9/15/06 - 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.
"Billy Soose, the Champion Time Forgot" #31809co-authored by Tom Donelson, is also available. Soose was the
middleweight champion of the world, beating greats like 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 at Authorhouse.com
(book id #31809) and other fine on-line outlets. Early sales appear strong.
My upcoming book, "Woozel, Boxing and Me", #31810 (now available for purchase) is a compilation of funny and true
boxing stories, oddities and quotes, will be out within the next few weeks. "Woozel, Boxing and Me" is a final tribute
to my best friend of more than 25 years, who attended many boxing events with me. She passed away from colon cancer
in Feb. 2004. The early demand for this true, and in my not-so-humble opinion, one of the funniest boxing books
ever written, has been strong. For advance ordering or to purchase an autographed copy, please advise me ASAP.
Here's your gift special: Get all three autographed books for $55.00 plus postage, if you order by Oct. 15,
for Christmas delivery. Interested? Drop me a line for details.
All these books are available for purchase at Authorhouse.com.***
Mark Your Calendar:
Sept. 14-17, the American Association of Professional Ringside (AAPRP) holds it's convention at the Luxor in
Las Vegas. Ringsports.com East Coast Editor Jack Hirsch is being given the media award. Jose Sulaiman, Alex
Ramos and a few others are also getting their just due. Congratulations to all.
Oct. 14, 2005...World Boxing Hall of Fame induction, LAX Marriott...Call 909-239-3541...Inductees includes
Roberto Duran, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Julian Jackson, Eddie Perkins and many more. Fans would not want to miss
this tribute to some truly great boxing people.***
A lot of important fights upcoming. On Friday, in England, Junior Witter takes on DeMarcus Corley in a Jr.
Welterweight go I have to like the home-cooking on this one, and take Witter by decision.
Three important fights at the MGM Vegas this weekend, highlighted by the Marco Antonio Barrera Jr. Lightweight
re-match with Rocky Juarez. I thought Juarez won the first fight, and I don’t think he’s going to let it go
to the judges this time. Juarez by late TKO.
In another important Jr. Lightweight go, Jorge Barrios takes on Joan Guzman. I think there’s going to be some
changes at the top this weekend, and I’ll take Guzman to stop Barrios.
Finally, Israel Vasquez takes on Jhonny Gonzalez in a Jr. Flyweight bout, but as impressive as Gonzalez has
shown to be, I have to pick Vasquez to take the decision here.
Agree or disagree, (not about my age) I’d like to hear from you. (Rusty@ringsports.com)
Glove2Glove:
Please say prayers for long time promoter and friend, Moe Smith, who has been having some ongoing heart related problems.
Patti Brandenburg continues to have health problems and continues to need your help via prayers.
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 for the return to health of Cindy Luna, 39, niece of RS.com’s outstanding West Coast photographer, who
is in very serious condition. Also for the soul of Ray’s uncle who has passed away.
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 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: As we enter the home stretch for the 2006 general elections, I must admit that I’m
having a tough time trying to figure out who to vote for this year.
Most Americans want change, but how much difference is there between the Republican and Democrat Party?
There are a lot of burning issues out there that make me wish there were other alternatives. Both parties are
equally bad on national and border security, particularly in the U.S. Senate, although the Republicans in
the house seem to have more sensitivity towards what the American voters want.
What do I want? I don’t want to be warm and fuzzy for people who intentionally break our laws to get here.
I’d rather see my friends and loved ones safe than be politically correct. The House Republicans have this issue right.
But I’m not sure what some of the American voters really want. Some still believe that Iraq had something to do
with 9/11 and that there are/where WMD’s there before we got bogged down there, and created more problems then we had before.
There is no easy answer to what to do about the problems in the Middle East, but we can safely say (at least
those of us who read or watch the news) that the world is in a far bigger mess now, than before we entered Iraq.
Does the blame go to the terrorists who blew up the World Trade Center, or does it go to our uninformed leaders
who were lied to, or lied to Americans when we invaded Iraq? Getting rid of the Taliban in Afghanistan made
sense to me, invading Iraq never did. Now the Taliban is back in force in Afghanistan, establishing more
power in Pakistan and working hard to send the world back into the 9th Century. The world is definitely
not a safer place then it was before, but it’s hard to figure where to put the blame.
President Bush and his cabinet pushed for an invasion of Iraq, but most of our elected leaders went along with
the big lie that got us there, and who was responsible for that lie is the big question.
On the issue of stem cell and scientific research, the Dems get the big edge there. I can’t believe that some of
our elected leaders would rather see old stem cells flushed down the toilet then used to save and/or improve human life.
Both parties are more interested in the profits (thus contributions) of the big corporations than they are in the
welfare of the American people, and that, in itself, is a sad commentary on our times.
There are other issues, like a balanced budget that means a lot to me, but neither party gets strong marks in these areas.
Simply put, I’m still totally up in the air as to who will be the best party/candidate to represent me when I cast
my vote in November. And I have no favorite in the Presidential race for 2008. Voting for the lesser of two
evils still leaves us with evil. In America, we should be able to do better than that.
Agree, disagree or just want to help? I'd love to hear from you.
(Rusty@ringsports.com)
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