BoxRec

Rick Farris wrote:

Randyman wrote:

Rick Farris wrote: Randy . . . When I was a kid we had a dog named pepper. I was maybe ten-yrs-old when we got her from the pound.
I was in my 20's when I stopped by my parents house a couple days before my last pro fight.
Pepper was an old dog, my mother had remarried and her husband had this huge German Sheppard.
Pepper was a small dog, had some beagle in her.
The german sheppard protected this little dog like it was his mother.
The sheppard would stand between pepper and any human that tried to touch her, including me.
I brought pepper inside and sat with the dog for a few minutes. She climbed in my lap and I petted her.
A few days later I fought and lost, then stopped by my mom's place.
She told me that the day before Lad (the sheppard) and pepper had gotten out and were caught by the dog catcher (just like Frank's "Charley")
They bailed the two dogs out and it was said that the sheppard was so protective of Pepper, that it took four dog catchers to corral the two dogs.
A few weeks later, the two got out again and were never seen again. Pepper would have been pushing 100 in dog years.
She was a great dog, but I pity the person who tried to seperate her from Lad, that was one mean german sheppard when it came to protecting Pepper.


-Rick Farris

A Tale of Two Peppers

Rick, we had two Peppers at two different times. The first Pepper was given to Jeri by my mother in 1975 or 1976. In 1978 she was taken by the Dog Pound and lost by the driver (it's a long story). Jeri took it real hard. That dog had prevented a burglary in 1977 at her apartment.

In 1981 I was watching my brother's dog while he and my mother were out of town. The dog got loose and I had to go to the pound to pick him up. After I had found the dog and was getting ready to leave, I heard another dog barking. Actually there were hundreds of dogs barking but I could sense that this bark was calling out to me. I followed the barking to the other side of the kennel and I saw a small white and black dog jumping up and down. I said "Pepper?" She was ecstatic. I could see that the markings were a little different and this dog was slightly larger but it was the dog's character that seemed so much like Pepper. I said out loud "I don't know if you're Pepper or not but you're coming with me." When I got home I parked in the street and the dog ran straight for my front porch. Jeri and the kids came running out screaming "Pepper". I tried to tell them it wasn't Pepper but I never could make anyone believe me. We had the second Pepper until her death in 1992.

Pepper # 1


Pepper # 2

Randy, the 2nd "Pepper" on the bottom looks just like ours except the coat was shorter on our pepper. Same coloring.
Great story, by the way.

Rick Farris wrote:My friend Karl . . .

Karl was not only my father-in-law, he was one of my best friends.
Karl passed in 1995, he was 76.

He was at all of my fights, he'd often ride downtown with me when I'd weigh-in.
In the late 40's, he was buddies with former light-heavy, Fitzie Fitzpatrick.
His daughter was sixteen when I turned pro, and we have been friends thruout our lives, although no longer a couple.

I often think of Karl, and how much fun he was. Her was also very smart & successful. He taught me a lot.
One day, we were driving past an elementary school in Monterey Park.
Karl told me how much he hated school when he was a kid, and how he was always in trouble.
He began to laugh at how much trouble he got in for a poem he recited in his third grade class.
He said the assignment was to find a poem and read it in class.
Karl said he got his poem from his drunken uncle John (not Pug's "Uncle John").

Here is the poem: "Charlotte"

"Charlotte the harlot, queen of the whores . . .
pride of the eastside, all covered in sores."

The third grade teacher was not amused . Another trip to the principals office.


-Rick Farris

kikibalt wrote: Was Pepper #1 drinking a Bud?.....

Rick Farris wrote:My friend Karl . . .

Karl was not only my father-in-law, he was one of my best friends.
Karl passed in 1995, he was 76.

He was at all of my fights, he'd often ride downtown with me when I'd weigh-in.
In the late 40's, he was buddies with former light-heavy, Fitzie Fitzpatrick.
His daughter was sixteen when I turned pro, and we have been friends thruout our lives, although no longer a couple.

I often think of Karl, and how much fun he was. Her was also very smart & successful. He taught me a lot.
One day, we were driving past an elementary school in Monterey Park.
Karl told me how much he hated school when he was a kid, and how he was always in trouble.
He began to laugh at how much trouble he got in for a poem he recited in his third grade class.
He said the assignment was to find a poem and read it in class.
Karl said he got his poem from his drunken uncle John (not Pug's "Uncle John").

Here is the poem: "Charlotte"

"Charlotte the harlot, queen of the whores . . .
pride of the eastside, all covered in sores."

The third grade teacher was not amused . Another trip to the principals office.


