Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Cholo]

I was kicked off Fight Group on Facebook by Mr. Baltazar, for posting photos and clippings of fighters he does not like, "Dumb Bastid"

[El Gallo]

I was kicked off Fight Group on Facebook by Mr. Baltazar, for posting photos and clippings of fighters he does not like, "Dumb Bastid"

Fighters like Ruben Navarro, Roberto Duran, etc. you are talking about.
I have access to Fight Group posting, and I do on rare occasion "sign on" just to check it out.
Frank is unaware of it (until now) and it will be fun watching him try find out what name I post or view under.
I have more friends on that thread than Frank, but it is a typical BS internet boxing thread.
He has posted photos of his family on every boxing forum on the internet.
When he runs out of photos he re-posts them.
The boys aren't like him, they are nice men who were good fighters.
They must have taken after their mother.
He and Don won't be around much longer, and there is a better Vet Boxers organization in the works right now.
My premiere of "El Boxeo" was a success, several hundred guests, financially successful for the Retired Boxers Foundation.
By the way Paul, I suggested filmmaker Alan Swyer interview Frank & Don Fraser for El Boxeo a few years ago, which he did.
Alan and I are close friends. He asked me if I wanted to have him delete their interviews from the movie?
I said, "no", they said nothing of interest anyway.
So he cut their interviews to less than six seconds each, about ten words, and there is no name under their images.
So we were booted from Fight Group, they were booted from "El Boxeo", including the premiere screening.
By the way, the new organization has big support from the film industry.
When it comes to events, nobody can put on a bash like the those from the entertainment world.
Combine this with correct boxing history and we have a great group in the works. And no money hungry promoters!

[kikibalt]

I was kicked off Fight Group on Facebook by Mr. Baltazar, for posting photos and clippings of fighters he does not like, "Dumb Bastid"

Paul, you fornicating dumb bastid, Rene kicked your ass off Fight Group, not me. He kicked you off for making an ass out of yourself.

[El Gallo]

I was kicked off Fight Group on Facebook by Mr. Baltazar, for posting photos and clippings of fighters he does not like, "Dumb Bastid"

Paul, you effing dumb bastid, Rene kicked your ass off Fight Group, not me. He kicked you off for making an ass out of yourself.

Frank, if Rene booted posters for making an ass out of themselves you'd have been the first to go.
As fas as El Boxeo is concerned. You asked Alan Swyer for tickets to the screening.
He told you that it was Rick Farris' event and "to reach out to me". You did not.
So you will just have to wait. I want you to see it!

[Cholo]

I was kicked off Fight Group on Facebook by Mr. Baltazar, for posting photos and clippings of fighters he does not like, "Dumb Bastid"

Paul, you effing dumb bastid, Rene kicked your ass off Fight Group, not me. He kicked you off for making an ass out of yourself.

Frank, if Rene booted posters for making an ass out of themselves you'd have been the first to go.

I'll second that, Rick. What a prick!

[Cholo]

I was kicked off Fight Group on Facebook by Mr. Baltazar, for posting photos and clippings of fighters he does not like, "Dumb Bastid"

Fighters like Ruben Navarro, Roberto Duran, etc. you are talking about.
I have access to Fight Group posting, and I do on rare occasion "sign on" just to check it out.
Frank is unaware of it (until now) and it will be fun watching him try find out what name I post or view under.
I have more friends on that thread than Frank, but it is a typical BS internet boxing thread.
He has posted photos of his family on every boxing forum on the internet.
When he runs out of photos he re-posts them.
The boys aren't like him, they are nice men who were good fighters.
They must have taken after their mother.
He and Don won't be around much longer, and there is a better Vet Boxers organization in the works right now.
My premiere of "El Boxeo" was a success, several hundred guests, financially successful for the Retired Boxers Foundation.
By the way Paul, I suggested filmmaker Alan Swyer interview Frank & Don Fraser for El Boxeo a few years ago, which he did.
Alan and I are close friends. He asked me if I wanted to have him delete their interviews from the movie?
I said, "no", they said nothing of interest anyway.
So he cut their interviews to less than six seconds each, about ten words, and there is no name under their images.
So we were booted from Fight Group, they were booted from "El Boxeo", including the premiere screening.
By the way, the new organization has big support from the film industry.
When it comes to events, nobody can put on a bash like the those from the entertainment world.
Combine this with correct boxing history and we have a great group in the works. And no money hungry promoters!

