Showing posts with label Iraq. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iraq. Show all posts
Thursday, August 6, 2020
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Pioneer Valley Boxing School was in Iraq/Kuwait war theatre with the Troops
LETTER OF SUPPORT AND TESTIMONIAL
19March04
In support of Coach Bumpus, for his support ofthe M.W.R. (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation)boxing program in Camp Udairi, Kuwait
To whom it may concern:
I began to review our (US Army) M.W.R. boxing program for the field of Kuwait and Iraq, hoping to make it better. I upgraded all the equipment, which enhanced the safety tremendously. I had a great system as far as the structure of the practices, but I needed more technical information, a book or a resource.
I came across a Web site that caught my eye. Yet, it was not the site itself that changed the program, rather, it was the person who responded to my e-mail. His name is Coach G. Djata Bumpus. I told him who I was and that I could use some more information on the practical approach of coaching.
Coach Bumpus sounded enthusiastic about doing whatever it took to support the troops. He started sending lesson plans and instructions of basic boxing fundamentals. I was really impressed by his interest and support of our program. As well, he approached me in a very professional manner, emphasizing the importance of providing good information for the troops.
What followed was some of the most comprehensive and easy to understand boxing lessons I have ever seen or heard of. It was amazing. I began implementing them the next day. Not only was it easy to read, but fun to teach. Coach Bumpus’ writing is both creative and articulate. Moreover, his lessons are phenomenal!
The men and women who participated in the program enjoyed and appreciated what I was doing, but it was the practical and relevant information that made the program so successful, regardless of the participants' boxing skill levels or knowledge of boxing itself.
I gladly endorse Coach Bumpus for supporting the boxing program of the U.S. and coalition forces in the theatre of both Kuwait and Iraq, and, I also support him, because he has a special talent for expressing and communicating how to teach boxing. As a coach myself, his contributions were/are immeasurable.
Finally, in addition to his in depth understanding of the game, he also inspired me personally. In fact, before most lessons, he would take a moment to reflect on how a specific lesson ties in with some part of our lives. Being able to connect sports with real life situations is special.
Thanks again Coach Bumpus.
Sincerely,
Rick RobitailleStaff Sergeant, Combat Engineer Read full post
Sunday, August 17, 2008
A "Terrorist" gets a fair trial
Dear friends,
The link below is to a piece that was written by a very dear friend of mine who is a longtime and well-traveled journalist out of Philadelphia. His name is Elmer Smith. He writes for and serves on the editorial board of the Philadelphia Daily News. Actually, aside from having a personal relationship with a number of writers from that newspaper, I actually have a long history with the Philadelphia Daily News,
You see, back in the Fall of 1978, a couple of months after Joe Frazier brought me from New England (where I was a top amateur boxer) to Philly, in order to make me a pro fighter, I was in a tv commercial promoting/marketing the Philadelphia Daily News...
It was aired regularly in Philadelphia and the surrounding area television markets, for well over a year. The players in that commercial were myself, Joe, and Willie "the Worm" Monroe. Willie, in fact, a legendary middleweight, was the only fighter to ever really beat Marvin Hagler. Marvin himself was an occasional gym buddy of mine. That is, when the roof of our gym was leaking, or my stablemates and I just needed sparring, Goodie Petronelli, Marvin's lifelong trainer (coach), would let us come down to their gym in Brockton to work out. Our leaky-roof gym, by the way, was shown on television, over a period of several years, at the beginning of each episode of "Spenser for Hire" (which starred the late Robert Urich and our good brother Avery Brooks - who later drew even greater "fame" in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine tv series)...
The link below, once again, shows Elm Smith's combined wit and wisdom, that, in my biased opinion, reveal him to be the best male journalist in America (and I am including Paul Krugman of the New York Times in my pool of great ones). In any case, the piece here is about the recent prosecution of Osama bin Laden's former driver. It raises questions about what many Americans may believe, regarding equality, dignity, and justice. And at least to me, it also makes me wonder exactly where the "War on terror" presently is, much less where it is going.
Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080808_Elmer_Smith__Lovers_of_our_Constitution_can_t_feel_good_about_this_trial.html?adString=pdn.news/local;!category=local;&randomOrd=080808021908
Read full post
The link below is to a piece that was written by a very dear friend of mine who is a longtime and well-traveled journalist out of Philadelphia. His name is Elmer Smith. He writes for and serves on the editorial board of the Philadelphia Daily News. Actually, aside from having a personal relationship with a number of writers from that newspaper, I actually have a long history with the Philadelphia Daily News,
You see, back in the Fall of 1978, a couple of months after Joe Frazier brought me from New England (where I was a top amateur boxer) to Philly, in order to make me a pro fighter, I was in a tv commercial promoting/marketing the Philadelphia Daily News...
It was aired regularly in Philadelphia and the surrounding area television markets, for well over a year. The players in that commercial were myself, Joe, and Willie "the Worm" Monroe. Willie, in fact, a legendary middleweight, was the only fighter to ever really beat Marvin Hagler. Marvin himself was an occasional gym buddy of mine. That is, when the roof of our gym was leaking, or my stablemates and I just needed sparring, Goodie Petronelli, Marvin's lifelong trainer (coach), would let us come down to their gym in Brockton to work out. Our leaky-roof gym, by the way, was shown on television, over a period of several years, at the beginning of each episode of "Spenser for Hire" (which starred the late Robert Urich and our good brother Avery Brooks - who later drew even greater "fame" in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine tv series)...
The link below, once again, shows Elm Smith's combined wit and wisdom, that, in my biased opinion, reveal him to be the best male journalist in America (and I am including Paul Krugman of the New York Times in my pool of great ones). In any case, the piece here is about the recent prosecution of Osama bin Laden's former driver. It raises questions about what many Americans may believe, regarding equality, dignity, and justice. And at least to me, it also makes me wonder exactly where the "War on terror" presently is, much less where it is going.
Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080808_Elmer_Smith__Lovers_of_our_Constitution_can_t_feel_good_about_this_trial.html?adString=pdn.news/local;!category=local;&randomOrd=080808021908
Read full post
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
