General Sports Talk

Quote: DRich

Quote: SOOPOO

It’s hard to fathom a worse coaching job than Steve Kerr has done with what should be the best team in the history of basketball. No Tatum? Edwards barely sniffs the court? He really thinks White and Holiday are better than Edwards and Tatum? Can’t figure out how to use Embiid?

Jokic and a bunch of G league level talent almost took them down.
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To play devils advocate, the team did win all of their games and win the gold medal, it seems like his strategy resulted in the best possible outcome.
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You have low expectations. They should have destroyed those teams and had necklaces of thumbs made from their opponents. Kerr should be retroactively fired.
After watching LeBron play, it's a shame the Lakers can't find a decent supporting cast. The man deserves better.

Quote: SOOPOO

That’s not how you should evaluate the job he did. With the talent discrepancy between the USA and the teams they faced the games were FAR closer than they should have been if even decent USA coaching.
Evan Fournier couldn’t even crack Knicks top 10 rotation. Yabusele couldn’t hang on as a Celtics bench player. Ntilikina is not a top 250 player in the NBA. Batum not a top 150 player. Wembanyama only French player that would have had a chance to even make the USA team. That team was within 3 with a few minutes to go.
They got the best possible outcome DESPITE his strategy.

Obviously I disagree. The only thing that matters in a game is the result. I am a terribly lazy person and believe one should never exert more energy than is required to accomplish the task.

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obviously the foreign players are getting much better

I was stunned at how impressive the Serbian team was

and has there ever before been a foreign player who could dominate against NBA players like Webanyama could_________?

not that I can recall

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Quote: lilredrooster

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obviously the foreign players are getting much better

I was stunned at how impressive the Serbian team was

and has there ever before been a foreign player who could dominate against NBA players like Webanyama could_________?

not that I can recall

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Yao Ming? Akeem? Tim Duncan?

Quote: billryan

Quote: lilredrooster

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obviously the foreign players are getting much better

I was stunned at how impressive the Serbian team was

and has there ever before been a foreign player who could dominate against NBA players like Webanyama could_________?

not that I can recall

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Yao Ming? Akeem? Tim Duncan?
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Good to have you back Bill.

Dirk Nowitzki one to add to the list. Duncan was born and raised in a US territory, has always been an American. Embiid, who played for the US, is more foreign than Duncan being born in Cameroon.

Wembanyama has more ability or potential than any of them, but I wouldn’t put him over Jokic, Giannis, or Luka Doncic at the moment. The biggest advantage the US has now over these countries is just the population size to choose from….we probably wouldn’t beat a bunch of bordering Euro countries put together that equal our size at the moment.

In a probably unprecedented spot where top 3-5 players in the league are foreign born, but in any given game US will have 8 or 9 of the best 10 players. So given how an individual can dominate an individual game in basketball, easy to see the US could get knocked off nowadays in an elimination tourney, but would never lose a 5 or 7 game series to any of these teams.
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Quote: lilredrooster

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and has there ever before been a foreign player who could dominate against NBA players like Webanyama could_________?

not that I can recall

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Yes, on the Serbia team is Nicola Jokic

Quote: DRich

Quote: SOOPOO

That’s not how you should evaluate the job he did. With the talent discrepancy between the USA and the teams they faced the games were FAR closer than they should have been if even decent USA coaching.
Evan Fournier couldn’t even crack Knicks top 10 rotation. Yabusele couldn’t hang on as a Celtics bench player. Ntilikina is not a top 250 player in the NBA. Batum not a top 150 player. Wembanyama only French player that would have had a chance to even make the USA team. That team was within 3 with a few minutes to go.
They got the best possible outcome DESPITE his strategy.

Obviously I disagree. The only thing that matters in a game is the result. I am a terribly lazy person and believe one should never exert more energy than is required to accomplish the task.
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Your posts are getting stupider by the minute. Since this is Wizard of Vegas, let’s give you a Vegas analogy. You on Jacks or better (standard pay table) are dealt 3 aces and a 4 and a 6. You hold the 6. Get a straight flush. Would you hire that VP coach? I mean the coach won?

