However, few doubt that he was perhaps the toughest and most fearless of fighters, and in one statistic he is unsurpassed ... the Rock finished his career with a record of 49-0 - the only heavyweight champion to retire and remain unbeaten.
Monday, October 23, 2017
And Still Undefeated
Rocky Marciano was not the most skillful or polished boxer, and maybe not the greatest prize fighter of all time either.
However, few doubt that he was perhaps the toughest and most fearless of fighters, and in one statistic he is unsurpassed ... the Rock finished his career with a record of 49-0 - the only heavyweight champion to retire and remain unbeaten.
However, few doubt that he was perhaps the toughest and most fearless of fighters, and in one statistic he is unsurpassed ... the Rock finished his career with a record of 49-0 - the only heavyweight champion to retire and remain unbeaten.
The Brown Bomber - American Hero
Joe Louis holds distinction for his fame in and out of the boxing ring.
"The Brown Bomber" held the heavyweight title longer than any other fighter (1937-1949) and also defended the title the most times (25).
Louis also transcended racial attitudes of the time by becoming one of the first African American athletes (the other being Jesse Owens) to gain widespread popularity among black and white Americans. Like Owens, Louis did so by defeating a foe that represented a larger threat to the nation. Click on the link to see and hear a terrific video clip on the famous Joe Louis-Max Schmeling battles.
"The Brown Bomber" held the heavyweight title longer than any other fighter (1937-1949) and also defended the title the most times (25).
Louis also transcended racial attitudes of the time by becoming one of the first African American athletes (the other being Jesse Owens) to gain widespread popularity among black and white Americans. Like Owens, Louis did so by defeating a foe that represented a larger threat to the nation. Click on the link to see and hear a terrific video clip on the famous Joe Louis-Max Schmeling battles.
Million Dollar Mauler
Jack Dempsey, nicknamed the Manassa Mauler, ushered in the era of huge money in prize fighting.
After winning the title with a brutal victory over giant Jess Willard in 1919 (we watched the youtube video clip in class), Dempsey reigned as America's most prominent athlete-celebrity of the roaring 1920s (eclipsing even such luminaries as Babe Ruth, Bobby Jones, and Knute Rockne).
Dempsey's 1921 bout against Frenchman Georges Carpentier was the first prize fight to draw a $1 million gate ... and the first of five consecutive Dempsey fights to reach that magic amount. To my knowledge, Jack Dempsey still holds the distinction of attracting the most million dollar gates in prize fighting history (much of the revenue from fights since 1971 comes from closed-circuit and pay-per-view buys).
Jack's "long-count" match (bottom picture) against Gene Tunney in 1927 became his most famous and last fight.
Video Clips:
Dempsey vs. Willard
Dempsey vs. Tunney (Long Count)
After winning the title with a brutal victory over giant Jess Willard in 1919 (we watched the youtube video clip in class), Dempsey reigned as America's most prominent athlete-celebrity of the roaring 1920s (eclipsing even such luminaries as Babe Ruth, Bobby Jones, and Knute Rockne).
Dempsey's 1921 bout against Frenchman Georges Carpentier was the first prize fight to draw a $1 million gate ... and the first of five consecutive Dempsey fights to reach that magic amount. To my knowledge, Jack Dempsey still holds the distinction of attracting the most million dollar gates in prize fighting history (much of the revenue from fights since 1971 comes from closed-circuit and pay-per-view buys).
Jack's "long-count" match (bottom picture) against Gene Tunney in 1927 became his most famous and last fight.
Video Clips:
Dempsey vs. Willard
Dempsey vs. Tunney (Long Count)
Papa Jack
Jack Johnson was many things ... a good (perhaps great) prize fighter, a racial pioneer of sorts in sport (the first African American heavyweight champ), a scofflaw, an abuser of women ... but without doubt a person who lived life on his own terms.
Like him or dislike him, Papa Jack (and if you read the book by Randy Roberts we'll be spare here) is an American sporting icon and a natural predecessor to a later generation of African American athletes (most notably Muhammad Ali).
Like him or dislike him, Papa Jack (and if you read the book by Randy Roberts we'll be spare here) is an American sporting icon and a natural predecessor to a later generation of African American athletes (most notably Muhammad Ali).
Big Jeff
The early fighter who holds up best when compared to modern champs (in the view of boxing historians) is Jim Jeffries.
"Big Jeff" stood over 6'2 and weighed nearly 220 pounds and is considered perhaps the strongest of all champs. He retired as the undefeated champ in 1903, but is most remembered for coming out of retirement and losing to Jack Johnson on July 4, 1910, in one of the most socially significant sporting events of the 20th century.