[coach greg v]

I was kicked off Fight Group on Facebook by Mr. Baltazar, for posting photos and clippings of fighters he does not like, "Dumb Bastid"

Fighters like Ruben Navarro, Roberto Duran, etc. you are talking about.
I have access to Fight Group posting, and I do on rare occasion "sign on" just to check it out.
Frank is unaware of it (until now) and it will be fun watching him try find out what name I post or view under.
I have more friends on that thread than Frank, but it is a typical BS internet boxing thread.
He has posted photos of his family on every boxing forum on the internet.
When he runs out of photos he re-posts them.
The boys aren't like him, they are nice men who were good fighters.
They must have taken after their mother.
He and Don won't be around much longer, and there is a better Vet Boxers organization in the works right now.
My premiere of "El Boxeo" was a success, several hundred guests, financially successful for the Retired Boxers Foundation.
By the way Paul, I suggested filmmaker Alan Swyer interview Frank & Don Fraser for El Boxeo a few years ago, which he did.
Alan and I are close friends. He asked me if I wanted to have him delete their interviews from the movie?
I said, "no", they said nothing of interest anyway.
So he cut their interviews to less than six seconds each, about ten words, and there is no name under their images.
So we were booted from Fight Group, they were booted from "El Boxeo", including the premiere screening.
By the way, the new organization has big support from the film industry.
When it comes to events, nobody can put on a bash like the those from the entertainment world.
Combine this with correct boxing history and we have a great group in the works. And no money hungry promoters!

I need to ask the guys here a question. Most of you Are california boxing history experts. I can not remember. MY minor stroke. There was a boxer called Trino Zavala? He had a son named Richard Zavala? Richard is not Rudy Zavala. Am I correct? Coach Greg V

[dagosd2000]

My Time To Watch

I never lived a Spartan life,but I did my share of exercising and playing sports. My sisters still refer to me as an athlete even though my arthritis keeps me from doing menial movements like jogging in the park. Often when my friends would come over when I was young,my mother would say I was at the gym. Now I go to the gym twice a week and fool around with the Nautilus equipment with the other retired old farts. They think I'm Superman But now that my grandson Adam has taken a liking in boxing,it's my time to go to the gym to watch and enjoy.

If someone would have said to me nine months ago that Adam would take up boxing,I would have asked him what he was smoking. Adam was the kind of kid that avoided physical contact when partaking in a sports activity. He wouldn't chase a soccer ball.He never hit a ball out of the infield in T Ball. His father put him in Karate and entered him in tournaments. i don't think Adam lasted 30 seconds. He'd wind up crying on the mat. I'm glad I wasn't there to see that. I told his father to back off this kind of stuff.You're forcing him to do something he isn't cut out for and a contact sport like Karate could bring about a trauma to his body and his mind.

But last year Adam said that he was going to the boxing gym with his friend Jim. I didn't say anythung. This was Adam's play.I gave it awhile and when I saw that Adam was consistently going ,I dropped by to see what was going on.

Frankly,I'd never been to a boxing gym like this. It is one of those comprehensive martial arts gyms that have little kids,women,and older folk participating.Boxing is part of the program. Tiger Smalls and a younger kid named Kyle have been working with Adam.At first the gym caught me off guard. It's got all the equipment. The owners went to a great expense.

Well Adam is really into it. He's the youngest person in the beginning program. He's 13. He's always first when they run laps. He spars with bigger guys. Adam is also the lightest in the group. He weighs in at 120 pounds. He's not shy about mixing it with the bigger guys even though,for now,it's mostly controlled sparring.

