Oh how I loved that place. The new Browns Stadium is great but I miss the old stadium. A lot of memories from growing up are associted with that place.
Jim- The Colts old place in Baltimore, the Vikings freezing their butts off in the Met in Minneapolis, the Bears playing at Wrigley Field, about the only throwback to those days is the Packers still playing in Lambeau, but even that's not the same. My favorite old stadium memory was how when you watched the Cowboys playing the Cotton Bowl and there would be a Speaker from the PA System that would show up in TV picture, blocking the bottom part of your screen lol. Oh for the memories of those old places.
Me too Jim going back to the 1950's, seeing so many wonderful ball players, some not so great players, some characters and some heroes (Rocky Colavito) and the 1964 Browns-Colts Championship game! I still have my ticket stub and the pennant I got Jim Brown to sign.
I am sure it is worth plenty but I have never (unlike most of my collectibles) thought about selling it because it is special and at age 61 it may be the only world championship I ever witness involving a Cleveland team.
The late Jackie Keough was the referee for Duran-Gonzalez. I have a magazine cover from (South Africa) Boxing World Magazine showing Jackie and the two fighters during the fight. I was there of course, Roberto Duran trained at our gym (now since closed) the Parma Boxing Club that Don Myers, Dave Cass and I got started in the early 80's. Gerrie Coetzee also trained there for his title winning fight against Mike Dokes. Good experiences.
My brother-in-law, my three sons and myself went to see the Cubs at Wrigley Field in 2000. Man that was great.
Jim- Love or hate the Cubs, every baseball fan owes it to themselves to visit Wrigley Field at some point. If someone happens to be in Chicago on a Saturday or Sunday but the teams on the Road, they run 90 minute tours starting every half-hour, and the proceeds go to the Cubs Care Charity. Even for someone who's been to games there, it's still kind of cool to visit both Clubhouses, Dugouts,Press Box,ect.
Ah...some neat posts here. Kind of reminds me of the old Kingdome in Seattle. But that being said, the new stadium is absolutely phenomenal.
Still...there is part of me that misses the 'old stadiums'. Man, I remember the days back when the Minnesota Vikings used to play in that OUTDOOR stadium. In the sleet, the snow, the ice...man...I thought that was just cool. I practically get a boner just thinking about it...
BTW - I came across an interesting article on NFL in L.A that I'll try and forward to you Murph. It's kind of interesting...
When I was in Houston a few years back to visit my son, the Astro's were out of town. He set up a tour of the new Astro's stadium for us. Real nice place. We got to go into clubhouse, press box, loges...We even sat in the dugout and walked on the field.
It's funny because the new stadium is right next to the Astrodome. I really wanted to go there but there were not any tours available. For some of us older members...They'll probably remember that when the Astrodome was built, it was a big deal. It was the first indoor stadium and of course the birth of Astroturf. Back in the 1960's the National League expanded to add the Mets and the Houston Colt 45's. For a while the Colt 45's ( later becoming the " Astros " ) were slightly better the the Amazin' Mets. By the late 60's the Mets began to contend and with pitchers like Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and a young Nolan Ryan along the hitting and defense of Tommie Agee and Ron Swoboda the Mets amazed everyone by defeating the powerful Baltimore Orioles to win the 1969 World Series.
Also I believe Ali fought there four times facing Cleveland Williams, Ernie Terrell, Jimmy Ellis and Buster Mathis Sr.
Yeah, outside of Nevada and New York/New Jersey, it seems like there used to be an awful lot of fights in Texas...
I think FLORIDA has kind of taken that spot here now.
As for Seattle...it's always kind of sucked that way, and still does. I (MIGHT) be relocating to the San Francisco area in 2009, but the Central and Northern Cali area really not much better in that regard. A little closer to Vegas though I suppose...
BTW - The Texans might be a "team on the move" Jim...( I don't mean LITERALLY -- but FIGURATIVELY.)
When I was in Houston a few years back to visit my son, the Astro's were out of town. He set up a tour of the new Astro's stadium for us. Real nice place. We got to go into clubhouse, press box, loges...We even sat in the dugout and walked on the field.
It's funny because the new stadium is right next to the Astrodome. I really wanted to go there but there were not any tours available. For some of us older members...They'll probably remember that when the Astrodome was built, it was a big deal. It was the first indoor stadium and of course the birth of Astroturf. Back in the 1960's the National League expanded to add the Mets and the Houston Colt 45's. For a while the Colt 45's ( later becoming the " Astros " ) were slightly better the the Amazin' Mets. By the late 60's the Mets began to contend and with pitchers like Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and a young Nolan Ryan along the hitting and defense of Tommie Agee and Ron Swoboda the Mets amazed everyone by defeating the powerful Baltimore Orioles to win the 1969 World Series.
