The war on men reared it’s ugly head again this past week with the unceremonious removal of Bill O’Reilly from Fox News for what sound like questionable sexual harassment claims. The left wing of this country takes real offense to masculinity. They especially take offense to white masculinity (at least what’s left of it).
Although the left has some degree of tolerance for non-white masculinity, those exceptions are largely reserved for felons, scumbag entertainers who beat women or denigrate them in their songs and radical Islamists who believe in Sharia Law.
The left doesn’t dare speak out against them. However, even non-whites who conduct themselves as solid professional men are also vilified by questionable accusations like Justice Clarence Thomas, Herman Cain and Harold Reynolds just to name a few. BTW-has anyone heard from those 15 supposed sexual harassment victims of President Trump lately?
Sexual harassment is a favorite weapon of the left because it is so subjective from person-to-person. It is also very hard to prove or disprove.
They also know full-well that men are reluctant to file such complaints. Men largely have a tendency to show up, do their job and go home.
When they don’t get that promotion they felt they had coming, they don’t step into the grievance culture. They don’t cry sexism when a female half as qualified gets the nod over them because “that’s just the way it is nowadays”.
In my experience, females are much more open and frequent offenders of sexual harassment in the workplace. I have been openly spoken to by females in such a way.
It doesn’t bother me; I actually get a kick out of it. I also have seen a very flamboyant homosexual man say things to other men that would get him canned if he were a straight man speaking to women.
The deck is further stacked by human resource departments which are loaded with feminists and homosexuals. Straight white Christian men need not apply.
If you are one of the few particularly masculine ones left walking American soil, they’d prefer you not even walk down the hallway. It may get the twisted sisters (as Michael Savage (http://www.michaelsavage.wnd.com) calls them) confused and excited.
Usually adult banter in the work place goes both ways. But many HR depts. don’t allow retaliatory complaints.
That means if a woman who has willingly been partaking in such banter suddenly decides to be offended, she can file a complaint. Her counterpart can use their history to defend himself to a degree, but cannot file his own counter-complaint based on things she has said in the past.
How many straight men make a first complaint in that situation? Now, back to O’Reilly. While it’s a shame he is going out from Fox News like this (he is the Babe Ruth of the company), it may be a blessing for him and the right.
The Murdochs are globalist liberals highly influenced by their wives who want to take the channel left. I always followed the political scene from a patriotic distance, but O’Reilly brought me in deeper.
I read his book, Culture Warrior in 2006 or 2007. The book discusses the brewing war between traditional America and secular progressivism.
That war is now here in full force, and the author just got wounded. O’Reilly articulated what I already felt, but couldn’t yet explain.
He made me look at things deeper and more critically. The Mike and The Mad Dog radio program did the same for me many years earlier with sports.
However, similar to what has happened to Mike Francesa’s radio show since the departure of Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo in 2008, O’Reilly’s ego and fame have made the show a tad stale.
You get the same guests in the same order week-in, week-out. The questions and answers become predictable.
You still tune in out of habit and respect, but there is an air of laziness to the program. The host appears to be slightly bored and just mailing it in.
If you have watched and/or read O’Reilly you know he has a fighting spirit. Just like when business went bad for Trump, I expect this to light a fire under O’Reilly’s ass.
Mike Cernovich (http://www.dangerandplay.com) suggested O’Reilly start his own channel. He could. Or, he could go to a place like Newsmax or One America News Network and kick Fox’s ass they way he did CNN and MSNBC.
But the more important thing Cernovich suggests is mixing it up with the new right. O’Reilly should be having give and takes with Cernovich, Alex Jones, Joe Rogan and Milo Yiannopoulos.
He may find a guy like Michael Savage to be far right, but O’Reilly and Savage’s audiences are largely similar. Savage should be on with him just like the left-wing college professors and jihad sympathizers that O’Reilly welcomes to prove he is “fair and balanced”.
People want to hear from these guys, not Charles Krauthammer and Karl Rove every f*****g night! What ever happened to appearances from people like Dick Morris, Ann Coulter and Michelle Malkin?
The left got a piece of flesh here, but baring an unexpected tearful apology, O’Reilly will be back. Hopefully reinvigorated. Talk soon.
On April 6, 1987, a heist went down at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, NV. No, there was no Ocean’s 11-style casino takedown.
Instead, a real-life 1980’s superhero was taken down. That superhero was Middleweight Champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler who had the title stolen from him by Sugar Ray Leonard in a controversial split decision.
The decision will set off a passionate sports debate that will never be settled. Hagler proponents call it a robbery. I hate the overuse of that term in the fight game and I used to use it in this argument pushed by my own bias (Hagler is my favorite all-time fighter).
The truth is each round of this fight was razor close. Neither fighter was badly hurt, and there were no knockdowns.
Much like some of the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez classics, the fight comes down to what you like. If you favor slick boxing and pretty yet meaningless 10 second flurries, Leonard stole the show.
On the other hand, if you like pressure guys who are relentless and control the pace, along with the idea that very close rounds go to the champ, you like Hagler.
But the shame of it is, this heist of Hagler’s title was his own damn fault! Steve Marantz goes into this in detail in his book which I highly recommend: Sorcery at Caesars: Sugar Ray’s Marvelous Fight.