What gets me though is Adam's natural ability. He's very fluid. Has great reflexes.Sees openings and can take advantage of them.He slips and fends off punches with ease.The other guys always look more tired at the end.

Tonight I took Adam to "sparring". A kid three years older than him joined a few weeks ago. They are about the same weight so Kyle likes to put them together. Tonight they went 4 rounds between breaks.Adam controlledthe kid pretty good. Adam tasted a couple of right hands,but that comes with the territory.

I just watch. I don't say anything. He's being handled well. His trainers like the way he's learning. After his workout I take him to Jack In The Box. He usually eats 4 tacos. Tonight he wanted 8.

Sometimes I point out his mistakes. He understands what he did wrong. But then I praise what he does well.Adam will be back in the gym Monday. I look forward to that. Now it's my time to watch.





Adam in the blue trunks having fun

[El Gallo]

Rudy Zavala . . .
Greg, Rudy was not related to Trino or Richie Zavala.
Rudy fought out of L.A. in the 90's, but was killed when hit by a car while crossing the street at age 29.

-Rick Farris

[El Gallo]

My Time To Watch

I never lived a Spartan life,but I did my share of exercising and playing sports. My sisters still refer to me as an athlete even though my arthritis keeps me from doing menial movements like jogging in the park. Often when my friends would come over when I was young,my mother would say I was at the gym. Now I go to the gym twice a week and fool around with the Nautilus equipment with the other retired old farts. They think I'm Superman But now that my grandson Adam has taken a liking in boxing,it's my time to go to the gym to watch and enjoy.

If someone would have said to me nine months ago that Adam would take up boxing,I would have asked him what he was smoking. Adam was the kind of kid that avoided physical contact when partaking in a sports activity. He wouldn't chase a soccer ball.He never hit a ball out of the infield in T Ball. His father put him in Karate and entered him in tournaments. i don't think Adam lasted 30 seconds. He'd wind up crying on the mat. I'm glad I wasn't there to see that. I told his father to back off this kind of stuff.You're forcing him to do something he isn't cut out for and a contact sport like Karate could bring about a trauma to his body and his mind.

But last year Adam said that he was going to the boxing gym with his friend Jim. I didn't say anythung. This was Adam's play.I gave it awhile and when I saw that Adam was consistently going ,I dropped by to see what was going on.

Frankly,I'd never been to a boxing gym like this. It is one of those comprehensive martial arts gyms that have little kids,women,and older folk participating.Boxing is part of the program. Tiger Smalls and a younger kid named Kyle have been working with Adam.At first the gym caught me off guard. It's got all the equipment. The owners went to a great expense.

Well Adam is really into it. He's the youngest person in the beginning program. He's 13. He's always first when they run laps. He spars with bigger guys. Adam is also the lightest in the group. He weighs in at 120 pounds. He's not shy about mixing it with the bigger guys even though,for now,it's mostly controlled sparring.

What gets me though is Adam's natural ability. He's very fluid. Has great reflexes.Sees openings and can take advantage of them.He slips and fends off punches with ease.The other guys always look more tired at the end.

Tonight I took Adam to "sparring". A kid three years older than him joined a few weeks ago. They are about the same weight so Kyle likes to put them together. Tonight they went 4 rounds between breaks.Adam controlledthe kid pretty good. Adam tasted a couple of right hands,but that comes with the territory.

I just watch. I don't say anything. He's being handled well. His trainers like the way he's learning. After his workout I take him to Jack In The Box. He usually eats 4 tacos. Tonight he wanted 8.

Sometimes I point out his mistakes. He understands what he did wrong. But then I praise what he does well.Adam will be back in the gym Monday. I look forward to that. Now it's my time to watch.





Adam in the blue trunks having fun

Very cool,Rog!

[Cholo]

My Time To Watch

I never lived a Spartan life,but I did my share of exercising and playing sports. My sisters still refer to me as an athlete even though my arthritis keeps me from doing menial movements like jogging in the park. Often when my friends would come over when I was young,my mother would say I was at the gym. Now I go to the gym twice a week and fool around with the Nautilus equipment with the other retired old farts. They think I'm Superman But now that my grandson Adam has taken a liking in boxing,it's my time to go to the gym to watch and enjoy.

