{"id":5800,"date":"2023-01-27T00:00:17","date_gmt":"2023-01-27T05:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theusaboxingnews.com\/?page_id=5800"},"modified":"2023-01-27T11:19:09","modified_gmt":"2023-01-27T16:19:09","slug":"smart-energy-for-heavyweights","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/theusaboxingnews.com\/?page_id=5800","title":{"rendered":"Editorials and Outrageous Viewpoints from the Boxing Twins"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>Outrageous Editorials and Viewpoints <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
over the decades<\/span> from the Boxing Twins<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/div>\n
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FLASH-BACK – January 2023<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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John Rinaldi – BOXING TWINS VIEWPOINT – Alex Rinaldi<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Blessed NFL Has Once Again Chosen Money Over Fans<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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For numerous years the NFL has chartered a course to become the number one sport in America. Starting with point spreads and other gambling references, the NFL has permitted with a winked eye gambling to spread over the sphere of professional football. Not that we are necessarily against gambling – which we’re not – still the NFL has become the biggest betting sport in the United States. When housewives, students, retirees, and office workers are designing and establishing pools and fantasy football platforms, the NFL benefits even in an ancillary way.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Besides that, ticket prices have risen quicker than a thermometer thrown into a towering inferno, thereby making it a rich man’s sport to see the sport live. If that is not bad enough, the sport continues to compel the lower income fan base to spend their child support, rent money, and car payments for tickets on a relatively fleeting event that in the mix of things becomes nothing but just one more meaningless football game. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If that is not bad enough some NFL teams have also required fans to purchase licenses in order to buy season tickets – meaning that these die-hard fans must first pay exorbitant licensing fees just so they could have the right to pay exorbitant season ticket fees. In effect – the NFL takes two bites out of the wallets of these hapless fans!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If the sport of boxing did one percent (1%) of this type of price gauging, then the boxing haters would be on their pansy soapboxes compelling congressional investigations into the sport.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Heck, for over a century the AMA has spearheaded witch hunts skimming along the borders of a genocide against boxing, the same AMA who once apparently permitted its lofty brethren to accept golf junkets and trips from pharmaceutical salesmen.\u00a0 These do-gooders are nothing but bald face hypocrites and charlatans. Instead of better policing their own towering, over-priced professions, or more particularly the NFL and the sport of football in general, where life threatening injuries are boundless and whispers of enhance performance drugs still dance in the breeze, they have made a crusade of abolishing boxing. Thankfully no one listens to them or takes seriously. They are like someone with a nagging spouse who hears their pleas, but still continues to watch the game instead of taking out the garbage.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Now comes the fallout after the sad Damar Hamlin event. Trying to ride off on its white horse the NFL decided to cancel the game and did not require a continuation. Instead, in its place they have manufactured the silliest of all responses – the stupid idea for a neutral site for the upcoming AFC Championship Game came, which apparently was the brainchild of commissioner Roger Goodell, and which 24 out of 32 NFL owners approved.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

While the Kansas City Chiefs did not vote for this preposterous outcome – they reportedly made two suggestions – they wanted an outdoor site, and they wanted it to be on natural grass. How did the NFL respond – they ended up forcing down their throats the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta – a covered stadium on turf – a far cry from what the Chiefs wanted.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

But alas, it seats over 71,000 NFL spending ticket buyers!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Thus, the NFL has proved once again that they are the greediest league on the planet. For one thing, it is so ridiculous to even consider this idea of a neutral field to begin with. These teams and their fans look forward to these special times to see their team up front on the national stage to fight eventually for a league championship. Instead, the NFL, like a bloody, flesh-craving, greedy vulture, has once again taken the baby from the stork. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It was bad enough that we had to witness players kneeling during the National Anthem a few years back – now these true fans have to watch their teams play on a neutral field just so the NFL can further pack their wallets. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Appalling is an understatement.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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FLASH-BACK – June 1995<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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John Rinaldi – BOXING TWINS VIEWPOINT – Alex Rinaldi<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Mike Tyson renews pact with Don King. <\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Who else could he have signed with?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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For some strange reason, Mike Tyson appeared to surprise a lot of people when he announced in Cleveland shortly after his release from prison that he was re-aligning himself with Don King\u2019s promotional outfit.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Why this dumbfounded anybody in the first place is the real puzzler.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considering that Don King waged a one-man campaign for the absolute innocence of Tyson and constantly called for his release, it seemed only natural that King was chosen since he was the only promoter to show even a semblance of loyalty.<\/span><\/p>\n

