More Lessons from Art and Andre

Jake and Andre Two (in the photo above) sparred again on Wednesday, but Alan suggested that they not repeat the war they had on Monday.  They worked together for three rounds. 

Andre and I sparred for three rounds.  I may have gotten a couple of punches in, but that was it.  He slipped half of what I put out there, and danced away from the other half.

Alan told me the same thing he's told me when I sparred with Oscar: "He's your height, so get him!"  But being almost the same height doesn't mean much when one of us is younger and faster, and that person isn't me. 

Andre and I worked the pads later, which further pointed out how slow my reflexes are these days.  But I like working the pads with Andre.  Pads is something I don't get to do often, either holding them or being the person throwing the punches, so I appreciate it when I do. 

Art (in the photo above) is more martial arts orientated.  "I don't know how these guys throw punches with the gloves on.  I can't use those," he told me.  He sometimes wears MMA gloves, which are not padded like boxing gloves are.  Otherwise, he doesn't wear any protection on his hands.  Art feels his punches don't feel effective when he's wearing boxing gloves.  He showed me some self-defense moves which involved using one's hands like hammers, as well as throwing elbows like punches.  I really liked the elbow moves. 

He noticed that I have a kubotan, which is another of those non-lethal self-defense weapons that I like.  Art showed me some other ways of using it against an attacker, including using it like a hammer to the face and eyes. 

No word yet about the boxing coach job at Simons Park.  I've been thinking about it every day, and the longer the wait about what's up, the more concerned I become. 

Gina and Elena came in again, but they plan to never spar.    Between me talking about the injuries and knockouts I've seen happen during sparring sessions, and them watching the sparring that has gone on so far since they've been in the gym. . . .well, that's not something they want to do.  Alan's usually good about convincing most of the women who come to the gym to try it, but Gina and Elena don't want to take it that far, which is fine.  They'll get a good workout, regardless.



Jacob and Andre's War

A lot of women in the gym prompted Alan to repeat again, "This place looks like Curves!"  But eventually, the guys came trickling in.  A new guy, who I will refer to as Andre Two (there's already another Andre in the gym), was introduced to me by Alan when I first walked in. 

Sparring first took place between Jacob and myself.  Afterwards, Alan said, "Jake covers up very well." It was very hard for me to get uppercuts in on him.  I opted for hooks to the side instead.  When the second round came in, Jacob got in a lot of pops to my face, because my hands were down, and I was unfocused. 

In between the first and second rounds that Jacob sparred with Andre, he told me, "He keeps switching on me."  I watched closely during the next round, and sure enough, Andre kept changing in between southpaw and regular stances.  Andre would tell me, "That's how I keep my face pretty by changing my stance.  Now you know my secret!"  Both of us fell out laughing. 

Andre Two told Alan he trained at Evanston Boxing Gym.  He also told Alan, "I've never really sparred."  But yet he had his own headgear and mouthpiece when he stepped into the ring with Jacob.  The first couple of rounds went easy enough.  Andre Two had his hands down too often, and Jacob caught him in the middle of the face with punches.  Near the end of round three, Andre Two threw some heavy power punches.  Jacob answered with strong hits of his own, one of which knocked Andre Two's headgear clean off.

Andre Two indicated that he wanted to go another round.  I put his headgear back on, and sent him back out onto the canvas as the bell rang.  Round four was a battle.  Andre Two had Jacob up against the ropes, banging punches off of his head.  Jacob fired back with tough shots that knocked Andre Two's headgear off a second and a third time, as well.  After the third time, I put one of the gym's headgear on Andre Two, in the hopes that it would stay on.  The action continued, even more intense than before.  Both men were taking some hard, hard punches to their heads.  Practically the whole gym stopped to see what would happen next.

Jacob's upper arms were covered with red after the sparring was done.  It wasn't blood; Alan and Jacob figured it had either rubbed off from Andre Two's headgear, or it was rope burn.

I heard Paul ask Alan, "You want a piece of me?"  Alan replied, "Come on man.  I'm sixty years old," but he put the gloves on.  Those two were wrestling against the ropes all around the ring.  Andre, myself, and even Amy kept telling them, "Break!"  They stayed clinched up so long at one point that Andre commented, "They don't want to break!"  Paul did catch Alan with some well timed punches to his head.  But then Alan popped Paul in the mid-section.  Paul bent over while Alan gloated, " See, youngblood?" 

Art has been very helpful in showing me technique.  He showed me how to catch punches, and tried to get me not to anticipate them coming in, thus jumping the gun early in responding to them.

Over the past weekend, I got a notice from Classmates, an application that's found via Facebook.  They let me know that the yearbook from my senior year at Whitney Young was online.  Out of curiosity, I looked up the year my mother graduated from Marshall High School (1951), but that yearbook was not available.  In the yearbook from the same school two years later, I found a picture of one of my aunts, taken while she was in a cooking class.

Then I remembered Alan telling me that he graduated from high school in 1970.  I found his senior year picture, and I called him.  Alan had a mustache, and he was wearing a suit, grinning as if to say, "I know I look good today!"  He told me to look for his wife's picture, too; they had attended the same school.  She was pretty with long hair.  Their yearbook was 1968 was online, too.  If I placed a picture of Alan's son next to Alan's picture from that yearbook, people would swear they were twins.

