It's A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood
What I knew of Archie Moore was probably what just about everybody knew about him. He was always himself. No matter what rung you lived on in society it didn't matter to him. If you were yourself, you'd more than likely get to share what he was like. He finally settled in San Diego.He had fought all over. Finally,after connecting himself with the right people like a Doc Kearns,he easily outpointed Joey Maxim to win the light heavyweight title.He didn't jump and down in the ring after that fight.He didn't drop to his knees and pray or cry. He knew he was the best light heavyweight in the world. It was just that it was a long time comin' to him and now it was over.
Like I said, he finally put up stakes in Southeast San Diego. Southeast San Diego was the Black neighborhood then. You could still say that today,but mostly Mexicans reside there now. In fact there isn't a predominantly Black neighborhood in San Diego anymore. But if Archie Moore was still around,it wouldn't have made one bit of difference who was his neighbor. I hung out a lot in Southeast when I was younger. I played on that semi pro football team,the Ghetto Messengers.I was the "token" White guy(just joking). Henry Brown,who I played ball with at City College.called me up one today and asked me if I'd be interested in teaming up with the rest of the brothers. Sure,why not. Looking back on that, I don't think I ever laughed and had so much fun playing ball on that team. Practicing at the Ocean View Recreation Center, that was in the heart of the neighborhood,I'd see the ol' ex champ making the rounds.You see Archie didn't separate himself from his neighbors. He frequented the local businesses;bought his steaks, chops, and chicken at C & M Meats,got his hair cut at Gary's Barber Shop,and when he'd have a yen for barbeque,he,d be sitting down at Ray Huffman's joint.Huffman's was the "stick" in Logan Heights.
It was one day that I happened to bump into Archie Moore at Huffman's Barbeque. I told you the story. He was eating by himself. It was around that time I was helping him at his ABC(Any Boy Can) Club for boys. He was showing the kids how to box and also giving them a good dose of what it takes to be an individual of character. I think that was his real emphasis. Anyway, Archie caught me out of the corner of his eye and asked me if I wanted to destroy a plate of pork ribs with him. You think I'd say no to something like that? Well,Archie wanted to talk music. Jazz music. Archie would always pick the topics.I didn't care.He always had some very interesting takes on things. He was the most philosophical person I ever knew.He didn't give you all that erudite stuff and want to try to impress you with a load of facts. He didn't want to try to" one up" you.In fact he often asked you what your take was.
If Archie Moore could have had a second life,he would have wanted to be a jazz musician, At one time he sat in with the Lucky Thompson's group and was thinking of hanging up his gloves and going on the road with the merry music makers.But the lifestyle of a jazz musician and that of a fighter is about as much of an 180 as there is. So Archie would once in awhile "noodle" on his bass fiddle and take in the jam sessions when musicians like Jimmy Smith or the Modern Jazz Quartet came to town.
Archie Moore also dabbled with the Hollywood set. He's probably best remembered for playing the slave Jim in that movie Huckleberry Finn.Now I'm sure the militant Blacks like a Malcolm X might have thought of Archie Moore as an Uncle Tom,but he was nothing close to that perception. Although Archie Moore wasn't a Sidney Poitier on the movie screen,he was an individual who walked the way he wanted and didn't care about what others thought of his gait.He was as proud as one could be and I'm sure he was very comfortable when he looked at himself in the mirror.
Archie Moore was certain he also had the best recipe for cooking chicken on the planet. He gave a lot of thought about opening a restaurant in Southeast.On time at the MLK Festival at the park,Archie set up a stand grilling his birds and letting the locals get in on his dishes. Archie said it was "his" sauce that worked the magic.Of course he wouldn't share his sauce recipe with anyone.I helped myself plenty. No kidding,Archie Moore had the mojo for making chicken.
But the thing that everyone loved about him was that he saw a person one on one . I never heard him mention race as a determining factor. He never played the card that a lot of Blacks had up their sleeves. If there was anybody that could have sounded off, it was him. He was born in Mississippi,started out fighting in St. Louie,and was denied and ducked for decades by the White establishment boxing spin doctors.
I'll tell you this,he didn't like Muhammad Ali(when they fought he was Cassius Clay).Archie Moore didn't go for all that mouthy stuff. He didn't care if it was all an act.Archie Moore figured you didn't have to "act" to make a statement. I remember when Moore was in George Foreman's corner in Zaire. After the stunning upset,there was ol' Arch draping Foreman's robe over his big shoulders.
Archie ,more than any other African American, was cherished by the Mexican community.His politeness and respect won him over.When Olivares,who was at the top of his game,fought in the downtown bullring in Tijuana,it was Archie Moore who got the standing ovation when he was brought into the ring for the introduction. He was blowing kisses to the far reaches of the crowd. The aficianados loved him.There was a little bar off Revolution Street in TJ that was one of my watering holes. On the back wall hung four beautiful oil paintings of boxers. The old guy who owned the bar was a big fight fan.He had died and I ventured to get my hands on the artwork. I approached his wife but she wouldn't let them go.Sentimental reasons.I understood. But here is a list of those paintings:Kid Azteca,Raton Macias,Mantequillia Napoles,and yes,Archie Moore.Archie never fought in San Diego after beating Maxim,but he did dispose of Howard king in Tijuana in the late 50's.
Archie Moore stayed pretty much at home in San Diego.I remember he raised money for the legal defense of a local Latino fighter who got in trouble on a manslaughter beef. he visited the kids' wards at the hospitals.His son played football at the community college. You'd see Arch there sitting in the bleachers quietly supporting his son. He went through a string of wives and had a lot of kids.I'm sure he loved his wives,but having a bit of the rascal in him,quashed those relationships.None of his boys became fighters.He never pushed them in that direction.
With all that said,Archie Moore was certainly bigger than life in a world that he honed down to : the neighborhood he lived in. When he won the title,he had a big brick house built in Southeast San Diego. He put a swimming pool in the shape of a boxing glove in the back yard.Today,that house is a rendezvous for swingers. The neighborhood isn't what it once was for sure.The gangs and the drugs have drug things down. One day I wanted to visit the old house. Archie would put on block parties on that street.All the locals would attend;and yes there'd be plenty of his chicken to go around.It ain't like that no more.You can see the old place clearly from the freeway,but once you drive off the ramp, it's a little hard to find.As I was searching ,I finally had to ask for directions. I saw this cat all decked out in "blue" from head to toe with a "do rag" around his head.He was with this woman and he was pushing a baby stroller with a baby in it.
"Excuse me,can you tell me where Archie Moore's old house is?" I asked humbly.
"What the f--k you talking about?" he shouted back.
"You know.Archie Moore.The old fighter,"again wanting to be gracious.
The gangbanger gathered himself.He stopped to think a bit.His shoulders relaxed.
"Oh yeah.Go to the next corner and turn right.It's at the end."
The Crip had settled down. Maybe it was my query about Archie Moore. Maybe he knew something about the Mongoose. Perhaps some of the old timers had told him some of the stories. Anyway, he wasn't so angry.Archie Moore had that effect on people.
Archie Moore
