11/29/1974-An American Hero.. MY HERO, dies....

Rory McCloskey · Post by **Rory McCloskey** » 29 Nov 2005, 01:43

Well guys, todays a sad day for me, ive been thinking of what to write when this day came n i really couldnt come up with anything good enough to really inform you on my hero.

James Walter Braddock died on this day 31 years ago. I know that many people will be annoyed by this post and they might think i just do this to get attention, but James Braddock is more then just my favorite boxer... i know about 95% of you guys wont read this, but to you 5% i hope you enjoy this... here is why i love this man...

I have a thing for guys who can do the impossible, guys who can acheive things that were so unbeleivable, they surprise themselves. I use to dream of boxing in the ring with jimmy braddock, when i was 6 or 7 years old. now, 10 years later, i would give anything to spend a day with jimmy and just learn everythign i could from him. He is a man who was able to conquer defeat, a man who fought harder then any boxer ive ever seen or heard of.

My roots to jimmy go back to the days of the depression. My granddad went to Braddocks fights against JHL, Art Lasky AND Max Baer. they were what u would call #1 fans..my family suffered dearly from the depression and my grandfather always told me stories of how jimmy made him want to wake up and make things better for his family.. my grandfather worshiped that man.

As braddock got older, the money from the fights started to disapear (he was never great with $$) so he took up a job workign the docks in weehawken NJ. of course he was never asked to do much, but he worked his ass off. he worked over my great uncle. the same great uncle who went to his fights in the depression alongside my grandfather. My uncle huey talked to him everyday, and said that he was a true gentleman and genuinly the kind of guy youd wanna buy a beer.

Throughout my early/mid childhood, my grandpa would sit me down and tell me the story of jimmy braddock, and how he met him in a deli one afternoon, and when he told jimmy how much he adored him, braddock bought my grandfather a sandwhich :) . Everytime i saw my grandpa i asked for the stories and eventually he ran out, and he just told me the same ones again..hell i didnt care, i was so fascinated i woulda listened forever.

As soon as i heard this movie was coming out, i sprinted to my grandparents house, who live up the street, and i went to tell my grandpa. I told him i would go with him the day it opened. Sure enough my grandpa,who is old and suffers from emphasima and had recently recovered from cancer, went to the movies with me to see the movie. my grandfather started crying after braddock won aaginst max baer, and it broke my heart. noone cared though, the theatre was going crazy, people were cheering and hugging. i saw the movie 8times and read all 3 books.

Ok, i probably overdid it a little, but this is a day to remember my hero, James Walter (J) Braddock, and to reflect on his acheivements. I am attached to jimmy and i will surely never forget the impact he had on my family and my life... i hope you guys all understand where im coming from now.

RIP- James Walter (J) Braddock

6/5/1905- 11/29/1974

Collins2000 · Post by **Collins2000** » 29 Nov 2005, 02:01

Can we all get together and help this kid get a life...

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 29 Nov 2005, 02:28

great tribute rory, im sure ur grandad as fascinating stories of braddock live.

- braddock was more than just a fighter, but as fighter in his peak he was a great fighter. he was 6'3 190lbs with a long 78" reach and unlike the unskilled brawler people think he is, he was in fact a good skilled boxer who possesed a granite chin and pack a goon enough punch. braddock's biggest trait however was his heart, which is still a undervalued trait and its every bit important as other qualities. u dont win big fights without heart.

braddock separated himself from the farr, godoys, novas because of heart. its what enabled him to stand up to the highly feared big destroyer, and he uses ring smarts, skills, and took advtange of baer's lack of ring smarts to outbox and beat the man who was one of the deadliest punchers in heavyweight history

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 29 Nov 2005, 14:47

Great trubute Rory.

http://www.antekprizering.com/lifeofbraddockpic.jpeg

P.S. Rory ignore any negative comments about your admiration for Braddock. Always stay true to yourself and the people you love and admire.

Collins2000 · Post by **Collins2000** » 29 Nov 2005, 15:41

It just seems a bit unhealthy, mate. Next thing you know it will be a poem he's written expressing his love for the old fellow. Or maybe he could put together a rap. Now I'd like to hear that.

But if you say it's OK...

TheRiverCityHippy · Post by **TheRiverCityHippy** » 29 Nov 2005, 16:10

Collins2000 wrote:It just seems a bit unhealthy, mate. Next thing you know it will be a poem he's written expressing his love for the old fellow. Or maybe he could put together a rap. Now I'd like to hear that.

But if you say it's OK...

its a pity the world doesnt have a few more fella`s like jim braddock in it.
take the piss all you want to mate, i enjoyed the story and i have a great deal of empathy for people who lived through those times. life was tough.

