4/11/06 - In Rusty's Corner
In Rusty's Corner
By Rusty Rubin, editor-in-chief of the Ringsports.com publication, and author of "Off the Canvas",
a view of American history and the social problems of the times, as seen by an 80-year old
ex-champion. "Off the Canvas" takes you from the time of the Great Depression till the World
Trade Center disaster and is a book that has been getting rave reviews. Copies are $15.00 each
available at Ringsports.com and on-line major book retailers.
We're taking orders for autographed copies
of "Billy Soose, the Champion Time Forgot" co-authored by Tom Donelson. Soose was the
middleweight champion of the world, beating Tony Zale and Ken Overlin in less than a month's time.
Since Tom and I live in
different parts of the USA, it would be hard to co-ordinate a joint signing, both Tom or I will
be available. The book is available now at Authorhouse.com
(book id #31809) and other fine on-line outlets. Early sales appear strong.
Buy both books and the recipient will really appreciate your caring, and this writer
won't complain one little bit.
My next book, "Woozel, Boxing and Me", a compilation of true
funny boxing stories, oddities and quotes, will be out within the next 3-4 months.
"Woozel, Boxing and Me" is a final tribute to my best friend of more than 25 years,
who attended many of the boxing events with me. She passed away from colon cancer in Feb. 2004... The
early demand for the book has been strong. For advance ordering or to purchase an autographed copy,
please advise me ASAP...***
Our website (Ringsports.com) is back up and running
thanks to some volunteer help from a good friend of ours and of boxing.
Mark your calendar for April 29th, when the California Boxers Assn. honor Art Aragon,
Bobby Chacon and Professor George Latka, at a luncheon at the Honey Baked Ham restaurant
at 11:00 AM...The restaurant is located at 10106 Riverside Dr., Toluca Lake, California.
For reservations or information please call (828) 367-7575 or (818) 761-4887.***
Audley Harrison and Dominic Guinn face off this week, two guys who are badly in need of a
shot of confidence. I doubt this fight will help either on that end, but I'll pick Harrison
by unanimous decision, only because of the height/reach advantage...
Joe Mesi, won his comeback fight against a poor opponent, but you have to feel that the
return to the ring speaks of a major accident waiting to happen, something neither
Mesi nor boxing needs.
In a far less than stellar heavyweight division, Mesi is still not going anywhere and
accomplishes nothing but a possible major disaster for the sport should he continue to
fight. Hang 'em up Joe. No one will think the less of you.***
To the shock of few, Zab Judah did exactly what a 6-1 underdog was supposed to do, he lost.
Floyd Mayweather took full control in round five and dominated the out-classed and out-gunned
Judah the rest of the way.
It's not that Judah didn't try, it was a must fight for him. Simply put, Mayweather
is not the best pound for pound fighter in the World for no reason, and it was a fairly
easy win for him once he figured out the challenger's southpaw style.
There was a brief moment, when referee Richard Steele called a time out to allow Mayweather
to recover from two obviously blatant fouls that a brawl almost developed when chief second,
Floyd Mayweather Sr. jumped into the ring to defend his charge. There seems to be a chance
that the IBF, the only sanctioning body that recognized Judah, after his defeat by Carlos
Baldomir, is having thoughts of not-recognizing the result, and so is the Nevada Athletic
Commission. The key in my mind was that the incident occurred during a time out.
The Nevada Commission will decide on April 13th.***
Antonio Margarito was supposed to be next in line for Mayweather in September, but rumor
has it that it may well be Kostya Tszyu instead.
Agree or disagree, we'd like to hear from you. (Rngsportsr@aol.com).
Glove2Glove:
Patti Brandenburg continues to have health problems and continues to need your help via prayers.
Let's say a prayer for the father of Eva Futch, a great friend, and the widow of legendary
trainer Eddie, who passed away in 2001. Eva's father's cancer has returned and needs all the
support we can give him, and please pray that Eva has the strength to cope with this difficult
challenge she faces at so close to her having lost her esteemed husband.
Prayers needed for Elise Brown, grand daughter of Ringside Products head honcho and good
boxing guy John Brown. Young Elise has heart problems.
Prayers have also helped but continue to be needed for Dennis Wilcox, brother of boxing scribe
David Wilcox, who is in an Oregon hospital suffering from Leukemia. The family and everyone
at Glove2Glove ask for your prayers for his total recovery.
Prayers for the return to health of Audrey Talmo, wife of Ed, a long-time boxing fan who cares
about our sport.
Please say prayers for the return to health of Helen Wambolt, wife of our East Coast World
Boxing Hall of Fame writer Danny Wambolt. Cards will also be most welcome.***
Please say prayers for the return to health of Orazio Esposito, father of our photographer
Richard Esposito.***
Prayers for the return to health of Don Donelson, father of writer Tom, and Gene Sebastian,
brother of former middleweight champ Billy Soose. Both are suffering from congestive heart disease.
