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Steve´s Bio

We look in retrospect at the recent front page headline makers and unfortunately we have found only a few individuals who have done so much as role models for our youth- such as skater Tara Lipinski, Mark McGwire, who home run record may stand for fifty years. Then there is Sammy Sosa, who incredibly, also smashed Roger Maris´ 37 year record and pushed McGwire through the last days of the regular season.

The Yankees winning 114 games.

We think of David Wells, a guy who is strong yet sentimental. He paid $35,000 for Babe Ruth´s chapeau. He showed great courage under the sick taunting of Indian fans, who had the audacity to mock his recently deceased mother wit a digusting lack of sportmanship. Wells repudiated all that, this owner of a perfect game, near perfect games and an 18-2 record.

Eric Davis, rallying from Colon cancer this year, epitomized the criteria for greatness in sports: the ability to come from behind to win.

Twenty same winner David Cone.

Darryl Strawberry, who has overcome so many problems in life, had a fine year for the Yankees - a year cut short by the same disease Davis has apparently beaten. We wish the Straw Man well.

What about Cal Ripken, who removed himself from the lineup when he felt it was time to end his consecutive game streak, although he knew he was capable of playing. His record may never be broken.

The Little Leaguers from Totowa, New Jersey, winning it all.

There are others, Senator Glenn making a valiant effort to prove a man of 77 has what it takes to return to space. He is an inspiration to young and old, particularly to those seniors who might be tempter to acquiese to age, become lethargic and allow their muscles and mind to atrophy.

There are also all the wonderful people who today, and in the past, have utilized their own financial success to help the many people who are in need. We think of the millions Muhammad Ali, probabyl the best known athlete in the world, has raised for humantarian endeavors aimed at helping children.

Frank Sinatra, who passed away earlier this year, leaves a legacy of giving, having donated literlly millions during his lietime, one was financially strapped Joe Louis, the others, too many to mention.

All the above people - athletes and non athletes - can be construed as compassionate super sportsmen.

But it is the athlete who is revered by the young, and who can serve them most easily as a role model because of the truism of sports. It´s a digression for kids from Hollywood make-believe, purveyors of concocted violence and immorality.

There is no fakery, as can be readily found in TV commercials to which youngsters are continuously exposed. Ditto for the uncontrolled, easily accessible, non-redeeming social value disillusionment to the impressionable young. Patriotism is being diluted here, as is religion of every kind.

In sports, however, success can only come by hitting a ball, making a catch, dunking a shot, putting the puck in the net, the football through the uprights and your opponent on the canvas with a KO. No tricks, mirrors or political rhetoric here.

The responsibility of the pro and amateur athlete to our young is enormous and, in fact, almost overwhelming. It should be their constant role to inspire the youth of this nation by their achievements on and off the field.

This writer recalls obtaining a book as a youngster from the St. George library on Staten Island. The title was "A Man Must Fight," written by legendary Gene Tunney, former great champion. Tunney was known for his ability to come from behind to win. He once returned to top form after his left arm became so emaciated from infection, it was virtually useless and it was thought he would never fight again.

In another instance, Tunney was literally out of it for two days after being struck in training to fight Jack Dempsey. His very close friend and sometimes sparring partner, Col. P.F. Eddie Egan made no one privy to Tunney´s condition. Gene recovered and defeated the great Dempsey.

Tunney plied his skills in the aristocratice era of boxing, the 1920´s, when boxing became legal in NY under the Walker Law.

Egan was a Rhodes Scholar and Olympic gold medalist, not only in boxing but bobsledding (the only person to become an Olympic champion in two sports), who probably could have become a pro champ had he chosen to pursue that venue.

Some of the other entities of the era we think of were W,. Muldoon, James J. Farley, Sr., the former postmaster general, and Col. John J. Phelan. Later, there was Edwin B. Doolety, former congressman from Mamaroneck, and All-American football player at Dartmouth, where he roomed with former NY Governor Nelson Rockefeller.

They were a few of the icons of boxing in the early days. But then, as now, there are other heroes in and out of the hame-unsung heroes who take children under their wing, serving as surrogate parents and role models. They are too numerous for media of history books to mention but they are out there and are the heroic of all. What they do is not for plaudits and not for personal profit. Their benefits to society are immeasurable.

We feel there must be a moral resuregence, a shakeup, in the greatest country in the world and we must return to the ideas established by the forefathers to continue to remain invicible. Ancient Rome and Nazi Germany, along with Russia and other Communist countries that tried to function over God, instead of under him, failed!

Back to the ring. We wonder why, unlike athletes in other sports, boxers who are champions sometimes try to circumvent meeting their number one challenger. We have the greatest respect for Evander Holyfield but wondered why he was not getting it on with Lennox Lewis. Recently, both took on a lesser foe and won, but didn´t look good in doing so. They could have possibly lost to a lesser foe, putting and end to their much talked about but never scheduled bout, or at least could have significantly cut the purses they will receive for it.

On the plus side, we think boxing has reached a turning point. First their was the passage of Sen. John McCain;s safety reform bill. A part of which is a pension plan that would give boxers who should no longer be fighting the oppountity to retire with some financial security. Surely they´ve earned that.

Then there was District of Columbia Congresswoman Elanor Holmes - Norton´s bill (H2354, known as the State Reciprocity Professional Boxing Act), which calls for reciprical agreement between all existing boxing commissions on unifromity of operations, suspensions and revocation of licenses, etc. etc.

Also positive: the passage of the Muhammad Ali bill, ending the monopoly by promoters of champions and requiring financial accountability by promoters and managers to protect boxers.

The Holmes - Norton bill stems from the controversy surrounding Mike Tyson;s suspension by the Nevade State Boxing Commission. Now it has come to pass that Tyson has had his license restored following some type of approval of psychiatrists. We hope that unlike volcanoes, he will not erupt again in the future. We hope he will try to be a respectable athlete and human being. Time will tell. However, we do not feel that the entire boxing business should revolve around Mike Tyson.

Local fighter David Telesco should be commended for his stunning four round TKO of 1984 Olympic gold medalist and former world champion Frank Tate. Tate had experience on his side, fighting twice as many bouts as Telesco. But David displayed not only good punching power but also boxing skills and superb conditioning. Plaudits must also go to Kevin Butler, his promoter from Rye, NY.