Redner Ranch

Two words for the screenplay: "Incredibly brilliant"

2012-01-26T16:16:00.000-08:00

It was a tough, tough assignment to write about a 9/11 family even ten years removed. Pitching a New York agent a few years ago with a novel that just touched on the event, I watched as the agent described how he simultaneously witnessed the towers come down on TV and out his office window. His breathing became labored and I though he was going to cry. He wasn’t about to consider my book. I understood. Eric Roth’s (Academy Award for “Forrest Gump”) screenplay for “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” may make it possible for others to now write on the subject if written with Roth’s sensitivity and genius – a salute also to Jonathan Safran Foer for the book.

2012-01-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

Carman Tilelli with Eagles cap featured on the cover of my book, DOWN BUT NEVER OUT. Carman worked at Cherry Hill, NJ’s City Hall as a custodian for 28 years before retirement in 2005. His father a world champion middleweight boxer helped Eunice Shriver launch the Special Olympics.

Wounded Knee trivia, poem

2011-12-29T19:02:00.000-08:00

Trivia: Michael Blake told me that reading Brown’s, “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” was his inspiration to write “Dances with Wolves.” Brown borrowed his title from a poem, “American Names” by Stephen Vincent Benet.

Wounded Knee Remembered

by Charles Redner

Tears frozen on lovely faces

owners’ of harden-hearts

slaughter a Nation’s promise.

Anonymous my ...

2011-12-14T13:34:00.000-08:00

Watched “Anonymous” last week and while taking umbrage with the plot, I rather enjoyed the period movie. Enjoyed, even though the director made a valid attempt in crafting a Shakespeare the buffoon depicted of Mozart in “Amadeus.” However, a real fright came when the popcorn counter person blindly accepted the premise of the film, that Shakespeare never wrote any of the works attributed to him. Like “Shakespeare In Love,” the film creates a buzz about the Bard, but does this one do more harm?

A Perfect Blend

2011-12-07T17:19:00.000-08:00

By Charles Redner

Van Morrison wails,
daisy petals wave.

Maroon cousins wink

mustard centers ablaze.

Warm rays ride a swift breeze
brushing along receptive skin.

Music on nature’s canvass
paints a sunny, cool and content creature—

a perfect blend.

Luis Urrea in San Diego

2011-12-03T08:41:00.000-08:00

San Diego (LaJolla), Friday, Dec. 2, Warwick’s Bookstore could hold no more. Packed house listen to Luis Alberto Urrea talk about his newest novel, “Queen of America” (A stand-alone sequel to Hummingbird’s Daughter). I arrived late and had difficulty getting in the door. Much love and hugs all around.

A Photo More Scary than Godzilla’s Bad Breath

2011-09-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

Swabbed in a greenish-glow worthy a “B” horror movie, Allen Ginsberg, far right, traveled to Japan with poet-friend Nanao Sakaki (next to Ginsberg) to tour an atomic energy plant and warn of the dangers of messing with Mother Nature. Two unidentified plant workers escorted the poets during their excursion. Sakaki walked the earth preaching environmental conservation. He lectured against nuclear power. Having observed the very moment the atomic bomb exploded over Nagasaki, he knew first-hand the destructive power of the atom. Thirty years before the earthquake, tsunami and accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Sakaki said, “Fifteen nuclear plants north of Kyoto … already the [Japanese] government thinks five-million will die if something happens to a power plant like an earthquake.” Two poets made their appeal but then who listens to poets—what could they know?

Another Nanao friend, Kazu Kawamoto, stated in 1981: “… most Japanese still seem to believe that humans can control nature. One tenth of all earthquakes on the Earth occur on and near the Japanese Islands. But 52 nuclear power plants are in operation and 20 more are planned … It is just stupid. I wonder how we can change this situation before the catastrophe. Not much time left.”

Earth slides slightly

Mother Nature burps
Mankind bows.
--Charles Redner

Terror Travels the Devil's Highway

2011-08-02T13:22:00.000-07:00

“Terror Travels the Devil’s Highway”
–the first Maggie Lopez, Border Patrol Agent novel.
Shorty after moving to Tucson in 2000, I learned firsthand what it was like living near the Mexican border. I heard for the first time, the term, “illegal alien.” I perhaps saw them, or at least, the trails they left behind in the desert. Maybe one made up the beds at the resort where I maintained an office. Maybe my wife and I actually hired one, Maggie, to help us organize our new house when we moved in. She was the sister of a national car rental firm employee. It never crossed our minds to ask for papers.
Then came 9/11.
For me, that changed the border issue from one of slowing or stopping illegal immigration of undocumented workers to one of stopping potential terrorists. I fathomed that most people could not tell an Arab from a Mexican, if the Arab lost the beard, kept the mustache, and arrived at the border speaking fluent Spanish.
Now I wonder, what if hundreds, if not thousands arrived in the U.S. alongside the undocumented workers? I also imagined the potential assistance and protection that could be afforded by the drug cartels.
What terror would we face then?
A cry went out after 9-11 concerning border security but little has changed over the past years. More agents have been added, a few more miles of fence constructed but basically, I believe, the border remains wide open.
Armed with my theory and a good laptop, I began this novel for an audience of one—Senator John McCain. I had been warned by a senator’s aide that I would never get a copy into his hands.
I wrote the book anyway.
This novel concerns a fictional plan to spread terror beyond the east coast at the same moment the Islamic fundamentalists were hitting the WTC twin towers, the Pentagon, and the failed, surmised target of the White House.

Charles Redner
August, 2011

Horse No. 1202

2011-07-15T11:51:00.000-07:00

Dramatic reading of "Horse No. 1202," a poem written and performed by Academy Award Winner (screenplay, "Dances with Wolves") Michael Blake. Audio

Hero of Down But Never Out, statue of Joey Giardello dedicated in Philadelphia

2011-07-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

Giadello is the first boxer to have a statue placed in Philadelphia (Stallone’s Rocky aside). Giardello is a former middleweight champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee who died in 2008. Giardello and his son, Carman are the subject of Down But Never Out, the true story of their life together. Giardello helped Eunice Shriver start the Special Olympics and raised thousands of dollars for St. John of God School for special needs children located in southern New Jersey.

Look! That's us on the cover

2011-04-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

“Look! That’s us on the cover!” Local Orange County weekly, The Globe, featured co-hosts of the “Write Now TV Show.” Story to follow.

HBR 3 spring 2011 -- It's here!

2011-02-10T07:49:00.001-08:00

See, Amazon.com/books
Check it out. Most exciting issue ever. Hear the words of Jack Kerouac, Gary Snyder. Gary Lawless and David Amram who gave us a poem to celebrate Neal Cassady's birthday. Joy Harjo favors us with "Eagle Poem," Oh yeah, our editor made me include,"The Night BP Drove Old Dixie Down."

Can an author rate a film of his book?

2011-01-23T11:49:00.000-08:00

Q: How can an author rate a film of his book?
My employer, mentor and friend, Robert H. Adleman answered that question soon after the release of the 1968 movie, The Devil’s Brigade starring William Holden based on his nonfiction book of the same name.
A: He can’t!
Bob explained in a newspaper article:
I hear that “The Devil’s Brigade” is one of the most exciting war pictures to come along in quite a while. And everyone who knows that I wrote the book on which it is based has asked me if I’ve
seen it and how do I like it.
I tell them I think it’s great. What am I going to say?
If I tell them that for two hours my wife and I sat in a private screening room and alternately squirmed and held our breath as the scenes we knew so very well flashed by, but at the end of it we couldn’t say whether it was better than the latest Oscar winner or as interminable as an Andy Warhol movie, they would put us down as a brace of filberts.
It’s the truth. I really don’t know how to grade it.
---Robert H. Adleman
Philadelphia Sunday BulletinMay 12, 1968

Privately, like any author, he was more than pleased that his first book had made it to film. He felt like he’d hit a grand slam: Hardback, movie, and paperback. He stated that each creative effort should stand on its own merits and he could not offer an objective opinion.

On a personal note, I loved the author, the book and the movie. Of course, I am as biased as any family member or friend might be. The book was co-written with Col. George Walton who, as an attachment, was a member of the World War II unit referred to as the Devil’s Brigade. Walton did most of the required interviews and research. Adleman took four months to bang out the manuscript with his two-fingered typing technique.

