My name is Ray Bettinelli. I am an Amateur Boxing Coach and Facility Director at BCBA, a local Youth Gym I opened in 2004. I consider myself blessed to have been able to introduce the sport of amateur boxing to a multitude of people over the years: young, old, black, white, male and female. But it wasn’t until my first day of coaching at another gym that I realized the importance of what we do as amateur boxing coaches. That day something happened that forever changed the way I would look at coaching amateur boxing. It has led me to where I am today and is the inspiration behind creating ‘Square Circles – Life Between The Ropes’.

My life changing moment came one day in 2002, that day I was so touched by a young boy’s life that I knew I would have to open my own facility, so that is what I did. I then assembled a tremendous staff of like-minded volunteer coaches and mentors and together we have touched many lives as I knew we would.

Over the years I have cataloged the many inspirational stories we have encounter here at BCBA. I compiled these stories into a show which I felt was both inspirational and motivational. Over the coming weeks you will be able to view a series of 5 vignettes that capture the essence of what amateur boxing means to me.

Boxing is about discipline, the discipline one needs to press on when a battle looks bleak or rise off the canvas when others count you out.  Ironically boxing has always been the go-to sport when our Nation was in turmoil. Remember how James Braddock (Cinderella Man) captured the imagination of our Nation during the time of the great depression when most had little hope of ever getting off the canvas or when Joe Louis KO’d Max Schmeling striking a blow for our Nation against a fascist enemy in Adolf Hitler. And then there’s my boxing hero Muhammad Ali, who would rise to meet his greatest challenge, when all the naysayers predicted he was being led to slaughter against Big George Forman.

Our economy is about to implode, childhood obesity is at epidemic levels and people are down and once again on the verge of defeat. Unfortunately we are three generations removed from that “pick yourself up, dust yourself off” mentality that we once “ALL” shared as Americans. There are no more grandfathers/mothers left to share stories with their grandkids about what it was like handling “real” adversity, turmoil or sacrifice. Now our Nation reaches for the Prozac bottle when the cable box goes out! Where is the intestinal fortitude that was once the glue that held this great Nation together? How did we go from “brother can you spare a dime” to “brother can you pay my mortgage”?

I hope that you find these stories as interesting and motivating as I do. As our Nation drifts perilously off course it is my sincere hope that ‘Square Circles – Life Between The Ropes’ gives others hope and a willingness to battle on.

Please share your thoughts and stories,

Coach Ray Bettinelli
www.TapYourInnerChampion.com