Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Barely legal but champion of the world...

When Rocky Marciano retired as the only undefeated heavyweight champion in 1955, the title was vacant but that would soon change and change it did on the night of November 30, 1956...

The first fight for the vacant title was held at Chicago Stadium and pitted the aging light-heavyweight champ, 42-year old Archie Moore against someone half his age, Floyd Patterson. Moore, the heavy 2-1 favorite was attempting to become the oldest heavyweight champion in history while Patterson would be the youngest. Youth prevailed that night...

Patterson knocked out Moore in the 5th round to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history at 21. He would hold the "youngest champ" title until 1986 when youth would prevail again as Mike Tyson, 6 months younger than Patterson was when he won the title, would become champ...

Right after winning the heavyweight crown, Rockville Centre's Floyd Patterson flew back to New York to see his daughter, born the night he became champion of the world...

More on Floyd Patterson in my commentary...

More November 30 Memories...

1940) Lucille Ball and Cuban band leader Ricky Ric-make that Desi Arnaz walk down the aisle (no doubt to a latin beat)...

1956) CBS replays "Douglas Edwards and the News" 3 hours after it was received on the West Coast. It was the world's 1st broadcast via videotape...

1956) Floyd Patterson becomes the youngest heavyweight champ at 21 (feature story)...

1958) Coed Records releases "16 Candles" by the Crests...

1968) Epic Records releases "Everyday People" by Sly & The Family Stone...

1969) "Songs of America", Simon & Garfunkel's 1st TV special airs...

1971) Sly & The Family Stone top the charts with "Family Affair" (Nov. 30 is a good day for Sly, see 1968 above)...

1971) ABC-TV airs "Brian's Song", the movie about the Chicago Bears' Brian Picolo and his friendship with star running back Gayle Sayers...

1979) Ted Koppel becomes anchor of "Nightly News on Iranian Hostages" which of course becomes "Nightline" (the show that Koppel recently left)...

1979) Pink Floyd releases their classic "The Wall" LP...

1993) President Bill Clinton signs into law the "Brady Bill" which requires a 5-day waiting period for purchasing guns...

1993) Richard Allen Davis is arrested after confessing the abduction and killing of 12-year old Polly Klaas...

1996) After performing on stage, Tiny Tim collapses and dies of congestive heart failure at 71...

1999) The opening of a 135-nation trade gathering in Seattle is disrupted by some 40,000 demonstrators who clash with police...

2001) For the 1st time in its history, McDonald's teams up with a retail partner on its Happy Meal promotions. Toys R Us provides plush figures from its Animal Alley (ya think they would ever team up with Tums or Rolaids) ???

Happy Birthday To...

1918) Efrem Zimbalist Jr...

1927) Robert Guillaume...

1929) My old, but still youthful, boss Dick Clark (hope you're doing well Dick)...

1930) G. Gordon Liddy...

1937) The "Paul" of Peter, Paul and Mary, Paul Stookey...

1952) Mandy Patinkin...

1955) Billy Idol...

1965) Ben Stiller...

1978) Clay Aiken...

Commentary...

After meeting Floyd Patterson some years back, my first impression of the man was that he wasn't very big or powerful looking. A nice, quiet guy who unlike today's fighters was quite shy. He almost gave the impression that he was apologizing for beating people up in the ring. Patterson was more of a light-heavyweight in size but he was a good boxer and crafty in the ring. His weakness was not possessing a knockout punch and not being able to take one from the bigger guys. Nevertheless he didn't back down against any fighter, taking on all challengers and had a good run as heavyweight champ. That championship began on this date in 1956...