While driving me home, Alan called his wife on his cell phone.  "Hillari, I want you to whip Alan's ass," she said.  "Why?" I asked, laughing.  "The man has just been getting on my nerves lately.  Don't even punch him, just shoot him," she said.  His wife said that she planned to come down to the gym again and hang out.  "I've been trying to get at him, but I can't, so I'd like to see someone else get him in the ring," she said.  "They do, you just don't see it when it happens," Alan grinned.

Andre Works the Punch Mitts

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No Sparring and Odd Eating

Valdez and Andre, who had come in the gym the week before to check it out, returned on Monday.  They had signed up and they were ready to go.  The gym door didn't open until later, because Alan was late.  He talked to Caroline over the phone to convince her to open the door for those of us who were already there.

Earlier in the day, Alan had called me to at church to say he would be late.  I was in the Pastor's office when the phone rang.  Pastor answered, then handed the receiver to me, saying, "It's for you."  When I got on the line, Alan said, "Was that the pastor?  I'm surprised he didn't witness to me!"  I got a good laugh out of that.  After we ended the call, I told Pastor Roger what Alan said.  "I was nice to him.  That's being a witness," Pastor smiled. 

Before Alan arrived, I couldn't make my mind up whether or not I would spar or not.  I've been a little stiff lately, and sore in the usual spots.  But it wasn't enough to rule out sparring all together.  After the coach got there, I decided to spar, but alas, there was no one available to spar.  Sarah decided not to step in the ring, and mostly everyone else was brand new or not enough of a somewhat even match for me.  Most coaches usually make an attempt to match up people for sparring as they would match people up for regular bouts.  Once in awhile, some exceptions are made.  But if there are too many difference between sparring partners in weight, height, experience or age, it's usually better to be safe than sorry.

I have another new friend on Facebook; his name is Phil, and he was one of the two guys who had a Master's bout during the Golden Gloves finals this past Saturday.  He sent me an email detailing how the Golden Gloves came to include the Masters' Division in this year's competition.  It got me to thinking about how I might be able to compete in that division during next year's competition.  My only stumbling block would be getting approval from my doctor to participate.  I should go to the doctor armed with a copy of the book The Diabetic Athlete.  I hear that's a good book that makes an arguement that people should not stop competing in sports just because they've been diagnosed with diabetes. 

Stephanie, one of the volunteers at church who helps in the food pantry, told me that I look like I had lost some weight.  "I'm trying to," I told her.  I've been eating a lot lately, but not going to restaurants much.  I've been limiting myself to having one meal out a day (usually lunch), and eating the other two meals and any snacks at home.  Recently, I went through another period of time when I just don't feel like eating much at all.  It usually lasts for several days.  I couldn't tell you what brings it on.  I'll eat very little for breakfast, skip lunch, nibble on something late in the afternoon, then eat very little or nothing for dinner. 

When that quasi-fast ends, I either go back to eating normally -- which for me is eating about four small meals a day to keep the blood sugar regulated -- or I'm eating all the time, which is what has been happening recently.  Luckily, unlike other places I've worked in the past, food is not on constant display at church.  I can go in the food pantry sometimes or in the refrigerator to get a little snack.  I'm surprised a lot more people don't get carried out on stretchers from most offices because of the overload of leftover bagels and sweet rolls in conference rooms, cakes being brought in to celebrate employees' birthdays, and overflowing candy dishes in every cubicle. 

Finals Night at the High School

Why is there a picture of Tony Danza (of "Taxi" and "Who's The Boss" fame) here?  In addition to titles on resume such as actor and teacher, Mr. Danza was once a professional boxer.  He also hosted a season of the sports competition show, "The Contender".

On the way home from buying frozen dinners at the grocery store -- anything to keep from cooking -- I remembered that I planned to attend the last night of the Golden Gloves tournament.  When I arrived, Barry and his wife Sari called to me.  They had their daughter, Laila, with them.  Nate Sr. and his son, Nate Jr. were sitting in front of us.  Further down in the bleachers, I noticed Johnny -- the guy who retired from the boxing coach position at Simons Park, the one I recently interviewed for -- sitting down.  Maybe that's a sign.

There were three boxers who received trophies due to walkovers -- their opponents didn't show up for whatever reason.  Sari wondered why would someone wouldn't show up to fight.  "This happens all the time.  Sometimes there's a legitimate reason, and sometimes there isn't," I explained. 

The decision giving Leonard Brady of Garfield Park a win over Matt Mannina of Leydon/Veteran's Park (senior novice 156 lbs.) was met with loud boos by the audience.  Mannina did get Brady with a low blow that the referee didn't comment on, but other than that, Mannina's punches were legal and on point.  Brady was stunned with an uppercut and body shot combination.  Mannina was the more aggressive person throughout most of that bout, but the judges saw it Brady's way.

