Imagine you were there 25 years ago, the last time the rugged little tank climbed through the ropes in Washington. And you saw him swap hooks and crosses with a good fighter named Darryl Tyson, until he lost a 12-round war for the Continental Americas lightweight title. You saw his will, his heart. And after a black fan kissed him on the forehead that night, telling him, excitedly, “You’re the toughest white [expletive] I ever saw,” imagine all you heard later about that fighter was that he developed Parkinson’s disease at just 28 years old. Read full article > >

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Freddie Roach got off the boxing mat and triumphed

Mike Flanagan was the best student of people, the toughest pitch-hurt competitor, the most unselfish teammate and the best world-leery wit of any Oriole of his time. Nobody was like him — at all. A few years ago, the O’s honored former manager Earl Weaver with a plaque that’s on the wall, waist-high, in their dugout. “Oh, life size,” Flanagan quipped. When he was a kid pitcher who allowed too many steals, Flanny threw a sideline session as Weaver watched. Suddenly Earl began running, yelling, “I just stole second on you.” Read full article > >

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Mike Flanagan brought unique perspective to the top of the mound

Mike Flanagan was the best student of people, the toughest pitch-hurt competitor, the most unselfish teammate and the best world-leery wit of any Oriole of his time. Nobody was like him — at all. A few years ago, the O’s honored former manager Earl Weaver with a plaque that’s on the wall, waist-high, in their dugout. “Oh, life size,” Flanagan quipped. When he was a kid pitcher who allowed too many steals, Flanny threw a sideline session as Weaver watched. Suddenly Earl began running, yelling, “I just stole second on you.” Read full article > >

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Mike Flanagan brought unique perspective to the top of the mound

Some of the toughest anti-smoking measures to be adopted in a major city is approved by local councillors in New York.

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Even Times Square out of bounds for smokers now

Now that the world knows, Nicole Kidman says keeping quiet about her new daughter Faith Margaret was one of the toughest things she’s ever had to do.

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Why Nicole Kidman kept Faith a secret

Jerry Brown promised to lead California out of one of the toughest budget crises of its history.

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In California, Governor Brown Redux

Spain sees the introduction of strict new anti-smoking rules that are among the toughest in Europe.

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Spanish smoking ban takes effect

A law in Spain that goes into effect Sunday bans smoking in indoor bars and restaurants, and gives the nation some of the toughest smoking restrictions in western Europe.

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Spain bans smoking at bars, eateries

Ministers must do more to show how reforms to the NHS will be pushed through without hitting patient care in what may be “the toughest year” in its 62-year history, a leading body warned.

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2011 ‘could be NHS toughest year’

Archive footage shows how the United Kingdom experienced the run up to Christmas in 1947, one of the toughest of the post-War ‘Austerity’ years.

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Britain’s original ‘Austerity’ Christmas

Barbara Boxer, a Democrat seeking her fourth term as a senator, is locked in the toughest race of her career.

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Emboldened G.O.P. Takes On Calif. Fixture

In the toughest neighborhoods, gay residents say, it is possible to live openly much of the time — and then to suddenly pay for it.

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In the Bronx, an Openly Gay Life Can Be a Dangerous One