Hurry home early, hurry on home. Boom Boom Mancini’s fighting Bobby Chacon. Hurry home early, hurry on home. Boom Boom Mancini’s fighting Bobby Chacon. -Warren Zevon
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! I know, I know, a day late and a dollar short. I’m sorry, yesterday was a travel day and all. Still, I should have written somethng. My boy Blue did. I’m gonna now. I’m gonna write about the legendary Jack Johnson. I’m gonna write about the first black Heavyweight Champion of the World.
It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. Actually it was 100 years ago yesterday, and it wasn’t Sgt. Pepper. It was Jack Johnson. It was the Galveston Giant. It was 100 years ago the Galveston Giant became Heavyweight Champion of the World. The Galveston Giant about whom Ken Burns said, ”For more than thirteen years was the most famous, and the most notorious African-American on earth.” Think Muhammad Ali. Think Michael Jordan. Think Jackie Robinson. Think those guys there.
Despite his domination, times as they were, Johnson was denied a shot at the title. See these hands? I got a little girl’s hands. No matter how big I get, no matter who I fight, no matter what I do, I ain’t never gonna fight Joe Louis. I ain’t ever gonna get a chance to fight the best there is. And you know somethin’. I’m better than him.” Jack Johnson was better than all of them, but it wasn’t his hands, it was the color of his skin.
Jack Johnson beat everybody. Jack Johnson beat anybody. Beat them mercilessly. Ultimately, Johnson got his shot. Got his title shot against Canadian World Champion Tommy Burns. Beat Burns mercilessly. Merciless Ray Mercer mercilessly. Johnson kept holding Burns up just so he could beat him some more. No one could touch him.
Every fighter Johnson fought thereafter was the Great White Hope. Every fighter Johnson fought thereafter took a beating. That includes the great champion James Jefferies who dodged the Galveston Giant for oh so many years. Johnson beat the living daylights out of Jefferies. Beat the living daylights out of him for fifteen straight rounds. And then it was no mas.
There was ugliness. There were riots. There was hatred. There was a prison sentence. But above it all, there was Jack Johnson. There was the Galveston Giant. “I’m Jack Johnson. Heavyweight champion of the world. I’m black. They never let me forget it. I’m black all right! I’ll never let them forget it!” Happy anniversary Jack.
Public Spectacle:
Peace out homies. Six two and Even!
Need More? Boxing
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I looked through youtube for the perfect video, didnt see that one. Awsome.
People often say “Blue, what does one get as a gift for a man who such as you seems to have it all?
For now on I’ll just say ” My name, in a link back to my post is a good start” .
Hope nobody sees this, it was much better than mine, but in keeping with the theme, Jack deserved this one.
Finally looked you up, JQP. Great stuff, as usual. I’ll be back
hey han, great to see you. don’t be a stranger!
just consider it your x-mas present. not much i know, no lap dance, but take what you can get.