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Tom Makes A Good Point: The Singer’s Life vs. The Fighter’s Life
Monday, April 21st, 2008
James Lawton, a columnist in The Independent wrote on April 22 about the fight last weekend. This guy may know his pugilism, but not his Tom Jones or his Tom Jones fans. And his writing is confusing. There’s something wrong with his quote about what Tom said on stage — unless it actually is a quote from more than 10 years ago. We cannot believe Tom would say such a thing to his fans.
But the comparison Tom makes between singers and boxers is interesting (in bold italics below), so we posted it. (And it is nice to see a mention of Budd Schulberg, who wrote some terrific novels and screenplays.)
In discussing Sir Tom’s friendship with fighter Tommy “Hitman” Hearns, Lawton writes:
Sir Tom poses question that all fighters must answer
“Sir Tom Jones’ spell-binding rendition of the Welsh national anthem in the ring before Calzaghe-Hopkins was a reminder of his interest in the sport through a close friendship with Tommy “Hitman” Hearns.
“I suppose fighters and singers have something in common in that that they have to go out to perform under pressure, though in my case I’ve never actually been hit,” he said on a night out here with his friend a few years ago. The ‘Hitman’ was at a point in his career when he was causing much concern by his decision to fight on, one which threatened a split with his long-time mentor Emanuel Steward.
“In his dressing room before his duties at the showroom of the MGM Grand, Sir Tom gently shifted the conversation to the eternal dilemma of when a man should seek new roads in life. This, he suggested, was probably a more pressing issue for a fighter, in that everyone you met professionally was anxious to knock your head off.
“His own challenge in Las Vegas was merely to continue to entertain matronly farmers’ wives from such places as Kansas and Iowa. He put on his face and strode on stage to receive an ecstatic reaction for belting out, What’s New Pussycat? But perhaps his earlier musings still played on his mind. He said from the stage, ‘Ladies, you know we’ve been doing this for 30 years — and on a night like this it doesn’t seem a minute less.’”
Photo above is Tom with Ray J. And, yes, you can still see the anthem video by clicking on the link in the post below.
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:09 am
What is Tom on about — that he has never been hit? He was once put through a chip shop window in a fight and he says so himself in one of the biogrophies. As for what he said on stage,all I heard was, “Is it working? Great, let’s go.” Then right at the end he said, “Wales forever” in Welsh.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:04 am
It is indeed sad to think that is what Sir Tom thinks of us as he looks out into the audience. It is “those matronly women” along with all his other loyal fans, who keep him in demand. It is a very upsetting remark.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:02 am
Gill: We think Tom meant that, every time he walks out to perform, someone is not waiting to hit him. And what this writer alleges Tom said to his audience was said “a few years ago,” not at the Calzaghe-Hopkins fight.
Elaine: For the record, we just cannot believe that Tom said that to an audience. He is not stupid and to say that would be really stupid. This is just another lesson in reading carefully and, then, questioning what you read. It would be out of character for Tom to say that on stage.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:38 am
I am with Ellen. So many times a person says one thing and a writer adds his little bit to it. I can never believe Tom would say such a thing. I remember him saying once how, when he lived in England, he had fans waiting outside his home wanting to get his autograph. It was breakfast time and his mother was there with him. He said he would meet the fans later and his mother scolded him, saying that their time was more precious than his and he should never make his fans wait and he should always try to put them first. I have always felt he took this to heart and has always given his all to his fans.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:44 am
I can’t believe he said this either….he just wouldn’t. If you read the article carefully, the “matronly farmers’ wives” comment is not attributed to Tom, that’s the misguided view of the writer himself. The comment Tom is supposed to have made from the stage is more than likely a complete misquote.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:50 am
Am I sick or what? I can’t make heads or tails of this statement.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 am
I agree. Tom would NEVER say such a thing. And again, thank you ladies for providing us this wonderful site with such great stories/pictures and all the entertaining comments! I love it.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 am
No, Beverly, you are not “sick.” We read it, reread it and did so a few times after that. We think the writer just mixed up his times. Tommy Hearns, who he says is Tom’s friend, fought in the 19990s, so the timing is off and, we choose to believe, so is the quote of what Tom said to the audience. We can well imagine that, some nights, Tom gets tired of singing the same stuff over and over. But we cannot imagine he’d tell his audience so.
