My grandpa said that Jack Johnson beats young Mike Tyson

My maternal grandfather (nonno) would have been 117 if he were alive, and I guess
could have seen Johnson fight except that he was in Italy at the time.

My paternal grandfather would be 132 if he were alive today. He was born in 1885 so
he could have seen Johnson fight, and he came to the US in 1903 so it's possible he saw and/or
heard of Johnson.

Neither one ever discussed boxing with me. They both said Mussolini was great, that Caruso
was the best opera singer, and that Joe DiMaggio was the best baseball player. My father
who saw Ruth play said the Babe was the best.

 

They might be right about Caruso.

 

Caruso was a masher.

 

Sounds like the eyeties I know, all right

 

What does that mean? Sounds like 19th century Georgie slang.