If Rahm Wants to Help, He Needs to Support What Works - Celtic Boxing

Our society is addicted to bullshit.  

We believe that legislation, ordinances, programs and policies will eliminate the seven deadly sins.

Sorry. Not gonna happen.

People do not behave solely in reaction to societal circumstance.  People steal, kill, rape, cheat, lie, gorge, gulp and envy out of human nature.  Society reacts to human nature and not the other way  around.  We build walls, fences, write laws, authorize enforcement of said laws because some human beings feel comfortable taking from others, raping others and killing others, if gorging, drinking to excess and paralyzing body, mind and soul with drugs if not enough.

Once the walls, fences, written laws and enforcement of said laws have been eliminated, people are not going to change their human natures - they get worse.  Read the papers.

Thuggery is not a health issue.  It is a condition created by a complete destruction of civility - civic obligation. Government helped destroy civility.

In much tougher times than our own, parish and neighborhood initiatives became part of the culture of civility.  Tough, hungry, angry and hopeless kids were introduced to boxing and other healthy activities by a priest - Msgr and later Bishop Bernard Shiel.  

Bishop Shiel was no social engineer, he understood human nature.  Shiel invited everyone to step into the ring and change their lives. Catholic, Protestant, Jewish  kids - white, black brown and yellow - became the citizens who defeated fascism and created the greatest standard of living in human history.  Bishop Shiel is all but purged from Chicago and American history by the social engineers who co-opted and then destroyed his work with government programs.

Programs gave us the blood soaked streets of Chicago. There is a clarion call to not only maintain failure but reintroduce its most expensive lead balloon - Ceasefire.

For the last few months, the Sun Times and the Chicago Tribune have printed op-ed pieces by former journalists, academics and the usual gold standard voices of "Same Old/Same Old," calling for the return of tax dollars to Ceasefire - a post-incarceration job opportunity for gang-bangers and street pharmacists.

Government Money (GM)gets tossed only to political players, political preachers and political pandering people in print ( formerly called hacks).

What works and receives no GM is neighborhood initiatives.   Neighbors need to go get Private Funding from local businesses, private foundations and people with the capacity to give.

Violence, like all addictions, is a symptom of a human problem, a personal problem and not a disease that be cured by removing inanimate objects.  Violence is the exercise of power over other people by people who feel powerless.  Violence is prima facie unjustifiable.

The frustrated shout and scream. The frightened lash out and destroy.

Violence can be beaten, only when people no longer feel powerless

Celtic Boxing in Mount Greenwood is one such program.

Founded in 1993 by Mike Joyce a Chicago attorney and lifetime resident of Chicago. The club was started to give neighborhood kids a place to learn the art of boxing and to offer a positive outlet.

Mike Joyce also started an on site boxing program at Leo High School where Mike attended high school. The club was started to inspire inner city youth to enable them to build confidence and the skills to compete in the modern world. Over the years, Coach Mike Joyce has mentored many troubled youth and has helped make them better, more confident adults.
The Celtic Boxing Club is an Illinois State Crime Commission/Police Athletic League sports program. The Club is open to all ages and has sponsored numerous boxing events throughout the city especially for police and fire departments and public safety causes.

To Inspire - to give breath where no none exists
To Enable - to provide the means to achieve
To Build Confidence - to construct the heart and mind toward a goal
To Compete - to defeat despair

Next Saturday, Celtic Boxing and the West Point Boxers will compete in an exhibition at the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.  Prior to that they will conduct neighborhood workshops, workouts and sparring demonstrations at Leo High School in Auburn Gresham neighborhood and Celtic Boxing in Mount Greenwood from 10AM until 12 PM.

September 24th is an opportunity for Chicago to witness what works.  If Mayor Emanuel really wants to change the atmosphere of thuggery and despair in Chicago, he needs to close the windows on what has and continues to fail- marches, shout-fests and social -engineer lab experiments like Ceasefire.

He needs to open the doors to what works. Chicago needs to walk through those doors.

Real Words from a Real Heart: A Response to an Unreal Media Hack Job by the Sun Times

 

This letter appeared in a post on 19th Ward Blog, a wonderful site.  It is the letter from my friend Mike Joyce responding to the cut-and-paste attack ad put together by the Sun Times Watchdogs on Palm Sunday.

