Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

Well,I Lied

So today I hear the news that Sid Caesar died. I remember Your Show Of Shows in the 50's. A live broacast from New York with a new show every week. The talent that went into that production. Writers like Mel Brooks,Mel Tolkin,Neil Simon,Danny Simon,Larry Gelbart,Woody Allen(forget that he's a perv)Carl Reiner(who also performed) with the likes of Imogene Coco,Howard Morris,and Nanette Fabray. You don't get that kind of showmanship anymore. The last one who put something comparable together was Carol Burnett and her crew.

I always thought Sid Caesar didn't get enough credit,but his peers knew. Yesterday I said (after hearing of the passing of Shirley Temple)that I wasn't stuck in the past. Well,I know what the present has to offer us. I lied yesterday.

http://youtu.be/He4S5UdQ76Y

Sid Caesar and the 3 Haircuts

[scartissue]

Well,I Lied

So today I hear the news that Sid Caesar died. I remember Your Show Of Shows in the 50's. A live broacast from New York with a new show every week. The talent that went into that production. Writers like Mel Brooks,Mel Tolkin,Neil Simon,Danny Simon,Larry Gelbart,Woody Allen(forget that he's a perv)Carl Reiner(who also performed) with the likes of Imogene Coco,Howard Morris,and Nanette Fabray. You don't get that kind of showmanship anymore. The last one who put something comparable together was Carol Burnett and her crew.

I always thought Sid Caesar didn't get enough credit,but his peers knew. Yesterday I said (after hearing of the passing of Shirley Temple)that I wasn't stuck in the past. Well,I know what the present has to offer us. I lied yesterday.

http://youtu.be/He4S5UdQ76Y

Sid Caesar and the 3 Haircuts

The 3 haircuts - total classic. I remember a funny story told of Sid Caesar once and of the strength of the man, not to mention the temper when he was imbibing. Apparently he was in Chicago and some cabbie almost hit him or did something to piss him off. The story goes where Sid went over to the cabbie's window (remember the small vent window on cars in front of the driver's window) and yelled in through the small window

Sid: Excuse me sir, do you remember birth?
Cabbie: What?
Sid: Do you remember birth?
Cabbie: No!

With that, Sid reaches in through the small vent window, grabs the Cabbie around the collar and proceeds to try to pull him out of the small window. Too funny if true and still funny if its myth.

[El Gallo]

It may be that Shirley Temple Black looked back and thought that she had a fine life overall. She certainly turned out to be a fine person as as an adult. But I feel uneasy about children going to work as performers in motion pictures or in the entertainment industry in general. It is bad enough to see them miss out on their childhood and not acquire the education or life's lessons that they need when they become adults, but I also find it disturbing when they become the main breadwinners in their families, resulting in them having relatively little money by the time they become adults. As a result, I have very little respect for many of the parents or other relatives of child performers.

- Chuck Johnston

Chuck . . . I agree with you 100%! I have worked in the film industry for more than 37 years. I had the luck of working with Michael Landon on Little House, etc. where many kids were used as principle actors and atmosphere. Many have the stereotypical "Stage Mother" pushing the kids. The little girl whom I worked with on the first two "Poltergeist" features at MGM, the late Heather O'Rourke, had such a mother. I remember the director of Poltergeist-2, a commercial director named "Brian" (forget his last name) was not happy with the way the young actress was playing a scene, and he totally blew up, shouting at this young child like a maniac. I never saw such a thing (especially working with the class of a Michael Landon) and the little girl did not cry, or act scared, she just sucked it up and did the scene as best she could (and was brilliant!). The child's mother was right off camera, and she just stood there and let this A-Hole abuse the child. The rest of us on the crew would not speak to the director unless necessary. Heather, like Melissa Gilbert, were "Shirley Temple-like" pros. However, most child actors are obnoxious little SOB's who should have been drown at birth. Very, very bad place to let your child work.

[El Gallo]

The Dark Side Of The Moon.

The Red Light District in Tijuana is just on the other side of the fence that separates the two countries.They call that part of town the "Coahuila" named after the street where the plethora of cantinas with their neon lights and lots of noise inside from the jukeboxes and bands playing, while the women hustle the clientele for watered down drinks and pocket half the cost which is called the "ficha".(Regardless if you're in there just to get layed,you have to by the girl a drink) Everything is about money. Dancing with the women costs money.Paying one of the strolling musicians of feeding the jukebox is coming out of the customers' pockets. Going with the woman next door up to the room is ten dollars for the hotel and at least 60 smackers for the girl.The owners of the clubs shake down the women at the end of the month for their cut.Those women don't make as much as you would think.If they stand in the street they pay the cops and have to pay the doctors to be examined for their health cards which is stamped once a month. Most of them live in rundown houses in rundown parts of town. As dawn approaches the girls change from their mini faldas(short skirts) and don their regular clothes,hail a taxi,and go back to the barrio and go to sleep. When they scrub off their makeup they blend in with everyone else.The women that work in the cantinas have similar stories. Young kids,no husbands,maybe send a little money home to their mothers.

It's no secret that the neighbors know what these women do for a living.It's judged a little,but things in Mexico are getting rougher by the day.People don't have the desire to crusade against sin,at least what goes on in the "Coahuila."In Latin culture to go to the cantina or have a mistress is something very common.Sex is not equated with love.

