Atlas : from the streets to the ring : a son's struggle to become a man

"Of all the people who have affected by my life and influence the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father." So begins the autobiography of legendary boxing trainer and commentator Teddy Atlas, who grew from the rebellious son of a doctor to a man who embraces, and lives by, his father's values and code. In this gritty, spellbinding tale, Atlas recounts his fascinating life — as a juvenile delinquent on the streets of Staten Island; as a boxer and Golden Gloves champion under the tutelage of famed trainer Cus D'Amato; as a companion to the dangerous, unpredictable Sammy "the Bull" Gravano, up until the day Gravano turned rat and brought down crime boss John Gotti; and as a trainer of champions and contenders, among them fourteen-year-old Mike Tyson and heavyweight Michael Moorer, whom he led to the crown with a win over Evander Holyfield. Equally engrossing are Teddy Atlas's accounts of training dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp for her successful comeback at age forty-two; his work with actor Willem Dafoe, preparing him for his role as a concentration camp boxer in the film Triumph of the Spirit ; his journey to Poland to choreograph the film's boxing scenes; and his own performance in movies such as Play It to the Bone . In sharing his stories, Atlas reveals the philosophy by which he lives. Like Teddy Atlas — inimitable, tough, honest, and wise — this book inspires. It is about so much more than boxing. It is a story of overcoming hardships, of compassion for those in need, of tremendous personal integrity, and of personal and professional triumph. Publishers Weekly Boxing trainer and ESPN commentator Atlas ruminates on fighting as a form of masculine psychotherapy, from his own youthful street brawling to his stints training a young Mike Tyson and heavyweight champ Michael Moorer. His theme is the male psyche's craving for paternal approval, evinced in his juvenile acting out against an emotionally distant dad and his ringside relationships with a succession of surrogate sons. With them, Atlas's mentoring toggles between fatherly tenderness ("I care about you. You're important to me") and tough-love harangues ("hit him in the fuckin' balls and become a fighter or you get on the next train and you get the fuck out of my life!"). He also becomes a spiritual guide to celebrity clients like Twyla Tharp, whom he lectures on the need to face one's fears, and Willem Dafoe, with whom he discusses the nature of truth. Atlas's exhaustively transcribed motivational sermons can be wearisome, and in his self-serving accounts of boxing industry intrigues he is always loyal and principled. But he and amanuensis Alson tell his story with plenty of atmospherics, Runyonesque characters and an illuminating focus on the boxer's internal battle. Photos. (May 9) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information. Teddy Atlas knows boxing like no one else. In Atlas, Teddy recounts his incredible life, from juvenile delinquent on the mean streets of Staten Island in the 1970s, to his induction into the legendary Cus D'Amato's Boxing Camp and his first major challenge – training 14–year–old Mike Tyson.An amateur boxer trained by D'Amato, Atlas captured the Adirondack Golden Gloves title at 139 pounds in 1976. Forced out of competition because of injury, Teddy turned his talents to training fighters.His long list of charges have included many world champions past, present and future. Teddy trained future heavyweight champion Mike Tyson when Tyson was an amateur living in D'Amato's home in Catskill, New York. He trained featherweight champion Barry McGuigan, super bantamweight and super featherweight champion Tracy Patterson, super featherweight and lightweight champion Joey Gamache, welterweight champion Simon Brown and light heavyweight champion Donny Lalonde. In 1994, in a memorable performance as trainer and cornerman, Teddy inspired Michael Moorer to beat Evander Holyfield for the world heavyweight championship. Teddy has also employed his talents outside of the ring. He trained dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp for her successful comeback at age 42. He trained actor Willem Dafoe for his role as a boxer in the holocaust film "Triumph of the Spirit", and while on location in Poland, Teddy choreographed the film's boxing scenes and appeared as one of Dafoe's opponents. Teddy also choreographed fight scenes for the television series "Against the Law." And he appeared in the movies "Play it to the Bone" and "Only in America: The Don King Story." Atlas is the remarkable story of all of these achievements, told in Atlas's completely inimitable voice. As you'd expect from a boxing memoir, it pulls no punches. Teddy captured the Adirondack Golden Gloves title at 139 pounds in 1976. Forced out of competition because of injury, he turned his talents to training fighters, including Mike Tyson and Barry McGuigan. He has also employed his talents in appearing in films and choreographing fight scenes for a television series. This memoir presents his story. Title from PDF title page (viewed on Oct. 2, 2007).