Shelley Kahles of FLO MMA and Jaime Jacobson of Fist Law (female senior novice 139 lbs.) had a brawl for three rounds.  Jacobson was the victor in what must have been a very close decision. 

I sat up and took notice when a Masters' bout took place between Ralph Vara of Chicago Boxing Club and Phil Ranstrom of Degerberg Academy.  That was one of a couple of Masters' bouts that was scheduled during the finals.  I saw the list a few days ago at the gym.  I complained, "If I had known there were Masters' fights taking place at the Gloves, I would have got in on it!"  Alan said, "They would have made you take a bunch of medical tests before you could sign up."  Then realization set in that even if I could have found an opponent, diabetes and high blood pressure would have kept me out of the Gloves.  It was a nice dream, though.  Back to the Vara/Ranstrom match. . . Vara, 52 years old, won over 55-year-old Ranstrom.

The fight I was eager to see was between Vanessa Delgardo of Chicago Boxing Club and Hannah Easter of Go-Time Boxing (senior novice 132 lbs.).  She had beat Brandy during the prelims.  Delgardo came out of the corner, rushing at her opponent, but Easter was ready for her.  Easter punched in-between Delgardo's wilder punches.  Delgardo got backed into the corner a few times, and was pounded by Easter.  The referee gave Delgardo a couple of eight counts, which is never good during a fight.  In the end, Delgardo lost the championship.

I wasn't crazy about the last fight of the evening between Shawn Simpson of Chicago Fight Club and Christian Williams of Boxing 4 Boxers (open 114 lbs.).  Simpson was awarded the Boxer of the Tournament award, but Simpson's behavior during that fight was out-of-pocket.  Simpson pushed Williams to the canvas when they were in the corner.  The referee ruled it a slip.  Several spectators near me grumbled that Simpson should have been penalized, and I agreed.  Simpson also shoved Williams down during another point in the fight.  When Simpson won, he hugged Williams, who did not return the gesture.  Sportsmanship should be followed, but in that moment, I couldn't blame Williams, who looked very disgusted. 

Matthieu Spars With Me

Another quiet night at the gym.  Unfortunately, as per usual, a lot of the new people were missing.  Kelly, a massage therapist, came in, however.  I think that was the first time I'd seen her there.  She wasn't sure if she could bring her son inside the boxing gym.  I saw the boy briefly; she sent him to the basketball gym.  Alan told her it would be all right to bring her child in.  I appreciated Kelly asking in advance.  Most of the parents who had attended the gym in the past assumed it was okay to just have their kids there.  They'd ask if it was okay after they'd already brought their kids there numerous times.

Mary really doesn't want kids in the gym when the adults are there.  I agree with her on that to an extent.  If some one's kid is going to be there once in awhile, fine.  Parents deal with babysitting issues, and sometimes, schedules don't work out.  But when it becomes a habit, that may become an issue, especially in terms of safety.  An older kid may stay in one spot if directed to do so, but a toddler probably won't.  There are people moving around, heavy bags swinging, plus, loose hand weights around.  It wouldn't do for a kid to get hurt. 

I have a softer stance towards kids in the gym during the adults' time than I used to in the past.  If you've been reading this blog for the past seven years, you may be familiar with my rants against kids hanging around the gym.  Kids eight years and older do have an opportunity to train on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Barry.  If they are able to do that, they should.  I've helped out on occasion on those afternoons when it's the kids' turn in the gym, and it's been pleasant.  I've found there is something good about interacting with kids in boxing that I've not always found interacting with kids elsewhere, not even at church. 

Alan wondered out loud, "Who are we gonna get to spar with you, Hillari?"  Amy had recently told Alan, "I'm not going to spar with Hillari!"  Kelly just started last night, Victoria wasn't going to get in the ring, Grace was content to work the bags, and both Sarah and Melinda were absent.  Neither Art or Tommy wanted to spar.  Matthieu told me, "If you don't find anyone else, I'll go a round with you."

I told Matthieu we would go light, so he didn't get his mouthpiece.  I was also conscious of the fact that his ankle is still on the mend.  Matthieu has another appointment with the doctor before he can be cleared for activity.  Yet, there he was, in the ring with me.  Alan kept telling me to work my way in with jab, then dig to the sides, like he always does.  Matthieu put his long arms to good use, covering up so I couldn't get many shots to his torso.  Trying to reach his head?  Forget it.  Matthieu is over six feet tall.

We actually went two rounds.  I kept backing Matthieu up against the ropes, but he would grab my arms before I get too many flurries in. 

After the second round, Matthieu was done.  He told me that I did get a hit on the top half of his chest, which caught him off guard.  "Your long arms are an advantage.  All you have to do with someone short like me is to keep putting the jab out there so that they can't get in," I told him. 

I was grateful to Alan that he took pictures of Matthieu and I in the ring.  I often forget to ask him or someone else to snap photos or videotape when I spar.

A guy was in earlier, who said he was in the finals of the Golden Gloves this week.  He normally trains at the Evanston Boxing Club, and he knows JJ, who trains there sometimes.  "I just want another place to come and work out," he said, so I explained to him how the gym runs before Alan came in.  He plans to sign up and return next week. 

