when he was 79 years old."
Ed turned on the TV to see if any sports was on the channel.There was a grand prix race from somewhere in Europe. He turned the sound off.
"You ever sell any of your art?",Ed asked.
"Very little. Most I give away."
"You'll never make any money that way,"he said.
"It's a combination of luck and knowing how to market. I haven't any luck and no talent when it comes to putting my art out there."
"Who's your favorite fighter to paint?"
"joe Louis has a most interesting face."
Ed flipped the channel to womens' tennis. The sound was still off.
"I saw the other day some guy sold a painting of that old broad who used to be on that television series for 2 million dollars,"said Ed.
"You mean Bea Arthur who starred on the Golden Girls."
"Yeah,that's the one."
"The guy painted her with her top off."
"I wonder if she posed for him?"
"No,he copied her face from a photo and then painted her with her top off."
"2 million dollars for something like that,"remarked Ed.
"I heard that the sale was quite anticipated."
"He should have painted her with all her clothes off. He could have got 4 million."laughed Ed.
"You can't tell with art. They say the painting is erotic."
"What do you think?"
"I can see it."
"I saw it. Yeah,I'd roll in the sack with her."
Ed flipped the channel to college baseball. He turned up the sound.
"What are you going to paint next?"asked Ed.
"I was thinking of painting Betty White with her top off.I always thought she was pretty erotic."



Betty White With Her Top Off. From a circa 1950's pin up photo.

[CNorkusJr]

Now if you put Allen Ludden in the picture with Betty-you might have something there.Maybe not $2 mil., but something-I'm sure. The password is " yikes ".

[dagosd2000]

Now if you put Allen Ludden in the picture with Betty-you might have something there.Maybe not $2 mil., but something-I'm sure. The password is " yikes ".

[dagosd2000]

It's A Gimme

When I was a kid living in the southwest side of Chicago everything Italian was the best,except generals,but then again the goombas would go for a stretch and include Julius Caesar in their list. Could have whipped Bobby Lee and Patton on the same day. Of course there was no food better than what was made in your family's kitchen.Clothes ,sports cars.Not only were they made the best they were the most beautifull to look at.Italian women. Take a look at the sentence before last. But I hope to tell you I saw a lot of Italian grandmothers that were under 5 feet tall and about 5 feet wide. Maybe they let themselves go for their children. Italian music was nonpareil.Everything from Mario Lanza,who had the greatest set of pipes(not to mention his appetite),Sinatra(no entertainer came close),Valentino(the most handsome guy on the planet),to Verdi and Puccini whose operas were obviously more beautifull than Wagner's.
(How can anything sung in German be beautifull).Of course Caruso's voice was a gift from God and Capone was the best gangster.

Ok sports fans here's the list. DiMaggio was the greatest Yankee.(My father told me everytime he saw Ruth at Comiskey Park he popped up).Lombardi could have won in Vietnam if they had let him go there. Basketball doesn't count.And now for the masculine sport of boxing. You can close your eyes and come up with it. Willie Pep was untouchable(the excuse for the Saddler fights was that it was after the plane crash).Basilio kicked Robinson's ass twice. Got robbed in Chicago. Then there's Rocky. Not Graziano. If you wanted to be on a pay no mind list or if you were big enough and could afford bridge work,just say Rocky Marciano wasn't the best heavyweight who ever lived. If we'd had put him in there against the Chinese and North Koreans those people would have been eating pasta on Sundays.



The Rock

[CNorkusJr]

In New York, early 60's, if you wanted to be seen and heard, you went to Manhattan Clubs. Be crooned to by the big names,Sinatra, Crosby or laugh to comedians Jan Murray or Henny Youngman. If you play for the Yankees, maybe get into a fight at the famed Copacabana located on E 61 St back then, now located on West 57, and is more or less a Latino nite club for teens. Maybe the Latin Quarter was your place in Times Sq., since long removed.

But if you wanted just as much fun without the news around, and the big names played there as well, Martin & Lewis,Hackett, Sinatra and Sammy Davis as well, you went to Brooklyn's Town and Country Nite Club. Owned by Italian Corporations with bent noses, if you were somebody, you were treated to top shelf seating and services.
Meet the Hollywood stars,dancers or NY sportstars from all sports including boxers. The Town and Country Night Club is long gone, but memories exists for many couples.
My father with his buddy, Rocky.



In tribute to Esther Williams, who made the Town and Country one of her fun places to go to,takes time to get picture with the staff.. With my bow-tied dad on
Ms Williams right,1955



Nite Club Reviews 1950's
http://www.bigbandsandbignames.com/JudyGarland.html

[dagosd2000]

Charley,we'll never see those days again.When you say the Copa is a Latino night club for teens you've rapped it up in a nutshell.

