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By Thomas Hauser The James A. Farley Award is a rarely-bestowed honor given in recognition of a career marked by "honesty and integrity." The last person so honored by the Boxing Writers Association of America was Eddie Futch in 1996. This year, the BWAA extends the honor to four individuals. Angelo Dundee is revered as a thoroughly decent man in an often mean spirited and back-biting business. At times, it seems as though Angelo has always been in boxing. Looking at old photographs, one half-expects to see him in John L. Sullivan's corner as the Boston Strong Boy battled Jake Kilrain or shouting instructions to Jack Johnson as Papa Jack demolished James Jeffries. Over the past half-century, Dundee has trained fighters like Jimmy Ellis, Luis Rodriguez, Willie Pastrano; and of course, Muhammad Ali. "Angelo was with me from my second professional fight," Ali reminisced when his own ring career was done. "And no matter what happened, he was always my friend. He was there when I needed him and he always treated me with respect. There just wasn't any problem ever between us." Dundee offered absolute loyalty to his fighters and he was brilliant in the corner during fights. When Cassius Clay challenged Sonny Liston for the heavyweight crown and was temporarily blinded by a caustic substance in his eyes, Angelo guided him to safe harbor. And no one who heard it will ever forget Dundee's motivational warning to Sugar Ray Leonard when Ray fought Thomas Hearns: "You're blowing it, son." Howie Albert has been part of the sweet science for decades as a manager, cutman, publicist, and jack-of-all trades. To this day, he is active in Ring 8; an organization that provides for the physical, mental, and monetary welfare of former professional boxers. Albert's career in the sweet science began to peak in the late 1950s. He was in the garment trade; specifically, women's hats. A young man named Emile Griffith worked in his shop. Albert took note of Griffith's physical abilities. His good friend, Gil Clancy, began training the fighter. Together, they co-managed Emile. And the rest, as they say, is history. Albert's designation as a Farley honoree is, by extension, an honor for all of the less famous men and women who toil in boxing's vineyards. Unlike Dundee and Albert, Dr. Flip Homansky and Dr. Margaret Goodman don't take sides in boxing matches. They have been advocates for all fighters. Away from the sweet science, Homansky has overseen the transition of Las Vegas emergency rooms from facilities that were run in haphazard fashion staffed by doctors who couldn't succeed in other positions to emergency rooms that are characterized by state-of-the-art procedures, practices, and standards of care. But his public image has been shaped largely by his service from the early 1980s through last year as a ring physician and member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Goodman is an accomplished neurologist who, in the eyes of fighters (and they're the ones who know best), is the most respected ring doctor in the United States. While she no longer serves in that capacity, she is still chairman of the Medical Advisory Board for the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Both Homansky and Goodman have been longtime advocates for high medical standards in boxing. During their tenure with the Nevada commission, they fought for the implementation of life-saving medical reforms and refused to deviate from their commitment despite pressures that were put upon them. It's no secret that powerful economic interests fought relentlessly against their reforms, but they stood their ground. Isn't that the definition of integrity? Angelo Dundee and Howie Albert represent the best of boxing's past. Let's hope that Flip Homansky and Margaret Goodman represent its future. |
James A. Farley Award
1977 -- Harry Markson 1984 -- John F.X. Condon 1985 -- Murray Goodman 1989 -- Barney Nagler 1995 -- Marvin Kohn 1996 -- Eddie Futch 2005 -- Howie Albert, Angelo Dundee, Dr. Margaret Goodman, Dr. Flip Homansky |
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