Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Hockey Without the Skates
Some people call it boxing. I guess Stallone and his gang is getting ready to do a reality show about boxers. Not just about showing them beating each other's brains out, but also showing them as people. Here's a quote from the article:
"We're looking for star power," said Mark Burnett, the series' executive producer and the creator of such hits as "Survivor" and "The Apprentice."
"To be a star, you've got to be a great boxer, but you've also got to have great charisma," he said. "What's wrong with boxing today? There are not enough great characters."
Burnett intends for his show to establish great characters in the boxing arena and bring them to a huge, new audience that, until now, was immune to boxing's charm: "Maybe we can kick-start a wonderful, noble sport."
You gotta love that last line - "a wonderful, noble sport." Think about what boxing is. You get two guys, or nowadays women, stick them in a ring surrounded by screaming "fans" who watch them try to beat each other's brains out -- literally. If you don't believe me, watch Muhammad Ali these days.
Sure, there's skill there. I'll admit that. But skill in what? How to hit another person hard enough to make them lose consciousness. Or if you can't do that, hit them hard enough so that they are bleeding bad enough they have to quit. Or lacking that, just beat on them in general enough until they pass out.
Aren't we the same people who call ancient Rome brutal and uncivilized? It's not like you're going to get rich as a boxer. For every millionaire there's probably tens of thousands of boxers who don't earn enough to keep themselves in aspirin.
However, on the other hand, if that's what they want to do, so be it. It annoys just as much when I see all these folks bitchin' about those ToughGuy competitions where common folk get to beat each other's brains out. Hey, if you're into that sort of thing, who am I to stop you. Just don't come running to me for the taxes to pay for your health care when you're a vegetable.
2fers: Amateur Boxing and Neurological Disorders
