Two posts in one day, I clearly have very little going on today.
Joe Louis was a HUGE star, probably the first African-American celebrity, check that, probably second behind Jesse Owens. He knocked out Max Scherzer, probably got the name wrong, but he was the glowing vision of Hitler's Aryan race, Louis floored him in the first round and became an overnight sensation. He had 25 heavyweight title defenses, a feat that probably won't be equaled since now there's MAYBE 2 defenses in a year. The part that's awful: He signed up for the military, donated two $100,000 purses to the war effort, spent four years visiting troops while being enlisted, and through that time the IRS got after him for $500,000 in back taxes that they never forgave and forced him to pay until the day he died in 1981. He fought for WAY too long, had to do embarrassing public displays with his name, like a stint in pro wrestling and pimping ALL kinds of products, that really ruined his life. It was a SUPER sad story of how someone who would be a multi-millionaire today and widely praised by pretty much everyone was allowed to suffer for so many years. The IRS took away his kids' trust fund he set-up, would take entire purses from events he would do without telling him, they'd just show up and take the money. It was a brutal story of someone who was almost universally loved, but his personal sacrifices for the country he loved cost him greatly personally and financially.
The Brown Bomber, I'm glad to have learned more about you.
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