The "Coahuila"used to be almost exclusively for Mexican men. And I mean men,not teenagers. The women didn't like the way the young ones behaved. Too drunk and too cheap.A lacking of manners.

There are still a lot of bars in the "Coahuila."Even if the economy sucks men don't lose their craving for sex. I don't frequent the place like I did.Maybe I'm losing the urge. To tell the truth,I'm kind of glad about that. But I hear a lot of Americans in San Diego talking about going down to the "Coahuila."They talk about the Adelitas and the Hong Kong Bar. Some of these guys have wives,some don't.Like I said,the "Coahuila" was frequented mostly by Mexican men.That part of town is off to the side.If you don't know where you're going to look for places like that,it's hard to find.But now they have shuttle services at the border to take you there.

When I was in high school Revolution Street,which was the main drag,was full of cantinas,but they catered to the Americans. I never remember seeing A Mexican man in one of those bars.But Revolution Street is breathing it's last. My sister in law who owned a little 'tacito' joint on the street sold the business lock stock and barrel for 5 g's. The street is not what it once was.

But like I've said,sex is never going out of style. The bars like the Adelitas and the Honk Kong are making money hand over fist. And they can thank the horny Americans.(Take a look at these two bars on the internet.It reminds me of Vegas)But not all the bars in the "Coahuila" are like the two I've mentioned. The women that work those joints are sexy looking.They have to be or they won't get hired. There are a lot of women that peddle their hips in the "Coahuila" that probably don't ever turn a trick. They can't compete with the sexy looking ones. Most of those women stand in the street wearing worn out clothes that resemble what they're trying to hide (or sometimes trying to enhance).A body that has given way to age. They stand on the street all night hoping that some guy will stop and ask them to go to the room. Those women's faces with the thick makeup can't hide the sadness and the despair. After a awhile they stop trying to make eye contact with the men walking by and gaze at the barbed wire fence on the wall along the border. For them the U.S. is so near,but so far away.

I always enjoy your writing, Roger!

[El Gallo]

Hap Navarro - Rest in Peace, dear friend.

[Chuck1052]

It may be that Shirley Temple Black looked back and thought that she had a fine life overall. She certainly turned out to be a fine person as as an adult. But I feel uneasy about children going to work as performers in motion pictures or in the entertainment industry in general. It is bad enough to see them miss out on their childhood and not acquire the education or life's lessons that they need when they become adults, but I also find it disturbing when they become the main breadwinners in their families, resulting in them having relatively little money by the time they become adults. As a result, I have very little respect for many of the parents or other relatives of child performers.

- Chuck Johnston

Chuck . . . I agree with you 100%! I have worked in the film industry for more than 37 years. I had the luck of working with Michael Landon on Little House, etc. where many kids were used as principle actors and atmosphere. Many have the stereotypical "Stage Mother" pushing the kids. The little girl whom I worked with on the first two "Poltergeist" features at MGM, the late Heather O'Rourke, had such a mother. I remember the director of Poltergeist-2, a commercial director named "Brian" (forget his last name) was not happy with the way the young actress was playing a scene, and he totally blew up, shouting at this young child like a maniac. I never saw such a thing (especially working with the class of a Michael Landon) and the little girl did not cry, or act scared, she just sucked it up and did the scene as best she could (and was brilliant!). The child's mother was right off camera, and she just stood there and let this A-Hole abuse the child. The rest of us on the crew would not speak to the director unless necessary. Heather, like Melissa Gilbert, were "Shirley Temple-like" pros. However, most child actors are obnoxious little SOB's who should have been drown at birth. Very, very bad place to let your child work.

Rick- I am happy to learn that Michael Landon treated the child actors well. It appears that Ron Howard and Jerry Mathers had fairly normal lives as children despite being television stars. By the way, I was wondering how you felt about child performers in the entertainment industry. I am not trying to knock the industry for the most part.

Shirley Temple Black appears to have had a stable family life as a child, but she was the main breadwinner in her family, which lived fairly high on the hog. In addition, her father made some bad investments. While in her early 20s, Shirley discovered that only $28,000. was left from her vast earnings.

Jackie Coogan made millions of dollars as a child movie star during 1920s. But every cent of that money legally belonged to his parents. After his father died during 1935, his mother and step-father spent the money wildly, resulting in Coogan having relatively little of his childhood earnings as an adult. As a result of Coogan's plight, the Coogan Law was passed in California during 1939.

Jackie Cooper and Shirley Temple Black seemed to steer their children away from the entertainment industry. Cooper was quite bitter about missing out on much of his childhood despite having success in entertainment industry as a child and an adult. It is sad to say that there seems to be little difference when it comes to how so many child performers fare throughout the history of the entertainment industry.

- Chuck Johnston

[Chuck1052]

Hap Navarro - Rest in Peace, dear friend.

I am sorry to learn that Hap Navarro has passed away. He certainly had a tremendous amount of knowledge about California boxing history. I hope that Hap's family and friends accept my condolences.

