Few things can get us choked up. Baseball documentaries. Hal Holbrook in the nursing home on Sons of Anarchy. Tom Hanks' first night alone in New York in Big. Old Yeller. Well, Minneapolis musician Jeremy Messersmith might just make you go all "Niagra Falls" when you watch his latest video (just like Attilla the Hun did when the Ghost of Christmas Past showed him his mother).
The "Twin Suns of Tatooine" did, in fact, affect us too. Just when ol' George is re-tooling (or whoring) the Holy Trilogy once more, this 2D project touches the hearts of fanboys like us more deeply than any special-edition-re-release-super-director's-cut ever could. Simply beautiful.
To our anonymous Festivus angel(s) out there, you rock. Thank you for the card and the goodies inside. This makes us regret not checking our business address mailbox more often. Now onto solving the mystery of your identity. All we need is a handwriting expert and a list of people who have actual knowledge of our PO Box address and reside/travel in the general vicinity of the envelope's postmark location...
Oh, and let us take this opportunity to point out one of the best Xmas gifts of the year - the Save A Blade® Razor Sharpener. It really works on all razors. Of course, one could use a straight razor and a leather strap, but who wants to risk accidental suicide? So safety razors it is, but we're all held hostage by the razor companies, who are at liberty to charge whatever they want for decent razors. Finally, the consumers can strike back for years of price gouging.
The Save A Blade® uses "the same technology used in commercial kitchens to sharpen fine cutlery," and the razor companies don't want you to know that. Now we don't expect to have to buy razors for the next decade - maybe even longer if we keep sporting the ZZ Top look. But seriously, you should get yours as soon as possible, as we can't imagine that the razor companies will allow this to go on much longer. If this blog is shut down unexpectedly, we'll know that they're onto us...
This month, HBO is airing a powerful new documentary entitled Assault in the Ring, in which filmmaker Eric Drath seeks to uncover the truth behind the darkest day in boxing history. On June 16, 1983, Billy Collins, Jr. fought Luis Resto in an undercard bout for the Roberto Duran - Davey Moore fight in Madison Square Garden.
Collins was a highly-touted and undefeated phenom and Resto was a seasoned, yet uninspiring underdog with a 20-7-1 record. Resto dominated Collins in each of the 10 rounds, getting a unanimous decision. Celebration was short lived as Collins' corner quickly discovered that Resto's gloves had been tampered with. Much of the gloves' padding had been removed, prompting an immediate investigation by the boxing authorities and the NY District Attorney.
As for Collins, the severe damage to his eye sustained in the fight allegedly left him unable to box. Without the stabalizing force of a career, Collins' life plunged into a downward spiral that included drinking, drugs and an estrangement from his wife and child. Sadly, Collins died in 1984 when he crashed his car while driving intoxicated.
Ultimately, Resto and his trainer Panama Lewis were not only banned from boxing but also convicted and imprisoned for conspiracy and assault. Upon his release from prison, Luis Resto's life was very much a lonely and difficult life-imitating-art scenario, à la On the Waterfront (see below).
Originally titled "Cornered: A Life in the Ring," Eric Drath initially sets out with his cameras and investigative team to vindicate Resto, who has maintained his innocence for a quarter of a century. As facts and participants are confronted, Assault becomes an amazing journey of truth and redemption. Expertly put together and unapologetically honest, this 80-minute documentary is definitely worth a watch.
It wasn't him, Charley, it was you. Remember that night in the Garden you came down to my dressing room and you said, "Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson." You remember that? "This ain't your night"! My night! I coulda taken Wilson apart! So what happens? He gets the title shot outdoors on the ballpark and what do I get? A one-way ticket to Palookaville! You was my brother, Charley, you shoulda looked out for me a little bit. You shoulda taken care of me just a little bit so I wouldn't have to take them dives for the short-end money . . . You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley.
Simon Wilder: You asked the question, sir, now let me answer it. The beauty of the Constitution is that it can always be changed. The beauty of the Constitution is that it makes no set law other than faith in the wisdom of ordinary people to govern themselves. Proffesor Pitkannan: Faith in the wisdom of the people is exactly what makes the Constitution incomplete and crude.
Simon Wilder: Crude? No, sir. Our founding parents were pompous, white, middle-aged farmers, but they were also great men. Because they knew one thing that all great men should know: that they didn't know everything. Sure, they'd make mistakes - but they made sure to leave a way to correct them. The president is not an elected king, no matter how many bombs he can drop - because the "crude" Constitution doesn't trust him. He's just a bum, okay Mr. Pitkannan? He's just a bum.
No sir, I have no experience but I'm a big fan of money. I like it, I use it, I have a little. I keep it in a jar on top of my refrigerator. I'd like to put more in that jar. That's where you come in.