Victoria surprised Art and I when she revealed that she's 27 years old, and that she has an eight year old daughter.  Victoria looks like she just turned eighteen.  Alan was saying that she should shadow box in the mirrors to check her form and make sure she's throwing punches correctly.  "I don't do mirrors.  When I'm at home looking into mirrors, I see all the stuff I have to do around the house, like picking up my daughter's toys," she smile.  Sometimes, I'm not crazy about shadow boxing in the mirrors either, but for a different reason.  Last night, I kept noticing my protruding belly.  "Mighty funny I have a beer belly, but I haven't drank beer regularly for ten years," I grumbled to myself.  My legs were looking a little ashy, despite the fact that I had put lotion on them earlier.  The gray in my hair seemed to have increased, which is another sign that I need to go to Ray soon and let him cut it.

Interviewing and Uppercuts

This morning, I went downtown to the Chicago Park District's main office to interview for the boxing coach position at Simons Park.  I was surprised to find the offices inside the building where the Time-Life office used to be.  Way back in the mid-1980's, I was a temp sent on an assignment at the Time-Life.  It wasn't the most exciting assignment; I spent eight hours a day typing addresses on postcards.  Most of the regular employers and the boss there didn't hide their contempt for the temps.  I remember one temp ended the assignment early because she'd had enough of the boss' attitude.  I suffered through the rest of it because I couldn't afford to bail out.

My interview was with two people -- a pleasant woman named Esther, and Jimmy, who's the head of the park district's boxing program.  I hadn't seen Jimmy in a long time.  It was a short interview, but packed with a lot of questions that pertained to coaching a boxing program.  I thought I came across well, but I was aware that I was probably up against some good competition from other applicants.  Just before I went into the interview, I saw a neighbor of mine who works as an attendant with the park district.  "Getting one of those type jobs is hard because they require a lot, including having a degree," he told me. "A better way to get into the park district is to apply for a seasonal attendant job.  That way, you're already in, and you can apply from within for other positions as they come up."  I told him that I would keep that in mind.  It'll probably be several days before I hear the verdict about whether I got the job or not, so for now, it's a waiting game.

At the gym later on, a couple of cousins came in to check out the place.  Alan and I gave the women information about how the gym runs.  From the way they were talking, it didn't sound like they were interested in sparring, but they would be happy to do the workout. 

Both Melinda and I had our chance to spar with Jacob.  I noticed that Melinda loves throwing her jab, but she holds her right back, letting it loose mainly to throw hooks.  Jacob worked on defense, allowing Melinda to back him up against the ropes and into the corners.

When I got in, Art asked, "Am I going to see the uppercut?"  He had showed me how to slip the jab and then come back up with an uppercut the last time we were in the gym.  I had been going over in my mind what Art had showed me ever since last week.  However, executing the movement was another story.  Jacob is very good at protecting his torso, and he has long arms.  When I couldn't get the uppercuts in, I tried hooks.  But my hooks were hitting his hips more than they were his sides.  Afterwards, Art gave me some more good pointers about how to get the punches in.  "If you focus on working on one punch, getting that one in, then it'll get easier to execute over time," he said.

Alan had a few of us doing burn outs on the bag.  Jacob was on one bag with a new guy who's name I didn't catch.  Alan noted that the new guy, who's over 6 feet tall and is about 280 pounds, would be a good match up for Leon.  Melinda was on the red bag with Sarah.  When that round was over, Max and I got on the red bag for one round.

The finals for the Chicago Golden Gloves are later this week.  I would like to see if the woman who won over Brandy will win the belt in her category, as well as view some other fights.  Due to the fact that my new apartment still needs to be put in order -- more books need to be given away/thrown out because there is simply no room -- I may not be able to go all three nights.  But I plan to go at least one night to check things out. 

A Coach's Job

The picture above was taken a short time after Jake and I sparred.  Take a good look at the photo.  See how much taller he is than I?  I came in low like I usually do when my sparring partner towers over me, and ran into a right that Jake threw.  Stunned, I stepped back.  "Are you okay?" Jake asked.  "I'm fine," I said, as I shook my head to make it clear.  "That was a good one!"

Afterwards, Jake said, "I thought you were going to duck as I threw that punch, but you came right in."  "Hillari always goes in with her head down," Alan commented, and he was right.  Too many times, I don't see the punches coming at me as I'm rushing in.  There are also too many times when my eyes are closed as punches come in, and I'm answering them in the dark. 

I heard Igor asking Alan about sparring.  "Here we go again," I thought to myself.  Alan suggested that he spar with me.  "I'd be glad to," I said, a little too gleefully.  But I knew that Igor wasn't going to spar with me or anyone else Wednesday evening.  Later, Igor asked Alan about entering the Golden Gloves.  I rolled my eyes.  The finals are happening next week, so Igor's a little late inquiring about signing up.  Alan pointed out that Igor was too old to compete in the Gloves; the Chicago version doesn't include a Masters' Boxing division.  That's something that both myself and Steve, the former coach, had told Igor a thousand and one times in the past. 

