Fitting tributes to Jewish sports greats

ILAN HERRMANN

Mitchell is considered by many to be the best South African boxer of all time.

“Rodney’s been 39 years in the boxing promoting business and there’s nothing he hasn’t done.” 

Berman’s career started with Charlie Weir in August 1977. Four years later in 1981, he led Mitchell to his first professional fight and would see him through 12 world title defences. 

Berman’s first world title win was in Tel Aviv, in 1990 with Lucky Ncita and he recalls how it was that victory that changed his life.

“It all happened after my partner, Gary Pretorius, had put a note in the Western Wall a day before the fight. After the fight Gary was dancing with delight and blurted: ‘You Jews are unbelievable, that Wall really works!’

“Rodney Berman is the main reason I’m in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He made me a few dollars, but I just wish I’d keep them with the current rate of exchange,” said Mitchell wryly.

Berman has arranged over 300 world title fights all over the world. He has produced over 250 SA champions and 67 world champions. He is, as Nelson Mandela once put it, “South Africa’s Don King”.

Mitchell said that his grandfather on his mother’s side, Cecil Meyers, was a Jew and it was from him, that he got his second name, “Cecil”.

The evening’s other tribute was offered by Gordon Forbes about his tennis doubles partner of recent memory, Abe Segal. Segal died recently. Forbes spoke from the heart about his association of over six decades with his friend and tennis partner.

“I miss him so much. I could tell stories of Abe forever. He was restless for adventure and there was never a dull moment with him around.”

Forbes and Segal were a lethal doubles partnership and were considered to be one of the best pairs in the world.

“We had moments of triumph and of disappointment. Abe was always upbeat and would say: ‘Forbsie, let’s do the best we can. The worst thing that can happen to us is we can lose and that’s not a death sentence.’

“Abe had one of the greatest left arm kick serves, not just of his era, but of all time. He was also one of the Tennis Circuit’s most colourful and flamboyant personalities.”

The tribute, having occurred during the current cycle of play at Wimbledon, prompted Forbes to recall that the highest recorded score in games for a set at Wimbledon, was 32-30, in 1968, when Alex Olmedo and Pancho Segura beat Forbes and Segal.