HBO's special "Joe Louis America's Hero, Betrayed", your thoughts?

Question

Did HBO do a creditable job of presenting the documentary or not? I have a soft spot for Joe Louis, I even rented the Brewster gym for a UAW basketball team I coached because of it's history, both Joe and Tyson trained there. I consider Joe Louis an epic figure in Boxing history, did HBO do Joe's legacy justice?

Answer 1

I myself am ashamed of how the American government treated Joe Louis after all he did for this country. The documentary hit the nail on the head about a lot of things. Some of which I never knew, like how he had to give 10% of his future winnings to get a title shot and he was the first African American to play on the P.G.A. tour. And how he broke so many barriers. And for Ali to call him an ''uncle tom'' shocked me. He was such a different man than the athletes Black and White of today. One thing that was not mentioned was how Rocky Marciano cried in his locker room after beating Louis because he was his idol. But it was a film about Louis not Marciano. They should have mentioned how he and Schmeling became close friends later in life instead of bringing Max down. Joe Louis will forever be on the mount rushmore of boxers. H.B.O. did a good job but it was, is, and always will be a disgrace how this nation used then tossed this great man aside. There is no excuse but as it was said about him ''He was a credit to his race, the human race''.  GODBLESS u Joe.

Answer 2

What part of Joe's life was betrayed? The fact that his manager's and crew most likely took all his money?  Rightly so he owed the government money, why aren't there any announcement of any other "white" legendary fighters that owed the government money like that or where mis- managed, I would like to know. Joe Louis attracted many people of all color, I am shocked to hear Ali call him an "Uncle Tom". Louis was in a more difficult era than Ali, he had to do what he had to do for himself and his family. Films and books may never tell the truth of what he really experienced we as a whole only get a small piece of the pie. My opinion I watched the documentary and felt empty wanting to learn and know more.

Answer 3

You know the documentary let a lot of people know what Louis really went threw in his lifetime as a fighter and citizen of this two-faced country. He was discredited as a contender, called all types of names by the media. After Jack Johnson, america did not want another black heavyweight champion. Once it did come around his money was took from him for ten years at 10%. He became champion destroyed competetion even avenged he lone defeat at time during when the country was going through a big change. After that fight his country treated him like a king. Even during the war he was treated with royality. When it was over with the IRS tore him apart for the rest of his life in so many ways. He opened doors for a lot of black athletes. Ali calling him a uncle tom was not cool at all and he should thank Louis for opening doors for Black Americans in the United States. He died penniless! You know the IRS even took money he had saved for his children  in a trust fund! Louis got recongnition only after his death, but while he lived he had the experence to live on top and suffer the bottom of what life can bring. R.I.P Joe !

Answer 4

can't add anything more to what aceman said.. salute ace..

Answer 5

i dont  think he was betrayed he owed taxes h**l if i gotta pay em you got to pay em and no different cause you are a celebrity even though america is pretty starstuck and will let celebritys get away with anything. Also i might add i've seen a couple of his fights and jesus christ joe louis would get hammered if he fought a current fighter i dont understand why his name comes up when they talk about the best. yeah he was the best but in his era which is not that big a deal. kind of reminds me of wilt chamberlain the basketball player people saying hes the best cuz he scored a 100 points in a game please shaq would score 300 points a game in the 1960's. lennox lewis would of beat joe louis really badly i mean REALLY badly.