Showing posts with label Joe Louis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joe Louis. Show all posts

Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial Day

Some idea sand thoughts on Memorial Day.

Deer Pictures
I have a motion activated trail camera that we got to try and catch pictures of the fisher cat living out back. It caught some pictures of the Deer that has been eating the birdfeeder empty:

BUSTED!

Kevin Harvick Wins at Charlotte
My man and best driver in the world, Kevin Harvick #29, won last night at Charlotte when fan mega favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran out of gas on the final turn of the final lap! Unreal:

They call him "The Closer", and he is that. Love it.

American Hero Joe Louis
When I think about Memorial Day I think about all the soldiers all over the world that every day do what they must. For many it is a desire to serve the United States and an honor for the duty. For all it is still a job they have to do, but unlike working in biotech lab or trading futures in the pits, our best face situations that could claim their life in the various fronts of conflict ongoing. I have NO IDEA the courage and resolve it takes to perform active duty in the US Armed Forces. I am so thankful in any case, home safe soon boys!

Joe Louis was an American hero. What that man did all through World War II for troops was amazing. What was disgusting was the US IRS going after Louis, who donated two full match purses to the Army and Navy relief funds, for income taxes! This debt followed Louis his whole life and even forced a comeback when he was very old. Louis was knocked out by Rocky Marciano during this time.

Anyways, what comes to mind? How about Joe Louis fighting German hero and the only man to beat him, Max Schmeling? On the cusp of the Nazi build up for World War II, the German powers were ecstatic for the chance for their fighter to beat the American Heavyweight Champion, and a black man as an added bonus. It is hard to figure the build up of such a fight years later, but the pressure must have been enormous for both fighters.

From Wikipedia:
The rematch between Louis and Schmeling is one of the most famous boxing matches of all time, and is remembered as one of the major sports events of the 20th century. Following his defeat of Louis in 1936, Schmeling became a national hero in Germany. Schmeling's victory over an African American was touted by Nazi officials as proof of their doctrine of Aryan superiority. When the rematch was scheduled, Louis retreated to his boxing camp in New Jersey and trained incessantly for the fight. A few weeks before the bout, Louis visited the White House, where President Franklin D. Roosevelt told him, "Joe, we need muscles like yours to beat Germany." Louis later admitted: "I knew I had to get Schmeling good. I had my own personal reasons and the whole damned country was depending on me."

When Schmeling arrived in New York in June, 1938 for the rematch, he was accompanied by a Nazi party publicist who issued statements that a black man could not defeat Schmeling, and that when Schmeling won, his prize money would be used to build tanks in Germany. Schmeling's hotel was picketed by anti-Nazi protesters in the days before the fight.

On the night of June 22, 1938, Louis and Schmeling met for the second time in the boxing ring. The fight was held in Yankee Stadium before a crowd of 70,043. It was broadcast by radio to millions of listeners throughout the world, with radio announcers reporting on the fight in English, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. Before the bout, Schmeling weighed in at 193 pounds; Louis weighed in at 198¾ pounds.

The fight lasted two minutes and four seconds. Louis battered Schmeling with a series of swift attacks, forcing Schmeling against the ropes and giving him a paralyzing body blow (Schmeling later claimed it was an illegal kidney punch). Schmeling was knocked down three times, and only managed to throw two punches in the entire bout. On the third knockdown, Schmeling's trainer threw in the towel and referee Arthur Donovan stopped the fight.


Here is the fight, and the short right hand that Louis uses to end the fight is an incredible short range shot:

German authorities blocked the radio broadcast when Schmeling got in trouble. Tough shit boys.

Have a good night.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Sunday Assorted Items

I really cannot believe NFL opening weekend is next week. It really snuck up on me this year. Maybe it is because the Patriots are not looking too good so I am afraid of week 1? I will have a full run down on opening weekend next Saturday. Keep in mind, The New Orleans Saints play the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night in grudge match repeat of the NFC Title game last year. Thanks again Brett for throwing that interception!

Food Stuff
A friend of mine had a party yesterday and I wanted to bring some food. I have brought ribs over there two times already so I wanted to try a new one. I went with chicken wings and drumsticks. I also could not pass up some Little Smokies in beans, which made the cut as well. Here is the grub waiting on the counter:


I rubbed the chicken down with a basic rub:


I cooked the stuff with indirect heating at 250 degrees. I assembled the chicken on the top grate, put the pan with the beans and smokies on the bottom grate, and put a drip pan across the beans to keep the drippings contained:

It takes about 2 hours until done.

Here they are about done. Right at this point I remove the indirect equipment and lightly sauce the meat with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce. I forgot to take any more pictures but you get the idea:

They really came out great and lasted about 10 minutes at the party. Another Big Steel Keg success!

Old Classics
Yes, I have trolling YouTube again!

If you have seen the film "Raging Bull" about Jake Lamotta you will remember his terrible loss to Sugar Ray Robinson in their third fight. While the movie version was very scary, the 13th round of the real fight was scary too! The announcer opens the 13th round (go to 6:30 mark) by saying "Round 13, the hard luck number". Love the old Pabst Blue Ribbon beer ads between rounds:

That must have hurt!

The rematch between Champion Joe Louis and Jersey Joe Walcott had a brutal ending. In their first fight Louis was awarded a 15 round decision over Walcott but if you watch the fight there is no way Louis won that fight. I gave Walcott 9 or 10 rounds! In the rematch Walcott was again a little ahead before "The Brown Bomber" explodes for the win in round 11 (go to 4:30 mark):

Wow!

Have a great night.