User:Kamyers/sandbox
 |
 | This page, “sandbox,” is currently Under Construction. It was last revised by the editor Kamyers on 2025-04-4. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to have the page completed soon. If you have a question or comment, please post a discussion thread. (Find out how to remove this banner.) |
| « | The Mailer Review • Volume 4 Number 1 • 2010 • Literary Warriors | » |
Thomas Jacomo
Abstract: A confidant of Norman Mailer recounts his experiences with Mailer over many years.
Note: Thomas Jacomo was a longtime friend of Norman Mailer. As executive director of the Washington Palm restaurant, he knows everyone of any importance or self-perceived importance and presides over perhaps the main, nonpartisan power meeting spot in the nation's capital.
It was around 1970 or 1971. I was running a hotel in Manchester, Vermont, called the Avalanche Motor Lodge. Nearby was a nightclub called The Roundhouse. People knew I was a big boxing fan and told me Jose Torres, the light heavyweight champion of the world, was over there. So of course I ran across the street.
I was young, full of piss and vinegar, and I ended up sparring with Torres, kidding around with him, and he says, “I want you to meet my friend Norman Mailer.” I didn't know who he was, but Jose says, “We’ve got a ring set up at Norman’s house over here. Why don’t you go a couple of rounds with him?”
So I said, “Yeah, I’ll do it.”
Jose was hanging around with Norman, who was teaching him how to write. Jose was writing a book called Sting Like a Bee: the Muhammad Ali Story.
I go over to Norman’s house. Sure enough, he has a regular ring set up there—gloves, headgear—and I think, What am I getting myself into? Also, he outweighed me by about twenty-five pounds.
I get into the ring. Bing, bing, bing—we fought on and off for two or three weeks. We never really hurt each other. In fact, he made a rule a couple of years later that we’re never going to hurt each other, although I did give him a couple of good shots.