Ring 8 Minutes and Notes Tuesday, September 22nd, 2010
Ring 8 Minutes and Notes
President Matt Farrago
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010
Ring 8 Minutes
Executive Board Meeting
The monthly executive board meeting of the Veteran Boxers Association of NY, Ring 8, Inc. was held on Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 at the Waterfront Crabhouse in Long Island City, New York .
Board members in attendance: President, Matt Farrago, V.P. Henny Wallitsch, Lenny Mangiapane, Joe Dwyer, Henry Hascup, Vinnie Maddalone, Richie O’Neil, Tommy Gallagher, Jack Hirsch, John Labate, Bob Duffy, Ed Gersh, Larry Stanton, Tony DiPippo, Paulette Balog
Dinner was served at 7:00 pm. The meeting began at 7:30 with “The Pledge to the American Flag” followed by the “Ten Count” .
R.I.P. boxers were acknowledged:
Johnny Breitenbruck will always have a place in the hearts of all Ring 8 Members
A. Bernie Herman
As a boxer he was managed by Charlie Goldman and went on to win the New York Golden Gloves Middleweight open division in (1951 or 1952). He was asked to be a sparring partner for the then contender and future heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano, who was also managed by Mr. Goldman.
My Dad never turned pro and went on to a 31 year career at Madison Square Garden handling the Concessions department.
Through his friendship with the Garden’s boxing promoter and “voice of the Knicks”, John Condon, Bernie remained heavily involved in the fight game, helping to organize the now defunct “Kid Gloves” which produced future stars such as Mark Breland. He was also fortunate enough to spar with Joe Frazier for four rounds when Joe was training for a fight in the 70’s. My Dad loved boxing, but more than that, he loved Boxers and always wished that more could be done for the many that pour their hearts into their trade, but never get the lucrative contracts afforded the so few
B. John Arum Body of son of boxing promoter found in Cascades
SEATTLE — Searchers spotted the body of the son of Hall of Fame boxing promoter Bob Arum on a rugged Washington state mountainside Friday afternoon, five days after they began looking for him in North Cascades National Park , authorities said.
The body belonging to John Arum, an experienced mountain climber, was seen from a National Park Service helicopter at about the 7,700-foot level of the 8,500-foot Storm King mountain, park spokeswoman Kerry Olson said.
The following items were discussed:
1. The plans for the 2010 Holiday and Awards Ceremony at Russo’s on the Bay has been finalized.
Expected to be in attendance are: Joe Frazier, Marvis Frazier, Micky Ward, Tony DeMarco, Gerry Cooney, Iran Barkley, Arthur Mercante Jr., Tommy Hearns, and many others. The cost for tickets will be $125.00. Checks are made out to Ring 8 and sent to: Matt Farrago, 30 Bowdon Rd , Greenlawn NY 11740
2. The HBO Show “Real Sports” on ALS was shown to a full house of members. Bryant Gumbel’s investigative team returns with an all-new extended segment reporting for the first time on the discovery of a link between sports concussions and ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
The Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig
Many of Ring 8 members will be participating in this long term clinical study. Please contact Ring 8 if you would like to be a part of this critical study.
“Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.”
Lou Gehrig’s words were chilling considering his diagnosis: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. ALS is a rare, incurable neurodegenerative disease (eventually named after him) that first manifests as muscle weakness and quickly descends to paralysis, an inability to breathe and death.
More than 70 years after his speech, a new, small study in the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology may have unlocked a tantalizing clue about Gehrig’s illness — one that could be connected to his history of concussions.
“He did have three or four major concussions that landed him in the hospital,” said Dr. Ann McKee, associate professor of Neurology and Pathology at the Boston University School of Medicine. “It is interesting to speculate that they may have contributed to his ALS.”
The finding could prompt a redirection in the study of motor degeneration in athletes and military veterans being given diagnoses of A.L.S. at rates considerably higher than normal, said several experts in A.L.S. who had seen early versions of the paper. Patients with significant histories of brain trauma could be considered for different types of treatment in the future, perhaps leading toward new pathways for a cure.
3. Our guest speaker was Dr. Barry Jordan.
Dr. Barry Jordan
As a child growing up in Brooklyn and Queens , Barry D. Jordan, MD, played a lot of sports, especially basketball, baseball, and football. So it seems only fitting that he would one day specialize in sports injuries. Currently, the 45-year-old neurologist directs the brain injury program at the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains , NY .
Dr. Jordan graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1981 before going on to become Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at Cornell University Medical College .
Over the course of his career, he has received an array of awards, including a Medical Scientific Award from the World Boxing Council in 1997. In 2000, he was named one of the Best Doctors in New York by New York Magazine.
Dr. Jordan has also garnered attention in his role as Chief Medical Officer for the New York State Athletic Commission, which oversees professional boxing in that state. He has held that position since last September, and also serves as the medical advisor to the Association of Boxing Commissions.
4. A quote written by one of our members:
“ I always feel better when I drive back home after a Ring 8 meeting, but the other night I felt especially better than the other nights. I am proud to be a member. If there is anything down the road to keep this organization viable, please let me know. The discussion with Dr. Jordan on ALS and boxing was very interesting and has to be looked into further”.
AUCTIONED OFF was an 8 x 10 picture of Gene Fullmer (signed by Gene) with authenticity paperwork.
5. The meeting adjourned at 9:30. Most members stayed to about 10:00 discussing the HBO show.
Meeting Schedule for 2010
Website: RingNY.com
President: Matt Farrago (631) 948-6028
Vice President: Henny Wallitsch
Meetings are usually the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 7:00pm
February 16th at the Waterfront Crabhouse
March 16th at the Waterfront Crabhouse
April 20th at the Waterfront Crabhouse
May 18th at the Waterfront Crabhouse
June 15th at the Waterfront Crabhouse
July 20th at the Waterfront Crabhouse
August 17th at the Waterfront Crabhouse
September 21st at the Waterfront Crabhouse
Next Meeting: October 19th at the Waterfront Crabhouse
November 16th at the Waterfront Crabhouse
December Holiday Event is Sunday, December 19th, 2010 at Russo’s on the Bay
The cost for tickets will be $125.00. Checks are made out to Ring 8 and sent to:
Matt Farrago, 30 Bowdon Rd , Greenlawn NY 11740
Posted under Meeting Notes