If someone would have said to me nine months ago that Adam would take up boxing,I would have asked him what he was smoking. Adam was the kind of kid that avoided physical contact when partaking in a sports activity. He wouldn't chase a soccer ball.He never hit a ball out of the infield in T Ball. His father put him in Karate and entered him in tournaments. i don't think Adam lasted 30 seconds. He'd wind up crying on the mat. I'm glad I wasn't there to see that. I told his father to back off this kind of stuff.You're forcing him to do something he isn't cut out for and a contact sport like Karate could bring about a trauma to his body and his mind.

But last year Adam said that he was going to the boxing gym with his friend Jim. I didn't say anythung. This was Adam's play.I gave it awhile and when I saw that Adam was consistently going ,I dropped by to see what was going on.

Frankly,I'd never been to a boxing gym like this. It is one of those comprehensive martial arts gyms that have little kids,women,and older folk participating.Boxing is part of the program. Tiger Smalls and a younger kid named Kyle have been working with Adam.At first the gym caught me off guard. It's got all the equipment. The owners went to a great expense.

Well Adam is really into it. He's the youngest person in the beginning program. He's 13. He's always first when they run laps. He spars with bigger guys. Adam is also the lightest in the group. He weighs in at 120 pounds. He's not shy about mixing it with the bigger guys even though,for now,it's mostly controlled sparring.

What gets me though is Adam's natural ability. He's very fluid. Has great reflexes.Sees openings and can take advantage of them.He slips and fends off punches with ease.The other guys always look more tired at the end.

Tonight I took Adam to "sparring". A kid three years older than him joined a few weeks ago. They are about the same weight so Kyle likes to put them together. Tonight they went 4 rounds between breaks.Adam controlledthe kid pretty good. Adam tasted a couple of right hands,but that comes with the territory.

I just watch. I don't say anything. He's being handled well. His trainers like the way he's learning. After his workout I take him to Jack In The Box. He usually eats 4 tacos. Tonight he wanted 8.

Sometimes I point out his mistakes. He understands what he did wrong. But then I praise what he does well.Adam will be back in the gym Monday. I look forward to that. Now it's my time to watch.





Adam in the blue trunks having fun

Very cool,Rog!

I remember the first time I went to the gym, I was ten years old, 1973. I looked at the old ring and the canvas was covered with spots of blood, I thought to myself there not going to spill any of my blood, but they did many times.

[Cholo]

One thing about being booted from fight group, I wont have to put up with that other prick, Thomas Ray. Always bad mouthing Duran, and as he always put it, "Tummy Ache" the guy knows shit!

[coach greg v]

Rudy Zavala . . .
Greg, Rudy was not related to Trino or Richie Zavala.
Rudy fought out of L.A. in the 90's, but was killed when hit by a car while crossing the street at age 29.

-Rick Farris

thank you rick

[El Gallo]

One thing about being booted from fight group, I wont have to put up with that other prick, Thomas Ray. Always bad mouthing Duran, and as he always put it, "Tummy Ache" the guy knows poo!

Tummy Ache?
Some people will eat anything and can't figure out why they have health issues as they grow older.
Grease, fat, sugar, the foot of a barnyard animal. Whatever was good enough for grandpa when people didn't know any better .

[Cholo]

One thing about being booted from fight group, I wont have to put up with that other prick, Thomas Ray. Always bad mouthing Duran, and as he always put it, "Tummy Ache" the guy knows poo!

Tummy Ache?
Some people will eat anything and can't figure out why they have health issues as they grow older.
Grease, fat, sugar, the foot of a barnyard animal. Whatever was good enough for grandpa when people didn't know any better .

