Reunion at Loyola Park

I helped out at Loyola Park's annual boxing show.  I had been in the "war room" during previous shows before, but it was different being there as a coach.  I walked in the room, and Tommy introduced me as the new coach at LaFollette.  There were surprised looks all around with the exception of Alan, Barry, and Bill, who said, "I knew you would make it."

Kitchens, who I hadn't seen in a long time, was there, along with Sean.  Kitchens was on a cane.  "I just do the Park District shows now.  I don't go to the Golden Gloves or the pro shows anymore.  I don't take pictures at the shows, either," he told me.  He and Sean have known each other for over 50 years.  I told Kitchens I saw a photo of him when he had won a championship back in the early 1960's.  The photo was in a book that Sean wrote about Chicago boxing.

The coaches on hand were Pat, who is at Brooks Park; Sims, who is at Bessemer; Tommy, who is not only the head of the boxing program for the parks, but also coaches at Portage Park; Ernie, who is the coach at Fuller; and Johnny, who helps Bill out at Hamlin.  I learned from them that Clarendon Park, where Alan used to coach at was once the jewel of the Park District boxing program.

This is a photo of a couple of Barry's boys before the show started.  The boy in the back near the ring is Gus.  I didn't recognize him at first.  Gus has got to be about seventeen years old now, and Gus has muscle.

Gene, who is Anthony's dad, was there.  Haven't seen Anthony in a long, long time.  I think he's training at another park.

Meg was there, and I'm so sorry that she and Geniece did not get to fight.  Alan was disappointed as well.  They were ready to go, but Bill was concerned about the weight difference between the two women.  There was talk of them perhaps doing an exhibition match, but that idea was nixed, too.  I have no doubt their fight would have been the highlight of the evening.  Hopefully, there will be a next time.

Meg wants to really advocate the idea of more girls in boxing, and so do I.  We talked about maybe having a girls' boxing day at some point, perhaps at LaFollette.  As soon as I get an idea of how many youths I will have, I would love to help make that happen.  I still don't have any youths yet, even though the fall session has started.  Bill gave me some encouragement.  "When I started at Hamlin, I spent three months there drinking coffee in the kitchen because I had no fighters.  But don't worry, the kids will eventually show up," he said.  Adrian, who was the DJ at the boxing show, told me it will take some time to build up the program as well.  I'm ready to work with the kids, so I will continue to do more promoting to get them in the gym.

Collette, who is part of the famous O'Shea family of boxing, was at the show.  She was very pleased to hear that I was a coach.  "We've got to make some strides," she said.  She is willing to send some kids over my way as she comes across them.

Tommy (in the red shirt) talks with Ernie in this photo.  Tommy was busy weighing boxers in and making the matches.  During the show, Tommy had to be in the corner with his fighters, so I was the timekeeper.  That was the first time I had done that; I'm always happy to pick up a new skill.

Pat sits in the background, Johnny stands behind Bill, and Bill talks to Ben, one of Hamlin's fighters.  Ben won his match.

I had to keep my eye on the stopwatch, so I didn't catch very many details of each fight.  John fought with Gus in an exhibition match.  Gus didn't seem to be throwing heavy punches, from what I could tell.

Justin fought with a guy who came out of the corner throwing wild punches.  Justin kept getting smothered, and lost the match.

Barry warmed up Jeremiah before his fight.  Jeremiah won a clear victory.

This was the fight announcer, who was cool on the mic.  He mentioned JJ's upcoming fight in Brooklyn, New York.  The announcer said JJ was an alumni of Loyola Park.

Keith, Alan, and John have a conversation after the show.  John invited Keith and I over to his and his wife Jinn's apartment afterwards.  "We miss you at the gym, Hillari.  It's not the same without you there," he told me.  It's nice to be missed.  I miss all of them, too.  When the program is up and running, John, Keith, Colonel (who was at the show videotaping the matches), want to come up to LaFollette and check it out.

Swimming To The Gym

I was halfway to the gym, and the sky opened up and very heavy rain came down.  I was soaked by the time I got there.  Not very many people showed up.  They must have looked outside, saw the big bolts of lighting, and changed their minds about going outside.

None of the women -- myself, Rachel, and Diane -- wanted to spar.  Justin was ready to work, so he sparred with amicable Nick first.  Alan reminded Justin to take it easy, especially considering what happened last week when Justin and Ken sparred.

