Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

Frank
That Bob's Big Boy reminds of a big rucuss across the border many years ago. There used to be a Bob's Big Boy in Tijuana. They had the statue with the kid holding the plate with the burger standing out front. Problem was it wasn't owned by Bob's Big Boy. The whole thing was counterfeit.

The Big Boy Corporation up here was crying foul of violating international copywrite laws. Eventually,nothing could be done about removing the Big Boy from TJ.Bringing a law suit down there was like trying to sue Cantinflas for stealing Charlie Chaplin's act. The thing that got me was everyone knew that it was a copy. The restaurant was near the old racetrack at the time when the big bet was the "5/10"(pick the winners race five through ten). The place did a pretty good business. Then they torched the old racetrack to get Johnny Alessio out of there and the Big Boy eventually closed its doors.

Don't eat the steak!!

Frank
Me and the wife tried a new spot today down the hill from us. I had a burger with fries. Maria had onion rings. I thought the food was terrific. Right now though my stomach is acting up. You say go figure. How can anything that tastes good wind up giving you a stomach ache? Go figure :(

[Rick Farris]

Is it me or does Margarito look sluggish and weak?

Yeah, an ass whipping does that to boxer. This is one time I'm very happy that I was wrong. Shane Mosely didn't just defeat Antonio Margarito, he broke the Mexican. There is no need for a rematch, Shane owns him, and you can expect that Margarito will never be the same. I'm glad Margarito was gilded by a 100% original Los Angeles prizefighter. I'm happy for Shane, Los Angeles boxing, and the new era of "Superior Seniors"! Brain over brawn, talent over bull strength. Now Shane has the title, a couple more big pay days remain, he's going thru a divorce, is still hounded over the Balco allegations, at least he has the title and a couple more big paydays.

-Rick Farris

I posted that comment right after the fourth round. Even before getting his ass kicked Margarito looked different. His timing was off and he looked weak. He underestimated Mosley, so did the rest of the world. I'm happy for Mosley as well. Now I want to see him do the same to Floyd Jr.

Randy

Randy, only idiot would under estimate Shane Mosely, so you are probably right. Antonio Margarito, not a great thinker. Watch him go by way of the Yori Boy Campos route. Just a guess?

-Rick

[kikibalt]

THE LITTLE RUSSIAN CHURCH

"Roger,that's old Russian. I can't read it,"said Ivan.
The Russian was a boxer in the Soviet Union when pro fighting was against the law. Now he was here on an over stayed visa trying to crack into the professional ranks.
"If the signatures are real I may have something really big",I said.
An old guy I knew said that many years ago he knew an ex soldier who smuggled artifacts out of East Germany that had once beloged to a Russian Cossack. It was old money,pictures ,and documents that dated back to Nicholas the last Czar of Russia. The coup of the collection was a photograph of the Royal Family with their signatures under each of their faces. The old guy was hurting for money so he let the collection go for a song. Now I wanted to cash in their value a sing my way to the bank.

"I know of a Russian Orthodox church in Normal Heights. The priest there can read old Russian."
"Ok Ivan. Take me there. There'll be something in it for you."
So early one Sunday morning me and Ivan ,the boxer from Russia, and the artifacts made our way to this Russian Orthodox church.

I'm glad Ivan knew where this church was because I never would have found it. Blocks off the boulevard buried deep into the little side steeets finally sitting at the end of a cul de sac. The neighborhood was old and run down. The people were from all over. Different kinds of Muslims,Latinos, and Africans. Little markets and thrift stores. Winos and crazy types walking the streets. Hookers. The lonely. Far from where they came from and never going back.

The church was tiny. Couldn't tell it was a church except for the obelisk on the roof.
"Roger,first we attend Mass. Then I talk to the priest."
Inside the church was a dark room where the altar was. Old pictures of saints and small frames of stained glass were on the sides of the wall. I remember everything seemed red. A red look to it. There were no pews or chairs. The church was very crowded. The priest and the altar boys came out from the back. There was a small choir. They started to sing in a manner I only know of as being like madrigals. The sound was deep and very beautifull. Mass lasted for more than two hours. Everone was standing up through it. My legs were killing me. After it was over me and Ivan went outside to the back yard where there was a dinner.

