Hurricane Carter ..rip

[JimStinson]

I was asked to screen the movie "The Hurricane" shortly after its release , by some newspaper or TV station , I honestly can't remember which.
I did and I told them the movie was 99% fiction , they DID spell his name right . The portrayal of his being "robbed" of the title in his title fight with Joey Giardello was the worst travesty as Giardello was a fighter that was old school, took on all comers and was afraid of no one. By Carter's own admission as told TO ME he thought he had found a chink in Joey's armor in the 2nd round but Giardello consummate boxer that he was saw it too and corrected it and from then on the fight was a boxing lesson. The fight was not even close. And Carter knew it even congratulated Joey after the fight and thanked him for the title shot , which actually should have went to Joey Archer, who had already beaten the bejesus out of Carter, But Rubin was ranked #1 and Joey did the right thing. In the movie the police and the detectives got a bad rap too.
His book from prison the 16th round was a good read , completely forthcoming ? Probably not .....but more on point than the movie.
Carter was imprisoned in Rahway NJ where I grew up and fact is during the prison riots according to many of the guards he helped to save lives including their own because of the sway he had among the inmates.
In the real world however he had a consummate knack for forgetting people when it was convenient for him. When he was released from prison, and in need of funds I arranged a private signing. He was charismatic and charming I suggested the lecture circuit. He was always available by phone ....and had numerous conversations , Until the movie came out...even then I was not the only one , of the numbers I had to call I was told "yea he cut us loose too"
Can't say I blame him I'd rather talk with Denzel Washington on the phone than me..
But later when he became a celebrity of causes , and Larry King talked about his being "robbed" in the Giardello fight , couldn't he have set the record straight ? instead of smiling and nodding.
So when it comes down to the truth or lack of it , that was a brutal triple murder that night on June 16th, 1966 over at the Lafayette Bar and Grill in Patterson New Jersey. And I was not there and neither was anyone reading this post. Do I have opinions ? Of course I do. But now the ultimate judge will render his verdict and will have nothing to do with testimony or evidence...and it will be the truth. The only thing worse than doing what someone did that night in the Lafayette, is NOT doing it and being accused of it.
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jim@stinsonsports.com

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