"Big Jeff" stood over 6'2 and weighed nearly 220 pounds and is considered perhaps the strongest of all champs. He retired as the undefeated champ in 1903, but is most remembered for coming out of retirement and losing to Jack Johnson on July 4, 1910, in one of the most socially significant sporting events of the 20th century.
The Great John L
The "Boston Strongboy" ... John L. Sullivan is generally recognized as the first heavyweight prize fighting champ.
Holding the title from 1882 to 1889, Sullivan is remembered as the last bareknuckles champ and as America's first true sporting superstar.
Sullivan lost the title to Gentleman Jim Corbett, a scientific boxer from San Francisco, who managed to outbox and tire out the aging champ.
Holding the title from 1882 to 1889, Sullivan is remembered as the last bareknuckles champ and as America's first true sporting superstar.
Sullivan lost the title to Gentleman Jim Corbett, a scientific boxer from San Francisco, who managed to outbox and tire out the aging champ.
Gouge and Bite ... "Sport on the American Frontier"
Southern backwoods brawling was a vicious forerunner of modern American prize fighting.
In class, we will learn of the evolution of pugilism rules - from Figg Fighting to Broughton and London Ring Rules and finally to Queensbury Rules. However, these frontier free-for-alls only resembled a boxing or prize fighting match at the start of a contest. Once the fight began, they became much more brutal and few of the rules of sport applied.
For an excellent scholarly article on frontier and backwoods fighting, please see Elliot Gorn's "Gouge and Bite, Pull Hair and Scratch."
In class, we will learn of the evolution of pugilism rules - from Figg Fighting to Broughton and London Ring Rules and finally to Queensbury Rules. However, these frontier free-for-alls only resembled a boxing or prize fighting match at the start of a contest. Once the fight began, they became much more brutal and few of the rules of sport applied.
For an excellent scholarly article on frontier and backwoods fighting, please see Elliot Gorn's "Gouge and Bite, Pull Hair and Scratch."
Chunkey
In our section on foundations of modern American sport, we examined three groups that influenced early American sport ... European settlers, Native Americans, and Africans (many of whom were slaves). Below is a depiction of rolling the "chunkey" stone, a game of Native American origin ...
Origins of Modern American Sport
The first truly significant sports event in American history is generally accepted to have been a horse race.
In 1823, a two of three heats (each heat lasting 4 miles!) match race between Sir Henry and American Eclipse took place on Long Island in front of 60,000 spectators.
The race (won by American Eclipse in three heats) not only marked the rise of popular spectator sports in the U.S., but also the growing regional tensions between North and South in the young nation. The link above provides a concise summary of the race (along with good links to horse racing information), while this article provides a nice overview of the sport's history.
In 1823, a two of three heats (each heat lasting 4 miles!) match race between Sir Henry and American Eclipse took place on Long Island in front of 60,000 spectators.
The race (won by American Eclipse in three heats) not only marked the rise of popular spectator sports in the U.S., but also the growing regional tensions between North and South in the young nation. The link above provides a concise summary of the race (along with good links to horse racing information), while this article provides a nice overview of the sport's history.
American Eclipse
Saturday, October 14, 2017
The Olympics - This Is Your Time
A few final Olympic highlights from our section on the modern games ...
In 1980 and 1984, the US and USSR traded boycotts of the Summer Games.
The US boycott of the 1980 Moscow games was in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; the USSR reciprocated for the 1984 LA Games (supposedly due to security concerns).
A few final highlights as we close out the Olympics:
The U.S. Hockey team won the 1980 Gold after defeating the USSR in the Miracle on Ice match in the semifinal round. Here are a few clips ...
Herb Brooks (as played by Kurt Russell) in the pregame speech before the Americans played the heavily favored Soviets.
Mike Eruzione's game-winning third period goal that put the Americans up 4-3 (at around 3:30 mark on video).
Al Michael's famous "Do You Believe In Miracles" call at the end of the game.
In 1984, Mary Lou Retton became the first American gymnast (and gymnast of any nation outside Eastern Europe) to win the women's all-around competition.
Here is her famous gold-medal winning vault.
In 1980 and 1984, the US and USSR traded boycotts of the Summer Games.
The US boycott of the 1980 Moscow games was in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; the USSR reciprocated for the 1984 LA Games (supposedly due to security concerns).
A few final highlights as we close out the Olympics:
The U.S. Hockey team won the 1980 Gold after defeating the USSR in the Miracle on Ice match in the semifinal round. Here are a few clips ...