Volunteer Time Provided Higher Return On Charity Investments

2011-01-14T09:16:00.000-08:00

My wife and I had a lazy philanthropic regiment—annual hundred dollar checks to universities, animal welfare organizations, and Down syndrome societies. We bought Girl Scout cookies and added a dollar to our grocery bill for breast cancer research, and tucked a dollar into the Salvation Army kettles at Christmastime. That was about it.
One day my wife undertook making brown-bag lunches for Primavera, an organization that provided assistance to the jobless, homeless, and down trodden of our Tucson, Arizona community. The lunches were for workers who would be sent out to perform day labor assignments.
Instructions for preparing the lunches were very specific: two sandwiches, each fitted into a sandwich baggies (no easy task), single wrapped cookies, a piece of fruit, all stuffed into a luncheon bag. Primavera supplied mustard and mayonnaise in takeout restaurant packets. They also supplied a small bottle of water which we began donating by the case.
Now, time as well as, money was required to perform this monthly task of preparing forty sandwiches. It cost under fifty dollars but took about five hours by the time we went to the supermarket, prepared the lunches and drove them to Primavera which was a good fifteen miles from our home.
My wife and I alternated the months that we preformed the tasks.
It felt good to give of our time and not just money for a change. Then one day the benefits of our charity connected with our lives in a direct way.
After twelve wonderful, loving years our first pet Shih Tzu passed away and we decided to inter him at the local pet seminary. When we arrived for a brief ceremony, I ascertained that a day worker from Primavera had dug the little grave. Alongside him I saw a brown-bag lunch, one that I most likely had prepared. As sad a moment for us, with the act of our charity clearly visible, it brought a touch of joy to our heavy hearts.
Note: Primavera, has already, or will be receiving a donation from RedRoom for the last feature I wrote that has been published in AOL Travel.

Lost Decade

2011-01-06T23:41:00.000-08:00

Dang!
Has anyone seen my lost decade? I’ve misplaced it. It’s gotta be around here somewhere. Let me retrace my steps.
Hmmmm. Moved to Tucson in ’00. Started and finished a novel. Began writing Down But Never Out, flew back and forth to Philly a lot. Bought a place in Durango, stayed there each summer.
What happened next? Ah yes, bought a Tucson house for my in-laws and they refused to move from New Jersey. Sold the house back to the seller. In ’05 moved in-laws to a second house in Tucson. In ‘06 couldn’t leave in-laws alone in summer, so sold Durango, both houses in Tucson, moved all to Laguna Woods, California in ’07.
Finished Down But Never Out… began publishing The Hummingbird Review. Birthdays…recall a few but not ten. TEN, no way!
Maybe I left the decade in the closet.
Going to look for it now.
If you find it first…please write me.

Thank You, Mrs. Galvin

2010-11-26T10:28:00.000-08:00

I received a note today from 6th grade teacher Karen Galvin. She explained that she had been using my website’s “News & Info” page as a resource for information and suggested that I add a new reference for a valuable resource given to her by a student. So here it is:
ADD/ADHD Learning Center
www.healthline.com/health/add-adhd-attention-deficit
My thanks to Mrs. Galvin’s student for this important reference, soon to be added to my webpages. http://www.charlieredner.com/

Love for Tucson Gets Wings

2010-11-15T10:52:00.001-08:00

photo by Charles Redner

Let it be known, writing “5 Best Photo Opportunities in Tucson” for AOL Travel via RedRoom wasn’t simply an opportunity to see another byline. I love Tucson. My wife and I visited for vacation during New Year’s 1999-2000. She left for a bike ride and returned in a car driven by a Realtor. We looked at a house, purchased it on the spot, only returning to New Jersey to pack our things. I have visited and photographed every site mentioned in the article (except the Titan Museum) and hope, should you visit Tucson, that you find my assessments agree with yours. Space did not allow but the Pima Air and Space Museum is also worth a look.
http://news.travel.aol.com/bloggers/charles-redner/

Guest Appraiser

2010-11-05T16:55:00.001-07:00

Guest Appraiser
By Charles Redner
My wife’s painting of a battered red truck
proudly hangs in her art society’s gallery
where a class, currently in session,
is painting a female model.

The artists appear at ease,
checking proportions, brushes at arm’s length,
splashing moistened pigments on canvas.
This is their norm.

But oh, so new to me.
I shift my eyes from the wall
where my wife’s painting
has been judged honorable.

Desirous to better view the model,
I shift my eyes hard, hard as possible,
as a head turn, would be obvious.
Obvious to the model, the class, my wife.

But the eyes shift
does not accomplish—a look.
A look—a nonchalant glance.
You know, nonchalantly.

Wife gazes at me for appraisal of her work.
I study it now for the first, nod approvingly.
Voice has deserted the vocal cords.
She turns to leave, turns the wrong way.

Do I pirouette in the same direction?
Or accidently turn toward—
Did I mention—there’s a model?

A naked,
unencumbered by clothes,
beautiful, young lady
posing less than a fallen easel away.

I turn, having appraised and follow my wife out the door.

The Night BP...back story

2010-10-16T08:25:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, Michael Blake sent me a manuscript of his new book, Into the Stars. It’s about an American soldier during WW I who finds a horse on the battlefield. After I read it I called Michael, so impressed with his description of trench warfare. I asked him where he found do much material on WW I as I felt as though I was there. He told me that he made it all up. Impressed, I mentioned this to Said. He then challenged me to write about a subject of his choosing without any research. He chose the Gulf oil spill.
I wrote "The Night BP Drove Old Dixie Down" which is now a finalist in RedRoom’s short story contest. What I found interesting is that friends have asked me how I knew so much about fishing and drilling for oil.

Hummingbird Review Poetry Revue

2010-10-10T11:19:00.000-07:00

NEWS FLASH, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LITERARY FANS: 'Dances With Wolves' author Michael Blake will be joining American Haiku magazine founder Don Eulert, Hummingbird Review editor Bob Yehling, poet Maggi DeRosa, short fictionist Alwyn Martin and yours truly at the Hummingbird Review Poetry Revue Sunday, Oct. 24 at Vista City California Library. It starts at 2:30 p.m. and is presented by the Sunset Poets. What a day for spoken word this is going to be!

Viva Tucson

2010-09-04T10:00:00.001-07:00

This I believe.
There are places on this earth that resonate beyond the five senses. For me, here in the lower forty-eight, I discovered one in Abiquiu, New Mexico, near Santa Fe – Ghost Ranch – where Georgia O’Keeffe waved her magic brush. The second is located in Chinle at Canyon de Chelly (pronounced de Shay), in the northeast quadrant of Arizona. The third is the state’s second city, Tucson, where I lived for seven glorious years. It was in Tucson that I wrote my first novel and discovered poetry, thanks to Penny Porter, matriarch of the Society of Southwestern Authors, who invited slam poet Taylor Mali to perform at its 2008 conference. Tucson, the Old Pueblo, is where I learned to appreciate a desert’s spectacular beauty, where I experienced its unfathomable wonder and gathered up the vibrations it sent my way.
Been kicking myself rather hard since I missed the second annual Tucson Festival of Books in March, where 450 writers assembled to thrill over 50,000 readers. Titled, “Where Words & Imagination Come to Life” the festival even featured a hummingbird as its symbol—kismet. I squandered the opportunity to mingle with authors Elmore Leonard (Get Shorty and 3:10 To Yuma); Michael Gelb (How To Think Like Leonardo da Vinci); and Mark Frost, who along with David Lynch produced the phenomenal 1990s television series Twin Peaks. I lost the chance to talk with my old friend, Academy Award screenwriter/novelist Michael Blake (Dances With Wolves and Indian Yell) I also missed out on visiting with The Hummingbird Review's inspiration, Luis Alberto Urrea (Into The Beautiful North, Hummingbird’s Daughter), who was blessed by a shaman during his signing session. Whoa! I've already marked my calendar for next March 12-13.

More extra, extra!

2010-07-26T09:52:00.001-07:00

I have an opinion piece in aol news this morning. If hotlink doesn’t work: aol news and click on opinion: When Two ‘Rights’ Make a Wrong.

Http://www.aolnews.com/opinion/article/opinion-when-two-rights-make-a-wrong/19566150

Extra! Extra! Extra! Vol 1, No 2 Summer/Fall 2010

2010-07-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

Order
www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com

Vampires, be gone!

2010-07-06T14:09:00.000-07:00

May I have the pleasure?
May I have the pleasure, of killing the last vampire
or will the horrid, hordes slay us first?

