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Gordon Marino
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A frequent contributor to the NEW YORK TIMES and WALL STREET JOURNAL, Gordon Marino is Professor of Philosophy at St. Olaf College. He can be followed on Twitter @GordonMarino.

Blog Entries by Gordon Marino

Wladimir Klitschko Vies to Make Heavyweight History

(14) Comments | Posted May 3, 2013 | 10:52 AM

The attention of boxing fans in the U.S. will be riveted on a ring in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this Saturday. There, pound-for-pound king, Floyd Mayweather will be defending his welterweight world title against Robert Guerrero.

However, on that same night, thousands of miles away, another milestone...

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Fighting Violence with Boxing in Chicago

(0) Comments | Posted January 22, 2013 | 5:26 PM

With more than 500 murders in 2012, Chicago may be as dangerous as Kabul these days. And what is the Illinois Crime Commission doing about the epidemic of violence? Teaming up with the Police Athletic League to teach the combat arts.

In a fresh Police Athletic League...

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American Heavyweight Hopes Are in 'Mayhem'

(9) Comments | Posted November 16, 2012 | 4:31 PM

U.S. boxing fans have been bellyaching for years about the absence of an American heavyweight. The Brothers K, Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, have ruled the big-boy roost for more than five years. Whether it is because of their style or the fact that they are from across the pond, Americans...

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Haymakers for Hope: Punching up the Dollars for Cancer Research

(0) Comments | Posted November 12, 2012 | 1:07 PM

Some people believe that boxing might not be good for a person's health. Nevertheless, former Goldman Sachs employee Andrew Myerson and Golden Gloves Champion Julie Anne Kelly have certainly proven that the sweet science can make healthy contributions to medical research.

In 2009, Mr. Myerson and Ms. Kelly were...

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What Romney's Style Reveals About His Character

(21) Comments | Posted October 19, 2012 | 5:06 PM

The pundits score debates on style and substance. But what exactly is the connection between the two, between form and content? Despite what policy wonks might think, there is nothing superficial about style. Style reveals something about the substance of the man or woman. We want a president with character,...

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What's in a Face, or Rather, Facial Gesture?

(0) Comments | Posted October 12, 2012 | 2:41 PM

Maybe there are personality differences underlying political party affiliations. After Obama slept through the last debate and almost put his presidency to bed, most Democrats were at least willing to acknowledge the truth that our man got trounced. We moaned about Romney's lies but acknowledged reality.

Today, the Republicans...

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Coaches, Take a Lesson!

(0) Comments | Posted March 18, 2012 | 3:15 PM

There has been a good deal of moaning and most unfortunately, shrugging, about New Orleans Saints coach Gregg Williams and his "bounties for injuries" scandal. What we find repugnant tells us a lot about who we are; anyone who is not appalled by this sin against the brotherhood should just...

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Wladimir And Vitali Klitschko Stand Above Jean-Marc Mormeck, Dereck Chisora And Heavyweight Division

(5) Comments | Posted March 5, 2012 | 6:50 PM

On Saturday, IBF, IBO, and WBA heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko (57-3) slammed a jab, right hand, left hook combination to stop Jean-Marc Mormeck (36-5) by knockout at 1:12 of the fourth round. It was Klitschko's 50th knockout victory and with this stoppage he moved into fifth place for most KOs...

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Dr. Freud, Meet Senator Santorum

(9) Comments | Posted January 10, 2012 | 10:46 AM

Rick Santorum has been a boon to the class I am teaching on Freud. Last week, we were covering Freudian slips when Senator Santorum generously provided a superb object lesson. Talking about government entitlement programs to a mostly white audience, Santorum proclaimed that he doesn't want to, "make black people's...

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The Finals of the Super Six World Boxing Classic

(0) Comments | Posted December 16, 2011 | 4:30 PM

The sport of boxing has always been adept at putting itself on the canvas. Some of the self-inflicted blows derive from the fact that promoters have boxers under extended contracts. They have their own stable of fighters, and rival promoters are reluctant to put their boxers in with legitimate challengers...