"Don't shed any tears for me on the Sun Times smear piece done on me yesterday. I'm a big boy I can handle it. Rahm's got to be pretty desperate for me to rate the front page on a weekend where dozens of people were shot.
For the record I was never contacted for comment on the article. If I had been contacted I would have informed them that I have worked on over 30 elections since Emanuel became mayor and that revenge and my family members were not pertinent to my support of Chuy Garcia.
I am very proud of all of my family members and when somebody in the neighborhood is looking for help they are always there for them. As an elected official my father worked harder and did more for the residents of the 19th Ward than anybody. He did his job tirelessly, selflessly and didn't seek credit or publicity for serving his constituents. He was personally responsible for appointing Mike Sheahan, Ginger Rugai and Tom Dart to their first public offices. My brother Kevin was elected and served the residents of the 19th Ward as an Illinois State Representative. Kevin is a cancer survivor and is now the Vice President of Ave Maria University in Florida.
Both my father and my brother were personally and politically pro life Democrats. There has been nobody in Illinois politics that has been more pro union than my father or my brother.
As far as my involvement with Chuy Garcia goes, I became acquainted with Chuy Garcia through my good friend in the boxing business JC. JC's father and Chuy brought the great labor leader Cesar Chavez to Chicago over 30 years ago. I am supporting Chuy because he is the right candidate for our neighborhood. He has promised to hire 1000 new Police Officers that our community desperately needs. He grew up in a real Chicago neighborhood, attended St. Rita High School, is way more in tune with our community than Rahm.
 Rahm is the wealthy Washington insider whose union credentials include making millions with his billionaire buddy Anti Union Governor Bruce Rauner, passing American job killer NAFTA, saying F*** the United Auto Workers and telling Chicago Teacher's Union President Karen Lewis "F*** you Lewis".
I admire all leaders in Organized Labor Unions. Many unions are supporting Chuy and the ones who are not have no reason to be anti Chuy. In his 30 year public service Chuy has a 100% pro union voting record.
I was proud to have Chuy march in the South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade. He got a genuine rousing cheers all along the Parade route. Chuy has also gotten that kind of reception each of the many times he has visited the 19th Ward. The current mayor does not get that kind of reception in our neighborhood and our alderman did not even endorse him until after his own election was over.
The paper says that I am a lawyer and a boxing coach. It is true that I earn my living as an attorney but as a boxing coach I do not earn a penny. I use boxing to give back to the community.
For over 20 years I have served as a volunteer boxing coach at the West Englewood Boys Club, Leo High School and the Celtic Boxing Club. Through amateur boxing shows I have helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for worthy causes and charities including the St. Baldrick's Foundation, the Mercy Home, the Irish American Foundation, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, Leo High School, the West Englewood Boys Club, the Officer John Hurley Family Fund, Catholic Charities, the Illinois State Crime Commission/Police Athletic League of Illinois, the Tommy Z Foundation, the Charlie Weiss Hannah and Friends Autism Foundation and many others. I have also had the opportunity to have inner city youth train alongside Chicago Police Officers and Chicago Firefighters for the Battle of the Badges.
The newspaper may want to bash me for political reasons but I am blessed and greatful for the support of friends in the community. My support for Chuy is based solely on my wanting my 3 year old grow up in a neighborhood that I grew up in."
The words of Michael J. Joyce, 3/30/15

Chicago Dunciad: The Sun Times Watchdogs? Hardly. Rahm's Purse Pups More Exactly

"While pensive Poets painful vigils keep,/ Sleepless themselves to give their readers sleep" I 91–92) The Dunciad by Alexander Pope.

I am his Highness' dog at Kew;
Pray tell me, sir, whose dog are you?
"On the Collar of a Dog".Alexander Pope

I am a devout Papist.  Catholic born-bred and believing, but I am a disciple if Alexander Pope, who was the John Kass of the 18th Century. Unlike, Chicago's John Kass, Alexander Pope had a very weak constitution: sickly and small;nevertheless, was fierce foe of frauds and fawning lick-spittles - especially those who lived by the pen and the pay of politicians.

Men of talent can be hacks.  Hell, if I had the opportunity I'd probably be one too.  As it is, I live in simple and fortunate honest poverty.

Today's Sun Times Watchdogs ( giving ones self a nickname always bothered me)  as two very talented investigative writers for the editorially compromised and daffy Sun Times, Tim Novak and Chris Fusco presented burnt offerings to the Rahm Emanuel election campaign.  The family of Jeremiah Joyce gets the treatment.

Nothing new, nothing ground-breaking, nothing here but clippings of old items meant to arouse the ire of dim-wits and partisans. This a solely punitive piece; meant to hurt people and not inform.

It is a pretty nasty piece of work performed for a particularly nasty person who is scared out of his wits by Chuy Garcia and anyone who stands with Rahm's foe.

I love the Joyce family, because they are honest, unpretentious people who help people who need help.  Mike 'Pickle' Joyce is not only the most great-hearted and fiercely loyal person I know, but also the smartest person I have had the pleasure to meet  with exception of the late Steve Allen.  Mike has coached the African American young men of Leo High School without pay and out of his own pocket for nearly two decades - because Mike loves them and the school.

I know, not intimately, all of the Joyces.  Each and every one of them is a fine person. Nevertheless, The Watchdogs trotted out old news spun as political gold.

Gold is a metaphor for crap in classical literature, by the way.

Tim Novak and Chris Fusco acted more like purse puppies than Watchdogs.  That is a sad waste of their time and their talents.

Celtic Youth Charity Foundation Fundraiser Was A Smash!

The Joyce Clan!

photo by Mike Joyce above (The Cousins of the Joyce Clan celebrate the wonderful showing of Sam Joyce (center) who was swinging like saloon doors on pay-day in the square ring only moments after this picture was snapped.) Sam Joyce and the great James Kitchen

The Celtic Youth Charity Foundation* drew hundreds of boxing fans, boxers and neighbors to 115 Bourbon Street for a score of cards featuring pugs as young as nine years old. Mike Joyce's** massive heart and hands attract friends to a great cause like Milwaukeans to a wedge of cheese.

