By Rusty Rubin

Mark Your Calendar:

Aug. 19, 2006...California Boxing Hall of Fame inductions: Huge list of former and past greats to be inducted including Hedgemon Lewis, the Ruelas brothers and a group of many old friends. Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City California...For information call 818-761-4887.

Oct. 14, 2005...World Boxing Hall of Fame induction, LAX Marriott...Call 909-239-3541...More details to follow.***

Don’t mark your calendar for Evander Holyfield’s return to the ring in August. Like so many others that fight well past their prime, Evander, once an all-time great, has become an embarrassment to our sport, and we shouldn’t support him live or on TV. Maybe that’s the only way he’ll get the message.***

It’s easy to listen to knowledgeable ESPN commentators like Teddy Atlas describing the unanimous decision in Miami, of Juan Uranga over Ben Ralah as disgraceful. Agreed that it was a bad one, as I had Ben Ralah up by two rounds. When you watch a fight, tape it with the sound off, score it, then watch it with the sound on.***

In the Philippines, No surprise that Manny Pacquiao won a hard fought war with always game Oscar Larios. Next up for the Pac Man is a rematch with Erik Morales.***

This week Showtime presents a couple of solid bouts out of St. Louis, with Roman Karmazin taking on Cory Spinks and Steve Cunningham going after Gulliermo Jones for two IBF titles.

Spinks seems to have problem fighting before his home town fans as proved when he lost to Zab Judah. He couldn’t get into the fight. Karmazin can’t hit as hard as Judah but he sure can box. I look to another upset here with Karmazin taking a close decision.

As for Cunningham – Jones, it figures to be pretty much of a pick em fight, and on that basis, I’ll pick Jones by a late 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.

Prayer for the return to health to 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 recent surgeries have proved successful, but he still has a long way to go. 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 for Mae Sebastian, who is fighting a serious illness. Mae is the wife of Gene Sebastian, who gave Tom Donelson and myself the info needed to write the book “Billy Soose, The Champion Time Forgot”.

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 recovery of good friend and great boxing guy Norm Cote, Past President of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, who is undergoing dialysis three times a week. Norm’s a fighter and we have to be there in his corner.

Prayers also for former World Boxing Hall of Fame Presidents Dub Harris and Charlie Casas who are having some severe health problems as well.

Prayers for the soul of Mike Quarry former boxer and brother of Jerry Quarry, heavyweight contender, who passed away a few years back. Mike set up a foundation to help those afflicted with Alzheimer’s which Jerry suffered from.

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 absolutely 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: Although I realize that I’m getting somewhat cynical in my old age, once again I will try to keep my reputation as an equal opportunity offender strong.

This great land is badly in need of campaign financing reform. Currently America has the best government that corporate donations can buy. It’s the huge bucks donated by corporations that keep the incumbents entrenched and determined to be beholden the special interests that support them.

In America, as well as many other countries in the world, it seems more and more obvious that the inmates are running the asylum. And, the scary part is the President and his Cabinet are the Wardens of his unholy entourage. See the Dubya does stand for something, Warden..

In a system that prides itself on representative government, the only people these bunch of power-hungry politicians are representing are themselves and the corporations that keep them in power. I though oh man! And found out that unfortunately, I was correct.

Although the American people have spoken out loud and clear about selling our ports to Dubai, yet in spite of it, it seems almost certain our security will be sold down the river to Oman, another member of the UAR.

The people have spoken on our immigration policy but not only do the elected members of the Senate vote to support the Warden, but they also voted to allow the illegal aliens get social security.

Fortunately the Republican led House of Representatives (all up for re-election) were smart enough to listen to the voters and nixed the Senate on immigration both times.

Last time I checked, all of the Presidential candidates in the Senate are supporting the Warden on this issue. Can you guess what candidates have been eliminated from getting my vote for President in 2008?

What really confuses me is that the Republicans have given the Dems a hole as big as ten football fields to run through with the immigration issue, and instead of listening to the voters, these clowns decide to allow more years of Republican rule by supporting the Warden on his stubbornness and stupidity on this issue. Hey guys, Dubya is a lame duck and you’re supporting a guy who has nothing to lose.

And while Dubya is the one who takes the blame this time around, keep in mind that this corruption has been going along for a long time, and Presidents of both parties have been guilty of ignoring the wants and needs of their constituents.

Again, we need a three (or more) party system because these clowns can get away by turning their backs on the voters knowing that whoever they put up, the American people will be screwed. It’s like prostitution, but at least with that, you know what you’re getting.

It’s no longer government of by and for the people, but rather government of the people, by the crooks and for the corporations. Ok, not all politicians are dishonest, but taking donations by corporations tends to put them in someone’s pocket.

It takes more money to buy a politician than a prostitute, but they both take and give back. However prostitution does not endanger the security of our country, corrupt politicians do.***

As an afterthought, I urge you not to listen to those guys who have their head up their butts when they say that the costs of gas here has to do with the price of gas in Europe. Yes, they pay more for gas over there, but that’s because a much higher percentage of the gas prices go for taxes to defer the cost of much more socialized programs in those countries. There is nothing in the world that should make you believe that the high costs of gas in Europe have anything to do with being ripped off at the pumps in America.

And I personally resent watching the commercials on TV that part of the price of our gas if paying for. If you expect the truth from these guys, you have to believe in the tooth fairy. Come to think of it, the tooth fairy is far more believable.***

And to all my friends, and recently ex-friends I’ve made with these editorials, I respect your views, hope you respect mine, and wish you all a safe and sane July 4th holiday. Most of all remember the significance of this holiday and say a prayer for our brave young men who gave their all for their/our great land.

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