I’ve got a box of Wheaties that pays tribute to Muhammad Ali as an athlete, humanitarian and champion. I feel like those are the three words that best describe my own life: Athlete. Humanitarian. Champion. Except for the “athlete” part. And probably you could take out “humanitarian” because I don’t like people all that much. But “champion”? Definitely! Read more →
EppsNet Archive: Boxing
The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights. — Muhammad Ali
More People I’m Sick Unto Death Of: Dr. Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou received quite a few honorary doctoral degrees in her lifetime and elected for some reason to refer to herself as Dr. Maya Angelou, despite not having an earned doctoral degree and despite, to my knowledge, never attending college at all. Many famous people are given honorary doctorates by universities but thank god they don’t all go around referring to themselves as, say, Dr. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dr. Mike Tyson, Dr. Glenn Beck, etc., etc., etc. I’m also sick unto death of people who quote insipid thoughts from Maya Angelou as profundities, particularly if they refer to her as Dr. Maya Angelou when doing so. Read more →
Japan, Day 0: Floyd Mayweather at Panda Express
We saw Floyd Mayweather at LAX . . . Actually, my son saw him. When the boy pointed him out to me, all I could see was the back of a smallish man in a black hoodie surrounded by half a dozen of the largest human beings I’ve ever seen. You have to get past those guys to get your shot at Floyd. They were all standing on line at Panda Express in one of the food courts. Normally, I don’t envision famous, wealthy people eating Panda Express, and if they do, I don’t picture them standing on line for it. I picture them sending someone to fetch it while they hang out in the first class passenger lounge. Good advertisement for Panda Express. Better than those ridiculous goddamn talking pandas. In other close encounters with boxing legends, I once saw Sugar Ray Leonard and his family at Juice It… Read more →
People I Thought Were Dead
Marty Allen – comedian Ed Ames – actor Lauren Bacall – actress Roger Bannister – runner Ben Bradlee – editor, The Washington Post George Kennedy – actor Ralph Kiner – Hall of Fame baseball player Jake LaMotta – boxer, middleweight champion Shirley Temple – actress Updates Marty Allen – died 2/12/2018, age 95 Ed Ames – died 5/21/2023, age 95 Lauren Bacall – died 8/12/2014, age 89 Roger Bannister – died 3/4/2018, age 88 Ben Bradlee – died 10/21/2014, age 93 George Kennedy – died 2/28/2016, age 91 Ralph Kiner – died 2/6/2014, age 91 Jake LaMotta – died 9/19/2017, age 95 Shirley Temple – died 2/10/2014, age 85 Read more →
Brush With Greatness: Postscript
I told my wife this story . . . it turns out she doesn’t know who Sugar Ray Leonard is either. “I know Muhammad Ali and Joe Foreman,” she says. Read more →
Brush With Greatness
You’ll never guess who I saw at the Juice It Up in Aliso Viejo: Sugar Ray Leonard, the famous boxer! He was in line in front of me with a couple of his kids. I wasn’t sure it was him at first, so I discreetly asked the college-age girl at the register, “Was that somebody famous?” “Who?” she asked. “The guy in front of me. That was Sugar Ray Leonard, right?” The name meant nothing to her, but another gentleman in the shop assured me that it was really him. Interesting fact: Leonard’s wife, who was waiting outside the shop, is not very attractive. You might think that the great Sugar Ray Leonard’s wife would be much hotter than, say, my wife, but such is not the case. Not even close. Is it possible that Roberto Duran had just caught a glimpse of Mrs. Leonard ringside when he uttered his… Read more →