You know, amid this Coronavirus carnage here in Italy over the past couple of months it got me thinking about New York boxing great Cus D’Amato.
A boxing titan who’s family originally hailed from Italy.
My thoughts have been with the good people of New York in recent weeks during this devastating time for humanity over there.
Cus was a proud New Yorker from the Bronx first and foremost but grew up in an Italian family.
It is understood his father only learned English later on in life in the States.
Trainer to the likes of Floyd Patterson and Mike Tyson, Cus D’Amato is regarded as one of the sport’s greatest trainers.
I’d suggest he was one of the sport’s great masters of the mind too.
Although psychology can be very limited, in that its most famed sons are oftentimes proponents of theories rather than facts, even still, human psychology can be useful during hard times like this.
I remember Cus said one time that when a professional fighter gets hit in a fight and his head snaps back and his hands go down — often times that’s when panic hits.
Anxiety sets in. Cus thought this was a mistake.
What comes after is what is important. He said:
“That’s when you’ve got to stay calm.”
When life hits you like it is doing to the world now, it is actually now, more than ever — that remaining calm is important.
Any professional boxer will tell you that losing your cool in the ring is the cardinal sin.
Never lose it for anything or anyone.
Even as hard as this situation that faces the world seems at the moment.
Terrible to see the British prime minister Boris Johnson fighting for his life at the moment too with the Coronavirus.
Thoughts and prayers with him and everyone around the world affected by this horrible virus.
It might not seem like it now but things will get better eventually.
Make no mistake about that.
Love conquers all and it is important for people to help other people as best they can at the moment.
I wish I could say this is the worst thing I’ve seen in life but it isn’t. Not by a long, long shot.
I recall what a gentleman from New Jersey said to me one time – always try to see the best in people and the world.
Dead right old friend.
Even at the moment amidst this crazy time going on, there are still plenty of positives to take.
Life in itself is a gift that most people don’t even realize until it’s too late.
If there is anything I can humbly offer, if even in a small way, it’s this.
You, without doubt will become a better, stronger version of yourself after this Coronavirus pandemic is all said and done.
As Cus said above one must keep calm in the face of adversity. Never give way to fear.
Fear is only a useful emotion if it can be used to your benefit. Nothing more.
Never be held back by it:
After a long break from this website in recent years due to family and health reasons, I’m aware that my content once again reaches a lot of people in the States and UK in recent weeks.
I would suggest that all men of science and medicine, agents of the State and private businessmen in all nations come together even more so to work in the weeks and months ahead to try to eliminate this virus.
We are all in this together at the end of the day.
In conclusion on this article here is a video of where Cus’ quote above was taken from below.
Even if it helps if only in a small way — to anyone who may have been affected by this deadly virus — that would be great:
