connoisseur series500

Thanks Jim

Wow the GREAT Earl Campbell. I never knew that. He was the greatest running back I had ever seen in my life. Jim Brown was a little before my time, and OJ was washed up when I started watching the NFL. But Earl was unstoppable. He took so many hits. I am deeply saddened to hear this.

Yeah, that's cute. The sign gives a basic rough biography. It's made of bronze. I'll have to go check it out. There was a picture of it in the paper. I don't know the technology to display it online.

Saw in the local paper a few days ago that the Ohio Historical Society has finally put up a sign outside Art Tatum's house on 1123 City Park Ave here in Toledo in order to commemorate the piano great. It's about time! It's in a crummy part of town, but I just might make my pilgrimage over there. Wonder if visitors are allowed in the house?

Sonny Rollins blows a mean soprano on "Next Album."

Right, because no one has seen the effects of boxing on Muhammed Ali except you. Especially a professional boxer, would have NO idea what made one of the greatest champions of all time the way he is now. Or he imagines he'll be able to get out of the game before any serious damage is done. The problem is that when a fighter needs to get out of the business, it takes one bad beating before he is able to recognize that. You don't know if it's time to get out until you get that bad beating. I think also that Mike Tyson has introduced a greater level of brutality in the sport as well; what with the intentional low blows and the ear biting and the slugging of refs. Boxing hardly needed that.

Paypal is a pain in the ass. I registered years ago with a different email address than I have now, and I've never been able to purge it from their system. As a result, I am unable to use paypal today. I just say "fuck em," and run out to gas stations to buy money orders. If a seller demands paypal only then I don't bid. Simple as that.

Klitschko is 6' 8" from what I've read. There are indeed some contradictions in Mnys comments on the cuts, but hey, I contradict myself too. It's a tough call on that cut; I'll leave it up to the experts like the doctor who called the fight. He's the one whose got the potential liability if something serious had happened; and he's the one whose got to face all the betmakers and fight people who felt the bout should have continued. He, in short, gentlemen, has to take the heat, so we have to respect his decision. Having said that, however, we know boxing's history for chicanery and venality and crookedness. Anything can happen with boxing.

Interesting post, Cali. You know its funny, but a good fighter is always most vulnerable against last minute substitutes. I didn't see the fight, nor do I plan to, but based on pedigree and experience, I would imagine that even an out of shape Lennox would figure out Klitschko and would have found a way to win anyway.

!!! And these guys are supposed to help the fighter out. It's kind of funny, but of course it isn't. Poor Klitschko.

Surprising comments from Alex. I believe boxing is banned in Sweden which is one of Alex's Utopian places to live. This despite having produced a heavyweight champion in Ingemar Johnanneson. Before Tyson it was Liston; before him it was Marciano; before him Dempsey, etc. There have always been mean sluggers whose best assets were a good punch and ability to take a few in order to deliver that punch. Not every boxer is a boxer. I used to be able to name all the champions in all the divisions as a kid, but again, I see only the brutality now.

Football is rough; no question about it. Still, much of it involves brains and athleticism. It's not like you've got two guys standing in front of each other trying to knock the other out. I guess that's the main difference. Also where's the protection for the fighters beyond the cup? As someone already mentioned gloves were designed to protect the knuckles not the opponent's face.

I'm glad you've returned too, Greg. I've made my share of jokes at your expense, but we do agree about a lot of stuff, and I'm fair game for jokes too. At first, I guess I wasn't sure if you were the "Greg" that we all knew on BNBB. I remember inviting you over here on BNBB when it was closing down on us and you basically said that you wanted to go down with the ship. Glad you bopped up in that air bubble. Welcome back, Man!

Many blacks were in the 1940s and 1950s, Chuck, including Paul Robeson and Richard Wright. Nothing unusual or unexpected. Capitalism offered them very few avenues then.

Can you elaborate on that? Why don't you think it shouldn't be banned?

Congrats, Mark on the six bars. How does it feel to outdo MacArthur and Ike by one?

I voted for some kind of reform. Having said that I really don't have any immediate suggestions; maybe they should require headgear as in the amateurs. Although, I thought seriously about it, I couldn't vote for a ban, as like Moose, I feel that we shouldn't take away yet another choice and another freedom. People could argue that boxing provides a road out of the ghetto, but then I would respond what kind of road is that--to be punch drunk and slur words and be susceptible to Parkinson's disease? It's not so clear. I notice a couple of "yes" votes, but the posters are silent. Any comments?

As mentioned in another thread, I was a big boxing fan as a youth. Now I am just horrified by it. The blood; the ugly knockouts. There's courage too, and it speaks to the male psyche in some atavistic but perhaps meaningful way too. The question is: should we outlaw boxing just as bareknuckles has been outlawed? Let's hear your thoughts... I've voted already.

Well, maybe, but Lewis was singularly lacking in grace with his post-fight comments; and he pisses me off talking about himself in the third person - idiots do that. I didn't see nor hear the post-fight comments, but Lewis has been a classy champ throughout his career and a good role model in general. He is articulate and intelligent. Chris Byrd is classy too. Maybe we've got a new generation of polished personalities to replace the Tyson crowd. This gives me an idea for another thread...

I read the ESPN boxing website for commentary on the fight. There's still doubt as to who would have won in the end. I don't watch boxing anymore. Use to as a young man, but as I get older I just see the ugly and brutal side. I'll still read about it from time to time, but I won't watch it. I'm too soft now. But NFL...yeah!!! Anytime!!

That's Trollope, Thackeray, Dickens, Carlyle, Hardy, Conrad, who else am I missing? I loved Thackeray's "Vanity Fair." Good sense of humor. Hardy writes beautiful Biblical prose. Conrad is always interesting. Wish your wife luck. I have an MA in literature and could have continued on, but didn't wish to spend my life in Academia. Nothing else to do with a Lit. degree. If I had the time or money to go back to school, I'd go for a doctor's in History. If only....

I loved the Happy Hollisters. Great stuff! Did any of you guys read Enid Blyten as a kid? Female English writer. Loved her books too as a kid.

He lost to Byrd due to a shoulder injury and he was ahead on all scorecards. When Lewis is in shape, no one can beat him. If they fight a rematch, Lewis will win. What round did it end, folks? These two fighters are two nice guys for sure. It's a shame that they are in this horrible profession.

I have the following available for trade: Benny Golson, "Free" (Chess) Shirley Scott, "Queen of the Organ" (Impulse) Sonny Criss, "Our of Nowhere" (32 Jazz) Sonny Criss, "Complete Imperial Sessions" Conn series Kenny Dorham and the Jazz Prophets, vol1 (chess) Ahmad Jamal, "In Search of Momentum" 2003 session Chick Corea, "Live in Montreux" (Stretch Records) w/Joe Henderson Eddie Lockjaw Davis w/Shirley Scott, "Smokin'" (OJC) email me if you have anything to trade.