Matthieu came in with a friend of his named Steve.  Matthieu's ankle is better, but he hasn't been cleared yet for exercise by his doctor.  He kept his workout short, and so did Steve.  But before Steve left, I did show him some basic punches and moves. 

Paul, Alan's boss, impressed me by how he used the wheel, an exercise device that helps flatten the stomach.  Paul stretched out on the canvas, pushing the wheel in front of him, but when he pulled the wheel back, he got all the way up on his feet.  I have a wheel at home, but it's rare that I use it. Alan uses the wheel each time he's in the gym, but he couldn't raise back up on his feet.  I have to admit it appears that one has to have strong back muscles to pull that off. 

Earlier today, I was returning home from the grocery store, when I saw Barry at the end of the block.  He was out with the truck, on duty with Streets and Sanitation.  "I've got an interview with the park district next week for a boxing coach's job at Simons Park," I announced to him.  "That's great!  If you get that job, you and I will be partners in crime!" Barry smiled.

I told Alan about it the night before.  "Good!  Now if you get that job, you can't walk in that gym and be intimidated," he told me.  "I know how to yell.  You know if I know how to sing, I know how to scream," I laughed, using a phrase that my mother used to say.  "You have to tell people, 'there's only one boss in the gym, and that's me'", Alan said.  I asked Alan what the interview process for him was like when he became a boxing coach over thirty years ago.  "I had been training at the gym for awhile.  The coach who was there left to do something else.  I was asked if I wanted the job, and I said yeah.  It was different back then.  I didn't have to go through a background check," he told me. 

I told Paulette about the upcoming interview earlier on Wednesday.  "Where is that gym located?"  She asked.  "It's near Humboldt Park," I answered.  She gasped.  "I'd like for you to get the job, but that's a rough side of town!" Paulette exclaimed.  Aaron, who was standing in my office told her, "What are you worried about?  She'll knock somebody out if they try something!"

I grew up in some rough areas on west side of Chicago (Rockwell Gardens, Garfield Park, K-Town, South Austin, South Lawndale), so I can handle Humboldt Park.  It won't be a hassle to get there on public transportation.  Location aside, it would be great to to get that job.  On my side, I've been boxing for eleven years (one at Degerberg Martial Arts Academy, ten at Loyola Park). I've been an official volunteer with the boxing program at Loyola Park for six years, first acting as an assistant coach to Steve, and now Alan.  I have four amateur fights under my belt, and I've worked fighter's corners at park district bouts, show fights, and at the Golden Gloves.  I have a USA Boxing Level 1 coach's license. 

But as I began to daydream about how I would run a gym, I had to remind myself to be prepared for stray punches that may come up during the interview.  Boxing is still predominately a boys' club, despite the fact that there are women who fight, judge matches, act as referees, and manage/promote fighters, and yes, do coaching.  I'll have to make a strong case that a 5 foot 1 woman can be in a gym that will probably be mostly populated with males and command respect on top of being able to teach boxing techniques. 

There's also the fact that my participation in boxing will do a shift.  I remember when I first started assisting Steve in the gym.  It was the first day of the Winter session.  There were several guys in the gym, including J.J., who were training for the Golden Gloves.  Steve was working hard to get them ready, but a lot of new people had come in.  He asked me to show them technique, so he could focus on the contenders.  At the end of the evening, I said, "I was so busy that I didn't get a workout in."  "That's one of the downsides of being a coach.  There's a lot of times when you won't get to do that," he told me.  I never forgot that.  That means I'll have to work harder to carve out other times to exercise.

Competing will be out for me as well, which I know will make a lot of people happy, like my stepmother, and most of the people at church, for example.  Sparring may still happen; Steve sparred occasionally, and Alan spars often. 

Another adjustment if I get the position - and it's a major one - is that I won't be at Loyola Park's boxing gym anymore.  That will be the hardest change to deal with since I've been there for so long.  But I'll have to cross that bridge if and when I come to it.

Spring Sparring

There were a lot of new names on the roster list, but only three actually came in on the first day of the Spring session:  Patrick and Victoria, who are new, and Helen, who returned to gym after having not been there for several sessions.

After Alan gave the new people a lesson, it was time for sparring.  Paul and Alan were up first; they had been joking about sparring long before they got to the gym.  "Paul said he wanted a piece of me," Alan smiled.  Paul knows how to clinch very well.  I kept calling out, "Break!"  Paul and Alan got into one clinch where they exchanged hooks to the body while they were tangled up. 

Melinda came in.  "I've forgotten everything," she said, once her and I got into the ring.  Alan kept telling me to "jab your way in!" but when I got in, Melinda would let go with bombs.  It was very hard to get very close to get any real significant shots in.  I did get in an overhand right once, and a straight right another time.  Melinda cracked me in my right eye twice.  Another jab of hers landed on my right cheek.  She was blocking most of what I threw, and doing it very well. 

