BoxRec

dagosd2000 wrote:

raylawpc wrote:Starbucks: crappy coffee ; great pastries. We have several Starbucks at the St. Louis airport. I always buy a couple of croussants to snack on the plane. I drink the airline's coffee (leaded and black). TWA had great coffee. I miss TWA - St. Louis was a TWA hub, so I never had connecting flights back in the days when I flew weekly. TWA also had great in-flight breakfasts. I tried to schedule my flights in the morning so I could eat the breakfast. The rest of the meals? Well, not as good as the coffee or breakfasts.

Tom
I usually don't argue with you. Let you have the last word.But Starbucks has crappy coffee AND crappy pastries. Come on dude,you've been to Europe enough to know that. Who'd buy pastries at a Starbucks in Munich,but a tourist?

Randyman wrote:Special From Jon Bardelli

Why, Arturo?

Life is not as it always seems and rarely is it rewarding. As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap.

Stated another way, the transforming laws of physics, as described by Newton, apply to the unfolding of human drama be it good, bad, or indifferent, in the same manner that those laws govern all motion in the Universe.

In the same respect that the immutable laws of physics apply across the board, equally, in non-discriminatory fashion, within and upon the life of every man, woman and child, those same laws of physics play themselves out in a morality play converting Newtonian laws of motion into human masks of sorrow, jealously, self pity, regret, guilt, remorse, as life weaves itself day in, day out, into a coat of varying colors and shades of meaning.

If one drinks to excess, the intangible messing with the human physiology, eventually takes its tolls in ways not known but in a predictable and steady fashion, as an ocean tide.

If one is unfaithful in a relationship, a ticking time bomb will explode…it’s only a matter of time.

If one is abusive of a loved one and oblivious to the needs of a family… the human emotion of guilt will raise its head and provide a response that the vast majority will never see evolving for they do not want to be exposed to an unfolding of the future of their own destiny. It is easier to enable and to put one’s head in the sand.

Add to the equation, the physiological damage to one’s brain from having entered that squared circle, where only Angels should dare to tread, and combine that act with the inevitable sheering of neurons taking place, therein, coupled with the sucking up of the compelling adulation, the bravado, and the cheering of the mob… all the while the forces of self-denial setting in which thereby induce the recipient to erroneously conclude that those punches are incapable of taking their toll---denial to the point of no return… and you have on your hands the making of a Shakespearean tragedy engulfing and consuming all who come within the circle of enabling denial.

History provides its answers in a manner we don’t like to reflect upon and, indeed, shun in examining in detail the closing chapters which are there for examination and reading. It is so transparent--- and so readily available for all to witness were we to look at only a dew of the once glimmering and now imploded stars of the Universe:

Grimm, Nelson, McCoy, Papke, Fontaine, LaMotta, Arguello, Robinson, Charles, Louis, Pep, Machen, Foley, Turpin, Mills, Chacon, Lopez, Quarry, Norton, Ali, thousands more and, … dare we say, … Gatti.

Ah Gatti… one can only wonder what demons grabbed you in your moment of extreme remorse--- a remorse for conduct transformed into guilt and shame… and a crying out for help… setting into motion conditions which took you down the road to an oblivion… where it was not bad enough to have not only assaulted the one you professed an undying love for on the night that you were about to forsake the world--- much in the same fashion Judas did when the enormity of his own transgressions sunk in and transformed Iscariot, a disciple no less, over the enormity of his own guilt and lead him to his own self inflicted strangulation,… but, indeed a state of mind which would allow you to engage in a contemptible act without foresight that your own death, taken by your own hand, would bring even more contempt and ridicule upon the same Amanda Rodrigues you professed to love and, thereafter, forever render her an obstacle of scorn and hatred by those whose lives mimic your own---wasting their allotted hours in debauchery until their souls can take no more, rendering as yourself, a plaintiff cry---”Enough” And the die is cast---the end is here-- and oh, what a tangled web we weave.

kikibalt wrote:

Randyman wrote:Special From Jon Bardelli

Why, Arturo?

Life is not as it always seems and rarely is it rewarding. As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap.

Stated another way, the transforming laws of physics, as described by Newton, apply to the unfolding of human drama be it good, bad, or indifferent, in the same manner that those laws govern all motion in the Universe.

In the same respect that the immutable laws of physics apply across the board, equally, in non-discriminatory fashion, within and upon the life of every man, woman and child, those same laws of physics play themselves out in a morality play converting Newtonian laws of motion into human masks of sorrow, jealously, self pity, regret, guilt, remorse, as life weaves itself day in, day out, into a coat of varying colors and shades of meaning.

