CHANGING TIMES

On Saturday HBO gave boxing fans a great evening of entertainment which would have also been a great evening of entertainment and education for non-boxing fans.

I'll start with the fights which were broadcast. The headliners were fighters who practice and perform in and out of the ring at the highest levels. First was the highly competitive rematch between Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor. These two fighting at 168 pounds demonstrated all of the skill and heart that has taken them to the top of the sport. Pavlik won a decision but both came out with sterling reputations as Taylor acquited himself admirably and in defeat was as gracious as any athlete could be. Pavlik as always was humble and grateful. These two are in direct contradiction to the prevailing image of the modern athlete as spoiled prima donnas.

Also featured that night was Wladimir Klitchko. The heavyweight champion, or at least one of them, is a physical marvel at 6'5" and 245 pounds. He possesses all of the tools of a boxing great though there are some shortcomings which have been exposed on occasion. In the ring he continued victorious. But outside the ring is where he and his brother Vitali really stand out. Both are PhD's. Both are chess players. Both are extremely involved in humanitarian efforts far outdistancing anything they achieve or attempt in the ring. Both are what all fans in any sport talk about when they refer to athletes as role models. Were these different times all four of these athletes would be basking in national and international adulation. But these are changing times.

That point was driven home in the HBO special which preceded the fights, a biographical look at Joe Louis.

To most baby boomers the name conjures up only memories transmitted by elders. The special reminds us that before today's so called mega stars created by media saturation there were sporting champions who reached their status based solely on achievement and personal intangibles.

In the 30's and 40's the United States was still a country with many rough edges, the roughest being its treatment of minorities, blacks in particular. In the sporting arena blacks were rarely if ever given the chance to compete against whites. In baseball segregation ruled on the field and in the stands. Football had seen some black participants but they had been put out of the game for a while. Boxing was one of the few sports where you could find an occasional bout between the races. This was significant in that during these decades baseball, horse racing and boxing were the dominant sports.

The heavyweight crown had become an unreachable goal for many top black contenders as a backlash for the reign of Jack Johnson the first black to win the belt. Johnson did not only claim the title which in essence proclaimed him to be the "most man among all men", he added to the white fear about blacks by cavorting openly with white women. A total blow to the psyche of most white men.

After Johnson it seemed unlikely another black would get the chance. Through circumstance, handling, finagling and ultimately talent Joe Louis rose in the ranks and eventually got the chance to fight for the championship. He won it by dethroning the "Cinderella Man" James Braddock. With his win he gave blacks the sense of worth and belonging that was so often denied them. Had that been his only accomplishment that might have been enough.

World events would dictate that Louis would forever become a true "American Hero".

As WWII began to unfold and Hitler's regime gained power a rematch between Max Schmelling, who had beaten Louis by knockout, and Louis took on the dimensions of mythic proportions. This fight was not about two men in the ring. It was about worlds colliding, good and evil, the "American Way" vs a "Dark Empire". While many call the Ali-Frazier fight the "Fight of the Century" in reality Schmelling-Louis was it.

Perhaps for the first time in the history of this country a black man was viewed as a hero and standard bearer by all. Of course for blacks it had additional import since a loss by him could bring about all sorts of untold repercussions. Louis's first round demolition of the German is not just part of boxing history, it is American history.

Louis had his place as an American hero secured but he did not rest on those laurels and as the war continued he put his career on hold and joined the military. His patriotism was manifest in the eshibition bouts he put on for the troops and the many personal resources he donated to the war effort. Once he was discharged he continued his career but he was no longer the same. You would have thought that after all that he could have retired to a life of leisure. But in one of the cruelest acts ever perpetrated by the U.S. government the IRS came after Louis for back taxes which were never paid by his handlers.

Now should Louis have paid his taxes, yes. But was it necessary for the government to go after him as they did? Was it necessary for them to in essence leave him penniless? Was this another act of racism?

Whatever the answer you feel, the facts are that Louis never tried to shirk his responsibility and always believed in the American ideal. He never, ever uttered a negative word against his country. Finally upon his death he was granted a measure of the respect he earned by being buried at Arlington National Cemetery even though he did not really qualify for such an honor based on his military record.

His life is a window unto sport, celebrity, race relations, redemption. As the special noted, had Louis not lived this country would not be the same.

Let me also make a personal note. Despite so much anti minority rhetoric which still resonates in this country, let me just state that the greatest patriots this country has ever known are its minorities, especially those of color. They have always been willing to fight because even though they did not always have tangible proof they believed in the ideals of freedom, equality and justice on which this country was founded. Joe Louis's life was just one of those that exemplified that belief.