[CNorkusJr]

Charley,we'll never see those days again.When you say the Copa is a Latino night club for teens you've rapped it up in a nutshell.

You know Roger, I am one lucky son-of a gun. Born at the right time and to the right parents. Taught respect early on, and to mostly keep my mouth shut and my ears open, and maybe I'll turn out all right. I remember my early years when my father would put me in the car to go for a "ride" to visit a friend of his a few times a year. It seemed he had hundreds of friends. Not relatives, but friends of every nationality and from hundreds of different places.

As we travelled through different parts of the 5 boros of New York and New Jersey, my father would point his finger and explain to me that "Thats where the old Laurel Gardens Arena,NJ once stood- a band box for boxing and got loud from the yelling in the rafters"; or thats "where the Ridgewood Grove Arena, NY, once stood , where Joe Miceli and Billy Graham fought almost monthly, you remember Joe ? he asked. You met him last month at the fights." The same on different forays for Eastern Parkway Arena, St Nicks in Manhattan and a slew of other clubs and gyms of the day. I was one lucky son of a gun then.

Later on as a firefighter in mid town Manhattan for 20 years starting in 1985, I had access with the boys to any or all bldgs in my area,river to river, 72st to 34th St. I got to see the "Old" Theatres up close on Bldg inspections, The Palace, Helen Hayes Theatre, 42nd Street's Ziegfeld Theatre where the Ziegfield Follies were held and renovated now to a Disney Theatre showing for years the "Lion King". Fought fires in many, treated injuries to squatters, and checked out old sport gyms bldgs like where Stillmans Gym was. Or where Canzoneri's Bar was,the Neutral Corner Bar next to the old Garden was, or Jimmy Walkers (Toy Bulldogs place) once stood. Even Dempseys basement where we found old order tabs in a crate with a inch of dust on them. The Forrest Hotel still stands, though now underr a new title where Palermo and Carbo met.Jacobs Beach sidewalks exist but the names are long gone.
I was very lucky then too.

The old 50th Street Madison Sq. Garden stood diagonally across from my firehouse on 8th Ave and 48th. In 1985 it was long gone and paved over to a GIANT parking lot an entire block big. The public would fill it on matinee day Wednesdays for the Theatre, or evening shows on other nites. About 1990, the property sold to a construction company who
over a short time put up a Giant skyscraper (changing the midtown landscape from afar) called Worldwide Plaza. Import/ Export, lawyers, corporations were the tenants. Yuppies now hustled-bustled by the firehouse every morning (This of course improved our girl watching moments). On the back-half of the property was a large 4 story condo complex for those yuppies and well to-do. The units filled quickly. A plaza was laid out in the middle splitting the high-rise and the condos. Nice outdoor chairs and concession would fill the plaza with 300 persons (open to public) on a sunny afternoon.
In the 1990's, it was my turn and pleasure to drive my father to my firehouse on several occassions to meet the guys, who wanted to meet him mostly. He loved those visits. We would put him on the firetrucks to go out on an alarm (plenty of room) and he enjoyed the ride through the streets he once walked before a fight.
He ate lunches and dinner in the firehouse talking about Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore to guys who werent even born when they retired in the ring.

On one afternoon,as we were departing to go home, I pointed to the new Worldwide Plaza building. I said "thats where the old Garden was Dad (As if he didnt know)"
I said you want to take a walk over. He said okay. As we walked up 8th Ave he said pointing ahead "This is where the marquee once hung. And Nedicks was here and Adams Hat Company was on the other side". I nodded and said "cool dad". We walked to the open plaza between 8th and 9th Ave on 50th St. We found a bench and I got coffees.
We were virtually in the middle of the entire property. My father noticed and said " You know Charlie, if I'm not mistaken, we are probably sitting right where the Ring was located in the old place." His voice cracked a little on the last few words. He looked around and said nothing else. I said nothing and noted he wasnt that comfortable.
A minute passed and I suggested "You wanna go ". He nodded and we walked to the car. As we got in the car he looked back and stepped in the car.
I said "The guys were glad you came in to see them". I think in my dads mind, it was the other way around. I am a very Blessed man.