If one drinks to excess, the intangible messing with the human physiology, eventually takes its tolls in ways not known but in a predictable and steady fashion, as an ocean tide.

If one is unfaithful in a relationship, a ticking time bomb will explode…it’s only a matter of time.

If one is abusive of a loved one and oblivious to the needs of a family… the human emotion of guilt will raise its head and provide a response that the vast majority will never see evolving for they do not want to be exposed to an unfolding of the future of their own destiny. It is easier to enable and to put one’s head in the sand.

Add to the equation, the physiological damage to one’s brain from having entered that squared circle, where only Angels should dare to tread, and combine that act with the inevitable sheering of neurons taking place, therein, coupled with the sucking up of the compelling adulation, the bravado, and the cheering of the mob… all the while the forces of self-denial setting in which thereby induce the recipient to erroneously conclude that those punches are incapable of taking their toll---denial to the point of no return… and you have on your hands the making of a Shakespearean tragedy engulfing and consuming all who come within the circle of enabling denial.

History provides its answers in a manner we don’t like to reflect upon and, indeed, shun in examining in detail the closing chapters which are there for examination and reading. It is so transparent--- and so readily available for all to witness were we to look at only a dew of the once glimmering and now imploded stars of the Universe:

Grimm, Nelson, McCoy, Papke, Fontaine, LaMotta, Arguello, Robinson, Charles, Louis, Pep, Machen, Foley, Turpin, Mills, Chacon, Lopez, Quarry, Norton, Ali, thousands more and, … dare we say, … Gatti.

Ah Gatti… one can only wonder what demons grabbed you in your moment of extreme remorse--- a remorse for conduct transformed into guilt and shame… and a crying out for help… setting into motion conditions which took you down the road to an oblivion… where it was not bad enough to have not only assaulted the one you professed an undying love for on the night that you were about to forsake the world--- much in the same fashion Judas did when the enormity of his own transgressions sunk in and transformed Iscariot, a disciple no less, over the enormity of his own guilt and lead him to his own self inflicted strangulation,… but, indeed a state of mind which would allow you to engage in a contemptible act without foresight that your own death, taken by your own hand, would bring even more contempt and ridicule upon the same Amanda Rodrigues you professed to love and, thereafter, forever render her an obstacle of scorn and hatred by those whose lives mimic your own---wasting their allotted hours in debauchery until their souls can take no more, rendering as yourself, a plaintiff cry---”Enough” And the die is cast---the end is here-- and oh, what a tangled web we weave.

This slould be posted in every gym in the land, next to boxing pictures/posters.

Thank you Jon for that great Classic American West Coast Boxing piece.

raylawpc wrote:

dagosd2000 wrote:

raylawpc wrote:Starbucks: crappy coffee ; great pastries. We have several Starbucks at the St. Louis airport. I always buy a couple of croussants to snack on the plane. I drink the airline's coffee (leaded and black). TWA had great coffee. I miss TWA - St. Louis was a TWA hub, so I never had connecting flights back in the days when I flew weekly. TWA also had great in-flight breakfasts. I tried to schedule my flights in the morning so I could eat the breakfast. The rest of the meals? Well, not as good as the coffee or breakfasts.

Tom
I usually don't argue with you. Let you have the last word.But Starbucks has crappy coffee AND crappy pastries. Come on dude,you've been to Europe enough to know that. Who'd buy pastries at a Starbucks in Munich,but a tourist?

I like Starbucks croussants; I eat them on the plane. They taste good to me, and I enjoy munching on them when flying. But I didn't (and wouldn't) buy pastries at a Starbucks anywhere in Europe.

I probably should not have called the pastries great - but I do think they are good.

P.S. - feel free to argue with me all you want. You don't have to let me have the last word. Arguing is what I do for a living.

Rick Farris wrote:

raylawpc wrote:

raylawpc wrote:Starbucks: crappy coffee ; great pastries. We have several Starbucks at the St. Louis airport. I always buy a couple of croussants to snack on the plane. I drink the airline's coffee (leaded and black). TWA had great coffee. I miss TWA - St. Louis was a TWA hub, so I never had connecting flights back in the days when I flew weekly. TWA also had great in-flight breakfasts. I tried to schedule my flights in the morning so I could eat the breakfast. The rest of the meals? Well, not as good as the coffee or breakfasts.

