Stallone on Rocky: 'I can't do no more'

By Carol Beggy & Mark Shanahan, Globe Staff  |  December 7, 2006

Actor Sylvester Stallone's appearance at the South Boston Boxing Club was supposed to be under wraps, but dozens of fight fans and ordinary folks still managed to make their way into the James M. Curley Community Center yesterday to get a glimpse of Rocky. "I guess all roads for me lead to a boxing ring," said Stallone. In town for a day of interviews to promote "Rocky Balboa," the latest -- and, he promises, last -- installment of the lucrative film franchise, Stallone and Hizzoner Tom Menino announced a donation of $3,000 worth of boxing equipment to the fledgling youth boxing club. "Thanks, Everlast ," Sly said, holding up a brand new pair of black boxing gloves. "I'm used to being hit by these." As for the new movie, which opens Christmas week, Stallone said returning to the ring was "a little like coming home." He said he felt compelled to make one final "Rocky" flick because "I let people down" with the forgettable "Rocky V." But the 60-year-old pugilist admitted that making this picture was "100 times harder than the first one." Stallone reiterated that this is the last round for the flunkie from Philly who launched his career and earned him an Oscar. "If I could make 50 'Rocky' [films] I would," he said. "It's great to know there will be no more, because I can't do no more."

From the mouth of No. 33

By all accounts, Paul Pierce is the NBA's premiere trash talker. But No. 34's nothing compared to Larry Bird, the hick from French Lick who turns 50 today. According to Bill Walton, whose interview with Larry Legend airs tonight on the NBA network, Bird could berate and belittle with the best of them. "Most of the time, it was under his breath," Big Red revealed to us, chatting by phone from LA. "I remember once in Cleveland, the fans were getting on him because he had a bad elbow, and Larry kept saying, 'You bunch of chicken farmers, I'll show you.' And, of course, he did." In the interview, which airs at 7:30 p.m., Walton also pokes a little fun at No. 33, recalling the first time he heard Celts fans chant "Lar-ry! Lar-ry!" A notorious Deadhead, Walton said he walked up to Bird, and asked why the crowd was chanting "Jer-ry! Jer-ry!" Bird, who attended a few Grateful Dead gigs with Walton, just smiled and said, "No, Bill, they're chanting my name." Not only one of the greatest to ever play the game, Walton calls Larry "a genius as a human spirit. . . . I just love the guy. He's perfect in all ways."

Siragusa hunts for ‘Caves’

As make over shows go, "Man Caves" may be the best yet. The premise of the program is that men need a room of their own, something away from the spouse and screaming kids, where they can behave like, well, men. Bulging former football star Tony "The Goose" Siragusa hosts the show, which is shooting its first episode this week at the North Reading residence of Larry and Toni Cannalonga. "It's about guys getting their space back," Siragusa told us yesterday. "We don't want any candles or flowers, and we don't want the wives cleaning up after we leave. It's a man cave." A jolly giant of a guy who does sideline reporting for Fox, Siragusa said the DIY network's going all out, converting Cannalonga's basement into a bar, game room, and home theater. As he crafts each man cave, Siragusa's getting an assist from his many friends in the sports world. For Cannalonga's cave, Siragusa got his meaty mitts on some seats from the old Garden, and a JoJo White jersey. " 'The Goose' has been great," said Cannalonga, who told us his college buddies can't wait to crash his new cave. The show will air sometime next spring.

Hard to believe that "Hot Stove, Cool Music" is almost upon us. Organizers of the annual Jimmy Fund benefit at the Paradise have added a second show -- Jan. 6 -- that'll feature the Figgs, Frank Smith, the Bleedin Brothers, and Little Feat's Paul Barrere, Kenny Gradney, and Richie Hayward. (Tix for the show go on sale today at thedise.com.) The Jan. 7 show, to be MC'd by Mike O'Malley, will feature music by Sox GM Theo Epstein, Peter Gammons, Buffalo Tom's Bill Janovitz, Joe Pernice, Kay Hanley, and the Downbeat 5. . . . Longmeadow lad Damien Fahey and MTV's Methuen connection Susie Castillo made the scene at Stuff Magazine's "Toys for Bigger Boys" event in New York the other night. Others in attendance included "Entourage" star Adrian Grenier, "Dreamgirls" gal Jennifer Hudson, and comedian Dave Attell. . . . Eric Engel, who for the past two years has served as producing director and associate artistic director of Gloucester Stage Co., was named the company's artistic director yesterday, taking over for Israel Horovitz, who retired last summer. A director in Boston for more than 20 years, Engel is also director of Harvard's Memorial Hall/Sanders Theatre complex, a job he'll keep.

Chef and restaurateur Jody Adams invited longtime friend and celebrated chef Marcus Samuelsson, of New York's Aquavit and Riingo restaurants, to Rialto the other night for a party to mark the publication of Samuelsson's new book, "The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa."

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