The other promoters were either calling Tyson an \u201cidiot\u201d, labeling him a \u201crapist\u201d, or worse yet, saying he was washed-up as a fighter even before his incarceration.<\/span><\/p>\n

What was Tyson to do \u2013 test the uncharted waters of those he considered his enemy, or go back into the fold of his only ally in the sport?<\/span><\/p>\n

If he were going to shake the hands of a devil, at least it would be one that he is friendly with.<\/span><\/p>\n

More so, with Don King, Tyson immediately has an opportunity to win back two-thirds of the heavyweight title that are currently temporarily entrusted to Oliver McCall and Bruce Selden.<\/span><\/p>\n

Along with his association with King, came Tyson\u2019s deal with the Showtime cable Network and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding showtime, that was the only cable Network that gave Tyson the opportunity to be a color commentator on the fight telecast. That was something that meant a great deal to the former champion, who considers himself a foremost expert and historian on the sport.<\/span><\/p>\n

Concerning the MGM part of the picture, plans are currently underway of having a statue erected depicting Tyson in his glory outside the arena. This is a very brave move for the hotel\/casino, considering Tyson’s conviction and the fact that the MGM is a family resort. What they did is show not only their faith in the fighter, but also their belief in his unjust treatment by the Indiana justice system.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is also obvious that the MGM Grand is clearly becoming the major player in the boxing business. By getting Tyson, they clinched their hold on the sport\u2019s biggest bouts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don King always seems to get the rap that he caused Tyson’s downfall. What most people forget is that King was Tyson\u2018s promoter<\/em>, not his guardian, manager, or babysitter. They just remember that Mike was always a troubled youth from the days with Cus D\u2019 Amato, Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton. Just ask Teddy Atlas when he explains how he put a loaded pistol once to Tysons\u2019 head to allegedly straighten him out.<\/span><\/p>\n

For one to say it was King\u2019s fault is pure nonsense. King was the sole promoter through most of Larry Holmes and Muhammad Ali\u2019s later bouts. Neither one of those two individuals ever got in trouble.<\/span><\/p>\n

Easily forgotten is when the Duvas and Main Events had a young thug named Tony Ayala, Jr. in there stable. When that predator was sent away to rot in jail, the Duvas were not blamed for his predicament \u2013 and rightfully so.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nor should King in this instance.<\/span><\/p>\n

All things considered, Tyson could have really blundered by choosing instead, Robin Givens and her gold-digging mother.<\/span><\/p>\n

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FLASH-BACK – June 1994<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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John Rinaldi – BOXING TWINS VIEWPOINT – Alex Rinaldi<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ray Mercer found not guilty of offering a bribe – it certainly did not surprise us!<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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After two weeks of wasting the New York taxpayers\u2019 money, a verdict of Not Guilty was rendered by the jury hearing the Ray Mercer case involving his alleged attempts to bribe Jesse Ferguson in their February 6, <\/b>1993,<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> bout.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

In a trial that should have never taken place, the Manhattan District Attorney\u2019s office was exposed as being composed of a group of numbskulls led by chief doughhead, District Attorney Robert Morgenthau.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the same Robert Morgenthau who is toasted to every night by the rapists, serial killers, drug dealers, kiddie pornographers and muggers, who rejoice in the fact that such a sponge head is in charge of the prosecution of criminals in their fine city.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Iinstead of going after the mutants who inhabit New York, Morgenthau put all of his offices attention to convicting a prizefighter on only the flimsiest of evidence available. Basically, Morgenthau and his Untouchables had nothing on Mercer. It was just fashionable to go after a high-profile boxer and former Olympic gold medalist, with an otherwise sterling reputation, instead of the sludge that terrorize New York City on a daily basis.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The jury, who only took five hours, most of which time was spent sifting through the <\/b>judge’s<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> instructions in ordering dinner, must have found Morgenthau\u2019s case to be a complete farce as they came to the swift conclusion that Mercer was Not Guilty.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Considering that the alleged<\/em> bribe tabs were never heard by a ring judge, or the referee who was only steps away. In fact the referee, Wayne Kelley, not only did not hear Mercer mumbling any bribe offers, but instead warrant his opponent Jesse Ferguson for talking too much.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Simply put, the whole affair was an abomination of justice. <\/b>Apparently,<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> we have come to the point where it is better to prosecute high-profile innocence than to combat the real crime in the city.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

