James J. Braddock - Guestbook

Welcome to the official guestbook of the James J Braddock website. Due to spam, we have been forced stop guestbook entries.

Ron Howard -- So what if the Academy Awards ignored The Cinderella Man. James J. Braddock would have been proud of your film I am sure and that's more important than any award. Judging from the wonderful comments I am reading here -- you helped bring Jimmy to the attention of many more people of all ages. Their respect and comments are awe-inspiring. Thanks to you Ron Howard -- that's an award few earn. It almost seems as if James J. Braddock has touched their lives, continues to inspire and generate hope. Jimmy has won yet another title fight -- 71 years later -- and he didn't even have to show up. This time Jimmy has won over many more new fans the world over for just having been James Braddock. More people know who James J. Braddock is today than they know who the reigning Heavyweight Champion is right now. One other thing -- for an Australian actor like Russell Crowe to master a really good North Bergen, NJ accent (Renee Zellweger as well) -- a job well done. I was surprised. Yes, Max Baer was not the jerk portrayed in the film -- but the focus was not on Max this time. His story is equally colorful and amazing. Having lived all my life in the West New York-North Bergen region, my family has always known who James J. Braddock was. We are proud and happy his legacy has won its place in the hearts of many people throughout the world. It certainly deserves to be.

I (like many have said) also had not heard of Mr.JJ Braddock. And like many others after watching the movie, have come to have deep respect for such a man. A "man" that hardly exist in this 21st. Century. I strongly believe every father (and son's for that matter) should view this movie and learn how to be a MAN. And by watching this movie they would learn things like ,RESPECT,HONESTY,MODESTY and above all things LOVE of "FAMILY".

ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW. A MAN WHO WORKED FOR EVERYTHING HE GOT. I HAVE 2 KIDS AND HOPE TO BY HALF THE MAN AND FATHER JIM WAS. GOD BLESS ALL OF THE BRADDOCK FAMILY I WILL SURELY TELL MY TWO BOYS OF HIM.

i had never heard of jj and rented the movie as just another film to watch . WOW . A FANTASTIC MOVIE AND A GREAT MAN . it gripped me from start to finish and has compelled me to find out more about this great man ,wonderful husband and fantastic father .

in memory of my late father who was a great fan of james braddock lived thr the great drpression and james was a great american hero

Watched the movie about J J Braddock without question a GREAT story about his life. As a young man during that time period my father also fought 19 matches to put food on the table for his brothers and sisters since my grandfather had lost a small business in Buffalo N.Y. and then passed away.

As a father of two boys and a daughter the fight is to raise them with the kind of values I admire in James Braddock. God, church, family, community, friend and tremendous loyalty to his children. To see such a movie coming out of the entertainment industry? Thank you Ron Howard and the people who told this story. I'm inspired to keep fighting for my children's values. Good old fashioned "greatest generation" values. Thank God for some real life heroes.

I have had a few fights myself. Mr. Braddock fought for all the right reasons. The person , his heart, thats why James Braddock is special. He did duty to his country and his family. A life well lived . Thank you for this site.-Chris Wells

Rented the movie last night, did some research on Braddock. Yes i agree he was a wonderul husband and father but a coward in the ring. After he beat Baer he was scared to fight anyone knowing he would be beat. He fought Louis 2 years later and you know the rest of the story. When you do a movie please give out with real facts. Also, Baer was not a villian he was a truly good person.

Just saw the movie, wow what a inaccurate film about Braddock. True Jim was a good family man, but truly a very bad fighter. The film bashed Max Baer so terrible. In reality Baer was a good fun loving guy who brought color to the boxing game. He supported the family of the fighter that he killed (Campbell ) sent his children to college. That was not nice of Ron Howard to portray Baer as a evil person.

Great movie,very interesting person.

What an amazing man! What an amazing love story! This wonderful man did all he could possibly do to keep his family together. I can't truely grasp how hard life was during the great depression, this movie gave me a glimps of that time. I was glued to the TV from start to finish. I can't say enough about Mr. Braddock and how inspiring his story is. It really struck me when asked what he was fighting for and he answered "MILK". Also the way he handled the situation when his son stole the salami and Jay told him why. I could go on and on... The decendants of James J. Braddock shoukd be very proud indeed. Thank you for sharing his story.

Seeing such a man who faces the hardest challenges, is really moving. This movie was an inspiration to us, and so is the life of "the Cinderella man" and this website.

The film has proved a great opener into how much James's family meant to him. His care for them - at his pain is the stuff off legends.

what a film, what a man.

I have a lot of respect for james Braddock. It was a wonderful movie and lots of people should take a lesson from this wonderful man

i hate boxing. i almost didnt watch it. but i'm glad i did. it was wanderful.

What a beautiful story of an honorable man who shows us all how to behave in the face of hardships. I am not sure many of us would have that much resolve. But then, his wife has to be credited with some of that resolve. What a shining example both of the are for all of us.

This movie had my heart from beginning to end. I watched it with my children. I told them this man Jim Braddock was the epitome of MAN. What I want for me and my girls and demand of my sons. Awesome example of a strong American man and a great fighter in every sense of the word.

I almost didn't watch the movie because I don't like boxing. But, I am so glad I did. Wow, one of the best movies I have ever seen. It is so inspirational. The way he cared for his family and never gave up really moved me. Well done!!

I loved the movie but I don't understand why they had to trash Max Baer. He was not the bloodthirsty jerk depicted in the movie. Yes an opponent died after fighting Baer, an unfortunate event. Baer was so distraught he retired from boxing. He also took over complete financial responsibility for the wife and three kids of the deseased and even paid for all three kids to go to college. Only after a retired Jack Dempsey took him under his wing did he decide to return to boxing and thereafter won the heavyweight crown setting up his fight with Braddick a year latter. He also fought Max Smelling twice and wore a Star of David on his trunks as a protest to the Nazis. This was years before anyone in the US had the courage to protest what was happenning in Germany. He beat Smelling twice before Joe Louis fought Smilling. Max Baer's son, Max Baer Jr played 'Jethro' on the Beverly Hillbillies. He has the right to be upset at his father's unfair portrayal in the movie. The movie could have been just as good without making Baer a villian, which in real life he was not.

Wow what a powerful and inspiring movie. The depression was such a hard time, my Grandfather also a great boxer told me about it, we are very fortunate these days. How incredible he was that he emerged from those hard times and as the underdog and became the champ again. this is a must see movie and very motivating, thank you.

Great story, great person, great life. Splendid example of will, which is able to embarrass many weak and resigned people.

Touring website as I am watching movie. Everyone has already spoken the words that I want to say about this man and his legacy. But I do want to add that this movie put my relationship with my wife and kids into perspective and has inspired me to better husband and father. My favorite part of the movie is at the press conference when the reporter ask what was different this time around and he said he knew what he was fighting for, "MILK".

What an inspirational man! He did whatever it took for his family and also served his country. He never gave up. We need were more people like him in the world today.