TWO MEN DIED TODAY.
One was Max Schmeling, a German boxer. He was 99, and the only German to ever hold the World Heavyweight title. He is most famous for the two times he fought Joe Luis. When they met the first time, Luis was an undefeated champion of the world. Max beat Luis in 12 rounds. No one expected him to. Everyone, including Luis, underestimated how smart a fighter he was. He really was a hell of a boxer.
The second time they fought it was right before WWII. You can imagine how the world took a black American fighting a German for the heavyweight title of the World. the Nazi party was approaching the height of its power. Hitler billed the fight as a profound show of Aryan superiority, as well as a way to make up for the humilitaion Hitler's idea of Aryan superiority suffered by Jesse Owens at the Olympics. Roosevelt invited Luis to the White House and spoke with him, encouraging him to beat the German.
Neither man cared. They were boxers, the fight was everything. Luis beat Max in the first round, knocking him down four times, and finally nearly crippling him with a blow to the kidneys. Luis beat Max because he was one of the greatest boxers to ever live.
If Max had not beaten Luis the first time, Luis would never have grown enough as a fighter to beat him again. That and, well, Luis was amazing.
After the war, Max said he was glad to have been beaten, otherwise Hitler would have used him as a symbol of racist superiority. He was not himself a Nazi nor was ever a Nazi sympathizer. He hid two jewish children from Nazi soldiers during the Night of Broken Glass.
The news is portraying Max and Luis as lifelong friends afer the fight. That's not exactly correct. They never spent very much time together. But they were close, corresponded often. Schmeling, who made a lot of money with Coca Cola aftfer the war, often sent Luis money when he was down and out. Max paid for Luis's funeral when he died.
They respected each other, like honest men who understand what it is to have an opponent whom you do not hate, but must fight and beat nonetheless.
The second man who died was actor Ossie Davis. He was 87. He was a charasmatic, intelligent, respectful man who fought all his life for African American rights. He gave the euology at Malcolm X's funeral.
I will always remember him as President Kennedy, fighting the undead alongside Elvis in Bubba Hotep.
And history moves on.
One was Max Schmeling, a German boxer. He was 99, and the only German to ever hold the World Heavyweight title. He is most famous for the two times he fought Joe Luis. When they met the first time, Luis was an undefeated champion of the world. Max beat Luis in 12 rounds. No one expected him to. Everyone, including Luis, underestimated how smart a fighter he was. He really was a hell of a boxer.
The second time they fought it was right before WWII. You can imagine how the world took a black American fighting a German for the heavyweight title of the World. the Nazi party was approaching the height of its power. Hitler billed the fight as a profound show of Aryan superiority, as well as a way to make up for the humilitaion Hitler's idea of Aryan superiority suffered by Jesse Owens at the Olympics. Roosevelt invited Luis to the White House and spoke with him, encouraging him to beat the German.
Neither man cared. They were boxers, the fight was everything. Luis beat Max in the first round, knocking him down four times, and finally nearly crippling him with a blow to the kidneys. Luis beat Max because he was one of the greatest boxers to ever live.
If Max had not beaten Luis the first time, Luis would never have grown enough as a fighter to beat him again. That and, well, Luis was amazing.
After the war, Max said he was glad to have been beaten, otherwise Hitler would have used him as a symbol of racist superiority. He was not himself a Nazi nor was ever a Nazi sympathizer. He hid two jewish children from Nazi soldiers during the Night of Broken Glass.
The news is portraying Max and Luis as lifelong friends afer the fight. That's not exactly correct. They never spent very much time together. But they were close, corresponded often. Schmeling, who made a lot of money with Coca Cola aftfer the war, often sent Luis money when he was down and out. Max paid for Luis's funeral when he died.
They respected each other, like honest men who understand what it is to have an opponent whom you do not hate, but must fight and beat nonetheless.
The second man who died was actor Ossie Davis. He was 87. He was a charasmatic, intelligent, respectful man who fought all his life for African American rights. He gave the euology at Malcolm X's funeral.
I will always remember him as President Kennedy, fighting the undead alongside Elvis in Bubba Hotep.
And history moves on.