What is even more laughable is that the so-called damaging evidence consisted of inarticulate and inaudible tapes from HBO\u2019s coverage of the boutt.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The only live witness for the prosecution was Jesse Ferguson, who first said there was no bribe offer, then suspiciously recounted his story later when grilled by the authorities. That is a pretty fishy scenario to us, and apparently for the jury, who believed not a single word from the journeyman fighter turned stool pigeon Ferguson.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Because of this no talent, bird brain sap, and innocent man nearly lost his freedom.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To Robert Morgenthau \u2013 cheers!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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FLASH-BACK – November 1992<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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John Rinaldi – BOXING TWINS VIEWPOINT – Alex Rinaldi<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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What’s happening to the American boxing fans?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Six thousand people show up to watch the Bredahl brothers capture two world titles in Denmark. Ten thousand fans jammed the Scottish Exhibition Center in Glasgow. In the Reno Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada, only 2,753 paying patrons attended the Toney- McCallum rematch. What does that tell us? It tells us quite simply that something is wrong with attendance at American fight cards.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

With the exception of heavyweight fights involving Foreman or Tyson, promoters fail to fill the seats at fight cards.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The old saying was, \u201cGive the fans a winner, and they\u2019ll put fannies in the seats\u201d. \u00a0Somehow it just does not play out anymore. Top fights such as Leonard-Norris, Toney-McCallum I and II, Norris-Taylor, Holmes-Mercer, McGirt-Brown and Holyfield-Holmes all had disappointing crowds.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It appears that the American boxing fan is getting <\/b><\/span><\/span>scarcer<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> with each generation.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is because the younger sports fans are a bunch of daisy plucking, thin-lipped, manicured, dress wearing, girly wimps?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When a worthless New York Rangers regular season hockey game can attract nearly 20,000 idiots, why can\u2019t an important world championship bout do the same?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Is it the advent of the country club mentality being heard throughout the print and electronic media or is it just the fact that fighters are not being properly showcased on network television anymore?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The success of the live gate for the Chavez-Camacho super fight was heartening to witness. It was deceiving, however, since a large portion of the 19,100 fans who crammed into the Thomas & Mack Center were Mexicans.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hispanics have always been true boxing fans along with British. Americans once were great followers of the sport, but lately the numbers have lagged in the United States.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We do not necessarily blame it all on the American fight fan. The media is clearly at a major fault when network television treats the sport of boxing as if it were a stricken leper.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Boxers are not being properly developed and the lack of exposure does nothing <\/b><\/span><\/span>to familiarize<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> the fans with the fighters.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Some fighters are able to make it on just charisma alone, such as Roberto Duran, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Mike Tyson. Most have to rely on increased coverage on the radio, television and the newspapers.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

With regard to newspapers, they have become in the United States a worthless outlet for boxing coverage. Years ago, major fights would warrant a week\u2019s worth of stories. Nowadays, one is lucky to get a fight result, much less an article. The blame goes probably and more fairly to the <\/b><\/span><\/span>pink-collar<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> sports editors who would rather cover and salivate over a sissy tennis match or golf tournament than a real man\u2019s sport like boxing.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Those at the root of this problem better wise <\/b><\/span><\/span>up or<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span> start wearing dresses.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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FLASH-BACK – July 1992<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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John Rinaldi – BOXING TWINS VIEWPOINT – Alex Rinaldi<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Sports Memorabilia Dealers – Swindlers for a price!<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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At the annual Boxing Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, where boxers graciously mingle with the crowd and sign autographs without charging, a disturbing sight was witnessed by us. While Featherweight legend Willie Pep was happily signing autographs for any and all who asked, a seamy-looking individual approached the fistic great. This person demanded that he sign ten photographs. When Pep asked who to inscribe each photo to, the man answered, \u201cjust sign your name, that\u2019s all\u201d. As soon as Pep signed, the man squirmed away through the gathering, with his eyes green with greed.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Such is the example of your typical sports memorabilia dealer. These modern-day carpetbaggers and bunco artists prey on the athletes without redressing them, then proceed to swindle the consumers.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We are not concerned with this happening to the selfish, millionaire baseball players, who are more than compensated for their precious artifacts. We are talking about the swindlers and confidence me who take advantage of the kindness of current and former boxing personalities, many of whom are not financially set for life.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We do not mean to insult collectors. We, ourselves, admit to collecting autographs of our favorite fighters. But to us, they are cherished keepsake, not an investment for speculation. The thought of selling our collection does not ever enter our minds, nor does it dance through the minds of most fans. It is the seedy way of the dealer to prey on the fan who does not have the access or chance to personally confront a fighter to obtain an autograph.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