My neck has been stiff for awhile; I took a crack from Melinda that didn't make that any better.  While switching food items from the refrigerator in my old apartment to the refrigerator in my new apartment (I've moved into a renovated apartment across the hall), I found a jar of Mineral Ice.  It's not the first time I've put something into a refrigerator only to forget about it and find it months later.  The stuff is probably still good.  But now I'm too lazy and tired to get up and go across the hall and get it.  Internet service is still hooked up for the moment in the old apartment, the bed is still in the old apartment, and I need to go to sleep once I finish this entry.  Tomorrow is another day of tasks: moving the last of my stuff into the new apartment and attempting to get laundry done.  I'm really going to need that Mineral Ice then.

A Quiet Night Before Spring

"Looks like slim pickings tonight," Alan commented on Wednesday night.  Professor came in, but he didn't stay long.  Amy, Sarah, and Tommy were there.  Jacob came in the gym a little bit after Professor had left.  Art came in for a minute and looked around. 

The crowd is always low right before a new session starts. The Spring session begins on Monday. I keep hearing that people can't sign up online because it's full. But that doesn't necessarily mean there's going be a full house next week. Alan told everyone on Monday that he's going to have to get tough on people who come in and out but never sign up for the session.

The video clip above features Alan and Jacob during their first round of sparring.  In one of the later rounds, I thought both men were going to flip over the ropes.  Jacob and Alan were locked in a clinch, and both of them leaned on the top ropes. 

I was in the ring with Jacob before Alan was.  Alan kept telling me to go for Jacob's head.  Afterwards, I asked Jacob, "How tall are you?"  "About 5'11," he answered.  "Alan, how am I going to hit someone who's 5'11 in the head?" I said.  Alan told me something I hadn't noticed before.  When I go in to do the body shots -- and I got a lot in on Jacob -- I don't protect my head.  That would explain a lot, especially when I had those three fights with Meg, and I took all those head shots. 

Amy told me earlier that Sarah, who arrived later in the evening, probably wouldn't spar because she's wants to give her nose a chance to heal.  My nose still feels a little sore, too.  However, Sarah is working with a lot more common sense than I do when it comes to sparring.  I did tell Amy that there are times, rare as they are, when I don't spar: a) if I had been knocked out during a previous sparring session or bout and b) if I really feel out of sorts that particular day.  Feeling out of sorts includes having a bad cold or flu (although I've made exceptions for those sometimes), but more often, it's just a rundown feeling, a sign that my body has had enough for the moment.

I was telling Alan about the time my mother threatened to put a beat down on my Dad's third wife.  After I told it, I thought, "He must be thinking, ah ha!  That's where she gets that fighting drive from!"  My late dad had a temper, but Ma's temper wasn't fun to deal with, either.  Most of the time, she'd do a slow burn.  The late comedic actor Paul Lynde was a master at the slow burn, usually accompanied by grumbling insults.  That's what Ma does.  But when she really got fired up about something. . .sigh.  All I have to say is, Dad's third wife should have thanked me for being in-between her and Ma that day, and if something had gone down, I would have put my bets on my mother.

Alan said that his eye took a hit during sparring on Monday, and he couldn't remember if it had been his boss Paul who did the deed or me.  "Me?  It couldn't have been me!  Little old me?" I joked.  Alan smiled, "Well, it is what it is." 

Twice In The Kidneys

Brandy had said she would probably take a little time off from the gym, and she wasn't there Monday night.  The only other woman in attendance besides me was Amy who normally doesn't spar.  Professor, both guys named Paul, Art, and Igor was in attendance.  I had barely started dialing the combination of the lock on my locker when Igor started bugging me about putting his watch inside.  Once again, I grumbled, asking him why doesn't he just leave the watch at home.  I don't know why I bothered wasting my breath.

Young Paul and Alan sparred for a few rounds, and it looked like a wrestling match.  I kept saying, "Break!  Break!"  Alan later explained to Paul: "You kept pushing me back, but I kept holding on.  It was just using up energy."  Alan caught Paul with some shots that caused the younger man to double over a couple of times.  Paul also took a knee at one point.  Paul came out, and I got in.  Igor was mumbling about his watch because he wanted to go.  I made him wait for it.

I'd been used to sparring Brandy, Melinda and Sarah for so long that I forgot how to approach Alan.  I threw some wild punches that turned me around and had me falling up against the ropes.  I got him with an overhand right once, but that was about the only good punch I was able to get in.  Alan backed me up into a corner with a series of straight punches and uppercuts.  I grabbed his arms to stop the onslaught. 

Alan got up against ropes at another moment and got me with a kidney shot.  I fell to the canvas, going, "Ohh!"  Alan helped me back up, and we continued with the round.  Another kidney shot a few minutes later caught me off guard.  Thankfully, the bell rang not too long after that.

Alan and Young Paul got in another round, but with less wrestling this time.  But Paul was hit on the back of his neck, and that round ended quickly.  Alan told him, "I didn't hit you that hard."  I was watching from ringside, holding my side and giving Alan a dubious look.  He always says he doesn't hit hard.  Sometimes, I think Alan doesn't know his own strength.  I know I don't have the time, even when I think I'm pulling punches.  I still remember being surprised after seeing how Ben's face was battered and bruised after he and I sparred several years ago.  I couldn't believe that I had hurt him like that.  My niece Jalissa came with me to the gym not long after that happened.  Mort, who was still going there at the time, told her, "Your aunt kicked that guy's ass!"