STREAMING THOUGHTS FROM RIVER E

Man, it's been a few weeks since I was able to find the time to sit down and ramble some but that doesn't mean I wasn't thinking about it. As much as I would like to be able to do this every day or at least every week sometimes life gets a little hectic and before you know it you are 45 years old with two kids and.....well that's a topic for another day.

In the meantime just wanted to share some quick hits from the past few weeks.

First, last week I witnessed the sickening spectacle of National Signing Day. For those of you unfamiliar this is a big day for colleges as they get official commitments from their most highly sought after recruits. On the surface and as it is presented, this is the start of a wonderful union. The athlete gets the golden ticket of a free education with the hoped for end result of a diploma and a career at the end of it all. For the university, well these are just great people who want these guys to come in and simply wear their colors on the weekends so that they can cheer for the old alma mater.

But you know what I see. I see signing day as the passing of a young body and mind to a pimp. That's right. Like a pimp these coaches and universities promise all the love and care and with very little in return for them. But in reality they will use and abuse if necessary to achieve their goal of wins and money for themselves and the university and when you are done and they don't need you any more there is no remorse on their part. As a matter of fact most often their defense is, "well they had the chance, if they didn't take advantage of it that's their fault". Yes personal responsibility exists, but what about all that love and care you were gonna give. Where are those cheering and rich alumni when the kid leaves the school with broken dreams, damaged bodies and no diploma?

Now add to all this the fact that TV and other media have jumped on the bandwagon to create another revenue stream at the expense of these athletes without the slightest thought of remuneration. Of course should a player even bring something like that up he would be branded as selfish as the least of his offenses.

Until coaches, athletic programs and universities can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are living up to all the promises they make to these young men and their mommas and daddys in their living rooms the system will remain equal in my mind to the street hustler who promises fame and fortune to pretty young girls, if only they first do a little favor for them.

While we are talking about ills of sport how about the complete lack of sportsmanship that is being shown by some of the biggest names in sports. No, I'm not going to name the usual suspects like T.O. or Randy Moss or Chad Johnson or any number of black athletes that often draw the ire of the populace for what can most often just be described as selfish behavior of young, immature men.

I'm talking about the boorish assess of Bill Belichick and Bobby Knight. Achievement wise, or as they say, by the numbers these guys are two of the best to ever roam a sideline. But as people or possible role models their stench is worse than that of the strongest French Bleu cheese.

Belichick stood on the cusp of history but his team ran into a more highly motivated and some might even say divinely ordained on Super Bowl Sunday. You know what, everyone understands the disappointment is great but hey no life was lost. Acknowledge that you were outplayed. Don't just tersely state that your team didn't play well. Dude, you were 18-1 and no matter what anyone tries to say that is not a failure of a season. To at least have the opportunity to play for the championship is something that eluded some of the greats of the game. Be thankful. You have three already. Loosen up the corset.

In the interest of full disclosure I will admit that I haven't been a fan of Bobby Knight's especially since his 1979 performance as coach of the U.S. team at that year's Pan Am Games in Puerto Rico. I lived on the island at the time and was privy to his consistently disdainful attitude towards anything Puerto Rican. This extended into an altercation with a police officer whose primary offense seems to have been that he didn't recognize that Bobby Knight was the most important person walking the earth and therefore was not subject to any of the rules laid out for mere mortals. In finality of that experience there is the story which may be apocryphal, though with Knight's resume it is not hard to believe, that as the plane was taxiing to leave the island Knight proceeded to pull down his pants and "moon" the island and its people.

Now The General has in essence mooned Texas Tech by deciding that he didn't want to coach any more and quit on the spot with a month still to go in the season and handed the job over to his top assistant, who by the way is his son. Nice thing to do for your kid but what about the kids that you recruited that thought they'd be playing for you? Was the exhaustion really so complete that you just couldn't take another step for a month. Oh yeah, Knight's rationale is that since his son was going to be the coach any way next season he may as well give him a head start in being the head man. Was he really unable to figure out how to be a head coach after being your son for close to 40 years. Man he is a slow learner. But what really gets me is this. Knight is big on talking about honor and responsibility, toiling hard and giving it your all and about West Point and all the took from there. Well where in all that did he learn about quitting on those you lead. Because plain and simple whether the kids complain about it or not, and they may not know how lucky they are to not have to play for that egomaniac, he quit on them. In the middle of battle he turned and looked only for himself.

The man has every right to quit but if you are going to talk the talk then walk the walk. At Indiana he was the poor victim of a meany administrator and here he just got tired. For a guy that is big on personal responsibility he sure doesn't like to take any.

