Best & Worst Experience Meeting An Athlete

[Bored5000]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Can't do a thread like this w/o mentioning boxers. Some of the absolute friendliest, nicest down to earth guys you will ever hope to meet. I've been to a few HOF related events and some other times too, so I've met quite a few. Some highlights:

--Jeff Chandler: another HOFer, Joltin' Jeff came to my table at a HOF show. We had a nice conversation and he signed a card for me. Actually thanked me for remembering who he was afterwards. This is a multi-division champion and HOFer who thought people might not remember him.

Adam, one of the best books I have read in recent years was Tris Dixon's amazing book "The Road to Nowhere: A Journey Through Boxing's Wastelands." The premise of the book is that Dixon spent several months criss-crossing the country on Greyhound buses and staying in bus terminals/fleabag motels in search of as many forgotten boxing champions or cult heroes as he could find. The premise is pretty much "Glory of Their Times" for boxers instead of baseball players.

https://www.amazon.com/Road-Nowhere-.../dp/190962652X

Dixon tracked down over 40 former boxers, many of whom have since passed away. He saw lots of really sad sights; boxers who now suffered from dementia and had nothing left to show for their careers. He phoned Jake LaMotta and told LaMotta that he wanted to talk about his career. When LaMotta asked how much he was going to pay, Dixon stated nothing. The phone line then went dead.

Iran Barkley shook down Dixon for $10 after a photo was taken. But Dixon was not upset, since it clearly appeared that Barkley could use the $10. Dixon bought a $20 t-shirt for Matthew Saad Muhammad, only to have Muhammad literally sell the shirt off his back for $15 because "you can't eat a t-shirt."

Some of the boxers were moved to tears that anyone even remembered their career or wanted to talked about it. Jeff Chandler could not believe a white guy walked though one of North Philadelphia's most violent ghettos and knocked on his door to talk about his boxing career.

Dixon found a listing for a "Dwight Qawi" in the Camden, N.J., phone book and called the number. Qawi answered the phone and said he would be "right there" when Dixon told him he wanted to talk about his boxing career. Qawi then became agitated when Dixon asked too many questions and snapped "We ain't doing my life story."

Dixon called former light-heavyweight champion Harold Johnson to set up a meeting. Johnson said on the phone that he would be thrilled to talk about his career, then forgot he had ever talked to Dixon in the 45-minute span it took Dixon to arrive at Johnson's apartment. Dixon stayed in contact with Johnson several times after that initial meeting, and the boxer never remembered any of the prior conversations. Dixon would then tell Johnson that he was just a fan who wanted to know how one of his favorite boxers was doing these days.

[Exhibitman]

Read it some time ago. It was as you reported. Try "In This Corner" by Peter Heller. The real boxing analog to The Glory of Their Times because he interviews guys who were fighting in the teens through the 1970s

[Pat R]

I've been to a lot of nascar races but I'm not an autograph person
especially when it requires waiting in a long line.

It was 2001 at Dover Delaware the first nascar race after 9/11
my wife and I were walking through the area where all the souvenir
trailers are and Rusty Wallace was signing autographs at his so I stopped
to take a couple of pictures.

There was a long line and some how he found out that a woman in the
back of the line was the wife of a New York City firefighter so he had
someone go get her and bring her into the trailer. He gave her a hug and
thanked her and if I remember correctly I think he signed a few things
from the trailer that he gave her besides whatever she brought to get
signed.

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[Bored5000]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Read it some time ago. It was as you reported. Try "In This Corner" by Peter Heller. The real boxing analog to The Glory of Their Times because he interviews guys who were fighting in the teens through the 1970s

I am familiar with the "in This Corner...," book, but have not pulled the trigger on buying it.

[Taxman]

Now I know the rest of the story behind these figures. Also check out the BBB press pin.
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