Best of the
Year Awards
2006
Everyone can give
thanks for another year of life in Gunsmoke.
Stockton was awarded the dumbest place in California, due to the fact
that very few people read. Is it
any wonder so such violence and, political corruption takes place?
Education equals political participation, lack of it, equals apathy and
crime. Thank God, anyone who wants
can still leave this awful place. It
feels like a combat zone, only I’m not allowed to carry a gun.
Anyone thinking about moving here should buy the paper for a week, I’m
sure they’d change their minds. I wish the realtor who sold me this place had
told about the near by park’s reputation after dark, as a gay hang out.
I hope the realtor who lied via omission remembers that what goes around,
comes around. The best thing about
Stockton is that it has two free ways, and one can get the hell out of here in a
hurry. I have awarded Stockton as
the worse venue over all.
This year, I will
include another area to the awards. I will list the best of, The Worst for
Professional Courtesy. The awards
are in the areas of Best Venue, Best Ring Girls, Best Card, Best Professional
Corporation and Best Surrounding Area. On
the dark side, are Worst Venue, Worst Ring Girls, Worst Card, and Worst
Professional Courtesy?
First
Place all around.
Jerry Hoffman’s Riot in Downtown Monterrey takes it hands down.
Jerry has demonstrated via actions that it is possible to present an
excellent show, without so many of the negative aspect of boxing.
His shows have consistently brought the best of area boxers to local
fans. He has offered local boxers a chance to advance their careers.
I can not fault him for locating less than lethal opponents for local
boxers, remember, the objective is to help improve their records in order to
help sale tickets. Every promoter across the country does this, its part of
boxing, and good business. As long as area boxer continue to train and are ready, Jerry
will continue to give them work, even if its only twice a year.
Best
Ring Girls, once again Jerry Hoffman,
takes it. I don’t know where he finds those young ladies, but as far as
eye-candy, Jerry seems to have the best around.
Best
Venue, once again Jerry Hoffman
takes it without a doubt, Monterrey is a beautiful place without boxing.
Anyone who has not heard the sounds of the foghorns, sea lions and ocean,
can not say they’ve visited California. Not
only is the city itself a beautiful setting, the surrounding areas are equally
as attractive. Jerry’s last show
was done with a touch of elegance and fineness.
The Portal Plaza Hotel is an excellent venue, and I had a great time
there. I salute Mr. Hoffman and wish continued success.
Jerry Hoffman also
takes what I consider a very important award.
The Best Professional Courtesy Award. As a life long fan of the
sport, I consider this an essential aspect of boxing because it is very hard to
find. Sitting ringside is essential
for a sportswriter. It gives me an opportunity to experience the fight first
hand and up close. There are no
other words to express my heart-felt gratitude for the opportunity to do so.
I salute Mr. Hoffman and thank him profoundly for giving me the chance to
cover his fights from ringside. I suggest Jerry have a reception table at the
next after fight party, where boxers and fans can been, exchange pleasantries
and sign autographs. I’ll happily volunteer to help organize it for him.
Second
Place Over All, is the new
boy on the block. Promoter James Feller.
James has stage several boxing events at the Pepper Tree Hotel in
Modesto. Although Modesto is not know as a fight town, James has single handily
managed to revive boxing and given local boxers a chance to demonstrate their
ability. Thanks to him area boxer have a place to rumble and seek their dreams
Professional
Courtesy, Second Place, once James
Feller gets the nod. He had
always behaved in an above average manner. He has given me the opportunity to
seat ringside and there are no better sits. James is on his way to establishing
himself as The Promoter in the Central Valley. I salute him and wish him
continued success.
Second
Place, Best Ring Girls, Once
again James Feller seems to have found the best eye candy in the Valley.
James might have the Candy Man touch when it comes to ring decorations,
because all of his shows seemed to have an abundance of female dressing.
Second
Place Best Venue, James Feller
gets the nod. His venue at the Pepper Tree Hotel in Modesto was a great place.
It’s right of highway 99, and close to home.
He had plenty of security and there were not unpleasant incidents to
report.
Over
All, Third Place Arco Area, As
usually the big guys are too busy to take care of little details. Arco Area,
with all its resources failed to bring its best game. The venue is not all that
good. It could use a little help.
They earned second to the last place in professional courtesy and last
place in Ring Girls. Its only promoter seems to believe they own boxing, or
least part of it. The female part of the team is rude, and behaved in a below
standard manner for such an elderly woman. I asked for a pair of free passes for
two amateur national team members, she blew up in a most undignified manner.
I was more surprised seemed to forget that other people witnessed her
outburst. I wouldn’t respond, and
let her vent her venom upon me. It was most distasteful, and why I say, age is no sign of
wisdom. I am not one to turn the other cheek, or forget an insult. Mario Puzzo,
author of the Godfather said it best. Never refuse a favor, especially when
asked by a serious man. Clint said it best in the Unforgiven, “ No one forgets
nothing.”
Last
place, Over All. The Pavilion, in
San Jose. I say it, because I travel a great distance and get the least when I
get there. I was pushed aside, and
treated with disrespect and discourtesy. I have been repeatedly disappointed
with the Pavilion. I have done what
I consider above and beyond for them, and yet I continue to receive no
consideration. I am forced to sit in terrible seating.