When I am King, all in the realm will carry, at hand,
freshly bottled Holy water, mallet with wooden stake,
and a Pope-blessed crucifix.

When I am King, Buffy and True Blood will be banished,
along with novels coddling blood-sucking bats.
The sun will never set at Twilight.

When I am King, statues of Bram Stoker will be smashed.
Bios of Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney stricken from Wikipedia.
Agents, editors and publishers of the genre may be Tasered on sight.

May I have the pleasure,
of murdering them all, or like the gladiators of Rome,
I ask, let me die honorably in the attempt.

A birthday tribute

2010-05-26T13:38:00.000-07:00

Ode to Michael Blake

By Charles Redner

Here’s to the Age of Retirement
and all that jive,
sixty plus cinco
on twenty-ten, July five.
Give a cheer ‘cause Michael’s
made it to here.
Ya’ll know the drill—
a toast—lift up a frosty,
cold mug of beer.

His classic Dances taken on a life of its own,
then Twelve raced off to heaven, but is hardly alone.

Hundreds now follow their undaunted King
a galloping Pegasus over endless valleys upon angel wings.

The Holy Road’s waiting
for Hollywood to call,
where that darn Kevin guy
is too busy hitting a ball.
Indian Yell tells the stories
white-folks shudder to recall
but needs retelling, so never again
at a Wounded Knee they fall.
___________________________
You may bury my body in Sussex grass,
You may bury my tongue at Champmedy.
I shall not be there, I shall rise and pass.
Bury my heart at Wounded Knee.

Stephen Vincent Benet
“American Names,” 1931

Nine minutes of fame!

2010-05-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

On the set of “Write-On” with host, Judy Saxon. Could Oprah’s sofa be far off?

"Ready for my closeup...

2010-05-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

"Ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille." Cable TV interview tomorrow.

WELCOME TO THE LAGUNA WOODS BOOK FESTIVAL "Mind Bloggeling Internet" Presentation

2010-04-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

Laguna Woods Book Festival May 8, 2010

2010-04-23T05:58:00.000-07:00

Come to my class at the Laguna Woods Book Festival, May 8th. "Mind-Bloggeling" Internet.

California Quake

2010-04-05T17:11:00.000-07:00

Each March, Professor Dean Nelson of Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, California holds a weeklong celebration called Writer’s Symposium by the Sea. I highly recommend attending if at all possible. My friend, Luis Urrea (author of Into the Beautiful North) presented at last year’s event. This year I heard Garrison Keillor and Professor Michael Eric Dyson of Georgetown. Dyson is a wild man. He was there to speak about his Martin Luther King, Jr. book, April 4, 1968 and hip hop culture. I couldn’t resist, had to write this ditty after the dynamic presentation.

Crill Auditorium Epicenter
of Point Loma Quake

By Charles Redner

Yo, Professor Dyson
Jive’n like Ali
but bite’n like Mike Tyson.

Had a message, delivered it strong—
there are words that just don’t belong.
For a Black man began with “N”
The other invective, come again,
for a woman “H” it ends.
While spoken festive style
no joking in the aisles.
Those two words will delete
this audience never to repeat.

Yo, Professor Dyson
you shook the foundation
of our “I have a dream” education.

Made us think of race
as a on-going case,
not just historical footnotes
of nineteen-sixty’s quotes.
A work in progress
amid giant strides
providing we all don’t backslide.

Yo, Professor Dyson
you set the stage on fire
then received a standing O.

Oh, so deservedly so!

March 25, 2010

Down But Never Out & HBR

2010-03-19T15:59:00.001-07:00

Had a very successful launch of Down But Never Out and The Hummingbird Review at the SOCAL Writers’ Conference in San Diego on Feb 14th. I am not going on a schedule tour just yet. I am holding off the publisher’s publicist for now. I am learning about the wholesale and distribution channels for both books as most independent publishers do not provide the sale forces at the wholesale level. Much paperwork, B&N requires their own forms and procedures, the B&N college book stores require different forms as do the other chains and independent stores. For March and April I had planned to stay local in southern California. In late May or early June the Philly Boxers Association plans to unveil the Giardello statue in south Philly, planning a tour of greater Philly area at that time including readings and signings with Down syndrome organizations and other community groups.

HBR up, up and away!

2010-02-16T11:46:00.001-08:00

Want to launch your book in a big party setting? Then be the reason behind the social mixer on a Friday night before a conference of writers. About 200 attendees of the San Diego Writers’ Conference came to the mixer and heard all about American’s newest literary journal—The Hummingbird Review straight from the organizers. They also announced a contest we sponsored, offering a $100 prize with possible publication in the next issue of up to 1,000 words (they judge, we retained right to publish or not). With a table by the front door and next to the bar every evening, we got to meet and talk up HBR with many of the attendees during the three days. We sold books at our own table and not through the bookstore that wanted a 40% cut. We sold 30 books and gave some to the staff and instructors. It was a fun weekend, especially when Jackie came by to say hello. Wish more of you could have stopped by. Next conference, Newport Beach in September!

NEWS! NEWS! NEWS!

2010-01-25T20:46:00.000-08:00

Been too busy to blog.
Let me catch a breath.
Okay, here’s the news:

1. Down But Never Out, the bio of former middleweight champion Joey Giardello and his relationship with his son, Carman, born with Down syndrome is now available. It can be purchased online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Open Books Press and my website: charlieredner.com
2. The Hummingbird Review, America’s newest literary journal will within days be available at the same sites mentioned above.
3. My book of poetry, Long-A-Coming is available at Amazon and my website.
4. All three books will be on sale at the Southern California Writers’ Conference, February 12-15. The official launch of all three books will be celebrated during the Conference. Would love to see you there. For more info see www.writersconference.com

Lasorda in Philly

2009-11-18T16:42:00.000-08:00

Lasorda Sleepwalks Through Philadelphia
Sports Hall of Fame Honor Ceremony
The 6th Annual Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony provided a marvelous opportunity for family, friends, and fans to meet and greet their idols. The event took place on November 12, 2009, at Philadelphia’s Penn’s Landing Hyatt, a grand setting.
Modern inductees, in part, included: former Phillies infielder, Larry Bowa; Penn State football’s, John Cappelletti; former Philadelphia middleweight boxing champion, Joey Giardello; Eagles’ great, Pete Retzlaff; the LA Dodgers’ Tommy Lasorda; plus Legacy of Excellence inductees, Philly Daily News reporter/columnist, Bill Conlin; and Merrill Reese, Eagles radio broadcaster.
Some fans paid $275 for the privilege of spending an hour and a half before the dinner to talk with, and be pictured with, their heroes. If one desired time with Tommy Lasorda, they were disappointed as unlike the other inductees, Tommy skipped the preliminary event all together. He walked into the main dining hall just minutes before the program began. Each inductee was ask to speak for four minutes as there were a total of fifteen inductees—a long program. Most exceeded the time limit by a few minutes, Lasorda talked for 34 minutes and during the long dissertation he lost his place numerous times when telling what could have been very funny stories.
At the conclusion of the event, Lasorda was whisked away by his entourage before the dinner plates were even cleared. He also abandoned the beautiful plaque commemorating the occasion and his induction into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.
Joey Giardello died on September 4, 2008 or he would have relished being among some of his very own heroes, as he was one of the biggest Philly sports enthusiasts the city had ever seen. He was a baseball fan and loved playing as a kid, and even while a professional boxer, a usually contract no-no clause. Once Joey tore up a knee sliding into second base and had to call off an important fight thereby losing a big payday. He lived in the Philadelphia area most of this life and was a diehard Phillies fan but having been born in Brooklyn, the Dodgers were never far from his heart. Most of the 1950-era Dodgers were personal friends, Pee Wee Reese, Carl Erskine, Duke Snider, Dick Williams and Tommy Lasorda. Many years ago, Joey and Tommy were inducted into the National Italian America Sports Hall of Fame together.
Joey Giardello bled “Dodger Blue” as well as Lasorda, so I’m convinced that he would have been mightily disappointed in Tommy’s apparent indifference to the Philadelphia honor that he so nonchalantly accepted.
Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Class VI: 2009:
Larry Bowa, John Cappelletti, Eddie Collins, Joey Giardello, Charlie Jenkins, Judy Johnson, Neil Johnston, Tommy Lasorda, 1974-75 Philadelphia Flyers, Pete Retzlaff, Betty Shellenberger, Mel Sheppard, Emlen Tunnell, Bill Conlin and Merrill Reese.

