Atlas (35 page)

For that alone, I consider myself a very fortunate man.

Mom and Dad, I wish we could have shared more together. My children, Nicole and Teddy III, thank you for giving me something I never understood—unconditional love. My wife, Elaine, thank you for reminding me that loyalty does exist. Peter Alson, I'm glad you asked to do this project because you're not only a tremendous writer but the right person for this. Thanks for a great job. Cus D'Amato, I'm only angry you didn't get to train my son. Thanks for helping me have a career in this sport. Jack Newfield, rest well and thank you for worrying about me and then calling in the cavalry when necessary. Joe Spinelli, Kevin McCabe, and Tom Hoover, thank you for being part of the cavalry. My foundation committee, thank you for keeping my dad's name alive and working. George Horowitz, CEO of Everlast, thanks for saying yes each time the foundation asked for help, and for becoming a friend. Gary and Kevin Monahan at N.B.C., thank you for all your help with the foundation, your efforts make life better for many people. Larry Coughlin, I wish you were here, but thank you for always standing with me. Chris Reid, I'm sorry we didn't get that title shot a bit earlier, but thanks for being the most loyal fighter I ever knew. Sal McCarthy, thanks for bringing that fighter to me many years ago, otherwise I'd never have had your special friendship. All the celebrities that have attended my charity dinner: thank you for caring and making it work. Michael Moorer: you disappointed me once, but thank you for giving me the chance to train the heavyweight champion of the world, for an experience and partnership my children will never forget, and for teaching me to forgive. Nick Baffi, thanks for being my friend and guide during those years in Gleason's Gym. David Berlin, thanks for the free legal work on behalf of the foundation and your friendship. Don Elbaum and Russell Peltz, thanks for sharing your great knowledge of the sport, and making me look a little smarter. Dr. Charles Melone, thanks for fixing my fighters' hands and reminding me that real doctors still exist. Tyrone Jackson, you never won that world title, but to me you became a real champ by becoming a father and husband to your family. Anthony Spero, thank you for showing me that some people know how to act once they've made a choice—right or wrong—regardless of the consequences. Dennis Hamill, for all those articles in the New York Daily News that helped promote the foundation even when nobody knew. Cormac Gordon, for pushing the foundation in the S.I. Advance, so that it could continue to grow. Jerry Izenberg, for writing that story and giving me a way to tell my dad I loved him, and good-bye. Mark Kriegel, for spending that week in Las Vegas and chronicling each day leading to the title. Now it's always there to remember. Brother Tim McDonald, for giving me faith in people, and rooting for me and praying for me. ESPN, and Dick Ebersol at NBC, for giving me an opportunity to leave training and do television. The New York Yankees and Robert Bernstein, for saying yes to the foundation's requests to allow two cancer patients into the dugout with the players before a game, and making them forget they were sick. Bob Papa, my first TV partner, for helping me learn. Jeff Pirami, for emceeing the foundation dinner each year, and not getting killed. My brother, Tommy, for telling me you loved me, even while you've been in a place that has none. Judge Radin, for not putting me in jail, and giving me a chance to write this book. John Davimos, you let me down, but you gave me the opportunity to train Michael Moorer, and I'll always be grateful. Gaga, my grandmother: I'm sorry we didn't have more time to play bingo together. Mitchell P., Bobby R., Louie, Gary P., and Eddie F.: Thanks for having my back and risking yours. Dan
Halpern and David Hirshey at Ecco and HarperCollins, for not only buying this book but for letting me trust that it would be okay. All my kids from the Catskill Boxing Club, for giving me a reason and a purpose during those early years, and teaching me to be a father. Rudy Greco, for helping my brother Tommy. Kevin Monahan, for getting me the opportunity to cover the Olympics for NBC. Nelson Cuevas, for running the Apollo Boxing Club all those years so that kids like Mane Moore and Gary Young could grow up and develop. Jeff Mitchell: Thanks for coming to Las Vegas and Germany to support me and my family at these title fights. Fred Chetti, for standing up for me when I left Catskill, even when it wasn't convenient. All the people at Ecco and HarperCollins who did different work to make this happen. Ron Borges: thanks for your support, loyalty, and friendship. Sean Timpone, for teaching me to respect life, not just live it. Mike Boorman: Thanks for being my cornerman and friend in Vegas and Germany. All the boxing fans who have always given me their support and have also tolerated me on TV, thank you. Peter Alson's mom, Barbara Wasserman, thank you for transcribing hours and hours of audiotapes so that Peter could write this book, and for doing it for nothing else but the spirit of helping a son, and for doing it with a special level of care. Eddie Argenio, for the tremendous support and loyalty you gave to the foundation every year. It will never be forgotten. To all the people who buy a ticket or ad to make a donation to the foundation and help many of the less fortunate in an important way. John Rowan, for helping me get the foundation started. I hope we're making you proud up there. Bob Jackson, Norm Stone, and Johnny Val, for looking after my son in the gym. Holt McCallany, for your commitment to the foundation and my family. Joey Trembone, for showing me what a real fighter is, without my ever seeing you throw a punch. John Cirillo, thanks for your pro bono work each year as you send out p.r. information on behalf of the foundation. All the guys at the Mercantile Exchange, for your loyalty and support to the foundation and now the Food Pantry. Bill Mikus, thank you for looking out for me and my family. Brad Blank—my agent—thanks for looking out for me, my family, and the foundation. Scott Waxman, without you this book would not have happened. Thank you. Lorraine Brancale, for having two sons who care about others and for always making me laugh, thanks. My current partner at ESPN, Joe Tessitore, a gentleman. The production team at ESPN, who travel with me and do magic to make me look good each week: Rob, Rick, Johnny, Roger, Brian, Mike, Saul, Joe, Dennis, Nick and Wayne, thanks. Allan Scotto, thanks for your loyalty and your care for boxing.

 

Peter Alson would like to thank the following people for their contributions, counsel, and advice during the writing of this book: Elaine Atlas, Holt McCallany, David Berlin, Pat English, and Brother Tim McDonald.

Thanks are also due to John Stravinsky, who first mentioned to me that Teddy was looking for a collaborator. To Elizabeth Shienkman, who graciously stepped back when that was the only way possible for me to take on this project. To Dan Halpern, our thoughtful and literate editor at Ecco, whose enthusiasm for this project has meant so much. To David Hirshey, Rob Grover, and everyone else at HarperCollins who had a hand in helping.

Though there is no possible way to express the true measure of my thanks to my mother, Barbara Wasserman, I will try: Mom, no exaggeration, without your help, this book would not have gotten done; from your help with transcribing to your patient counsel to your encouragement, you were nothing short of incredible. Thank you.

And to my wife, Alice O'Neill, who is always there for me, and whose support and patience in often trying circumstances mean the world to me.