Speaking of Mort, I ran into him sometime late last week.  He's doing well, working and finishing up his degree in graphic design.  Mort was proud to hear how JJ had dropped a guy with a left hook during his most recent professional fight.  Mort showed me a picture of his daughter, a cute little three-year-old.

The photo above is of my old Master's boxing license.  There are no fights recorded in it.  I got it back in 2003, several months after I started going to the Loyola Park gym.  Steve, the former coach, tried to get fights for me, but none happened, not even a Park District fight.  While at the Golden Gloves last Friday, Mary turned to me and asked, "Don't you wish you had a fight here?"  "I wish every year," I sighed. When I first got that license, Master's Boxing matches were still included in the Chicago Golden Gloves.  They're not anymore.

I always tell people, "Medical issues don't prevent me from being a coach."  The photo above is of my latest coach's license.  It's time for me to attend another clinic, but they're not held often enough or close to where I can get to them easily.  I really enjoyed the last clinic I attended out in Harvey, Illinois.

Boxing lost another legend, this time Bert Randolph Sugar.  As I write this, the TV is on in the background, tuned to ESPN Classic's "Ringside".  The episode is "Mike Tyson's Greatest Hits, Pt. 2", and Brian Kenny, Teddy Atlas, and Mr. Sugar are analyzing Tyson's career.  I liked Sugar, because he was so knowledgeable about the sport.  I had a chance to meet him once when he came to Chicago to sit at an amateur match.  I believe JJ participated in that event.  It was late spring/early summer, but I was laid up at home with a cold.  My former boss, Les, was always too hard-headed to just stay at home when he got sick.  You know, one of those people who think the whole damn office will fall apart because they're not there.  Les would come to work and infect the whole office.  It never failed; I would catch whatever he had, then I'd be out on my back for two to three days.  Then a few years later, I missed out on still having a full-time job because Les decided to resign, which caused a restructuring of the department we were in.  Instead of being irritated with Les, perhaps I should thank him the next time I see him.  He provided me with a lot of motivation over the years to go hard on the heavy bags after having to spend a lot of eight hour (and more) days with him. 

Friday Night's Best Fight

The photo above is of Brandy and her dad.  He and Brandy's boyfriend Nick were in attendance at the Golden Gloves.

I got to the tournament at Gordon Tech High School early on Friday, around 5:30 PM.  I finally caught up with Rita and got a sticker placed in my coach's passbook.   I was very appreciative of her doing that for me. Before that took place, Rita talked with a young lady who was wearing a pink sweatsuit.  She looked familiar.  Later, I learned that she was Brandy's opponent.

Barry was there early also with Eric, who had won his prelim match previously.  Eric was going to face an opponent in the semi-finals.  Eric's fight was the eighth one of the evening, and Brandy's fight took place after his.

A couple of rounds before, Alan held the pads for Brandy.  I asked if he was going to be okay doing that since his hand is still on the mend.  "I might start off with the pads, and have you finish up with them," he told me.  In the end, Alan held the pads the entire time, catching Brandy on the right side of her face a few times.  "Keep your hands up," I said.  Alan had her doing hooks.  "If you hit with those hooks, you'll knock her out," Alan said. 

The picture above is another taken during the time Alan was warming up Brandy.  The guy in the shot is Bill, who is the boxing coach at Hamlin.  "Meg's got several women down there to spar with," Bill told me.  Meg is the woman I fought and lost to three times.  He also told me that there's a woman who's a plus-size model sparring down at his gym.  "You should come down there and get some sparring in," Bill said.  I need to go, because I need the practice and the exercise.  I told Bill that I would try to make it down to his gym soon.

Percy was working the glove table, as usual.  He made jokes with both Brandy and Alan when they went to have her wraps checked.  Alan picked up a pair of gloves.  "If you pick up some gloves again, you and I are going to get into it," Percy said.  Alan said, "I got Hillari here for backup."  "Oops, I forgot," Percy said, laughing.  Brandy couldn't use her own headgear because it wasn't regulation.  Fortunately, other headgear was available.  Alan and I tucked her hair underneath the headgear. 

Eric hung in there with his opponent, but the hand of the other guy - Javier from Rumi Maki Gym -was raised in victory.  No sooner than Eric came out of the ring, Alan, Brandy, and myself walked up to the ring.  Dr. Dave, the referee, came over to our corner and gave Brandy a list of instructions.  Rita was in the other corner with Vanessa, who fought out of DLG. 

It was all action from the ringing of the first bell.  Basically, Brandy never let up on Vanessa.  But that's not to say that Vanessa was just taking the punches.  She was firing back.  Vanessa would back Brandy up on the ropes; Brandy would rally back and set loose a series of punches on her.  Brandy caught Vanessa with a straight jab to her face.  Vanessa had a grimace on her face, and took a moment to answer Brandy's punch.  Every time it looked like Vanessa was getting the best of the situation, Brandy would push herself to keep swinging. 