Ahhhh, say it is so...

2009-10-15T20:37:00.000-07:00

Long-A-Coming my first book of poetry is now available -- go to Amazon.com books. Best to write my name, Charles Redner and the book should be on top of the first page.
Long-A-Coming.
Some say that a southern New Jersey town where I once worked, was originally named for an old Indian trail. To the English speaking, it sounded something like ‘Lonaconing.’ Others say, it came from the colonial seamen who walked from the Delaware Bay on their way to Philadelphia. When they finally reached the town and were asked about their travels replied, “It was long a coming.”

This work is called “Long-A-Coming,” as like the early sailors remarked; it has been literally long a coming. In high school and college I closed my eyes and ears to anything remotely referred to as “poetry.” Along the way, I was required to read some Shakespeare, Whitman, Frost and Eliot but was not, at the time, captured by their genius as I am today.

My conversion took place in September 2008, while attending a writers’ conference where I heard Taylor Mali perform his work. I have been reading and writing verse almost daily ever since, even at the expense of my other writings. As I tease in “Infidelity,” poetry, if allowed, could overpower one’s life. But like all good things should be taken in measured amounts to remain interesting and enjoyable. So I now take my own advice and return to finishing my nonfiction work, Down But Never Out and continue writing a second novel. With a wink and my fingers crossed behind my back, here’s wishing that I execute my plan.

I truly hope that reading this eclectic collection brings you as much pleasure as I had creating it.

—Charles Redner
October 2009

Ahhh! Say it ain't so, Joe.

2009-09-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

Publisher wants finished manuscript of Down But Never Out in 14 days. Much to do!
--Charlie

Don't look now!

2009-09-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

Don’t look now!
Okay, go look. We’re live @ TheHummingbirdReview.com
The magazine was also long-a-coming but I think you’ll find it worth the wait. Didn’t submit for the Cabin 20 Home Fires section, don’t miss the next opportunity, bet the call will go out soon. www.thehummingbirdreview.com

Giardello charity booklet now on sale!

2009-08-31T15:09:00.000-07:00

TADA! Four advance chapters of my Giardello bio are now on sale at www.joeygiardello.net (click on STORE). The booklet is a charity fund raiser for Giardello’s statue, so help the charity and get an advanced look at Down But Never Out.

Progress Report II

2009-08-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

Sent "Long-A-Coming" poetry book off for typesetting.

Progress Report

2009-08-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

Down But Never Out, received printed copies of four chapters of my Giardello book and shipped them to Philly Boxing History, group that is planning to erect statue to Joey in south Philly next year. They will sell it as premium item to raise funds. Also working on a final edit of my poetry chapbook, and reviewing final changes on The Hummingbird Review. Wife not worried about having to dust around me for a while.

Facebook

2009-08-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

Joined Facebook yeatersay, have 12 friends already. Didn't need another social network but writer friends tell me it is a must for building a base. I'm on Twitter too, but don't tweet much.

Travel Day

2009-07-25T20:31:00.000-07:00

Heading over to Tucson to supervise web design of the Hummingbird Review, production is already in full swing! It will be 107 there this week. How I suffer for the cause. Truly love Tucson thought and am always happy for an excuse to go back any time of the year, but January would have been a nicer.

Run away (part III)

2009-07-08T07:31:00.000-07:00

Dillon and I started up the steps
between two condo units.
A head stuck out the door quick, a body followed.
“Don’t take that dog up there!”
Stopped on the landing, “It’s a common area,” I offered.
“I’ll kill you!” A really grumpy guy replied.
Before we ran, I shouted,
“I’m a writer and I’ll be back.”
Expected that’d put a good scare into him.
“I’ll kill you,” he repeated.
We ran away, fast.

Now I go by his place real slow
but I carry a hidden weapon.
Measuring only four inches long
but big enough to do-in the Devil,
an Olympus VN Digital voice-recorder.
He threatened my dog.
I’ll grant no mercy.
“Go on big guy, say it again, Sam.
Double dare ya.
I’m a writer.”

Beautiful

2009-06-09T16:45:00.000-07:00

Big hugs to all in Cabin 20 from Luis and Cindy.

Beautiful day in beautiful San Diego to discuss Into The Beautiful North. We were sitting just a bit north of Missionary Matt’s place. Full house, lots of laughs, lots of love, and lots of hugs.

Pix of Cindy, Luis and Michael Lennie (S.D. native, my literary attorney).
Cindy will write us all when she is able.

I'd Rather Live In Cabin 20

2009-06-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

I’d Rather Live In Cabin 20
By Charlie Redner

I’d rather live in Cabin 20.

It’s cold outside the cabin then gets hot.
It rains sometimes and snow comes. Yuck!
There’s a war, make that two wars over there.
Khamenei and Korea both want nukes
like Saddam had in his closet.
Where will that lead?

As GM goes, so goes the Nation,
pay attention to where it landed – bankruptcy.
The economy is in the tank because
of the falling housing market,
caused by bad lending practices by good banks.

After bad bank loans, the “B’s” really took over:
With the promise of double digit profits,
one Bernie made off wilh Billions,
like in real, other people’s money,
even Bacon got himself fried in that dirty pan.
At the time, not even the magical,
mystical Berkshire’s Buffet
could even break-even.

Seems every other day a child goes missing
and never returns,
a loco, local shoots a dozen citizens,
and then kills himself.
Why, just once,
doesn’t the monster shoot himself first?

The stock market dropped as big-oil profits popped.
Has anyone launched a correlation study?

Global warming melts the ice caps
as al-Qaeda turns up the heat in Pakistan.

The Passion film maker builds his own church,
drives into a DUI, and cheats on his wife
while seeking salvation.

The United States constructs a wall
in order to maintain border security
but the Swine Flu pays the obstacle no attention
as do the drug cartels.

The loud sucking sound is jobs disappearing
into the black hole which we now all will view clearer
through the newly refurbished Hubble.

If you hear fear, depression and angst here – wrong!
I’m quite optimistic.
I believe the world will right itself.
The economic tsunami will subside.
Islamic radicalism will be here for
a long time to come but will lose its punch.

Jobs will return, just not the same jobs
that have already left our shores.
The auto industry will complete its crash and burn
and we will be better off for it.

Greed will always produce more crooks,
but not as many and they will not be able
to take as large a bite out of us.

Bad guys/some bad gals, on occasion,
will commit horrible crimes,
but that has gone on since time immemorial,
cable news brings more
to our conscience and keeps it there longer.

No, it’s just that it is so peaceful in Cabin 20,
one can’t blame one, can you,
for wanting to enter and not return
until times do get better in the real world?
Luis, where ever you are out there tonight
thank you, so very much
for this beautiful sanctuary.

Philly Hero -- not me -- guy on right

2009-05-01T06:11:00.000-07:00

Spent Wednesday morning with an old Philly buddy at a local NBC station. He recently hit the grand slam: hardback, movie, soft cover; and he was able to see himself 20 ft. high on the big screen as the movie was his football biopic -- Invincible! Vince Papale is a local Philly hero – talk of a statue for him next to Rocky’s. Crashed into Jack Welch, ex GE chairman while in the green room.

Giardello Statue VBA Fund Raiser

2009-04-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

Attended Giardello statue fund raiser today. Big turnout at the Veteran Boxers Association in northeast Philly. Met the organizer, John DiSanto; the artist, Carl LeVotch; and many old time friends, admirers of Joey. Traveled there with Rosalie and her son, Paul. Son Joseph came too. My aunt Frances and my cousins, Jamie and Christine attended. My aunt’s father was one of the original organizers of the VBA known as Ring One. Had a great time meeting that “olde gang of mine.”

New Name: Redner Ranch

2009-04-09T16:03:00.000-07:00

Just renamed Blog to "Redner Ranch." Has a nice ring, eh?

Tucson Festival of Books

2009-03-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

March 14, 2009, Tucson Festival of Books, University of Arizona Campus.
I asked local Tucson, TV news anchor, Tom McNamara how he’d gotten so lucky as to draw the Urrea moderator gig – he admitted that he didn’t know but delighted in the job. Following a brief introduction, all he had do, was to sit back and laugh his ass off like the rest of the 300 guests who packed the UofA Gallagher Theater for the presentation. Midway through the Urrea performance, McNamara interrupted once to ask if Luis had ever considered doing “standup.” Yes, it was that funny!

