Living Well
1.4
for life
AttaibI"
vIT'W>, - A4
or if they need somebody to talk to,
like a big brother. If they say 'yes' we
call them up and ask if they want to
have breakfast or whatever, on a
Sunday, or just have a group meeting
with the guys and talk.
This is part of the Golden Gloves'
mentoring program, which has little
to do with boxing.
"The 10-12 kids who go with me
to the Nationals (each year), we really
get very close and we talk about a lot
of things," Hirsch explains. "I try to
have meetings in my office in
Southfield. They come up and talk.
"Boxing is almost irrelevant. It's
more about the realities of life, and
being a kid.
"To get up in the morning and go
to school and then work out, it keeps
them out of trouble with drugs,"
Hirsch says. "It keeps them out of a
whole bunch of problems that they
might get into otherwise."
Golden Gloves participants also
have other opportunities, including
free outings at Camp Nehilu in
Brandon Township, free tutoring
and even college scholarships. The
organization recently gave out two
scholarships to Wayne State
University.
William Barr, the Metro Golden
Gloves treasurer, says Hirsch is "very
dedicated, hard-working, very enthu-
siastic. He's got the kids in mind ...
He spends all kinds of time and
money (on Golden Gloves)."
Hirsch works about two hours per
day on Golden Gloves business,
although neither he nor any of the
organization's officers earn a salary.
He has an ambivalent relationship
with some of the Golden Gloves' vol-
unteer coaches. Some, Hirsch says,
don't treat the Golden Gloves in a
businesslike manner. They miss meet-
ings, he says, then blame Hirsch for
failing to communicate.
"If it was just dealing with the
kids, the kids are basically wonder-
ful," he says. "The coaches are the
hard part, although you can't neces-
sarily blame them. They don't get
paid to do what they do."
Barr notes that Hirsch is "so gung-
ho in getting things done. A lot of
people don't react well to that. His
enthusiasm doesn't harm kids. It just
seems that some adults take it the
wrong way. Some people misunder-
stand enthusiasm. They're almost
ashamed that they aren't as enthusias-
tic" as Hirsch.
To those who see boxing as a bru-
tal sport, Hirsch says, "That's not
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Sports
what I perceive boxing to be about.
Boxing is more of a skill. If you don't
get hit you're better than you would
be if you do get hit."
He acknowledges that "there's a
serious downtrend in boxing in gen-
eral ... There's so many other things
that kids can do these days." But
he's proud of the role of Jews in
boxing.
"We're at the top of our field. We're
some of the best that there are — best
judges, best referees and best commis-
sioners. And some of the best doctors,
who really take a lot of time and effort,
and don't receive much compensation.
So I'm very proud to be Jewish and be
at the top of our field."
Nevertheless, Hirsch plans to stop
judging professional fights for a while,
to spend more time with his family
and at home tending his gardens and
koi fish ponds. He's also planning to
step down as president of the Metro
Golden Gloves.
"I've fulfilled what I always wanted
to do in Golden Gloves," he explains.
"I've structured a corporation that can
make some money, although it's non-
profit.
"Emotionally, because of the things
you go through, it's time for me to
maybe move on and give it to some-
body else." Hirsch says he'd like to
work on Michigan's boxing commis-
sion and, perhaps, follow in Dr.
Kirschenbaum's footsteps as commis-
sioner. He doesn't rule out a return to
professional judging.
"I'd like to take a little hiatus here
and take a deep breath for awhile,
and then get back into it," he says. ❑
B'nai B'rith
Sports Results
Basketball Playoffs:
Downtown-Fox I 52, Brotherhood IV
51.
Leadership I, 62, Pisgah 52.
Pisgah 54, Great Lakes 44.
Brotherhood V 44, Brotherhood III 37.
Brotherhood I 53, Bloch 52.
Softball Openings:
There are still openings for the 29th
season of the B'nai B'rith Softball
League.
Games will be played at Drake Park
in West Bloomfield starting on May 21.
All games are doubleheaders.
Contact Gary Klinger, (248) 398-
5297; or Marty Melton, (248) 553-
3428.