Its impossible to speak to the fighters or even gets a decent picture. I
feel justified in giving the Pavilion last place in every category.
Terrible seats zero professional courtesy, terrible fight cards, and
unattractive ring girls. San Jose is crowded and has that feeling of being a
dangerous, foreign place. As a venue, it sucks.
Boxing fans are given the least and charged the most. About the only
redeeming quality I can say, is there they bothered to offer boxing at all.
For all its resources, you’d think it could afford the best eye candy
in the world, but it failed to gain even the least prestigious award.
As a dedicated sports writer who drives over a hundred miles to get
there, I resent having to seat anywhere other than ringside. I reserve the title
of the worst venue for Stockton.
The Last and Most
Worst place goes to James Grunsy of Stockton.
The guy I once considered the up and comer comes in last in every single
category. He was less than honest with the fans, which has no category
outside of appropriate vocabulary. He failed to offer me a press credential to
cover his cage fights, and he failed to explain behavior I still have not
explained. I find such a performance below standard, even below those found in
the valley, which seems to have the lowest behavior standards I’ve ever
endured.
On much different
level, I love boxing, and I generally respect the fighters who participant on an
honorable level. I do not want to spend time or effort on the dark side of
boxing; it would serve no purpose and only bring more dishonors to the game.
Those who love boxing, such as I, will continue to do so.
I want to congratulate Slvesyester
Stallion on his latest movie. Although it was only a fairy tale, I enjoyed
it. Thank you Rocky, sorry time
caught you, as it will catch us all.
In the last
category and which I consider the heart of boxing is The
Amateur Award. I want to give Joey and Richard, first
place for their once a month sparring sessions at the Bad to Bonz Gym in Modesto. Joey and Richard suffered a harsh blow
this year with the behavior of their former boxer. The Beast was arrested with
over 126 pounds of drugs. His
behavior brought shame and discredit to those who knew him. It breaks my heart,
but things are what they are. My
hat goes off to Joey and Richard for offering the best of boxing, something the
President of the Central Valley boxing association never had the heart, grit, or
imagination to offer, a once month amateur event worthy of any formal event.
In The
Worst of the Worse Category, The Central Valley Amateur Association has
become the example of how not to run an organization. Inter conflict, back
stabbing, gossip to the point of discredit, and failure to operate even by the
lowest standards. The officers who knowingly supported black listing me have no
excuse, and no motive, outside of self-perpetuation. I have never said anything
that was untrue or misquoted. I
can not imagine a lower type of human being, or anyone, conducting them in such
a manner. I have no words to
continue. I know God works in mysterious ways, let’s hope he has use for these
old guys, because they serve no purpose here.
Those who are forced to endure their conduct, do so without recourse.
There is no honor in such behavior. No words exist to describe such ongoing,
below standard conduct. It could only happen in an all-volunteer organization.
The USA Boxing headquarters is swamped with complaints about these boys
and is unable to intervene. It is
the most shameful part of boxing I can name.
As
the year’s ends, I salute everyone who helped me along the way. I wish those who didn’t, nothing. To the President of
the Central Valley Association and those who black listed me by refusing to
share information, and participated in hateful behavior towards me, I quote
Clint Eastwood in the Unforgiving;
” Nobody forgets nothing”.
Add another black
eye to stockton‘s long history of almost heroes much to my dismay, but not
surprise, Rodney Jones, a local boxer who had a once in a life time opportunity
to fight for a world title, blew it. He
failed to leave this place of broken dreams, and seek assistance in Los Angeles.
Without proper coaching, and demanding sparring partners he suffered a
humiliating defeat during his attempt. He failed to recreate himself, and gave
away the greatest dream of his life, a world title. I am unable to explain why he would not spend a few dollars
to go to LA and train at one of the gyms that offer professional sparring.
I have still been unable to identify why Valley boys can’t or won’t
leave the valley. Recently another
local boy committed suicide while stationed in Iraq.
Come on man, what the hell. You’re
already in a combat zone, why would you kill yourself?
It’s been said people who grow up along the coast are adventures, those
who grow up in the mountains are robust, those who grow up in the deserts are
resources, and those who grow up in the valleys are pampered.
On top of the inbreeding, lack of motivation, lack of ambition, and zero
imagination, this is too much. This
is another reason to leave Stockton.
I invited those
who wish to join the ranks of boxers, in competition or just for sport to join
me at Fitness Systems Gym at 502 North Cherokee Lane in Lodi.
I offer boxing lessons, starting with a six week no contact boxing boot
camp for anyone who just wants the exercise.
The owner is making a special offer of membership for anyone who wishes
to join.
I apologize for my
absence, a death in the family, and the loss of several of my army buddies in
Iraq and Afghanistan took the wind out of my sails.
Such a loss leaves one feeling stunned.
Anyone who has had to stand, and fight when someone is trying to kill you
can attest, it’s not an easy thing to do. Trying to aim your weapon while the
enemy is raining death upon you is not an easy thing.
To loose someone who has volunteered to face such dangerous, for the love
of country, or poverty, and desire of a better life makes it doubly difficult.
I salute my fallen comrades and offer condolences to their families.
I remain steadfast
in my desire to bring the best of local boxing to area fans. I thank the
universe and all the powers that be; Once Again, I say Thank God for Boxing,
I mean it from the
bottom of my heart.