Working Class Hero

Micky Ward is about to make us all proud.  By "us", I mean the good people of Lowell, MA and across the region.  If you literally 'live under a rock' then let me quickly explain.  "Irish" Micky Ward is a former world champion boxer.  He is most famous for his 3 epic bouts with Arturo Gatti.  These were fights for the ages and sporting events that spectators will talk about for many, many years.

Micky's story about his tough upbringing and his rise to champion is about to be told in the highly anticipated blockbuster movie titled, The Fighter (which ironically does even include his fights with Gatti).  Mark Wahlberg plays Micky while fellow Hollywood heavyweights Christian Bale and Amy Adams co-star in the film. Word on the street is that "Oscar" is already spying on this one.  Regardless of what the movie ultimately amounts to, this is a tale worth telling and we should all be excited and proud that we are connected to Micky' story first hand.

Which brings me to my point.  I am not a close personal friend to Micky.  I have had the pleasure to hang out with him during a few charitable functions and that is basically the extent of our relationship.  However, I have spent enough time around him to understand what this man is all about.  Despite the overwhelming attention he has received, Micky Ward is a humble, thankful, respectful (oh, and REALLY TOUGH) human being.  He has no ego about him.  No air of arrogance.  Most of all, he has no desire to be famous nor worshipped.  Micky has spent a lifetime just being a hard working 'man of the people'.  It just so happens that he is one of the greatest athletes that ever claimed Lowell as their birthplace and hometown.

Ward is a rare sensation in a time of prima donnas.  With that said, he is about to be launched into the stratosphere of stardom.  With the likes of Mark Wahlberg and others at his side, Micky Ward could become an international superstar.  He could easily find himself in the electric Hollywood scene of the rich and famous and not look back - at least for a while.  However, I am fairly confident he will be far more comfortable in the setting he has always returned to...a gym full of young aspiring boxers or the local pub with old friends.

Just a hunch.

In any case, if you are a from Lowell, soak in the excitement that will surely surround our city in the coming weeks.

Enjoy the office banter when the movie finally comes out next month.

Brag (as needed) about this story because it is a great one.

Oh, and if you ever have the opportunity to meet  Micky in person; shake his hand, congratulate him, and buy him a beer.

He's earned it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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