A Pro Boxing and UFC Circus Event
Change is inevitable. When we look at photos of what our cities were like from previous generations they sometimes seems unrecognizable. Most of the times conditions evolve to improve our lives. Subways, buses, bridges and soon self driving cars. Certain tasks become easier, faster, and sometimes obsolete. Unfortunately there always seem to be a faction that takes change in a direction that only serves themselves and no one else. Enter the Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor looming debacle.
In some ways I liken this to the Michael Johnson vs Donovan Bailey disaster but on steroids, Synthol, HGH, Insulin, and all the other combined muscle enhancers being used today. For those that don't remember, Michael Johnson and Donovan Bailey were the gold medalists in track and field at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta in their respective events of 200/400 meters and 100 meters. The winner of the men's 100 meters has always been regarded as the world's fastest person but the fact that Donovan was Canadian didn't sit well with some entitled American fans after Bob Costas mistakenly decided Johnson was faster by simply dividing Johnson's 200 meter time and comparing those splits to Bailey's 100 meter time. That's not how it works. So a compromise race at 150 meters was brokered where Bailey unsurprisingly obliterated Johnson with him pulling up lame. I don't know exactly who initially started this nightmare of a fantasy of Mayweather vs McGregor, but are the respective fans so bored that they actually want this? Or are they being primed into believing this will be a huge deal? Neither sport will gain anything from this. The only arena where this can happen where it won't hurt either sport is possibly in the care of the WWE where it can at least be displayed for what it is, a joke. Professional sports are a form of entertainment but tradition still holds a valuable place in maintaining and preserving the integrity the sport. Mega events in any sport are huge usually because they elevate the sport not bring it down to a circus' level. P.T. Barnum will end its performances this year but it seems there may be another circus waiting in the wings to take its place.
In some ways I liken this to the Michael Johnson vs Donovan Bailey disaster but on steroids, Synthol, HGH, Insulin, and all the other combined muscle enhancers being used today. For those that don't remember, Michael Johnson and Donovan Bailey were the gold medalists in track and field at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta in their respective events of 200/400 meters and 100 meters. The winner of the men's 100 meters has always been regarded as the world's fastest person but the fact that Donovan was Canadian didn't sit well with some entitled American fans after Bob Costas mistakenly decided Johnson was faster by simply dividing Johnson's 200 meter time and comparing those splits to Bailey's 100 meter time. That's not how it works. So a compromise race at 150 meters was brokered where Bailey unsurprisingly obliterated Johnson with him pulling up lame. I don't know exactly who initially started this nightmare of a fantasy of Mayweather vs McGregor, but are the respective fans so bored that they actually want this? Or are they being primed into believing this will be a huge deal? Neither sport will gain anything from this. The only arena where this can happen where it won't hurt either sport is possibly in the care of the WWE where it can at least be displayed for what it is, a joke. Professional sports are a form of entertainment but tradition still holds a valuable place in maintaining and preserving the integrity the sport. Mega events in any sport are huge usually because they elevate the sport not bring it down to a circus' level. P.T. Barnum will end its performances this year but it seems there may be another circus waiting in the wings to take its place.
Based upon discussion and social media, I'm of the impression the majority of folks interested in this fight are aware of the sideshow aspect it presents. Boxing purists (people who don't watch MMA) have no intention of viewing this charade at any price & even more proclaim disinterest - even it were a free offering.
ReplyDeleteHype can change opinions, but not enough boxing purist opinions to make a difference.
Or so we say anyhow.
The MMA people (most of them anyways) are also in agreement that MacGregor has less than a snowball's chance in hell. The only difference is they hope during the bout MacGregor becomes frustrated while absorbing a beating & resorts to any measure of roundhouse, flying, scissor, Daniel-san or even Rockette-like kick to loosen "Money" Mayweather's grip on consciousness. Aside from all the hype, hope and someone wishing on a lucky penny as we speak, who can we blame for this exhibition pretending to be competition?
The fighters? Nah, too easy. Mayweather Jr doesn't pretend to be interested in giving the fans the "fight of the year." He's consistently and vociferously wailed about his concern for personal safety and how he's willing to do just enough to win. I'd love to criticize the bejesus out of this but if a man tells you over and over he's going to take your money on such-and-such date and time, why on earth do we get upset on the exact date and time he shows up in a robber's costume?
Swap the ski mask, black gloves and striped black shirt for his usual thief's uniform: trunks, 10 oz gloves and Vaseline on the face.
How about MacGregor? More power to him. While I find MMA to be akin to "bum-fights" or something from the ubiquitous "Worldstar" site ; somewhere a coworker is proudly showing everyone at their job some snub film turned octagon event as we speak. While it hasn't reached anything near boxing's popularity, it does have a healthy (or unhealthy if you choose) following. The loudmouth from across the pond is going to leverage himself into a fine payday. Imagine if you could make millions just saying you could kick someone's keyster - and were offered a chance to do so. That's playing with house money. Can't argue that.
WC Fields once said a rich man is nothing more than a poor man - with money.
If that's the case, who on earth could be any more an example of poor and destitute than Mayweather Jr or MacGregor?
(Insert Kardashian joke)
(kidding, I kid...)
Cant blame the sanctioning bodies either. It's always about the money, even when they say it isn't about the money. Even when they're sitting on the dais with a ticker tape adding machine telling you it isn't about the money. We all know it, your entertainment be damned - papa needs a new pair of shoes.
So who do we blame for this "hog slop" of an event?
Who else but those who will step up to the troth, for whatever reason, drop their cash and feign outrage at the outcome - either way? There has to be a market for this hog slop: the melon rinds, produce peelings, apple cores and stale bread must look appetizing - or this fight would've been an afterthought. A win or loss won't tarnish either pugilist's career more than their precious reputations.
Precious indeed.
Meanwhile, the desperate fan, so eager to be entertained will pay for and patronize anything to feel like they were part of a special event. Some will pay in fear of missing the event. Others will pay solely because they can. For whatever reason the entry pass will be money.
Is it because we have an unquenchable thirst for competition? Want to see 2 athletes toe-to-toe in a glorious display of the sweet science? Want to see "The Money Team" taste defeat? No, no and no.
It's because no one wants to be the one lame guy at the job who didn't see the "Worldstar" video.
That's where we are now. But that's a different story altogether.