[dagosd2000]

Dimey

"Why did they call him Dimey?"asked my goomba Pat.
"Well he was Diamond Joe,so they shortened it to Dimey."I answered.
Pat was Neopolitan like myself and born in the Bronx. Scorsese used his house as a backdrop in the movie Raging Bull.
"How'd they call him Diamond Joe?"
"Well he wore a diamond ring he called 'The Sun' and he wore a diamond studded money belt he called'The Moon.'Capone got all that stuff after he was killed."
"He must have been very powerfull in Chicago."exclaimed Pat.
"He ran things for a while. A lot of the younger guys worked under him.Frank Nitti, Giancana,Paul "The Waiter",Tony Accardo. All of them headed the Outfit later on."
"Your old man must have had the life."
"Yeah,he went to Italy with the family. My grandfather built the retreat in Bass Lake, Indiana and gave him a speed boat. Capone would spend time there."
"What did your grandfather want your father to be ?"
"A politician like his political connection in the Republican Party,Charles Deneen. My grandfather named my uncle after him."
"So your grandfather was involved in more than the rackets."
"Yes,he was a wardman,headed up the hod carriers union,controlled the Unione Sicilione. He had a lot of clout."
"Didn't you tell me he worked with old man Kennedy?"
"Joe Kennedy sold my grandfather sugar for his stills on the west side."
"Didn't your grandfather have a popular restaurant?"
"The Bella Napoli. Capone ate his spaghetti there every night. One of O'Banion's men tried to bribe the cook to poison his spagetti one night. Offered him ten grand.It could have been ten million and it wouldn't have happened."
"I read were a lot of big shots frequented his speak easy."
"Babe Ruth. Valentino.Caruso.Jack Dempsey. The mob tried to fix his rematch with Tunney in the Bella Napoli over dinner,but they couldn't persuade him. Dempsey knew he couldn't beat Tunney in a third fight if they fixed the second one."
"I've seen picture of your grandfather with Jane Addams at her orphanage."
"Hull House was across the street on Halsted. My grandfather always took care of the neighborhood around Christmas and Thanksgiving."
"Sounded like he was quite a charcacter."
"After his murder,my graandmother was quoted as saying that he was a good man and a bad man,but mostly good. They gave him the biggest funeral in Chicago's history."
"And after he died?"
"Capone took my father in to live with him.That's when my father heard Nitti tell Al's lawyers to sell him down the river on the income tax beef.Capone had syphilis. He wasn't going to be any good to the mob."
"Did Nitti know that your father was listening?"
"He grabbed my father by the throat and threatened to kill him if he talked."
"I guess your old man didn't squeal."
"No,besides he didn't like Al's boy,Sonny. The kid was always blaming my father foe everything."
"What did your grandmother do with Diamond Joe's fortune?"
"You don't think Capoine would let her keep it."
"So who killed your grandfather."
"My father wouldn't say it was Capone's men,but it couldn't have been anyone else. I mean if you want to rise up in the mob,you kill the guy that's above you. Being a mobster isn't a civil service job."
"Those Italian guys killed each other. Not a lot of innocent victims."
"When my father got out of the Marines after WWII,he killed the guy who shot his father."
"I bet the cops didn't look into it."
"Not with a ten foot poll."



My father with Al Capone at Wrigley Field talking to Gabby Hatnett. I guess Al didn't want to take his boy along.



Diamond Joe's wedding



Headline Chicago American March 22,1928. Headlines in Chicago for three days.



Dimey

[CNorkusJr]

Interesting read Roger. The headlines "Alky gangsters"- is that to mean "alcohol gangsters" or something different ? I knew of weddings that were smaller than that wedding party !

If you are inclined to read about such things- Tony Napoli, son of Genovese Capo Jimmy "Nap" Napoli wrote a book called My Father, My Don
Here is the amazon link

http://www.amazon.com/My-Father-Don-ebo ... r%2Cmy+don

Jimmy Napoli started out driving Chicago booze to New York for Capone. Rising in ranks, he became of of the top New York guys here in Brooklyn.
He controlled setting the odds on the 1940's and 1950's boxing matches for the mob and its touched on in the book.
Though son Tony claims that his father help start Ring 8 here,There is is controversy over that. However, Jimmy Nap has helped boxers who fallen on hard times and Tony Nap, the son had attended regularly the Ring 8 meetings, till he was asked to stop attending because he was claimimg publicly that his father started Ring 8.

Personally I cant give much more out on this subject here, but Jimmy Nap knew all boxers and all boxers knew of him. Tony ran many dinners for boxing greats who had needed help through the years like Pep ,Saddler and host of others. I read the book and its a very raw book filled with gory details on some matters, and several chapters on boxers and his dad when things werent so square.

[dagosd2000]

Interesting read Roger. The headlines "Alky gangsters"- is that to mean "alcohol gangsters" or something different ?

Prohibition gangsters. Gangsters who pushed booze in one form or the other. It's hard to believe back then that our populace,not to mention our congress,was against the manufacturing or selling of alcohol. Prohibition lasted 12 years. Today drinking is a part of the American lifestyle. All the different flavored booze,including hard liquor. Go to a liquor store and it's like going to the candy store. Drugs?Who gets busted for smoking pot?Crack is big.Tweekers and meth are in every segment of society. And prescription drugs?I read that that the average person over 66 is on 9 medications. Then there are the pills for depression and getting a hard on. Bio labs have more in a future of making boner pills than finding a cure for cancer.

