5/24/04
-- ed note: Russell got in touch to wish "my old man" well,
and allowed me to ask him a few questions re CM:
What kind of conditioning/ideal weight did you try to achieve:
My weight in my various roles: Jim 176 lbs - Jack 228 - Wigand up to 250+ - Maximus
190 - Johnny 168 - Sid 180 - Terry 195 --- The difference now is no heavy weights
at all. Weight sessions are with very low weights like 4 pounds or thera-band.
I have taken physio excercises with Errol Alcott who designed a complete muscle
workout based on that recovery programme. It works quite well. All the major
muscle groups get worked but you don't fatigue or stress your joints and tendons.
There is also an emphasis on aerobic excercise.
How is Renee to work with?
Renee has brought a much needed energy expansion to the set. After weeks of boxing
and depression scenes, the Braddock family is now complete and the kids get lots
of laughs from all. Renee and I did a couple of very emotional scenes last week.
There were lots of tears from the crew. It is very unusual to effect everyone
like that, but also lots of fun because it brings everyone closer together as
a working unit, gives everyone confidence that they are spending their energy
on something special.
Can you share some technical information on the filming?
As to the technical aspects of the filming, in the ring on Friday, 82
set ups were completed. Ron absolutely smashed his previous record, almost unheard
of
-- shootin' at the shrine*, rocking the garden.
Anything on Braddock as a person?
Braddock info: Some people will be critical that Braddock's weight for
the Baer
fight was 191 1/2, but he was 6'3" (RC is 5' 11 1/2"). He was 17 pounds
at birth. His middle name is really Walter. He was born on the same block as
the original Madison Square Garden. One of his jobs after boxing was working
on the Verrazano Bridge.
* Folks in Toronto call the old Garden "the Shrine."