BS: OBIT: Max Schmeling, at 99

Subject: BS: OBIT: Max Schmeling, at 99
From: robomatic
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 09:48 AM

You can check out New York Times Article Here:

Max Schmeling Dead at 99


He was featured in a recent PBS documentary about the fights with Joe Lewis, but he had a long career of his own and was a mensch.

Subject: RE: BS: OBIT: Max Schmeling, at 99
From: kendall
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 12:26 PM

hE AND jOE lOUIS WERE ACTUALLY GOOD FRIENDS REGARDLESS OF THE HYPE AND THE LIES THE PROMOTERS TOLD Damn capslock.
When Louis was hard up, Schmeling gave him large amounts of money to bail him out.

Subject: RE: BS: OBIT: Max Schmeling, at 99
From: ard mhacha
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 12:59 PM

The lying propaganda told about Max before he fought Louis the second time, was typical of the gung-ho goons, and they are still around.
It was gentleman Max who helped Louis financally when he was robbed blind by his handlers, a great man in every way, may God rest his Soul.

Subject: RE: BS: OBIT: Max Schmeling, at 99
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 01:07 PM

I was doubtful about Schmeling until a few minutes ago. I knew that he had served in the Wehrmacht as a paratrooper and had dined with Hitler. Then I read this:

The fading memories of a living well-known German from the Nazi era, World Heavyweight Champion from 1930 to 1932, Max Schmeling, usually have it that he was a willing model for Adolf Hitler and The Third Reich, the self-proclaimed Aryan Superman. Schmeling may indeed have lunched with Hitler and had lengthy conversations with Goebbels, master propagandist of the Nazi regime, but his tale is far more complex than it first appears.

The story of Max Schmeling is the story of a hero, who during the Kristallnacht pogrom of November 1938, saved the lives of two young Jewish brothers named Lewin. A decent man in conflict with the Nazi regime and racial policies of Hitler's Third Reich - and a man who demonstrated extraordinary generosity, righteousness and humanitarianism. Yet Schmeling never once revealed his heroism.

The entire article is here; I recommend you read it.

He was a hero indeed and in deed; the world is the poorer for his passing.

Subject: RE: BS: OBIT: Max Schmeling, at 99
From: fat B****rd
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 02:52 PM

Judging by the fairly recent, and fascinating, ducumentary Max was a decent sort of bloke in very fraught circumstances (his manager was Jewish for instance). He didn't help Joe Louis ( a childhood hero of mine) for any but the most altruistic reasons. After all would you give money to a bloke who put you in hospital ?
RIP Max

Subject: RE: BS: OBIT: Max Schmeling, at 99
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 02:57 PM

Boy, him and Ossie Davis on the same day - talk about people I thought were already dead!

Subject: RE: BS: OBIT: Max Schmeling, at 99
From: ard mhacha
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:56 PM

Thanks Rapaire for pointing out that article, proof if indeed proof were needed of a great man.

Subject: RE: BS: OBIT: Max Schmeling, at 99
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Feb 05 - 04:06 PM

Thanks, folks, for teaching me something. I had no idea of this side of Herr Schmeling. I had always thought of him in the context of Hitler's promotion of the fights. I now know him as a true gentleman and heroic figure. Admirable is the term that comes to mind. God be good to him.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: OBIT: Max Schmeling, at 99
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Feb 05 - 10:50 PM

From DER SPIEGEL

Größer als jeder Kampf von Ali"

Der Tod der deutschen Sport-Legende Max Schmeling hat auch im Ausland für große Schlagzeilen gesorgt. Für die "New York Times" war der Boxer eines der wenigen Symbole Nachkriegs-Deutschlands.

USA:
New York Times: Max Schmeling war ein Symbol Nachkriegs-Deutschlands. Eines der wenigen, das Deutschland hatte. Allerdings sprach er nach Ansicht vieler recht wenig über die Nazi-Zeit. Seine drei Autobiografien blieben zu diesem Thema vage.

Legendärer Kampf: 1930 wird Schmeling (M.) gegen Sharkey Weltmeister aller Klassen
Großbildansicht

DPA
Legendärer Kampf: 1930 wird Schmeling (M.) gegen Sharkey Weltmeister aller Klassen

USA Today: Er wollte ein Schwergewichts-Champ sein, nicht ein Symbol der Nazi-Herrschaft. Am Ende hatte er nichts zu fürchten. Aufgrund seiner Generosität und seiner Fairness blieb er auch nach Ende seiner Karriere ein Idol.

