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 

Fight for the Cure With the Boxers of St. Baldrick's - Sat. 3-7 PM at Bourbon Street

Eric Owens vs. Logan Plantz SuperHeavyweights -Really?

These two dreadnaughts will touch gloves and each other. My pal Eric Owens will graduate this Mother's Day from Leo High School. Big E is off to college in the fall well-armed with the Leo Spirit of Giving. Our guys from Mike Joyce's Leo Boxing Club will square off with Celtic Boxers, Marty McGarry's Boxers and many, many other great amateur and pro talents all on the same card to knock-out cancer.

Come on out Saturday for a full afternoon of sport, fellowship, food and fun at the most generous venue on the south side 115 Bourbon Street. There is not a weekend goes by, that 115 Bourbon Street does not help sick kids, suffering families and causes that really matter.

If you can't join us go to the donation website for St. Badrick's Right Cheer!
https://www.stbaldricks.org/donate/event/7780/2012

Or, dial them up at (888) 899-BALD extension (2253)and make a handsome drop. make it is handsome as Tommy Zbikowski of the Baltimore Ravens and the Sqaure Ring of the Sweet Science.

Make it as handsome as Dicky Eklund who is always ringside for anyone, especially kids, who can use a powerful punch of aid.




Event St. Baldricks Fight for a Cure A Good Time for a Great Cause

Saturday March 10th 3:00-7:30

115 Bourbon Street 3359 west 115th street

Open bar, buffet, raffles, headshaving, St. Patrick's Day queen and court, music and live boxing

Featuring boxers from Leo High School, Celtic Boxing Club, McGarry Boxing Club and Southside Knockout

$25 Donation

All money raised goes to the St. Baldricks Foundation which is the largest fundraiser for childrens cancer research

If you can not attend and would like donate please visit www.stbaldricks.org and search Fight for a Cure

For more info please contact Trish O'sullivan 708-536-0003


Click My Post Title for a Great VIDEO


DONATE On LINE - I did - it is THAT simple.

http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/donorlist/7780/2012

Beverly Review's Great Coverage of Tom Zbikowski's Leo Boxing Workout!

The Beverly Review is a great neighborhood newspaper. Local School news and sports are especially well covered. Last week, NFL Star Tom Zbikowski of the Baltimore Ravens returned to the second floor boxing gym at Leo High School for an open workout that was also recorded by the NFL Network for an upcoming feature.

Tommy Z has been a familiar fixture around the halls of Leo, having worked out and sparred with Leo Boxers for years.

Much thanks to the great staff of the Beverly Review! Pick up a print copy at County Fair or Kean Gas here in the Hood or, better yet subscribe on line - click my post title for The Beverly Review

by Scott Fredericks

National Football League (NFL) players are accustomed to attending spring mini camps at this time of the year, but with the NFL in the midst of a lockout, most players are looking for something else to do.

That wasn’t a problem for Baltimore Ravens safety and former Notre Dame University star Tom Zbikowski, who has resumed his pro boxing career.

Zbikowski stopped at Leo High School for a workout on April 15 in preparation for his next fight and also to help promote Leo Boxing Night, which will raise money for the Officer Eric Lee Scholarship Fund. He’s enthusiastic about being in the ring.

“The opportunity was there, so I had to take it. I’ve been watching the sport closely for the last few years waiting to get back in,” said Zbikowski, who started six games and recorded 19 tackles before suffering a shoulder injury last season. “It’s been a lot of fun, and nobody will be in better shape than me when football comes back. Every time I’ve done serious boxing after football, I’ve had my best seasons. You know the season’s going to happen, it’s just a matter of when the lockout ends.

“Boxing always made me a better football player. When you go into a fight, everything has to be working together with the footwork and balance. Those are the attributes you need to have on the football field as a defensive back.”

Zbikowski isn’t just another athlete giving a different sport a try. He has excelled in the ring since he was young. Zbikowski competed in 90 amateur fights, posting a 75- 15 record in those bouts.

Zbikowski turned pro in 2006 when he was still at Notre Dame. He received permission from the NCAA to compete in a pro boxing match. Zbikowski needed only 49 seconds to dismantle Robert Bell in his first professional fight at Madison Square Garden.

“I didn’t play football 365 days a year when I was younger,” said Zbikowski. “As an athlete, you always had other sports to play. There is nothing like being on the football field on Sundays, and there are no words to describe what it feels like to get in the ring. I want this to last as long as I can.”

Zbikowski is getting his money’s worth during the lockout. He has posted a pair of victories already and has three more fights scheduled in the next three months, including a bout against Blake Warner in Las Vegas on April 23.

Legendary trainer Emmanuel Steward is working with the talented two-sport star. Zbikowski said that experience has been a thrill.

“As soon as I walk in, we just start working, and you can see why he is the best,” said Zbikowski. “This dude has a rhythm, and he knows how to get the best. He’s going to take what the fighter has and make you better. He won’t change anything, but he will find things that work.”

Mike Joyce, Zbikowski’s manager and the Leo High School boxing coach, said Zbikowski has been an avid supporter of the Leo football and boxing programs, donating money and equipment to both sports.

Joyce also said he thinks Zbikowski could be one of boxing’s best if boxing were his main focus.

“If he was boxing full time, I think he’d go all the way,” said Joyce. “He’s been fighting since he was 9 years old. He has some ring rust from being away from the ring so long, but he has all the tools.”

Joyce said the Leo Boxing Night will be held at 115 Bourbon Street, 3359 W. 115th St., in Merrionette Park, on May 10 at 7 p.m. Proceeds will go to the Eric Lee Memorial Scholarship Foundation. Lee, a Chicago Police officer, was a 1981 graduate of the school who was gunned down in the line of duty.

For tickets or more information, contact Joyce at (708) 227-8425.


This is part of the April 20, 2011 online edition of The Beverly Review.