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The Fighter Comes to Chicago's Leo High School

(0) Comments | Posted October 26, 2011 | 10:23 AM

Christian Bale grabbed an Oscar for his portrayal of Dicky Eklund in The Fighter. Bale played the role of the charismatic but slightly daft brother and trainer of junior welterweight contender Micky Ward. On Friday, Eklund visited Leo High School in Chicago.

Founded in 1926, Leo is...

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Was Mayweather Right to Throw That Right?

(85) Comments | Posted September 20, 2011 | 1:49 PM

Boxing took a pounding on Friday night. The too-much-hyped championship contest between Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz went down in pugilistic infamy at the end of the fourth round.

With only seconds remaining in that stanza, Ortiz had "Money" Mayweather on the ropes and intentionally head-butted him. Referee Joe...

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Muhammad Ali vs Vitali Klitschko, Who Wins?

(68) Comments | Posted September 12, 2011 | 3:58 PM

Last night WBC world champion Vitali Klitschko scored his 43rd victory and registered his 40th knockout with his 10th-round stoppage against Tomasz Adamek. Vitali has the highest KO percentage in history and has not lost a single stanza of boxing in years. It could be argued that Dr. Ironfist is...

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Vitali Klitschko Successfully Defends His Title

(34) Comments | Posted September 10, 2011 | 7:25 PM

On Saturday night in Wroclaw, Poland, WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (43-2, 40 knockouts) defeated Polish challenger Tomasz Adamek (44-2, 28 knockouts). This was Klitschko's 9th successful title defense. The referee, Massimo Barrovecchio, wisely stopped the slaughter with 41 seconds remaining in the 10th round.

For most of the...

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Happy Birthday Angelo Dundee

(2) Comments | Posted September 2, 2011 | 4:56 PM

One of the greatest trainers in boxing history, Angelo Dundee began his tenth decade on August 30th. Dundee, who was born and raised in Philadelphia, trained 15 world champions, including Carmen Basilio, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and George Foreman.

The son of Italian immigrants, Angelo followed his brothers...

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Confessions of a Fanatical Sports Dad

(0) Comments | Posted August 2, 2011 | 10:45 AM

For all of the anathemas cast at helicopter sports parents, the fact remains that no small portion of major league and college athletes were developed by either fanatical fathers or sports savvy mothers -- or both. Perhaps your Jack or Jill has a great swing or kicking leg and you...

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Hail the Heavyweight King: Lennox Lewis

(1) Comments | Posted March 21, 2011 | 1:42 PM

WBC heavyweight king, Vitali Klitschko improved his world record knockout ratio this weekend with his first round stoppage of previously undefeated Odlanier Solis. The 39-year-old Klitschko has now triumphed in 42 fights. An astounding 39 of those victories have come by way of a ten-count or technical knockout. Vitali has...

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Civil Discourse and the Delights of Discontent

(0) Comments | Posted February 24, 2011 | 4:38 PM

Not long ago Chris Matthews shook his head when a spokesperson for the Tea Party refused to condemn Michele Bachmann's claim that the founding fathers solved the problem of slavery. His reaction seemed a bit premeditated, but Matthews looked off in disgust and then blurted, "Michele Bachmann is a balloon...

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President Obama: The Courage not to Fight

(25) Comments | Posted December 7, 2010 | 12:37 PM

In elections and political discourse, there are constant references to the world of the playground as in, Who will stand up to the bully? With the squabble about extending the Bush tax cuts, Democrats have been drubbing President Obama for slinking away from a donnybrook with Republicans.Though I have since...

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Boise State and Post-Traumatic Field Goal Syndrome

(4) Comments | Posted November 27, 2010 | 1:07 PM

I am a rabid fan of compelling underdogs and as such have been a long time follower of the Boise State football team. It is, I believe, a marvel that a squad from Idaho that has none of the recruiting gravitas of the Auburns or Alabamas has been able to...

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