[El Gallo]

I Want To Be A Macho Man

"Abuelito ,I like the painting you did of the man with the orange face,"said my granddaughter.
Amanda had come into my bedroom. I was lying on my bed watching the baseball playoff game on television.
"I painted that yesterday,"I said.
"Who is he?"
"An old time fighter by the name of Roberto Duran."
"Was he any good?"
"He was one of the best.A legend."
"What made you want to paint him?"
"A friend of mine on the boxing forum wrote an article on him the other day."
"What was the article about?"
"It talked about the rise and fall and then the rise again of Roberto Duran."
"How did he fall?"
"Well Roberto Duran was one of these tough kids who grew up in the barrios of Panama. He was a very aggressive fighter who liked to intimidate his opposition.He wanted to half scare his opposition before they got in the ring.He was a poster child for the 'macho Latino fighter.'"
"So when did he fall?"
"I'm getting to that. Duran was a lightweight champion who moved up to welterweight to fight a guy by the name of Sugar Ray Leonard. Leonard was a black guy who won a gold medal in the Olymoics.He was also the welterweight champion."
"I take it that Duran didn't like him."
"Duran didn't like anyone,especially Leonard. Leonard had made more money in his first pro fight than any of the fights Duran had been in in his career.Like I said Duran was one of these macho guys who saw Leonard as being kind of a hot dog."
"So Duran lost to Leonard?"
"The first time they fought,Duran beat him pretty good. Roughed him up.He won the title and handed Leonard his first loss."
"There was a rematch?"
"Yes,this time Leonard won,or I should say Duran quit."
"Quit?"
"Yes,he quit fighting in the middle of the round. There was a lot of confusion. The ref waved Duran forward at first,but Duran threw up his arm and said,'No Mas.'"
"Why did he quit?"
"Remember Duran was one of these 'macho guys'.He was a 'killer'.The Latino community adored him. During the second fight Leonard was starting to out box Duran. He started to give Duran goofy looks. Wave his arms around and sticking out his tongue at Duran.Duran was getting frustrated chasing him around."
"Who was winning?"
"It was still close,but Duran wanted to exchange and Leonard was content to dance around and out box him. Fight like Floyd Mayweather."
"Who?"
"Nevermind. Anyway, Duran was frustrated and had had enough and quit."
"What did Duran say afterward?"
"I remember he said he had a stomach ache."
"Do you think he was telling the truth?"
"No,and even if he did,it wasn't very macho of him to stop fighting because he had a tummy ache."
"So why did he quit?"
"He didn't want lose looking foolish by Leonard's actions."
"Do you think Duran was scared?"
"No,he wasn't scared,though there have been fighters who've quit because they were scared."
"Did they fight a third fight?"
"Yes,many years later. Leonard won easily. It was an uneventfull fight."
"So the second fight is the one they talk about?"
"Oh they talk about the 'No Mas Fight',but there were others Remember, Duran was a great fighter.He won a lot of big fights."
"So Duran quit because he didn't want to look foolish?"
"Put it this way ,Duran didn't want Leonard to make him look foolish,so he wound up making a fool of himself."

That's probably the essence of it Rog, I would add, and this is just pure speculation on my part, that Duran, might have felt - incorrectly -that the fight crowd would stand behind his decision to walk away from such a fight. It took but a few seconds to realize he made the mistake of a lifetime.

Also, according to Ray Arcel, Duran never said he was having stomach problems. Arcel, completely dumbfounded by what had happened made that statement when asked about Duran's quitting. It was probably the last loyal act by Arcel before resigning as his trainer.

Great story Rog!!

