Norm the Cop and the King of Pop . . .

By Rick Farris


Reading Hap Navarro's childhood memories of waiting by the entrance to the Olympic dressing room as a kid, brought back a flood of my own personal memories hanging out in the same place. A few decades may have seperated our experience, but my interest and excitment was likely on the same level as the future California Boxing Hall of Famer.

In the mid-60's, we entered the back door closer to the dressing rooms on the West side of the building. This was the door most of the boxers choose to enter the arena for as it was right of the parking lot and closest to the dressing area.

I was never permitted to enter the dressing room, but I made sure I was there before the first prelim boys made their exit to the ring.
There were actually two entrances to the dressing room area, both were seperated by a stairway that led up to the main arena. One of the extrances was blocked off by thick gate and a cover. The other was open, but was guarded by an Los Angeles Policeman whom I would come to know as "Norm".

I was about twelve when Norm first saw my face as I leaned against the wall, having positioned myself to be right where the fighters woud brush right past me as they left the dressing room, or returned after their match.
I would was barely inches from my idols, Jerry Quarry, Mando Ramos, Dwight Hawkins, and some of the world class out-of-towners who would invade L.A. and attempt to end the dreams of our L.A. Superstars.

I remember being by that dressing room door within moments of Jerry Quarry's first pro loss to Eddie Machen, after "Irish" Frankie Crawford scored a huge upset of the upcoming future lightweight champ, Mando Ramos. I remember congratulting Ernie "Indian" Red Lopez KOed Hedgeman Lewis. Sonny Liston brushed pass me after flattening Al Jones. These are just a few incidents. There were many, many more and I soon became a recognizable face to the dressing room guard, "Norm the Cop."

Eventually Norm and I would exchange some talk and I told him my goal was to a pro fighter and one day.
Several years later, I backed up my words and as I entered the Olympic dressing room to dress for my first pro fight, the first face I saw was Norm.
He grabbed me by the arm and pointed to a couple small boys standing by the dressing room entrance holding pen & paper, for autographs.
"Do you remember that kid?" he asked.
I told him I didn't recognize the boy.
"That was you five years ago. You got your wish kid, good luck tonight."

My next nine fights would be held at the Olympic, and Norm was there for each one.
After that, fought primarily for Parnassus, Don Fraser or Mickey Davies. I didn't see Norm the Cop again for several years.

My boxing career was finished after a few years and I went to work as a motion picture lighting technician.
In the later 80's, I'm working on a Michael Jackson music video, "Thriller".
We are shooting in downtown L.A. all night long for a couple of weeks, right off of Union Pacific Ave.not far from the old Teamsters Gym.

After we finish lighting the set, Michael Jackson is brought from his motor home dressing room to rehearse the first shot with actress Ola Ray.
Jackson has very tight security and is usually escorted to and from the set by two off-duty LAPD officers.
Jackson's security consultant was in plain clothes, as were the officers. It took me about two seconds to recognize "Norm the Cop", in plain clothes leading Jackson and the other two officers to the set.

In the two Michael Jackson features I worked on, Thriller and Moonwalker, Norm the Cop was right be his side every moment he was off-camera.
I know that Norm did some work for the California State Athletic Commission for a time.

During the shots when Norm and I could speak, we shared a few good memories about the good old days at 18th & Grand.
Hap's story about the Olympic dressing room brought this one to mine.