Changing Times
By Billy Elmer

I'd like to send congratulations and a big shout out to my homey,

Paul Spadafora, for successfully defending his IBF Lightweight Crown last month.

I'm not a boxing expert. I enjoy the sport. I know little about the lightweight division since I outgrew it in the 5th grade of the Sto-Rox school district.

I also know very little about the IBF boxing organization, or for that matter the WBC, WBA, WWF, MIC or the Key.

All I know is that the man fought a great fight and kept the championship belt in the Rocks ­ it's the only belt in the Rocks besides the Orange belt.

Spadafora won on all judges' cards, at home, on HBO. Case Closed. Period. End of story. What's all this bitching because he didn't knock Angel Manfredy out?

When I was growing up people would complain loudly because guys from the Rocks would get in fistfights and knock people out. Dude, times are changing.

You just can't win. I learned one thing from the fight. The next time I'm on television, I'll tattoo Golden Palace.com on my forehead ­ which would be a great pledge break on WQED.

I'll wear it on my forehead because I never go on TV without a shirt, state law. There is money in there somewhere.

Speaking of money, Spadafora is due for a huge payday from his next fight. Seven figures. That kind of money could screw-up a boy from Fox Chapel let alone a Rocks guy. Yet, Spadafora takes it all in stride.

With that kind of money, he'll be set for life. He said he would take care of his family with the money.

In my day, if a guy from the Rocks came into some big money and said he was going to take care of his family it meant he was going to have them whacked.

Times are changing.

Billy Elmer can be reached at billyelmer@yahoo.com or 721-355-1344.