2497 replies to this topic

[mdrunning]

John Feinstein.

 

https://www.washingt...mmentator-dies/

Loved "The Punch," which was a detailed account of the Rudy Tomjanovich-Kermit Washington fight in 1977 which ended Rudy T's career for all intents and purposes.

[SBTarheel]

Brilliant writer, apparently a pretty complicated guy. 

 

My favorite book of his was "A Season Inside", it was the sequel sort of to "Season on the Brink". He followed 5-6 stories during the 1988 College Basketball season, including Rick Barnes, who was a rookie head coach at George Mason, Gary Williams and his recruitment of Jimmy Jackson, and Steve Kerr, who was a great player at Arizona at the time, but was dealing with the assassination of his Father as well. 

 

Loved a lot of his stuff, but this one stands out for me personally. "A March to Madness", about the '96-97 ACC season was great as well. Turned out to be Dean Smith's last season in Chapel Hill. I think I'll re read that now that the Heels are likely out of the tournament. 

 

 

[BSLChrisStoner]

He did some local radio.
I found him to be a tough listen. 

[SBTarheel]

He did some local radio.
I found him to be a tough listen. 

I was told once by a friend in local media that he's knowledgable, but always makes everything about himself. 

 

i met him once, very briefly, told him i was a huge fan, and he smiled politely, but wasn't really interested in what i had to say. 

[russsnyder]

He did some local radio.
I found him to be a tough listen.

I remember.

He wasn't very good at all.

His book on the Ravens' first super bowl season was a pretty good read

[BSLChrisStoner]

George Foreman

[BSLMikeLowe]

Not sure how I'll best remember George, but it will probably either be Howard Cosell screaming, "Down goes Frazier!" repeatedly, or him hawking grills. Still the oldest to ever win the heavyweight boxing title (only a couple months shy of his 46th Bday).

 

RIP, Big George.

[mdrunning]

I just wish we could have seen a bit more of Big George in his prime, but that loss to Muhammad Ali really seemed to take the starch out of him. He just couldn't get over the shame of losing that fight, but there was no shame in losing to Ali.

 

Ali once said of all the fighters he faced, Sonny Liston was the scariest, Joe Frazier was the toughest, and George was the strongest. Now, sadly enough, all four men have something in common--they're all gone.

[russsnyder]

I just wish we could have seen a bit more of Big George in his prime, but that loss to Muhammad Ali really seemed to take the starch out of him. He just couldn't get over the shame of losing that fight, but there was no shame in losing to Ali.

Ali once said of all the fighters he faced, Sonny Liston was the scariest, Joe Frazier was the toughest, and George was the strongest. Now, sadly enough, all four men have something in common--they're all gone.

Pretty sobering post.

Those four guys were probably the last of the great group of heavyweights.

[mdrunning]

Pretty sobering post.

Those four guys were probably the last of the great group of heavyweights.

Larry Holmes ranks up there as well, but by the time he was at his peak, Ali and Frazier were well past their primes and Foreman had pretty much gone off the radar. From just a sheer boxing standpoint, he was probably better than any of them.

[CantonJester]

Larry Holmes ranks up there as well, but by the time he was at his peak, Ali and Frazier were well past their primes and Foreman had pretty much gone off the radar. From just a sheer boxing standpoint, he was probably better than any of them.

 

I read your post four times and couldn't confirm who you were talking about. 

 

Ali was better than all of them. 

 

Ali

Holmes

Frazier

Foreman

 

But my experience is being a kid watching HBO in the 70s when the boxing matches came on. 

[mdrunning]

I read your post four times and couldn't confirm who you were talking about. 

 

Ali was better than all of them. 

 

Ali

Holmes

Frazier

Foreman

 

But my experience is being a kid watching HBO in the 70s when the boxing matches came on. 

I said simply from a sheer boxing standpoint, Holmes was probably better than Ali, Foreman, Frazier and Liston. That doesn't mean he was the best fighter--you have to give that to Ali. But Holmes was the textbook boxer. He moved neatly, punched quickly and had voltage behind those punches. His left jab was one of the best of all time with deadly snap and accuracy. And, unlike some other technique artists (Floyd Patterson comes to mind), Holmes' chin could take it if an opponent's best shot got through.

 

Ali had an ability and a presence that are difficult to describe and he's probably still years ahead of his time. He was the almost perfect fighter; he had to be since he didn't have a singular ability which stood out. Collectively, he was the best fighter of all-time, but that doesn't necessarily mean he was the best boxer.

[mdrunning]

I read your post four times and couldn't confirm who you were talking about. 

 

Ali was better than all of them. 

 

Ali

Holmes

Frazier

Foreman

 

But my experience is being a kid watching HBO in the 70s when the boxing matches came on. 

At least you had HBO. My memories of the Rumble in the Junge or the Thrilla in Manilla was seeing them on ABC some two weeks after the fact. 

[russsnyder]

I said simply from a sheer boxing standpoint, Holmes was probably better than Ali, Foreman, Frazier and Liston. That doesn't mean he was the best fighter--you have to give that to Ali. But Holmes was the textbook boxer. He moved neatly, punched quickly and had voltage behind those punches. His left jab was one of the best of all time with deadly snap and accuracy. And, unlike some other technique artists (Floyd Patterson comes to mind), Holmes' chin could take it if an opponent's best shot got through.

Ali had an ability and a presence that are difficult to describe and he's probably still years ahead of his time. He was the almost perfect fighter; he had to be since he didn't have a singular ability which stood out. Collectively, he was the best fighter of all-time, but that doesn't necessarily mean he was the best boxer.

Good post.

I overlooked Holmes in my post.

However, he is still alive. (Fortunately)

He's probably the best technical fighter of those listed.

Dude had the best jab I have ever seen, racked up the points.

[CantonJester]

Val Kilmer, 65.

 

https://www.nytimes....ilmer-dead.html

 

This one sucks. Everybody loved Top Gun (I could take it or leave it), but that guy was hilarious in Top Secret, Real Genius and then held is own in the Batman line of films. Also liked him in The Isle of Doctor Moreau. 

[mdrunning]

Val Kilmer, 65.

 

https://www.nytimes....ilmer-dead.html

 

This one sucks. Everybody loved Top Gun (I could take it or leave it), but that guy was hilarious in Top Secret, Real Genius and then held is own in the Batman line of films. Also liked him in The Isle of Doctor Moreau. 

Top Gun didn't move the needle much for me, either, but I loved Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Tombstone. 

 

"I'm your huckleberry."

[BSLChrisStoner]

His documentary a few years ago was an interesting watch.

[Mackus]

Damn, knew he had the throat cancer but thought he was past it just with the really devastating impacts of the treatment.

One of my favorite actors. Mailed it in sometimes but when he didn't, oh man, he jumped off the screen and frequently stole movies with other huge presences in them.

His Doc Holliday will go down as one of the greatest characters ever. That's my favorite of his, too. But he was also amazing as Gay Perry in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and hilarious as the "Sherpa" in a guest episode of Entourage.

[DuffMan]

[NewMarketSean]

Heat, FTW.

 

Best movie he was ever in.