Posted on 09/02/2013 10:33:49 AM PDT by EveningStar
Tommy Morrison, the former heavyweight champion who stood toe-to-toe with Lennox Lewis and George Foreman and later tested positive for HIV, died Monday. He was 44...
He was a prodigious puncher whose bid to fight in the 1988 Seoul Olympics ended at the hands of Ray Mercer, who later dealt Morrison his first professional loss. He had a starring role in "Rocky V" alongside Sylvester Stallone. And perhaps most memorably, Morrison tested positive for HIV when the virus still carried a significant stigma, only to declare later the test was false...
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
According to him at the time he led a “permissive, fast, and reckless lifestyle”.
A man can get it from a woman it’s just not as likely. He seems like the kind of guy who would use hookers. Drugs is also possible I guess, I don’t know if they drug tested boxers back then.
He was an arrogant sot for a while and it all went to his head. It ended relatively quickly and abruptly but it was as hard a fall from fame as one is likely to see.
Who knows?
Quite ironic that his son is openly gay though.
It seems to me that he basically played himself in Rocky V. I doubt he was smart enough to actually act much.
so true
I think I saw that episode; it’s spot on, IMO.
“He also seems to be naturally resistant.”
Possible. But I still think he’s got the $$$$$$$ to buy whatever from wherever to stay alive.
IIRC, there is an area in Thailand where the whores have been infected with HIV so many times that they’re immune to it. I think this came out ~15 years ago.
“Tommy Gunn” was just Morrison playing himself, no question. And yes, I’d bet he got it from hookers AND drugs.
It’s truly the ultimate “catch-22” these days: You have hyper-sexed up people looking to do anything, anywhere yet, the amount of STDs creeping around is staggering.
Rocky V was really awful though, the street fight at the end between Rocky and Tommy “the machine” Gunn was a joke. You had a similiar situation 15 years later in Rocky VI where Antonio Tarver’s character (Mason “the line” Dixon) was basically a fictional version of himself, since Tarver is a real-life obscure boxer. But that film was far better because it was more about Rocky’s struggles with his own life, instead of with his opponent in the ring.
Oh yeah it was horrible, Rocky got back from the fight with Drago and his son was several years older, he implausibly let Paulie handle his money and Paulie gave power of attorney to some accountant who stole it all, Rocky refuses to fight one more time to get some money back because of his symptoms but then gets in a stupid street fight. Really lame crap.
I think even Stallone pretends it never happened, “non-canon” like “Highlander 2”.
I heard about month ago that they planning a movie starring Apollo Creed’s grandson and Stallone will appear.
They are going to try to extend the franchise with a brief appearance of Stallone? lolz
I think my favorite was the one with Mr. T.
It sounds like Rocky may have a major role as a “mentor” to the young fighter, but yes, this fits with the modern trend of draining every last dollar out of a franchise.
So how has Magic Johnson not died yet? He contracted in way before Morrison did.
The title of toughest guy in the retirement community IS ON THE LINE!!! Is it Rocky or former Army cook and CPA Morty Goldfarb from the next condo over?
You are correct.
Tommy Morrison is according to Wikipedia, the grandnephew of John Wayne.
I give/gave credit to Stallone for picking up Rocky and Rambo after ~20 years had passed (and seemingly ending both franchises on low notes) and ENDING them well. Rocky goes the distance (and in the alternative ending for Rocky Balboa, wins the fight) and Rambo finally seems to make peace and return home.
Now this sh*t about an Apollo Creed grandkid flick? Or a Rambo TV show?
Like you said Impy “...draining every last dollar out of a franchise”.
C’mon Sly, be better than that.
p.s. “...he implausibly let Paulie handle his money...” I’ve been laughing at that for 35 minutes.
Maybe this isn’t an appropriate question, but how did Morrison get infected? Was he a I.V. drug addict or did he get it the other way?
It’s a fine question and has already been asked.
According to him he led “permissive, fast, and reckless lifestyle”. No elaboration.
My opinion was prostitutes, he seemed the type, he’s never been linked to drugs or homosexuality.
But ah there is something I forgot, STEROIDS. He has been linked to those. Some of those guys shared needles as recklessly as heroin junkies. Seems like the likely culprit over heterosexual sex with hookers.
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