Today we are giving the Old Guys Rule hat tip to Muhammad Ali in celebration of his 70th Birthday. Although he is known for his prowess in the boxing ring, his legacy includes his human rights efforts. As we reflect on his life and career, we instantly think of a few highlights…both professional and personal.

Ali dominated in the ring, bout after bout. TIME, put together a nice pictorial: 70 Iconic Images for 70 Years. His career consisted of 56 wins and 5 losses. He was named the Heavy-Weight Champion at just 22 years old after a win over Sonny Liston. His most renowned fights were against http://www.oldguysrule.com/ee/index.php/blog/entry/the_loss_of_a_great_fighter/" title="Smokin' Joe Frazier">Smokin' Joe Frazier in The Fight of the Century and The Thrilla in Manilla. He was an integral part of this great sport during an era that will never be forgotten.

Although, Ali retired from boxing more than 30 years ago, his legacy will continue and it far surpasses the boxing ring. Ali has dedicated time and energy to bettering the human condition. He has stood up for people that sometimes cannot stand up for themselves. Even though he has been battling Parkinson's Disease since 1984, he hasn't let that stop him. He has made it his mission to make a positive difference in the world. He has delivered food and medicine to many nations in need. He has visited countless hospitals, soup kitchens and charities. He has championed boxing reform legislation and legislation that protects children. We couldn't possibly share every positive story that we've heard and read about him…there are so many.

We can say that we hope that he is having a very happy 70th birthday. We are proud to feature him on some of our Old Guys Rule apparel. A portion of the proceeds from the line featuring Muhammad Ali goes to the Muhammad Ali Center, whose mission is to preserve and share the legacy and ideals of Muhammad Ali, to promote respect, hope and understanding, and to inspire adults and children everywhere to be as great as they can be.

We love to hear about the great things that Old Guys are doing to further prove that Old Guys Rule. There are so many different endeavors that Old Guys are pursuing and we can't keep track of everyone, but we'd love to try. Are there Old Guys that you know who are doing great things? Please tell us about it on our Facebook page so that we can share it with our friends.

We recently stumbled upon a blog post that is exactly the kind of thing we'd like to hear about. There is an Old Guy who will be embarking on a 3,000 mile journey in just a couple of short months. 3,000 miles isn't that far if you're in a plane. It's an obnoxiously long drive. This guy won't be using a plane or a car…he's walking. 3,000 miles on foot. He'll be celebrating his 70th birthday while he is on his journey.

We think the story of Mike Shaw is so inspirational. He will be walking from Dana Point, California to New York, New York to raise money for two charities: The Make-A-Wish Foundation and The Wounded Warrior Project. His goal is to raise $100,000. His friend, Doug Roberts will be joining him for part of his journey.

We were excited to read about their efforts and we wish them all the best on their journey. It's truly inspirational to read about such a testament to friendship, philanthropy, life and to the fact that Old Guys Rule!

Staying fit is so important; of course all Old Guys know that. It is the key to being able to do the things we enjoy…surfing, fishing, hiking, running and even just working on our cars. In January, every year, the gyms and the beaches are flooded with people who are trying to keep the resolutions that they've made for the New Year. We know in a couple of months, the crowds will dwindle and it will be back to the normal for those of us who have made staying fit a part of our lives.

Until things go back to normal, we think about what keeps us inspired to stay fit. For some, it's the desire to keep getting on the board and riding the waves. For others, it's the simple wish to go for a run and clear their heads. And for the competitive Old Guys, it's the desire to keep up and push ahead of the "other guys."

We keep working at staying in shape day after day, year after year. We feel pretty good about that. It means so much to be able to do the things we love to do and usually, that is enough to keep at it. Sometimes, though, we need a little extra inspiration. In case you should ever find yourself in a similar situation, here are some Old Guys who give us that extra boost:
Glenn Gordinier the 64-year-old who surfs the cold waters of the Atlantic, year round. He's also the author of "Surfing Cold Water: A New Englander's Off Season Obsession."
Massoud Messkoub a 66-year-old marathon runner who has ran more than 50 marathons in 50 states. He suffered a back injury about 20 years ago and was in a wheelchair for a time.
He ran his first marathon at age 56.
Bob Evans and his power-lifter friends that are mostly in their 60s and 70s. This group of guys joined together to do a heavy lifting workout in a Chatsworth, CA garage when their former
gym closed.

