A Man's World: The Double Life of Emile Griffith

Gay means happy right?

 

They say that those that hate the happy tend to be a little happy themselves.

 

Another reason to tell your children what bitter disappointments they've all been. Greater good and all that.

 

I'd prefer not to keep retreading this tired old ground concerning Griffith's ***ual preferences...there's much concerning his boxing career, his strength's and weaknesses as a fighter, and things related to his boxing style that I's rather dwell on. It seems that the only thing anyone ever mentions about Griffith is that *******ual (not gay) thing. Who cares?

 

It's funny how uncomfortable this topic makes people on here.
*******uality was a taboo subject in sports in Griffith's fighting days, but even more so in the Sweet Science. I've read that Paret called him a *******ual before one of their fights.

I agree his ***ual orientation doesn't matter, but a book discussing what his life must have been like, and how he dealt with being a closeted *******ual boxer back then, sounds like interesting reading. Imagine how tough it would be for a boxer to come out now, let alone back then.

 

Yes S, I posted before that at a resort in Sullivan Catskills NY
a attended a ****tail party with some friends of mine and Emile Griffith who was training for the ill fated Paret fight walked in alone. A few of us surrounded Emile shook his hand and one guy asked him "who will win the fight between you and Benny Paret" ?. Emile usually very soft spoken shouted in anger" he call me a marano, I keel him". We at that moment never had a thought that the following Friday Emile Griffith was true to his
prediction and poor Benny Paret died after he took a terrible beating from Emile in the 12th round, and never regained consciousness and died soon after...It has been said that Paret
took a bad beating from Gene Fullmer in a previous fight and
he most likely had brain damage entering the ring against Griffith...I shall never forget that prediction from Griffith. So said...

 

[emoji443] I once was happy...but now am sad; was stylish but now dress bad. [emoji445]

 

I reckon this will be a good read. Knowing how a young black *******ual male in the manliest of sports dealt with bigotry and having to hide his ***uality. Being *******ual is no big thing in western society these days but it would have been then. It must have been extremely challenging for him and probably heartbreaking knowing that people will hate because of your ***ual preference. Its a different world today and I applaud those who have 'come out' in the boxing fraternity.

 

Yes, I've read several books about young black *******ual males and I've enjoyed them all.

:good

 

there are a few fighters that were gay but Griffith is the most well known, it was weird in the 60's and in the 70's because the guy was extremely strong and built but liked young men and spoke very effeminate....it was very weird at the time, even today with the many athletes that came out but back then you thought all gays were like Liberace

 

Anybody who can be outweighed by 10 ibs...get into the ring with a resurgent D!ck Tiger, deck, beat him, and become middleweight champion of the world has my greatest respect...regardless if he be gay or straight.

 

I'll refrain from making an obvious pun right there.

 

Gosh I thought ****phobic 'Double Entendres' were a think of the past....what next? Let me guess he loved getting in the ring....

 

I had the chance to talk on several occasions with Emile Griffith before he passed in recent years. Extremely nice man. We rarely talked boxing his memory and health were poor. Ironically his memory was not a result of his ring fights but I believe he was assaulted in the early 1980's leaving a gay bar. A fine gentleman I was sad when I heard he passed. I have his last book 9-10 and out which he kindly autographed for me.