This Bloody Mary Is The Last Thing I Own

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Summary: A vivid description from inside boxing's unique subculture
Review: The underside of the boxing world from seedy gyms in London and NY to the Vegas fight scene is examined in this book. It is interesting for even a casual boxing fan because it describes how boxing chews people up and spits them out. Very few recieve the lasting notoriety of an Ali or a Foreman. The death this week of Jerry Quarry who suffered terribly from brain damage sustained during his boxing career and the sad stories in this book have convinced me that boxing should be banned.

Rating:
Summary: Not just a boxing memoir.
Review: Very enjoyable read wether you are into boxing or not. Many anecdotes on travels, famous and not so famous people who add color to this well written and entertaining read. Shows some of the questionable business practices at the top of any profession and shows a glimpse at what it's like to manage a profesional athlete to the top and all that comes with that too. You will turn the pages one by one once you get started...

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Summary: Boxing's good,bad and ugly - wrapped up like poetry.
Review: When John Salley was playing for the Detroit Pistons he said of the NBA's roughness that "the only way to learn how to fight is by getting beat up." And so the only way to learn about man's attraction and obsession with climbing into the ring - short of doing it yourself - is by reading "This Bloody Mary Is The Last Thing I Own." Jonathan Rendall uses a master storyteller's touch to introduce real-life great characters whom anyone will find interesting and compelling regardless of whether they're fans of the sweet science, or hate boxing completely. "This Bloody Mary" not only tells the story of legendary brawlers like Kid Chocolate and Jack "Kid" Berg but explains with the casualness of a kindly stranger seated next to you at a bar why some men like to fight, why others have to fight, and why nearly every one of them - in the end - eventually wants to stop fighting. From a sweaty gym at Oxford, to the bright lights of Las Vegas, to the ruins of the Polo Grounds in New York City - "This Bloody Mary" takes you on a trip through boxing's highs and lows and lets us peer into the hearts and minds of the men who just keep fighting. Don't pass it up.