These hucksters and attic filchers rip-off the poor souls who would like to purchase an autograph or collectible item by charging a high amount, a price not justified by any legitimate exchange rate. These are not businessmen, they are pirates whose sole purpose is to steal and then fence off the goods. That is in essence the way they are dealing by obtaining the autographs under false pretense, then selling without compensating the boxer.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What this will do is eventually take from the real fan the right to obtain an autograph free of charge from an obliging athlete. Unlike the aforementioned baseball players, who use that as an excuse to be the jerks they always were, boxers have always been the most approachable and friendly of all the professional athletes.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The thought that the growing number of dealers that have flocked to boxing may someday compromise the whole aspect of collecting for fun is frightening.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Our stomachs sicken by the mere sight of sinister parasites who make the old snake oil salesmen seem legit.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

All dealers are not like the ones we are pointing out. If the items were legitimately obtained and sold at a fair price, we would have no quarrel. Unfortunately for most, dealing is just another shell game.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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FLASH-BACK – August 2001<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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John Rinaldi – BOXING TWINS VIEWPOINT – Alex Rinaldi<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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What do boxing abolitionists think when a trio of football players kick the bucket?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Over this year\u2019s scorching hot summer, three young footballers ran their last practice drills on the planet Earth as they exited their workouts on a stretcher headed for the morgue, with a brief stop at an emergency room.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Two of the athletes were college football players, while a third was a lineman with the NFL\u2019s Minnesota Vikings.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

These players did not lose their lives in the course of battle, instead, they were apparently tortured to death through the rigors of practice schedule seemingly designed by former guards of Auschwitz.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Prior to the footballers\u2019 tragic ends, all we were subjected to was Beethavean Scottland\u2019s\u00a0 sad death from ring injuries.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As expected, like rats scurrying from a sinking ship, came those phony do-gooders, disguised as boxing abolitionists.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

At least the brave Scottland died during a courageous battle in the ring, not from the rantings and drills of a blood-thirsty coach, who would have made Hitler and Attila the Hun look like singing nuns.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The violent sport of football always seems to get a free pass, considering that there are more children and young adults killed, injured or maimed in that barbaric sport every year, than have died in professional boxing as a whole in the past two centuries.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Considering that the average life span of a professional football player is 55 years-old, not including the quarter century of pain-killing drugs they have to rely upon to get through their waking hours.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Still, boxing is perceived as the sport of savages<\/em>. In pugilism, the trainers are a more caring lot, who rarely push their charges to the point of complete exhaustion and near death.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Rarely do you see fighters vomit after a workout as you see football players do.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We once went to a football camp held for youngsters during a usual hot July in Vermont. On the first day of camp, all the kids were greeted by a satanic head coach proclaiming, \u201cyou are not here to have fun\u201d!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Oh great, imagine having squirreled away for months the money we made from delivering newspapers only to enter a barbaric concentration camp!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It was not uncommon during those five days of Hell to see kids collapse, throw up, or get transported to the infirmary on a regular basis. If the camp was another day longer, we would have tunneled our way out to freedom.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

That is what the sick sport of football is all about, but you never read about that! \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0FLASH-BACK<\/span><\/div>\n
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John Rinaldi<\/span> –<\/span> BOXING TWINS <\/span>VIEWPOINT<\/span> –<\/span> Alex Rinaldi<\/span><\/span><\/span> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n