What keeps you inspired? Have you seen an Old Guy ruling fitness? We'd love to hear about it. You can share it here or on our Facebook Page.

As we near the end of 2011, we are looking forward to the New Year. We've started thinking about our resolutions, which seem to last for the first few weeks of the year. We always intend to keep them, but somehow life gets busy and we slide bit by bit. However, that doesn't stop us from trying. We aren't going to name names just in case someone slips up, but here is the list of resolutions from folks at Old Guys Rule:

• Spend more time with family and friends
• Exercise more
• Eat healthier
• Spend more time outdoors
• Be more organized
• Get involved in the community
• Not to make any resolutions (have to laugh at this one)

We've listed all of these on our Facebook page. We'd like to know if you are "resolving" to make a change in 2012. Does your list look like the one above or are you focusing on one thing?

Also, just a few quick tips that we've read over the years that might help you keep those resolutions:
• Tell your family and friends what your resolutions are, ask them to help.
• Be reasonable by setting realistic goals and timelines.
• Write it down where you will see it every day.
• Work with a friend who has the same resolution, keep each other on track
• Reward yourself when you reach milestones - 1 week, 1 month, etcetera

Best wishes for a Happy New Year. We hope that 2012 is a great year for you. Thank you for all of your support in 2011…we look forward to sharing more Old Guys Rule insight in the coming year.

No matter how many Christmas movies I've seen, my favorite is an oldie. I guess that's appropriate... Every year at the holidays, I watch "It's a Wonderful Life." Sure there are funnier movies and maybe more sentimental movies, but for me this one is the best.

George Bailey is just a regular guy who makes a few mistakes. Who hasn't? He doesn't realize the value of his own life. The ways that he has made a difference for other people. He throws in the towel, gives up...but then Clarence steps in. How they came up with this old guy as the angel is beyond me, but I guess it gives an old guy some hope. That unlikely angel shows George what life would be if he had never been born. Turns out the world is a better place because he's in it.

It makes me think of the people I've lost during my life. I wish I could have shown them what life would be like without them...maybe that's why this movie resonates with me. Or maybe it's because it's a classic...and I have a penchant for the classics.

It calls to mind a simpler time, watching a Christmas movie with the family (before there were hundreds of Christmas movies), on a black and white TV. Also, it reminds me that it takes us "regular guys" to make the world go round; even when we don't realize it. So here's to all of the regular guys....Happy Holidays.

It's hard to believe that the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred 70 years ago. Although that was before our time, at least for some of us, it still seems like it couldn't have possibly been that long ago. Every year on December 7th, we pause and think of those who battled on that day so many years ago.

More than 2,000 soldiers were lost that day. More than 1,000 servicemen were injured. The number of surviving military personnel continues to dwindle. Many of those survivors think that they will be forgotten, but we can say for certain that we will never forget. We know that there are so many that agree with us...more than 1 Million people continue to flock to the USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor annually.

On this 70th Anniversary, Old Guys Rule tips our hat and humbly offer our respects to those who served at Pearl Harbor. We will not forget and we agree with Franklin D. Roosevelt when he referred to December 7, 1941 as "a date which will live in infamy." Thanks to all who have served and continue to serve. We are grateful to you and your comrades for your service.

Here at Old Guys Rule, we like to focus on the great things that we have accomplished in our lives and all of the fun that we are still having. Even though that is what we talk about the most, there is always something else going on behind the scenes. There are many worthy causes that we support. You may have noticed that a percentage of the proceeds from all of our "Living Legends" products benefits a charity.

Our John Wayne Collection benefits the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. Although we remember his battles on TV the most, John Wayne's toughest battle was against cancer. He was able to beat lung cancer in 1964, but succumbed to Stomach Cancer in 1979. John Wayne's family established the John Wayne Cancer Foundation to "to bring courage, strength and grit to the fight against cancer." The foundation is committed to groundbreaking cancer research and education at the John Wayne Cancer Institute.