Subsequent to the hour plus talk, Luis challenged the notorious, beloved Elmore Leonard to a signing duel. Their tents erected side by side. The sun broke free from the clouds and warmed the desert air. The tense horde assembled, formed two orderly lines and it commenced. Sign, smile, sign, chat, smile, sign, sign, sign, and sign here, “to Alicia.” It was exhausting yet exhilarating to watch the 84 year-old hang-in there with the younger Turk. Tucson showed its love and respect to both authors. After what seemed an eternity, tired and arm weary, this admittedly biased, but honest observer, declared the contest a draw.

The 3:10 tooted as it passed through Tucson and the nearby Devil’s Highway headed for Yuma -- without incident.

As night descended, Urrea was last seen his signing arm packed in ice, wagon loaded to proceed north. He’d heard that there was a New Mexico town that knew about the “Devil’s Highway’ and the “Daughter.” It too was probably loaded with books requiring an Urrea scribble and/or a Hummingbird doodle.

A whip cracked and I heard Luis shout, “Giddy-up!”

A woman sat up straight and alert next to the driver, shotgun across her lap. It looked like -- it was, yes, Cinderella.

Giardello statue announced

2009-02-25T12:42:00.000-08:00

(Joey Giardello, center in suit, surrounded by boxing champion friends after a 1972 Charity Exhibition. Son, Carman sits between his dad and great,Willie Pep)

Philadelphia's greatest middleweight boxer will be immortalized with a life-sized statue in his old South Philadelphia stomping grounds and the very heart of South Philly Boxing. The original bronze artwork by world renowned artist Carl LeVotch will be installed on the triangle of East Passyunk Avenue, South 13th Street and Mifflin Street - just one block from where the legendary Passyunk Gym stood and two blocks from the former site of the Alhambra fight club, both of which were Giardello haunts during his legendary Hall of Fame career.

The statue project is a non-profit effort (501.c.3) being conducted by a partnership between the Veteran Boxers Association-Ring One, the Harrowgate Boxing Club and Philly Boxing History. On web site, www.joeygiardello.net you can find up to date information about the project, including the development of the statue, the status of our fund-raising efforts, and ways you can contribute through donations, sponsorships, and the purchase of exclusive Joey Giardello merchandise items.

The finished statue will not only honor Joey Giardello, it will be a tribute to boxing itself and a fine public art piece in the middle of the bustling East Passyunk district. Please get involved and help us make this happen. We can not do this without your interest and support.

To make a contribution, make your check or money order payable to:
"Harrowgate Boxing Club / Giardello Statue" and mail it to: Boxing Statue, P.O. Box 428, Sewell, NJ 08080

Urrea Perpetual Book Tour Packs House

2009-02-06T09:20:00.000-08:00

Garrison Keillor doesn’t know it as yet, but the bar has been raised to a near unobtainable height for his appearance later this year at the 14th Annual Writer’s Symposium by the Sea. That’s because he follows in the wake of Urrea, who Tuesday evening packed the auditorium of Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. The spirit of Teresita descended upon the audience as host and moderator Dr. Dean Nelson posed some unusual and, I think, unexpected questions. Luis answered with candor, thoughtfulness, and many times with a humorous story. The event was recorded for telecast on UCSD-TV. I made friends there and will find a way to obtain a copy. Dr. Nelson gushed after the presentation that the “room was throbbing with love.” He noted also that the lobby crowd after the presentation was the biggest that they’ve ever had. Book sales were brisk and many a copy went home with a wildly flapping hummingbird on the title page, after a considerable wait. Sorry you all couldn’t be there. You would have been proud of our Sensei.
--Charlie

A Black man in the White House, Halleljah

2009-01-20T08:53:00.001-08:00

Dedicated to Wm Thompson Ong, committed Obama campaign worker
Santa Monica, CA, January 20, 2009

Open verse to President Obama:

A Black man in the White House, Hallelujah
By Charlie Redner
(a northern, Caucasian who regretfully missed the “‘64 buses” headed south)

A Black man in the White House, Hallelujah
Hallelujah not because he’s Black but because he was elected by a white majority.

A Black man in the White House shows the world that this Nation may now claim
our ballot box colorblind.

A Black man at the helm of the most powerful Vessel in the world exclaims: Slave ships, out of our way -- we’ve been there, done that, and finally, finally we’re sailing on.

Here’s proof positive that Goodman, Chaney and Schwerner did not die in vain. A victory won over great pain, borne by all the Freedom Riders, and those for whom they fought.

Here’s proof positive that Doctor Martin Luther King Jr’s Dream has at last, long last, come true. His vision of a better land where little children can be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin has arrived.

Here’s proof positive that, not as the founding fathers scribed, but as attested this day: “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men (and women) are created equal.”

President Obama, the hopes of this Nation rest upon your shoulders as they did Washington and Lincoln -- a prayer that you prove your supporters right, and that your detractors discover they were wrong.

Please be a good President. Great, would be better!

God, Bless America.
Land of the Free and home of the Brave where we celebrate our first,
Black man to live and govern in the White House.

Hallelujah!

Happy 2009

2009-01-08T10:43:00.000-08:00

Yeah! Two thousand and eight is going, going, gone! Good riddance -- now, on to make 2009 one of the best. Didn’t do a resolution list, but know what I’m after: Continued good health for me and mine; watch my portfolio grow back into positive territory; finish my Giardello bio project including the marketing, publishing and promotion of it. Research First Encounter and write same. Wishing you and yours, the best for the New Year.

Birth of A Christmas Carol

2008-12-23T08:58:00.000-08:00

Christmas came on a Friday in 1868.
The Sunday School children of the Episcopal Church of Holy Trinity, on Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square, stood up at their special holiday service, and sang a little song. It was especially written for the occasion, by the pastor of the church and the organist. It was a simple Christmas song. Nobody expected it ever to be heard beyond the walls of Holy Trinity.
The children had rehearsed the song on the previous Sunday morning. “O, Little Town of Bethlehem,” it began, “how still we see thee lie.” This Christmas, the 140th Christmas since that day, hundreds of thousands of Christians and many creeds and languages will sing the carol that the children first sang at Holy Trinity. The Sunday School song that became a traditional carol was born in the upstairs rear apartment at 113 Walnut Street. That was the residence of the Rev. Phillips Brooks, rector of Holy Trinity. Mr. Brooks had just turned 33 on December 13, and was already pastor of an impressive 11-year-old church on fashionable Rittenhouse Square. He would go on to become bishop of the Diocese of Massachusetts and a leader of the Episcopal Church. He had just come back from a trip to the Holy Land. The sights and sounds of the actual location of the Christmas story were on his mind.
So was the upcoming Sunday School program. Mr. Brooks sat at his desk and began to write a poem. Perhaps, he thought, his organist, Lewis H. Redner, could write an appropriate melody for it. The song would have to be finished by the Sunday before Christmas, so the children could learn it. Four verses he wrote, picturing the everlasting light of the Nativity illuminating the dark streets of quiet Bethlehem.
He gave the poem to Redner, who said he would see what he could do. Redner was a real estate man, with an office at 735 Walnut Street. He was jolly, mustachioed bachelor. His friends called him “Bubbles.” He was known for donating peanuts in bushel quantities to the students of the Episcopal Divinity School, and for conducting midnight religious services for the employees of the Philadelphia Gas Works. On the Friday before the day for rehearsal, the rector asked his organist, “Have you ground out that music yet?
“No,” Redner replied, “but I’ll have it by Sunday.”
He kept thinking about it, but when he went to bed in his residence at 1711 Spruce Street, Saturday night, he still had no finished idea. “But I was roused from my sleep late in the night,” Redner wrote later, “hearing an angel strain whispering in my ear, and seizing a piece of music paper, I jotted down the treble of the tune as we now have it, and on Sunday morning, before going to church, I filled in the harmony. Neither Mr. Brooks nor I ever thought the carol or the music to it would live beyond that Christmas 1868.”
(This story was written by my friend, James Smart, for the Philadelphia Bulletin 12/22/68 on an anniversary of the carol. He called to ask me if I was related to Lewis Redner, and I was happy to report that he was my great, great uncle, according to family folklore.)
www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/l/olittle.htm

Giardello statue announced

2008-12-11T15:22:00.000-08:00

PHILADELPHIA (December 2, 2008) – Former middleweight champion Joey Giardello will be honored with a life-sized statue on East Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia in 2009.

