6/14/06 - In Rusty's Corner
In Rusty's Corner
By Rusty Rubin, editor-in-chief of the Ringsports.com publication and website advisor is the author
of "Off the Canvas", #22873, 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 authorhouse.com, (22873)
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", #31810 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 Diamond, a good friend of ours and obviously of boxing.
Diamond is also helping us with the magazine.***
Future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins took a unanimous decision from Antonio Tarver, which shouldn't have
been a shock to anyone, and certainly not the decision part. Neither Tarver or BHop are big punchers
and both have pretty solid chins, so the outcome of a 12-round victory for one or the other seemed logical.
Now we'll see if Hopkins keeps his word and retires. My bet is that he will. BHop has nothing to prove.
It will also be interesting to see what Antonio Tarver does next.
Miguel Cotto's win was also predictable, but not the decision part. Most figured it would end in a KO
for the Puerto Rican contender, but that was not to be. It turned out to be a very interesting contest.
This week, in Tennessee, Jermaine Taylor takes on Winky Wright, in a very tough bout to figure. Wright
has worked a long time for the title and the money it brings, while Taylor was considered lucky by
many in winning close decisions from Hopkins in his last two fights.
An interesting clash in styles, and in truth, I initially favored Taylor, but I also figured it would
go to a decision, and that hasn't changed. Although Winky is from Florida, not far from where the
fight is being staged, Taylor is from right next door in Kentucky, giving him the home town edge
with the fans and perhaps with the judges, who have no way of blocking out the crowd noises.
So, I'll go out on a limb and pick Taylor to win a close decision once again, and setting up
a rematch in a different locale.
For those of you who want to see a different Bernard Hopkins as well as the Taylor - Wright fight,
its available this weekend on HBO.
Agree or disagree, we'd like to hear from you. (Rngsportsr@aol.com).
Glove2Glove:
Former top fighter of a few decades back, Bobby Dykes passed away at age 77. Prayers for his soul.
Patti Brandenburg continues to have health problems and continues to need your help via prayers.
Prayer for the return to health to 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 recent
surgeries have proved successful, but he still has a long way to go. 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 for Mae Sebastian, who is fighting a serious illness. Mae is the wife of Gene Sebastian,
who gave Tom Donelson and myself the info needed to write the book "Billy Soose, The Champion Time Forgot".
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 recovery of good friend and great boxing guy Norm Cote, Past President
of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, who is undergoing dialysis three times a week. Norm's a fighter
and we have to be there in his corner.
Prayers also for former World Boxing Hall of Fame Presidents Dub Harris and Charlie Casas who
are having some severe health problems as well.
Prayers for the soul of Mike Quarry former boxer and brother of Jerry Quarry, heavyweight contender,
who passed away a few years back. Mike set up a foundation to help those afflicted with
Alzheimer's which Jerry suffered from.
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 absolutely 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: Full credit to the Bush leadership for staying the course and
allowing us to take out murdering terrorist al Zarqawi in Iraq. There are enough low lives in
this world and a few less can only make this old planet a safer place.
I know that some people sincerely believe that there is no justification for killing, and while
I respect that, cold blooded killers like Zarqawi do not and would only keep going along their
bloody path of killing to achieve their worthless goals.
While this doesn't mean that the fight for Iraq is over, it gives us a few well-needed and well
timed brownie points for America. One for our side.
This isn't the end of our problems with the brainwashed members of al Qaeda, just a small win
in a battle that will last long after most of us are gone. But a win is a win and we'll take it with thanks.
Does this mean that I'm making my peace with Dubya? Hell no. I still think he's the worst
President in my lifetime. Bush and his ilk have done their best to make the greatest country
in the world the laughing stock of that same world. Congress doesn't draw any kind words from
this old guy either. They do their best to pretend to represent us, and wind up always
doing what's best for themselves.
As for the calls to close our prisoner of war camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, should go unheeded.
No one has the right to tell us what to do with a bunch of fanatics who want to see us dead.
In fact, I think we're treating them too good. And, if they want to commit suicide, that just
makes one less hate monger for our taxes to care for.***
Ever notice the similarities between hurricanes and most of our leadership? They're both full
of hot air and hell bent on destroying America.
Our elected leader continues to call for a form of amnesty for the illegal element that cross
our borders, and continues his quest to sell our country out from under us, this time wanting
to allow foreign governments to purchase our airlines. Let's see, wasn't it three planes
that were used for attacks against us on 9/11. Gee Dubya, now I really feel secure with you at the helm.***
While I'm working hard on offending everyone, how about the jerks in the U.S. Senate who voted
to give social security to the illegal aliens? How absurd is that in a time when social security
is already in deep shit and our President has blown the budget way out of proportion?
Check the list of those who voted in favor of this absurd bill. Don't our representatives have
enough to do to try to keep our country safe? I'll say it again we need a third major party to
keep the people who are elected to represent the voters, and represent big business instead, in
line. And when you know who the guilty folks are, vote them out of office.
Currently, although I'm sure there are some honest politicians who should run for office but
can't afford to. My opinion is that we continue to have the best government that money (American and foreign) can buy.
If our forefathers were alive today, they would not believe how corruption, money and greed has
all but destroyed this once powerful nation. We no longer have leadership; we have a bunch of
graft taking cowards. Ok, most, not all.
Stand up America and let's build a third party to hold the other two responsible for their
unpatriotic actions. It may be a bit late to get a slate of Congressional candidates for 2006,
but it's not too late to start looking at 2008.
Most candidates run for office with the best intentions in the world, but power does corrupt
and most of those who can't be corrupted grow frustrated and resign after a term or so.
We need more candidates to run, and they can't do so now because the system will not allow an
average man to seek high public office because they can't afford to. So, it's time to limit the
amount of money that can be spent on any political campaign as well as crack down on the amount
lobbyists can contribute. There is no other way to fix the system, which most agree is badly in need of repair.
The American electorate is mad as hell, and should demand some anal lube before our elected leaders
screw as over. They pay taxes and deserve at least that much. My kingdom for an honest, representative
government (an oxymoron if I ever heard one).
Thank the Lord we remain the greatest country this world has ever known, but it's a very fragile
government and a very angry electorate. Remember Viet Nam, 'America, love it or leave it'? The
saying then and now should be 'America, love it and help it!'
(Rusty@ringsports.com)
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