BoxRec

kikibalt wrote:
Guessing game, who is this girl?

Connie?

raylawpc wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Guessing game, who is this girl?

Connie?

Yes!...

dagosd2000 wrote:

Jack Dempsey

Great painting, Rog, like aways....

dagosd2000 wrote:

Jack Dempsey

Great

Randyman wrote:Jeri and I are off to see Slumdog Milliomaire. It's supposed to be good. we'll find out.

later!
Randy

Randy, I hope you like it too.
It's one of the best I've seen in a very long time.
Previously unknown talent, low budget, gritty photograpy . . . brilliant script, exceptional young cast.
It earned it's Oscars, in my opinion.

-Rick

THE HOOK

Watching the great fighters train can be an uneven experience. Ali wasn't nothing to look at in training camp. I saw Julio Cesar Chavez train in TJ. So so. Then there was Jose Napoles. I was 21 years old and knew he was in town to fight a journeyman fighter by the name of Herbie Lee.

There used to be a gym inbetween the 8 Street Jail and the Fire Station. The gym was upstairs. I got the word that Mantequilla was going to work out there. The place filled up fast with aficianados to watch him go through his routine. The Mexicans really liked to watch Jose Napoles whether it was in a real fight or just practicing for the real fight.

I squirmed my way through to see the great Cuban fighter put on his show. Kid Rapidez was with him that day. The two of them reminded me of Rembrandt and DaVinci in the studio. In total command. All eyes on them.

Napoles looked like a big Tom Cat. High cheekbones ,slit eyes,kinky hair,and the big "bigote". He moved like a cat. His presence was like a lion. He'd shuffle around inside the ring shadow boxing dipping and sidling with that little jerky motion his cat eyes ahead. The eyes piercing through everthing in view. He never said a word. Kid Rapidez would be jabbering away at him,but Jose was impassive. Never changing expression. When time was called he walked to the corner and broke out in a great smile. He was a happy man. Serious when working,but aside from the work he liked to play. Have fun. The Carribean came through then.

A couple of Jose's sparring partners were warming up in the ring with them. They looked awkward around him. One of them put on the head gear. Napoles was being toweled off by Kid Rapidez. I was close enough to try to hear what he was saying to his fighter. I caught the word "gancho" meaning hook.

When the action started to begin the session,Napoles did his little knee flex and shuffled out to the center. He wasn't wearing any head protection. The cat eyes were piercing his sparring partner examining. I could tell Jose saw everything instantly.There really wasn't much to figure out. His sparring partner was cautious. Wanting to get near,but wondering what was going to happen. The sparring partner offered a jab and dropped his right hand .Jose slipped his head to the side and with a cat's swipe threw his left hook hitting the sparring partner on the side of the jaw. The sparring partner stumbled back and landed on the seat of his pants. I was satisfied. That's all I needed to see. The crowd filled gym let out a shout. The man they often refered to as "maestro",the teacher, had just delivered a lesson.

In the gym. In the ring. As Jose Napoles once said,"I always wanted to give the fans their money's worth."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF4MMDx9oGE

Cal Tjader

Black Orchid

dagosd2000 wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF4MMDx9oGE

Cal Tjader

Black Orchid

I saw Cal Tjader perform live, in 1974. A small Jazz club in San Franciso.
Can't believe 35 years have passed.

-Rick

Randy!

Randy...Did you ever go to "Happy Jack's"? to fish and drink beer.. , it was just before you enter Azusa Canyon.