Luminaries like Boxers Black Irish Kenny Murphy, Irish Johnny Collins, James Kitchen, Jack "Killer" Kilmartin, Morgan McGarry, civic leaders Worth Township Chieftain Johnny O'Sullivan Skinny " The Polar Plunge"  Sheahan, Ald. Matt  O'Shea (Chicago 19th), The Artist Known as Houlie ( Mike Houlihan), Evergreen Park Mayor Jimmy Sexton, Leo Football Coach Mike Holmes, best-selling author John Linehan and defense attorney Frank Avila rubbed shoulders, butts and elbows with union leaders, township officials, Streets and Sanitation Warriors Frank Hodorowicz and Mick Murray and scores of fight fans in the big hall of 115 Bourbon Street last night.

Leo Boxers helped fill the cards for a great event helping to fund a genuine program that actually helps kids avoid the streets, trouble and the thumbing numbing non-sense of video games. Working their corners and helping the ref, were Leo Boxing legends Thomas "The Hitman" Hayes (27-1) and Captain of the U.S. Army Boxing Team, Staff Sergeant Marvin Carey.

All the squares stayed home!



This'll stir the blood of those that have it!

Proceeds will benefit the Celtic Youth Foundation, a sports program whose mission is to coach and mentor young individuals in order to promote health, fitness, work ethic, self-respect, respect for others and a sense of community in these individuals.
Through the foundation’s boxing and other after-school activities it seeks to offer internships, mentorships, scholarships and apprenticeships to deserving youth who participate in our program and adhere to its high standards.
In the past foundation has had its youth train alongside police officers, state’s attorneys, firefighters and other first responders. The results of this interaction between at-risk youth and members of the public service community have been outstanding.
Virtually 100 percent of the program’s participants have gone on to college, the military or organized labor unions. Officials are now expanding the program and desperately need help to do so. They are counting on members of government, business, organized labor, educational institutes, professional sports organizations, the clergy and the media to become involved with the program.
The organization is seeking assistance from the public with mentoring, tutoring, financial assistance and employment opportunities through sponsorship.
That support will make a positive difference in a deserving young person’s life, resulting in safer and stronger communities.
The Celtic Youth Foundation has applied for recognition as tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and anticipates receipt of same within the next 180 days. The Celtic Youth Foundation anticipates that donations to the Celtic Youth Foundation are tax deductible as charitable contributions to the fullest extent allowed by law.
For more information, call (773) 779-7266.

** Mike Joyce began boxing as a teenager while attending Leo High School and competed throughout high school and college in amateur boxing tournaments including the CYO, the Chicago Park District and the Golden Gloves. As a boxer Mike had the privilege of being trained by the best coaches in Chicago; Owen Putman, Marty McGarry, Vic Leonard and Herman Mills. Mike capped off a successful amateur boxing career by representing Chicago against the Irish National Boxing Team. After a brief pro boxing career Mike returned to school to obtain his law degree from John Marshall Law School. During law school Mike remained active in boxing by training, managing and promoting up and coming boxers.

In addition to the Celtic Boxing Club, Mike Joyce manages two other boxing gyms under the auspices of the Illinois State Crime Commission/Police Athletic League where he serves as legal counsel for the PAL Boxing Program. Both of these gyms are located in Chicago’s inner city.

Celtic Youth Charity Fundraiser Presents The 4-Fs of Boxing at Bourbon Streets: Fists, Friends, Family & Fun!

Boxers Dicky Ecklund and Mike JoyceMike Joyce and his Father-in-Law Mike's Father-inLaw's Boss and Trainer the late Angelo Dundee
Mike Joyce and Denis Leary

 Mike sparring with boxer and NFL great Tommy Zbikowski in the Leo Boxing Gym


You never know with whom Mike Joyce will bring around.  One time it might be Dicky Ecklund and another it could be Willie Nelson; yet again philosopher professor and boxing journalist Gordon Marino and Rhodes Scholar/Song-smith/actor and Golden Gloves Champ Kris Kristofferson.  More than likely you will witness Mike's vehicle du jour packed with an ethnic assortment of Pops's cheeseburger eating eight year olds after a work-out at Celtic Boxing Gym, or African American scholar tough guys from Leo High School.

This I know and have experienced.  Mike Joyce is the head boxing of Leo High School, as well as founder and operator of Celtic Boxing Club and Celtic Youth Charity Foundation. I know that celebrities* who actually do something for other people are going to join the those of us do just that 365 days a year at Bourbon Street on March 13th.  For the price of ticket you get to watch great boxing, mingle with great people, chow-down of the wonderful spread provided by Chicago's # 1 Charity Venue - Bourbon Street -groove to the great sounds provided by the political Godfather of Worth Township Johnny O'Sullivan's DJ gear, spill some over flowing beverage and help youngsters develop the confidence, the skills, the work-ethic and recognition of others less fortunate that only boxing in the square ring provides.

Only the Squares Won't Be There!