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anybody remember this re the 2004 Olympics___?___ I didn't I had to look it up -

linked from Wiki:

"Team USA lost its opening game to Puerto Rico by 19 points, which stands as the largest margin of defeat for the U.S. in the Olympics. It ended their 24-game Olympic winning streak since 1992, when National Basketball Association (NBA) players were first allowed to compete. The team also lost a group stage game to Lithuania and the semi-final game to Argentina. In addition, the U.S. lost a friendly preparation game prior to the Olympics, against Italy, by a score of 95–78."

imagine losing to Lithuania - population 2.8 million - omg

the U.S. only got the bronze medal that year

here are some of the U.S. players on that team:

Lebron James
Allen Iverson
Carmelo Anthony
Dwayne Wade
Carlos Boozer

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_United_States_men%27s_Olympic_basketball_team

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Quote: lilredrooster

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anybody remember this re the 2004 Olympics___?___ I didn't I had to look it up -

linked from Wiki:

"Team USA lost its opening game to Puerto Rico by 19 points, which stands as the largest margin of defeat for the U.S. in the Olympics. It ended their 24-game Olympic winning streak since 1992, when National Basketball Association (NBA) players were first allowed to compete. The team also lost a group stage game to Lithuania and the semi-final game to Argentina. In addition, the U.S. lost a friendly preparation game prior to the Olympics, against Italy, by a score of 95–78."

imagine losing to Lithuania - population 2.8 million - omg

the U.S. only got the bronze medal that year

here are some of the U.S. players on that team:

Lebron James
Allen Iverson
Carmelo Anthony
Dwayne Wade
Carlos Boozer

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_United_States_men%27s_Olympic_basketball_team

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Yup
Talent don't mean jack if you going to go one on one offense while the weaker team plays team ball kicking ass
Steve Kerr got the win
If somebody wants to criticize Steve Kerr for getting the win
How about the US Womens basketball team
Talk about dominant talent and only winning gold by 1 point
1 point !!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm more shocked by that then any of the close Men's games

Quote: SOOPOO

Quote: DRich

Quote: SOOPOO

That’s not how you should evaluate the job he did. With the talent discrepancy between the USA and the teams they faced the games were FAR closer than they should have been if even decent USA coaching.
Evan Fournier couldn’t even crack Knicks top 10 rotation. Yabusele couldn’t hang on as a Celtics bench player. Ntilikina is not a top 250 player in the NBA. Batum not a top 150 player. Wembanyama only French player that would have had a chance to even make the USA team. That team was within 3 with a few minutes to go.
They got the best possible outcome DESPITE his strategy.

Obviously I disagree. The only thing that matters in a game is the result. I am a terribly lazy person and believe one should never exert more energy than is required to accomplish the task.
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Your posts are getting stupider by the minute. Since this is Wizard of Vegas, let’s give you a Vegas analogy. You on Jacks or better (standard pay table) are dealt 3 aces and a 4 and a 6. You hold the 6. Get a straight flush. Would you hire that VP coach? I mean the coach won?
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Terrible analogy Soopoo. In your scenario the payoff is not the same. Basketball is binary, you win or lose there is no benefit to win by more.

I can’t resist being pedantic so must point out that in Olympic qualifying and preliminary rounds margin of victory is a factor in seeding.

Slovenia (Doncic) had to play Greece (Giannis) in qualifying to even get to the Olympics (they lost) because they won the game prior to that by something like 28 but would have avoided Greece if they’d won by 3 points more, they were desperately trying to score a 3 pointer at the end despite blowing out the other team.

I was reading up on some tennis and I didn't realize that three of the four majors were played on grass. I do not remember that.

Quote: DRich

I was reading up on some tennis and I didn't realize that three of the four majors were played on grass. I do not remember that.
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What?
US Open Hardcourt
French Open Clay

Right?

Quote: mcallister3200

I can’t resist being pedantic so must point out that in Olympic qualifying and preliminary rounds margin of victory is a factor in seeding.

I’ve thought about this in NFL blowouts early in the season. Point differential is one of the tie breakers. But coaches (generally) don’t run it up. Up 35 late in the fourth quarter on the 1 yard line they will take a knee rather than score a TD.
I’d get the TD until it is absolutely certain that points won’t matter.

Quote: SOOPOO

Quote: DRich

I was reading up on some tennis and I didn't realize that three of the four majors were played on grass. I do not remember that.
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What?
US Open Hardcourt
French Open Clay

Right?
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U.S. Open was played on grass until 1978.

The Austrailian was on grass until 1987.

Quote: DRich

Quote: SOOPOO

Quote: DRich

I was reading up on some tennis and I didn't realize that three of the four majors were played on grass. I do not remember that.
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What?
US Open Hardcourt
French Open Clay

Right?
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U.S. Open was played on grass until 1978.