Herb Brooks (as played by Kurt Russell) in the pregame speech before the Americans played the heavily favored Soviets.
Mike Eruzione's game-winning third period goal that put the Americans up 4-3 (at around 3:30 mark on video).
Al Michael's famous "Do You Believe In Miracles" call at the end of the game.
In 1984, Mary Lou Retton became the first American gymnast (and gymnast of any nation outside Eastern Europe) to win the women's all-around competition.
Here is her famous gold-medal winning vault.
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
The Games Must Go On
As discussed in class, the 1972 Munich Games are the most tragic of the modern Olympics ... this 2002 Sports Illustrated series from Alexander Wolff provides an excellent supplement to our course notes.
Avery Brundage (pictured below - 2nd from top) near the end of his reign as IOC president, made a controversial (but generally agreed upon) decision that "the games must go on" after the chilling and tragic 18-hour ordeal that came to be known as the Munich Massacre.
From an American athletic perspective, the Games held few highlights - the brightest being the 7-gold medal performance of swimmer Mark Spitz. Every bit as dominant as Michael Phelps is today, Spitz set new world records in all seven victories ... click here to see video clips of his wins.
Dave Wottle (shown in trademark cap below) won a thrilling 800 M race (click to view), but joy for the US basketball team was short-lived after the Soviets scored on a (third) last-chance field goal to win 51-50 in the gold medal game - America's first loss in Olympic men's basketball competition (the link above is a musical piece with snapshots of the controversial loss).
Teenage Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut (top picture) captured hearts east and west with her spectacular routine on the uneven parallel bars ... she ushered in a golden age of gymnastics. Click here to see her 1972 performance.
Avery Brundage (pictured below - 2nd from top) near the end of his reign as IOC president, made a controversial (but generally agreed upon) decision that "the games must go on" after the chilling and tragic 18-hour ordeal that came to be known as the Munich Massacre.
From an American athletic perspective, the Games held few highlights - the brightest being the 7-gold medal performance of swimmer Mark Spitz. Every bit as dominant as Michael Phelps is today, Spitz set new world records in all seven victories ... click here to see video clips of his wins.
Dave Wottle (shown in trademark cap below) won a thrilling 800 M race (click to view), but joy for the US basketball team was short-lived after the Soviets scored on a (third) last-chance field goal to win 51-50 in the gold medal game - America's first loss in Olympic men's basketball competition (the link above is a musical piece with snapshots of the controversial loss).
Teenage Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut (top picture) captured hearts east and west with her spectacular routine on the uneven parallel bars ... she ushered in a golden age of gymnastics. Click here to see her 1972 performance.
The Fists
After a twenty-year run of very popular and mostly peaceful and placid Games, the 1968 Mexico City Olympics seethed with controversy - most involving American athletes and the issue of race.
In class we discussed the raised fists of Tommie Smith and John Carlos, the flag-bearing George Foreman, and the exploits of Bob Beamon, Dick Fosbury, and others.
A memorable and controversial Games.
In class we discussed the raised fists of Tommie Smith and John Carlos, the flag-bearing George Foreman, and the exploits of Bob Beamon, Dick Fosbury, and others.
A memorable and controversial Games.
Blood in the Water
International controversies in the Olymics date back at least to the 1908 London Games when an emerging rivalry between the US and Great Britain came to light.
One of the ugliest episodes in Olympic history took place in a water polo match at the 1956 Melbourne Games.
In a prelude to controversies in the 1960s and 1970s, Hungary and the Soviet Union (USSR) met in the "Blood in the Water" match just a month after the Red Army of the USSR crushed a Hungarian rebellion in Budapest.
The resulting 4-0 water polo victory for Hungary was one of the roughest, most emotional events ever witnessed in the modern games. The match was stopped with 1:00 left after a Soviet player sucker-punched a Hungarian.
One of the ugliest episodes in Olympic history took place in a water polo match at the 1956 Melbourne Games.
In a prelude to controversies in the 1960s and 1970s, Hungary and the Soviet Union (USSR) met in the "Blood in the Water" match just a month after the Red Army of the USSR crushed a Hungarian rebellion in Budapest.
The resulting 4-0 water polo victory for Hungary was one of the roughest, most emotional events ever witnessed in the modern games. The match was stopped with 1:00 left after a Soviet player sucker-punched a Hungarian.
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Girls Girls Girls
The role allowed women in the modern Olympics is uneven.
Pierre de Coubertin excluded women from the Olympic movement initially, although games as early as the 1900 Paris Olympics included women in events such as tennis and golf.