Celtic Youth Charity Fundraiser
Boxing Exhibition


Thursday march 13th  6:30-9:30
115 Bourbon Street  Merrionette Park
Donation $30 adults   $15  under 18

* Charity Fundraiser-Boxing Exhibition-music, buffet, open bar
* Donation $30. adults $15. under 18
*
* Proceeds to benefit Celtic Youth Foundation a sports program whose mission is to coach and mentor young individuals in order to promote health, fitness, work ethic, self respect, respect for others and a sense of community in these individuals.
* Through our boxing and other after school activities we seek to offer internships, mentorships, scholarships and apprenticeships to deserving youth who participate in our program and adhere to our high standards.
* In the past we have had our youth train alongside police officers, state's attorneys, firefighters and other first responders. The results of this interaction between at risk youth and members of the public service community have been outstanding.
* Virtually 100% of our program's participants have gone on to college, the military or organized labor unions.
* We are now expanding our program and desperately need your help to do so. We are counting on members of government, business, organized labor, educational institutes, professional sports organizations, the clergy and the media to become involved with our program.
* What we are seeking from you is assistance with mentoring, tutoring, financial assistance, employment opportunities and the use of your good name and that of your organization through sponsorship.
* What we offer in return is the gratification that you will receive knowing that you have made positive difference in a deserving young person's life. Your efforts will also result in safer and stronger communities.
* Please consider assisting The Celtic Youth Foundation at whatever level of participation you can commit to in helping our youth.
* Thank you so much for your consideration in becoming involved with us in our program. Any level of support is sincerely appreciated and guaranteed to make a difference.
* The Celtic Youth Foundation has applied for recognition as tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and anticipates receipt of same within the next 180 days. The Celtic Youth Foundation anticipates that donations to the Celtic Youth Foundation are tax deductible as charitable contributions to the fullest extent allowed by law.

115 Bourbon Street
3359 West 115th Street, Merrionette Park, Illinois 60803
View Map · Get Direction

* The term applies with this caveat - Great People Don't Act Like Big Shots.  I have yet to hear a great person say 'Do you know who I am?'  Don't You?

Leo High School Rookie Teacher/Coach Kimberly Hickey 5'/100lbs of Heart

Lisa Black of the Chicago Tribune visited Leo High School before the Christmas break and witnessed what I have been blessed to see every day - a school that matters to the students it serves.  Leo High School's eighty plus years of service to Church, city and country matters, because the focus is always on the young men who come here to learn.

Leo has been home to legendary teachers like Brothers Finch, O'Keefe, Birmingham and Coogan of the Irish Christian Brothers ( 1926-1990) and lay men and women like Jimmy Arenberg, Bill Hession, Bob Foster, Bob Swazt, Tom Joyce, George Cummings, Nancy Finn, Jay Standring, Jack Fitzgerald, Tom O'Malley,  Aurora Latifi and Mike Holmes.  There are hundreds of others, but I feel safe in saying the people listed are legends. A legend is someone who comes to work for the sake of other people.

Lisa Black spent a great deal of time in the halls of Leo where the unfiltered opinion of young men rings the truth of the old school's motto - Facta Non Verba.  Leo High School, from days of Bob Foster's leadership, never puts on a dog and pony show for visitors, much less for the probitive eyes and clear hearing of a professional news reporter.  In the words of President Dan McGrath, "Leo is what it is."  Leo is a home thick with family.  Dan is the Patriarch, Mike Holmes the protective older brother, Aurora Latifi the matriarchal Lion Queen, Board Member and boxing Coach Mike Joyce The Consigliere and Leo's Director of Development, the proud but crazy uncle who sleeps on the fold-out couch.  Well, I do get here early.   Our students spend the happiest hours of their days here at school.  I open the doors for many of them hours before the start of the class day.

Into this close-knit family stepped a pretty little girl at the end of last July.  Kimberly Hickey is all of 5' tall and weighs-in at a romping stomping 100 lbs,  after a George Foreman All You Can Eat breakfast. Miss Hickey teaches math and coaches boxing with Mike Joyce.  Read Lisa Black's story about a legend in the works.

Lisa Black's wonderful story of Leo's Miss Hickey will appear in the Chicago SundayTribune print edition in the Chicagoland section ( Dec. 29,2013).

Leo Boxer -Lamar Fenner Defeated the Slain Chechen Boston Terrorist in 2009

Leo Boxer Lamar Fenner is center in Black -coached by boxing greats from the Left -the late Luther Rawlings, the late Eddie Perkins, the late Herman Mills and the great Mike Joyce.



Lamar Fenner was coached, schooled and mentored by Leo/Celtic Boxing Coach Mike Joyce.  Lamar died of a heart attack in 2012, after achieving great success in the square ring.  In 2009, the Chicago 201 lb. Golden Gloves Champion deafeated Tamerlain Tzarnaez - one of the two terrorists who murdered and maimed innocent people in Boston this last week.