- Chuck Johnston

[dagosd2000]

Hap Navarro in later years.Conversed with him on the thread .Seemed like a real nice guy. RIP

[El Gallo]

It may be that Shirley Temple Black looked back and thought that she had a fine life overall. She certainly turned out to be a fine person as as an adult. But I feel uneasy about children going to work as performers in motion pictures or in the entertainment industry in general. It is bad enough to see them miss out on their childhood and not acquire the education or life's lessons that they need when they become adults, but I also find it disturbing when they become the main breadwinners in their families, resulting in them having relatively little money by the time they become adults. As a result, I have very little respect for many of the parents or other relatives of child performers.

- Chuck Johnston

Chuck . . . I agree with you 100%! I have worked in the film industry for more than 37 years. I had the luck of working with Michael Landon on Little House, etc. where many kids were used as principle actors and atmosphere. Many have the stereotypical "Stage Mother" pushing the kids. The little girl whom I worked with on the first two "Poltergeist" features at MGM, the late Heather O'Rourke, had such a mother. I remember the director of Poltergeist-2, a commercial director named "Brian" (forget his last name) was not happy with the way the young actress was playing a scene, and he totally blew up, shouting at this young child like a maniac. I never saw such a thing (especially working with the class of a Michael Landon) and the little girl did not cry, or act scared, she just sucked it up and did the scene as best she could (and was brilliant!). The child's mother was right off camera, and she just stood there and let this A-Hole abuse the child. The rest of us on the crew would not speak to the director unless necessary. Heather, like Melissa Gilbert, were "Shirley Temple-like" pros. However, most child actors are obnoxious little SOB's who should have been drown at birth. Very, very bad place to let your child work.

Rick- I am happy to learn that Michael Landon treated the child actors well. It appears that Ron Howard and Jerry Mathers had fairly normal lives as children despite being television stars. By the way, I was wondering how you felt about child performers in the entertainment industry. I am not trying to knock the industry for the most part.

Shirley Temple Black appears to have had a stable family life as a child, but she was the main breadwinner in her family, which lived fairly high on the hog. In addition, her father made some bad investments. While in her early 20s, Shirley discovered that only $28,000. was left from her vast earnings.

Jackie Coogan made millions of dollars as a child movie star during 1920s. But every cent of that money legally belonged to his parents. After his father died during 1935, his mother and step-father spent the money wildly, resulting in Coogan having relatively little of his childhood earnings as an adult. As a result of Coogan's plight, the Coogan Law was passed in California during 1939.

Jackie Cooper and Shirley Temple Black seemed to steer their children away from the entertainment industry. Cooper was quite bitter about missing out on much of his childhood despite having success in entertainment industry as a child and an adult. It is sad to say that there seems to be little difference when it comes to how so many child performers fare throughout the history of the entertainment industry.

- Chuck Johnston

Chuck . . . Ron & Clint Howard have been friends of mine since we were kids. They grew up about 2 blocks from my grandparents home in Burbank. I still see Clint, and he and dad Rance were my guests at the 2012 CBHOF banquet. They are fans of Windmill White and will be regulars at future West Coast Boxing HOF events. The Howard boys went to public school in Burbank, right through high school, where Clint played HS baseball at John Burroughs High School. They grew up in a small 2 bedroom home, and their money was saved and well invested. When Ron was attending USC film school, he was starring on Happy Days, but no expensive Sports car for him, he drove a VW Beetle. Today Ron is worth nearly $200 million, and he lives in Conneticut. However Clint (worth about $20 million) still lives in Burbank, a few blocks from where he grew up. Pop Rance also still lives in Burbank. The Howrd's mother passed a few years ago and Rance has remarried. Rance is one of the busiest "bit players" in Hollywood to this day, most recently seen in "Nebraska". The kids were never spoiled. They are good friends and I am proud to say they are a part of the WCBHOF family! By the way, the Howard's are also fans of Charley Norkus, and Charley Norkus Jr. whom they met and befriended in 2012.

[dagosd2000]

The Telephone Call

So now that I'm on speaking terms again with my nephew Carlos,he talks to me on the phone. Before, when I'd pick up the phone and hear a click,I knew it was him. He didn't want to talk to me. He wanted to talk to his aunt,my wife Maria. But for now,to give you the reason we've patched things up wouldn't add anything to the story so I'll just tell you what transpired with our conversation the other night when he called.

