Emile Griffith?

[hamed]

Anyone seen the promos for this upcoming FX movie called: "Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story"? I think it's going to be shown on April 20th @ 9pm.

Based on those promos, it almost seemed they were implying he or someone in that film is gay. Anyone heard any rumors like that?

[Jim_Kidd]

Yes, Emile Griffith was/is gay. I was surprised when I found out because I met him several times back in the 70's and he seemed anything but.

Also, he has a son... which in and of itself doesn't mean anything.

I've gotta say, being a heterosexual person... I can't see what makes a man gay. I can see what would make a woman that way... but...

Anyway, he's a nice guy and was a great fighter. Benny Paret called him the Spanish equivalent of "Queer, Homo, Faggot" before their ill-fated fight. Afterward, when Paret died of injuries sustained during the fight... Griffith had a lot to deal with.

Jim

[hamed]

Originally Posted by Jim_Kidd

Yes, Emile Griffith was/is gay. I was surprised when I found out because I met him several times back in the 70's and he seemed anything but.

Also, he has a son... which in and of itself doesn't mean anything.

I've gotta say, being a heterosexual person... I can't see what makes a man gay. I can see what would make a woman that way... but...

Anyway, he's a nice guy and was a great fighter. Benny Paret called him the Spanish equivalent of "Queer, Homo, Faggot" before their ill-fated fight. Afterward, when Paret died of injuries sustained during the fight... Griffith had a lot to deal with.

Jim

Thanks for the info Jim, interesting! I can't imagine any boxer, football, baseball, basketball or hockey player coming out now & admitting it but back then, it was really something nobody discussed!

I knew that Paret called him a "maricon" but I never heard that Griffith really was gay.

Did Griffith ever "come out" about being gay?

Originally Posted by Jim_Kidd

Yes, Emile Griffith was/is gay. I was surprised when I found out because I met him several times back in the 70's and he seemed anything but.

Also, he has a son... which in and of itself doesn't mean anything.

I've gotta say, being a heterosexual person... I can't see what makes a man gay. I can see what would make a woman that way... but...

Anyway, he's a nice guy and was a great fighter. Benny Paret called him the Spanish equivalent of "Queer, Homo, Faggot" before their ill-fated fight. Afterward, when Paret died of injuries sustained during the fight... Griffith had a lot to deal with.

Jim

[hamed]

I was mistaken, the movie about Griffith's going to be on the USA network, not FX. I read a review in the TV Guide & they give it a score of a 9 on a 10 point scale. Yes, Paret did call him a maricon according to the review in the TV Guide. The writer says that Emile is vague about his sexuality.

[mrchallenge]

I heard Ezzard Charles and Panama Al Brown were also gay. Can anybody confirm this?