In Team New England's last bout of the night, Tamerlan Tsarnaev dropped a controversial decision to Lamar Fenner of Chicago in the 201-pound devision.
After flooring Fenner with a huge punch that required an eight count, it seemed that Tsarnaev was in control of the whole fight.
Yet somehow the judges saw it differently and awarded Fenner the decision, a decision that drew boos from the crowd.
Team New England finished the first day of action with two wins and two losses.

One boxer died of natural causes and the loser from the bullets of Police officers.

God grant Lamar peace.
                                                     

Happy St. Baldrick's Fight for the Cure Weekend!

Today is St. Baldrick's Fight for the Cure Day.  To begin your day, watch Archbishop Patrick Elwood on Fox 32 at 7 AM this morning, as he interviews boxers from Celtic Boxing and Leo High School Boxing Clubs who will entertain the crowd at 115 Bourbon with feats of pugilism and manly derring-do.

Then on Saturday Mar 9, 2013  at 3PM  head over to 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park, IL ( over by the Dominick's what's by the Waldo's by Kedzie.) and lay down Two -bits ($25, or more: Senior Citizens $15 and Kids Free) for a full card of fights, fine food, raffles, music, boon-chums, celebrities and the Bald and Soon to be Bald!

Folks volunteer to have their noggin's shaved for a donation to help fight Childhood Cancer.The Queen of St. Baldrick's Day - Her Majesty Ava*!

Listen to to the lovely Trish Gallagher O'Sullivan of Oak Lawn!

Mar 9, 2013

We are raising money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation to fund lifesaving cancer research for children. Fight for a Cure 2013 is now an annual St. Baldrick's event and a new Southside tradition which takes place the day before the Southside Irish Parade.This year our event features headshaving, boxing, facepainting, raffles, music, buffet and open bar. Please join us for A Good Time for a Great CauseDonation $25 adults $15 for under 21 Free kids 10 and underFor more information, buy tickets on line, volunteer, register to be a shavee or donate

www.stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/7780/2013


Get over there, you Mugs!


*This little Queen is what it is all about!
St. Baldrick's 2013 Fight for a Cure Honored Kid -Ava- 5 years old diagnosed November 16, 2012 with stage 3 neuroblastoma.

Imperishable Wreathes: Philosopher Gordon Marino on Boxing's Police Athletic League Initiative to Fight Violence

 

“Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” St. Paul Corinthians 9:25

"In order to box you need to control your emotions, your anger and your fear. And the more in control you are of your emotions the less likely you are to do something mean or stupid." George Foreman

Gordon Marino is a boxer, philosopher, nationally syndicated writer and professor of Philosophy at St. Olaf College in Minnesota.  Today, Marino writes about the Police Athletic League and the Illinois Crime Commission's initiative to steer more young girls and boys away from the madness of the streets and into boxing centers around Chicago.  The goal is to place young people in a gym where they will exercise, learn the science of boxing and spar with men and woman who serve and protect - firefighters and police officers.

One of those centers is one floor above me, on second floor here, at Leo High School in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood of Chicago.  Leo High School has provided this community with a Christ centered, safe, nurturing educational institution since 1926.  Leo High School has operated a boxing gym since the late 1990's and produced scores of amateur boxers, twenty-five of whom are Golden Gloves champions.One such boxer Tommy Hayes ( Leo 1999) is a professional heavyweight boxer with a record of 27-1.

Scores boxed, 25 won amateur titles, one has a distinguished professional record; thus, it is, like life.  All who competed won what St. Paul would call 'imperishable wreathes."  Imperishable wreathes are character, self control, courage and commitment.  Those who entered took away with them pride born of humility.  That is what George Foreman might call Toughness.  Toughness is not determined by how much pain one might dish out, but how much pain one can endure.

Gordon Marino in today's Huffington Post offers this challenge:

In a fresh Police Athletic League initiative police officers and firefighters will begin training in local gyms for a "Battle of the Badges;" that is a grand night of boxing between a team of fire fighters and police officers. Proceeds from the event will flow to police and firefighter charities as well to the Chicago Park District Boxing Program.
Mike Joyce, Director of the PAL Boxing Program, emphasized, "We want to expand our 1st Annual PAL boxing gala to include private businesses, faith based organizations, and organized labor unions. We are all in this together. We need to give these kids opportunities. We need to give them hope and a stake in the community. We want our kids to have the means to build up our neighborhoods, rather than tear them down."
A former fighter and coach of the Leo High School boxing team, Joyce explained that the most significant aspect of this effort is not to raise funds, though that is important as well, but to bring people together. "The key,"he noted, "is that police and firefighters will be training side by side with the kids, getting to know them, and acting as mentors."
There are currently 25 Chicago boxing centers and a handful of other PAL affiliated boxing facilities, but the plan is to add three gyms in the coming year and to increase the number of boys and girls lacing up the gloves and getting into shape.
It might seem counter intuitive to fight violence by teaching boxing. However, Hall of Famer George Foreman once put it this way, "In order to box you need to control your emotions, your anger and your fear. And the more in control you are of your emotions the less likely you are to do something mean or stupid."

