An unusual Monday night meeting, which also fell on Columbus day 2002, which was a beautiful day in New York, and a meeting that would have discussion about the past and the future.

The message was clear — and Tony said that October 26th was the day that had been 15 years in the making — the start of a New York Hall Of Fame for Boxing. Also, Aaron Banks, who promoted all of the wonderful martial arts shows in New York over the years — promoted the event as a first for the legendary arena. “Boxing made Madison Square Garden . . . from Joe Louis to Robinson etc.” stated Mr. Banks ” and you can go all over the world and people in different languages understand Madison Square Garden and boxing.” Also, the Martial Arts will induct their own into the Hall the same night. It will take place at the MSG Club and Grill.

There were a few wonderful speakers who took the forum —- all with sincere intellect about the sport and the history it provided and the culture that made New York was it is today.

First, Lt. Bob Jackson, Engine 54/ L. I. C. spoke about the brothers that were lost on that fateful day last Sept. 11. Representing the firefighters was the father of one of the fallen, Paul J. Gil. A plaque presented to Tony Mazzarella and Ring 8 for the thanks in return for the work done after Sept. 11. A grateful Paul Gil stated that just like the boxers we are all fighters in life and that ” I don’t know how Tony does it.” Firefighters from Engine 54, Lad 4 were present to see the festivities.

For the record the Fire Dept. team defeated the Police Dept. at Coney Island in September.

A tough act to follow, but nevertheless Pete Spanakos introduced a woman, Cynthia Allen, who is producing a project “Jews in Sports” and has taken the boxing angle — and she can be reached at www.jewsinsports.org . She dedicated the project to her father and she remembers being encouraged to participate in sports and many evenings watching boxing in the evenings in the ’60’s. She got involved in the project with a check and a handshake from a memorabilia collector — and there is an ongoing fund that will keep the project going. “We got about 2000 biographies of Olympians, baseball players, tennis, soccer, and boxing.” If anyone has any information, she can be reached at 212-463-7617.

Also Derek Leif is producing a documentary on Ring 8. He is also helping Cynthia Allen on the project “Jews In Sports.” Derek passed out some info to be gathered on providing a story or knowledge on the subjects. such notables remembered at the gathering were Al Reid, K.O. Phil Kaplan and even one member suggested Hershel Jacobs*. Remember him? Any reader who has information can contact the website.

TOSSING JABS : A Jerry Quarry film is being discussed and may be in the making. Although the finances are not clear as of yet, it is believed that is a certain amount of money can be raised — Hollywood would fund the rest. Ring 8’s involvement would get some notoriety for the Hall Of Fame. . . Vic played the accordion rendition of “God Bless America.”

* “Hershel Jacobs was not Jewish” . . . Hank Kaplan