Tag Archives: grit

Tomboy

“I had to play. I had to find the heart of the game.” 

“She was a very good baseball player,” — Hank

Toni was a pro and “smooth,” — Ernie

Hank Aaron, some people have argued, is the best baseball player ever.  So Hank knew what he was talking about.

Mister Cub, Ernie Banks, one of the top baseball players in the 50’s, no doubt.

But she knew she was good, good enough to play with the best: including Satchel.

‘He was so good that he’d ask batters where they wanted it, just so they’d have a chance. He’d ask, “You want it high? You want it low? You want it right in the middle? Just say.” People still couldn’t get a hit against him. So I get up there and he says, “Hey T., how do you like it?” And I said, “It doesn’t matter, just don’t hurt me.” When he wound up — he had these big old feet — all you could see was his shoe. I stood there shaking, but I got a hit. Right out over second base. Happiest moment in my life.’ — Toni Stone.

Baseball.  For the love of the game.

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From Flint to Gold

“Oh well, I’m just tired of losing.”

So much still a child, childlike, with this child’s quick, short attention span, an impulsiveness, and a love of portable electronics. Then she gets in the ring and the temperature of the room begins to rise. You cannot take your eyes off  her.

claressa

Her father could have been a contender, but jail put an end to his career. When he made an offhand remark about admiring Laila Ali, his 11-year old daughter thought he was encouraging her to box. He wasn’t, but the misreading was typical with this child, whose innocent optimism may be her greatest weapon. Her father initially refusing to let her train in boxing, relented, thinking she would get beat up and surely, (hoping) she would just quit.

-As a competitor, she possesses a ferocious desire to establish dominance over her opponents.

-In the boxing ring there is a naturalness in the ring that only comes to those who took up boxing as children.

-Her balance and handspeed are superb.

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