The Austrailian was on grass until 1987.
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Yes, the US Open used to be played at Forest Hills Country Club on grass, but 46 years ago they switched to hard court.
The Australian Open has been on hard court (a type of pavement) for 37 years.

Adam and Eve, when they first met, used to make love on grass. In 1971 they switched to a waterbed.

What is your point? That back in the time of Fred Flintstone, that sports were played on different surfaces?

Quote: DRich

Quote: SOOPOO

Quote: DRich

I was reading up on some tennis and I didn't realize that three of the four majors were played on grass. I do not remember that.
link to original post

What?
US Open Hardcourt
French Open Clay

Right?
link to original post

U.S. Open was played on grass until 1978.

The Austrailian was on grass until 1987.
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I thought you meant now. I grew up near Forest Hills. Was aware it was grass when I was a kid.

Just watched Yankees game. They had 9 hits and 11 walks in a regular 9 inning game. Only scored 2 runs. I’d surmise a team has never had 20 walks/hits in a 9 inning game with only two runs.

Quote: SOOPOO

Quote: mcallister3200

I can’t resist being pedantic so must point out that in Olympic qualifying and preliminary rounds margin of victory is a factor in seeding.

I’ve thought about this in NFL blowouts early in the season. Point differential is one of the tie breakers. But coaches (generally) don’t run it up. Up 35 late in the fourth quarter on the 1 yard line they will take a knee rather than score a TD.
I’d get the TD until it is absolutely certain that points won’t matter.
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Nah, you have to take the foot off the gas to minimize the chance of injury. The NFL season is long and a player going down hurts more than the probability that margin of victory weighs on you playoff chances.

Quote: unJon

Quote: SOOPOO

Quote: mcallister3200

I can’t resist being pedantic so must point out that in Olympic qualifying and preliminary rounds margin of victory is a factor in seeding.

I’ve thought about this in NFL blowouts early in the season. Point differential is one of the tie breakers. But coaches (generally) don’t run it up. Up 35 late in the fourth quarter on the 1 yard line they will take a knee rather than score a TD.
I’d get the TD until it is absolutely certain that points won’t matter.
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Nah, you have to take the foot off the gas to minimize the chance of injury. The NFL season is long and a player going down hurts more than the probability that margin of victory weighs on you playoff chances.
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Reminds me of local sportscaster making early season excuse of quarterback and receivers needing time to learn where the receiver will be. As if they didn’t have 4 games to work that out if it really mattered.
I’ll risk an injury to try and score that extra TD. But of course most coaches take your tack.
Go Bills.

Quote: gordonm888

What is your point? That back in the time of Fred Flintstone, that sports were played on different surfaces?

My point is I don't remember them playing those tournaments on grass. Some of us were alive in the 70's and 80's.

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some fun with MLB history

Bob Shaw shows how to throw a spitball - he taught Gaylord Perry how to do it

and then some detail from Wiki about how great Gaylord Perry was with that spitter

my favorite statement from Gaylord Perry was "Everyone keeps asking me what kind of foreign substance was I putting on the ball? And I always answered I never put any foreign substance on the ball. Everything I used was American made"

the great Gaylord Perry passed a couple of years ago - r.i.p.


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Perry became known for doctoring baseballs (throwing spitballs) and perhaps even more so for making batters think he was throwing them on a regular basis—he went so far as to title his 1974 autobiography Me and the Spitter, though he claimed that his use of the prohibited practice was in the past. He was the subject of two decades of controversy during which opposing managers, umpires and league officials frequently attempted to catch him in a violation, even revising rules and guidelines; despite the constant scrutiny, he was not ejected from a game for the practice until his 21st season in the majors in 1982. In the meantime, Perry firmly established himself as one of baseball's most accomplished pitchers. He won 20 games five times and struck out 200 batters eight times, leading his league in innings pitched and complete games twice each. He pitched a no-hitter in September 1968, three weeks after throwing a one-hitter, and also pitched thirteen career two-hitters. In 1978 Perry became the third pitcher to register 3,000 strikeouts, and while pitching for the Seattle Mariners in 1982, he became the first pitcher in 19 years to join the 300 win club; he joined Walter Johnson to become only the second pitcher to reach both milestones.

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interesting (to me anyway) story of Pinky Deras regarded as the greatest Little League player of all time who was expected to star in the Majors but only had a few unremarkable seasons in the Minors

from the link:

"Deras is remembered the way he is because many of his records will never be broken, especially with today’s pitch-count restrictions for young players. On two occasions, he threw six-inning perfect games in which he struck out all 18 batters. They clocked him at 71 mph off the Little League mound, the equivalent of a 100 mph fastball from the major-league distance. At the plate, he hit .641 and smashed 33 home runs. He hit a grand slam in the Little League World Series semifinal, then threw a three-hitter in a 12-0 championship win against a team from West Auburn, Calif."

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https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5703670/2024/08/16/little-league-world-series-pinky-deras/

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I was sad to learn that college football has added a two minute warning in both halves. Quit slowing the game down.

Quote: DRich

I was sad to learn that college football has added a two minute warning in both halves. Quit slowing the game down.
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I'd think a commercial spot during the 2-minute warning would sell at a premium. Something has to pay for those NILs

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a look back at one of my all time faves - the Doctor
hard to believe it's already been 37 years since he retired
at 3:31 he dunks way up over the man mountain - Bill Walton - Walton cried for an offensive foul - no way
the 2nd vid has him dunking twice on Kareem
he was just unreal
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The Milwaukie Bucks drafted Dr. J, but he somehow signed up with another NBA team. The teams ended up in court, and the judge ruled that his original ABA contract was still valid.
Imagine a young Lew Alcindor and Dr J playing alongside Oscar Robertson.

46 years ago today 5 time NBA champ, 11 time all NBA first team member Kobe Bryant was born. RIP

In 1961, the New York Yankees advertised they were looking for batboys. Ten-year-old Gwen Goldman wrote to the Yankees that this would be a dream come true. The letter she received back thanked her for the letter and expressed faith that she was fully capable, but then it explained how a young girl would feel out of place in the dugout.
Gwen kept that letter as a reminder of the obstacles she had to overcome. After she retired and downsized, the letter ended up on her living room wall, with other Yankee memorabilia she's collected over the years.
Sixty years later, her daughter wrote a letter to the Yankees, showing a photo of the letter and explaining how it had driven her Mother to success. Ms. Goldman got an unexpected letter from her beloved Yankees, offering her a one-day position as a New York Yankee Batboy. At 70, she met the players, toured the Stadium, and was given her own custom Yankee uniform and goodies galore.
Dreams are golden. Only the foolish trade them for silver.

Quote: billryan

In 1961, the New York Yankees advertised they were looking for batboys. Ten-year-old Gwen Goldman wrote to the Yankees that this would be a dream come true. The letter she received back thanked her for the letter and expressed faith that she was fully capable, but then it explained how a young girl would feel out of place in the dugout.
Gwen kept that letter as a reminder of the obstacles she had to overcome. After she retired and downsized, the letter ended up on her living room wall, with other Yankee memorabilia she's collected over the years.
Sixty years later, her daughter wrote a letter to the Yankees, showing a photo of the letter and explaining how it had driven her Mother to success. Ms. Goldman got an unexpected letter from her beloved Yankees, offering her a one-day position as a New York Yankee Batboy. At 70, she met the players, toured the Stadium, and was given her own custom Yankee uniform and goodies galore.
Dreams are golden. Only the foolish trade them for silver.
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Let me guess, she bent to to pick up a foul ball and never stood up straight again. Women.

Quote: DRich

Quote: billryan

In 1961, the New York Yankees advertised they were looking for batboys. Ten-year-old Gwen Goldman wrote to the Yankees that this would be a dream come true. The letter she received back thanked her for the letter and expressed faith that she was fully capable, but then it explained how a young girl would feel out of place in the dugout.
Gwen kept that letter as a reminder of the obstacles she had to overcome. After she retired and downsized, the letter ended up on her living room wall, with other Yankee memorabilia she's collected over the years.
Sixty years later, her daughter wrote a letter to the Yankees, showing a photo of the letter and explaining how it had driven her Mother to success. Ms. Goldman got an unexpected letter from her beloved Yankees, offering her a one-day position as a New York Yankee Batboy. At 70, she met the players, toured the Stadium, and was given her own custom Yankee uniform and goodies galore.
Dreams are golden. Only the foolish trade them for silver.
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Let me guess, she bent to to pick up a foul ball and never stood up straight again. Women.
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Were you looking in the mirror?