[El Gallo]

Monica The Creator

I go to the gym on Monday and Friday. I used to be a stud in my day. Now I'm just a dud.When you're 66 years old you're not going to impress anyone in a gym.I know my place. I sit there on the nautilus machine and go up and down with a weight on a pulley. At least I'm still moving. I walk and like to swim in the condo's pool. On Friday I asked the other old farts what they have planned for the weekend. The usual answer is nothing or I have to clean the garage or I'm taking my wife to see her sister,watching the game onTV,etc.Oh,I do that stuff too. So what's it like for me to be retired?

When they ask me I feel a little strange with my reply.
"Oh, I paint and write a story on the forum."
They're probably not impressed and don't understand it. But I look at it this way. I'm creating something. Yeah,I could say I'm an artist,but I'm creating something new and different everyday. It gives me energy. I use my imagination.

Today my buddy Rick Farris's wife ,Monica,sent one of her homemade handbags to my wife ,Maria,for her birthday.It's beautifull.The colors. The size and shape.The different pockets.All a product of Monica's imagination.

Where's the worth? It's creating the handbag,the painting,the story. People put their money or credit card on the table to buy it,but the real satisfaction is the creation of it.Being able to make it.

A life's worth is often being able write,paint,or sew something new. The juices flow. The imagination opens up. It's keeping pace with the stars.



Monica Farris' beautifull handbag for my wife Maria

That was nice, Rog!
Monica says "Thank you"!

[dagosd2000]

The News That's Fit

"You have quite a scrap book uncle Paddy,"I remarked .
"I was in the papers a lot when I was fighting,"Paddy said.
I remember being at my grandmother's house,Diamond Joe's place,in Chicago looking through my uncle Paddy's scrap book reading all the articles about his fights. We were sitting on the old sofa. I still remember the old rose colored wallpaper.
"This is when I won the Golden Gloves at the Stadium,"he said.
"That's Joe Louis presenting you with the trophy."
"Joe Louis fought in the same tournament when he was young."
I turned another page.
"Here's me winning my first pro fight on the undercard of the Robinson fight."
"How did you feel before that one?"
"Very nervous. All the west side was there. All my friends.I didn't want to let them down."
"You fought at the Marigold I see here."
"Yeah. All the little venues in the area until I started to move up."
I turned another page.
"This is when you fought Tiger Jones at the Olympia."
"I always fought well in Detroit."
"The press gave you a big write up."
"I was starting to draw attention."
There were several other news clippings on the next few pages. One photograph was of him at the Copa in New York before his fight with Giardello. I turned another page.
"This picture is after I lost that fight in the Garden."
"I remember my father talking about it,"I said.
"I never fought in New York again."
"I heared it was a bad decision."
"Naw. I didn't win a round. I guess I spent too much time at the Copa,"he laughed.
As I turned the last pages of the scrap book there weren't any more pictures of uncle Paddy.
"Well that's all there is,"he said kind of disheartenly.
"That is quite a scrap book,"I said trying to lift his spirits.
"Oh there were other times I made the papers,but those stories I want to forget. Besides, they had nothing to do with fighting. At least not in the ring."




Joe Louis

[CNorkusJr]

Interesting read Roger. The headlines "Alky gangsters"- is that to mean "alcohol gangsters" or something different ?

Prohibition gangsters. Gangsters who pushed booze in one form or the other. It's hard to believe back then that our populace,not to mention our congress,was against the manufacturing or selling of alcohol. Prohibition lasted 12 years. Today drinking is a part of the American lifestyle. All the different flavored booze,including hard liquor. Go to a liquor store and it's like going to the candy store. Drugs?Who gets busted for smoking pot?Crack is big.Tweekers and meth are in every segment of society. And prescription drugs?I read that that the average person over 66 is on 9 medications. Then there are the pills for depression and getting a hard on. Bio labs have more in a future of making boner pills than finding a cure for cancer.

My father's father-Charles Norkus I, was a jack of all trades in the 20's. Taxi driver in NYC was one of them. My grandmother told me that taxi drivers were one of the favorite ways to transport booze around the city, whether the cops knew or not. His cab was hollowed out where it could, arm rests,under seats and compartmentized trunks. Though not carrying cases at a time, it did manage to get past many an eye while dropping off fares. Sadly, he passed away at age 30 in 1931 from what could be described today as rheumatic fever (bad heart valve). My dad was 2.

[dagosd2000]

Al Capone

[CNorkusJr]

Al Capone

awesome rendering

[dagosd2000]

Al Capone

awesome rendering

Thanks Charley