Boxing Gloves and Garden Gloves: The Two Worlds of Manny Steward
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
July 7, 1944
On this day, dear readers, we celebrate the birth of a most intriguing figure: Emanuel "Manny" Steward, a man whose life was as richly layered as the soil in a well-tended garden. Known to many as The Godfather of Detroit Boxing, Steward's legacy in the pugilistic world is nothing short of extraordinary.
Picture, if you will, the gritty gymnasiums of Detroit, where Steward honed the skills of no fewer than 41 world champion fighters. Thomas Hearns, Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko - these titans of the ring all flourished under Steward's expert tutelage. One can almost hear the rhythmic thud of gloves on heavy bags, the squeak of shoes on canvas, the grunts of effort echoing through the air.
But what, you may ask, does this have to do with our beloved pursuit of gardening?
Ah, dear friends, here's where our story takes an unexpected turn. For you see, beneath the tough exterior of this boxing maestro beat the heart of a true gardener.
In his own words, Steward revealed:
My favorite hobby is being alone. I like to be alone. I also like dancing, fishing, playing poker sometimes and vegetable gardening – corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, I have a big garden every year.
Can you picture it? The man who guided boxers through the brutal ballet of the ring, tenderly coaxing seedlings from the soil?
There's a certain poetry in this juxtaposition, is there not? The discipline required to train world-class athletes surely translates well to the patient nurturing of a vegetable garden. One can imagine Steward approaching his garden with the same focus and dedication he brought to the boxing ring.
Perhaps, in the quiet solitude of his garden, Steward found a respite from the high-stakes world of professional boxing. Among the rustling corn stalks and ripening tomatoes, he could be alone with his thoughts, tending to life rather than preparing for combat.
And let us not overlook the fact that Steward specified a "big garden every year." This was no casual hobby, dear readers, but a serious commitment to the art of cultivation. One can almost see him, on a warm Detroit summer evening, surveying his domain with the same pride he might feel watching one of his protégés claim a championship belt.
What lessons might we glean from Steward's dual passions?
Perhaps it's a reminder that we are all multi-faceted beings, capable of finding joy in seemingly contradictory pursuits. Or maybe it's a testament to the universal appeal of gardening - an activity that can captivate everyone from heavyweight champions to humble hobbyists.
As we tend our own plots this day, let us think of Manny Steward.
May we approach our gardens with the focus of a boxing champion, the patience of a master trainer, and the joy of someone who truly appreciates the solace found in the company of growing things.
And who knows?
Perhaps the next time you're weeding your cucumber patch or staking your tomatoes, you might just find yourself bobbing and weaving like a prizefighter, combining the best of both Steward's worlds!