"Roger,this is Father Yuri. He can read what you have."
The priest was born with arms that looked like seal flippers. He couldn't hold anything. Someone was spoon feeding him while he read the documents.
"Please young man,"he said to me."Please eat."
It was the first time I ate borscht. The other stuff I couldn't tell you,but it wasn't too bad. Everyone seemed very happy.

Finally the priest finished reading. The person feeding him wiped his mouth.
"It is the last Czars. The signatures are of the Czar,his wife, and their children."
It turned out that the Rusian Cossack was a body guard of the family. The priest said that everthing was authentic. He didn't seem overwhelmed. It was all taken in stride.
"This picture,"he said. "Do you know what this is?"
"i don't know."
"It is a picture of the Royal Family after they were murdered covered in a sheet. It is documebted that a truck was pulled outside the window to illuminate the room to take the picture. You have the picture."

The priest asked if we wanted more to eat. I wasn't thinking about eating. My mind was swirling with what he had just told me.
"Young man,did you know Russians from all over Southern California come here for Mass every Sunday?"
"I didn't know that."
"It's a fact. There is always something worthwhile to be learned here."

Me and Ivan drove back to town.
"Ivan,if I had to go back to that church,I could never find it again."

Rog,

Your story about the Russians reminded me about how as a teenager I used go to to the Boyle Heights part of E.L.A and seeing all the Russians and Jewish people that used to live there, on Sundays you would see them on their way to their churchs, most are gone now to a better place....

[dagosd2000]

Bob's Big Boy



A new Bob's Big Boy was open in West Covina about a month ago,
today James asked Connie and I if we wanted to go try it, hey, I'm
always ready to eat, so I said yes, so did Connie, we get there about
3:00pm, Connie tells me, "you know this is going to be your dinner, I'm
not cooking tonight", I said ok, "I'll have a top sirloin steak", well never
again will I eat a steak at Bob's Big Boy, that steak was like an old piece
of dry leather, so now Connie is cooking tonight.... ;;-)

Btw, Connie and James had burgers, which they said were great...go figure

Hey Frank
Check out how Big Boy is looking at Connie? You took that shit?

[kikibalt]

Rog,

Big Bob is a moron.....

[dagosd2000]

THE LITTLE RUSSIAN CHURCH

"Roger,that's old Russian. I can't read it,"said Ivan.
The Russian was a boxer in the Soviet Union when pro fighting was against the law. Now he was here on an over stayed visa trying to crack into the professional ranks.
"If the signatures are real I may have something really big",I said.
An old guy I knew said that many years ago he knew an ex soldier who smuggled artifacts out of East Germany that had once beloged to a Russian Cossack. It was old money,pictures ,and documents that dated back to Nicholas the last Czar of Russia. The coup of the collection was a photograph of the Royal Family with their signatures under each of their faces. The old guy was hurting for money so he let the collection go for a song. Now I wanted to cash in their value a sing my way to the bank.

"I know of a Russian Orthodox church in Normal Heights. The priest there can read old Russian."
"Ok Ivan. Take me there. There'll be something in it for you."
So early one Sunday morning me and Ivan ,the boxer from Russia, and the artifacts made our way to this Russian Orthodox church.

I'm glad Ivan knew where this church was because I never would have found it. Blocks off the boulevard buried deep into the little side steeets finally sitting at the end of a cul de sac. The neighborhood was old and run down. The people were from all over. Different kinds of Muslims,Latinos, and Africans. Little markets and thrift stores. Winos and crazy types walking the streets. Hookers. The lonely. Far from where they came from and never going back.

The church was tiny. Couldn't tell it was a church except for the obelisk on the roof.
"Roger,first we attend Mass. Then I talk to the priest."
Inside the church was a dark room where the altar was. Old pictures of saints and small frames of stained glass were on the sides of the wall. I remember everything seemed red. A red look to it. There were no pews or chairs. The church was very crowded. The priest and the altar boys came out from the back. There was a small choir. They started to sing in a manner I only know of as being like madrigals. The sound was deep and very beautifull. Mass lasted for more than two hours. Everone was standing up through it. My legs were killing me. After it was over me and Ivan went outside to the back yard where there was a dinner.

