James J. Braddock - Guestbook

Welcome to the official guestbook of the James J Braddock website. Due to spam, we have been forced stop guestbook entries.

Howard and Family~
Thank you so much for honoring a true roll model. We hope 'Cinderella Man' brings well deserved recognition to your family.
All the best and God bless.

The LaMarres'

True greatness is in the man and the family,it looks like i have seen greatness!

My mother the former Helen Sullivan tells me that my Grandfather James Sullivan, and Mr. J Braddock were good friends who worked on the docks together. She states that Mr.Braddock often picked my grandfather up in the early morning and drove him to the docks to work.As a child she has memorys of fight promoters in her house, and says that when she was older Mr.Braddock visited her in the hospital which had the doctors and nurses running to see the champ.I was given a photo of the two men together. I cant wait to see the movie.

Having just seen the movie, I raced home and found this site via Google. The movie resonated with me because I had the honor of meeting and working with Jim during the summer of 1970. I was 17, and my father was the superintendent on a big construction job in Newark. He was able to get me on the payroll as a laborer. And on my first day he introduced me to Jim, whom I remember as a very kind and friendly man. I can't recall exactly what it was he was doing on that job; I only saw him on break time, when we got coffee and sometimes chatted while sitting in the back of a truck, out of the sun. My dad--who was one of those Depression-era kids that listened to the Baer fight on the radio--told me all about Jim during several of our drives to and from the job site. Dad always thought Joe Louis the greatest prizefighter, but Jimmy Braddock was his favorite fighter.

Just saw the movie today and gave it a two thumbs up. I thought the movie was very well done and Russell Crowe played an excellent part.
The movie was so moving and interesting, I have been reading more about Max Baer and James Braddock for the last few hours.
Absolutely worth seeing!

While it's great to see a forgotten champion like Mr. Braddock get some bealted recognition, it's more than a little despicable that this recognition comes at the expense of another forgotten champion, Max Baer.

By every historical account I've ever read -- including the book "Cinderalla Man," upon which the film is based -- Mr. Baer was a warm, caring and generous person, NOT the evil scumbag he's portrayed to be in this slanderous film.

In the name of historical accuracy and common deceny, I think it's encumbent upon the Braddock's family to set the record straight and make a public statement of apology to Max Baer Jr. and the rest of the Baer family for Opie Taylor's Folly.

I just saw the movie. It was very moving. I didn't know Braddock and his family had to struggle so much during the depression.
After sturying his fight record, I'm amazed he lost so many fights, yet was good enough to go on and defeat several excellent boxers and, ultimately, win the heavyweight championship.
By the way, I'm from Sacramento, where some of the old timers still talk about Max Baer. They protray him, as you do on this website, as a congenial, fun-loving guy.
Did Baer really make those insulting personal remarks to Braddock?

The whole story is fascinating and uplifting.

I would be interested to know about Howard. I'd love to know about all of the Braddock grandchildren, too.

Can some nice person inform me?

Just saw the movie today. Russel Crowe presented a magnificent performance, and I do believe that it followed the true facts of Bradock's life...for the most part.
This movie is the REAL "ROCKY" that Sylvester Stallone gave to us in fiction. Here was a man who actually lived the ups and downs of the boxing game. With about 100 fights against some very tough men, James Braddock proved to all of them that he was a man of courage. He served honorably in WW2, and had a successful business afterward.
All in all, this was a very good movies about a good family man, a good father, husband, and a great sportsman.

Great Movie
Howard and Crowe score again!

It was a great movie, The Cinderella Man and I am very plesed to learn of Mr. Braddock.

Great movie and a great story. Movies like this make you want to learn more about the "real" history which is probably why we are here at this site. As we know certain concessions have to be made making a movie so any hints on a book with this story would be appreciated, also a comparison between the movie and real life. All the best to the Braddock family and thanks for sharing you're story.

The greatest story next to william wallace in braveheart. I can only hope to one day inspire the country the way he did.

great movie, just wish ESPN would show some of the fights, so i can watch on tv. bob in fl. long time fight fan.

Just say the movie today and it was really great . I can say that this will win many an academy award come this fall also this one blows rockey out of the water with the acting and being a true story.

I AM SO GLAD THE STORY OF JIMMY J IS FINALLY BEING TOLD... ISNT IT WONDERFUL .......THANK YOU MR HOWARD

I just saw "Cinderella Man". I really enjoyed the movie. I understand his financial losses due to the depression, but why the severe slump in his boxing career from 1929 to 1933? He went from the elite to the worst. Was this all due to his broken hand? Did he fight all of those fights he lost with a broken hand? If so, I am suprised none of the promoters, seeing his potential, did not bank roll him until his hand healed. Can anyone answer this question? Again, I enjoyed the movie very much - go see it.

I have just seen the movie. It was fabulous and inspirational. As a resident of Hudson County (No. Bergen, Jersey City, West New York are all part of this county) I am happy to know that such a great man and boxer was a citizen of this county as well. To all, go see the movie. It won't disappoint you.

Wow,a great man and a great fighter if there were only more like him.

I, too, have just seen "Cinderella Man" and if the movie was an accurate representation of James J. Braddock, then he was a man of honor, a man of integrity, a man of honesty, a man of loyalty. I was taken by the efforts of James J. Braddock to, above all, see that his family was taken care of during the darkest times of the Great Depression. He used his talents to do what he could to make sure that, as a father, husband, and a man, his family would get his best efforts. He is to be admired as such qualities exhibited by James J. Braddock are seldom seen in the world of today. I enjoyed the movie and, now, I am intrigued by the life of this boxer. His career statistics show he was not a great success, but, as a man ... he was a huge success!

We saw the film last night and you should be proud of the legacy your grandfather has left you. Living and working through the Depression was not easy and he showed what it took to keep family and trade together! Congratulations to your family!!

WONDERFUL MOVIE AND TO TELL THE LIFE STORY. OF A TRUE AND GREAT FIGHTING CHAMP. WAS A TRUELY NEAT TO SHARE IS THIS.

This is the first website i've read in its entirety and my tear ducts are dried out. I keep telling people at work i have really bad allergies. Great job!

I lived and worked in North Bergen as a letter carrier for many years. I delivered mail to the Braddock home on Park Ave & 78th Street when John, the regular on the route, was out sick or on vacation. I remember Mr. & Mrs. Braddock well. Later, I moved to Saddle Brook and met Jay Braddock and his wife through Tom Trier and his wife whom my wife and I were freindly with. It is a small world. It is good to see that Jim Braddock will be remembered forever thanks to this great movie of his life and times.
Regards

Just saw the movie and it was great!!!!!..It's sad but very inspiring at the same time. I would see it all over again....Great story..!!!