By Larry Ryan
Lou Reed has been many things to many people: iconic and ground-breaking lyricist and musician, art photographer, actor, tai chai student, sunglasses designer, life-partner to Laurie Anderson and generally a rather cantankerous fellow. Now he can add two more strings to his de-tuned guitar - live blogger and boxing photographer!
The heavyweight bout between Wladimar Klitschko and Sultan Ibragimov at Madison Square Garden last week was an otherwise uneventful 12 rounds but Lou Reed was ringside to document the whole shebang anyway for the MSG website, with pithy commentary and close-up pictures.
It's not entirely clear why he was there, but what the hell? He's Lou Reed and he can do as he damn well pleases. Time then for some choice words from Lou...
First Lou sets the scene with a dash of name-dropping:
"3rd row in - first round and a lot of dancing going on - no real damage! Sitting here beside Vince McMahon and WWE stars"
His words on round four could be an outtake from Waiting for the Man:
"jabbing jabbing by Klitschko! Sultan looking a little raw!"
Round five and Lou's getting restless:
"A little too much dancing going on! Klitschko had him..the jab needs to start"
Finally, some excitement:
"Round 10! a takedown worthy of WWE with both fighters hitting the canvas. They are now throwing some leather....but the round ends!"
But let's face it, he's seen better:
"Klitschko should have thrown the right seven rounds ago....he is pawing at him - Ali would have been done with this"
So what will Lou do next? My money's on a run for New York mayor. Either that or a moderately disappointing album that can't live up to his immense back catalogue. Rock and roll.
(Photo: Jim Dyson/Getty Images)
He obviously fancies himself as a bit of an Ernie Hemingway figure. I think he'd be best off leaving it to the pros, but full marks for having a go.
Posted by: Robbo | Tuesday, 11 March 2008 at 06:06 PM