Collins2000 · Post by **Collins2000** » 29 Nov 2005, 16:18

You really shouldn't encourage this morbid fascination, mate.

Rory McCloskey · Post by **Rory McCloskey** » 29 Nov 2005, 16:48

you didnt have heros as a child?..genuine heroes..

i appreciate the feedback from BB kojoe and headhunter...

but collins its not like i randomly decided to write this..this is the day he passed away, so i decided to write a tribute to him

vagabundo55 · Post by **vagabundo55** » 29 Nov 2005, 16:58

It's good to have heroes. It was a good read. Although I don't think Braddock was anywhere near the best Heavyweight.. he had a lot of heart and from what i've read he was a humble man. And despite what others may say... it's good to have heroes.

Collins2000 · Post by **Collins2000** » 29 Nov 2005, 20:06

Rory McCloskey wrote:you didnt have heros as a child?..genuine heroes..

i appreciate the feedback from BB kojoe and headhunter...

but collins its not like i randomly decided to write this..this is the day he passed away, so i decided to write a tribute to him

You don't appreciate my feedback, Rory? I'm gutted! I didn't realise you only wanted people to tell you what a great guy you are and that your constant posts on JJB isn't a bit bizarre for a 17 year old.

Rory you are a great guy and your fascination with JJB is perfectly normal! Is that any better?

Now, back to the game. One thing that I found a bit queer (and I use that in the correct meaning before those other weirdoes hijacked the word) was that business you mentioned of people hugging each other in the movie theatre during The Cinderella Man. I didn't notice that happening here but maybe things are done differently in your neck of the woods. Or was it a private McCloskey screening and it was just you hugging people?

Did I have heroes as a kid? I sure as hell did, Rory. Reg and Ron Kray, for starters.

BoxBuzz · Post by **BoxBuzz** » 29 Nov 2005, 20:34

Hey Collins let's here a bit more about your personal heroes, It's startin to get to me mate! I'm just a bit verklempt... I didnt know you had such a sensitive nature......I was gettin all weepy.

Hey Rory, You know I named my new Puppy Braddock after seeing the movie. His story is an inspiration and you could do a lot worse than to respect and understand how that guy had a greats set of values and beat the odds in life.

Seamus · Post by **Seamus** » 29 Nov 2005, 21:26

Ronny Kray do you know my face. Don't say you don't please say you do.

Collins2000 · Post by **Collins2000** » 29 Nov 2005, 22:20

BoxBuzz wrote:Hey Collins let's here a bit more about your personal heroes, It's startin to get to me mate! I'm just a bit verklempt... I didnt know you had such a sensitive nature......I was gettin all weepy.

Hey Rory, You know I named my new Puppy Braddock after seeing the movie. His story is an inspiration and you could do a lot worse than to respect and understand how that guy had a greats set of values and beat the odds in life.

Buzz, how's life treating you? What did you want to know about my childhood heroes? You know all about Ron and Reg and The Double R Club don't you? Anyway, by the time I got to Rory's age I was starting to get out and about a bit and didn't have to live my life so vicariously.

Was that any help at all?

BoxBuzz · Post by **BoxBuzz** » 29 Nov 2005, 22:37

No Collins I just got into town, don't know my way around and was makin some small talk is all. Nothing personal.

Collins2000 · Post by **Collins2000** » 29 Nov 2005, 22:48

BoxBuzz wrote:No Collins I just got into town, don't know my way around and was makin some small talk is all. Nothing personal.

I don't take it personal, mate. It's a public forum. If I hand it out I have to be able to take it too.

Only ones that get on my tits are the self-important twats who think we have to take their opinions as fact and who get emotionally upset when questioned.

Rory McCloskey · Post by **Rory McCloskey** » 30 Nov 2005, 00:13

collins i really dont care what u think about me, i admire Braddock, and if you think thats wierd then im cool with that..i dunno why my age matters, ive told you my backround with braddock... i dont care who posts back saying oh braddock a great guy braddock was great... i dunno why u think i do?... the people who post back with comments do it because they respect the same fighter i do, and its really hard not to respect JJB. you dont have to like him but its hard not to respect him. obviously ur offended by something i said but dont turn this into your little private bashing thread, just dont bother posting back i dont wanna read ur negative posts on this thread..do whatever on my other threads but not this one

Rory McCloskey · Post by **Rory McCloskey** » 30 Nov 2005, 00:15

Boxbuzz yeah i remember ur dog named Braddock..i think thats great..how is he doing nowadays?

theone · Post by **theone** » 30 Nov 2005, 00:57

I have a thing for guys who can do the impossible, guys who can acheive things that were so unbeleivable, they surprise themselves.

