I Got The Great Opportunity Of Driving A Little Over An Hour Down To Youngstown To Attend The Homecoming Party For Kelly Pavlik. It Was Very Inspirational Seeing A Champion Return To His People To Repay The Debt Of Support. He Drove In Standing Through A Sunroof With Blares Of "Korn" Bouncing Off The Walls Of The Building Downtown. Everyone Errupted. Kelly Is Different. Rockstar Popularity Down There But Humbleness That Could Bring A Tear To Your Eye. I Took My Son Who Was On My Shoulders Waving His Fists Like A Nut And My Neck Is Still Sore. I Also Took My Grandfather Who Is 82 And He Remembers Seeing Boom Boom Mancini's Father Fight Golden Gloves Before The War At Cleveland Arena. Politicians Did All Their Usual Talking Congradulating The Champ. It Took A While. The Crowd Got The Chance Too Boo Lebron James For Wearing A Yankees Hat To The Indians Game. Pavlik Just Sat Patiently. He Got His Chance To Speak And Thanked Everyone In Northeast Ohio And Everyone Surrounding His Area. He Said Larry Hazzard Told Him The Weigh-in For That Last Fight Was The Wildest Group He Has Ever Seen. Even More So Than The Arturo Gatti Fights! He Said There Are More Belts To Get At 160 And Also Up A Couple Weight Classes. He Than Left The Stage And B-lined To Buffalo Wild Wings Across The Street. After Getting My Grandfather A Seat I Than Walked With My Son Still On My Shoulders Over To The Door And Could Not Get In. I Was Standing Right Next To Mike Pavlik And He Couldn't Even Get In The Door. My Son Was Crying Because He Was Very Hungry. I Picked Him Up From School Changed Him And Started Driving. I Was So Pumped, I Forgot To Feed Him. My Grandfather Was Just Sitting Waiting, So We Walked Away And Left. Than Started Futher Crying Because He Wanted To Meet Kelly. Pavlik Is A True Gentleman And Great Role Model. He Is Proud Of His City And His Bloodline. Slovak-Italian American. Alot More Was Said But I Can't Type Forever. Not Only Does Youngstown Suport Him, Cleveland Loves Him As Well! It Was Well Worth The Drive!
Cool story. Just hate your son was disappointed. Kids are where it's at and at least you were man enough to take him with you and when it's all said and done he'll remember that fact much more than the fact he was hungry.
Well, He's Turning 6 On October 11th. I'm Gonna Try To Get A Hold Of Someone Again To Get Down There To Meet Him. He Was Happy, But At 5 They Want Fireworks Everytime. My Neck Still Hurts! Believe Me, He's Braggin Today. He Got To See The Champ And He's Got The Shirt On Already To Prove It!
That's awesome man. My son just turned 7 and I wish I could have drove him up there too. I'm in the western part of West Virginia. I know you're boy is proud of that shirt! Not to mention you took your grandfather too. Sounds to me like a great trip even with the little set backs you guys had. Like you said, Pav's reached rock star status around there and there's no way he could meet everyone even if he wanted to.
Great!! Did you hear that korn blaring downtown???--it was incredible. The intensity in the air was something I will never ever forget. Great to have you there!!!! Kelly is humble and down to earth--he is what all of us would inspire to be if we were champions.
It's amazing how many fans he already has. I can understand it though - when was the last time someone came out of relative obscurity to KO the #1 contender and undisputed champ in back to back FOTY candidates?
I took my son down there too. The scene was awsome, the crowd was pumped. Had to buy a t-shirt for my boy (and one for myself). I had to wash it so he can wear it and then have it for school on Monday. He is 12 and pumped from Kelly's win. Wish you could have made it in. I've been following Kelly's career for 4-5 years now and he is such an awsome person, fighter and now champion.
Up Here You Wouldn't Think He Is Popular...He Is! I Went To The Local American Legion By My House After I Came Back And Had My Pavlik Shirt On. About 4 Different Guys Came Up To Me Talking About Him. Asking If I Watched The Fight. Its Nice To Hear People Talking Boxing Again! They Even Asked About The Pac-barrera Fight! That Van That Was Blaring That Garabage At The Beginning Was Driving Me Nuts. As Soon As They Shut It Off And Korn Came On I Got Chills. All The People In Youngstown were Nice And There Was No Trouble. Anytime You Guys Want To Party, Let Me Know. I'm There!
Very nice post. Pavlik indicated that he'd like to fight at Stambaugh Stadium, and even Ohio Stadium. He'd bring in some huge crowds there, especially at the Horsehoe. The Horshoe goes well over 100,000...maybe up to 110,000. I think Stambaugh maxes out at just over 20,000. The main problem with seating, of course, would be rain. They'd need to put the protective cover over the ring, and they'd need to tone down the maximum capacity so all of the seats would be decent.
Pavlik not only had 5,000 fans cheering for him in Atlantic City and thousands more across the nation watching the fight on HBO, but he also had the entire General Motors complex in Lordstown in his corner. "I work at General Motors and they shut down the assembly line so that the workers could watch Kelly fight," said Karen Tobin of Boardman, Pavlik's cousin. "It was the first time they shut down the assembly line in 30 years. It never was done before. They never did that for 9/11 or blizzards." vindy.com
Awesome, story man. Y-town is proud and your welcome to party here anytime. LOL I can remember back to the Mancini days and what he did for this city. I think Kelly will take it even higher. Ray unfortunately moved away to LA. As for now, Kelly is still living on the southside. (A not so great side of town.) That speaks volumes for the type of person he is. He could already out in the suburbs, but he is still in the City. I wish him and Jack and their families all the best.
Thanks! I will keep me eye on the Vindy for any news locally down there. If I can make it to anything I will. I might need to meet or at least talk to someone down there as I don't know my way around too good yet. I made a promise to my son he will get to shake the champs hand.
Did Anyone On Here Get Anything Signed? What Was It Like In Buffalo Wild Wings? They Should Have Had Him Sitting On The Stage Outside.