Competition is a life challenge that kids can not learn at a keyboard, or through the controls of an X-Box.  Interestingly, the phrase used by  St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, a host of citizens known for, shall we say, licentious behavior - what happened in Corinth did not necessarily stay in Corinth - "competes in the games" comes from the Greek word agonizomai. (I learned this years ago in order to understand Milton's Samson Agonistes) - from which own word agony is derived. To compete requires agony which is very different from fear.

Fear is what creates meanness and stupidity - gun violence and savagery.  A boxer learns this without the need to turn to Milton.

Turn to Foreman, Ali, Marino, Joyce and above all St. Paul - those who compete win imperishable wreathes.

Put on the Gloves and Man Up! Police Athletic League of Illinois Sets the Challenge

Leo Boxer, Notre Dame Grad Professional Heavyweight Boxer and NFL's Indianapolis Colts  Safety Tommy Zbikowski hits the hand-paddles with Leo & Celtic Boxing Coach Mike Joyce

llinois State Crime Commission/Police Athletic League of Illinois

Guns are tools and so are the goofs who use them in order to 'be somebody.' 

Everyone talks as if guns had a life of their own.  They are inanimate objects taken up and used by two types of people - responsible, centered and skilled persons, or hapless, ignorant cowards with absolutely nothing going for them.

Any coward with a finger and an opposable thumb can pull a trigger and make a statement.  It takes a man to put on the gloves and step into the square ring.  

Athletics and boxing in particular have saved thousands of young men and women from taking the easy road to dependency, or worse, despair.  Bishop Sheil of Chicago began the Catholic Youth Organization, which partnered with the Police Athletic League in the late 1920's and battled back for youth by giving young people the purpose, direction and the skills to overcome the circumstances life hands to everyone.

Here at Leo High School, a long-time partner with the Illinois Crime Commission and the Illinois Police Athletic League, hundreds of men learned the 'sweet science' and become the men God created.  It works.

Boxing has drawn out the Lion in the lamb in danger of becoming one of the sheep. Read this with great interest and get involved.

What: Press Conference
Who: Illinois State Crime Commission/Police Athletic League of Illinois and Rasheda Ali
When: Thursday January 17, 10:30AM
Where: Hotel Allegro, 177 W. Randolph Street, Chicago - Screening Room 2
Why: To announce a new ISCC/PAL program to combat Chicagoland violence

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali's daughter and PAL Program Director Rasheda Ali and the Illinois State Crime Commission/Police Athletic League of Illinois unveil a new boxing initiative to combat violence throughout the Chicagoland area. The ISCC/PAL will detail the program where law enforcement officials, police officers and firefighters will be training alongside of and mentoring PAL boxers at inner city Police Athletic League affiliated gyms.

In addition, the ISCC/PAL will be announcing the 1st annual ISCC/PAL Boxing Gala which will take place Monday May 5th at Hawthorne Race course in Stickney, Illinois.

Illinois State Crime Commission/Police Athletic League Executive Director Jerry Els ner states "We are very grateful to announce the volunteer help we are receiving from our brave law enforcement personnel, police officers, firefighters and coaches." "With the extreme and senseless violence in the Chicagoland area, we are calling on our government officials, organized labor unions, private business groups; faith based organizations and educational leaders to help us with our Program so that we may offer our qualified PAL participants, internships, mentorships, apprenticeships and scholarships", Elsner further stated.

ISCC/PAL Program Consultant Rasheda Ali signed on with the initiative "Because I know the firsthand the importance of the Anti-Violence work the Crime Commission has done and I know something drastic has to be done to combat the epidemic violence plaguing the Chicagoland area. Additionally, my father Muhammad Ali began his career in a Police Athletic League Boxing Program."

The Police Athletic League is a hundred year old organization started by a New York City Police Commissioner who established sports programs so youth would have a positive outlet to dissipate energy. The PAL has evolved and now offers year round educational, recreational and cultural programs to inspire and support our youth. Notable PAL Alumnus who credit the organization with putting them on the right path as youth participants include; General Colin Powell, Bill Cosby and Muhammad Ali.

For more information on the ISCC/PAL and Rasheda Ali check the following websites:
IllinoisCrimeCommission.com

RashedaAli.net 

Leo High School Mourns the Passing of Emanuel Steward

Leo Boxing Coach Mike Joyce, President Dan McGrath and the Leo Boxing Team lead the Leo High School Community in saying good by to a great friend and mentor - Boxing Legend Emanuel Steward.Steward, who has been hospitilized since September, had been had been suffering from diverticulitis, though he reportedly had contracted colon cancer.Steward was known for running Kronk gym, where he bred champion fighters like Thomas Hearns, Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko. Over the years he also trained world champions Michael Moorer, Evander Holyfield, Oliver McCall, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. andOscar De La Hoya.
He was a father figure to dozens of other boxers, whom he trained by day and parented by night. In recent years he became known for his commentary during HBO-TV's boxing matches.

Emanuel Steward's last stop before entering Chicago hospital was at  the Celtic Boxing Gym in Mount Greenwood run by Leo Coach Mike Joyce, where the two great trainers watched over some young talent. Kids first.



Christ welcome home a great son.