ESPN: Als Schmeling im zweiten Kampf gegen Joe Louis zu Boden ging, war dies das wichtigste Ereignis der Sportgeschichte - größer als jeder Kampf von Muhammad Ali. Es war der Vergleich zwischen Nazi-Deutschland und dem "American Way". Schmeling war ein Idol. Eines, dessen Wert nach dem Ende der Nazis sogar noch wuchs.

GROSSBRITANNIEN:
The Guardian: Max Schmeling, Deutschlands ehemaliger Schwergewichts-Weltmeister, ist im Alter von 99 Jahren gestorben. Er wird vor allem als der Boxer in Erinnerung bleiben, der den von der Politik am meisten vereinnahmten Kampf der Geschichte verloren hat. Das war seine Erstrunden-Niederlage gegen den Amerikaner Joe Luis, den "Braunen Bomber" im New Yorker Yankee-Stadion am 22. Juni 1938.

The Telegraph: Max Schmeling ist tot. Sein Rückkampf gegen Joe Louis 1938 wird für immer in Erinnerung bleiben. Er wurde unfreiwillig zum Propaganda-Werkzeug der Nazis.

Gazzetta dello Sport: Adieu Schmeling, die Box-Legende, die Louis besiegte. Deutschland trauert um den Boxer, der von Hitler gepriesen wurde, das Nazi-Regime jedoch ablehnte. Im Alter von 99 Jahren ist ein Ass in der Geschichte der Schwergewichte gestorben. Mit Schmeling stirbt nicht nur ein Star, sondern eine der letzten sportlichen Legenden, die Liebe und Hass, politische Verstrickungen, nationalistischen Stolz und Rassenproteste genährt hat.

Corriere della Sera: Schmeling, der König der Schwergewichte, der Hitler Nein sagte. Er ist wegen seines einmaligen Matchs gegen Joe Louis unvergesslich geworden. Er war der älteste Schwergewichtsmeister. Er wird nicht als Held in Erinnerung bleiben, er war aber ein guter Boxer und ein anständiger Mensch. Er war nicht gegen das Nazi-Regime, doch auch nicht dafür. Daher wird er in guter Erinnerung bleiben.

Tuttosport: Deutschland trauert um den großen Schmeling, das Schwergewicht, das Louis besiegte. Schmeling war eine deutsche Legende wegen einer Reihe von Ereignissen und sein Verhalten, die weit über die sportlichen Erfolge gingen. Hitler versuchte mit allen Mitteln, Schmeling in ein politisches Symbol umzuwandeln, doch der Boxer ließ sich nicht politisch ausnutzen.

Subject: RE: BS: OBIT: Max Schmeling, at 99
From: Flash Company
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 10:42 AM

DT obit actually says that Max paid for Joe Louis' funeral. I saw a TV programme about the fights and the aftermath. As I recall Goebbals dropped him PDQ after he lost the second fight. Pity he didn't manage the extra year!

FC

Subject: RE: BS: OBIT: Max Schmeling, at 99
From: skipy
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 07:22 PM

refresh, for those who have not read this, do so!
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: OBIT: Max Schmeling, at 99
From: alanabit
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 03:23 PM

A magnificent man all round. He had superb courage in the ring. He was brave enough not to suck up to the Nazis and to stay true to his Jewish friends. He did a really dangerous job as a paratrooper in Crete and then he spoke honestly to the press after it was all over. You just can't dislike a guy like that. Farewell to a giant.

Subject: RE: BS: OBIT: Max Schmeling, at 99
From: Wolfgang
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 04:26 PM

I'm fairly old now, but he was a legend already when I was very young (nearly all other people who where legends already when I was young are dead now). He said in an interview that he was very glad later to have lost his second fight against Lewis (he wasn't glad at all in that moment, of course) for he could hardly have avoided being made member of the NSDAP in case of a win. He was a good one.
The near perfect prototype of a strong-bodied and feeble-brained Aryan had a serious birth defect for that time: he had a good heart.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: OBIT: Max Schmeling, at 99
From: Peter T.
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 10:46 AM

Yeah, funny that with all that emphasis on good blood, the Nazis never thought about a good heart!

yours,

Peter T.