VANDA GETS WIN; GARR GETS VANDALIZED By George Elsasser

Sometimes you just gotta look at the bright side ... then again, sometimes there is no bright side ... so let's simply label last noche's ESPN2 FNF pit stop small town USA as something of a Minnesota version of that long ago Rape of Nanking.

Vanda, the local favorite of a collection of fite knowledge challenged semi-literates, is in there with 34 year old Sam Garr - Vanda hyped as the prospect and Garr as once promising and skilled but now on wrong side of the slope.

Had never before seen either fighter in ring action ... but most recently read nothing but good things touting this Vanda kid as a throwback - a yesterday crowd pleaser in style.

Awaiting ring intros I notice Garr looks every bit of age 34 ... Vanda looks younger and very tattooed ... and the third man in the ring looks familiar but couldn't put finger on him - then the name on the screen ...  it's none other than one Ron Stander who once managed remaining upright for four rounds and change before being starched by " Smokin' Joe"  Frazier back on May 25 of 1972.

And then the opening bell ... like the old pro he is, Garr uses the stanza to size up the young kid with the painted body ... Vanda a tad busier and on my sheet gets the edge over three minutes of a feeling out process.

From then on it's all Garr ... easy to see how he compiled a neat resumé of 33-7, 29 KO's while sharing the ring with serious foes ... the jab, coupled with short combos and good movement was there for all to see.

Lack of speed has caught up to Garr so the options are choosing those of minimal skills such as Matty small town USA ... kid is not a big banger ... has zero technical skills and is amateur in style as any "prospect"  I've ever seen topping a televised card ... altho' other comparables do come to mind.

Vanda showed decent chin against mid-level power of Garr ... but that is it ... and the "experts" over the magic lantern and other media should maybe slow with its from the hip accolades to every new face on the globe.

Finally, the ring announcer  ... and the guy with the funny hair begins with 97- 93 Vanda ... 97- 95 Garr ... and you knew it would be Vanda 97- 95 for the split decision win.

Ok, so it wasn't a second coming of that Nanking rape ... but Garr was totally vandalized in the post fite scoring by two of the hacks at ringside - Garr had himself a gimme and knew he earned a comeback " W."

Post Scripts:

Sam Garr ~ Still safe to continue career with pick-n-choose approach ... tour them badlands for young inferior "prospects" ... won't get the earned wins but small town paychecks are better than none.

Matt Vanda ~ give up the punch for pay biz before it's too late ... never was or will be a legit prospect ... career change a must ... take the painted bod' the carnival-rodeo route ... think hanging out with the fat lady and sword swallower will be step up in class.

Brought to you by Saratogamist copyright 2001-2004