tuttigym

Quote: tuttigym

Quote: DRich

Quote: billryan

In 1961, the New York Yankees advertised they were looking for batboys. Ten-year-old Gwen Goldman wrote to the Yankees that this would be a dream come true. The letter she received back thanked her for the letter and expressed faith that she was fully capable, but then it explained how a young girl would feel out of place in the dugout.
Gwen kept that letter as a reminder of the obstacles she had to overcome. After she retired and downsized, the letter ended up on her living room wall, with other Yankee memorabilia she's collected over the years.
Sixty years later, her daughter wrote a letter to the Yankees, showing a photo of the letter and explaining how it had driven her Mother to success. Ms. Goldman got an unexpected letter from her beloved Yankees, offering her a one-day position as a New York Yankee Batboy. At 70, she met the players, toured the Stadium, and was given her own custom Yankee uniform and goodies galore.
Dreams are golden. Only the foolish trade them for silver.
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Let me guess, she bent to to pick up a foul ball and never stood up straight again. Women.
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Were you looking in the mirror?

tuttigym
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No, after my spinal fusion for my broken back I have been fine.

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Larry Legend - another blast from the past - he retired 32 years ago
near the beginning of the vid he fakes out a couple of defenders so bad they fall down trying to guard him
in Portland he told an opponent - "it's the last game of the series so I'm going to play the whole game left handed" - he had 27 left handed after 3 quarters
he loved to trash talk - he would shoot a game winning 3 and then tell his opponent - "Damn, I didn't mean to leave any time on the clock"
it's so very rare to see a player who is great in every single aspect of the game - what a joy it was to watch him
another one, like the Doctor, who was just unreal

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The first game of the 2024 college football season was a very good game Ga Tech 24 Fl St 21. It is always nice to see an underdog win.

The Rambling Wreck running game was the determining factor for the game.

Nice comeback by the Bobcats after being behind the whole game they score with 10 seconds left to take their first lead and win the game 35-31.

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𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙍𝙖𝙮 - 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣

remember actor Robert DeNiro in the movie Raging Bull playing Jake LaMotta saying that at then end of the fight to the actor playing Sugar Ray Robinson______?
this is the vid of the actual fight that the movie was referring to - Jake later said that he never actually said those words
the fight is nicknamed "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre"
LaMotta fought Sugar Ray 6 times and won only once - this is the last round of the last fight
Ray could never knock LaMotta down in any of those fights

despite the terrible beatings Jake took in the ring he lived to age 95

he was one tough dude

his real knickname was "The Bronx Bull"

Sugar Ray Robinson is regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time
he fought over 200 times and his record was 179-19-6________he had an astonighing 109 knockouts
for contrast Muhammad Ali's final record was 56-5
Jake LaMotta's record was 83-19-4 - he was only knocked down once thru his entire career

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Fighters like the two Rockys and Loe Lewis used to fight a bum a month while awaiting the big fight. Ali fought a bum a year. Television added so much money to his purses that he only needed one or two small fights a year.

Quote: DRich

Nice comeback by the Bobcats after being behind the whole game they score with 10 seconds left to take their first lead and win the game 35-31.
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My alma mater/ # 1 in the Bottom Ten. Did you notice the "crowd"/attendance? Embarrassing!!

tuttigym

Quote: billryan

Fighters like the two Rockys and Loe Lewis used to fight a bum a month while awaiting the big fight. Ali fought a bum a year.

Rocky Marciano had 49 fights, less than Ali who had 61 - his record was 49-0 - 43 of them were KOs
Joe Louis had 69 fights only 8 more than Ali
Rocky Graziano had 83 fights

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Quote: tuttigym

Quote: DRich

Nice comeback by the Bobcats after being behind the whole game they score with 10 seconds left to take their first lead and win the game 35-31.
link to original post

My alma mater/ # 1 in the Bottom Ten. Did you notice the "crowd"/attendance? Embarrassing!!

tuttigym
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Yes, the crowds at New Mexico, Nevada, and Hawaii were all pathetic. It's too bad because the games were good.

Quote: lilredrooster

Quote: billryan

Fighters like the two Rockys and Loe Lewis used to fight a bum a month while awaiting the big fight. Ali fought a bum a year.

Rocky Marciano had 49 fights, less than Ali who had 61 - his record was 49-0 - 43 of them were KOs
Joe Louis had 69 fights only 8 more than Ali
Rocky Graziano had 83 fights

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Marciano had 49 fights in seven years, while Ali had 61 in 21 years. Marciano averaged seven fights a year, while Ali had less than three, and the majority of those were before he lost his title over the draft.
Joe Louis retired 17 years after he started, but lost about three years to WW2. He fought nine times in his last year. Ali fought nine times in the last five years of his career.

