I managed to do a solid Q & A with two-division UFC champion B.J. Penn on the subject of his new book, “Why I Fight: The belt is just an accessory.” It appears in the May issue of FIGHT! magazine.

Roberto Duran was one of those special guys whose rise signified the high water mark of one of the greatest eras in boxing history around the 80’s. It’s fitting that author Christian Giudice traveled to Panama to produce an unparalleled biography on the subject of the fighter, entitled ‘Hands of Stone: The Life and Legend [...]

I ask whether he feels any sense of guilt for having beaten Vicky and his other wives. “If you had a girl and she was beautiful and other people were trying to invite her out and seduce her, wouldn’t you get angry?” he says.
“That’s the thing. I saw these obvious jerks and schmucks coming [...]

Well, not yet– but maybe in the future. I just got a package in the mail that contains all the information on how to get a government grant. When you’re an artist, this type of support is critical in helping you garner the resources (namely, time) to produce top-notch work. 
I will never forget what transpired back [...]

You want to see the worst, the very worst in people, I will point you to the work of Andrew and Alice Vachss. Both are lawyers, authors, and married not just to each other, but to their careers in the pursuit of justice.
A 1989 article on Andrew gives us a vision of a man adrift in [...]

Yeah, if only Nuit Blanche had been like that. There were very good moments–a fashion exhibit where the clothes were composed entirely of ties; a recreation of the dance scene from Thriller; and assorted visual marvels. There were also bombs and exhibits that fell flat, the kind that diminish society’s desire to fund the Arts.
In a chance [...]

That the fire in your heart was out
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And of course, this Sunday, the Word On The Street Festival hits Queens park from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Major Canadian authors such as Vincent Lam, MG Vassanji, and many others will be present throughout the day.
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On an unrelated note, my mind drifts back to past events. [...]

 “When Ali was down, I remember saying to my ringman Al Braverman, ‘Start the car, we’re going to the bank, we’re millionaires.’ And Al said, ‘You’d better turn around. Because he’s getting up, and he looks pissed off.’”   — Chuck Wepner
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Last evening’s guest speaker was none other than Scott Richardson, Creative Director at Random House [...]

When I got the bad news, and it finally filtered through, it started to rain. I wasn’t outside to feel it, but I could see it, grey and miserable, enveloping the city. I used to tell people that I love the rain, and it’s true, I do. Because to a certain extent, it’s going to bring [...]

After finishing Rohinton Minstry’s book Such A Long Journey, it really strikes me how he captures the essence of time, memories, and friendship. The is a plot line in the novel where the story could veer off and become a James Bond-type thriller–but luckily, the delusion is stopped cold in its tracks.
Instead of fast cars, [...]