"Roger,this is Father Yuri. He can read what you have."
The priest was born with arms that looked like seal flippers. He couldn't hold anything. Someone was spoon feeding him while he read the documents.
"Please young man,"he said to me."Please eat."
It was the first time I ate borscht. The other stuff I couldn't tell you,but it wasn't too bad. Everyone seemed very happy.

Finally the priest finished reading. The person feeding him wiped his mouth.
"It is the last Czars. The signatures are of the Czar,his wife, and their children."
It turned out that the Rusian Cossack was a body guard of the family. The priest said that everthing was authentic. He didn't seem overwhelmed. It was all taken in stride.
"This picture,"he said. "Do you know what this is?"
"i don't know."
"It is a picture of the Royal Family after they were murdered covered in a sheet. It is documebted that a truck was pulled outside the window to illuminate the room to take the picture. You have the picture."

The priest asked if we wanted more to eat. I wasn't thinking about eating. My mind was swirling with what he had just told me.
"Young man,did you know Russians from all over Southern California come here for Mass every Sunday?"
"I didn't know that."
"It's a fact. There is always something worthwhile to be learned here."

Me and Ivan drove back to town.
"Ivan,if I had to go back to that church,I could never find it again."

Rog,

Your story about the Russians reminded me about how as a teenager I used go to to the Boyle Heights part of E.L.A and seeing all the Russians and Jewish people that used to live there, on Sundays you would see them on their way to their churchs, most are gone now to a better place....

Frank
You're right. Everyone was old. Like they wanted to return to Czarist Russia. To see that church in that screwy neighborhood seemed out of place.

[dagosd2000]

Rog,

Big Bob is a moron.....

He sure has a big head.

[dagosd2000]

Rog,

Big Bob is a moron.....

He sure has a big head.

Hey Frank
This will crack you up. A big thing in TJ is for restaurant owners to come up to this side at night and steal the statues that are in front of the restaurants here, and then bring them back down to TJ and set them in front of their joints.

It's funny. You see these statues of cooks and waiters holding up 5 course dinners in front of a place that sells tacos.

[scartissue]

http://www.sportinglife.com/boxing/n...utteridge.html

Just heard Reg Gutteridge died. Never heard any of his commentary but I enjoyed his writing. Bennie, your thoughts?

Scartissue

From the CBZ

R.I.P - Reg Gutteridge

Gutteridge dies following illness

Legendary boxing commentator and journalist Reg Gutteridge
Gutteridge was a well-respected figure in the world of boxing

Legendary boxing commentator and journalist Reg Gutteridge has died after a short illness aged 84.

An amateur boxer as a youngster, he turned to journalism after losing a leg when he stepped on a mine in Normandy during the Second World War.

He worked for the Evening News, in London, as its boxing correspondent for 40 years but made his name as ITV's voice of boxing before moving to Sky.

Awarded an OBE in 1995, Gutteridge also covered six Olympic Games.

Gutteridge, who lived in Barnet, died on Saturday. He leaves a wife, daughter and four grandsons.

His daughter Sally said: "He was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather. He touched many lives."

In 2002 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe also paid tribute to Gutteridge, saying: "His distinctive voice, knowledge of the sport's greats, insights from decades reporting it and partnership with Jim Watt brought boxing to life for so many viewers.

"Just two weeks ago we mourned the death of the BBC's David Vine. With Reg's passing, we have lost another figure so familiar from our TV screens over so many years - a real broadcasting great."

(BBC Sport website).

I spoke to Reg on the phone a couple of times and met him at the IBHOF in 2002 - the year he was inducted. A lovely man who always had time for you (even if it was to talk football (soccer) and not boxing).

He also authored a number of books on boxing and was the nephew of the famous Gutteridge Twins who were respected trainers/cornermen in the UK many moons ago.

There is a famous story about Reg sitting at a function with Sonny Liston and Liston performed his party piece of breaking a thick, glass beer mug with his grip. Reg said "very good Sonny, but can you do this?" and rammed a fork into his leg. Liston's eyes almost popped out of his head (he didn't know Reg had a false leg).

R.I.P. Reg.

As a kid, I would read Reg Gutteridge for insight on what was going on in Great Britain. He was one of my favorites. May he rest in peace.