This Sunday, December 7, 2008, a ceremony is scheduled for 11:00 AM to officially announce the statue project at the future site of the monument – the triangle of East Passyunk Avenue, South 13th Street, and Mifflin Street. Both the public and media are welcome to attend.

The December 7th event date commemorates the 45th anniversary of Giardello’s winning of the middleweight championship in 1963. At the event, Giardello will be remembered, the statue location will be dedicated, and refreshments will be served.

The statue project is a non-profit effort being conducted by a partnership between the Veteran Boxers Association – Ring One, the Harrowgate Boxing Club, and the Web site Philly Boxing History.com. 1st District Councilman Frank DiCicco cleared the way for the group to use the East Passyunk location and is supporting the project completely.

World-renowned artist Carl LeVotch has been commissioned to create the statue of Giardello. LeVotch is responsible for numerous artistic works throughout the world, including such boxing-related pieces as “The Spirit of Boxing”, “The End of the 9th”, and the “Briscoe Award.”

Giardello, who became champion by defeating Dick Tiger at Atlantic City’s Convention Hall, was born in Brooklyn but lived most of his life in South Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, NJ. Giardello passed away September 4, 2008.

Memory Keeper's Daughter

2008-11-29T10:09:00.000-08:00

As research for my Down But Never Out bio of former middleweight champion, Joey Giardello and his Down syndrome son, Carman, I watched Memory Keeper's Daughter. The movie based on a book by Kim Edwards tells the story of a doctor who gives away his new-born baby daughter when he sees that she has Down syndrome. He tells his wife the baby died and they go on with their life raising the "normal" twin boy. I read the book some time ago and now must read again. It was based on a true story told to the author. Watch or read it and be prepared to cry.

My wife need jewelry

2008-11-12T08:48:00.000-08:00

A thought:

My wife needs jewelry
By Charlie Redner

My wife needs jewelry
But not like food and air.
No, no the wants much stronger there.
Her line between need and the desire
is infinitely closer than flame is to fire.

She follows the impulse to trade
or swapped the pin that somehow failed to inspire,
to exchange some earrings might be required.
A bracelet, a necklace, a ring or two
replaces the ones that now no longer do.

Will the search for gold and silver,
diamonds and pearls, ever cease?
This spouse can only hope that need and desire,
are distinguished some day,
one from the other, before we go broke, or I expire.

An eastern city man arrived in Old Pueblo

2008-11-03T08:28:00.000-08:00

An eastern city man arrived in Old Pueblo to speak.
Will you read on if I utter what he professed to be,
or, least we judged, not to be?
I’ll take the chance -- a poet.

His name sounded like a south sea island,
Maui, or Bali, ahhh, no, no -- Mali.
Now, Mister Mali was a Letterman, more in the mode of the nighttime host than the singers or a campus jock.

His letters though, formed words that arrived in specific order.
An order that held one’s attention bound, bound as tightly as a body wrapped with duct tape smeared in super glue.

Words that moved -- or not.
Words that spun fasterthanSupermantryingtosaveLois,
where they arrived in a flash only to ricochet ‘round the head.
Words that -- c r a w l e d - in - s l o w - m o t i o n -- penetrating your mind a Technicolor, animated, Cinemascope, surround-sound, four-hour feature film.

On the spot he wrote a piece about a tractor guy,
then spoke of his Dad, the Yalie, who never attended the Ivy Tower of bushy presidents,but organized the keys to his glorious own universe.

Dining one night, Mali mentioned to his host how much he made teaching,while at the same time enlightening the clod how little -- money mattered when making a difference.

He told about tapping his dog on the snout, tough Love,
then heaping praise on a silly Lilly.
She a flower of an eighth-grade child who couldn’t,
but finally did, like, make up her mind.

Mali’s story about the student whose spell checker failed to correct and even added to the mess the boy made of his report entitled, A Tail of Two Tities, produced more unbridled laughter than the best-crafted,
perfectly delivered Leno monologue.

If, by chance, you were there -- you know of what I speak.
If not, then you may never appreciate this sentiment:
I just loved you, Taylor Mali. Thank you for sharing you.

And thanks, Society of Southwestern Authors for inviting an eastern city man to the Old Pueblo -- to thrill.

A Tribute to a Fallen Agent

2008-10-16T08:01:00.000-07:00

Border Patrol agent, Luis Aguilar was killed during the line of duty in January 2008. On Saturday, October 11th, his comrades, family and friends paid tribute to him during the dedication ceremony of the new Buttercup Ranger Station located in the California sand dunes just west of Yuma, Arizona. Mrs. Aguilar attended with her two children and delivered a brief, tear-filled eulogy.
Every off-duty BP agent, ranger, state trooper and deputy sheriff within a hundred miles attended. I haven’t seen so many cannons since leaving the 50th Armored Division. “Luis Aguilar” street, named for the fallen hero will now serve as a permanent reminder of the agent, father and loving husband.

A word from Timothy Shriver

2008-10-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

Rosalie Tilelli, Joey Giardello’s wife received a beautiful letter of condolence from Timothy Shriver, Chairman of the Special Olympics. He mentioned how much Sargent and Eunice Shriver appreciated Joey’s contributions in time and fund raising efforts on behalf of the Special Olympics.

This letter reminded me that St. Martin’s Press requested blurbs, an introduction and/or a foreword for Down But Never Out. Letters from me will soon go out to Timothy Shriver and John C. McGinley, star of SCRUBS who is the 2007-08 national spokesman for Buddy Walks, which raises money for Down syndrome organizations.

SSA Tucson Conference 2008

2008-10-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

The Society of Southwestern Authors just concluded its 2008 Conference (September 27 and 28). A better time for any writer could not have been experienced anywhere, anytime.
My sides still hurt from laughing at the genius of guest speaker, teacher/poet, Taylor Mali. The ‘can’t miss’ future poet laureate will stand beside Billy Collins (2001-03) as one of the two quirkiest poet laureates in recent history. He kept his engagement with SSA even as an urgent call from Norway beckoned him across the big pond immediately after.

Corey Blake, screenwriter and co-author of 12 books dazzled a lunchtime audience with his dynamic talk, “Your Book. Your Legacy.” Corey is a television actor, development producer, writer and inspirational speaker who woke up any would be sleepy attendee with his rousing energetic presentation.

Award winning author, Deborah LeBlanc shared her thoughts with a dramatic talk called, “When Everyone Else Says You Can’t.” Drawing from her sometimes tragic, personal life experiences and her troublesome publishing efforts, one left the room after hearing her knowing that “Yes, I can.”

Thirty professional writers, editors, agents, publishers’ reps, presented a variety of workshops on topics ranging from “Fixing Stories that Stink” to “Branding Yourself” plus everything in between. These experts were also available for fifteen minute one-on-one discussions.

Even food service showed up with its ‘A game.’ Once when the kitchen door swung open I swear I saw Wolfgang Puck high-five Rachael Ray. Cheers to the Holiday Inn - Palo Verde staff.

In summary, the 2008 SSA Conference was a big league experience for any serious writer.
Take a deep bow, Penny Porter and Barbara Stahura, conference committee co-directors.

Lost Joey Today

2008-09-04T13:39:00.000-07:00

We lost Joey Giardello today, but his life will live on in my words. Here's an Open Letter to his lovely, devoted wife who had more to do with Joey's success in life than all his boxing skills.

