good talk

Nate Thurmond and Gus Johnson, team-mates at Akron Central, are 2 of the better players ever to play in the NBA.  In "Doonesbury" recently, "Why Johnny Can't Blink."  Harold "Hackie" Reitman (b. March 21, 1950) began boxing at the Jewish Center at "13."  While in Medical School at Boston U., Hackie got the urge, and entered the Golden Gloves, becoming New England GG Heavyweight Champion in 1971, winning all his bouts by knockout (hard to do in amateur boxing, as it only goes 3 rounds).  Having moved to S. Florida in 1978, setting up his practice as an M.D. Orthopedic Surgeon, Hackie once-again got the urge, and turned professional in 1988 at the age of "37."  A smallish HW, Hackie enjoyed the personal-combat (..The blood was flying-off both of us... in saying how much he dug it), he won 7 of his first 9, 6 coming by KO within the 2nd Round).  A healer outside the ring, vicious within, if he got you at all, it was usually soon.  In 1991, Dr. Reitman fought the good but ill-fated Tim Anderson, who I saw fight at Bally's, Tim going to prison in 1996 for shooting promoter Elvis Parker to death, thinking he had done him wrong (Tim emptied his gun, reloaded, and did it again).  Hackie fought Peter McNeeley, who had fought Mike Tyson.  At one point, Dr. Reitman's record was 10-3-3, he fought sporadically after, having his last fight at "50," and retiring from boxing with a record of 13-7-6, a huge number of draws, his record declining as he grew older.  Hackie always donated his purses, and gave a building to the Boys and Girls Club in Plantation, Fla. Dr. Reitman is enjoying his retirement, a jolly good fellow