By Eric Bottjer
Michael Katz was one of many Huge 4 in New York boxing writing within the Nineteen Nineties. Every of these writers mirrored the persona of their publications. The loud and entertaining Mike Marley for the New York Put up (the trash tabloid with world-class classless headlines {“Headless Man Present in Topless Bar” being probably the most well-known, though my all-timer was Ike Turner’s obit headline, “Ike Beats Tina to Demise”}, the good-looking, gifted Wally Matthews at Newsday, who had the house in that tabloid to “go deep” when needed; the lowkey Phil Berger for the staid New York Instances, Phil being one of the best author of the 4 (after all he was, he labored for the fucking New York Instances, dwelling of one of the best journalists on the planet, it doesn’t matter what the “Faux Information” cretins say); balanced out by the bearded curmudgeon Katz, who boasted all one of the best qualities of his three brethren. He was a gifted author (he labored on the Instances earlier than the Day by day Information pilfered him), knew boxing, tolerated no bullshit, was informative and entertaining concurrently andwas, consider it or not, fairly delicate.
Michael left us Monday, respiratory his final at a Brooklyn nursing dwelling. He was 85. A lot of his spirit departed 4 years in the past when his solely baby, daughter Moorea, was robbed of life by most cancers. As a single father of an solely baby (a daughter), I do know the spot Moorea occupied in Mike’s soul. I additionally know first-hand how shut they have been. After an Atlantic Metropolis present within the Nineteen Nineties, I discovered Katz sitting alone on the finish of the bar on the Irish Pub, a pint of beer in entrance of him. Katz was a reformed drinker, so the location was surprising. Me, being an enthusiastic drinker and unabashed Katz fan, solely needed to be motioned over as soon as to the seat subsequent to him. Moorea was leaving the nest, off to legislation faculty.
Most cancers took Mike’s spouse Marilyn years prior, so Moorea was Mike’s world. Mike spoke and I listened. I realized there will be nothing extra highly effective than the connection a father has with a daughter. He nursed that beer and he teared up greater than as soon as. He confirmed himself as just one can when confronted with dropping (in a way) the love of their life. He was a gorgeous soul when open and weak.
Others who knew – or simply encountered – Katz might use totally different adjectives (combative, profane). They usually wouldn’t be fallacious both. Katz had a rumpled look (though, it was the look of a rumpled European, so there was some class in there), wore a neck brace for years and was usually armed with a strolling stick. He all the time was armed with a biting mind.
Katz vacationed yearly in France, the place he had labored for the Instances earlier than returning to the states to work because the paper’s boxing author. He was cultured and educated and pleasant firm when he didn’t really feel provoked. He was (overly) delicate and an empath, which endeared him to many boxers. The sensible fighters might inform that Katz gave a rattling and cared about them as folks.
When he was provoked, Katz would barrel into Thunderdome with anybody. A bodily struggle with Boston Globe columnist Ron Borges resulted with Bob Arum as collateral harm, the promoter being knocked from a chair. Unrelated, Arum sued Katz for defamation after Mike pounced on Bob in print for selling a present on Yom Kippur.
Fightnews.com editor Scott Pope (aka “Flattop”) threatened Katz’s life after a colourful cellphone dialog.
Katz swung his trusty cane at a fellow author as soon as in Vegas. Vegas boxing author Kevin Iole jumped in to take the blow on his hand. At that time, in 2001, Katz was writing for an internet site. His 15-year run on the Day by day Information ended the earlier yr, the final of the Huge 4 to grace the New York papers with boxing information. Katz moved to Vegas within the early 2000s and he mainly retired, the game – and print journalism – passing him by. He by no means received a correct sendoff. Stupidly, I by no means reached out to Mike after he retired.
Mike moved me that evening on the Irish Pub way back, laying himself naked within the midst of a painful separation. I’ll pay it ahead and honor his reminiscence at present by reaching out to a long-lost buddy. Why not do the identical, expensive reader?
