AMIGO BROTHERS
1. What is special about the friendship between Antonio and Felix?
Antonio Cruz and Felix Vargas were seventeen years old. They were so together in friendship that they felt like brothers. They had known each other from childhood. They grew up in the same building on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
2. How did they work to achieve their dream?
Antonio and Felix had a dream - becoming the light weight champion of the world. Whenever they got a chance they excercised, sometimes at the Boy's Club and sometimes at the gym. They would run every day morning, wearing sweat shirts and short towels around their necks. They had a collection of fight magazines. They also kept the torn tickets of all the boxing matches they had gone to see. They also had some clippings of their own.
3. What was the wall rising between them?
Antonio and Felix had a dream - becoming the light weight champion of the wirld. They both practiced well. They were told that they were to meet each other in the division finals scheduled for the seventh of August. That was two weeks away. The winner would represent the Boy's Club in the Golden Gloves Championship Tournament. That means only one of them would go to the Tournament. This was the wall rising between them.
4. Felix decides to go to Aunt Lucy. Why?
Both Felix and Antonio have come to know that they have to fight an elimination bout and only the winner would go to take part in the Golden Gloves championship Tournament. So far they have been running together and working out together. Now they have to have a plan of their own to defeat his rival in the bout. So they thought it was better that they seperated. That is why Felix decides to go to Aunt Lucy.
5. Compare the thoughts and feelings of Amigo brothers on the eve of their fight
The evening before the big fight, Antonio made his way to the roof of his building. He tried not to think of Felix. He thought he had made up his mind. He would knock out Felix early and quickly so that he doesn't get hurt by a long fight. Felix decided to watch a movie in an effort to keep Antonio's face away from his mind and fists. The film was 'The Champion', acted by Kirk Douglas. The champion was getting beaten. Felix got a shock. He imagined himself in the ring, blasting Antonio against the ropes.
6. Both Antonio and Felix wanted to win in the first round. What might be the reason?
Both Antonio and Felix wanted to win in the first round because they both wanted to win and at the same time they did not want to hurt each other by extending the fight into three full rounds.
7. The Amigo brothers were popular as boxers. How do you know?
The Amigo brothers were popular as boxers. We know that from the fact that large posters about the fight were plastered all over the walls of local shops. The fight created great interest in the neighbourhood. Both the boys were liked and respected and each had his own loyal following.
8. Do you think that the amigo brothers fought fiercely in the first and second rounds? What makes you think so?
Yes, I do. The Amigo brothers fought fiercely in the first and second rounds. In the first round we see Antonio countering the attack of Felix with three lefts that snapped Felix's head back, sending a mild shock coursing through him. Again we see Antonio crashing two lefts to Felix's hand which made his ear ring. In the second round we see neither fighter giving an inch. We see Antonio getting a short right on his chin, turning his legs to jelly. We see Felix grunting like a bull throwing wild punches at Antonio from every direction. So both were trying to win by hitting the other as hard as they could.
9. Who, do you think , will win the end?
Both will win. Neither of them fell to the canvas and the referee and the two trainers had to pry Felix and Antonio apart. In fact their friendship won.
10. The Amigo brothers rushed at each other after the final bout. Why? What does this tell us about their relationship?
The Amigo brothers rushed at each other after the final bout because they were proud of each other. They knew they would always be champions to each other. This tell us that their friendship is very strong.
THINK AND WRITE
* There are lots of similarities and differences between Antonio and Felix. List them.
Similarities: They both are young boys of 17. They both are Puerto Ricans. They both want to become a light weight champion of the world. They both work out hard. They both run in the mornings. They both live in the same building on the Lower East side of Manhattan. They love each other very much. Neither of them wants the other to be hurt, although they both want to win.
Differences: Antonio was fair, lean and lanky. Felix was dark, short and husky. Antonio's hair was always falling over his eyes, while Felix wore his black hair in an Afro style. Felix weighed 134 pounds, but Antonio weighed 133 pounds.
Activity - I : ( write - up)
The box given below contains information about Antonio and Felix. Add more points to it.
* Felt themselves to be brothers
* Slept, ate, rapped and dreamt positive
* They were young boys of 17
* They were Puerto Ricans
* They wanted to become the light weight champion of the world
* They worked out hard
* They ran in the morning
* They lived in the same building on the Lower East side of Manhattan
* They did not want the other to be hurt
* They were strong, one weighing 134 pounds and other 133 pounds.
ACIVITY - II (Making Annoumcement)
The following announcement was made by the announcer before the competition began: "Ladies and gentlemen, now is the moment we have all been waiting for - the main event between two fine young Puerto Rican fighter....."
Imagine yourself to be the announcer of the sports day in your school. Write the script of the announcement that you would make for any one event.
"Respected principal, teachers and my dear students. Now is the moment we all have been waiting for - the 100 meter Race. The contestants are ready at the starting point. They represent different houses - Blue, Green, Red, Blue. Soon the whistle will go and you will see the fatest runner of the school competing for the prize. Be ready for a breathtaking finish. I can see the referee ready to whistle. May the beat man win".
Thank you all.
ACTIVITY - III (Newspaper report)
Imagine that you are a newspaper reporter and you witness the contest between Amigo brothers and note down the points which you would like to include in your report.
* Venue - Tompkins square Park
* Time - Afternoon
* Contestants - Antonio Cruz and Felix Vargas
* Park begins to fill up even earlier
* Fighters enter
* Crowd explodes with a roar
* Antonio and Felix bow gracefully and raise their arms in acknowledgement
* The announcement with the respective weights of the contestants.
* Referee giving instructions
* First round, second round, Third round
* Final bell. Fighting doesnot stop. People get worried
* The referee and the trainers seperate the contestants
* The contestant embrace
* The announcement but the contestants had left, arm in arm, declaring their strong bond of friendship - amigo brothers!
Now prepare a newspaper report to be mailed to your editor.
AMIGO BROTHERS STUNNES EVERYONE
TOMPKIN SQUARE PARK : The fight between Antonio Cruz and Felix vargas wsa scheduled to take place in Tompkin square park. The time was afternoon. Even before the scheduled fight, the park begins to fill up because the fighters were much liked by the people around. There was expectations in all the faces to see a very good fight. The fighters enter and the crowd explodes with a roar. Antonio and Felix bow gracefully and raise their arms in acknowledgement.
The announcer makes the announcement telling that the contest is between Antonio Cruz and Felix Vargas, two fine Puerto Ricans. Felix Vargas weighs 134 pounds and his rival Antonio Cruz 133 ponds. The winner will repdesent the Boy's Club in the tournament of champions, the Golden Gloves. There will be no draw. The referee gives instructions telling them it should be a clean fight. In the first round both contestants do their best to outwit the other. But both are equally strong. In the second round also the same things happen. Punches fly back and forth, but none is floored. Each punch is applauded thunderously by the crowd.
Now comes the third round. Each contestant wants to win. They punch each other very hard. Nobody falls to the canvas. The final bell rings. But the fight continues. The bell rings again and again. But there is no stopping to the fighting. People started getting worried. It looked as if they are witnessing a do or die fight and not a contest. There is utter silence. Then the referee and the trainers seperate the contestants.
At last the contestants embrace. They have forgotten they were fighting like bulls up to a moment ago. The announcer makes an announcement. He is trying to name the winner and he looks around. But both Felix and Antonio had left like good old friends, arm in arm, declaring their strong bond of friendship. They proved themselves to be real amigo brothers.
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