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<\/a>By Brian \u201cThe Beret\u201d Young<\/strong><\/p>\nI have been a lifelong fan of this great sport, and as I have stated, a historian as well. But when I think of boxing, the first name that pops in my head every time is the man who I feel was the greatest writer\/historian, and the single most charismatic person I have ever known, the late Bert Randolph Sugar. Some of the things you\u2019ll read here are common knowledge about Bert, some will be things that most people don\u2019t know; things he shared with me over the years as I was lucky enough to know the real \u201cmost interesting man in the world\u201d.<\/p>\n
On June 7th 1936 a beautiful bouncing baby named Herbert Randolph Sugar was born in Washington DC. Contrary to popular belief, he was not wearing a fedora or smoking a cigar at this time. Young Bert worked as a reporter for his high school paper and even said in the yearbook that he would become a sports writer. After high school he graduated from the University of Maryland then went on to the University of Michigan where he earned his JB and MBA. Bert would often joke that once he passed the bar in Michigan that was the last bar he ever passed (followed by his infectious cackle of a laugh). <\/p>\n
Bert then spent the 1960\u2019s in New York City working in advertising, with some pretty notable accounts such as Coca Cola and Nestle (actually creating the jingle N-E-S-T-L-E-S, Nestles makes the very best\u2026chocolate). During this time he also had a short lived (and never paid as he told me) job working as a writer for Lenny Bruce. As Bert told me the story, he met Lenny after a show and asked the comic if he needed a writer. Bruce said he couldn\u2019t pay a writer, but somehow Bert must have charmed the tortured comedian because Lenny eventually said, \u201cI\u2019ll tell you what, I will let you work with some other kid who wants to write for me, and if I use any of your stuff I\u2019ll throw you a few bucks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bert was introduced to another hopeful writer and they started to work. Bert described this to me in his own \u201cSugaresque\u201d way, \u201cSo he introduces me to this f\u2014king accountant who thinks he\u2019s funny, a kid named Bob Newhart\u201d. I asked him what Lenny Bruce was like and Bert told me, \u201cHe was the saddest person I ever met.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 1969, Bert finally entered the profession that would make him famous. He bought Boxing Illustrated Magazine and became its editor until 1973. By now Bert was becoming a recognizable face in and around boxing with his trademark fedora and always present cigar. But he wasn\u2019t just a character, people realized what a brilliant writer he was. His knowledge was second to none and he had a larger than life personality to boot. Soon, he would become as famous as the people he was covering. He was brash, energetic, hilarious and brilliant.<\/p>\n
Everyone he came into contact with were mesmerized by him. He was even given a nickname by other members of the press, and Bert Sugar was now \u201cThe Oracle of Broadway\u201d. Bert was also prolific, not only editing Boxing Illustrated and then later The Ring Magazine, but he also wrote over 80 books. Many of these were about his true passion. Yes, folks, Bert loved boxing, and knew more about it than anyone, but his true passion was Baseball. Bert often said, \u201cI\u2019ve forgotten more about baseball than I know about boxing\u201d, and he wasn\u2019t kidding. Many a night I was out (usually in a bar, or more often behind the bar smoking cigars) when people would come up to him and try to stump him on baseball trivia. Bert loved this, and would often answer their questions and then follow it up with a story to go along with it.<\/p>\n
Bert was the center of attention, and he loved it. I once told him I was glad he used his powers for good or he would have been a successful cult leader. One of my fondest memories of Bert is when he would talk about the man who he became lifelong friends with, Joe DiMaggio. That alone should tell you how likeable Bert was as DiMaggio wasn\u2019t friends with ANYONE.<\/p>\n
Whenever Bert would talk about Joe he would get emotional, and would always finish by saying, \u201cI loved Joe, he was a wonderful man.\u201d My personal favorite DiMaggio story that Bert told to me was the time he was covering an Old Timers game at Yankee Stadium. He went in the clubhouse to say hi to folks, and guys were laughing and joking around. Then he saw Joe sitting off to the side all by himself. Bert went over to say hello and DiMaggio asked, \u201cWhy doesn\u2019t anyone want to talk to me, Bert?\u201d Bert replied, as only he could, \u201cBecause you scare the shit out of them Joe!\u201d I understand now why Bert would get emotional talking about Joe, because I get the same way now when I talk about Bert.<\/p>\n
80 some books, appearances in movies as himself, countless documentaries and pop culture fame didn\u2019t change Bert at all. Never in my life have I met someone who loved to be around \u201creal people\u201d more than Bert. And he would always hold court, it didn\u2019t matter if there were 100 people or 10 people or just one person, Bert was always Bert, and he was one of a kind. He was outgoing, generous and hysterical with an endless supply of energy. He had a hollow leg as well because he could even out-drink a giant Irish guy who always wears a beret (who has since quit drinking).<\/p>\n
I often read people saying that he always had an unlit cigar and have even read people say they don\u2019t think he actually smoked them and it was just a \u201cprop\u201d. Well, I can assure you that\u2019s hogwash, Bert loved his cigars and I had many a smoke with him over the years. And speaking of cigars, another Bert anecdote I love is whenever people would ask him what kind of cigar he was smoking. Bert would always answer, \u201cIt\u2019s a Lawrence Welk\u201d and when he would get that confused look shot back he would say, \u201cIt\u2019s a piece of shit with a band around it\u201d. Thanks Bert, I use that line myself now.<\/p>\n
There are so many stories I could share about Bert (and some that he shared with me I could never print!), but I\u2019ll finish with this last one, to show the kind of man he was. My brother had an employee who was a huge boxing fan and Kevin (my brother) told him how we go to the Hall of Fame every year and how amazing it is. Well, his employee responded with, \u201cIf I could ask anyone in boxing a question, it would be Bert Sugar.\u201d to which Kevin replied, \u201cWell, we know Bert quite well.\u201d I don\u2019t think his employee believed him. That June, Kevin, Bert and I were having a cigar and having some laughs one night after the Hall of Fame festivities of the day and Kevin called his employee and said, \u201cHey, if you could ask Bert Sugar a question, what would it be?\u201d He responded with, \u201cWho was his favorite fighter of all time?\u201d So Kevin said, \u201cBert, who was your favorite of all time?\u201d Bert replied, \u201cJoe Louis.\u201d Kevin relayed the message and hung up.<\/p>\n
He then explained to Bert why he asked and about his employee wanting to ask him the question. Bert said, \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you give me the F\u2014king phone?\u201d Kevin asked if he should call him back and Bert said, \u201cDo it.\u201d As Kevin is calling him back Bert askes, \u201cWhat\u2019s his name?\u201d Kevin told him, \u201cQuincy Shelton.\u201d When he answered, Bert took the phone and said, \u201cQuincy Shelton\u2026 This is Bert F\u2014king Sugar\u201d then walked away with the phone and talked to Quincy for a good ten minutes. That is the kind of man Bert was, and that is why I miss him every day. As Bert would say about DiMaggio, I loved Bert, he was a wonderful man.<\/p>\n
I would love to hear some Bert stories from our readers, please share them with me, and don\u2019t forget to send in questions, comments or suggestion thru the form box below to Brian \u201cThe Beret\u201d Young.<\/p>\n