Carlos knew that his aunt had gone to Jiquilpan with our daughter. I had bought the airplane tickets in advance last year,but since I had that run in with my brother in law,I copped out of the trip. I knew if I saw him again something would happen and anyway it turned out would be no good for me. So the other night Carlos called and wanted to know how things were going down there.
"Uncle",he said."You hear from my aunt?"
"Yes,she calls every other day."
"She say anything?"
"Not much,but I don't get want to get into anything on the telephone. I'll wait till she gets back."
"You still want to sell the house?"
"Yes,but I'll leave that up to her. I know she likes going down there,but from the sound of her voice I think she's getting bored."
"You know uncle I haven't been back in 20 years and I don't want to go. I have nothing there."
"You're mother never brings up your name."
"She's not my mother. My aunt is my mother."
"Your mother,Teresa,is certified nuts."
"She doesn't know what she's doing."
"I don't have any desire to go back either,"I said."All the life is gone out of the place. Each time I go I see those people more beaten down."
"I hate the Figueroas,"he said."I hate that family.My aunt is a Madrigal."
"The Figeuroas have never helped each other out."
"And it's worse now that things are getting more bad in Mexico."
"It used to be fun,but now all people talk about is going to the United States."
"You know uncle, here in New Rochelle there are many people from Paredones where my aunt was born."
"Last year when we went to Paredones to visit Maria's godmother the town looked abandoned."
"I tell you uncle everyone from Paredones is here."
"There can't be more than a handful left on top of that mountain."
"Uncle,"said Jorge with a sense of urgency,"They remember my aunt."
This would be a new one on me. I didn't want to interrupt .
"They remember the whole family.My aunt was born there. They said she was a tomboy. She was very rough. She would get into fights. She protected the family and did everything to help."
Knowing my wife,this didn't surprise me,but I had never heard anyone word it like this before.
"Uncle,they say she wasn't afraid of anything. The consider her like a queen."
"I know when your uncle Arturo came looking for me with the machete your aunt went outside to confront him. She told me that she wasn't afraid of 'armas.' Everyone else stayed inside the house."
"I hate that guy. He told me once that when I grow up he wanted to kick my ass."
"He's a bluff. He's got everyone in the family scared except your aunt."
"If I ever saw him now I'd kill him."
"That day he lost face when I threw him out of the house in front of everyone. When he saw me leave in the car is when he came back with the machete.I never saw him again after that."
"Uncle,when is my aunt going to call again?"asked my nephew.
"Tomorrow. I'll tell them to say hello to your mother."
"You mean my aunt Maria Luisa?"
"No,your mother Teresa."
"Oh,"he said lowering his voice."Well, I'll call you again in a couple of days."
"It was good talking to you. I'll let you know if anything comes up."



Paredones,Michoacan. The house where my wife was born in.

[dagosd2000]

The King

"You interested in the Olympics?"asked Ed the bartender as he was turning the channels on the TV behind the bar.
"Sure,"I answered."What's on?"
Ed found the channel that was showing the Winter Olympics.
"I think they call this sport'curling' ",I said.
We were watching something that resembled shuffleboard except it was being played on ice.
"This must have been something invented by a European,"said Ed."How in the hell could you get into this?"
"Well some people must follow it."
"You want to watch something else?"
"It's your TV."
Ed started flipping the channels again.
"Here,"he said stopping the flipping."This looks like a old Clark Gable movie."
"It's 'San Francisco' ".
I recognized it right away. There was Jeanette MacDonald and Spencer Tracy.
"This is where the earthquake happens,"said Ed.
"At the time they considered that good special effects."
We were Clark Gable schmoozing Jeanette MacDonald.
"I always thought Clark Gable was the best leading man of his day,"said Ed.
"They called him 'The King' ".
"He was better than Cagney or Bogart."
"And he always got the girl from Tracy."
"He was number one with me."
"Tracy was a better actor.More versatile."
"But he never wound up with the girl,"said Ed.
"They say the studio was first attracted to Gable because he looked like Jack Dempsey."
"I didn't know that."
"They wanted a man's man and Jack Dempsey was sure that."
"Come to think of it,Gable does look a little like Dempsey,"said Ed as he was watching Gable melt Jeanette MacDonald's heart.
"I always thought Clark Gable was the King. No one else ever came along to top him."
"Jack Dempsey was in the same class. A man's man."
"You don't see many actors like him anymore,"I said.
"Or fighters like Dempsey."
"Oh I think there were a number of heavyweights who could have beat Dempsey."
"But acting is different than fighting,"said Ed.
"Tunney had his way with Jack,"I said."With fighting you can't act your way out of anything."



Jack Dempsey




Clark Gable

[dagosd2000]

Holding the Bag

I warned Armando not to get involved with Blanca. They were both my students at the "Learning Center". A school for kids that were at risk of not graduating.The students could work and get credits at their own pace. Most got caught up. They would show me their finished homework assignments I would give them and after finishing the course they received a credit. Most of the students got caught up and graduated. It was their last shot at getting a high school diploma before they would have to be sent to adult school.There they could only qualify for a GA certificate.

I had Armando and Blanca in the same class. They fell in love while attending school. Armando's dad owned a brokerage house near the border. Blanca's dad was connected with the drug cartels south of the border. She would tell me some crazy stories of how her dad would operate with impunity and was loaded with dough. Armando's dad 's business was very profitable and Armando was an integral part of his father's operation. When I could see Armando falling for Blanca I cautioned him.
"Armando,"I said to him as he was at my desk showing me his homework,"Be careful. You know what Blanca's father is involved with."
"I know,"he responded."I wouldn't take any chances."
"Your father owns a respectable business. That is the last thing you want to become a part of."
"I know .I told Blanca that."
"Her father isn't a lightweight. He works for Quintero."
"He won't interfere with us. Besides,when we get married,we'll be living with my folks here."
"Just be careful. You'll be approached."

I liked Armando and I liked Blanca. Armando was a nice boy,but he hadn't seen as much as Blanca. Armando's family was very protective of him and had given him a lot of responsibility to run the daily affairs of his father's brokerage house. He could handle the job. Blanca,on the other hand,was spoiled. She always had her way with her father and now she was making sure she had her way with Armando. I think she knew this all along.She liked expensive things and even with Armando having an important job with his father it wasn't enough.

