Journalist, publicist, radio host, manager, inspirational
speaker, producer, mother, grandmother–Jackie Kallen has been them
all. Tuesday night the Great Issues Committee welcomed Kallen, the
world’s most successful female boxing manager and the inspiration
for the upcoming movie Against the Ropes. Kallen spoke to students
about her life and the lessons she has learned.

The talk began with a showing of the preview for Against the
Ropes, which is based on events from Kallen’s life and in which she
is portrayed by Meg Ryan.

Following the clip, Kallen began to tell her story. Growing up
in Detroit, Kallen started a neighborhood newsletter when she was
only 10-years-old, which lasted until intimate details about the
neighbors’ lives began to surface in the paper.

Kallen, however, was not deterred and continued writing for her
high school newspaper, where, as a senior, she landed an interview
with the Rolling Stones, who at the time were on their first
American tour.

Here, Kallen says, is where she learned one of her greatest life
lessons.

“Ask for whatever you want. When you start asking, you start
getting–because people can’t anticipate what you want,” Kallen
said.

While in Detroit, raising her children, Kallen explored other
paths as a host on the TV show, PM Magazine, and then as the host
of her own radio show, which interviewed popular music groups of
the time.

In the mid 1970s, when Kallen realized she wanted to write about
sports, she faced resistance. “Women weren’t writing about sports,”
explained Kallen.

“Whatever the situation, you have to keep your cool,” said
Kallen of what she learned that day. “Confidence is contagious, and
that confidence will take you far.”

It was a 1977 interview with six-time boxer Thomas Hearns that
began 10 years of acting as Hearns’ publicist and learning what the
world of boxing was all about. After time, however, Kallen realized
that the money was in managing.

Being the first woman to really try to become a boxing manager,
Kallen faced great skepticism. She refused to give up, however, and
now owns her own gym and has managed four world champions.
Currently, Kallen manages former champion Bronco McCart, as well as
Amber Gideon, who will turn pro later this month.

Asked what her hobbies were, Kallen spoke of helping battered
women in shelters in L.A., where she now resides, and of taking
socks to the homeless through a program called Soles for Socks.

After taking group questions, Kallen asked that she be able to
take a picture with all the SLU students in attendance to put on
her Web page.

Marie Hintz, a sophomore, said “I thought her talk was awesome.
She was so funny and inspiring.”

The Great Issues Committee works to bring approximately five or
six speakers, including some faculty, to speak to SLU students each
semester.

“We try to do anything we can to bring in new people,” said John
Eckert, chairman of the Great Issues Committee.

This November, the committee is hoping to bring in Sally Ride,
who, in 1983, became the first American woman ever to travel into
space.

Eckert hopes to expand the Great Issues Committee’s membership
in the upcoming year and encourages any SLU students who are
interested to contact him.

“We’re always looking for good ideas and more people to be
involved,” Eckert said.

Students who would like to become involved with Great Issues
Committee can contact Eckert by email at [email protected].