OPEN LETTER TO ROSALIE TILELLI

September 4, 2008
Dear Rosalie,
What can I say after I say that I’m so very sorry to hear of Joey’s passing?
Plenty for I know a great deal more about the man than most as I have spent the past year researching and “re-living” his entire life.
He was not only as reported by the boxing historian, Mike Casey and others, a great boxer, but what those historians didn’t know was that boxing was only a portion of his life. A smaller than would be expected part of his life. There was a lot more to Joey Giardello than boxing.
He was truly a great man.
I take pride in saying that I never met Joey Giardello. In 1982 I met Carmine Tilelli and was told that he was a famous boxer -- a world champion. And while he related some insider boxing stories he talked mostly about his family and the remarkable deeds of his number two son, Carman.
I learned that Carman, while born with Down syndrome had accomplished more in his life than most “normal” people. He met more celebrities; maintained a full time job; and imitated Elvis, Jimmy Durante and Ed Sullivan better than most impersonators. Carman won gold at the Special Olympic for a 300 yard race. He won a weight lifting contest. Carman as a Boy Scout went to Theodore Roosevelt Camp. He received a trophy for never missing a Little League Baseball game.
Now there was a proud papa.
Carman also met more celebrities than seen on a red carpet night in Hollywood. Famous folks: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sylvester Stallone, Jimmy Durante, and Frankie Avalon; in politics, Richard Nixon, Ted Kennedy, Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver; in sports, Tommy LaSorda, Mark Gastineau, plus too many Phillies, Flyers, and Eagles to name; boxers, Rocky Graziano, Willie Pep, Chico Vejar, Jake LaMota, Carmen Basilio, and too many more to list here.
Joey became involved and raised more money for charitable organizations that helped children with special needs than he probably earned for himself after leaving the ring. He held boxing exhibitions in 1969 and 1972 with many of the aforementioned boxers who squared off for charity. Many fans would attend these events just to see the referees, Jersey Joe Walcott, Jack Dempsey and James Braddock.
He met with Sargent and Eunice Shriver and volunteered his time to help launch the Special Olympics in 1968.
Joey was never more proud than when Carman retired from his job after 28 years at Cherry Hill Township, The Township named a building in his honor – The Carman Tilelli Community Center.
Joey was so much more than a boxer. He was a true humanitarian, a fund raiser for special needs children, a loving father and a husband,
And yes, middleweight champion 1963-1965.

With affection,
Charlie Redner

Viva Las Vegas

2008-06-28T14:40:00.000-07:00

Took a few days away from the grind – went to Vegas for a show featuring house pets. Wife invested $1.00 in the slots, won $50.00. I lost a total of $6.00. Bet the casino brass are glad we left town. Back to the keyboard.

Summer time

2008-06-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

Summer time and the living is …

Well, not exactly easy. Now settled into new office in Laguna Woods, almost. A last minute quick trip back and forth to Tucson after the cross country jaunt is now behind me. Gas prices are a lot cheaper in Arizona then here in California – taxes must make up the big difference. Research and writing going slow but onward we go.

Back home, back to writing

2008-05-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

Safely back in Laguna. Now the task of reorganizing the new office and back to writing Down But Never Out.

Back to Laguna

2008-05-18T03:41:00.000-07:00

I’m leaving Ocean City, New Jersey today and the cool waters of the Atlantic for the even colder waters of the Pacific. The drive will take five days if I hustle. Finished my interviews here and wrote important chapter for Down But Never Out titled: The Dreaded Diagnosis.

Off to Philly (New Jersey)

2008-05-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

Leaving Tucson for Philly today via I-40 most of the way. Will watch for rough weather now along my path through Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Moved and moving

2008-04-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

Moved my Laguna Woods office today. Huff, huff, and puff. Had professional movers and lots of help, but still required my lifting and reorganizing . Plan driving to Tucson and Philadelphia late next week. Finishing interviews with the Giardellos and Carman's former teachers and employers.

Norfolk Island Pines

2008-04-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

I marvel every day at the symmetrical Norfolk Island Pines that thrive on the many lawns here in Laguna Woods. I like order in the Universe -- don't you?

"Drain the Swamp II"

2008-03-19T15:05:00.000-07:00

Back in January I learned that Chris Matthews of MSNBC's Hardball 'dissed' former middleweight champ, Joey Giardello. So I send him a positive point every day. Here's the first twelve. Not all related to boxing:
1. Joey Giardello won 101 bouts.
2. Joey Giardello won 101 bouts, 33 by KO
3. Joey Giardello won 101 bouts including wins over Dick Tiger (middleweight title), Rubin Hurricane Carter, and Sugar Ray Robinson.
4. Joey Giardello’s win over Henry Hanks 1/30/62 was Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year.
5. Joey Giardello beat Universal Studios in 2001.
6. Boxing historian Mike Casey states: “ …Joey Giardello was a genuinely great boxer fighter.”
7. Joey Giardello member International Boxing Hall of Fame
8. Joey Giardello member Pennsylvania and New Jersey Boxing Halls of Fame
9. Appointed to President’s Council for Physical Fitness and Sports
10.In 1969 and 1972 gathered boxers Rocky Graziano, Jake LaMotta, Willie Pep, Sandy Saddler, Chico Vejar, Carmen Basillio and others to raise money for charity. Refs included (the ’72 bouts) Jersey Joe Walcott, Jack Dempsey and James Braddock.
11.Middleweight champ, Joey Giardello fought Gil Diaz, April 23, 1965 and gave all the proceeds to charity. He hurt his elbow in the fight causing him to cancel his next bout in Puerto Rico.
12. Joey Giardello volunteered as a working coach at the first ever Special Olympics held in Chicago, 1968.

Ahaaaaaa - Life is Good

2008-02-26T15:39:00.000-08:00

Seventy-five and sunny, birds chirping, life is good. Transcribing hours of Justice Burke's recordings using my Digital Wave Player and Dragon Naturally Speaking programs which cuts my time from voice to manuscript in half.

Brrrrrrrrrr II

2008-02-22T16:29:00.000-08:00

Leaving Chicago this morning – 16 degrees and rising but still too cold for me. Meeting with Justice Burke provided desired background on the first ever Special Olympics of 1968. As the woman-in-charge she proposed, planned, and managed the entire event. And yes, she remembered “our beloved” Joey Giardello. More info than I need for Down But Never Out but her story probably deserves a book unto itself.

Conference BLAST

2008-02-18T16:24:00.000-08:00

I told you that the Southern California Writers’ Conference would be dynamite. Met a publisher who will be interested in Down But Never Out when finished and an author/screenwriter, Susan Arnout Smith who gave me so much help and inspiration that I ask all of you to seek out her website wwwsusanarnoutsmith.com Buy her book, The Timer Game -- it sounds terrific. Need more info – watch the back story webisodes on her site.

Where's the next chapter?

2008-02-17T20:20:00.000-08:00

Guess what? I've just been asked for the rest of my book, God And Country by a litpitch.com reader, where I had posted the first 22 chapters. About now thinking like Charles Dickens who would ask a nickel a chapter, but here in 2008 think I'll go for a quarter. Five chapters for a dollar. Hope I make my first sale!

Readers & Writers Alert

2008-02-10T11:06:00.000-08:00

There's a new site on the web for rabid readers and new writers. I couldn't resist, sent the first 22 chapters of my novel God And Country. In just a few weeks my page has had 87 viewers and my novel downloaded by 33 readers. It also received two 5-star votes. To date though, no one has requested the balance of the book. Here's the address: www.litpitch.com

Brrrrrrrrrr!

2008-02-09T14:41:00.000-08:00

Booked Chicago flight/hotel for February 21 interview with Illinois Supreme Court Justice, Anne Burke. Justice Burke was a young Chicago Park District representative who helped organize the first ever Special Olympics in 1968 -- topic for an important chapter in my current project: Down But Never Out.

SCWC Feb 15-18

2008-02-09T14:32:00.000-08:00

The Southern California Writers' Conference begins on Friday, 2/15. In the San Diego area or not ... do things at the last minute? See www.writersconference.com This conference is a B*L*A*S*T.

A Hardball Back at Chris Matthews

2008-01-22T11:08:00.000-08:00

Last week I learned that Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's "Hardball" apparently dissed former middleweight champ Joey Giardello with a comment about "draining the swamp" to find a worthy apponent for Dick Tiger in 1963, my response:

Dear Chris Matthews,
For your information, Joey Giardello was a great middleweight fighter according to this boxing historian:

“… play them the films of Joey’s best fights, there’s inevitably comes that moment when somebody in the room lets out a little gasp and says, ‘My goodness, I didn’t realize how good this guy was.’”

“… at his peak, which was some years before he finally got his shot at the world title, he was a genuinely great boxer fighter.”

---Mike Casey

When Giardello beat Dick Tiger (December 7, 1963) Tiger had in the previous 10 months defeated Gene Fullmer twice, in addition to fighting the former champion between wins to a 15 round draw.

In 1963 Ray Robinson wanted the shot at Dick Tiger who told Ray that he’d have to go through Giardello. Robinson couldn't. As Joey tells it about that fight, “Yeah, Robinson was old but I was old too.”

In his title defense before a rematch with Tiger, Joey beat tough guy, Rubin Hurricane Carter. Yeah, the 2000 movie, “The Hurricane” showed Carter being robbed but Carter publicly stated afterward that he didn’t win the fight. Giardello successfully challenged Universal Studios for a misrepresentation of the fight.

