Apparently that Tommy Morrison died

[imp]

Just found out about this. Heartbreaking news. Morrison was a great white heavyweight when there weren't many around. He was a very good heavyweight period. Action packed fighter and a character. I remember in his comeback fight he was asked what it was like to be in the ring again, he said "Well gettin hit in the face hasn't changed a whole hell of a lot in 12 years" RIP Tommy

He was the last great american white heavyweight.

Great left hook.

You fellas ought to get off of this "Last Great White American Heavyweight" kick...
His management figured they could cash in on the "Great White Hope" thing, especially after the Rocky film, so they kept dying his brown hair blonde, and tried to make no mention that Morrison's mother, Diana Morrison, is a full-blooded First Nations woman, Otoe and Ponca.

Sports Illustrated covered it in the early 90s at the height of Morrison's popularity, but it goes to show that many people just don't read.
"...gets annoyed when she hears Tommy called the Great White Hope (Tim Morrison, whom she divorced in 1980, is white). "Why don't they call him the Great Native American Hope?" she asks, more mocking than serious. "Or at least half a Great White Hope. It's all so silly."

When he fought Joe Hipp in a terrific gruelling, bone-breaking fight, some fans knew they were watching a couple of First Nations guys in there. Others thought it was a White Hope vs a Native American.

Tommy never complained.
Why are you.?

Do you really think if he went with the first nation thing he would have been in rocky 5 or made all these millions?

Tommy and his management knew what he was doing and tommy mentioned many times his family tree with John wayne aka the duke (real or not?!) so he knew what he was doing.

I don't understand, is he not white?

Dont matter what colour he was..

He was the the heavyweight champion of the world.

He will always be remembered.

[erics44]

I don't understand, is he not white?

Dont matter what colour he was..

He was the the heavyweight champion of the world.

He will always be remembered.

yep, I don't care who's who or what they look like, I'm just asking

was tommy Morrison white?

[imp]

I don't understand, is he not white?

Dont matter what colour he was..

He was the the heavyweight champion of the world.

He will always be remembered.

yep, I don't care who's who or what they look like, I'm just asking

was tommy Morrison white?

Apparently not, according to bradlee.

Pavilik is also mexican

[Beanflicker]

Morrison was a white guy (just like Obama is a black guy), but I don't like this "Great White Hope" crap either. Why make it about race? People got behind Tyson in a big way and he was a black guy from the ghetto. People don't get behind the Klitschko's, and they are big, white and well educated - they just happen to be from Europe.

I think if you have the "goods", you put on exciting fights and you knock people out, people will get behind you. Morrison definitely had the "goods".

[erics44]

Morrison was a white guy (just like Obama is a black guy), but I don't like this "Great White Hope" crap either. Why make it about race? People got behind Tyson in a big way and he was a black guy from the ghetto. People don't get behind the Klitschko's, and they are big, white and well educated - they just happen to be from Europe.

I think if you have the "goods", you put on exciting fights and you knock people out, people will get behind you. Morrison definitely had the "goods".

yeah but it made tommy a lot of money and made for good entertainment

better than the entertainment we have now in the HW division

whos got behind the Klits? they are boring inside and outside the ring

actually vitali isn't that boring but wlad is, yawn

[Beanflicker]

I just don't like the implications that being white somehow gets you a free pass in fight sports, or that people will get behind you just because you're white. It detracts from the accomplishments of the white boxer, and it also implies a racial bigotry among fight fans. And I don't believe it's true. Floyd makes more money than anyone in the history of boxing. Who were the biggest earners of the last few decades? Ray Leonard, Tyson, De La Hoya (Latino), Mayweather... I think in the end people just want to see exciting fighters. Morrison was exciting and he was REALLY GOOD.

[Fenster]

The "great white hope" shit looks silly in this day and age. However, I'd strongly bet that the Klitschko's would be massive in America if they came from there. Before the Arabs became the new "baddies," watch any hollywood film from the 80-90s and every villian came from Europe, especially Eastern Europe. No way the general American fan is getting behind these "types"

[Scott22]

Sad to hear. RIP.

[nuggetdotcom]

Morrison was a white guy (just like Obama is a black guy), but I don't like this "Great White Hope" crap either. Why make it about race? People got behind Tyson in a big way and he was a black guy from the ghetto. People don't get behind the Klitschko's, and they are big, white and well educated - they just happen to be from Europe.

I think if you have the "goods", you put on exciting fights and you knock people out, people will get behind you. Morrison definitely had the "goods".

Got it right again.

[Master]

Selling the great white hope from the days of Jack Johnson in American society meant that they could get even more interest and money from the public. Sad but it is a fact.