In essence he did to Texas Tech the same thing he did to Puerto Rico, he pulled down his pants and mooned you.

Well I don't want this to just be a harangue against perceived ills. There is after all good in this world. Over the past week the South got hit hard by tornados and many lives and property were lost. But there was also the amazing story of a baby found in a field in Castalian Springs, TN a day after the tornados. His mother was killed but he was found by rescue workers who thought they had just found a baby doll until they turned him over and he responded.

Now I am currently on a self exploration regarding religion. I don't honestly feel like ascribing to the tenets of any organized religion as it seems that more often than not that is the path that takes people further from the exploriation of the true mystery. But I will say that I know that there is more out there than just us. I will also say that whatever it is there is something that guides us. Whether you want to believe in God, Allah, Buddha, L. Ron Hubbard or whatever lets just be happy for that baby's life and lets use that happiness to treat each other better, no matter what we believe.

WEIGHT LOSS WACKINESS

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Here I am enjoying a nice Sunday morning and suddenly my calm state of mind is upset by another story chronicling the negative and unsatisfactory results of another quick weight loss diet. Now I am not as much upset by the people who market the diet as I am by the whiners who used the diet. Now they want to cry and have people feel sorry for them and of course now they are going to warn us about this bad diet. HEY MORONS, SERVES YOU RIGHT!!!!!

There is absolutely no reason for anyone to fall prey to these "get it quick" methods for weight loss. The amount of valid information that is available is mind boggling but of course it comes attached with the proviso that you must put forth EFFORT!! It's not about eating only 500 calories a day and using diuretics to speed up the process. But of course if that means that you can get into that special dress in two months instead of six, well common sense be damned.

Look, I have gone over this so many times with clients, especially females. These methods will cause serious health problems down the road and some of the consequences may not be reversible. Women's systems due to constant hormonal changes are even more susceptible and at risk.

If you are grossly overwweight then it is quite obvious that you have no idea how to exercise or eat properly or you may have a health condition. Either way that means you must seek the help of a reputable professional be it a doctor, nutritionist or trainer. So a rapid loss system is definitely not the way to go. If you are just slightly overweight, and if you are you are part of the majority of Americans, you may not need as much help but you definitely need to incorporate exercise and solid nutrition to your life. And a little guidance won't hurt.

The key to every approach regarding weight loss is that "QUICK IS NOT IT". Also remember that the numbers on the scale are not always indicative of how healthy you are. Many lean folks are a mess healthwise. Its just that their body types make them stay lean so when we talk about diet and exercise it is not just for the heavy, it is for all.

Just do me a favor, stop crying because some magic method did not work for you, or jacked you up, or messed you up somehow. Dumb decisions lead to dumb results.

MORE ABOUT BOXING

Sorry I haven't been updating this spot lately but besides being very busy I was also reading an excellent book on boxing. "I Don't Believe It, But It's True-A Year in Boxing" is a book by noted author Thomas Hauser who has among his credits the biography of Muhammad Ali and the classic "Black Lights".
This book is a collection of articles and observations culled by Hauser in 2005. Some of the names profiled are familiar to non-boxing fans, others will make sense only to the knowledgable but all of the stories are interesting.
I'll highlight some passages.
The late world champion Diego Corrales said, "It takes a great athlete to play basketball, baseball or some other professional sport. You have to be more than an athlete to be a fighter."
Young prospect Derric Rossy comes to the sport after having a background in football and he observes, " I thought boxing would be similar to football. But it's not. Football is about emotion and getting in the trenches. Being in shape means quick bursts and then you stop. You're on the field and then you're off and then you're on again. Boxing is more of a thinking game. It's not just about using your muscle, and its always your turn to punch."
Among the many words written by author Budd Schulberg, "Boxing is a mental sport. Think of prizefighting as a chess game of mind and body, and you are a little closer to it than if you compare it to a bloody brawl in an alley."
This from an essay by Katherine Dunn inn the book "Shadow Boxers", "Boxing gyms are more than training facilities. They are sanctuaries in bad neighborhoods for troubled kids and shrines to the traditions of the sport. the gym is home. For many it's the safest place they know. A boxing gym is a place where men are allowed to be kind to one another."
Others profiled are Bernard Hopkins, Don King, announcer Al Bernstein and Showtime honcho Jay Larkin among others. But don't think that this book is just about boxings positives.
The issues of fighter's health, and exploitation are delved into deeply and quite critically. All in all this is an excellent warts and all look at the sport.