Fight Along With Martin McGarry You'll Be in Great Company

"Poets aren’t often boxers. They tend to use parts of the brain that don’t respond well to being rattled around like ice in a cocktail shaker.. . .with the noted exception of Vernon Scannell" - Andrew Taylor

A quarter of a century ago
I hung the gloves up, knew I'd had enough
Of taking it and trying to dish it out,
Foxing them or slugging toe-to-toe. V. Scannell

from The Tiger and the Rose: "A roll-call of the great champions can still stir me like a rough heroic poem. I have experienced the Aristotelian catharsis as powerfully in the boxing stadium as in the theatre."

However, Vernon Scannell* was professional boxer and Man of Letters.  He reminds me of Beverly Man Martin McGarry, a boxer, teacher, mentor, and pipe-fitter.  The poem Nettles by Scannell really gets to thye nature of the man Martin McGarry:

Nettles by Vernon Scannell

My son aged three fell in the nettle bed.
'Bed' seemed a curious name for those green spears,
That regiment of spite behind the shed:
It was no place for rest. With sobs and tears
The boy came seeking comfort and I saw
White blisters beaded on his tender skin.
We soothed him till his pain was not so raw.
At last he offered us a watery grin,
And then I took my billhook, honed the blade
And went outside and slashed in fury with it
Till not a nettle in that fierce parade
Stood upright any more. And then I lit
A funeral pyre to burn the fallen dead,
But in two weeks the busy sun and rain
Had called up tall recruits behind the shed:
My son would often feel sharp wounds again.

Martin McGarry feels.  He feels the nettles of living and helps youngsters to fight back and balance themselves with confidence. Marty McGarry can dish it out as well and now he is in the brawl of his life . . .well, maybe. Let's get in the ring with McGarry Clan and mix it up for Marty!

In February 2012, Martin McGarry, of Belmullet, Co. Mayo, Ireland and owner of McGarry’s Boxing Club was diagnosed with Familial Amyloidosis, an extremely rare and fatal, hereditary disease, which claimed the life of his mother and two brothers. Join us to Fight for Martin McGarry...When: December 2, 2012 Time: 1:00pm until 6:00pm;  Where: 115 Bourbon Street -3359 West 115th Street  Merrionette Park, IL 60803 

*

Vernon Scannell (born 1922) is a British poet and author. He was at one time a professional boxer, and has written novels about boxing. 
He was born in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, and brought up principally in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. He left school at 14. 
During World War II he served in the British Army in the Gordon Highlanders, in France and North Africa. He was imprisoned for desertion, took part in the Normandy landings and was wounded, and once more deserted after VE Day. He wrote about these experiences in An Argument of Kings (1987). 
He subsequently worked as a boxer, and later studied at Leeds University, encountering Bonamy Dobrée and G. Wilson Knight. He was arrested as a deserter in 1947, and sent to a mental hospital. He returned to Leeds in 1948, and put together a first poetry collection, published by the Fortune Press. He subsequently worked as teacher and for BBC Radio, while developing his range as a writer. 

http://skinnyhouli.com/2012/09/podcast-sept-1-2012/
http://www.wgntv.com/videogallery/69508740/Health/Martin-McGarry















http://www.fightformartinmcgarry.org/index.html

R.I.P. Luther Rawlings - Leo Man and Mentor

Our kids at Leo High School are blessed. Yesterday, two freshmen had lunch with author and retired Chicago Fire Commissioner James T. Joyce and retired Deputy Chief and CFD Legend James Corbett - the greatest left-hand quarterback in Leo High School history.

Every day, at this Catholic high school in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood great men let young young men know that they are cared for and watched over. Catholic Charities Volunteer John Arevetis, Leo 1969, delivers food to Catholic Charities at 79th & Racine a few blocks west of this school and he always makes a point strolling the halls and talking to the young Lions.
On any given day, one might find retired Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Fitzgerald, Emanuel Steward, Dick Ecklund, Gordon Marino, Kevin Rooney, Tamara Holder of Fox News Television and Leo Advisory Board, Dr. Stafford Hood, or comic genius Kenny Howell mixing with the guys.

I take two Leo Men every week or so out for lunch with the like Chief Corbett, Commissioner Joyce, Journalist James Bowman and etc. It is important for the guys to meet the people who are backing their efforts to be great men themselves through sacrifice, study and serious attention obligations.

For years, it was my honor to welcome Herman Mills and Luther Rawlings, two great boxers from the 1940's and '50's who helped coach and mentor our many boxers.

Herman went home to Christ a few years ago and he was joined by Luther last week.

Yesterday, Maureen O'Donnell of the Chicago Sun Times wrote this beautiful story about a beautiful man to whom we will say goodbye later this day.

In 1949, before the rules and safeguards that govern boxing today, a powerful punch from Luther Rawlings tragically killed a man in the ring.

But fight experts, family and friends say he was a gentle man who mentored hundreds of aspiring boxers at the Chicago Park District and Leo High School, often carrying his Bible and underlining passages before his workouts.

Mr. Rawlings, a professional boxer at both the lightweight and welterweight levels, died March 7 at Little Company of Mary Hospital from complications from
Alzheimer’s disease. He was 82.