Quote: billryan

Fighters like the two Rockys and Loe Lewis used to fight a bum a month while awaiting the big fight. Ali fought a bum a year. Television added so much money to his purses that he only needed one or two small fights a year.
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Tyson’s run of knocking out a bum a month on his way up in AC was pretty wild.

Quote: mcallister3200

Quote: billryan

Fighters like the two Rockys and Loe Lewis used to fight a bum a month while awaiting the big fight. Ali fought a bum a year. Television added so much money to his purses that he only needed one or two small fights a year.
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Tyson’s run of knocking out a bum a month on his way up in AC was pretty wild.
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I don't know when I was happier than when Douglas knocked out Tyson as a 42-1 underdog in Tokyo in 1990.

Quote: DRich

Quote: mcallister3200

Quote: billryan

Fighters like the two Rockys and Loe Lewis used to fight a bum a month while awaiting the big fight. Ali fought a bum a year. Television added so much money to his purses that he only needed one or two small fights a year.
link to original post

Tyson’s run of knocking out a bum a month on his way up in AC was pretty wild.
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I don't know when I was happier than when Douglas knocked out Tyson as a 42-1 underdog in Tokyo in 1990.
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My friend was the boxing reporter for NY Newsday at the time. The paper decided not to send any reporters and hired a local stringer instead. I watched the fight in a bar, and it slowly filled up over the fight. When Buster won, the celebration was akin to when the US hockey team won the gold. I don't think there was a single Tyson fan in the bar, whereas two years before, it would have been full of them.

Quote: billryan

Ali fought a bum a year.
Ali fought nine times in the last five years of his career.
Joe Louis used to fight a bum a month

Ali had 61 fights
he clearly didn't fight a bum a year
if you subtract his the 9 times he fought in his last 5 years when he was in decline (he was 34 by then) you get 52
52 in 16 years - that equals 3.25 per year; a little more often than once every four months
and many of those he fought were not bums
Joe Louis had 69 fights in the 14 years he was active
if he had fought a bum every month he would have had 168 fights not 69

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Joe Louis record

9-27-1950 W
11-29-1950 W
01-03-1951 W
02-07-1951 W
02-23-1951 W
05-02-1951 W( fight rescheduled from April)
06-15-1951 W
08-01-1951 W
08-15-1951W
10-26-1951 L Retired for the second and last time.

In 1941, denouncing the state of the boxing heavyweight division, Loius and his manager announced the Bum of the Month tour, where Louis would travel and fight a local boxer each month. WW2 got in the way, and he only had four fights between 1942 and 1946. He retired in 1947 but had to come back as his financials were all screwed up.

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a clearer picture of "the bum of the month" thing which was a slogan made up by the media

from the link:

"Dad was telling me how Louis, early in his career, had fought every month from December 1940 to June, 1941. Seven months, seven fights. Nowadays, we’re lucky to see one of the champs fight twice a year.

I was intrigued.

Dad said, The media called it, "The Bum of the Month Club’.”

Then he added this caveat, “None of them were really bums. It’s just that he (Louis) was so much better.”

I hate it when the term "bum” and a fighter are used in proximity. To me, anyone who has the guts to get in a ring and throw hands with another man deserves respect. Boxers begin their career with a dream, and are likely the only ones who can see it happening. Their life is a crazy one, with many ups and downs and the fear of being disabled or, for that matter, dying threatening the future.

When he began what I’ll call “The Contender of the Month” campaign, he had made 11 successful title defenses.

His first fight was against Al McCoy in Boston. McCoy had defeated former light heavyweight champion Tommy Loughran, and contenders Natie Brown, Bob Olin, Nathan Mann, and Buddy Knox, over the course of his career. He wasn’t ranked in the (top-10) top ten but he was hardly an unknown before meeting Louis. McCoy (69-16, 47 KOs) had lost by decision to up-and-comer Billy Conn. McCoy was game, but Louis stopped him after round five.

Next up was tough Red Burman (73-16, 30 KOs). Burman worked with the legendary Jack Dempsey before the fight. His game was body punching. He was told to stay low, since a crouch had given Louis problems in the past. Burman attacked Louis throughout the match, landing a left hook that drew blood in the opening stanza. He landed more shots, standing toe-to-toe with the champion, but by round five, Louis was attacking the body puncher’s belly. Three pulverizing shots left Burman immobile on the ropes and in no shape to continue. Louis told the Associated Press after the fight,

“He really came after me. I had to hit him the hardest I ever hit a man.”