Thanks Randy.You know Jose Napoles was my guy. I thought he was the most beautifull thing to watch in a boxing ring,but in order to be true to myself,I say that Matequilla got his ass kicked by Mando Muniz the first time and should have lost his title. I know he had nothing to do with that,but some aficianados look the other way. But when Mantequilla didn't come out of his corner against Monzon,my heart sank. Jose knew that Monzon was going to finish him off in the next round so he quit in his corner. Call it cowardness. I'll use that word because it is the probably the most distastefull word you can accuse a fighter of.There are many other things in life that take more guts than climbing into a boxing ring. Just being a husband and father providing for your family takes more guts. There have been many fighters who were tigers in the ring ,but pussied out when it came to being a good father and husband. I know there have been both,but this thing of a fighter being(in many minds)the ultimate symbol of being a man is ridiculous. Fighters don't become fighters because they want to prove their manhood. They do it because it's a way to make a living. They aren't testing their "manliness" when they get into the ring. They want to make a buck. Some think it's actually easier to get a payday boxing than working for a living. Ray Robinson,who's considered pound for pound the best,never worked a day in his life after retiring(he was still in his 40's) and ducked out of the army during WWII.
And he was a shitty husband and father. (his wife and kids will attest to that). What do you want to call that?

I was more afraid getting into street fights than when I went up against Ken Norton in three sparring sessions. I knew there were rules to go by and if he was getting the best of me they would stop it or I would quit. In a street fight there are no rules. Maybe the other guy has a gun or a knife. Maybe he'll want to gouge my eyes out. Or perhaps his friends will jump in. I've been on the other end of that scenario.

Got that off my chest. Who's going to the CBHOF banquet Oct.19? I'll be at Tiger Smalls' table. Hope to see my friends there. Rog

Roger, look forward to seeing you and Maria at the CBHOF next week!

[dagosd2000]

The Last to Know

I'm reading a good book about the life of Sam Giancana by William Brashler. It was published in 1977,but I just found out about it. Best book I've read so far about the Chicago Outfit. This Brashler got a lot of good info from a lot of people who knew Giancana and about him. Giancana was murdered just prior to 1977 so there was fresh information around,not like if someone today wanted to do a story on his life.

I don't want to go into the major details of the book,but there were a few little things that caught my eye and that I could relate to. One of the things mentioned was the fact that the Oufit separated their illegal activities from their families. Most of those guys had some sort of "front" business that was just a mask to cover up what they were doing on the side that was raking in the dough.

My father never told me about what his father,Diamond Joe Esposito,was running in Chicago until i was a teenager.He said my grandfather had died of TB. Of course we were out here in San Diego so I was distanced from what I what I would have learned if my father had stayed in Chicago. My father was involved with those guys in Chicago. He got in a "beaf" and that's why we moved out here. It probably was for the better because all his friends back there either wound up dead or in jail. But my father pined for that life when he when the Outfit ran things. He always kept in touch and once in awhile the boys would use him for something out here.But I was unaware of what his past was like until much later.

I remember when I was a kid in San Diego. My father took me to the fights. Sugar Ray Robinson was to fight a Mexican crowd favorite by the name of Memo Ayon. The fight was in the old downtown bullring. The place was jammed and although Ray was a legend by then in 1964,the aficianados wanted their guy to win with a passion. I faguely remember the fight. It wasn't much. Robby couldn't move very well anymore and Ayon had him against the ropes although he didn't do any damage. Ayon got the decision that delighted the crowd immensely.(Later in his next fight Ayon went up to LA and Louie Rodriguez dusted him off in three rounds).

Robinson was staying at a hotel in downtown San Diego. After the fight my father took me there to meet the Sugar Man. I'm wondering how does my father know this guy. Robinson walks into the lobby and he and my father embrace.It was like everything was prearranged. Robby is happy to see my dad. We go to the cafe and have bite to eat. I remember my father picking up the tab.

I can't remember much of what was said,except the focus was on the times in Chicago. I remember my father asking him if he remembered the hit on Louie Greeenberg. Robinson shook his head and laughed.
"I thought they were shooting at me,"said Robinson.
Later I found out that Louie Greenberg had handled affairs for the Outfit and somehow got on their wrong side. They shot him as he and his wife were coming out of a restaurant. Robinson was leaving the restaurant at the same time and saw the shooting.