Blanca used to pride herself with having light skin and hair. That's a sign of stature in Mexico. That's why her father named her "Blanca" which means white. She also had the biggest tits I've seen on a high school girl. Those boobs definitely had an affect on Armando.It wasn't long that Armando told me that he was "working" on the side for Blanca's father.
"Don't worry,"he said."Everyone is paid off on both sides of the border."
If that didn't sound like famous last words.

Well one night I got the call. Blanca was on the other end of the phone crying. Armando and her brother were stooped on old highway 80 driving a semi loaded wit 250 kilos of coke. Turned out a tail light on the rig was out and a Highway Patrol pulled the boys over.The boys acted nervous and the next thing you know they're busted. Blanca told me her father,when he heard the news,ordered her to hide the drug money that was stashed in the trunks of their cars on the U.S. side.

It was over for Armando. While he was awaiting trial he wanted me to write a letter of character to the federal judge. I asked Armando if the feds were going to go after the whole operation. With sorrow he told me the federal prosecutor and the judge said no additional evidence would be submitted.He also told me not to mention anything about what Blanca's father had to do with smuggling.The judge had ordered that. Armando was going to take the fall.

Armando did a stretch in a federal prison in Oregon. While he was there,Blanca divorced him. While Armando was on a work detail with Blanca's brother,his father drove by and whisked his son off. He didn't offer Armando a lift.After serving 6 years Armando came to visit me at the school. He told me his father had come down with cancer. He said the IRS was auditing the business and the DEA and FBI were always around.Armando said he couldn't ,by law, work at his father's firm anymore. I didn't even attempt to try to inject any act of levity with him.

And Blanca?Last I heard from someone she wound up moving to Chicago with her father. She was supposed to be married to one of her father's friends who was quite a bit older than her. Armando told me he never heard from her again.

[dagosd2000]

My son,Ramon,(on the right)with two friends living in the streets in Tijuana. Life wasn't easy then(as you can probably tell)

[El Gallo]

Holding the Bag

I warned Armando not to get involved with Blanca. They were both my students at the "Learning Center". A school for kids that were at risk of not graduating.The students could work and get credits at their own pace. Most got caught up. They would show me their finished homework assignments I would give them and after finishing the course they received a credit. Most of the students got caught up and graduated. It was their last shot at getting a high school diploma before they would have to be sent to adult school.There they could only qualify for a GA certificate.

I had Armando and Blanca in the same class. They fell in love while attending school. Armando's dad owned a brokerage house near the border. Blanca's dad was connected with the drug cartels south of the border. She would tell me some crazy stories of how her dad would operate with impunity and was loaded with dough. Armando's dad 's business was very profitable and Armando was an integral part of his father's operation. When I could see Armando falling for Blanca I cautioned him.
"Armando,"I said to him as he was at my desk showing me his homework,"Be careful. You know what Blanca's father is involved with."
"I know,"he responded."I wouldn't take any chances."
"Your father owns a respectable business. That is the last thing you want to become a part of."
"I know .I told Blanca that."
"Her father isn't a lightweight. He works for Quintero."
"He won't interfere with us. Besides,when we get married,we'll be living with my folks here."
"Just be careful. You'll be approached."

I liked Armando and I liked Blanca. Armando was a nice boy,but he hadn't seen as much as Blanca. Armando's family was very protective of him and had given him a lot of responsibility to run the daily affairs of his father's brokerage house. He could handle the job. Blanca,on the other hand,was spoiled. She always had her way with her father and now she was making sure she had her way with Armando. I think she knew this all along.She liked expensive things and even with Armando having an important job with his father it wasn't enough.

Blanca used to pride herself with having light skin and hair. That's a sign of stature in Mexico. That's why her father named her "Blanca" which means white. She also had the biggest tits I've seen on a high school girl. Those boobs definitely had an affect on Armando.It wasn't long that Armando told me that he was "working" on the side for Blanca's father.
"Don't worry,"he said."Everyone is paid off on both sides of the border."
If that didn't sound like famous last words.

Well one night I got the call. Blanca was on the other end of the phone crying. Armando and her brother were stooped on old highway 80 driving a semi loaded wit 250 kilos of coke. Turned out a tail light on the rig was out and a Highway Patrol pulled the boys over.The boys acted nervous and the next thing you know they're busted. Blanca told me her father,when he heard the news,ordered her to hide the drug money that was stashed in the trunks of their cars on the U.S. side.

It was over for Armando. While he was awaiting trial he wanted me to write a letter of character to the federal judge. I asked Armando if the feds were going to go after the whole operation. With sorrow he told me the federal prosecutor and the judge said no additional evidence would be submitted.He also told me not to mention anything about what Blanca's father had to do with smuggling.The judge had ordered that. Armando was going to take the fall.

Armando did a stretch in a federal prison in Oregon. While he was there,Blanca divorced him. While Armando was on a work detail with Blanca's brother,his father drove by and whisked his son off. He didn't offer Armando a lift.After serving 6 years Armando came to visit me at the school. He told me his father had come down with cancer. He said the IRS was auditing the business and the DEA and FBI were always around.Armando said he couldn't ,by law, work at his father's firm anymore. I didn't even attempt to try to inject any act of levity with him.