Please say prayers for Phill Grazide of Santa Rosa, CA. a big supporter of amateur boxing, who
is suffering the crippling effects of rheumatoid arthritis.***
Needless to say we need prayers for the return to health of both former champs Greg Page
and Gerald McClellan, both confined to wheelchairs.***
Glove2Glove is a non-denominational group set up to aide those boxing folks and their
relatives in need of prayers and cards. We accept no money and only contact our members
when someone is in need. It's free to join. Simply send us your e-mail address. And even
if you're not a member, feel free to contact us if you are aware of some boxing person in need.***
Touching on politics briefly: Depending upon your prospective, it's been a hard week to find
a lot of good news. So in the interest of wanting to put a smile on our readers face, allow
me to add just a bit of humor.
If the people protesting the proposed changes in our immigration policy really wanted
more than just a day off from work/school, shouldn't they be flying the American flag?
If not, why do they want to become Americans? If you're not a citizen you don't have the
rights to protest and tie up our streets.
And what of those immigrants who say they are not criminals? Well, if they crossed the border
illegally, then they obviously didn't learn the English language, and are criminals. Let's
see criminals mean lawbreakers and illegal stuff last time I checked. And the way things
are going, they may get more time off than Congress does, and agree or disagree with the
motive, at least it's for a cause.
For the record, wouldn't the easiest solution be to crack down on the employers of the illegal
aliens so they won't hire them without huge penalties, and maybe they will return home and
wait until they are allowed legal entry. If there's no incentive for coming here, most won't.
Of course we have to secure the border so that others who want to come here to do us harm,
cannot get here.
Now what do we do with the jobs that most Americans don't want? (If you believe that, and
I don't). Assuming however it's true, how about taking non-violent criminals out of jails
and offering them time off their sentence for the work done? They can wear an ankle bracelet
so they don't escape and this will also solve the problems of over-crowded jails.***
Some other quick observations: If President Bush and Dick Cheney knew about and Okayed the leak
of Valerie Plame to the press, it goes one step further in enforcing my long held belief that
this is the worst administration in my lifetime. It may not be illegal but it sure begs a lot
of questions.
In that regard, doesn't it say volumes for Dick Cheney accidentally shooting the wrong attorney?
'Scooter' Libby should have been the obvious target.
On the same topic, didn't our President say he would fire anyone who leaked the information?
Hey guess what, he hasn't fired himself or Cheney yet. And I'm not holding my breath***
The situation in Iraq and Iran seems to worsen by the day and a Civil War may be looming in
Sadaam's homeland. In regard to Iran, how much longer can we allow that nation to continue on
the road to nuclear destruction? What makes the situation in Iran even worse is that the
majority of Iranians are hard working and well educated and no one wants to see a preemptive
strike against them. At least no one in their right mind, which let's me out.***
I'm so sick of the Republicans saying kind things about Hillary Clinton so that she will decide
to run and of course be beaten badly, that I want to puke. I don't believe that Hillary is
that arrogant to think that the Republicans really worship her that much. But perhaps the
Democratic Party will continue its death wish. Once and for all, unless the Republicans put
up someone more polarizing, and Dubya can't run again, she can't win. If they don't realize
this, the Democratic voters have to really educated in our political system.***
On the plus side, Tom Delay has resigned, although with his usual arrogant smugness. He knew he
couldn't get re-elected and so did the Republican Party, who clearly told him to step aside
and give them a chance at winning the seat he has held and dishonored.***
I guess getting elected to Congress makes an already egotistical person think they can get away
with everything. Politics now-a-days seems to equate with unbelievable arrogance. Then again,
hasn't it always?
Democrat Cynthia McKinney had better get rid of her piss poor attitude that anyone picking on
her and are simply doing their job, is a racist. This is a clear case of the pot calling the
kettle black.
McKinney wisely apologized for her ill advised outburst, but I doubt it was for any other
reason that her party, wanting control of Congress, made her do so. There would have been no
incident at all if McKinney simply followed the rules like everyone else, and wore her pin
to get into the House Office Bldg. I don't think anyone, including her colleagues, approved
of her actions. The Capitol Police were just doing their jobs. Maybe it's time she started
doing hers, and that job description is not continuing to divide an already badly
divided America.***
When the going get tough, the tough get going: If those words sound familiar, it's the members
of the United States Congress taking yet another vacation rather than facing the important
issues before them. Maybe we need a bumper sticker "Congress, the best place for Americans
to go for a vacation".***
Anybody as pissed off as I am at seeing these stupid gas prices while the companies involved
show record profits each quarter. Does that tell anyone that they could lower their bottom
line for the benefit of all Americans? Don't hold your breath for this to happen. We know
that a lot of our legislators have interests in big oil and while we're paying through the
nose, they are probably laughing all the way to the bank.***
And for all the seemingly law-abiding people out there (if there are any left that I haven't
insulted since my articles have been posted), I promise to try to get to you over the next
few years. Remember I'm an equal opportunity offender.***
Okay, now that I may have insulted someone from almost every group, allow me to wish all our
Christian readers the best for the Easter season.
Agree or disagree, I'd like to hear from you.
(Rusty@ringsports.com)
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