Also I believe Ali fought there four times facing Cleveland Williams, Ernie Terrell, Jimmy Ellis and Buster Mathis Sr.
Jim- I almost hate to mention it because it sounds like one-upsmanship or something, but I actually did get to go to a Astros home game in July 1972 against what were the remnants of those same Mets, in fact I got to see Willie Mays play. As a family vacation, we'd gone down there to visit the Space Center and that night my Brother and I went to the game. I was standing in line waiting to buy tickets when my Brother took off to look for something, and some guy comes up to me and goes "Hey,Kid, just you and you and your Buddy?" . Yeah, I said with a what the hell is this look on my face, and he drops two Box Seats in my hand and walks off. We get inside and it's this guy, his wife, some local guy and his wife, and the two empty seats.......I guess somebody had cancelled out. Astros loss, Jerry Koosman pitched a gem for the Mets, Willie made a diving catch in Center but didn't get any hits, and about the only highlight I remember for the Astros was that Bob Watson picked up a Clock, yes a Clock, for being National League Player of the Month. When we got back home, my Mom looked up our benifactors name and found out he was some Publisher from New York, I think the name was AJ Faulkner(?). Anyway, it's one of my fonder memories from what we're some pretty shakey teen years ;) and came back when you mentioned what at the time was THE Dome.
Yeah, outside of Nevada and New York/New Jersey, it seems like there used to be an awful lot of fights in Texas...
I think FLORIDA has kind of taken that spot here now.
As for Seattle...it's always kind of sucked that way, and still does. I (MIGHT) be relocating to the San Francisco area in 2009, but the Central and Northern Cali area really not much better in that regard. A little closer to Vegas though I suppose...
BTW - The Texans might be a "team on the move" Jim...( I don't mean LITERALLY -- but FIGURATIVELY.)
Bizzy- Erik off of our BB lives in Redding and goes to some fights in No. California, the ones in Sacramento and also a Casino called Tachi Place, in fact he's going to a small card on the 15th somewhere out there, and went to San Jose for the last Andre Ward fight at the Shark Tank, but I understand that's a little longer trip for him. If you relocate in Northern Ca. next year, and don't mind less than Vegas level fights, he's your guy.
Bizz, I used the go to Southern California a lot between 1975-1985. I saw a lot of great fights at the old Olympic Auditorium and the then called Inglewood Forum.I also saw fights at Palm Springs and other areas. Saw Olivares, Pintor, Zarate, Lopez and O' Grady and many others. But some of the best fights were between fighters many of us have long since forgotten. The craziest times were always when a fighter from old Mexico met a Mexican-American from Southern California. No matter how many times they had security and dogs checking for cherry bombs and liquior bottles, somehow they would end up inside. During the Mexican Athem often it would sound like 4th of July. And eventually things would go flying. Saw a whole row of ringside seats get torn out and thrown into the ring after the Ruben Olivares, David "Poison" Kotey match. Saw one of Olivares cornermen get cold cocked by a stool. Ah those were the days. Whew....
Jim, speaking of missing...besides the fond memories of old Cleveland Municipal Stadium, I miss the many great fights at the old Cleveland Arena. Some of them actually happened in boxing too, the rest were at old Cleveland Barons hockey games. Now Freddie Glover was a fighter...touch guy without a doubt.
Yes, Southern Cali used to have some pretty good fights in the 80's/90's.
The Mexican vs. Mexican-American thing reminds me of a little story...(hehehe)
I never knew this really existed Jerry...until I went to the closed-circuit showing of Delahoya vs. Chavez 10 or 15 years ago! I also incidentally -- never knew there were so many Mexicans in Seattle until that night! I swear they must have all come out of the woodwork! I was stunned sitting there in the old Kingdome. Also, I recall that was on a Summer night, and I had a tan. Along with my very dark hair, by god...a few drunken 'amigos' were trying to talk to me in Spanish! I also recall at the (anti-climactic and some would say 'unsastisfactory') conclusion to the fight getting showered with beer from the stands! (LOL)
* You didn't just see good/decent fighters in Cali (like I recall seeing on t.v.) there Jerry -- you saw some Hall Of Fame greats there in that group you mentioned.
I like him. Knowledgeable fan and good sense of humour.