And Blanca?Last I heard from someone she wound up moving to Chicago with her father. She was supposed to be married to one of her father's friends who was quite a bit older than her. Armando told me he never heard from her again.

Rog, that story is a perfect "treatment" for a film project. It captured me.

[dagosd2000]

Holding the Bag

I warned Armando not to get involved with Blanca. They were both my students at the "Learning Center". A school for kids that were at risk of not graduating.The students could work and get credits at their own pace. Most got caught up. They would show me their finished homework assignments I would give them and after finishing the course they received a credit. Most of the students got caught up and graduated. It was their last shot at getting a high school diploma before they would have to be sent to adult school.There they could only qualify for a GA certificate.

I had Armando and Blanca in the same class. They fell in love while attending school. Armando's dad owned a brokerage house near the border. Blanca's dad was connected with the drug cartels south of the border. She would tell me some crazy stories of how her dad would operate with impunity and was loaded with dough. Armando's dad 's business was very profitable and Armando was an integral part of his father's operation. When I could see Armando falling for Blanca I cautioned him.
"Armando,"I said to him as he was at my desk showing me his homework,"Be careful. You know what Blanca's father is involved with."
"I know,"he responded."I wouldn't take any chances."
"Your father owns a respectable business. That is the last thing you want to become a part of."
"I know .I told Blanca that."
"Her father isn't a lightweight. He works for Quintero."
"He won't interfere with us. Besides,when we get married,we'll be living with my folks here."
"Just be careful. You'll be approached."

I liked Armando and I liked Blanca. Armando was a nice boy,but he hadn't seen as much as Blanca. Armando's family was very protective of him and had given him a lot of responsibility to run the daily affairs of his father's brokerage house. He could handle the job. Blanca,on the other hand,was spoiled. She always had her way with her father and now she was making sure she had her way with Armando. I think she knew this all along.She liked expensive things and even with Armando having an important job with his father it wasn't enough.

Blanca used to pride herself with having light skin and hair. That's a sign of stature in Mexico. That's why her father named her "Blanca" which means white. She also had the biggest tits I've seen on a high school girl. Those boobs definitely had an affect on Armando.It wasn't long that Armando told me that he was "working" on the side for Blanca's father.
"Don't worry,"he said."Everyone is paid off on both sides of the border."
If that didn't sound like famous last words.

Well one night I got the call. Blanca was on the other end of the phone crying. Armando and her brother were stooped on old highway 80 driving a semi loaded wit 250 kilos of coke. Turned out a tail light on the rig was out and a Highway Patrol pulled the boys over.The boys acted nervous and the next thing you know they're busted. Blanca told me her father,when he heard the news,ordered her to hide the drug money that was stashed in the trunks of their cars on the U.S. side.

It was over for Armando. While he was awaiting trial he wanted me to write a letter of character to the federal judge. I asked Armando if the feds were going to go after the whole operation. With sorrow he told me the federal prosecutor and the judge said no additional evidence would be submitted.He also told me not to mention anything about what Blanca's father had to do with smuggling.The judge had ordered that. Armando was going to take the fall.

Armando did a stretch in a federal prison in Oregon. While he was there,Blanca divorced him. While Armando was on a work detail with Blanca's brother,his father drove by and whisked his son off. He didn't offer Armando a lift.After serving 6 years Armando came to visit me at the school. He told me his father had come down with cancer. He said the IRS was auditing the business and the DEA and FBI were always around.Armando said he couldn't ,by law, work at his father's firm anymore. I didn't even attempt to try to inject any act of levity with him.

And Blanca?Last I heard from someone she wound up moving to Chicago with her father. She was supposed to be married to one of her father's friends who was quite a bit older than her. Armando told me he never heard from her again.

Rog, that story is a perfect "treatment" for a film project. It captured me.

Rick,what was that line?"There are 8 million stories in the Naked City." Tijuana has roughly 2 million(and growing)

[dagosd2000]

An Open Book

"Every time I turn on the news to this Ukrainian thing I see this Klitschko,"said Ed the bartender.
"He's pretty involved,"I said.
Ed turned on the TV behind the bar. The Winter Olympics were still going on in Russia.
"What side is he on?"asked Ed.
"He's Ukrainian."
"I thought all those Russians were the same."
"Ukrainians have always wanted to break away from Russia.After the fall of the Soviet Union it finally happened."
Ed drew a beer from the tap and put the glass on a coaster in front of me.
"It was too expensive to hold the Ukraine together. Besides there wasn't any love between the two,"I said.
"Well what's the beef all about?"
"The president of the Ukraine turned down a loan from the European Union and was making a deal with Russia."
"So?"
"The Ukrainians figure that Russia wanted the Ukraine back into their sphere of influence."
"Those protesters are sure angry."
"Did you know during World War II there were Ukrainians fighting on the side of Hitler?"
"Against who?"
"The Russians."
"You must read a lot,"said Ed wiping the bar.
"It's more interesting than following sports all the time."
I don't understand most of it,"said Ed turning up the volume of the TV.
"So that means Klitschko won't be fighting anymore?"
"His brother is still the champ."
"He has a brother?"
"Vladimir is his younger brother. He's the champ.I thought you followed sports."
"I didn't know.Besides boxing is beginning to bore me."
"If the Ukraines have their way Vitali Klitschko will be their president."
"Is that so."
"In a way he'll be more recognized than Ali when it comes to having influence.."
"All those Russians can't be trusted,"said Ed talking under his breath."And what the hell difference did Ali ever make?,"said Ed looking away from me and shouting at the TV.
"You know what your problem is?"
"What,"said Ed looking at the TV screen.
"You need to read more."