Don Jordan vs Denny Moyer

Frank,Rick
Thanks for the compliments on the Manassa Mauler. I'm starting to go back and paint over some of my lesser efforts. Like anything else you go through some peaks and valleys so I'm painting over some of the ones I don't think are worthy. Besides canvases are getting expensive like everything else. Rog

kikibalt wrote:

I wondered if you had a second occupation aside from your boxing endevors Frank, how long were you in business; did you enjoy it or was it just a means to pay the bills? I have always been interested in what people do for a living, you can tell a lot about a person, I think. I'm a construction superintendent, a carpenter by trade but I haven't worked with the tools 22 years and there are days I really wish I hadn't changed, but for the most part I enjoy my job and like working on a project with the guys and turning over a good product.
Bruce

Bobbin & Weavin wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

I wondered if you had a second occupation aside from your boxing endevors Frank, how long were you in business; did you enjoy it or was it just a means to pay the bills? I have always been interested in what people do for a living, you can tell a lot about a person, I think. I'm a construction superintendent, a carpenter by trade but I haven't worked with the tools 22 years and there are days I really wish I hadn't changed, but for the most part I enjoy my job and like working on a project with the guys and turning over a good product.
Bruce

Bruce, this one shop I had from the early 1970s and sold it in 1987, I was spenting too much time in boxing by the 1980s that I didn't have time to run the shop and even though I had a shop manager there is nothing like you been there to keep and eye on things, I do have to say that my shop mananger was honest.
Did I like it? guess I did, except when I had to do pay roll....

I spent lots of time wining and dining the insurance people to get work, I was becoming a drunk, just kidding on becoming a drunk, but man, them insurance people can drink....

kikibalt wrote:Randy!

Frank, those photos are making my heart ache for the outdoors and fishing.

There's nothing like it Frank. Getting up in the early morning. It's still cold, the sun hasn't quite come out all the way. You get your pole and tackle and head over to the water. The roar of the river thrills you the same way that the roar of the crowd does in a fight. It excites you. It whets your appetite. There's a smile on your face and a bigger one in your heart. If you're lucky and you have someone near to you that loves fishing, a friend, a son or a wife perhaps, then it's that much better. Fishing is meant to be shared.

You look over at your companion and share glances and began to talk, quietly of course, of your hope of catching a big one. Suddenly, expected and yet unexpected, that electricity that goes from the fish, to your pole and then to your hand, ends the conversation and the battle begins.

This is why you drove hundreds, a thousand miles maybe. You begin to reel him in. The drag is set and you let him run a little, as he tires you reel him in a little more, but this one is a fighter and he jumps out of the water and you get your first look at him. now your heart is pounding. You don't want to make too much of a big deal, but still, you pray and say to God "Please don't let me lose him". You know God has better things to do, but you have to ask anyway.

Suddenly just like that he's in your net. You brought him in. You stare at him and you can't believe your good luck. As you tell the story years later, of course, for some reason the fish continues to grow in size, but right now all that matters is you caught what has to be the biggest fish of the day. The equivalent of a knockout in the world of fishing.

The smell of coffee and breakfast being cooked by your wife over at the camp, suddenly hits your nose and the day is made all the better. You can put the pole down now. you'll be back after breakfast. On the table are the home fries, crisp bacon, eggs and toast and perhaps some tortillas, all cooked to perfection in the outdoor air.

That my friend is living. That is a vacation.

dagosd2000 wrote:

Jack Dempsey

Rog, you do my boyhood idol justice. A fine painting. They should all be hanging in a exhibit somewhere. More than anything, you capture the essence

Randy

kikibalt wrote:

Frank, I like that you show your loyalty to boxing on the card.

Randy

kikibalt wrote:

Don Jordan vs Denny Moyer

Don Jordan was a long time employee of McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach. I think he retired just about the time I was hired. I never had the opportunity to meet him.

Randy

kikibalt wrote:Randy...Did you ever go to "Happy Jack's"? to fish and drink beer.. , it was just before you enter Azusa Canyon.

Happy Jacks, on the left side of the road as you entered the canyon. I remember it well but I never did stop there. Now I'm sorry that I didn't.

Randy

Randyman wrote:

kikibalt wrote:Randy...Did you ever go to "Happy Jack's"? to fish and drink beer.. , it was just before you enter Azusa Canyon.

Happy Jacks, on the left side of the road as you entered the canyon. I remember it well but I never did stop there. Now I'm sorry that I didn't.

