(Boxing) "Atlas:

[H2O Man]

From the Streets to the Ring: A Son's Struggle to Become a Man." (Harper-Collins, 2006)

I'm curious if anyone else has read Teddy Atlas's fantastic book? It's 276 pages, with 8 pages of photos, that is fun to read. My only "complaint" would be that it is too short. I know that it is common to say, "It's hard to put this book down," but in this case, it is so true. I bought the book in the afternoon, and read it straight through.

Teddy goes into great detail in revealing his own violent criminal past. The man is honest about himself. He takes responsibility for his behavior. More, he shows how he learned from his mistakes, and he has invested his being into paying society back in ways that a court cannot mandate.

Teddy brings a lot of the best of Cus D'Amato back to life. It's not just telling about his own relationship with the strange man of boxing -- indeed, everyone who had a relationship with Cus had a strange experience, because Cus was odd as hell. But he was a boxing genius, and Teddy infused a lot of Cus into his own being .... more, I think, than he suspects.

Teddy's stories about boxing are wonderful. He despises Mike Tyson, for a reason, and no matter how many years pass, he will hold onto the grudge. The Tyson stories are insightful. But by far, the most interesting have to do with Michael Moorer, a gifted fighter who was as good as any in his division before he moved up to the heavyweights. But as a heavyweight, he never reached his full potential, because of his psychological make-up. Michael proved frustrating for some of the best trainers -- Emanuel Steward, Lou Duva, and George Benton -- and so people approached Teddy.

"I had a reputation at that point as a psychology guy," Atlas tells readers, as he begins a series of chapters on his experiences with Moorer. Man! are they wonderful reading for sports fans who enjoy the psychology of athletic competition. ESPN had Michael on a year ago, as the guest on Friday Night Fights, and he announced another come-back plan. Teddy was at ringside, and he talked Michael, who was in the studio, out of the plan. That's how much respect Michael has for Teddy.

I think that Atlas is the most talented of the guys calling fights these days. There are some other good ones, too. I think that boxing fans really appreciate what he does for the audience, and for the sport.

I would strongly recommend that boxing/sports fans read the book.

[TroubleMan]

1. That was one of my favorite boxing moments. I was watching

that night when Teddy told Moorer that he should retire and become a trainer. Moorer said that if that's what Teddy said he should do, he's gonna do it. Moorer was pretty much set that he was going to make a comeback. I'm glad he didn't because he's a good guy, and I was worried about his health.

I wish I could put Teddy Atlas in charge of all of boxing. Every single problem with boxing would be fixed right then and there. Above all else, Teddy cares about the well-being of the fighters.

[H2O Man]

2. I agree.

Teddy could do more for boxing, if he were put in the position of "national commissioner," than any other person. He is a good and decent man.

Earlier this summer, one of my younger son's friends came over one night. We were watching Friday Night Fights, and the young man started laughing, and said, "That guy thinks he's tough." My son just looked over at me, with a little grin. I asked the young man if he thought he could take Teddy in a fight? He laughed and said, "Sure." Then I told him about Teddy's boxing history. I hadn't read the book yet, so I didn't know his history of "street fights." But I sure as heck remembered him from the 1970s.

[H2O Man]

3. Time flies ....

29 years ago tonight I boxed my last fight.

[dr.zoidberg]

4. I bought the book when it came out.

The only problem with it is the way he handled the situation with Donny Lalonde. If it were me, I would have a much bigger problem with the manager as opposed to Lalonde. But that's just me.

[Stephist]

5. I bought it and read it.

And it's a very good book and I give him points for honesty but...I came away with the belief that Atlas had and still probably has some serious problems and that he was/is just as unstable as Tyson.

I do like him as an announcer though his I'm always right and their always wrong bit with Tessetore SP? gets a bit old some times. I mean Yeah The Augustus Burton fight when one guy wins 9 out of 10 rounds clearly and gets robbed by a commission that doesn't know the difference between a split decision and a majority decision is one thing but I've seen plenty of fights when those two have had a fit when the fight was either closer than they thought or they were flat out wrong.

I do believe Teddy is a no Bullshit guy...I just question his temper and decision making.