[dagosd2000]

Muhammad Ali

[dagosd2000]

What's So Funny?

If I laugh at something,it's funny. I was watching a documentary on Lenny Bruce on Netflix the other night. I don't see where this guy was so much on the cutting edge unless it was the tits and ass stuff.What's new about sex anyway?Every time a comic reaches for a laugh and feels he needs to throw in the tits and ass stuff,he's a lightweight.He's not that clever.You might say Lenny Bruce brought an avante garde topic like racism to the comedy store ,but let's face it...how do you make jokes about race without offending someone?He thought by saying all the racial slurs on stage,it diffused the whole thing.This guy was always pissed of when he did his act and if you didn't laugh,he'd say you were "stupid."

Even that little nebbish Don Rickles thinks he gets away with it,but he's pathetic. I saw him once at Caesar Palace opening for Sinatra. He was perusing the room and was doing his evil little schtick making fun of everyone,usually with racial innuendos or ridiculing some physical characteristic. While he was dishing it out to everyone in his swath,he saw Joe Louis sitting with some friends at a table. The fat little creep lit up and was about to humiliate the champ.Just then the band starts playing. Sinatra saw what was about to happen and cued up the musicians. Rickles was left with egg on his face.
"I guess I'm through,"he said with that that stretchy smirk and beady eyes of his.
Rickles,you were through a long time ago.



Lenny Bruce

[dagosd2000]

The Turning Point

"Amanda,did you hear that Paco De Lucia died yesterday?"I asked my grand daughter as we were having coffee at the Starbucks near her house.
"I saw it on Esperanza's Facebook page."
"What did she have to say?"
"That all of Spain is very sad."
"I guess he died in Cancun while vacationing."
"They said he was playing with his children on the beach when it happened."
I took a sip from my usual Starbuck's order,black coffee. Amanda was drinking a mocha.
"Remember when you were nine years old and you danced at La Casa De Anselma in the Triana?"I asked her.
"That seems like a long time ago."
"You'll be turning 18.You've been dancing since you were four.It's been an interesting road so far. You've got everything ahead of you."
I finished my coffee.
"Remember how you didn't want to go inside and dance that night?"
"Yes,"she said sheepishly.
"I thought everything had been for nothing.But I made you do it. I thought that I had done something wrong making you dance that night."
Amanda didn't say anything.
"But that moment was the turning point.After that,you began to grow,"I said.
"I'm over that now."
"It amazes me to see you assert yourself. The poise.You're always at the front of the class when you practice.You exude confidence.When Concha Vargas came out from Spain and taught her workshop,she told you you'd be the next Lakshmi.There is no higher compliment."
"I know what I have to do."
"I know,"I said looking at the bottom of the empty cup."Before, I'd give you guidance. Now you think ahead. You come up with stuff I wouldn't think of."
"I applied for a Fullbright scholarship."
"You see,you're way ahead of me. That's good .That's the way it should be."
Amanda finished her mocha.
"Paco De Lucia was be missed,"I said."He was one of a kind."
We sat at the table outside and didn't say anything for awhile. Then Amanda perked up.
"Abuelito,I need to get ready for my Flamenco class tonight.Can I get you another coffee before I drive home?"
"No,you get along. I'll just sit here for a little bit."
While I watched her drive out the parking lot,I thought of Amanda dancing Flamenco to the strings of Paco De Lucia's guitar.



My grand daughter,Amanda,sitting far left, at 4 years of age in her first Flamenco class.

[dagosd2000]

http://youtu.be/VgPdHPX1Vr8
Fats Domino is 86 years young today. Happy birthday.

BE MY GUEST

http://youtu.be/ogR_Zs8qTkg

WHOLE LOT OF LOVIN'

http://youtu.be/ogR_Zs8qTkg

MARDI GRAS IN NEW ORLEANS

http://youtu.be/SYXgB6TtFwY

WHAT A PARTY

[dagosd2000]

Wind And Smoke

"Looks like they're doing a promo for a big fight,"said Ed the bartender turning up the volume on the TV.
"I saw this the other day,"I said."I guess Canelo Alvarez is going to fight Alfredo Angulo."
"Is that the guy Mayweather cheap shot when he turned to complain to the ref?"
"No,that was another Mexican."
Ed set a bottle of Budweiser on a coaster in front of me.
"Ever see this Angulo fight?"asked Ed.
""Once. This James Kirkland went down to Mexico and kicked his ass pretty good."
"Well, Alvarez didn't show nothing against Mayweather."
"That was a lousy fight."
"So now they want to charge money on Pay Per View to watch these two guys go at it."
"I looked it up.Angulo got stopped in his last fight."
The guys talking on the TV were saying this is the fight" everyone's been waiting for." One guy said because they both lost their last fights that this fight would be more"important" than a championship fight because they would have "something to prove."
"Can you believe this bullshit?"laughed Ed.
"Someone is going to believe it. They're going to pay to watch it on TV."



