Somebody told me there was a bit of controversy when it was announced that actor Sylvester Stallone had been selected for induction into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.
Really? I must have missed that bus.
My only questions are: 1, who was upset, the International Morons Association and 2, how could the hall in Canastota, New York, keep the creator of “Rocky” out exactly?
Now, with Hall Of Fame Weekend coming up June 10, 11 and 12, some mentally challenged folks might bring up this silly topic again. (Actual induction ceremony takes place at IBHOF on Sunday, June 12.)
The first "Rocky" was a magnificent portrayal of the human condition and, now that I think about it, isn't the Manny Pacquiao rags to riches story just "Rocky" turned into reality rather than on screen friction?
One quick and apropos analogy I can make as to Stallone's enshrinement (thanks to Irish Joe Shea of East Falmouth, Ma., for this one, btw) is that great comedy team Abbott & Costello are part and parcel of the Baseball Hall Of Fame, located not that far from the fistic shrine in Cooperstown, NY.
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are not in the baseball shrine for playing shortstop or pitching. They're there, where they belong, because of their alltime classic comedy riff, "Who's On First."
I think the passage of time has caused some to forget the emotional impact of Rocky back in 1976. The flick grabbed the "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (John G. Avildsen) honors at the Academy Aawards and for good reasons.
I was a mere sapling, 25 years old when I skeptically went to see “Rocky” at a movie theater in Los Angeles. At the time, I was a sports columnist for a newspaper in Las Vegas although I liked to introduce myself as “Brown...from the Sun.”
I think some people have forgotten the impact of the first telling of the story of Philadelphia scrapper Rocky Balboa (Stallone, in case you come from another planet), his romantic interest, Yo Adrian (Talia) Shire, his buddy boy from the 'hood (Burt Young) and the quintessential, grizzled seen it all, heard it all, done it all trainer Mickey (Burgess Meredith).
The casting was phenomenal, it really was. And I would be remiss not to mention Carl Weathers as the boastful, Muhammad Ali champion who dismissed clubfighter Balboa like he was swatting a mosquito off his broad shoulders. Even the music with soaring theme song, “Gonna Fly Now,” was perfect.
Ask 100 people what “Gonna Fly Now” was, play a few bars and I gurantee you 99 or all 100 immediately say, “Oh, that's the song from Rocky.”
Midway through the movie, I thought it was hoaky and cornball to the max.
By the furious finish, I, too, was among a movie house full of people crying out loud. The crowd was predominantly of Mexican descent but "Rocky" touched a nerve with all races, colors and creeds when it rolled out.
Forget the endless sequels, the Apollo Creed comeback bits, etc. except for the delicious Mr. T/Clubber Lang lines. I stopped watching when Balboa was just another rich white guy living in suburban splendor with Yo Adrian and their kids. I pity the fools who watched only the later "Rocky" versions and missed the deft original.
As Stallone/Balboa is about to be enshrined, I find it decliciously ironic that someone is making a movie based on the life of New Jersey clubfighter Chuck Wepner. Of course, and I think Stallone partially admitted it once, “Rocky” was inspired by the “Bayonne Bleeder” and his colorful life, especially when he gamely stood up to go the distance with the great Ali.
Which brings me around to the classic Wepner story, one which I'm sure will be covered in the new movie.
No, I'm not talking about the fact that Wepner and politician to be Barney Frank once sat in a high school detention class together.
It's the one where Wepner peeled off a $100 bill and told his wife to go to Frederick's of Hollywood or a similar lingerie store and get a sexy outfit.
“Why?” Mrs. Wepner inquired.
“Because,” Wepner said, “tomorrow night you will be sleeping with the heavyweight champion of the world.”
As a bruised, battered Wepner came back to his hotel room after losing the fight in Cleveland, his wife spoke up.
“One question, honey,” she said as Wepner sat with an ice pack on his swollen head. “Am I going to to Ali's room or is he coming over here?”
Wepner was the real deal before there was a “Real Deal” named Evander Holyfield.
Stallone was the real deal, at least in the original movie.
Did Stallone's movie advance boxing, did it popularize the sport worldwide?
Unless you mistakenly answer in the negative, then you know that, when it comes to going into Canastota, that Stallone has always belonged.
You keep Stallone out, you're keeping Balboa out.
I wouldn't say that Stallone will overshadow fellow inductees Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Kostya Tszyu because that would be impossible.
But put the quartet together and you could have a kind of Mt. Rushmore of boxing.
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