Post by dallen on Aug 21, 2010 16:52:02 GMT -5
Over the years after the Hall of Fame i travel onto Chicago,to visit a friend i made on the very first Hall of Fame in Canastota.He has one of the largest 16mm film collections in the World,and has become a very close friend.On one trip to Chicago he booked me into a hotel close to O`Hare airport,which was Handy for my flight back home to the UK.On the first day of my visit Mitch Levin my friend asked if there was anything i would like to see or do during my stay.I said i always wanted to visit the graves of Jack Johnson and Bob Fitzsimmons,both reside in the same cemetary in Chicago.We jumped straight into his car and off we went,while i was taking photos of the graves Mitch was on his mobile phone.Next minute i was in conversation with Sean Curtin top man at the Chicago Board of Control who said i was to visit him at his office.Arriving at his office i was blown away with the memorabilia he had on Muhammed Ali.It turned out he was big buddies with Ali,and even went to his wedding.He took us out for a great meal in a Italian resturant,when he ordered the meal it was in a fluent Italian.Then he told me he spoke 6 different languages,i said shit i have not mastered English yet which had us all laughing.I was surprised at Sean knowledge of English boxers.he said he was in England for some time and followed the game with interest.
The following day was a bit of a disaster Mitch had a friend who worked at the Baseball park i think it was Wrigley Fields.Mitch dropped me of at the ground and said the guy selling the programs overthere will look after you.The guys name was Griff and he loaded me up with programs scoresheets annuals all on Base ball plus my ticket.After 20minutes i could not stomach anymore,i sat right behind the strikers and sorry guys it bored me to tears.So i went into the bar to drown my sorrows,sitting close by was a guy and his little son who was in tears.I said to the guy is the little fellow ok,he replied where we are sitting he cant see the game.I said you are welcome to my ticket i was told it was one of the best seat in the house.The look on the kids face said it all,at least i was bored one little kid had the time of his life.When Mitch picked me up he had no need to ask if i like the game,but the beer was good.
Later on Mitch took me to a blue jazz club,it was great music even though im not into music injoyed the evening.Funny after a couple of drinks Mitch fell asleep in the club,which was amusing as the waiters were in fits watching Mitch nodding back and forth.Its always fun when i visit my friend in Chicago and have had some great times in his company.In time i will tell you about another visit when we ended up in a stripper club and was told by the owner a friend of Mitch i could have any women of my choice of the women on show.But the owner was mob connected and he was a giant of a man,but more of that in another thread later.
The following day was a bit of a disaster Mitch had a friend who worked at the Baseball park i think it was Wrigley Fields.Mitch dropped me of at the ground and said the guy selling the programs overthere will look after you.The guys name was Griff and he loaded me up with programs scoresheets annuals all on Base ball plus my ticket.After 20minutes i could not stomach anymore,i sat right behind the strikers and sorry guys it bored me to tears.So i went into the bar to drown my sorrows,sitting close by was a guy and his little son who was in tears.I said to the guy is the little fellow ok,he replied where we are sitting he cant see the game.I said you are welcome to my ticket i was told it was one of the best seat in the house.The look on the kids face said it all,at least i was bored one little kid had the time of his life.When Mitch picked me up he had no need to ask if i like the game,but the beer was good.
Later on Mitch took me to a blue jazz club,it was great music even though im not into music injoyed the evening.Funny after a couple of drinks Mitch fell asleep in the club,which was amusing as the waiters were in fits watching Mitch nodding back and forth.Its always fun when i visit my friend in Chicago and have had some great times in his company.In time i will tell you about another visit when we ended up in a stripper club and was told by the owner a friend of Mitch i could have any women of my choice of the women on show.But the owner was mob connected and he was a giant of a man,but more of that in another thread later.