Kid Azteca

[dagosd2000]

Ali's Legacy

Before I get into my story,I want to announce that at the fights last night at the Hanalei Hotel,Prince Smalls registered his third consecutive win with an unanimous 4 round decision over Percy Robertson. I thought it was Prince's best showing so far. He moved up from 125 to 135 and displayed more power. I thought this Robertson kid was Prince's best opponent to date. Prince dominated this time not only with his quickness,but pushed the fight relying on his strength. I think the added poundage is better for him. He doesn't have to dry out to make the featherweight limit and can thus feel stronger in the ring at lightweight .

Sometimes I peruse through the other threads on the forum. One theme that bugs me is that some of the posters think that a fighter ,because he climbs through the ropes,has the guts to engage his opponent. Like the battlefield, there are times when soldiers and fighters don't have what it takes to fight. I saw this last night at the Hanalei Hotel on Bobby D's fight card. The feature bout was between two undefeated crusierweights. Yunier Dorticos and Hamilton Ventura squared off for some version of a title belt. Dortico,a Cuban, was 15 and zip with 15 stoppages. Ventura,from Brazil, was also undefeated with 13 wins,stopping his opponents 11 times. Made for an exciting matchup. But it was nothing like that.

At the bell Dorticos came out aggressively. This guy is a man. Long arms and angular and tough.Ventura, was big and well proportioned too,held his hands up in front of his face and waited on Dorticos. The Cuban was eager to show his stuff.Waiting for something to happen was not in his mantra. When Ventura first felt his power,he began to go into a shell. He returned nothing. Dorticos,sensing his prey had that queasy feeling,threw everything in his arsenal at him. Dorticos just missed with a fast right hand and Ventura fell over backwards to the canvas. Referee Pat Russell,to his credit,wiped off Ventura's gloves and motioned him forward not scoring it a knockdown.Ventura decided he wanted to make a fast exit after that. He collapsed three more times making sure there was at least some contact from Dortico's gloves(Ventura was in retreat when contact was made) before he dropped to the mat and the fight had to be waved off.It was obvious and kind of sad.

I remember watching years ago Cus D'Amato bantering with a young Ali.Old Cus was saying that Ali hadn't stood the test of being really hit hard in the ring and that he danced around the way he did was because he was scared to get hit.Ali was trying to diffuse the old dago humorously,but all that did was get Cus more riled.
"Joe Louis would have taken you apart."
"Joe Louis? Shuffling in like he did against me? No way."
"You'd be afraid to stand up to him."

Well we all remember Ali when he came back from his forced retirement. The Quarry fight we couldn't tell. But the Bonavena fight we knew something was wrong,or sat least different. I remember Howard Cosell saying he thought Ali was sick. It was like Ray Robinson when he came back after two tears off and fought Tiger Jones. The legs were gone.

Ali,knowing he could never recapture his youth,used to train in the ring by letting his sparring partners bang him around. He did that because he knew the same was going to happen in a real fight. It happened too much. Now look at him.

I know everyone wants to remember Ali as the fastest heavyweight of all time floating like a butterfly,but my deepest feelings are of Ali taking inordinate punishment and drawing on his guts to prevail. He may have been afraid sometimes in that ring,but he never let those feelings make him look for a place to fall.



Muhammad Ali

[BoxBuzz]

You know, I like that, Wouid you mind if I cut and paste it and gave it it's own thread? It's very poetic, and ought to be non-controversial. But it will get many people talking both ways. Hell it might even start a few fights. I always did like a good give and take. lol.

[dagosd2000]

You know, I like that, Wouid you mind if I cut and paste it and gave it it's own thread? It's very poetic, and ought to be non-controversial. But it will get many people talking both ways. Hell it might even start a few fights. I always did like a good give and take. lol.

Buzz,if you're referring to what I posted,go ahead.I know anything to do with Ali always gets people's attention on the forum.

[dagosd2000]

Make Me Laugh

"Abuelito,did you watch the Oscars last night?"asked my grand daughter Amanda as we were having our drinks at the Starbucks near where she worked.
"No I didn't,"I answered."Who won?"
I really didn't care who won,but I wanted to make my grand daughter feel like I was interested.Amanda started to name the winners,but I wasn't paying attention.Some of the names sounded familiar,but I couldn't relate much to anything she said. I hadn't seen any of the movies. In fact I haven't been to the movies in years.
"You know Amanda they always give those awards to pictures that make you sad."
I wanted to see where she'd go with that.
"That's true. I don't like watching movies like that."
"I know you like movies that have a love interest."
"I guess that's because I'm a girl."
"I saw that movie "Boys Don't Cry."That was a powerful performance by Hilary Swank. But I wouldn't watch it again."
"She won an Oscar for her performance."
"She deserved it,but the movie brought me down."
"People say those serious movies make you think."
"Everything can make you think,"I said.
"I like movies that make me laugh."
"Me too.Wouldn't you rather laugh than cry?"
"Of course. Doesn't everyone?"
"Then why do all those awards go to movies that are serious?Comedians don't get enough of those awards. Hell,it's harder to make someone laugh than to make someone cry."
"Like I said,they say serious movies make you think more."
"I think too much as it is,"I said as I finished my coffee.




Laurel and Hardy