Rest in Peace, Joe Rein

I left a comment. Very nice, amigo. Painful, but a lovely tribute.

 

I miss it. I try to post here and at Check Hook (because Duo asked and I think much of that guy), but with work-work, the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, my upcoming book (The Gods of War: Boxing Essays), another Murderers' Row project (Tiger Wade), and "life" --I'm finding time to be a serious issue.

 

JG was better than me at handling them with grace, thistle. He was the one holding me back. ("Hold me back! Hold me back!" haha.)

 

--I couldn't even see when I was writing that last part!

That's a risk for any writer to put himself out there like that. You never know if it's going to go over okay. I figured, it's for Joe and I'd take a bullet for that man, so here goes.

Thank you for letting me know it was okay.

 

It wouldn't fit! Neither would his shoes! But thank you.

 

Your comments are "encouragers" --thanks for that one and all the others too.

 

Speaking of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, we saluted JG on the home page this week: http://www.tbrb.org/

 

I figured as much, buddy. Best wishes for the future. I miss you around here.

I didn't know you were writing a book; well, you've got a sure-fire sale with me. Looking forward to it.

 

I didn't know him as you did Stony but it makes sense that since he kept company with such triple A rated bad asses like Rocky and Jake that he gave me the great skinny he did on two "Hollywood tough guys" Ryan O'Neal and Robert Conrad. Its out there somewhere.
Talk about "all muscle-no fat" as Col Hack would say!

 

Stoney, after reading your tribute to Joe Rein, a lump came to my throat...
What a great classy guy he was ! He when I first posted on ESB called me and said that he and I must have passed each other at Stillman's gym many times in the late 1940s.... I'm sure we did ! There can never be another "John Garfield" on ESB or any other boxing site...And I for one miss your boxing essay's very much.

 

http://www.thesweetscience.com/news/articles-frontpage/17557-joe


Great article!

 

Holy ****. I didn't look at this thread because I didn't recognize the name. Now that I know who it is I am truly saddened. Rest in Peace.

 

So sad - didn't realize he was John Garfield. Always enjoyed his posts - full of insight, knowledge, and above all, class. May God rest his soul and comfort his family and friends.

 

I remember back in 04 he was writing a lot about Pacquiao before his fight with Marquez, I really enjoyed his writing and would always read his articles at Fightbeat or fightworld I don't remember the site.

I was at the Marquez vs. Pacquiao I and after such a dramatic fight I saw Mr. Garfield standing by press row, I screamed out to him "Hey John Garfield how did you score it" He raised his fingers up to let me know. He had it for Pacquiao and I thought Marquez had pulled it out so I kind of gave him a "bull**** look".

It was a cool moment because I don't know how many people recognized him back then and he looked happily surprised to be recognized by someone who reads his articles. Plus it was such a great fight that it's hard to forget.

I sent him a PM a few years back to see if he remembered that night.

His reply.

I was saddened last night to read Mr Rein had passed, it made me remember that night and all those great articles he wrote.

Now I've learned a lot more of his life and read about all the people he has touched so that makes me happy.

RIP Mr Rein.

 

Joe Rein's idol:

http://themave.com/Garfield/bio/



one of my all time favorite movies:


http://wpcontent.answcdn.com/wikipe...jpg/220px-Body_and_Soul_1947_movie_poster.jpg



the full movie is available in youtube




Great stuff!