-Rick Farris

raylawpc wrote:My life just isn't complete unless I post something from time-to-time to irriate my West Coast liberal friends:



A man was washed up on a beach after a terrible shipwreck. Only a sheep and a sheepdog were washed up with him. After looking around, he realized that they were stranded on a deserted island. After being there awhile, he got into the habit of taking his two animal companions to the beach every evening to watch the sunset.

One particular evening, the sky was a fiery red with beautiful cirrus clouds, the breeze was warm and gentle - a perfect night for romance. As they sat there, the sheep started looking better and better to the lonely man. Soon, he leaned over to the sheep and put his arm around it.

But the sheepdog, ever protective of the sheep, growled fiercely until the man took his arm from around the sheep. After that, the three of them continued to enjoy the sunsets together, but there was no more cuddling.

A few weeks passed by and lo and behold, there was another shipwreck. The only survivor was Nancy Pelosi.

That evening, the man brought Nancy to the evening beach ritual. It was another beautiful evening - red sky, cirrus clouds, a warm and gentle breeze - perfect for a night of romance. Pretty soon, the man started to get 'those feelings' again. He fought the urges as long as he could, but he finally gave in and leaned over to Nancy and told her he hadn't had sex for months.

Nancy batted her eyelashes and asked if there was anything she could do for him.

He said, "Would you mind taking the dog for a walk?"

raylawpc wrote:But what Democratic gals do you have to compete with this?



You betcha!

raylawpc wrote:But what Democratic gals do you have to compete with this?



You betcha!

Rick Farris wrote:Ironic . . .


A few years back, a beautiful young woman was introduced to me by a mutual friend.
Our friend knew we had something in common, she was soon to become a professional boxer.

The female boxer's name was Katarina De La Cruz, and we'd often talk about boxing when we'd cross paths.
She had a trainer, but on a couple occasions she and I worked out together at the LAYAC boxing gym at the old Lincoln Heights Jail.
She wasn't being taught well, she'd often jump from trainer-to-trainer. Nobody had much time for a girl who wanted to box.

We pretty much kept our talk to boxing, I wasn't trying to hustle her. I respected what she was attempting in her early 30's.
She was a mother of three kids, 2 teenage sons and a daughter. She was fit, looked ten years younger than her age, had a great energy, positive.
She was studying holistic medicine. She worked as a massage therapist (a legit one) at a Finnish Sauna where I'd gone for years for saunas.
Kat had a tough life, growing up in South L.A. as a young teen, she was jumped into a gang, and fought both guys and girls tooth & nail.
I tried to talk realistically to her about her plans, but I didn't wish to step on her dreams. People should build people, not tear them down.

We talked about women boxers, and I knew she had an idol. I was well aware of her hero, and shared Kat's respect for her.
This was four years ago.

Last Saturday, Katarina's idol, Lucia Rijker, became the first woman boxer ever inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame. I had the honor of handing her the bronze statue.
As Lucia gave her acceptance speech, I stood behind her and looked over to a table beside the stage. I saw a familiar face. It was my friend, Katarina. How ironic, I thought.
Katarina's eyes met mine, we both smiled and waved to each other. I remembered our conversations about Lucia, and how she told me Lucia had once given her encouraging words.
I had a copy of Lucia's documentary video, "Shadow Boxers", and loaned it to Kat. Now Lucia, Kat & I are all in the same room, four years later, and history is being made.

I'm glad I got to be a part of it. I'm also glad that Katarina De La Cruz was a part of it.
Like Lucia, Kat has had her challeneges in life, and like her idol, she is a positive, good energy person, with a great spirit.

Katarina is pictured standing with Lucia Rijker in Michele Chong's story on the banquet:
http://myboxingfans.com/2009/11/a-look- ... e-banquet/



-Rick Farris

kikibalt wrote:

Jerry Quarry training for his then up-coming bout with Muhammad Ali.
Circa 1970

kikibalt wrote:

Jerry Quarry & Wayne Kindred, June 22 1972

Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

Rick Farris wrote:

raylawpc wrote:But what Democratic gals do you have to compete with this?



You betcha!

You know, Tom, I don't know of any hot Dem babes, at least not in office. I thought Jackie Kennedy was a pretty hot first lady when I was a kid.
However, anytime you wish, I could take you onto a studio lot, and you'll see some of the hottest women on earth. Women from everywhere, some are just stunning.
I know this because I light them. I can also tell you that it's no secret that 9-of-10 helped put our President in office. Sarah who?

I will say this, Tom. Nice picture, but don't remember much of the face