Letters: Setting Frazier-Ali record straight

AFTER 38 years, Joe Frazier has been finally vindicated. HBO just did a chronicle of the Thrilla in Manila, the two fights leading up to that match and Muhammad Ali's shameful treatment of Frazier. Those who remember Joe from his early days as heavyweight champ will recall his rise to the top amid the slander spouting from Ali and his associates.

His actions were worse. When Ali arrived in Philadelphia, it was to demean Frazier - a slap in the face to a man who gave him moral, emotional, even financial support. Although Frazier was rewarded with a decisive win in Madison Square Garden, Ali's swollen jaw just couldn't stay shut.

Over the next four years, it continued to run until they met in Manila.

Several years after that match, I was a young heavyweight entering the pro ranks under Joe. Every day, Marvis and Rodney Frazier, along with Bert Cooper and myself, trained under Joe's watchful eye.

I was fortunate to get to know Joe. He's humble. A man of few extravagances. Devoted to his family, faith and his fighters. Although most of us have moved on, I'd still see Joe from time to time, usually at the annual Thrill Show. He'd talk to us about our police motorcycles (he loved his Harley), asking how we were, thanking the guys for the work they do. That's the Joe Frazier that I and many others knew.

On HBO, the nation got a chance to see some of the real Joe Frazier.

So, to those who though of him as the "white man's" champ or an "Uncle Tom," he was none of those. He was just Joe Frazier - the toughest man that ever stepped into the ring and no Scamboogah can tell me different!

R.E. Yantorno Jr., Drexel Hill

'Most' is wrong, Diane

I have a problem with Diane Madison's letter. I, too, am sorry that Rep. Jewell Williams and the city worker were treated with disrespect by the officers. No one deserves to be treated the way these men allegedly were.

But I take offense at Ms. Madison's use of the word "most" when describing the actions of a few officers.

There are rogue officers just as there are rogue people in every profession. I believe that the majority of the officers are professional and do their job the way they are trained to do.

Don't the officers have the same rights as others who are accused? Innocent until proven guilty? If these officers are proven to be guilty, I would expect them punished to the full extent of the law.

In the meantime, let's not label all officers as guilty of unprofessionalism. Unfortunately, police are angry. They've lost too many good officers in recent months, every one of them heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Ms. Madison, I believe "most" officers are good, caring and professional, doing a job "most" of us couldn't or wouldn't do.

Patricia Mullelly Thomer, Philadelphia