Would you spar with Ernest Hemingway? A dangerous image indeed, be it verbal or physical. Schulberg opts for the former, but damn near comes to blows with Papa. They exchange jabs regarding the ring, beginning with questions about Leo Houck, and moving on to Pinky Mitchell. When Papa fires a right cross at Schulberg about Pete Latzo, the author calmly rolls with it. Schulberg liked to say that “Papa bullied him all over the ring but finally quit between rounds.” Regardless of the conclusion, Schulberg spars with “The Sweet Science” over 256 pages in this masterful work. He was without question the nonpareil observer.
Budd Schulberg's love affair with boxing began when he was twelve, when he saw his first bouts at the Hollywood Legion. Over the years, between novels, he was Sports Illustrated's first boxing editor and covered title fights for Playboy, Esquire, Newsday, and the New York Post. This new book collects the best of Mr. Schulberg's reportage on the Sweet Science, from Benny Leonard to Muhammad Ali to George Foreman. In addition to pieces on the great fights and great fighters of the last seventy-five years, Mr. Schulberg offers reflections on the social history of the fight game; the mystique of…
Choosing to write a book about boxing trainers over a boxer, was like opting to pen a title about a pitching coach over a star hurler. Yet, author Ronald K. Fried opens a new door the world of boxing in this entertaining and authoritative dissertation. While surnames like Arcel, Bimstein, Blackburn, Dundee, Futch, and Silvani aren’t household names, after reading this perceptive work you may ask yourself, if of course you savor pugilism, why aren’t they? The supporting cast includes the elite of the fight game, most of which are familiar to the casual fight fan; names like Ali, Duran, Frazier, Graziano, etc. Metaphors are thrown like punches, from these twelve and fifteen round conductors, each carrying great meaning to their subjects. After all, to be a great champion you must believe you are the best, or insist that your corner men tell you that you are.
The ultimate book on boxing trainers, the men who shaped the champions
A New York Times Notable Book of the Year
Corner Men includes profiles of Angelo Dundee, Ray Arcel, Whitey Bimstein, Al Silvani, and many others, and a special chapter on the golden days of New York's notorious Stillman's Gym. Indexed and illustrated with black-and-white photos throughout.
"Fried delivers an action-packed ten-rounder that ranks as a top contender for fans of the sweet science."--Kirkus Reviews
To modify the old quip by Oscar Wilde, “It's an odd thing in boxing, but anyone who appears on the scene, is said to be seen in New York City. It must be a delightful city and possess all the attractions of the next world.” One thing is certain, if the attractions no longer exist, at least they were once there. Author Lawrence S. Ritter proves this in his work, “East Side West Side, Tales of New York Sporting Life, 1910-1960.” Visit long-lost athletic clubs, bowling lanes, fields, pool halls, gyms, parks, restaurants, saloons, and stadiums, while reliving some of the greatest moments in sports. Every page is filled with a memory, be it Jackie Robinson or Hilda Chester and her ear-shattering cowbell.
Speaking of New York, nobody “lived the city” like William A. Brady. Making his mark in both boxing, as the only person to manage two undisputed heavyweight champions (James J. Jeffries and James J. Corbett), and in theater, as a Broadway mogul who produced more than 260 plays, he even managed the likes of Helen Hayes, Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., and Tallulah Bankhead. Brady also discovered actor Humphrey Bogart, promoted fascinating celebrities like bicycle racer Major Taylor, polar explorer Matthew Henson and even wrestler Yusuf Ismail, all while buying or building some of the greatest theaters in New York City. As one of the most fascinating individuals of his time, William A. Brady was proof that you can become a man of both success and value.
