Tiger Flowers Book - worth a read?

Take a look at the opponents of Tiger Flowers, Harry Greb or Gene Tunney. You will find that so many of them died prematurely. It is probable that a number of them would have been saved with current medical procedures.

- Chuck Johnston

 

You are absolutely right. I dont think there is any doubt. I would highly recommend checking out the TV show "The Knick" which is a fictionalized dramatization at the New York Knickerbocker Hospital during the turn of the century and the physicians there who struggled against the limitations of "modern" medicine. This would be a very close representation of the experiences of Dr. Fralick at that time period.

 

I know some might fly their eyes at me seeing as I have read this whole thread...but out of curiosity I couldnt help but dip into it last night....it did bring a wry smile when only a few pages in I read (and I quote) -

"As I searched and researched, I discovered I had only the vaguest notion of what I was doing"

 

Dat hair tho.


Anyway, I'm kind of taken aback with all the anti-Mee rhetoric. I'm not defending his writing, as I've not read any of it, but I've seen a few at least (can't recall which titles) cited on here as being acceptable general reference material - and primarily what I know his name from is his "explaining the rules" guest segments on Sky, which always prompts fans in the British forum (and proven solid boxing lovers with good heads on their shoulders at that, not trolls) remarking "Shame they under-utilize Mee just explaining the rules like, he really ought to be a commentator as he's so darn knowledgeable"

Before klompton's review here I'd generally only come across Mee's name as having a mint reputation (of course, that may have been selection bias, listening to people familiar only with his knowledge of, say, the modern British scene as his specialized area, which of course leaves the door open for him to be clueless about older and more obscure matters, or to him being a shoddy/lazy historian, to which those fans wouldn't necessarily be hip) :conf

It seems there is a slight consensus forming among respected Classic guys, however, about his stuff being substandard. So, I'll stand back and cede that klompton appears to have gotten this one right (but stand by my two cents that more of a tone of professionally detached neutrality, or at least a bit less outright hostility, in giving a review for the inquirer, would make it easier to view as critique and not just cattiness for the sake of whatever ulterior motive)

 

Sorry klomp.

 

In fairness to the medical profession during the 1920s, it was vastly superior to its American Civil War counterpart. Within sixty years, to become a doctor required going through a rigorous process in terms of simply getting into medical school and making it through an extremely tough curriculum and internship.

- Chuck Johnston

 

Its my birthday today,i had this book as a gift un****inbelievable

 

I also was given The Longest Fight In the ring with Joe Gans so its not all bad

 

Awesome! you're on Klompton's gift list!

 

If that were the sum total of Mee's errors I likely wouldnt have said anything but his book is full of them. I just used this one as an example of how far he went and how bad he slandered a highly respected professional to the point of accusing him of not having gone to medical school, changing his name for nefarious reasons, and basically murdering Flowers. None of this is even remotely true.