IF YOU KNOCKED HIM DOWN, YOU ONLY MADE HIM MAD: Those of us who are sports fans but grew up after the era of Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Muhammad Ali have learned since just how much we missed -- an era in which there was no greater sporting event than a heavyweight boxing bout, no greater rivals than boxing opponents, and no greater title than heavyweight champion.
Frazier, who died today of liver cancer, was defined by his rivalries with the other two champions of his era, but must be remembered in his own right as an Olympic champion; as a native of Beaufort, SC, who rose from nothing to work in a Philadelphia slaughterhouse where, yes, he toughened his punches against frozen sides of beef; a man who gave it all inside the ring, back when boxing rings were worthy of such efforts. He was 67.