I Wish... Roy Jones had decided to retire after coming down from heavyweight and defeating Antonio Tarver to regain a light heavyweight belt. It would have been the perfect ending...
Muhammad Ali could talk as easily as he used to. For a guy like me, who was just a young boy when he retired, it would be a career highlight to be able to interview him...
Bernard Hopkins could just once admit defeat after losing a close fight. He's had a few. I respected Chris Byrd when he admitted after his points win over Fres Oquendo that the fight could have gone the other way...
... at least one boxer would fess up to taking steroids after he's caught, instead of blaming it on everyone from his trainer to his grandmother...
...the top dogs who run a certain boxing publication would stop acting like they're gods walking among mere mortals.
(When one of these guys was once introduced to a writer I know, he responded, “I usually don't try to meet new people.”)...
...people would stop calling linear champions "world champions". If no major belts were on the line, then the guy “who beat the man who beat the man” is not really a world champion. [Editor's note: I wish Kirk Lang would stop overrating the relevance of the sanctioning bodies' belts]...
..Antonio Tarver was as entertaining to watch as he is to listen to...
...all publicists/media relations people were as cool as Mohegan Sun's Greg Romeyn...
...all boxers had nicknames as good as Derek “The One Man Riot” Bryant...
...all the world champions I have pictures with gave me at least a dollar. I'd have an extra $250. And that's not even counting WBO belt holders...
...there were more fights in the Bronx during the summer...
...my friend Willie Pep was still alive...
...Emile Griffith lived closer. I don't like driving over bridges that span Long Island Sound and don't have any breakdown lanes...
...Maureen Shea would stay more active. I want to see this nice young woman achieve her dream of winning a world title...
...Cara Castronuova, a New York Golden Gloves champion, would turn pro...
...Philadelphia wasn't so far away. I need to film a run up the steps of the museum again. My pants were falling down the last time...
...Obama Girl of youtube fame was still a round card girl. She's outgrown the boxing world unfortunately...
...George Foreman was still an announcer for HBO. That man is a true legend and it was always a thrill seeing him at the fights...
...that even small fight shows gave out decent credential passes. I've been to press conferences in the last month or so that gave out better credentials than some of the fights I've been to. Also, if there's no food for the press at the fights, at least give us a half-decent credential for our scrapbook...
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Send questions and comments to: kirklang@yahoo.com