Randy

It was a fun place to go, they had 3 ponds for the kids to fish, while the kids fish you drink beer, after the kids caught some fish you go pay, then you go, WTF! 60-80 dollars... , you see they charge by the pound....

Randyman wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

Frank, I like that you show your loyalty to boxing on the card.

Randy

Yeah! the card, just had to do it, The shop became a hang out for the Pomona fighters, Superfly, Davila, et al.

Randyman wrote:

kikibalt wrote:Randy!

Frank, those photos are making my heart ache for the outdoors and fishing.

There's nothing like it Frank. Getting up in the early morning. It's still cold, the sun hasn't quite come out all the way. You get your pole and tackle and head over to the water. The roar of the river thrills you the same way that the roar of the crowd does in a fight. It excites you. It whets your appetite. There's a smile on your face and a bigger one in your heart. If you're lucky and you have someone near to you that loves fishing, a friend, a son or a wife perhaps, then it's that much better. Fishing is meant to be shared.

You look over at your companion and share glances and began to talk, quietly of course, of your hope of catching a big one. Suddenly, expected and yet unexpected, that electricity that goes from the fish, to your pole and then to your hand, ends the conversation and the battle begins.

This is why you drove hundreds, a thousand miles maybe. You begin to reel him in. The drag is set and you let him run a little, as he tires you reel him in a little more, but this one is a fighter and he jumps out of the water and you get your first look at him. now your heart is pounding. You don't want to make too much of a big deal, but still, you pray and say to God "Please don't let me lose him". You know God has better things to do, but you have to ask anyway.

Suddenly just like that he's in your net. You brought him in. You stare at him and you can't believe your good luck. As you tell the story years later, of course, for some reason the fish continues to grow in size, but right now all that matters is you caught what has to be the biggest fish of the day. The equivalent of a knockout in the world of fishing.

The smell of coffee and breakfast being cooked by your wife over at the camp, suddenly hits your nose and the day is made all the better. You can put the pole down now. you'll be back after breakfast. On the table are the home fries, crisp bacon, eggs and toast and perhaps some tortillas, all cooked to perfection in the outdoor air.

That my friend is living. That is a vacation.

Randy, beautiful written, I have to say that we some gifted writers on the thread, I can't write like you guys but, I can read you.


Here I am in the cabin we rent.

One last look at the Baby Face Assassin
March 13, 2009 by Edgar Gonzalez


Mexico’s Marco Antonio Barrera, right, stands alongside Britain’s Amir Khan after the weigh-in for their WBA International Lightweight Championship match in Manchester, England.

Barrera, who has held world titles at three different weights, fights Khan in a lightweight bout on Saturday afternoon in what is a familiar storyline that has been repeated ad nauseam in the business, Barrera is the storied old pro being brought in to face a young star looking to add another notch on his belt in front of an adoring crowd - the lion in winter being used as a sacrificial lamb.

I will be honest, I was never a Barrera fan. I have noting against him, but I’m an Erik Morales fan. Looking at Barrera’s last fights I honestly think his going to have a difficult time against the younger lion, Barrera is well past his prime and I hope he can prove me wrong.

Randyman wrote:

dagosd2000 wrote:

Jack Dempsey

Rog, you do my boyhood idol justice. A fine painting. They should all be hanging in a exhibit somewhere. More than anything, you capture the essence

Randy

I've already commented on this and other examples of Roger's work. I agree on the exhibit part, Randy. I was raised by a grandfather that loved Dempsey, and everything I learned about the man proved to be true. This is a man who truly was bigger than life and his essence comes thru in Roger's image. Randy, you mentioned that you have a disc of Roger's work. Could I trouble you too copy it for me? I would like to slip it into my lap top and then show it our WBHOF board members at our next meeting in April. We had a meeting today, however, other issues had to be dealt with and as we know, a picture can be better than a thousand words. I'm attempting to sell a concept relating to Roger's art, one that would hopefully benefit everybody involved. We'll see what happens.

-Rick