Louis ventured to Philadelphia three weeks later to fight Gus Dorazio. The hometown hero entered the ring with a record of 49 wins in 58 fights. His biggest victory had been over third ranking contender, Bob Pastor. Dorazio employed a crouch as well, but a hook to the ribs in round two straightened him up. A combination ended things a few seconds later.

Next up was big Abe Simon, ranked number six. in Detroit. Simon had been stopped by fellow giant Buddy Baer a few years before, but rebounded to knock out future heavyweight champion Jersey Joe Walcott 13 months prior to meeting Louis.

Many thought Louis, fighting in his native Detroit for the first time in two years, would have an easy time against the hulking Simon, Louis trainer Jack Blackburn disagreed. He predicted a knockout victory for his charge, but also a tough fight. Blackburn was right on both counts. Simon found success with his jab, peppering Louis consistently. He was floored multiple times, showing the heart of a lion before finally succumbing in round 13.

Former light heavyweight champion Conn was flying high after knocking out Bob Pastor in 1940. Conn,23, had replaced Pastor as the number one ranked heavyweight. He entered his fight with Louis having had won 19 consecutive bouts. Never considered a very hard puncher, he made it a point of sitting down on his blows. The result was four straight knockouts. Conn, giving up close to 30 pounds, was extremely confident he could end the title reign of Louis, and for 12 rounds he proved it.

Ahead on two of three scorecards, all Conn needed to do was to bank another round and survive for six minutes. He could do that, but he wanted a knockout. Badly. How dramatic would that be? But his ambition would prove to be his undoing. Instead of boxing, he stood toe-toe with Louis, exchanging shots.

A minute in, a Louis right hurt him. Conn battled, but Louis fired punches in bunches, until, with two seconds to go in the round, a final flurry floored Conn for the count.

Hardly "bums,” any of the seven fighters Louis boxed. Some were better than others, one even a Hall of Famer, but all put forth maximum effort when they got their chance to fight one of the greatest fighters who ever lived.

They say that respect is earned, not given. I say let’s give the seven men who fought Louis all the respect in the world, because you know what? They earned it."


https://www.maxboxing.com/news/news/joe-louis-and-the-bum-of-the-month---oh-yeah


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You are welcome to disagree, but when the World Champion is fighting someone who has already lost sixteen fights, that is a Bum of the Month fight. Before television, fighters had to fight more often because the purses weren't there. Joe Louis had many mouths to support, and his camp expenses were killer. He also had an insane fight with the IRS, which wanted half a million dollars in taxes on purses that he had donated to War Relief. He needed to fight, but couldn't fight a contender that might beat him.

When Ali should have been in his prime, he gave Chuck Wepner, Ron Lyle, Joe Bugner, J.P Cooper, Alfredo Evangelista, and Richard Dunn shots at his belt. He didn't need to fight. He figured out how to monetize his fame.

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best line ever imo from a boxer -
Larry Holmes was interviewed after beating up an old and out of shape Ali
he said:

"I'm not the greatest - I'm just the latest."____________________________(-:/

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Quote: billryan

You are welcome to disagree, but when the World Champion is fighting someone who has already lost sixteen fights, that is a Bum of the Month fight.

by your standards Ray Robinson (who most believe to be one of the greatest ever and some believe to be the GOAT) who lost 19 fights and Jake LaMotta who also lost 19 fights were also bums.

and that would go for Roberto Duran too who lost 16 fights - just another bum

of course, they're all in the Boxing Hall of Fame and well deservedly so

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Quote: lilredrooster

Quote: billryan

You are welcome to disagree, but when the World Champion is fighting someone who has already lost sixteen fights, that is a Bum of the Month fight.

by your standards Ray Robinson (who most believe to be one of the greatest ever and some believe to be the GOAT) who lost 19 fights and Jake LaMotta who also lost 19 fights were also bums.

and that would go for Roberto Duran too who lost 16 fights - just another bum

of course, they're all in the Boxing Hall of Fame and well deservedly so

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link to original post

Thirty-year-old Roberto Duran was a legend. Forty-year-old Duran was a washed-up legend. Forty-seven-year-old Duran was a joke.