That session went okay.  Then Jason decided to spar with Justin.  He used the hockey-like headgear that I have in my locker.  "Is it built like this so that punches can't get through?" he asked me.  I explained that's why Alan uses it because he needs to protect his eyes.  I soon realized why Jason was so interested in how much protection the headgear would give.  In the photo above, Justin gave Jason a hit, one of many that Jason took and did not defend himself against.  Justin could have really thrown some bombs, but he encouraged Jason to punch back.  Jason's hands weren't up enough.  Also, Jason kept turning his head and turning his back.  "Can't throw a punch then turn and not check where it's going," I said to Jason, pounding the apron of the ring for emphasis.

Alan was dressed and ready for a workout, but the coach had to limit his movements.  Alan had a medical procedure done to his knee last week, and there was a huge bandage wrapped around it.  When walking up the steps to the ring earlier to show Jason how to do a bridge exercise, Alan joked, "Hillari, help me up!"

It's still raining, and hopefully, the rain will help me sleep later.  Usually a good workout at the gym helps me rest, but I haven't been sleeping well for awhile.  Sometimes, I think I'm turning into my paternal grandmother -- napping during the earlier part of the day, then sitting up at odd hours at night.

The Sweating Begins

Eighteen people signed up for the gym this spring session, but way less than that showed up to train.  The weather was nice today, I so figured most would rather be outside instead of in a hot gym.  When Alan opened the door to the gym, everyone commented on how cool it felt inside.  But that didn't last long. After a couple of rounds of shadow boxing, I was sweating heavily.

Alan was lucky to have made it in to the gym.  The coach had taken a bad fall backwards down some stairs in his home.  An ambulance took him to the hospital where doctors checked him and praise God, found no major damage.  But Alan was bruised up a little and had a cut on his shoulder.  He didn't work out because he wanted to take it easy.

I didn't spar because my body felt a bit off.  Instead of just going ahead and sparring anyway, I decided to listen to my body.  I overheard Igor telling Alan he wanted to spar "next week".  "Igor, you're not going to spar next week," Alan told him.  If Igor had been serious for once about actually wanting to spar and had wanted to do it right then, I might have ignored my body and raised my hand to step in the ring with him.  Igor is all talk and no action most of the time.

Katie and Vachel sparred.  I believe they only did two rounds.  Vachel's punches were a little wild, and Katie wasn't always throwing her punches all the way out.  But they got a workout in because both were huffing and puffing afterwards.

Geniece didn't spar, but Alan held the punch shield for her.  She was pounding punches into the shield.  Alan told me, "She hits hard!"  "I know!  I've been on the end of those punches!" I told him.  I'll be glad when we get our hands on the Chicago Park District boxing show schedule for this year.  Geniece would do well in those bouts.

JJ, who used to train in the gym, is currently in New York City, where JJ will compete for the WBC International Title against Steve Bujaj this Thursday.  I wish him the best of luck, and I hope he wins.

No Remorse -- To An Extent

During the finals of the most recent Chicago Golden Gloves, Andres had told Alan that he talked a little with the guy whom he fought for the championship.  Alan half-joked along the lines of "why be friendly with the other guy?'

I've been told that too before bouts I've had.  But try as I might, I can't stir up any hostility against someone across the ring from me.  I never knew any of the people I fought before I stepped in the ring with them, so I had nothing to hold against them.  During the fights, I tried to keep my mind on anticipating their next moves, figuring out how I was going to counter those moves, and score points.

But I do agree that fighters can't have a whole lot of remorse about the damage given out.  Boxing is a chess game, and it involves outwitting opponents as much as outlasting them.  But boxing is also a sport of hurt.  People get cut open, bruised up, and knocked out.  When people step into a ring for a bout, or even for sparring, that has to be understood.  If there's a constant worry about getting hit or hitting back. . . .well, there's always aerobic boxing where only the equipment takes the punishment.  Or taking up a non-contact sport.

Steve, the former coach at Loyola Park, used to get on me for apologizing to people during sparring sessions after I had punched them.  Once in awhile, I still say "I'm sorry", if I stepped on somebody's foot or if I had thrown a hard punch during sparring.  Sparring is not a contest to see who is better; it is for practicing skills. But in the middle of an actual boxing match, feeling sorry for the other person can be inappropriate.  It would be like feeling apologetic for slapping the hell out of someone out in public who tried to pull something dangerous like a robbery.