Alan was yelling, "Stay on her!" each time Brandy would overwhelm Vanessa with punches.  I was going to be quiet, like I usually am when I work someone's corner.  But after awhile, I was yelling, "Go! Go! Go!" The crowd was really into their match.  They were clapping and cheering, and a big roar would go up at the end of each round. Nick later told us that the crowd was on the edge of their seats.  "The people sitting near her dad and I were cheering Brandy on.  They were really surprised to learn that was her first fight," he said.

Before the beginning of the third round, Alan told Brandy, "This is your fucking fight!  You can do this!"  Later, Brandy said she was surprised at Alan cursing in the corner.  I've heard him say similar stuff to Professor, Kenny, Carlos, John, and myself in-between rounds of fights.  Both Brandy and Vanessa were tired in the third round, but that did not stop either of them from continuing to throw punches.  Brandy showed a lot of heart as she kept advancing towards Vanessa.  At one point, she had Vanessa in the corner and was pounding on her.  The crowd was going wild.

When the fight ended, the crowd gave both women a standing ovation.  I gave Vanessa a hug when she came over to our corner.  "Great fight!" I said to her.  Rita gave a thumbs up when I looked in her direction, and I waved to her.  I also waved to Alan R. who was judging from the other side of the ring.  The fight was close.  The winner was Vanessa.

Brandy had no hard feelings.  But she was amazed at the damage she took.  There was a scratch on her shoulder, probably from Vanessa's glove rubbing across it.  Brandy also slipped and fell during the second round, so there were bruises on her other arm.  Under her chin was a bruise, and her bottom lip suffered damaged too. 

 Johnny the promoter shook Alan's hand and declared, "That was the best fight of the night."  He wasn't the only one who said that.  Most of the people who I talked to and who congratulated Brandy thought she should have won. Alan said Brandy might be declared to be the fighter of the night.  We didn't stick around to see if that came true.  Alan went home, and the rest of us went out to eat.
Nick, Brandy, Gerry (Brandy's dad), myself and Sarah went to a bar a few miles away.  It was the first time I'd had a beer in about ten years.  I'm allergic to beer (the wheat hops mess with my sinuses), but I felt the occasion called for a beer.  It had been on my mind for some time to have one, anyway.  I had a shot of whiskey, and I was amazed how smoothly it went down.  I hadn't had a shot since. . .wow, it must have been nearly thirty years ago.  I've never been that much of a drinker. 

We talked about the match, and about boxing in general.  Then we left the bar and went to a Mexican restaurant down the street for something to eat.  Brandy's father said he was a little concerned about her being in the ring, but when he saw how she was taking care of business, he felt better.  Both he and Nick were proud of Brandy's performance.  So was I.  Now I can't wait for the park district tournaments to begin this summer.  Brandy could get a lot of fights.

Before Friday's Bout

Alan had something to do at his day job, so he didn't get to the gym until after 8:00 PM.  In the meantime, Professor gave Brandy extra pointers on how to handle herself against her opponent this Friday.  He worked with her in the ring.

Neither Leon nor Emmanuel came in the gym Wednesday night.  Emmanuel had a legit excuse -- he had to work late.  I don't know what happened with Leon.  I had my camera ready to take video of their sparring session, too.  None of the other guys in the gym, including Art, Tommy and Ray, sparred. 

Jacob's back.  He's no longer taking his online classes.  It's not that he couldn't do it - Jacob's a smart guy - but it was a lot of work to master the terminology he had to know.  So he's able to train again in the gym.

Brandy sparred with Sarah for a few rounds.  I took a picture, and seeing how it didn't look right, I deleted it.  Unfortunately, I accidently deleted several other pictures and some videos.  I should have taken the camera in to the drug store to download the pictures on CD awhile ago, but I decided to wait.  Fortunately, some of the pictures made onto prior blog entries, so I'll just copy them from there.

I also sparred with Brandy.  As usual, both Sarah and I took our lumps from Brandy.  Sarah's nose was bloodied up a little, and I took a few shots in the mouth.  Brandy threw a left, and instead of slipping right to avoid it, I slipped to the left.  Her fist caught me in the chest.  That quickly taught me the importance of knowing which way to move.

Sarah, Brandy and I did a burn out on the heavy bag afterwards.  When I get tired of throwing straight punches when it's my turn on the bag, I throw hooks instead.  I sure wish I could throw hooks in the ring as good as people say I throw them onto the bag.  Ray was telling the guys, "Hillari is really throwing those hooks.  It's all in how she uses her hips."  The guys encouraged Brandy to hit the bag as hard as she could.  Indeed, they all were giving Brandy a lot of advice to use during her upcoming bout.

Alan mentioned me bringing along my chest protector on Friday to the Gloves.  "But I don't want to wear it," Brandy said.  Alan told her she may need it just in case.  I was thinking about the wild punches I saw her opponent throw on that YouTube video.  Perhaps the chest protector will help ward off the effects of some of those punches. 

Looks like my coach's license problem will be solved.  When I show up at the Gloves on Friday, Rita told me to find her and she'll take care of it.  I'm glad because I didn't want to not be able to work Brandy's corner because I didn't have the license in hand.