At least this politician admits to having brain damage

By Frank Brutus

Buffalo boxer “Baby” Joe Mesi knows what it’s like to be punched repeatedly in the face, head and neck area.

Mesi: loves built-in sharpener.

That’s why the boxer-turned politician is so excited about his new job as the man in charge of the State Democratic Majority Leader’s upstate office, located in downtown Buffalo.

Mesi, who retired from boxing three years ago after violent punches to his head caused bleeding on his brain, spoke to reporters from the steps of Buffalo’s City Hall yesterday.

“I like crayons,” said Mesi.

Mesi, a Democrat, was unsuccessful in his bid last year for the State Senate seat now held by Republican Michael Ranzenhofer.

Some criticized Mesi’s preparation for that failed campaign when he spoke almost exclusively about “pictures of the big boats” that frequented Buffalo’s harbor in its grain-milling heyday.

During the mid-afternoon press conference Mesi, whose boxing and political careers have both been expertly managed by his father, focused on the high regard he has for crayons of all shapes and sizes.

“Purple ones are my favorite,” said the undefeated pugilist who graduated from Sweet Home High School.

But Mesi the political-appointee has not lost the moves he formerly demonstrated as a practitioner of the sweet science.  Bobbing and weaving around a reporter’s question about his qualifications to run an upstate political office where he will be in charge of ten full-time employees, Mesi instead rattled off a list of other things that he likes besides crayons.

“I like shoe polish.  And carrots.”

The press conference ended prematurely when Mesi, pointing to the sun that had suddenly emerged from behind the billowing clouds above Lake Erie, ran from the steps of City Hall screaming “Fire!”