The Contemplation is a sports professor’s unsaturated, semi-subjective, free-wielding ideas on life intersecting sports and sports intersecting life–from past, present, and future perspectives.
November 16, 2015, Queens, NY We’re a species with a supposedly steep upside, unfathomable I.Q., and a near 90 degree learning curve which makes the madness of the Paris massacre a trifecta of heart-wrenching, mind-wrenching, and soul-wrenching agony. Instead of April in Paris, we got Attack in Paris (see jazz musician and composer Count Basie; also check out his cameo in Mel Brook’s comedic masterpiece, Blazing Saddles, in the link below).
The sports world paid a quasi-homage with Moments of Silence, but with such a mighty platform, you would think the sports world could do more. Would do more. And how about this?–Should do more. Last Friday there were no victors, just a massive “L” for humanity. Moment of Silence are mere tokens.Then it’s, “Let’s get back to live action.” What can the sports world do, you might ask. I dunno. And I don’t know. Both at the same time (concurrently). However, there are no shortage of very smart people–people who don’t just have answers, but people who have solutions. Why not ask them? Since sporting events bring a hyper-accumulation of eyes, ears, and butts in seats, how do we use (or should I say “utilize”?) them (sporting events) to address what ails us as a species? But I pro-gress, not di-gress.
Ronda Rousey got “kicked off” her high perch, and there was an avalanche of “mean-wishers” who were more than overjoyed. Her loss was clearly orgasmic for some (we’ll keep it clean ’cause this a family show), and there was more than enough over-the-top venom to film Snakes on a Plane (Part Deux). However …
Yes, she got big-headed. She even thought she could whup Floyd Mayweather. Yes, she made the cover of Ring Magazine. Yes, she gets more movie roles than actual actors. Yes, she published a memoir. Yes, she became the most bankable fighter in the UFC (especially since Jon “Bone” Jones went off the deep end). Yes, she’s interviewed more than presidential candidates. Yes, she’s made the cover of a magazine or two. Yes, she’s was labeled the “baddest woman or man on the planet.”
Greg Jacobs, PureSportsNY Senior Boxing Writer, wasn’t shocked by the result. He didn’t lay any money down, but he wasn’t shocked. “Rousey just got outfoxed and outboxed.” He added, “And she actually thought she could beat Floyd? She thought she could grab him and submit him without him even throwing a punch?”
I can respect animus before the fall but have a harder time accepting it afterwards. The memes were mean. The tweets terrible. And the post-fight analysis overly anal. Rousey got her butt beat, and beat real (and really) good. The other fighter hasn’t been mentioned by name yet in this piece. Let’s get that out the way. Her name is … (do the research, initials H.H.). She’s a helluva fighter who can box and kick with the best of them. There’s no shame in losing to her.
There is a life lesson in all of this, though. There’s accolade and accomplishment. If the accolade exceeds the accomplishment, people will celebrate your failure. Rousey had the accolades and the accomplishment, but unfortunately for her, the accolade was greater than the accomplishment. She was 12-0. That’s a long way from Marciano and Mayweather. A long way.
Here’s some perspective for ya. Rousey was born February 1, 1987. Bernard Hopkins’ made his professional debut on October 11, 1988. In terms of longevity, she’s a long way from greatness. No need to coronate (not “coordinate” think comedic actor John Witherspoon, “bang, bang, bang”) Rousey, or encase her in bronze, or rename a country in her honor. She is an awesome fighter who lost to a better fighter. A much less hyped fighter. A much more focused fighter. A much hungrier fighter. No private jets for Holly Holm (I let it slip out), no first-class hotels, no autograph sessions, no haters–especially the type of haters who wait for you to slip before declaring their loathing.
However, if Holly’s hype exceeds her deeds, she’s headed for a Rousey type of fall. Never let accolade exceed the accomplishment. Don’t believe your hype. (Hey now, it’s time for another cultural reference. Public Enemy made one of the great, all-time fabulous, hip-hop songs. Don’t Believe the Hype. “Yo Harry Allen, you’re a writer, are we that tight?” Check out the link below, 3:34 – 3:45)
Peyton Manning isn’t washed up, and Andrew Luck doesn’t suck. It’s called injury. Some people play when they’re injured. They just don’t play as well, or they play horribly. Exhibit A, A-Rod. He wasn’t and isn’t washed up. Just injured and kept playing. Got a year to heal. See the results. Professional athletes need sabbaticals.
It’s way too (2) early to anoint and appoint the Golden State Warriors as an 82 game-winning team. Crowning them as not only NBA champs for the 2015-2016 campaign is “slightly” premature, much less giving them the accolade prior to the accomplishment. (Where did I hear that before?) It’s November–mid-November. The Nets almost beat ’em on their (Warriors’) home court. Relax. Breathe. Now breathe some more. (I don’t think breathing is optional for we humans anyway.)
Miguel Cotto fights Saul “Canelo” Alvarez this Saturday, November 21st. The storyline (or “narrative” corny term) says, “It’s Puerto Rico against Mexico.” Last time I checked, the nations weren’t called “Cotto-Rico” or “Mexi-nelo.”
Script-Post: Kyle Greene asserts that the Fat Boys have the best “Stick ’em.” I give a slight edge to Divine Sounds. (“Check out Mike Music on the funky scratch.” 2:10)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKTxuvEJHk8
Out-Shouts: Charlie Sheen. Reverend R. H. Robinson. Mike Hill & Mike Dennis. The hostesses of The Real. Gabrielle Union on Being Mary Jane. Stuart Scott. L.A. Sunshine. Godmother Mildred. Curtis Bunn. Bryan Burwell. Julian Edelman. John Payant. Jeremy Liddle. Dr. Peter Aviles. Ingram Jones of BaylorCTVBoxing. The Fatback Band. Coolio. Andre’ D. Harrell. Ruby Dee. Roberto Clemente. Bobby Hull. The Jersey Kid. Larry Myers.
Out-Checks: Being Mary Jane. BaylorCTVBoxing. Peter Quillin and Danny Jacobs on Showtime’s All Access tomorrow (November 17, 2015) at 8:30 p.m. (EST). A.M. Willard, Frosted Sweets. Reginald Chan. Nate Dogg on Unsung (November 18, 2015) at 8:00 p.m. (EST). Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda (November 17, 2015) at 9 p.m. (EST).
Professor Clifford Benton can be reached at @cliffordbenton.