I have a question about this comment Rory. I've read post were you argue that Braddock was alot better fighter than given credit for, and youve picked him in several post to either beat or be competitve with very good and even some HOF fighters. So why is beating Max Baer doing the impossible and unbeleivable? Baer was not exactly Dempsey or Louis.

my grandfather always told me stories of how jimmy made him want to wake up and make things better for his family.. my grandfather worshiped that man.

Really no disrespect to your Grandfather, but did he really need Braddocks insperation to make him wake up in the morning to make things better for his family? Wasnt the fact that his family needed him to survive enough inspiration?

Collins2000 · Post by **Collins2000** » 30 Nov 2005, 01:55

Rory McCloskey wrote:collins i really dont care what u think about me, i admire Braddock, and if you think thats wierd then im cool with that..i dunno why my age matters, ive told you my backround with braddock... i dont care who posts back saying oh braddock a great guy braddock was great... i dunno why u think i do?... the people who post back with comments do it because they respect the same fighter i do, and its really hard not to respect JJB. you dont have to like him but its hard not to respect him. obviously ur offended by something i said but dont turn this into your little private bashing thread, just dont bother posting back i dont wanna read ur negative posts on this thread..do whatever on my other threads but not this one

Rory, why not answer my question regarding the audience hugging you claimed takes place whenever you go to the movies and watch The Cinderella Man? I just can't picture it myself. I think you added that for effect. You know, a bit of artistic licence. God knows we are all guilty of that at times.

And don't be telling me where and when to post, little buddy. If you don't want comments on your posts then you know what to do.

Good night and god bless.

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 30 Nov 2005, 04:25

im 18 and im a little to old to have heroes, I think a better term is idols.

my two idols are joe louis and rocky marciano.

im a college wrestler and look up to them and try to put the same dedication to training and being the best as they did.

this may sound a bit corny or hoopy but Im proud of this and its a part of my traditions each night before a wrestling match.

- I have 2 posters one of joe louis and rocky marciano hanging up on my wall. every night before a wrestling match, I have a tradition where I touch each poster keeping my hand there for about 30 seconds as i look straight into the eyes of the two warriors. i say to them "be with me tommorow."

it gives me that extra confidence boost, knowing they are watching my match cheering for me inside to win.

u guys are all boxing fans and u know what its like the night before a big match, u need to be 100% mentally sharp. same way with wrestling

BoxBuzz · Post by **BoxBuzz** » 30 Nov 2005, 10:27

Hero, Idol, makes little diff. To look through history and see what others have accomplished, be impressed, and then use that inspiration to get motivated is pretty damn good thing.

If all you had was yourself to use as a guideline you wouldn't get very far. Your own family members can serve in that capacity as well but some need to look beyond family...or even to both.

However that said Collins is my Idol, His upbeat manner, forthwright courage, and his general discipline serve as a beacon to all mankind. I want to be just like that legend when I get up and running.

ShoeShine · Post by **ShoeShine** » 30 Nov 2005, 10:32

I think people have a problem with Rory liking Braddock bc Braddock doesnt have a big name, for instance if Rory did his tribute on SRR and SRR was the guy he loved to post about, I dont think anyone would of said anything negative about it, BBB loves Marciano and posts about him often but he doesnt get much flack for it. So I guess its wierd that he loves a boxer that isnt as well known to people, I could care less Rory, if u love the guy talk about him as much as u want...he is a BOXER and after all this is a BOXING forum.

Ezzard · Post by **Ezzard** » 30 Nov 2005, 10:51

A nice piece of writing Rory.

I think it's great that your hero is not one of the bigger marquee names of the sport. I admire your respect for the man. Braddock's is a great story and it's good that you are keeping his memory alive.

Seamus · Post by **Seamus** » 30 Nov 2005, 12:38

Rory

If you haven't already, why don't you visit Braddock's grave and put a wreath on it. I do things like that all the time. If you haven't seen it, here it is http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... 20Braddock

Collins2000 · Post by **Collins2000** » 30 Nov 2005, 15:51

BoxBuzz wrote:Hero, Idol, makes little diff. To look through history and see what others have accomplished, be impressed, and then use that inspiration to get motivated is pretty damn good thing.

If all you had was yourself to use as a guideline you wouldn't get very far. Your own family members can serve in that capacity as well but some need to look beyond family...or even to both.

However that said Collins is my Idol, His upbeat manner, forthwright courage, and his general discipline serve as a beacon to all mankind. I want to be just like that legend when I get up and running.

Buzzy, My birthday is the 8th July. I hope you'll do a piece each year extolling my virtues etc. Can I send you a poster of me for your den? It's me with Ron and Reg. Ron is showing us how to staple a bloke's hand to a desk. We're all fully clothed I'm afraid but I'm sure you have a good imagination and will be able to fill in the missing details...