-Rick Farris

Rick, it's like the last of the big three British/Irish writers are now gone. Harry Mullan, Ron Olver and now Reg. Harry was always my favorite. He wrote and ran Boxing News with real class. After he left the helm due to his illness, Claude Abrams took over. I continued my subscription for a year after that and then ended it. It just wasn't the same. The spark was gone. I totally fell in love with a series Ron did called the Professionals. Man, he would go into such detail over a small clubfighter that was just trying to win an area title or who was fighting for the British title during the war. His passion was palpable. He wrote the way you do, Rick, with the feel of the arena engulfing you. And now Reg, who wrote with such a mixture of his own dialect you couldn't help but enjoy the piece. RIP guys.

Scartissue

[kikibalt]

THE LITTLE RUSSIAN CHURCH

"Roger,that's old Russian. I can't read it,"said Ivan.
The Russian was a boxer in the Soviet Union when pro fighting was against the law. Now he was here on an over stayed visa trying to crack into the professional ranks.
"If the signatures are real I may have something really big",I said.
An old guy I knew said that many years ago he knew an ex soldier who smuggled artifacts out of East Germany that had once beloged to a Russian Cossack. It was old money,pictures ,and documents that dated back to Nicholas the last Czar of Russia. The coup of the collection was a photograph of the Royal Family with their signatures under each of their faces. The old guy was hurting for money so he let the collection go for a song. Now I wanted to cash in their value a sing my way to the bank.

"I know of a Russian Orthodox church in Normal Heights. The priest there can read old Russian."
"Ok Ivan. Take me there. There'll be something in it for you."
So early one Sunday morning me and Ivan ,the boxer from Russia, and the artifacts made our way to this Russian Orthodox church.

I'm glad Ivan knew where this church was because I never would have found it. Blocks off the boulevard buried deep into the little side steeets finally sitting at the end of a cul de sac. The neighborhood was old and run down. The people were from all over. Different kinds of Muslims,Latinos, and Africans. Little markets and thrift stores. Winos and crazy types walking the streets. Hookers. The lonely. Far from where they came from and never going back.

The church was tiny. Couldn't tell it was a church except for the obelisk on the roof.
"Roger,first we attend Mass. Then I talk to the priest."
Inside the church was a dark room where the altar was. Old pictures of saints and small frames of stained glass were on the sides of the wall. I remember everything seemed red. A red look to it. There were no pews or chairs. The church was very crowded. The priest and the altar boys came out from the back. There was a small choir. They started to sing in a manner I only know of as being like madrigals. The sound was deep and very beautifull. Mass lasted for more than two hours. Everone was standing up through it. My legs were killing me. After it was over me and Ivan went outside to the back yard where there was a dinner.

"Roger,this is Father Yuri. He can read what you have."
The priest was born with arms that looked like seal flippers. He couldn't hold anything. Someone was spoon feeding him while he read the documents.
"Please young man,"he said to me."Please eat."
It was the first time I ate borscht. The other stuff I couldn't tell you,but it wasn't too bad. Everyone seemed very happy.

Finally the priest finished reading. The person feeding him wiped his mouth.
"It is the last Czars. The signatures are of the Czar,his wife, and their children."
It turned out that the Rusian Cossack was a body guard of the family. The priest said that everthing was authentic. He didn't seem overwhelmed. It was all taken in stride.
"This picture,"he said. "Do you know what this is?"
"i don't know."
"It is a picture of the Royal Family after they were murdered covered in a sheet. It is documebted that a truck was pulled outside the window to illuminate the room to take the picture. You have the picture."

The priest asked if we wanted more to eat. I wasn't thinking about eating. My mind was swirling with what he had just told me.
"Young man,did you know Russians from all over Southern California come here for Mass every Sunday?"
"I didn't know that."
"It's a fact. There is always something worthwhile to be learned here."

Me and Ivan drove back to town.
"Ivan,if I had to go back to that church,I could never find it again."

Rog,

Your story about the Russians reminded me about how as a teenager I used go to to the Boyle Heights part of E.L.A and seeing all the Russians and Jewish people that used to live there, on Sundays you would see them on their way to their churchs, most are gone now to a better place....

Frank
You're right. Everyone was old. Like they wanted to return to Czarist Russia. To see that church in that screwy neighborhood seemed out of place.

