In Rusty’s Corner

By Rusty Rubin

Audley Harrison, the Olympic Champ from the UK who never got the crowds excited as a pro, probably never will. He just doesn’t seem to have heart and confidence and those to traits are needed to make a mark in the pro boxing world. Dominick Guinn, despite the height and reach difference won a solid decision from his taller foe.***

After watching the Judah – Mayweather fight again, I firmly believe that Zab Judah has less class that an epileptic cockroach. When you have to resort to low blows and rabbit punches just to get an edge, it show’s his street mentality. If Richard Steele did anything wrong, he should have disqualified Judah after the rabbit punch, and no riot would have ensued. Fighters like Judah are the last thing boxing needs when it’s trying to improve its reputation.***

The fight this week from Germany, features Wladamir Klitschko taking on Chris Byrd. Without a ladder Byrd doesn’t figure to have much of a shot against the tall Ukranie. But I said the same thing about Dominic Guinn last week against Audley Harrison. Can I be wrong twice in a row? You bet, but I don’t think it’s this time. The younger Klitshcko by a ninth round TKO.***

Agree or disagree, we’d like to hear from you. (Rngsportsr@aol.com).

Glove2Glove:

Patti Brandenburg continues to have health problems and continues to need your help via prayers.

Let’s say a prayer for the father of Eva Futch, a great friend, and the widow of legendary trainer Eddie, who passed away in 2001. Eva’s father’s cancer has returned and needs all the support we can give him, and please pray that Eva has the strength to cope with this difficult challenge she faces at so close to her having lost her esteemed husband.

Prayers needed for Elise Brown, grand daughter of Ringside Products head honcho and good boxing guy John Brown. Young Elise has heart problems.

Prayers have also helped but continue to be needed for Dennis Wilcox, brother of boxing scribe David Wilcox, who is in an Oregon hospital suffering from Leukemia. The family and everyone at Glove2Glove ask for your prayers for his total recovery.

Prayers for the return to health of Audrey Talmo, wife of Ed, a long-time boxing fan who cares about our sport.

Please say prayers for the return to health of Helen Wambolt, wife of our East Coast World Boxing Hall of Fame writer Danny Wambolt. Cards will also be most welcome.***

Please say prayers for the return to health of Orazio Esposito, father of our photographer Richard Esposito.***

Prayers for the return to health of Don Donelson, father of writer Tom, and Gene Sebastian, brother of former middleweight champ Billy Soose. Both are suffering from congestive heart disease.

Please say prayers for Phill Grazide of Santa Rosa, CA. a big supporter of amateur boxing, who is suffering the crippling effects of rheumatoid arthritis.***

Needless to say we need prayers for the return to health of both former champs Greg Page and Gerald McClellan, both confined to wheelchairs.***

Glove2Glove is a non-denominational group set up to aide those boxing folks and their relatives in need of prayers and cards. We accept no money and only contact our members when someone is in need. It’s free to join. Simply send us your e-mail address. And even if you’re not a member, feel free to contact us if you are aware of some boxing person in need.***

Touching on politics briefly: I’ve been spending some time thinking of who should be next in line to target for an honest assault. Over the years I’ve pretty much took on them all, in all political persuasions and all sports and other urgent matters of public life.

Someone wrote in and asked why I haven’t written anything about getting rid of Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld? The reason is simple, everyone else is doing it, so why repeat things?

How’s this for a starter? Did anyone notice that in an American court of law, Zacharias Moussoui, and admitted terrorist and hater of our way of life, is allowed to wear a hat? And you wonder why illegal immigrants who just want to earn a living don’t understand the way our system works. Why should peaceful protesters not be allowed to fly the flag of their origin while a cold blooded killer can mock our justice system?

My views are that illegal haven’t changed. My ancestors came here legally and it should be that way for everyone. Why are these guys better than anyone else?

One thing that has bugged me for some time is the lack of  response or fire from our elected leaders. Doesn’t anyone have balls to stand up and tell it like it is? Ok, let’s change that to ‘any man’, because women aren’t supposed to be physically equipped that way. And that includes Hillary (I think).

The point is there’s no fire in today’s politicians any more. I won’t say no guts or brains, but most lack the intense feelings to stand up for what they believe in, maybe because it may be politically incorrect.

I hear no fire in the speeches coming out of Washington. And I am old enough to remember ‘Give them hell, Harry’ Truman. JFK and Reagan also showed guts and initiative, but since then? I guess courage is a thing of the past from a country that used to stand up and fight for their beliefs (for independence and against slavery).

Where did we go wrong? I’d gladly throw my vote and support around a candidate who really stood up and expressed his desire to keep America strong and not make us a second rate power or a banana republic, something recent Presidents of both parties have been more than willing to do.

I don’t expect isolationism. That would be far too dangerous in a world that is now as close as a nuclear warhead delivery away. We have to negotiate, and we have to trade, but we certainly don’t have to give up our identity as the leader of the free world.

Maybe the times of saber rattling have returned, but as long as our Country is being out-sourced, America no longer belongs to Americans and that’s one of the reasons why our leaders are careful not to offend anyone.

All this brings us to a very important point, wholesale changes must be made, and neither of the two floundering political parties is in any position to do it. The time has come for a third party to join the fray.

Getting the ball off the ground should begin in this year’s November elections, where third party candidates should run, getting themselves ready for the big test in 2008. It’s never been clearer that a two party system will not work when both parties are saying the same thing.

And I’ll put my mouth where my writing is by helping with the bylaws or putting the party together, but I will not be a candidate for any public office myself.

Agree, disagree or just want to help? I’d love to hear from you. (Rusty@ringsports.com).