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The media hacks rarely ever get it right, they simply rewind before once
again putting it in fast forward for the next comedy of errors. No need
for names here, all clones of one another.
The Collective Rally Cry:
the shout of concern for the today heavyweight weighing in no more than two
bucks and a quarter; too small they say to safely compete with the new
breed super-size behemoths. And the plea is a new weight class for the 250
and over gang, a Super Heavyweight division.
Caught fire with the catchy slogan "These ain’t your daddy’s heavyweights" …
Presto! Instant support from print scribblers of newspapers, magazines,
and internet sites. Why not, they figured … I mean, it makes sense, right?
Wrong! Wasn’t long before the big ones begin falling, and the bonfire smolders to
a flickering flame - and as it was with weightlifting boxer wannabes, the
today version of pill poppin’, steroids, iron pumping, physical fitness
freakos, would also fail the credibility test.
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Gatti-Ward Syndrome:
Was like a virus … Entire fite perimeter caught it. Granted, first two
meetings were nasty enough for both to earn Purple Hearts with clusters,
but lost on most observers was the obvious that neither earns nomination for
Canastota, with or without asterisk. As past special featherweight champ
Willie Pep once said, "There’s boxers and there’s those that fight with
their face."
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Third Man Theme:
This one always has me wetting my drawers - always blame it on an enlarged
prostate - happens when hearing a referee applauded for being on top of
things when he’s actually screwing up the detail.
Pre-fite clues flash on the screen for us fite illiterates to watch for;
shows the tactics each fighter should use. Says fighter "A" work on the
inside and fighter "B" on the outside - and grab when at close quarters to
let ref break the clinch.
Opening bell … fighter "B" stings fighter "A" with a couple jabs … misses
with right hand and they’re together like wire closet hangers. Enter third
man in the ring in charge of the action with reprimands flying like a Ray
Leonard closing flurry.
Has "B" for holding … "A" for roughing … and with it the verbal rat-tat-tat
and hand gestures. And the blow by blow guy shouting how Harry the Hack is
on the case, and the fighters had better watch the Ps and Qs or something.
Think it long overdue we return to the one referee, two judges scoring
system. With luck, would maybe regain a bit of self-esteem that was rudely
snatched from the referee after his losing the scoring assignment. Thus the
ignominious conversion to his today role of carnival clown.
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Post-Fite Interview Department: Tough
as it is digesting some of what we get over the magic-lantern from bell to
bell, worse yet is the guy alongside the winner with the hand mic. Begins
with "Good fite rock head, congratulations. Now who’s next … c’mon, call
somebody out."
Personally, think it time the post-fite vaudevillian thing be scratched from
the menu, ditto the pre-fite trespassers with respective hangers on
crunched together like a rush hour subway crowd. Ring area real estate
should be shared by ring announcer, referee, respective manager, trainer …
period...............................................................................
Closing Question & Answers:
Just who, pray tell, ordained the today version of Ring Magazine as the
single credible read with its monthly fight menstrual offering? As I recall,
the pitch began with boxing hysterian Maxie boy Kellerman, with support from
then sidekick, breast fed Brian, and what better enlistment than USA Today fite "expert" Dan Rafael. Ho, Ho, Ho.
My take goes this way; after Ring Mag founder Nat Fleischer (1888-1972) left
the living, the then one of a kind boxing magazine evolved to a mediocre
read and no better than any number of other boxing publications. Editors
came and went in revolving door fashion once establishing the Ring position
on its resumé.
First Ring issue dated back to February 15, 1922 … some familiar names are
1980s Bert Randolph Sugar as editor & publisher. Others you can make the
call on, Randy Gordon of ESPN commentator "punching with bad intentions"
fame, Steve Farhood ( Showtime color commentator) and current
editor-publisher Nigel Collins.
Considering the today sources backing "Ring" over the respective "alphabet"
rankings, the thinking here is let it lie. Only realistic need is change to
mandatory unification in all weight classes to identify the true "world
champions" … best of WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO could still retain its respective
straps.
GEL 8-2-2004 |