But if someone really became seriously hurt during a match. . . .that is when fighters have to learn to back off.  Most likely, they've already won, but depending on how much time is left on the clock, work still has to be put in.  But it has to be done within the rules.  There are few boxers walking around -- both in the amateur and professional ranks -- who are carrying remorse for permanently injuring or killing someone in the ring.  People are quick to blame referees for not stopping contests, and in some cases, like the 1962 fight between Griffith and Paret, a strong argument can be made for that.  But remember, the fighters are in the ring, too, and have say so in maintaining control.

Sparring Cut Short For Me

I started sparring with Brandy, but I started choking, and I had to stop.  I felt like a punk.  It was a combination of something I ate earlier coming back up my esophagus and the mouthpiece moving around funny.  Sigh.  I really wanted to get at least a few rounds in.

Brandy ended up sparring with Vachel, who kept squealing.  Alan stood in the ring.  He told Vachel, "Fight back!"  Afterwards, Vachel told me, "She was all up in here," motioning how Brandy kept getting her in the face.  "Yeah, that's how she nearly won her fight at the Golden Gloves a couple of years ago," I said.

Diana sparred with Little Bit, er, Naomi.  We had the hardest time finding a headgear to fit Diana.  She has a lot of hair.  The two of them were moving around the length and width of the ring, using all of the space.

In this photo, Professor and Colonel watch while Kenny and Keith spar.

Kenny also worked with Keith on the pads.

I did a lot of shadow boxing.  It seems I move way better -- head movement, footwork -- while doing that then I do when sparring or participating in an actual match.

The Ladies Take Over The Ring Again

Professor's ankle is getting better, so he did some sparring.  First up was Geniece, whom Alan believes could be a boxing champion.  "She has great focus," Alan said.  I think she could do well, too.  She is looking forward to the upcoming Chicago Park District boxing shows.  A schedule hasn't come out, but it should be forthcoming soon.

Professor also sparred with Josh, and that was a bit of a mini war.  Josh was throwing a lot of wild punches. Alan kept telling him to slow down and loosen up.  Josh hit Professor with a punch that irritated him. I wasn't sure if it was an illegal move or not; it happened very fast.  "Don't do that," Professor told him.  They were trading some hard punches, especially as time went on.  Alan wiped Josh's face in-between rounds; I think Josh might have been bleeding a little.

I only sparred with Vachel.  We did two rounds.  Vachel was squealing and Alan joked, "Stop scaring people."  She turned her back at one point, and a punch of mine ended up hitting her in the back.  "Don't turn your back," Alan said.  "I couldn't help it!  I was trying to get out of the corner," she said.

I have to resist the urge to call Naomi "Little Bit".  That's a common nickname in the African-American community for a woman who is very short and very petite, which Naomi is.  She sparred with Katie, who is taller and has a longer reach.  "You have to fight on the inside even if you have to eat a punch," Alan told her. "Remember what we practiced the other day?  Do the dip," Professor told Naomi.  Naomi did not bob and weave, but she did lean back several times to avoid Katie's punches.

No sign of Igor, and Jason didn't come in, either.  But Jason was coughing and hacking the other day, so I assumed that's what kept him away.  Keith, Luis, and Andrew weren't there as well, so the gym was populated mostly by women.  That happens from time to time, depending on how many women have signed up during any particular session.

Professor sparred with Patrick.  They only did one round.  It appears that Patrick is still getting used to the feel of the ring.

Alan didn't put his workout clothes on.  After accidentally locking his keys in his car earlier in the day, Alan had to take public transportation back to his house to get an extra set of keys.  Sounded like the man had to take a three-hour-tour, and it tired Alan out. "You know I hate having to take CTA to go places," he said, wincing.  The Chicago Transit Authority is a pain, but after I lost my last car in an accident, it was amazing how quickly I got used to dealing with trains and buses again.  But I guess it's a different story for those who have owned vehicles for a long time and seldom had to use public transportation.

Women's Sparring Time

First of all, let me post this information as a favor to the folks at Gleason's Gym, a famous boxing gym in New York City:

Direct from Israel - Authentic Krav Maga from the leading experts in the field.