Rog, a Uraine wedding




Orthodox Russians

[dagosd2000]

Frank
I guess this is kind of related. I remember as a kid I thought all Russian dames looked potato sacks pushing an ox team. Something like Kruschev's wife. Now all these super models with these names that have 15 letters have these drop dead looks. Go figure.

[dagosd2000]

Frank
I just figured it out. When there was Communism we always thought the Russians were hiding military stuff from us. Now I can tell they were hiding their super models. Selfish bastards.

[kikibalt]

Frank
I guess this is kind of related. I remember as a kid I thought all Russian dames looked potato sacks pushing an ox team. Something like Kruschev's wife. Now all these super models with these names that have 15 letters have these drop dead looks. Go figure.

Rog,

You can send for a Russian woman if you want one.... ....maybe for a house keeper?....

[dagosd2000]

Orthodox Russians[/quote]

I don't see any super models in that picture.

[dagosd2000]

Frank
I guess this is kind of related. I remember as a kid I thought all Russian dames looked potato sacks pushing an ox team. Something like Kruschev's wife. Now all these super models with these names that have 15 letters have these drop dead looks. Go figure.

Rog,

You can send for a Russian woman if you want one.... ....maybe for a house keeper?....

Only if she looks like a super model and can make menudo con pata and linguini with clam sauce.

[kikibalt]

Orthodox Russians

I don't see any super models in that picture.

You have to look deep....

[kikibalt]

Frank
I guess this is kind of related. I remember as a kid I thought all Russian dames looked potato sacks pushing an ox team. Something like Kruschev's wife. Now all these super models with these names that have 15 letters have these drop dead looks. Go figure.

Rog,

You can send for a Russian woman if you want one.... ....maybe for a house keeper?....

Only if she looks like a super model and can make menudo con pata and linguini with clam sauce.

No Russian is going to make menudo con pata like a Mexican, I don't know about that wop stuff...

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYPTlxruNB8

Russian Models

No potato sacks here. More like celery sticks

[dagosd2000]

Only if she looks like a super model and can make menudo con pata and linguini with clam sauce. [/quote]

No Russian is going to make menudo con pata like a Mexican, I don't know about that wop stuff... [/quote]

I've never tried linguini with borscht(beets)

[kikibalt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYPTlxruNB8

Russian Models

No potato sacks here. More like celery sticks

I need a house keeper.....

[dagosd2000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYPTlxruNB8

Russian Models

No potato sacks here. More like celery sticks

I need a house keeper.....

What you do is bring one of them over and put them up somewhere and then go over and play "house"

[kikibalt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYPTlxruNB8

Russian Models

No potato sacks here. More like celery sticks

I need a house keeper.....

What you do is bring one of them over and put them up somewhere and then go over and play "house"

Play "House"? been there, done that.....

[Randyman]

It turns out that 5' 6" Danny Bonaduce did better than anyone thought he would against 6' 4' Jose Conseco, or maybe Jose Conseco is actually even worse than everyone initially thought. Either way they fought to a draw on Saturday night in their celebrity boxing match. Go here for the story:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8 ... duce+fight

Randy

[Randyman]

My late buddy John Martinez had this done, its a 1988 calendar

Frank, What a great piece of boxing pictorial history, L.A. style!

[Randyman]

Bob's Big Boy



A new Bob's Big Boy was open in West Covina about a month ago,
today James asked Connie and I if we wanted to go try it, hey, I'm
always ready to eat, so I said yes, so did Connie, we get there about
3:00pm, Connie tells me, "you know this is going to be your dinner, I'm
not cooking tonight", I said ok, "I'll have a top sirloin steak", well never
again will I eat a steak at Bob's Big Boy, that steak was like an old piece
of dry leather, so now Connie is cooking tonight.... ;;-)

Btw, Connie and James had burgers, which they said were great...go figure

Frank, I found this old Bob Big Boy's menu years ago while cleaning out my father's garage. From the late 50's or very early 60's. Maybe the steaks was better back then. I had a steak at Norm's once, it was mealy and tasteless, ditto for Denny's.

Pico Rivera has the distinction of having two of the best steakhouses in the Los Angeles area. both the Steak and Stein and the Del Rae were voted by the Los Angeles Times few years back as two of the top five Steakhouses in Los Angeles. Del Rae refuses to serve a steak knife with their steaks. They claim the meat is so tender all you need is a butter knife.





Randy