It was stories like this that made me wonder how my father knew all this stuff. I asked him about the incident and he just told me it was in all the papers. As I said,later he told me the real stories. My grandfather had been gunned down walking home from a union meating. That the Outfit had J.Edgar Hoover protecting them. (They had him blackmailed with pictures of him and his boyfriend Clyde Tolson). My father also said that Sugar Ray Robinson would "carry" fighters when he fought in Chicago so the Outfit could collect on their bets.(Gambling was their meat and potatos after prohibition). But I'm sure I never heard all of it from my father. When the FBI would come over to our house, after the Chicago boys would come out for a visit,they'd stay and listen to my father talk about things like living in Al Capone's house after his father was killed.After retiring, Jack Armstrong, who was Special Agent in charge of San Diego, would often have lunch with my father and listen to him talk about Capone and Nitti and Giancana and Tony Accardo,who Capone nicknamed "Joe Batters" because he killed a guy once with a baseball bat.

My father should have written a book on all that. It would have been a best seller and they could have made a movie.I guess that's when guys like Brashler step in.





Al Capone

[raylawpc]

One thing about being booted from fight group, I wont have to put up with that other prick, Thomas Ray. Always bad mouthing Duran, and as he always put it, "Tummy Ache" the guy knows poo!

I dropped my membership on Fight Group two weeks ago . . .

If calling Duran one of the greatest of all-time (just not THE greatest of all-time, and certainly no greater than Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong or Harry Greb) is "bad mouthing" Duran, then I plead guilty as charged . . .

[El Gallo]

"El Boxeo" comes to Hollywood as part of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival.

"El Boxeo" will be shown this Friday evening at 8 PM.
The screening will take place at the TCL 6 Theatres at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard.
This is a new state-of-the-art facility which is adjacent to the TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly known as Grauman's Chinese Theatre).
For tickets contact Rick Farris:
[email protected]/310-482-1811

-Alan Swyer

Chavez Jr @ "El Boxeo" screening . . .

J.C. Chavez Jr. attended last night's screening of "El Boxeo" on Hollywood Blvd.
Another great event!

-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

Allergic Reaction

"You got all your paintings together?"asked Bobby.
I was sitting at the table doing my crossward puzzle and having a cup of coffee. Bobby,the owner of the coffee shop,was behind the counter. Sitting next to me was a slight looking fellow wearing glasses. He was working with his lap top. There were papers strewn on the table next to the lap top.
"Yes,they're ready to go. I'll have some framed and some that are not,"I answered.
"They'll be of entertainers?"
"Yes.It will be a good fit for here. I have a good Jimi Hendrix. A Marilyn Monroe.A nice Elvis Presley. I'll have nine of them."
"I saw the Elvis on your site. I liked that one,"said Bobby.
"Thanks. I've had it quite a while now. I hope someone will buy it."
Just then the guy next to me began sneezing. He sneezed around a half dozen times.He couldn't control himself.I said"salud." Bobby said,"God bless you."
"I'm sorry," said the guy next to me."I'm Jewish. I'm allergic to everything."
No one said anything.Then a big fat guy came into the coffee shop in a motorized wheelchair.He had on a cowboy hat with a feather sticking up. He ordered a large pumpkin latte.I'd seen the guy before. In the morning he and his friends from the Section 8 housing complex would occupy the table at the coffee shop at neighborhood shopping center and smoke cigarettes . Most of them wouldn't buy anything from the coffee shop.They would sit at that table for hours and talk in loud voices.
"You know you can say what you want about Hitler,but when he was in power he fixed Germany's economy.Living was better,"said the fat guy.
There was a silence for a moment.I kept my head down at the puzzle.
"People had it better,"said the fat guy spinning his wheelchair around.
I put my pencil down.
"Unless you were Jewish,"I said looking at him in the eyes.
"Well,yes. That's true,"he said balancing his latte with one hand on his stomach.
I didn't take my eyes off him.
"But Hitler was very popular though,"he said in a less forcefull tone.
"And if you disagreed with him ,you disappeared,"I said wanting to say something else.
"The fat guy started aiming his wheelchair towards the door.
"Well I guess you're right," he said as he went out the door looking straight ahead.He took off the top of the cup and threw away the straw.
I worked the crossward puzzle for a few minutes more and then walked out. I didn't say good by and no one said nothing.

