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Who’s who of Philippine cocking. The Mike Ratliff cocking class in the Philippines in 1976 was a virtual Who’s
Who of Philippine cocking. Standing Right to left: Mike Ratliff, Cris Hojilla, George Lacson, Warlie Paranpan,
Batchoy Alunan, Junior Cuaycong,, Tony Trebol, Baby Gamban,. Sitting left to right: Freddie Yulo, Alex Montelibano, Jim Millan, Juancho Aguirre and Edsel Villacin.
as one of those damn hawks or coyotes, and I mean it. You're just a bunch of
damn people who have no business being American."
The Humane Society would always be a pain in Ratliff's ass. As soon as he finished
building the cockfighting pit that now stands in Jal, New Mexico, a woman from the
organization got a judge to put a padlock on it. Ratliff had to go all the way up to
Santa Fe to argue his case.
"Our lawyer says to the judge, 'I understand you love to fish.' The judge nodded.
So our lawyer asks him, 'Which is more harmful, to let two roosters fight in their
way of thinking or to put a minnow on a hook?' The judge thought about that for
about ten seconds. He said, 'I put my minnows on a hook.' Then he hit the gavel
and said, 'Case dismissed.'"
But things changed over the years. In 1975, cockfighting was a felony in just a few
states. By 2005, it was a felony in 33.
(Mike Ratliff is now on the comeback trail. He promised to hold classes
and fight in Mexico and the Philippines.)
Roosterman No. 38
Thanks for sharing Roosterman.