I’m currently reading George Kimball’s “Four Kings” about Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns, and Roberto Duran and their domination of the last great era of boxing. In the book, there is mention of an incident that occurred in 1977 after a fight between heavyweights Scott LeDoux and Johnny Boudreaux. After Boudreaux is awarded a very questionable decision and is being interviewed outside the ring by Howard Cosell, LeDoux tries to kick Boudreaux (who is still up on the ring apron) and during the commotion Howard’s toupee gets knocked off. Well, lo and behold, this incident is on youtube. Most of the action is on the mid left hand side of the screen. I can’t tell if Howard put the wig on backwards- Kimball claims that he did, but I’m not sure. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlY1AUcJM3I&feature=related
I love the way his hands immediately reach for his head. Although I don’t wear a toupee, I’ve been balding for 15 years. I know the discomfort of having one’s baseball hat yanked off, or being required to remove the hat for the National Anthem, or in order to enter a bar, knowing that the hair underneath is all matted down, greasy, and looking especially “baldy” that day. I feel for ya, Howard.