TORONTO - George Chuvalo is already in Canadas Sports Hall of Fame.
[b]Mets Jeff McNeil Jersey[/b] . And now so is the bell he answered 15 times against Muhammad Ali some 48 years ago at Maple Leaf Gardens.The 77-year-old Chuvalo rang the bell himself Wednesday as it was shown off at a news conference at Mattamy Athletic Centre, site of the old Gardens, honouring the 2014 inductees to Canadas Sports Hall of Fame. A smiling Chuvalo, a Hall of Famer himself since 1990, gave a thumbs-up and then shadow-boxed after hearing the familiar sound.I get reminded of it just about every day of the week, the former Canadian heavyweight champion said of his first fight with Ali on March 29, 1966.I didnt win the fight. But it was a tough battle, he added. People tell me that when they saw the fight it made them proud to be Canadian. That makes me proud to be a Canadian, that makes me very very proud to be a Canadian.Like Chuvalo, the bell — which comes complete with a trigger — is a piece of Canadian history with a story to tell.It was donated by Michael Shillolo, whose father Frank Shillolo used to be the official bell man for the Ontario Athletics Commission.After a crack was noticed during a fight night at the Gardens in 1980, the bell was pulled out of service for repairs. By the time the work had been done, the commission had purchased a more modern replacement.The original bell sat in Franks Shillolo basement for years although it was brought out in 1999 for Chuvalo to ring during one of his presentations to students on drug abuse.Boxing runs deep in the Shillolo family.Michaels uncle, Tony Canzano, was a longtime boxing coach, who helped a young Chuvalo get interested in the sport, as well as a boxing judge (he worked the first Ali-Chuvalo bout) and acting head of the Ontario Athletics Commission. Vic Shillolo, Franks cousin, was also a former judge.After Frank died, the family agreed to donate the bell to the Hall of Fame.Chuvalo (73-18-2) was never knocked down as pro. He lost a rematch to Ali in 1972 by 12-round decision at Vancouvers Pacific Coliseum.Chuvalo had just 17 days notice to prepare for Ali the first time around after the champions fight with Ernie Terrell fell through.They had a contest between a bull and a bumblebee at Maple Leaf Gardens last night — with the usual result. The bull came out of it with his face looking like a bucket of balls at a golf driving range, legendary Toronto Star columnist Milt Dunnell wrote at the time.But as Chuvalo recalls Ali went to hospital that night.I went dancing with my wife, Chuvalo said. I got the best of that deal.He did not do so well when it came to his payday. Chuvalo said he ended up with $12,500 with manager Irving Ungerman taking the lions share of the $49,000 purse after expenses.The bell brought back his smile, however.Instant memories. Especially here, Chuvalo said.Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter
[b]Mets Luis Guillorme Jersey[/b] . Gaborik was acquired in a trade with Columbus on Wednesday and skated on the top line with centre Anze Kopitar and right-winger Justin Williams. "We created some things," said Gaborik, who logged 16:38 of ice time.
[b]Mets Jack Reinheimer Jersey[/b] .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons.MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun is scheduled to have surgery this week to fix a nagging nerve problem near his right thumb.The injury contributed to Braun having one of the least productive full seasons of his career. He went hitless in three at-bats in Sundays 5-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs to finish the year hitting .266 with 19 homers and 81 RBIs in 580 plate appearances.Braun said Sunday the rare procedure involved going into the thumb and freezing the nerve. The problem, which carried over from the 2013 season, affected his swing.Brauns subpar production was one key reason the Brewers were 9-22 down the stretch to get eliminated from the post-season after spending five months atop the National League Central.If I was relatively healthy, if I was performing up to the standard I set for myself that wed be in a different place as a team. It makes it that much more difficult for me personally to accept the way the season went, Braun said.Neither Braun nor manager Ron Roenicke knew much about the specifics of the procedure or recovery time. But Braun remained hopeful it would finally fix a lingering issue.The whole reason we hadnt done it sooner was because there isnt a lot of experience in doing this specific surgery that Im getting done, he said.The 2011 NL MVP missed the final 65 games of last season after being suspended as part of the Biogeneis doping scandal.But the extra time off didnt help. The career .307 hitter was at .301 on July 26 but tailed off the last two months of the season.I dont think we were that far off. If we get back to that, we still have a really nice player, Roenicke said before Sundays loss. But we do need to get back to that. ... I think he feels like if he can get this thumb issue behind him, he can be that same player again.Braun will certainly be back. Its unclear how much of a housecleaning there might be in the off-season though after the late-season swoon.Its been a hard year. It has. Its been the hardest since Ive been here, said fourth-year manager Roenicke.Milwaukee finished in third place in the division at 82-80, out oof the playoffs for the third straight year.
[b]Mets Wilmer Flores Jersey[/b]. On Sunday, Anthony Rizzo had a two-run homer among his three hits to lead the Cubs. Rizzo went deep to centre off Mike Fiers (6-5) in the first.Jacob Turner (6-11) allowed four hits and two runs in five-plus innings. He beat Milwaukee for the second time since being traded from Miami in August.The Cubs are building for the future with Rizzo and rookie right-handed hitters Javier Baez and Jorge Soler. Chicago was 31-28 since July 28.Theres always optimism and now you can see it around everywhere. We each got to keep the course, though, Rizzo said.THE .300 MANAll-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy, playing first base, went 2 for 4 to finish the year hitting .300. Roenicke started him at first in the finale hoping he could reach the .300 plateau. Lucroy over the weekend set the single-season record for most doubles by a catcher with 46.I mean its great and dandy but for me it doesnt really matter right now, Lucroy said, because Im still going to go home and be (mad) for a month until I calm a little bit from the way its been the past month.BREWER FINALE?Second baseman Rickie Weeks didnt play in what may well have been his last game with the Brewers, who are unlikely to pick up his option next year. The right-hander spent the season in a platoon with young left-handed hitter Scooter Gennett. Weeks was drafted second overall by Milwaukee in 2003.TRAINERS ROOMCubs: Three players finished the season on the disabled list. OFs Justin Ruggiano (left foot) and Ryan Sweeney (hamstring) have been sidelined since late August. RHP James McDonald spent the whole season sidelined with shoulder inflammation.UP NEXTCubs: Stocked with promising prospects, Chicago finished 73-89 for the year, seven wins better than 2013.Brewers: When asked before the game, Roenicke said it was uncomfortable not knowing about his immediate future. GM Doug Melvin said this weekend that the fates of Roenicke and the coaching staff had not been decided. Roenicke is under contract through next season.___Follow Genaro Armas at
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