The 1928 800 Meters Race caused controversy and resulted in distance races for women being discontinued for more than 30 years.
The star of the 1932 LA Games was Mildred "Babe" Didrikson, considered one of America's all-time greatest athletes. The Babe qualified in five events (women were only allowed to take part in three), and won gold in the high hurdles and the javelin ... she probably should have won gold in the high jump but was the victim of a controversial ruling on her final jump (she won silver tying the gold medal winning height).
Pierre de Coubertin excluded women from the Olympic movement initially, although games as early as the 1900 Paris Olympics included women in events such as tennis and golf.
The 1928 800 Meters Race caused controversy and resulted in distance races for women being discontinued for more than 30 years.
The star of the 1932 LA Games was Mildred "Babe" Didrikson, considered one of America's all-time greatest athletes. The Babe qualified in five events (women were only allowed to take part in three), and won gold in the high hurdles and the javelin ... she probably should have won gold in the high jump but was the victim of a controversial ruling on her final jump (she won silver tying the gold medal winning height).
The Flying Finn
Between 1920 and 1928, Paavo Nurmi, the greatest of a group of Finnish distance runners tagged "the Flying Finns" captured 9 gold and 3 silver medals.
Nurmi likely would have won more at the 1932 LA Games, but was declared a professional and banned from participation. He would make a triumphant return as the torch bearer of the 1952 Helsinki Games in his native Finland.
A statue of Nurmi stands outside the Helsinki Olympic Stadium.
Nurmi likely would have won more at the 1932 LA Games, but was declared a professional and banned from participation. He would make a triumphant return as the torch bearer of the 1952 Helsinki Games in his native Finland.
A statue of Nurmi stands outside the Helsinki Olympic Stadium.
The World's Greatest Athlete
The 1912 Stockholm Games featured America's premier athlete of the first half of the twentieth century - Jim Thorpe.
Thorpe participated in four events ... winning gold in the decathlon and pentathlon, finishing fourth in the long jump and seventh in the high jump. In presenting the medals to Thorpe, King Gustav of Sweden called him the greatest athlete in the world (to which the laconic Thorpe replied "thanks king.").
Thorpe was soon stripped of his medals because he had accepted money to play baseball for a couple of summers ... thus forfeiting his amateur status and one of the tenets of Olympism.
The medals were not restored until 1983 - 30 years after his death.
Thorpe participated in four events ... winning gold in the decathlon and pentathlon, finishing fourth in the long jump and seventh in the high jump. In presenting the medals to Thorpe, King Gustav of Sweden called him the greatest athlete in the world (to which the laconic Thorpe replied "thanks king.").
Thorpe was soon stripped of his medals because he had accepted money to play baseball for a couple of summers ... thus forfeiting his amateur status and one of the tenets of Olympism.
The medals were not restored until 1983 - 30 years after his death.
Friday, October 6, 2017
The Little Italian
While the tenets of the modern Olympic movement espouse cooperation, non-partisanship, and goodwill (among other ideals) ... well, those were tested within the first decade or so of modern competition.
The famous case of Dorando Pietri ... "The Little Italian" ... in the marathon at the 1908 London Games foreshadowed coming examples of international rivalry, judging issues, and other other modern controversies.
The famous case of Dorando Pietri ... "The Little Italian" ... in the marathon at the 1908 London Games foreshadowed coming examples of international rivalry, judging issues, and other other modern controversies.
Revival of the Olympics
Dormant for centuries, the Olympic Games were revived in 1896 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin of Paris.
As addressed in class, several factors in the late 1800s made the social and sporting climate conducive for a revival of the Games ... not the least of which was the Baron's affection for the English sporting ideal as explempified in the book Tom Brown's School Days. The semi-fictional accounts of vigorous exploits by the boys at Rugby (and the leadership of legendary headmaster Dr. Thomas Arnold) made a strong impression on the Olympic pioneer.
For a thumbnail (and somewhat sanitized) overview of each set of modern games as a supplement to class notes, visit the IOC website.
As addressed in class, several factors in the late 1800s made the social and sporting climate conducive for a revival of the Games ... not the least of which was the Baron's affection for the English sporting ideal as explempified in the book Tom Brown's School Days. The semi-fictional accounts of vigorous exploits by the boys at Rugby (and the leadership of legendary headmaster Dr. Thomas Arnold) made a strong impression on the Olympic pioneer.
For a thumbnail (and somewhat sanitized) overview of each set of modern games as a supplement to class notes, visit the IOC website.
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