John Wayne once said, "Well, there are some things a man just can't run away from." We couldn't agree more, which is why we are proud to offer products that give back to this important charity. We are very pleased to share that Old Guys Rule has donated more than $85,000 to the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. When you buy John Wayne products from Old Guys Rule, this donation continues to grow. Even though Thanksgiving has past, we want to thank you again for your business, which in turn supports this important cause.

It is hard to believe that it's Thanksgiving already. It seems like 2011 just started...when you're younger people tell you time goes faster as you get older. We never believed it. It didn't seem to make any sense...a day is 24 hours, a year is 365 days...how could time go faster? We don't have the answer to that, but it seems like it does. It's days like Thursday that makes it ok for time to pass so quickly. Who isn't ready for another day of feasting, family and hopefully some football?

There are four games that will be played on Thursday, although there is no way we can catch all of them...but we'll be in the recliner at least some of the time. The Packers play the Lions, the Dolphins go up against the Cowboys, the 49ers versus Baltimore and also Texas A & M is head-to-head with Texas. Although part of us wants to sit in front of the TV all day, the other part will be happy to cut the bird, trip over kids and dogs, and just spend time with our family.

It's always a full house on Turkey Day. Even if we can manage to get in front of the TV, there will probably be at least one person standing in front of it most of the time. But you know, that's ok. The thing that we are most thankful for on Thanksgiving is being with the people we care about. Of course, it is followed by food and football...it's Thanksgiving after all...it's part of the tradition. We know some of you might be spending it other ways...on a beach, on a slope or even in another country. Which brings to mind soldiers who might be spending this holiday away from their families, we're thankful for them, too. No matter how you are spending your holiday, we hope you enjoy the day. We are thankful for you, too. Our customers are the reason why we're here. From all of us at Old Guys Rule, Happy Thanksgiving.


Special Thanks: All purchases of $50 or more at http://www.oldguysrule.com will receive 30% off if you enter fbholiday30 from November 22, 2011 thru November 28, 2011.

You may have guessed that Old Guys Rule has an affinity for some classic pastimes, like boxing. So, we were saddened to hear the news about the passing of Smokin' Joe (Frazier) last week. We couldn't help but to think back to those fights he had with one of our Living Legends...Muhammad Ali.

Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali were both fierce fighters, but especially so when fighting each other. Frazier took the heavyweight title in a bout with Ali at Madison Square Gardens in 1971 - it is called (and rightly so) The Fight of the Century. Three years later, Ali won against Smokin' Joe in a non-title fight. Then in 1975, the two came toe-to-toe again in the Thrilla in Manilla. Ali won that match up when Frazier couldn't enter the ring for the 15th Round. Although he won, Ali said, "It's the closest I've come to death." That is a true testament to the kind of fighter Smokin' Joe was: relentless, strong and fierce.

Even though Frazier and Ali fought each other nearly four decades ago, the intensity of those battles is still felt today. People still talk about those fights, still commend those great fighters, still feel passionately about the outcomes. Frazier and Ali seemed to be at odds for years, but later in their lives, fences seemed to have been mended somewhat. There was a gentleman's respect for one another. When Ali heard of Frazier's passing, he is quoted to have said, “The world has lost a great champion. I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration.” We couldn't agree more. Thanks for the memories Smokin' Joe, we won't forget it.


Photo Courtesy of: http://www.nytimes.com

Does that line sound familiar? It takes us back to good times watching TV and laughing at slapstick comedy. Some great comedians blundering their way through life...3 comedians to be exact....The 3 Stooges.

We didn't realize when watching as kids, that The 3 Stooges started in 1925. Sounds like someone was a "wiseguy" because here we are more than 85 years later still talking about them, still watching them and still laughing at Larry, Mo and Curly. They are an icon of another time, but in 2012 they may become an icon for a new generation.

The 3 Stooges new movie comes out in April. It's not a remake, but rather a new twist on the old antics. After watching some of the clips, comedian Sean Hayes (Larry) said, "I've never laughed so hard in my life." We can hardly wait for the laughs coming our way.

Also, Old Guys Rule is proud to feature The 3 Stooges on a few Old Guys t-shirts coming out early in 2012...the headline here is your sneak preview to what one of those shirts will say. Any guesses about the others? This collection is all laughs, just the way Larry, Mo and Curly would've wanted it.