The Hurricane

[H2O Man]

Hello, Sports Fans!

On November 7th, I posted a thread on “general discussion” about Dr. Rubin “Hurricane” Carter's new book, which will be available in January, 2011. Rubin had called to ask me if my family and I could meet him in Boston for part of the book tour. Of course, I'm looking forward to that.

Rubin called me again today, in response to a short note I sent, in which I requested an early copy of the book. I want to have some reviews done for area newspapers and select internet sites. I'm also planning to do a radio show that I'm a guest on from time to time.

Long story short: Rube called the publisher today, to have them get a copy in the mail for me. More, he told her that he wants my review to be used for the national publicity. Rubin said that as we've been friends for so long, and that I know the legal case and his personal history so well, that he believes I can best review the book.

As I have shared over the years on this forum, Rubin and I became friends when I was a young teenaged amateur boxer. His influence helped me in that sometimes brutal sport. I admired the way that the “Hurricane” used to knock opponents out, fast and hard, and I ended up with some of New York State's fastest knockouts ( 12- and 13-second TKOs, and an 18-second KO).

I was good enough to be featured in Boxing Illustrated. Although I was still an amateur, the top British boxing writer predicted that I'd soon be a world champion. However, Rubin urged me to hang up the gloves, and to concentrate on further my education in college. It was a tough choice, because I really loved being in the ring. But I entered college, and now, decades later, believe that I made the right choice. (I'm now retired after a career in social work.)

The sport of boxing still fascinates me. As a general rule, the most decent people that you could ever meet are boxers. I also have a high opinion of most trainers, since they tend to be ex-fighters. The managers and promoters are parasites, for the most part. But fighters tend to be an interesting group, with deeply held values about “right” and “wrong,” and fascinating insights on life.

The Hurricane was an outstanding middleweight boxer. He spent twenty years in prison for a crime that he did not commit. And he has dedicated his life to fighting the “Good Fight” since the federal courts overturned his conviction, and released him from incarceration. He works with a law school that advocates for those who were unjustly convicted; fights against the death penalty; and works on international issues involving war and peace. He frequently travels with Nelson Mandela, who wrote the forward to the new book.

It's interesting how sports and politics overlap in our culture.

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Great Post, Waterman!

I too, was an amateur boxer. Back in the mid-70's. Pretty good me-self, too. Didn't have anybody like Hurricane to tell me to hang them up, though. I went to a card of fights at the Chicago Amphitheater with a promoter who befriended me. I saw the pro game close up that night. Scared me straight! I was just about ready to graduate from college and figured it would be better to have been a good amateur than a beat up 30 year old.

I think i made the right choice too. Have fun on your piece of the book tour.
GAC

[H2O Man]

2. When I was a teen,

my perspective was not clear. My brothers and I were good friends with Frank Berry from Syracuse. I remember when he died after a bout when a promoter put him in way over his head. Of course, my thoughts were, "Wow! Poor Frank!" It didn't click that it could happen to anyone.

I recently went to an area gym with my younger son. He's thinking about entering the Golden Gloves again in early 2011, in either the Syracuse or Albany district. He views me as a tyrant, because I will not support him in this unless he is in perfect condition. Still, he respects my knowledge of the sport, and my ability to teach not only the basics, but the very little things that most people are unaware of. (My middle brother spent a lot of time in gyms with both Angelo Dundee and Manny Steward, and combining that with Rubin's insights and my own experience in over 300 bouts is surely an education.)

An old friend was training some youngsters at this gym. We've known each other since the early 1970s, from the Golden Gloves, etc. My second-to-the-last fight was on the card in which he made his pro debut. Mike Nixon upset Mike Rossman in the main event, about a year before Rossman won the light heavyweight title. (Rossman got his revenge in their rematch, which was on ABC's Wide World of Sports.) Maxie invited me to work with him with his stable of fighters, which is certainly tempting.

Chicago has a rich boxing history. I'm sure that you know about when Chicago and NYC used to meet in the days when guys like Ray Robinson were amateurs. With the economy the way it is, I expect boxing will become more popular with young men looking to make it big.

[Auggie]

3. Looks like a great read. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

[H2O Man]

4. In our conversation

yesterday, Rubin was saying the book will shock people. He said that parts of it would even shock me. I said, "Well Rube, you've been shocking people for decades. I don't expect it to be any different now."

I like that Nelson Mandela contributed to the book. He was, by no coincidence, a pretty good amateur boxer himself.

[Auggie]

5. The Mandela foreword caught my eye

Channeling good vibes -- book sales and others -- to Rubin Carter.

[H2O Man]

6. The two of them

have traveled and worked together for many years now. They spend a lot of time in the Middle East, attempting to engage various factions in dispute resolution. (I clearly remember when, years back, Rubin called me late one night, and told me about the work Mr. Mandela and he were doing there.)

Carter also has close ties with the Lakota/Sioux. I remember when Matthew King gave him the name "Badger Star," during a Sune Dance.

Of course, Rubin is now living in Canada. And the Lakota are sovereign. But I think of all the resources that we -- people -- have that can, if given a chance, resolve so many of the conflicts that governments are either incapable of, or unwilling to, settle.

No one person has all the answers. But I appreciate the efforts that people like Nelson Mandela and Rubin Carter make. And I enjoy having the opportunity to add my own small contribution at times.

[H2O Man]

7. Would people be

interested in having me write up a history of the case that resulted in Carter's incarceration?

[Redbear]

8. Yes.Definitely.

That would be very interesting.

[H2O Man]

9. Okay, I will.

I am familiar with details that have never been published. It's a long, complicated story. But I'll do an overview, and then fill in some details as we discuss the case.

In the past couple of weeks, I've been getting out files from the case, etc. Lots of court documents, as well as things from when Rubin was the director of the Rahway Prisoner's Council (which he renamed the Rahway People's Council).

[Auggie]

10. Absolutely