NOTES FROM THE ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY: REMEMBERING ARCHIE MOORE
Posted on | September 7, 2007 | 1 Comment
I became friends with the great ARCHIE MOORE back in 1983 through the mail and what resulted was him sending me many, many handwritten and typed letters over the next decade or so. I copied two of them for you here in case you are interested. Some very interesting stuff from the greatest (top 3 at least) 175 pounder of all time:
June 30, 1984
Hi, John. The days have a way of vanishing before our very eyes. Perhaps this is why one ages very quickly or at least notices the days scurrying by. The lyricists of my era on many occasions complimented father time in song. The people in love, even nowadays, succumb to these time lasting lyrics, such as…
Blue Skies.
“Blue skies smiling at me nothing but blue skies do I see. Blue birds some of them gone, nothing but blue skies all the day long. I never saw the sun shining so bright, never saw things going so right. Noticing the days scurrying by, but when your in love, my, how the time flies.”
Your wings
John, you are an eaglet which I describe you at this time of your career. You are in love with the same lady I loved and many others before me and those who will come after your gone. You will grow into the eagle, with eyes so sharp as to spot an opponents opening as quickly as the eagle can spot a field mouse from nearly a mile high to the field where he scurries to find shelter from his enemies. These are components as natural as eating, but can be highly developed as part of an armentarium that all champions need to become outstanding in a chosen endeavor.
Your armentarium
From afar I notice you like dancing and much movement. well, that is OK. You must also develop your jab so stiff that anytime you make contact, therein shall ensue tiny fractures and after a small continuation certain tell tale signs of a broken proboscis, necessitating the referee to halt your exhibit of fisticuffs. This should become an east coast trademark, as your acknowledge plaudits from boxing clientele. Hard left hooking should bring about unexpected break dancing from any of the opponents your hard whistling hooks land within regions on their nerve centers.
Your attitude
A perceptive attitude is needed to be enabled to comprehend the knowledge that you poses to readily acknowledge from whence it came and by whom. Be grateful, graceful and courteous at all times. You will avoid many unpleasant moments being a straight forward man, unafraid to face the known enemy. Treat your body as a great athlete should because you will have this one until death calls you home
Please convey wishes to Mr. Barile, your Mom and your dad, hoping to hear from you soon
Instructor Moore
Letter # 2 …
March 24, 1985
Dear Student John: The chasers in the punch bowl. Be sure your mind is made up to go all the way. Get the great teachers, use only the advice that fits into your system. Give your undivided attention to your instructor. Taste, but don’t get drunk (from temporary success). Don’t take success for granted. Be a good sportsman at all times, play the game fair and square at all times. Be a good sportsman at all times. Study your craft as you would a dictionary, know full meaning and implications. Condition mind and body for as long as you live, it will function above average.
Dear friend and ABC student, though we have not yet met face to face, I actually saw you before your in your photo with Tiger Ted Lowry, to whom I send warm regards today. I vividly recall boxing Ted in Baltimore at the Coliseum 1945. Being older and vastly experienced and closing in on the champion who was Gus Lesnevich, I gave Ted a long hour of scientific scenery.
The 28 and 0 madness.
The opponents to consider really experienced are the ones who somewhere along the way know what defeat is and that winning isn’t everything. These so called champions with the 28 and 0 records are soon due to face an angry youngster that couldn’t care less what his record is or his. He’s come to fight.
The skilled analyst
If you were studying medicine as effective as you try boxing there would be no doubt in my mind that you would eventually emerge a splendid physician. Now, since you have chosen boxing it is time to analyze your system thoroughly. At this point in time my specialty as a boxing analyst serves me very well. There are times that I visit a gym and in a few seconds have sorted out nearly all of the mistakes that are traditionally passed on to the youths who are putting their lives into inept trainers hands. If this man that plans to take a seven man team overseas (Note from Ice: back in 1986 there was talk of some of us New England boxers taking a trip to Europe to fight but it didn’t pan out at that time) is in need of a coach/trainer/teacher let him know of my availability and my phone number etc. Give Mr. Barile and your family the best regards and you keep well and teach the real John Scully how to put ten or more punches together… but know this, it can be done and has been done after you jab your opponents head into position.
Thanks so much for the photo. Keep writing, let me know what you’re doing.
Instructor Moore
“Ice”
www.IcemanJohnScully.com
Quote: The wait in the dressing room before a professional boxing match -that last hour- could be enough to strip a man that never boxed before of whatever pride, desire and heart he THOUGHT he had – Iceman John Scully, April 2002