For the first time, New Yorkers can learn the 'contact combat' system of Krav Maga self defense from the men who train the Israeli military and the U.S. Navy Seals. Ran Nakash and Itay Dannenberg of Nakash Krav Maga International (based in Tel Aviv) will share their techniques with the U.S. public for the first time.

A Women's Self Defense course for women only will be held on Sunday, May 4 from10am to 1pm. 
The location is 
Gleason's Gym
77 Front St. 2nd Fl.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718 797 2872
info@gleasonsgym.net

The cost of this three hour course is $75. 

If any of you all are in the NYC area or are traveling there, check this out.  It sounds very interesting.  Remember that movie with Jennifer Lopez called Enough?  Her character used Krav Maga to battle her way out of an abusive situation.

I keep thinking about boxer Maxie Rosenbloom, known by the nickname "Slapsie" Maxie.  The nickname was because Rosenbloom fought with an open glove style or "slapping".  I tried to throw some slapping punches against the heavy bag, but I quickly saw how those type of punches aren't good to use all the time. Regular slaps have their place outside of the gym but not in boxing.

I begged off of sparring, but all of the other women did except for Alicia.  In the photo above, Brandy and Geniece spar.  Alan told them to slow down, but they didn't slow down much.  Brandy took a shot to her nose, and Geniece had her head rocked back a few times.  They had many good exchanges between each other.

Naomi returned to the gym.  She explained that she had been out of town for awhile.  I noticed that Brandy had to punch down to reach Naomi.  Keith asked me about Naomi, "Is she very young or just very short?"  "Both," I answered.

Professor held the punch mitts for people including Naomi.  In this photo, Professor had her move around the ring and throw punches as she went.

I told Alan about running into Carlos last week.  "I remember him.  Carlos was a tough fighter," Alan said.  He asked me about tall, lanky Matthew that used to come to the gym.  I was thinking about Matthew recently; I wondered what happened to him, too.

Alan and Keith had a bit of a brawl during their sparring session.  Alan wound up one hand in preparation to throw a punch with the other hand, but Keith popped him with a jab before Alan could throw the punch.  I don't think I've ever seen anyone cut Alan off from doing that move before.

I wasn't feeling as sore as I was last week, but I decided to take it easy anyway.  Didn't do much work on the equipment, but I did a lot of shadowboxing.  The next time I come down to the gym, I might do some sparring.

Why Boxing Gyms Thin Out Sometimes

I came across this picture of Alan and Carlos not long ago.  This is from the 2010 Chicago Golden Gloves.  A couple of days ago, I was out running errands, and I saw Carlos on the bus.  He told me that he and his oldest son were packing up some toys.  His son lifted up the Spiderman toy I had given him a few years ago and said, "Remember when the lady at the gym gave me this?"  I thought it was sweet that his son remembered that.  Carlos said his son liked going to the gym with him.  His son asked when Carlos would go back to the gym.  Carlos would like to, but his girlfriend doesn't want him to do that.

I'm not knocking his girlfriend for feeling like that. I understand where she is coming from. If I was dating or married to a guy who was competing in bouts, or just sparring down at the gym, I'd be concerned about my guy getting hurt, regardless of the fact I love and understand the sport.  A girlfriend/boyfriend or spouse's objection to participation in boxing is one of the main reasons a lot of people disappear from boxing gyms.

Another common reason why people leave the gym is because of work and/or school.  I was in and out of the gym for awhile myself back in 2008 due to a job I had.  I've known of many who try to fit a workout in before or after work/school, but eventually having to stop out because their schedules won't allow it.  Can't really blame people for that.  People have to pay bills, and most people want to get an education.

People drop out due to babysitting issues, and this affects more women than it does men.  When I see a woman showing up to the gym often with one or more of her kids in tow, it's usually not long before she's gone, especially if she's a single mom.  Kids under a certain age can't be left home alone, childcare costs are high, and some people don't trust everyone around their kids.

Some people are dividing their time between two or more gyms.  There are various reasons for this, including wanting to get more workout time during the week.  Sometimes people are weighing the benefits they get at one gym against the ones they are receiving at another gym.  This is especially true if people have an eye on becoming professional boxers, in which case, people will have to come out of amateur gyms and move on to professional trainers.  However, wanting to turn professional is not always a factor.  It's just that people like one gym better than another.

There are people who are not interested in continuing on after they have gone as far as they believe they can go and/or want to go in boxing.  For some people, winning a championship is satisfactory enough to retire from the sport.  Age is a determining factor for others, still other people just get tired and don't have the interest in the sport like they used to have.

