The 2004 Olympics are almost upon us, and what I’ve found interesting is that no one has called or written as to my view of the prospects of our Olympic Boxing Team in Athens, Greece. Have we lost our national pride?

Since no one has asked, I’ll tell you anyhow. But first allow me to vent a moment on how the Olympics operate and why I’ve lost interest in most of the events.

Forget the newer sports that aren’t really sports. The problem with the Olympics is that greed for the Gold has once again corrupted them. I enjoyed watching the event when amateurs only competed. It was more competitive and more exciting.

In recent years the pros have been allowed to compete in some sports, and while that may increase viewer ship, in many cases it hurts competition.

For example, I won’t watch pro basketball players running up the score against what passes for professional hoops in other countries. I feel that it hurts our image to win a game by 40 or more points. Runaway games serve no purpose except to build the players ego.

Hockey at least is filled with pro players from throughout the World so that can and will be a lot more competitive.

But back to the Olympic Boxing Team. Olympic Style Boxing is always hard to predict, because it depends on the honesty of the judges as much as it does the draw.
How far a fighter goes in the competition depends on both.

And let’s face it, Cuba has a full squad of ‘professional students’ on their team, who in effect do little more then train when not competing, so you know they will always be a force to contend with.

I’ve seen a number of young men from this year’s team compete, and while I’m not overly impressed with most of them, they are capable of bringing home a number of medals for America.

Will they? Again, it depends on the draw and the honesty of the judges.***

And in relation to Olympic Style Boxing, again allow me to urge all fans of the amateurs to check out the movie “Black Cloud” when it comes to a theatre near you. It’s definitely worth seeing, has an important message, and is far more true to life then “Rocky” was.

Please help me with my new book. Send all jokes, quips and boxing oddities to Rngsports@aol.com, thanks, and members of the boxing media are free to send this most welcome information as well.***

Update: We are again taking orders for autographed copies of my new book, “OFF THE CANVAS”. Check our website for details. So far I have heard only good things about the book. Be aware that there is about a 3-week backlog on orders. It could be faster, to get non-autographed delivery “Off the Canvas” which is also available on the web at Authorhouse.com, ID#22873, or through major on line book stores like Borders, Barnes and Noble, Waldenbooks or Amazon.com.***

Agree or disagree, feel free to express your views.

Glove2Glove:

An old boxing guy passed away in Sacramento a few weeks back, when Sid Tenner went to his last reward. See ya in the big ring in the sky, old friend. You cashed your bet, as you were a 3-1 favorite to get there before me…Rest in peace.

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.

Prayers are requested for Donna Jean Landers, boxing fan from Oklahoma, who has been fighting cancer for three years. She needs your help my friends.

Please say prayers for writer Marty Carson (auto accident) and his wife (health problems) of Indiana. Marty is a long time friend and a boxing expert.

Please say prayers for the return to health of Orazio Esposito, father of our photographer Richard Esposito.

Sandy Johnson a staff member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission is fighting breast cancer. A call, e-mail or card, along with your prayers would really do a lot to raise the spirits of an old friend.

Special prayers go out to Mills Lane for his complete recovery. Mills, who suffered a stroke a few years back may be down, but knowing him, he’s far from out.

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. And to Arthur Terciera, father of writer Keith, also having heart related problems.

Prayers are requested for Ringsports.com photo journalist Dale Hausner of Arizona, who is having problems with cancer.

Prayers are requested for Kenneth E. Ryther father of our photo journalist Amy Green. Kenneth is suffering from Parkinson’s.

Prayers for Ed “Whitey” Hadar, a former boxer who is having some serious health problems.

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 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: With this new terrorist alert, I am concerned about frightened Americans resorting to racial profiling and hatred. It’s wrong, but it’s certainly understandable. Please keep in mind, not all Arabs are terrorists or hate us. Look at what they’re doing to each other in various other parts of the World. The terrorists don’t care if they kill their blood brothers or not. All they care about is achieving their goal of world domination.

A long time Republican friend of mine asked if Bush pulled out of Iraq, would I endorse him, and if not, what would it take?

I don’t endorse candidates! How many people care who I am supporting? Why would my endorsement carry any weight? All I am is one of many concerned Americans who want to make our Country and this World safe for future generations.

But back to the question. While I felt going into Iraq alone was mistake, I do not want us to pull out of Iraq now. We’ve made a commitment and to pull out now would show weakness and start a Civil War.

Many would say that there is a Civil War going on in Iraq now, and I see that happening, but I also see it getting even worse if we pull out. And showing weakness to those terrorists who are pledged to kill us at any cost, further weakens our positions, not only in Iraq, but in the entire World.

As to the second part of the question, what would it take, let me just say some major changes at the top, like Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, etc. and move up some people who have a better idea of how to deal with terrorism like McCain and Powell.

I’d also like to see our President take significant steps to reduce out-sourcing of jobs, tax breaks for senior citizens, allow federal funding for stem cell research, allow buying of prescription drugs from Canada, and to keep our borders safer.

And I would also like the President to disavow the negative ads attacking Kerry’s military record, because no matter where the truth lies, Kerry was willing to risk life and limb to serve his country in Viet Nam. Not blaming Bush or Cheney for not serving in a no-win war, a lot of folks got away with that, but you have to respect anyone who did serve and risk paying the ultimate price. And the President did wear our uniform, even if he didn’t see active duty.

As I said, I won’t endorse any candidate, but these changes would make a tough choice on Election Day a lot easier for me to make. I don’t trust the ‘hawks’ mentioned above, but I do have trust in guys like Powell and McCain, who have seen first-hand the ugliness of war, and I would feel quite a bit safer if they were making the decisions.

But let me say this to my fellow Americans, no matter the amount of negativity in the political campaigns, always keep in mind that neither Bush or Kerry are not the enemy, Al Qaeda is! And we must stand united against them. We have a choice for President, but we have no choices when it comes to Al Qaeda.

Marie Antoinette said to the hungry masses “let them eat cake”. To paraphrase this to all the terrorists I say: “Let them eat pork!”***

Finally, how about a semi-postal stamp of President Reagan, with the semi proceeds used to help finance stem cell research?***

Agree or disagree, I’d like to hear from you.