P.S. TO DE LA HOYA/MAYWEATHER AND HOW THAT RELATES TO THE POLITICS
Kelso had gotten a big push from an A+ source on Oscar De La Hoya over Mayweather in the big one. No regrets at all. De La Hoya was super well-prepared for this bout, ready for the best in the world while off long rest, powerful, with good stamina and seemed to have his way with Floyd against the ropes. At points, an early fight KO of Pretty Boy by Golden Boy seemed possible.
Ah, the Sweet Science. What the hell does this have to do with politics? It gives an unloseable argument against the wars. Follow. The next time you get into an argument with a (male) supporter of the wars, ask the person this: "why do you support the wars?" You'll hear the usual palaver about WMD, Democracy, protecting the USA, etc. Say this: "OK, fair enough, I disagree, but time will tell. Let me ask you a question, though, in your private moments when no one's around, do you find yourself rooting for "us" versus "them"? In your really private moments do you like the idea of a lot of brown people getting roasted?" He'll protest. You respond: "It's cool. There's nothing wrong with male bloodlust. We've all got it (OK to say this even if you are a woman!); we've also got plenty of xenophobia and prejudice, far left to far right, it's just that there are healthier ways to satisfy it...IF I WERE YOU'D I GET INTO WATCHING THE FIGHTS." Doubtless the person with whom you are arguing knows next to nothing about prize-fighting, even if it's someone like, say, David Remnick who has pretensions to knowledge about boxing but really can only spout cliches about Ali, you say: "...because if you like to see brown people beat holy hell out of each other boxing's not only a healthier outlet for your needs but it's also a lot more satisfying and close-up than the wars...go back and watch Gatti v Manfredy 1997...both guys broke their hands and the others' jaws, blood everywhere and the fight ended up going the distance in a split decision...one of the greatest displays of courage by two competitors I've ever seen..." Stunned, bored, uncomprehending mien from your right-wing friend. Now, for the kill: "oh, you've never heard of Arturo Gatti or Angel Manfredy? But you're a cold-hearted, macho, realist and I'm a soft-headed dovish person who wants to 'cut and run?'...how is it that I know these things that most men (women) ought to know about and you're too much of a pussy to bother with boxing? Why? Because it's so brutal and violent? YOU FUCKING MAKE ME SICK."
And there's your Sunday homily from Kelso.
We're all-in with the Broadway Blues against the Sabres in Game 6 and for the series. And back to boxing for a second. When is John Duddy going to abandon his absurd White Fighter's schedule of tomato-cans and fight a real middle-weight? Kelso was a guest of the promoter at Duddy's 3-0 decision over Yory Boy Campas at the Theater At The Garden last summer. It looked like Campas by a hair or a draw. Of course, "Irish" John Duddy "won" an average of 10 rounds by the judges. Nevertheless, Duddy got kind of exposed by a 40-year old with 96 pro bouts on the clock.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=213891
Who will "Irish" John's next important opponent be? If we're lucky, it'll be Quartey, but the guess here is that the Duddy crew will even duck Quartey.
http://www.boxrec.com/ratings.php?nationality=&sex=M&division=Middleweight&status=A&SUBMIT=Go
Kelso's Nuts love you.
2 comments:
Kelso I just cannot get into fighting or watching it, the punching until one falls thing just seems like a dumb sport. Sorry, I just don't see watching it. I know you will probably say it is a sport like tennis but to me it isnt.
I dont know if gender is a factor in bloodlust, I guess testosterone is clearly linked to aggression. But there are many women who want to see people eradicated too. And also complacency is just as much a requirement in many cases as the aggression itself.
I dont like violence, I realize it is unavoidable but should be a last resort thing. Like the Kung Fu concept of not killing if you can maim, etc. We just do not see violence as a defense. We see it as a tool.
Hope you had a good weekend Kelso. Glad that we got back in touch.
Lily:
Once again you've proven yourself to be a past-master in the blogosphere. I am fucking jealous right now that I didn't get the part about complaceny into the post myself! And I was so close, too. The complacency in some ways is worse than the imperialism.
As for boxing, no I don't think it's a sport like tennis. Tennis is a sport like tennis. Boxing is a brutal sport which tests disciplined violence. But it is a sport and for all its fault, boxing does have structure and rules. I happen to like it. I understand why another person wouldn't. I don't understand, however, why John McCain doesn't like it, to the point that he would like to outlaw it. George W. Bush is complacent. The inner Bush circle is corrupt and indifferent. John McCain, however, is the single most bloodthirsty politician we've seen in years. I mean "bloodthirsty" in the sense of being vampirish not in the sense of being a tough campaigner because we all know he's a very weak and cowardly campaigner and a terrible crybaby.
Of all of the major candidates for president John McCain is the only one I feel presents a non-trivial probability of starting a nuclear war. I cannot even say that about Sam Brownback.
I don't have an opinion about bloodlust and gender. It seems to be more male but I can't say anything intelligent about it.
As for Kung Fu, I'll buy. Perhaps, the reasons why Lincoln and FDR are so well-regarded is because of their restraint. They may have been too slow to fight if anything.
But boxing is something different than the slaughter of vast numbers. Please. It never fails to impress me what great sportsmen these boxers are. To spend 12 rounds trying to knock a person out and then to walk away with no rancor is pretty amazing and shows what professionalism there is in the sport. But that was my point in the post. Boxing is difficult for a lot of people to watch because of its violence, from Grenada forward war has become abstract to all but those who have to fight. And no one who is indifferent to the suffering war brings ought to cringe at watching a prize fight.
My weekend was fine but I don't really have weekends. I work on a 24/7 schedule. How was yours?
It's nice to be reacquainted. Keep visiting.
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