Tom
I usually don't argue with you. Let you have the last word.But Starbucks has crappy coffee AND crappy pastries. Come on dude,you've been to Europe enough to know that. Who'd buy pastries at a Starbucks in Munich,but a tourist?

I like Starbucks croussants; I eat them on the plane. They taste good to me, and I enjoy munching on them when flying. But I didn't (and wouldn't) buy pastries at a Starbucks anywhere in Europe.

I probably should not have called the pastries great - but I do think they are good.

P.S. - feel free to argue with me all you want. You don't have to let me have the last word. Arguing is what I do for a living.

Arguing is just a hobby for me

-Rick

kikibalt wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

Look at the two in the top photo, the guys standing behind in the coat & ties.
Talk about a double chin? These guys have more chins than a Chinatown phone book.


-Rick Farris

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

Look at the two in the top photo, the guys standing behind in the coat & ties.
Talk about a double chin? These guys have more chins than a Chinatown phone book.


-Rick Farris

kikibalt wrote:

Alexis Argeullo & Sugar Ray Robinson
Circa 1974

kikibalt wrote:Don't remember if this fight has been posted before

Joe Frazier vs Jerry Quarry II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REZDe9uRPMQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwfutdbGub0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0-kd_EHi-w

dagosd2000 wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

Alexis Argeullo & Sugar Ray Robinson
Circa 1974

What a picture after what has just happened. I know in my heart I forgive Alexis. And Sugar Ray's story? Well,I forgive him too. They made so so many people happy. RIP fellas'.

raylawpc wrote:Starbucks: crappy coffee ; great pastries. We have several Starbucks at the St. Louis airport. I always buy a couple of croussants to snack on the plane. I drink the airline's coffee (leaded and black). TWA had great coffee. I miss TWA - St. Louis was a TWA hub, so I never had connecting flights back in the days when I flew weekly. TWA also had great in-flight breakfasts. I tried to schedule my flights in the morning so I could eat the breakfast. The rest of the meals? Well, not as good as the coffee or breakfasts.

Expug wrote:Great memories Rick.
I think that those moments captured in memory at the gym are as great as some of the moments captured in some of the fights.
I like the whole experience in boxing. Its what makes it the unique and best sport of all.
Like I said before though, once you have experienced these great memories , its hard to find them elsewhere.
I have a tendency to get bored by what I percieve to be the mundane .
After being around the fights and fighters, who cares about hitting a ball into a hole with a club? Who cares about throwing a ball into a hoop. These can be fun activities, but they dont measure up.A guy asked me recently if I was interested in playing in the parish basketball league. I just looked at him kinda strange I guess. Not on purpose, hes good people. Then he just said ,"maybe not".

Rick Farris wrote:

dagosd2000 wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

Alexis Argeullo & Sugar Ray Robinson
Circa 1974

What a picture after what has just happened. I know in my heart I forgive Alexis. And Sugar Ray's story? Well,I forgive him too. They made so so many people happy. RIP fellas'.

Great photo of two all-time greats!

Those of us who were training at the Main Street Gym in the late 60's and early 70's, would see the great Robinson almost daily,
The "real" Sugar Ray continued to train long after his career ended in 1965.
To keep his weight down, he'd wear a plastic suit like the one you see in the photo.
Ray didn't just skip rope and hit bags, he'd jump into the ring and spar with the best of the day.

I remember him doing his magic when banging it out with #1 welter, Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez one afternoon.
Of course, Ernie was a rough customer and put the pressure on, however, the slick Sugar Ray would slip, roll, pick-off and counter.
Ernie would keep pressing on, you could see him working hard, but Sugar was just cool and in control. He'd done this before.

If I could just step back into the Main Street Gym on any given saturday morning between the mid-60's-to-70's.
If that were possible, I'd see more world class action and talent throwing leather in those two rings than I will ever see again.
Randy, Frank and the rest of you who've been there know what I am saying is true.

I can visualize Rip Roseboro and Duke Holloway sitting on the bleachers, Howie behind his desk barking at someone on the phone, Memo Soto pushing a shopping cart full of equipment out from his dressing room, Gil Cadilli helping a boxer tie his gloves, Tony Marino stepping out from his room in the back holding a headgear he'd just made for a fighter, I see a smiling manager Luis Celeya (who Johnny Flores nicknamed "The King of the Mexicans), Bill Slayton putting vaseline on the face of Ken Norton, Ralph Gambina holding court in the corner, I can see Felipe Torres bouncing around the ring, working lightly with an amateur in the ring as he warmed up . . .
Just too many memories.


-Rick Farris