During his seven-year career, he fought 65 times — “seven of them against world champions or future titlists,” Pete Ehrmann wrote in The Ring magazine.

He also owned Luther’s Lounge, a South Side club that stayed open late, attracting VIPs like Congressman “Big Bill” Dawson; pugilists Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson; Olympic runners Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalfe — who would go on to become a congressional representative — and Frank Sinatra, said Mike Joyce, boxing coordinator for Leo High School.

Mr. Rawlings’ wife of almost 56 years, Georgia, whose bathing-suited beauty was featured more than once in Jet magazine, is said to have so thoroughly entranced legendary singer Sam Cooke that she inspired him to write the song “Only Sixteen.’’

Georgia and Luther Rawlings raised three children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild, “all educated, and none of them have ever been in trouble,” Joyce said.

“Luther was among a handful of ex-professionals who have been gracious enough to come and box with our kids,” said Dan McGrath, president of Leo High School. “He always made the kids feel comfortable; never gave them more than they were ready for.”

Marvin Carey is tough, but he said Mr. Rawlings “showed me the definition of a tough man.” Sgt. Carey, a Chicago native and member of the All-Army boxing team, just fought in the 2012 Armed Forces Boxing Championships. He has completed two tours of Iraq and one in Afghanistan.

“He never complained about being in pain. . . .he got up and trained us every day,” Carey said. “All he wanted to do was teach us and see us do good. I wish I could have had more time with him, because he knew so much.”

“He used to get in the ring and help me out and watch me and give me pointers,” said Chicagoan Montell Griffin, a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic boxing team. “He had a lot of patience.”

Luther Rawlings was known as Lucius Minor in the early 1940s, when he rode the rails from Memphis to Chicago to visit his mother, who was in town visiting her sister. Lucius accompanied a friend named Rawlings who was supposed to fight in a local bout, Joyce said. But when the other fighter saw the pair, he said: “I don’t want to fight Rawlings — I’ll fight his little brother” — who was actually Lucius Minor.

Lucius was only 13 or 14 at the time, but he decided to try his luck in the ring. “So, he ‘became’ Luther Rawlings,” Joyce said.

He grew up in Bronzeville and attended DuSable High School and Wilson Junior College.

“He was like a straight-up boxer, a good jab, very rangy, a good right hand,” said James Kitchen, a former boxing champ with Chicago’s Catholic Youth Organization.

In 1949, Talmadge Bussey died from a brain hemorrhage after a ninth-round knockout by Mr. Rawlings. It was the eighth boxing death of 1949, an era when “referees didn’t stop fights early enough,” Joyce said. And back then, boxers fought far more often than what is medically allowable today.

A few years later, a manager made the mistake of arranging for Mr. Rawlings to battle world lightweight champion Jimmy Carter in a non-title bout. But Mr. Rawlings did so well, he “convinced Carter to never get that close to Rawlings wearing boxing gloves again,” and a title match never happened, according to The Ring .

Mr. Rawlings, a teetotaler and non-smoker, eventually wanted a break from the nightclub scene and its imbibing, smoking and gambling. He owned a clothing boutique and a furniture store and worked as a manager at Aronson Furniture.

In addition to his wife, he is also survived by his daughters, Roslyn Rawlings-Thomas and Renata Robinson; his son, Ronald, and his nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A wake is scheduled at noon Wednesday at W. W. Holt Funeral Home, 175 W. 159th St., Harvey. His funeral will follow at Holt’s at 1 p.m.

“People are not boxing like they used to,” Griffin said. “We’re losing the teachers in the gyms who’ve been around, the old guys with the gray hair and the beards — ?they got a knowledge.”

Thank you, Ms. O'Donnell!

Leo Boxers Fight for the Cure - Featured on Fox 32

Leo High Students Boxing Club Looks to Knockout Kids' Cancer: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

Leo High Students Boxing Club Looks to Knockout Kids' Cancer
Updated: Friday, 09 Mar 2012, 9:13 AM CST
Published : Friday, 09 Mar 2012, 9:13 AM CST

By Patrick Elwood, FOX Chicago News

Chicago - We are one week away from our big St. Baldricks FOX Chicago Schools Challenge shave day at 'The Cell.' With more than 75 schools joining us to help conquer kids' cancer, we've already raised $415,000.

Inside the halls and the ring at Leo High School, kids are putting on the gloves to fight kids' cancer.

Leo High School has been around since 1926, a boys Catholic college prep where young boys grow to be strong, community minded young men.

On Saturday at 3 p.m. at 115 Bourbon Street in Merionnette Park, they are looking to deliver that knock-out punch to kids cancer.

The Leo Boxing Club's motivations are real.

The guys under the leadership of their coach Mike Joyce have been planning for this Saturday night for a long time now, getting in shape and growing their hair.

Coach Joyce is a Leo graduate himself and the son-in-law of Muhammad Ali.

Joyce is as proud as he can be of his guys.

He and friend John O'Sullivan are organizing Saturday's boxing matches.

So the sky is the limit here, when the Leo Lion roars like it will Saturday when that bell rings, good things happen.

As the champ himself once said, "it's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself."

These kids and their coach believe as well.