;-)
Yeah. A really good guy to hang out with, he's IBHOF trip Roomie every June. As for fights in Southern California, I don't think you'll ever meet a nicer or more helpful person than Amato's own, Mando Cabrerra....another Ca. guy that makes the long trek to Canastota. I think you got both ends of Ca. covered ;)
Bizz, I used the go to Southern California a lot between 1975-1985. I saw a lot of great fights at the old Olympic Auditorium and the then called Inglewood Forum.I also saw fights at Palm Springs and other areas. Saw Olivares, Pintor, Zarate, Lopez and O' Grady and many others. But some of the best fights were between fighters many of us have long since forgotten. The craziest times were always when a fighter from old Mexico met a Mexican-American from Southern California. No matter how many times they had security and dogs checking for cherry bombs and liquior bottles, somehow they would end up inside. During the Mexican Athem often it would sound like 4th of July. And eventually things would go flying. Saw a whole row of ringside seats get torn out and thrown into the ring after the Ruben Olivares, David "Poison" Kotey match. Saw one of Olivares cornermen get cold cocked by a stool. Ah those were the days. Whew....
Jim, speaking of missing...besides the fond memories of old Cleveland Municipal Stadium, I miss the many great fights at the old Cleveland Arena. Some of them actually happened in boxing too, the rest were at old Cleveland Barons hockey games. Now Freddie Glover was a fighter...touch guy without a doubt.
Jerry- I remember reading about all those great fights from Forum. Did you happen to get to go to Zarate-Zamora in 1977? I remember some guy jumping into the Ring in just a T-shirt and gym shorts and the Cops hauling him off, and Zamora's Dad going after Zarate after he threw in the towel, which landed on his prone Sons face. I thought that was pretty wild, but it sounds like nothing compared to Olivares-Kotay LOL. Thanks for sharing!!!
"I think you have both ends of Cali covered" - Murphy
Reply: "You can't stop Bizzy -- you can only hope to commit him."
BTW - You think that's bad fellows, getting hit with the towel and such, hey...I was so bad I got hit with a stool once. No, I'm not talking THE RING stool -- I am talking 'a stool' of a different sort!
No, Unfortunately I missed Zarate-Zamora but I remembered all the fighting that went on after the match was stopped, cornermen, fathers etc.
Funny side note about the Olivares-Kotey fight. I covered if for England's Boxing News and wrote about the riot at the Forum. In fact I believe it was Zarate fighting on the undercard after the main event, we never thought the fight would come off because they made all of us leave the arena, it was a mess. I speak very little Spanish and was in a ringside seat and was cornered by some "gentlemen" who kept shouting at me in Spanish and I finally figured out they wanted me to say who I thought had won. Believe it or not the riot started before they had made any official ring announcement. I had Kotey ahead on my score card but I wanted to save my neck so I yelled, "Olivares, Olivares!!!!! " Of course Kotey was awarded the fight and they cleared the ring and the later fights went on, although we were long gone on our way home.
The next day in the LA Times the caption was "Mild disturbance at Forum". Mild my ass.....lucky to escape without getting seriously hurt.
No, Unfortunately I missed Zarate-Zamora but I remembered all the fighting that went on after the match was stopped, cornermen, fathers etc.
Funny side note about the Olivares-Kotey fight. I covered if for England's Boxing News and wrote about the riot at the Forum. In fact I believe it was Zarate fighting on the undercard after the main event, we never thought the fight would come off because they made all of us leave the arena, it was a mess. I speak very little Spanish and was in a ringside seat and was cornered by some "gentlemen" who kept shouting at me in Spanish and I finally figured out they wanted me to say who I thought had won. Believe it or not the riot started before they had made any official ring announcement. I had Kotey ahead on my score card but I wanted to save my neck so I yelled, "Olivares, Olivares!!!!! " Of course Kotey was awarded the fight and they cleared the ring and the later fights went on, although we were long gone on our way home.
The next day in the LA Times the caption was "Mild disturbance at Forum". Mild my ass.....lucky to escape without getting seriously hurt.
Jerry- Don't feel bad, the same guy at the LA Times called World War II a "slight skirmish" lol
Great story. I was envious of your talking about the Forum Fights, but I'm not so sure I'd have wanted to risk my life to see them ;)
I was so bad I got hit with a stool once. No, I'm not talking THE RING stool -- I am talking 'a stool' of a different sort!
LOL, Bizzy. On a sad, related note, I was reading a Book Review in the June Ring Magazine about a new book on Johnny Owen, the Bantamweight that died after being Ko'd by Lupe Pintor. It says that Pintor's Mexican Fans urinated in cups and pelted Owen as he was carted away on a gurney. I'd never heard that before, and wonder about it's validity.
Slight problem reply n off the mails. later this week JIM, Lets pick top ball players all time first in mlb, nab, nfl, etc. now, willie mays, joe montana, hard to beat. MRMONZON.
My brother-in-law, my three sons and myself went to see the Cubs at Wrigley Field in 2000. Man that was great. 