There are a lot of reasons, and people can't be blamed for all of them.  We can just appreciate people while they are there, and wish them well when they are gone.

Six Times Three

Before I went to the gym, I thought to myself, "I'm not going to spar."  Famous last words.  I was still feeling beat up from the sparring session with Brandy the other day.  I couldn't hardly sleep last night because my left calf was bothering me, and both of my shoulders were throbbing.  I planned to go to sleep early, but there I was, watching "Bachelor Father" on Antenna TV at 3:00 AM.  No matter how much I turned, I could not get comfortable.

Jason and Kenny were already outside the door when I got there.  No sign of Jilberto, so we had to wait.  "Don't you have the key for the door?" Jason asked.  "They've never given volunteers keys -- never have, never will," I told him.  "That doesn't seem right," Kenny said.  Kenny was laying on his bag on the floor, coughing.  Seemed he picked up bronchitis from Colonel.  "I'm sick as a dog, but I'm going to sweat it out," Kenny said.

Igor walked up, spoke to Jason, then disappeared.  Later, Alan said, "I'm surprised Igor didn't come in."  "He did, but. . . .I don't know what the deal is, but Igor has been leaving when the gym door isn't opened fast enough for him," I said.  "But I was only a few minutes late," Alan said.  "That's what Igor has been doing every other time," I said.

Kenny (on the right) and Keith take it to each other during sparring.  "I feel better already!" Kenny smiled.

Kenny worked the pads with Geniece.  She hits very hard, as I found out when we were sparring.

She backed me up against the ropes, as seen here, then let go with a series of punches.  I couldn't answer the punches well, because she was right on top of me.  I was throwing some punches a little too hard, and I heard Alan say, "Easy, easy!"  Alan said she should get fights during the Chicago Park District Boxing Tournaments that are coming up soon.  I agreed.  Geniece and I did two rounds.

The next two rounds were with Sara.  Sara was a little stiff at first.  During the second round, she loosened up.  She's a little taller than me, and has a longer reach.  I was not successful in warding off a lot of her punches.  My hands were always down at the wrong time.

Diana was the last person I sparred with, bringing my rounds to a grand total of six.  I think that is the highest number of rounds I have sparred at one time.  It was Diana's first time sparring, so I had to take it easy.  Her punches were wild, so I also had to be mindful of protecting myself.  I showed her how to block my incoming jabs and hooks to the body.

Professor worked the punch mitts with Sara, and Alan held the punch shield for Jason.  I could hear Alan asking why Jason seemed to be running out of steam.  However, it seemed that Professor and Sara had a very good training session.  Sara is also a skateboarder; she came in with her board, and told me she took up the sport while she was in college.

When Alan dropped me off at home later, I told him I need to soak in a bath.  But of course that's not happening, at least not now.  First of all, I'm writing this entry, and I'll probably be on the computer for another few hours and watching the TV at the same time.  When "Bachelor Father" comes on, I'll think, "It's 3:00 AM.  Maybe I should go to bed."  I'll toss and turn for another hour and a half before finally going to sleep, only to be jarred awake by the alarm approximately three and a half hours after that.  The cycle has been like that for several days.

Me Sparring While Middle-Aged and Slow

In this photo, Alan watches Brandy and Geniece spar, while Jason works out with the wheel on the apron of the ring.

Geniece was tough.  Brandy popped her in the head and face, but Geniece kept going forward.  I was thinking, "If I was hit like that, I would have been on the canvas."  In fact, I remember nearly falling to the canvas a couple of years ago when Brandy caught me with a right.  Alan caught me before I fell completely down.

I sparred with Brandy for four rounds, but I wasn't prepared at all.  She had been gone from the gym for about a year before returning.  But Brandy had lost nothing in that time.  After the first round, Brandy asked me, "Are you awake?"  I was plodding around and not returning punches well.  She said she would go lighter for the next round.  I still didn't move any faster.  "Catch her up against the ropes," Alan told me, but I couldn't do it.  Every time I tried, Brandy came forward, raining down jabs and rights on me.

Brandy got me in the stomach, and my head and face didn't fare any better.  I tried to sneak in some overhand rights, but just as I thought to throw them, she would be too close to do them properly.  My left eye took about three hard rights.  Afterwards, I looked in the mirror.  My eye was red, and my vision was a little impaired.  Afterwards, I had to sit down for awhile.

