Strong support in his corner

By Jeremy D. Malamed

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Posted: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 10:31 AM CDT

Jack Shields, left, was wary at first about his son entering the world of professional fighting, but has always showed up and supported Jake throughout his pro career, even working in his corner for several fights. Courtesy photo by Billie Shields

Jack Shields hasn't had much time for music this past month, but that doesn't mean the noise hasn't gotten to him.

As manager for his son Jake, a professional mixed martial arts fighter just days away from the biggest fight of his career, Jack Shields has spent much of the past month with a phone pressed to one, if not both, ears.

“Both my ears are hurting,” Jack said. “Between the press and sponsors, the phone hasn't stopped ringing.”

Jack Shields is a spoken word artist from Rail Road Flat and also performs music with his wife Billie.

But all that has been put on hold as Jack oversees contracts, interview requests, and sponsorship deals for his son leading up to Saturday's EliteXC welterweight title fight in Stockton against Nick Thompson.

“I make sure the contracts are good, that Jake and his people are treated right, paid good. I also take care of the sponsorships, making sure he's making as much, or more, for what he's wearing as he is for the fight,” Jack Shields said.

He's also making sure an order for about 400 Jake Shields T-shirts arrives in time for the fight, which will be broadcast Saturday night on CBS.

“It's been a busy month,” Jack Shields said. “Sponsorship interest is as high as ever.

“I've been so busy doing my job that I haven't had much time to think about the fight yet. But all this stuff should be done soon and I can focus on the fight. This championship fight has been postponed for one reason or another a couple of times so it's good that it's finally happening.”

The fight is expected to be a challenging one for Shields, but Jack has a lot of confidence in his 29-year-old son.

Jake Shields is one of three sons raised by Jack and Billie Shields near Mountain Ranch. Jack was always involved in his son's activities, and even ran a freestyle wrestling club for a number of years.

But before Jake's first venture into the world of professional mixed martial arts fighting about eight years ago, Jack wasn't sure his son was making a good decision.

“Right at the beginning, he was getting paid a few hundred bucks per fight and I just didn't see it getting to be a big time thing,” Jack said. “The first time he fought, I tried to talk him out of it.

“When he did it, we went and supported him. We tried to raise the boys to have confidence to do whatever they wanted to do, so once he decided to do it, we were there for him.”

And they've been there ever since.

Jack Shields is a key part of Jake's fight team and has even worked in the corner for nearly half of his son's fights.

“I get nervous, but I handle it well,” Jack Shields said. “I have a lot of confidence in Jake.”

With Saturday's nationally televised fight drawing closer and closer, Jack is thankful of the opportunity that his come his son's way.

“When he was first starting out, judging from the response of the audiences and the feeling I got, I could see the sport was growing really fast,” Jack Shields said. “I thought it could get to this level, but I thought it would take a few years longer than it did.

“We're lucky in that regard, that it happened while Jake is still young enough to take advantage of it. MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world. It's nice to be riding that wave.”

Contact Jeremy D. Malamed at sports@calaverasenterprise.com

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