Born in North Carolina; Sugar Ray Leonard was the 5th of 7 children. In 1969 he started to Box in the Palmer Park Recreation Center in Maryland.
In 1972 he was National Golden Gloves Lightweight Champion. He earned World Titles in 5 Weight Divisions & won Gold in the 1976 Olympics. And, he was the 1st Boxer to earn more than $100 Million in Purses.
1977 Laurel, Maryland
My 15 year old son was playing one of his first Heavy Metal Band gigs at a large Boys & Girls Club Venue & outside - Mama Grizzly was taking no prisoners. As the family & I walked to the entrance & approached the building already buzzing with sound; along our path came Boxing Legend-to-be "Sugar Ray Leonard"; a Palmer Park, Maryland resident.
For the briefest moment I was in awe; yet the next moment; I greeted him as if he was a neighbor out watering the lawn. I believe I shook his hand, pointed & said enthusiastically "My son's playing in there"! Okay; manically. And the moment after I said that; I thought - "What a Dork"! Me; of course - not that handsome guy with the killer smile.
Even with the closed-shut building; you couldn't miss the cacophony from inside that said loud & clear: Garage Band "Deuce" is in the house"!
The excitement & joy of hearing my son play Lead Guitar was so palpable; I was oblivious to Sugar Ray's celebrity & just rattled on & invited him in. And when he said, "What's going on"; my exuberance came forth like a Barker at a Carnival.
Boxing him in a corner; I had a potential audience member. Did I really think this busy man would come in & "Head Bang" with me?
As I remember; he was gracious & taken aback, I'm sure; by my singular focus & unmitigated pride. And I could see by his face; he seemed both amused & surprised that I (or anyone) would be so passionate about this ear bleeding assault on our nerve endings. His reaction was like a dog turning his head in wonder.
Basically a shy & private person - this behavior was uncharacteristic for me & only after the fact; was I as mortified as I am retelling it right now.
Thru the years; this episode has given my family a lot of laughs at my expense. But I guess "Mother's Pride" trumps "Dignity" every time.
Oh, in his 2011 Autobiography "The Big Fight: My Life in & out of The Ring" - Sugar Ray surprisingly didn't mention anything about me! ha ha
My son? Well, that's another Blog!
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