Strange Things are Afoot at the Circle-K
This weekend I watched Kelly Pavlik get up off his ass after being sent crashing to the canvas by Jermain Taylor in their title bout for the middlewieght belt. I was certain it was over. The kid had been rocked by a series of shots against a faster, smoother fighter, and he looked ready to fold.
But a funny thing happened on the way to him losing…
Pavlik got up, held on, and 5 rounds later sent Taylor sprawling with a series of shots so vicious that the ref didn’t even bother counting. He stepped in and stopped the fight only to have Taylor all but collapse in his arms. It was such a perfectly personified metaphor that it sent a chill right through me and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I watched it unfold.
My trainer used to say that “fighters aren’t judged in the goin’ down. Fighters are judged in the gettin’ up.” The funny thing about that saying is that today, nothing could be further from the truth. In boxing today losses are just unacceptable. The public won’t put up with a young fighter losing…you have to be undefeated or damn near close to get taken seriously and to get your shot. It seems that hard knocks and payin’ your dues just aren’t what they used to be. Today, a fighter shows promise and he’s carefully brought along against one tomato can after another until he’s sure enough of himself to put up a good fight against a better breed of fighters…or to earn a good payday.
Sounds a lot like life in 2007 to me.
We’re quick to count someone out these days, and we damn sure don’t want to try and push ourselves too far or too hard. We don’t want to dive in to the unsure and if someone does, we’re quick to make damn sure that they know they failed if it doesn’t go according to plan.
This, friends and neighbors, sucks out loud.
Where’s that manifest destiny spirit that we had taken so much pride in as a nation? Where’s the adulation for a fight well fought even in defeat?
I say this because, as you probably know, I took some shots this year and really didn’t know what was going to happen next. I dove in to the unknown and got my ass absolutely handed to me for it. So, I did what anyone would do in that situation; I wallowed. I felt like a loser and that I didn’t deserve to be anything more than what I am now….if that.
And then, well…a funny thing happened to me on my way to staying down.
I got up. I moved on…and watching this fight made me realize that I not only am, but have been, squarely back on my own two feet. That after taking a few, I’m ready to throw punches of my own back at life and at the world in general. I’ve got a good thing going here in this life of mine, and without even realizing it, I’ve come a long way.
So now what?
Well now, babies, it’s time for a change. Again. It’s time for me to get myself on to the next stage of this re-evolution. I need to step it up, because I’ve got plans, see! I want to move on, move up, and basically just move. I want to live louder and go after more.
That’s the word right there;
MORE
It’s time for me to dig in…I need to start with a few things for me. I need to take better care of myself. Even though I gave up the way I used to live my life, it’s time for me to do more. I need to solidify my DC Exit Strategy so that I have a goal. I need to feed my mind more of the brain candy I love. I need to have a threesome with hot porn stars.
Well, OK, so that might be more of a “want”. But you see my point.
The point of demarcation starts now. I’m surrounded by reminders of what it takes to shake it off and get back to where you belong. The world of sports alone has a ton; Pavlik’s KO, the Yankees, Phillies, and Rockies coming back to make the playoffs, Dmitri Young…the list goes on and on. There’s ample motivation there and in my own life and I fucking want MORE.
So I’m gonna go get me some. There are going to be some changes soon, kiddies. I’ll let you know how they are going.
In an interesting side note; it came out today that after the fight, Pavlik left the hotel…and forgot to pick up his paycheck. Tell me that doesn’t make you smile…the belts, however, I guarantee you he remembered.
I Now Pronounce You 
on October 3, 2007 on 10:15 am
I don’t think I had ever seen you concentrate on a sporting event as much as you did on this one. People were yelling, drinking, throwing things, cross-dressing, and you were riveted to the TV.
The Yankees wouldn’t be able to hold your attention that much.
on October 3, 2007 on 10:18 am
Boxing has taking a dive as a sport over the last decade. Where are our Mike Tysons (the Tyson of the Punch Out Ninetndo Game era), our Sugar Ray’s, or Ali’s? Its a shame because it really is a great, if not primal, sport to watch. Although when I was a kid my dad made me promise to never become a boxer.
As for a life change, I hear you. It seems like everyone hits a certain point and is forced to take some stock in their life…good or bad. But just remember change doesn’t have to be drastic. And make sure you are doing what you want, and not what you think others think you should do.
Are you really trying to leave DC?
on October 3, 2007 on 10:21 am
Go for it. I’m rootin’ for you.
on October 3, 2007 on 10:33 am
Arjewtino; you have to watch it like that….it’s not like baseball. One second changes everything. As in the punch that started to KO, even the commentators missed…they just kept right on talking while i was screaming “THERE IT IS!!!”
Bruce; When I took up boxing in the Army my dad said “don’t tell your mother” even though she loves it. Just not watching me get hit, it seems.
Oh, it’s one thing at a time. But yes, I’d like ot leave DC in 2-3 years and head North closer to my brother. I miss him and his family every day and as much as I’ve grown to love DC, well…family is family.
Mary; Gracias! I’m feelin’ really, really good these days!
on October 3, 2007 on 10:36 am
This is why DC sucks (and I say this with tongue in cheek). People always leave it. But, if it’s for the best, it’s for the best.
on October 3, 2007 on 10:49 am
FreckledK; Im not going anywhere for quite awhile. I just want to have my plan in place to be ready to do so when the time comes.
on October 3, 2007 on 10:56 am
Well I can’t blame you for wanting to leave. Everytime I go back to New England I get pretty homesick. No one here appreciates a -20 windchill.
on October 3, 2007 on 10:57 am
I’m fairly sure I heard during the commentary that there was no standing 8 by Jersey rules. Either way, the ref was going to have to stop that fight. Jermain Taylor wouldn’t’ve gone down quicker if he was giving Pavlik a blowjob.
on October 3, 2007 on 11:01 am
Bruce; WORD!
1-66; There was no standing 8 available. I mean he didn’t even give him a chance to go down and get up…for that very reason. Taylor was done like dinner.
on October 3, 2007 on 1:29 pm
what i loved about that fight is that it all happened so damn fast. and that was the metaphor that, um, hit me as i watched it too — how fast a fight can change. taylor was show-boating (i think), keeping his gloves down, and pavlik just focused focused and then slam, the corner and the slump.
as long as i can remember, my dad has told me ‘be a fighter, jess.’ how can you not love the sweet science?
on October 3, 2007 on 3:55 pm
Ugh. Cause I know what I am going to say is lame! Damn you, Jess and your big big brain!
I just (finally) put my DC exit strategy in place (please raise your hand if you were born and raised in DC.. yeah, that’s what I thought). I have 16 months and one hell of a savings plan put together. 🙂
on October 3, 2007 on 9:51 pm
i hear the rocky iv soundtrack playing…training montage
on October 7, 2007 on 12:24 pm
It’s a sport rich in metaphor opportunities and life lessons, isn’t it? Yes, the Rockies et al offer similar lessons to Pavlik’s, but something about the one-on-one aspect…