[dagosd2000]

Elvis Presley

[dagosd2000]

The Death Of Superman

When I was a little kid I was hooked on Superman. The comic book and especially the TV program. I bought the first two series on DVD and watch them once in awhile. One of the sidelights about the program that interest me is looking at the old stucco buildings in Los Angeles.I like looking at the old cars. (Lois Lane drove a Nash). The stop signs with the flags that came out and said "stop" and 'go". The double breasted suits. I really like the music.Season one and season two had different music,but both of the soundtracks are intrigueing,almost eerie,and very beautifull.

But I almost believed George Reeves was Superman. I bet a lot of other kids did too. He had a square jaw and sturdy frame. There was no other Superman. I remember taking my kids to watch the premiere of Superman with Christopher Reeves. He wasn't Superman. George Reeves was Superman.

Just before Reeves died,he was to fight an exhibition bout with Archie Moore for charity.Reeves had had some amateur fights earlier in his life. The match never came off. I would have been curious enough to watch it,but in a way I'm glad it didn't happen. George Reeves committed suicide(that's what coroner said) or he got bumped off before the match was to take place. Superman was dead.There were a lot of jokes made of that. But I when I watch those old Superman programs,the fanasty comes back. I think it's harmless ,I think.Anyway as much as I liked Archie Moore,I wouldn't have wanted to see Superman kick his ass.



George Reeves as Superman

[dagosd2000]

http://youtu.be/OUIDH5XFKkw

Superman season 2 music cues

[Randyman]

The Death Of Superman

When I was a little kid I was hooked on Superman. The comic book and especially the TV program. I bought the first two series on DVD and watch them once in awhile. One of the sidelights about the program that interest me is looking at the old stucco buildings in Los Angeles.I like looking at the old cars. (Lois Lane drove a Nash). The stop signs with the flags that came out and said "stop" and 'go". The double breasted suits. I really like the music.Season one and season two had different music,but both of the soundtracks are intrigueing,almost eerie,and very beautifull.

But I almost believed George Reeves was Superman. I bet a lot of other kids did too. He had a square jaw and sturdy frame. There was no other Superman. I remember taking my kids to watch the premiere of Superman with Christopher Reeves. He wasn't Superman. George Reeves was Superman.

Just before Reeves died,he was to fight an exhibition bout with Archie Moore for charity.Reeves had had some amateur fights earlier in his life. The match never came off. I would have been curious enough to watch it,but in a way I'm glad it didn't happen. George Reeves committed suicide(that's what coroner said) or he got bumped off before the match was to take place. Superman was dead.There were a lot of jokes made of that. But I when I watch those old Superman programs,the fanasty comes back. I think it's harmless ,I think.Anyway as much as I liked Archie Moore,I wouldn't have wanted to see Superman kick his ass.



George Reeves as Superman

Rog, thanks for sharing the painting and the story. Like you, I was a fan of Superman. As a kid, I was a comic collector as soon as I learned to read, in fact, I learned to read by reading comics. I think one of the big reason I was drawn to comics and Superman in particular, was that they were the faces of courage and American ideals. We learned a lot about being men from comic book heroes. Corny maybe, and probably unrealistically idealistic. In comic books and the Superman TV show, the lines between good and bad were clearly drawn It made it simple for us. One good reason I'm glad that Moore and "Superman" never fought is that Moore, even if it was an exhibition fight and without Kryptonite, might have knocked out Superman. What a let down that would have been for kids of that generation. Good stuff Rog!

[Chuck1052]

Take a look at Baby Joe Gans' record on BoxRec. He was one capable fighter who lived in the Los Angeles area during much of his career. During the last couple of decades of his life, he worked as a boxing director or coach of amateur boxers in Milwaukee, developing many fine boxers. After passing away, he was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery, which is located in Los Angeles. I think that he would be a great candidate for the California Boxing Hall of Fame.

- Chuck Johnston