Even if you believe Joey wasn’t a great champion, you’d have to search hard and long for a more successful, good-hearted, and heroic former champion.

During and well after Joey’s days in the ring, he used his celebrity for the benefit of children with disabilities. Not only did he fight exhibitions but he staged two events that brought the best fighters of the 50’s and 60’s together for these children. Joey collected boxing greats: Carmen Basillio, Tippy Larkin, Chuck Davey, Willie Pep, Charlie Fusari, Billy Graham, Rocky Graziano, Chico Vejar, Jake LaMotta, Paul Pender, Ernie Durando, Sandy Saddler, Billy Conn and others. Many would attend the “Carnival of Champion” just to see the referees: Heavyweight champions, "The Manassa Mauler,” Jack Dempsey; Jersey Joe Walcott; and “Cinderella Man,” James Braddock. He gathered these fighters twice (1969 and 1972) and donated all the proceeds to charity.

In addition, Joey met with Sargent Shriver prior to the first ever Special Olympics in order to stress the importance of physical training for children with Down syndrome.

He raised money for Saint John of God School, the first school in New Jersey and perhaps the country dedicated to children with special needs.

He was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Italian-American Halls; a former member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sport. He’s ranked 14th among the middleweight champions of all times.

Now, Chris, aren’t you just a little sorry that you used that “empty swamp” line in connection with Giardello?

Charlie Redner

Chuck E. Cheese’s again, soon, please.

2008-01-16T17:06:00.000-08:00

January 12, 2008 -- Another Tucson DS Connection outing, another huge success for organizer, hard-working Kathy Getman. The lunchtime gathering packed the establishment with DS children along side the general population of Tucson. All had fun. For those, like me, unfamiliar with Chuck E. Cheese, it’s a cross between an old fashion penny-arcade and a PlayStation 3 – Skeetball to electronic “Deal or No Deal,” -- games served along with pizza and other food stuffs. Nary a child was seen without a mile-wide smile, as well as their parents, and of course, me.

Thanks, Kathy
.

Make A Difference: Write an op-ed

2007-11-26T15:07:00.000-08:00

The account of how I stumbled onto the project, Down But Never Out is covered fully in the November/December issue of Celebrate Life. I had thought that I could simply hotlink you to the magazine's website but I learned from the editor that my story didn't make the cut to the web -- so write me if you just must see the whole thing. Part of the story can be found within the News & Info section of www.charlieredner.com

LA Buddy Walk a "Wow" event

2007-11-13T14:21:00.000-08:00

Sunday, November 11, 2007 -- a day to remember! There were celebrities: John C. McGinley, star of SCRUBS and national DS Buddy Walk spokesman; William Petersen, star of CSI; and the stand-in for the late Seabiscuit from the movie of the same name. The Grand Marshal, Rosario Marin, former U.S. Treasurer led the Walk. There was a dance troop from Japan, "Love Junx" and a fabulous singers whose name I'll pass along as soon as I get it. Mark Wallengren of KOST handled MC duties and kept the program moving. And perhaps best of all, a young, new musical talent in the making, Alexander Arntzen who wrote the words and music to a song produced just for this year's DSALA Buddy Walk, appropriately called, "I'll Walk With You." Not too embarrassed to tell you that I shed a tear when I first heard it and probably will next time too. It's got a real emotional tug. The record was produced by Michael Woodrum, arranged by Bill Brendle, and sung magnificently live on stage by Jessica Purse. Held at Santa Anita Park it was truly a day I'll always remember. Naturally we walked and hopefully raised a lot of money for the Down Syndrome Society of Los Angeles. As my custom, a salute to the major sponsors: Santa Anita Park, U.S. Air Force, Nestle, SCRUBS, Farmer John, KOST FM 103.5, Arrowhead, Ralphs, Sound Moves, gv creative, and Excellent Entertainment. Also a major "well done" to DSALA executive director, Gail Williamson who seemed to be everywhere at the same time ensuring at that the program went off as planned, and it did. Can't wait for Number 14 next year.

Fun in Tucson II

2007-10-31T20:34:00.000-07:00

The 7th Annual Tucson Buddy Walk sponsored by SANDS, Southern Arizona Network for Down Syndrome took place Saturday, October 27 at Reid Park (22nd & Country Club). Wrapped around the Walk which took place at 3:30 were some terrific entertainers: Lance Holm, magician; Marc Frederick, break dancer; and the Siglo 21 Players, a dance group from Hermosillo, Mexico. All the performers were children with Down syndrome and they were good! My friend from Rio Rico, Marie Scholnick and I met with the teacher from Hermosillo who invited us to visit with her. Marie wants to start a dance troop for Down children in Rio Rico. There were 17 information booths from advocacy groups including my new friends from the Down Connection. There also were many games for the children. It lasted until sundown and we were all sorry that the day had to end. Since it was a fund raiser, let's hope that they exceeded their goal. Hats off to the big sponsors: Desert Diamond Casino, Westin La Paloma, Diversified Building Supply, American Family Insurance, Tucson Fire Fighters Association, and Lennar/US Homes.

Fun in Tucson

2007-10-29T18:42:00.000-07:00

Fun day for the kiddies -- Friday, October 26, spent the day holding down the fort for the Down Syndrome Connection's information table during Arizona's Division of Developmental Disabilities Annual Fall Festival. Held at the Community Resources Center (29th & Swan) in Tucson, this party brought families of children with many different disabilities together for an afternoon of fun. Costumed toddlers walked, strolled, and crawled around collecting goodies, playing games, and having their pictures taken. Some fifteen State employee volunteers dressed as Dalmations supervised the event.

Charlie Redner's Blog

2007-09-18T14:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog. Good things to come.

Redner Ranch

Two words for the screenplay: "Incredibly brilliant"

Wounded Knee trivia, poem

Anonymous my ...

A Perfect Blend

Luis Urrea in San Diego

A Photo More Scary than Godzilla’s Bad Breath

Terror Travels the Devil's Highway

Horse No. 1202

Hero of Down But Never Out, statue of Joey Giardello dedicated in Philadelphia

Look! That's us on the cover

HBR 3 spring 2011 -- It's here!

Can an author rate a film of his book?

Volunteer Time Provided Higher Return On Charity Investments

Lost Decade

Thank You, Mrs. Galvin

Love for Tucson Gets Wings

Guest Appraiser

The Night BP...back story

Hummingbird Review Poetry Revue

Viva Tucson

More extra, extra!

Extra! Extra! Extra! Vol 1, No 2 Summer/Fall 2010

Vampires, be gone!

A birthday tribute

Nine minutes of fame!

"Ready for my closeup...

WELCOME TO THE LAGUNA WOODS BOOK FESTIVAL "Mind Bloggeling Internet" Presentation

Laguna Woods Book Festival May 8, 2010

California Quake

Down But Never Out & HBR

HBR up, up and away!

NEWS! NEWS! NEWS!

Lasorda in Philly

Ahhhh, say it is so...

Ahhh! Say it ain't so, Joe.

Don't look now!

Giardello charity booklet now on sale!

Progress Report II

Progress Report

Facebook

Travel Day

Run away (part III)

Beautiful

I'd Rather Live In Cabin 20

Philly Hero -- not me -- guy on right

Giardello Statue VBA Fund Raiser

New Name: Redner Ranch

Tucson Festival of Books

Giardello statue announced

Urrea Perpetual Book Tour Packs House

A Black man in the White House, Halleljah

Happy 2009

Birth of A Christmas Carol

Giardello statue announced

Memory Keeper's Daughter

My wife need jewelry

An eastern city man arrived in Old Pueblo

A Tribute to a Fallen Agent

A word from Timothy Shriver

SSA Tucson Conference 2008

Lost Joey Today

Viva Las Vegas

Summer time

Back home, back to writing

Back to Laguna

Off to Philly (New Jersey)

Moved and moving

Norfolk Island Pines

"Drain the Swamp II"

Ahaaaaaa - Life is Good

Brrrrrrrrrr II

Conference B*L*A*S*T

Where's the next chapter?

Readers & Writers Alert

Brrrrrrrrrr!

SCWC Feb 15-18

A Hardball Back at Chris Matthews

Chuck E. Cheese’s again, soon, please.

Make A Difference: Write an op-ed

Conference BLAST