Kenny came in.  "I'm 170 pounds!  See?  I've got to get this off," he told me.  I had talked to his dad, Colonel, on the phone earlier. Colonel wasn't feeling well, so he didn't come to the gym.  But Kenny came in with another timer, since the one in the gym has been acting up.  "I'm surprised to see all these people in here.  I need to come in earlier so I get some time on the bags," Kenny said.

Katie was on the bag just as Keith walked in the gym.  Kenny not only sparred with Keith, but he coached him, too.

Jason wanted me to throw the medicine ball around with him, but I had no energy.  I don't think he asked anyone else, because I didn't see him with the ball.  He could have asked Igor, but Igor didn't seem to be in much of a social mood.  But then, Igor doesn't usually appear that way.  The relationship between Igor and I these days seems to be similar to the one between Basil and Manuel on the 1970's British sitcom, "Fawlty Towers".

"The only thing that will help Hillari is a osteopathic doctor, but she won't go see one," Alan commented later.  "There's not much that can be done for arthritis," I said.  "Yeah, but Hillari, something is torn in your left leg," Alan said.  He's probably right.  I worry about the discomfort becoming permanent since I can't really afford to see a doctor for that issue. I made an appointment to have my prescriptions refilled, and I'm cringing about how much that might set me back financially.  Like people say, if it isn't one thing, it's another.

The Women Sparring

I admire Alicia (shown here on the speed bag) and her dedication to becoming fit.  She never stops working from the time she comes in the gym to the time she leaves.  It's paying off, too.  I've noticed that she's lost a little more weight.  I wish I was as disciplined as she is.  I just forced myself to put up the raspberry gelato I was eating before typing this entry.  Supposedly I only ate the recommended portion which is a half-cup (one regular sized scoop).

It was another evening where attendance was sort of thin.  Igor didn't come in, which wasn't much of a surprise.  But Jason didn't show up either, which was unusual. A few of the new people didn't come in, but there was enough to have some sparring sessions.

Here, Alan gives instruction to Brandy and Stephanie (Stephanie is in the photo, but out of view).

Stephanie and Brandy were popping each other from what I saw, and judging from Vachel's reactions.

Vachel and I sparred, and she didn't do much squealing and screaming this time out.  We did three rounds.  Beforehand, Vachel asked how could she block punches.  "When I throw a jab, turn your right hand to catch it as if catching a ball, or just tap it down," I explained.  Once the bell rang, I was blocking her jabs.  But Vachel sneaked in some punches when I wasn't paying attention, and I had my hands down.  A right to my face backed me up and nearly knocked me over.  Once again, I didn't throw my overhand rights correctly, and Vachel ducked every one that I threw.

Katie and I sparred, and I quickly learned that she can throw a hard right.  I got caught with it a few times.  It was a little easy to come over Vachel's right with a jab, but Katie had a longer reach.  I had to concentrate on trying to get in on the inside, which wasn't easy either.  I backed up Katie into a corner, and Alan told her to clinch.  Instead, Katie threw a punch, I tried to move fast to avoid it (which is still not easy because of my left hip), and I fell to the canvas.  "I'm sorry!" Katie said, looking worried.  "I'm okay!" I assured her.  Brandy pointed out that I end up falling every other week that I spar, which is true.  "How can you do four rounds like that?" Katie asked me afterwards.  "After awhile, you get used to it," I answered.

Alan had to help me down the ring stairs.  I just don't trust walking down them; the stairs are slippery to me.  I usually sit down on the apron and scoot down the steps.  Several people wondered if I was okay.  "I'm an old woman," I said, but Alan came back with, "No, she won't go to the damn doctor!"  Maybe I'll bite the bullet and spend a day at Stroger Hospital.

Brandy has another skill -- she can hold the punch mitts very well.  She held the mitts for Keith.

Vachel was wondering if the attendance was always as low as it seems to be lately.  "It used to be a month would go by before people started dropping off.  Now one or two weeks go by and people start dropping out," I said.  "Well, I guess it depends on what people want to get out of boxing," Vachel said.  She was right.

There are two openings for boxing coaches in the Chicago Park District; one at Portage Park, and one at LaFollette Park.  Try, try again, people keep saying.  . . .I wonder.