And, Ed, as a journalist, Ellen prides herself on the accuracy of her quotes and does proofread for sense. This writer — or his editor — seems to have not done so.
Finally, Lori, we just provide the starting point for comments. The site visitors do the rest, so we must thank all of you. And we do.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 am
If you are a bad writer, just quote someone incorrectly, you’re article will get noticed. Bottom line, Tom Jones still sells.
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I don’t believe for a moment that Tom said that. From what I can make out it is the author putting words in Tom’s mouth. TJ is too gracious to fans who meet him in person…that would never be if he thought unkindly of them.
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
If Tom didn’t say those things, why didn’t he issue a denial or something? You can’t let someone get away with this. Even though this is years later, the man should be looked up and discredited.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Beverly: We found this article (and it’s really only one of many columns in this paper alone) quite by chance and we’d wager Tom hasn’t seen it and neither has anyone on his staff. It’s really of no great import in the scheme of things, is it? First of all, the writer is alleging a quote from a decade ago. Second, the consensus here seems to be that Tom wouldn’t say such a thing. In fact, most people who posted seem to believe that his treatment of fans on most occasions and in most places gives lie to this. Thus, why bother to deny it? More people would see the denial than the original column and, since that could start a whole new brouhaha, it’s just not worth it. And we arrive at this opinion based on our experience in public relations.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:17 pm
I’m skeptical…most men at 57 do consider 57 year old women to be “matronly.” It’s just a fact of life. Fifty-seven year-old men with a tiny fraction of Tom’s money and fame date 25 year-olds and consider most woman over 40 matronly, unless they look like Demi Moore. Of course TJ loves his fans and behaves in a gentlemanly manner towards them. Call me bitter and cynical but think our Knight could have said possibly said this ten years ago. Hard to believe, but he is only human, key part of that word being “man.” But hey, we still love and adore him and the joy he brings us Matrons!
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
ED THANKS FOR SHARING THE BEAUTIFUL STORY OF HIS MOTHER. I’M THE QUADRIPLEGIC THAT COULDN’T GO TO HIS SHOW WHEN HE WAS SO SO CLOSE..BUT I FOUND OUT JUST WHAT A TRUE GENTEMAN HE IS. I MADE A CALL TO WHERE HE WAS GOING TO BE AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO SOMEBODY. I JUST ASKED IF I COULD SEND A PRINT OF JESUS (I DREW YEARS BEFORE MY INJURY) AND SEE IF HE WOULD TRADE A PIX FOR HIS AUTOGRAPHED PHOTO. THE PERSON MADE NO PROMISES BUT WOULD SEE IF HIS AGENT WOULD. I WAS PHONED THAT MON. AND WAS TOLD TO EXPECT MY PKG. BACK WITH A FEW EXTRA THINGS.(I FORGOT TO MENTION I SENT A LP IF HE WAS WILLING TO SIGN ALSO W/ A DISPOSABLE CAMERA..I’VE LEARNED IT NEVER HURTS TO ASK) BOY DID IT PAY OFF BIG! I HAVE A SIGNED LP,A BEAUTIFUL 5X7′ SIGNED AND HE POSED FOR 3 PIX BUT ONLY ONE TURNED OUT BUT IT WAS THE BEST ONE.I TELL EVERYBODY HE POSED JUST FOR ME IN THAT ONE! I DISPLAY THEM PROUDLY IN MY LIVING ROOM FOR ALL TO SEE AND HEAR THE STORY. WHAT BLEW MY MIND IS HE DID ALL THAT WITHOUT EVEN READING THE LETTER I WROTE. IN MY EYES HE WILL ALWAYS BE A “VERY CLASSY MAN!”
April 24th, 2008 at 12:16 am
Marisa: As I posted above the “matronly farmers’ wives” comment is from the writer, not Tom, and this is obvious if the (admittedly confusing) piece is read carefully. Tom would not say this and he wouldn’t have said the “30 years” quote either. It’s sloppy journalism.
April 24th, 2008 at 6:01 am
Once again i’m sorry i say make a statement and say you didnt say it - in my mind of what little is left of it i think you shouldn’t let someone get away with this.