Sugar Ray Leonard as a media star attracted big money immediately at the start of his pro career off his 1976 Olympic Gold Medal. The $1,000,000 smile could fool some into thinking he was all finesse.
Make no mistake though; Ray Leonard had a mean streak and real punching power (especially at welterweight). After establishing himself as king of the welterweight division (with victories over Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran in the “No Mas” rematch and Thomas Hearns), he stepped down in 1982 with a detached retina.
He returned in 1984 to fight Kevin Howard looking ordinary in victory. Stating he didn’t have it anymore, Leonard retired again. While broadcasting he always kept an eye on Hagler.
Marvelous Marvin Hagler had a much slower, workman-like rise to stardom. With power in both hands, an iron chin, textbook fundamentals, unrivaled conditioning and an uncanny ability to fight both orthodox and southpaw, Hagler earned every drop of his fame inside the ring.
Nobody was giving Hagler anything. He always had to prove himself. When he finally got his shot at the middleweight title in 1979, he wasn’t even given what he earned.
The clear winner in the fight, Hagler was the victim of a bulls**t draw against champion Vito Antuofermo. Antuofermo went on to lose the title to Alan Minter in 1980.
Though frustrated with not baring the fuits of his labor, these obstacles were growing the chip on his shoulder. The bigger that chip grew, the more vicious and dominant he became.
Hagler got another shot at the middleweight crown on 9/27/80 in London. Determined not to be another American victim of judging in Great Britain, he dismantled Minter in 3 rounds.
But even that moment was stolen from him by a bunch of racist hooligans who proceeded to shower the ring with beer bottles. Hagler escaped the mayhem and the glory of the moment escaped him.
credit to: Daly Strong
The marvelous one referred to his training camps as “jail”. He would seclude himself in the Provincetown section of Cape Cod running on the beach in army boots. He called running shoes “sissy shoes”. No women, no booze, just business conducted amongst Hagler, his sparring partners and the Petronelli brothers (his trainer/managers).
He trained and fought like a gladiator dispensing of every middleweight put in front of him (including a rematch with Antoufermo) inside the distance.
Hagler wanted a marquee fight with Leonard to put him over the top. Fans began wanting it too. Leonard actually invited Hagler ringside at the Baltimore Civic Center in 1982 for an announcement.
Thinking Leonard would announce his intent to challenge Hagler for the middleweight title, Hagler obliged only to be told along with the crowd that it would never happen.
Leonard wanted nothing to do with Hagler at this point in his career and used him as a pawn to draw attention. Hagler went on about his business and finally got a marquee fight when Roberto Duran stepped up.
Duran had redeemed his career from “No Mas” with the destruction of NYC’s undefeated 154 lb. champ Davey Moore in Madison Square Garden on Duran’s birthday.
Duran was not intimidated by Hagler and Marantz points out that Hagler didn’t have animosity towards Duran. He was a fan. Duran fought with guile and was ahead on the scorecards before Hagler came on down the stretch to pull out the win.
Leonard was ringside broadcasting. Legend has it that Duran told Leonard after the fight he could beat Hagler. This may have temporarily gotten Leonard thinking Hagler was beatable.
Hagler got back into the knockout business in his next two fights with Juan Roldan and a rematch with Mustafa Hamsho.
Then, on April 15, 1985, another marquee fight beconed for the marvelous one. Thomas “Hitman” Hearns who brutally knocked out Roberto Duran in 1984 challenged Hagler for the middleweight crown.
Hearns hit like a heavyweight. He was a freak of nature with his size, speed and power. His greatest weakness was his endurance as shown in a loss to Leonard in the 14th round of their first fight which Hearns was leading.
This was about a 50-50 fight going in and turned out to be an all-time classic! It was 3 rounds of warfare which resulted in a Hagler knockout victory. The champ walked through the best right hand in the business at the time and finally got his due.
Hagler was now a superstar. He was everywhere; hawking products like Right Guard deodorant. Hagler was now satisfied.
He had come to terms with the fact that the Leonard fight would not happen and he had cleaned out Duran, Hearns and the middleweight division. Marantz points out in his book that Hagler was now thinking about retirement. He was having marital problems and there were rumors of heavy cocaine abuse.
In 1986, Leonard invited Hagler to the opening of a Maryland steakhouse in which Leonard was a part-owner. They drank and socialized amongst their wives.
At some point, Hagler with his guard down never thinking they would fight confided to Leonard that he was getting tired.
He was no longer as motivated; he was getting cut easier and just wasn’t as hungry. Hagler no longer had that something to prove chip on his shoulder that drove him to greatness.
While Hagler thought he was a friendly guest, Leonard was thinking this might be the time to fight him. Leonard was a spectator at Hagler’s next title defense against John “The Beast” Mugabi.
Hagler showed slippage and was cut over both eyes before stopping Mugabi in the 11th. Hagler actually pissed blood after the fight.
Leonard was sure this was the time to fight him. Hagler was ready to step away. Now, the fight he always wanted came along when he was no longer hungry for it.
But Leonard was out three years and Hagler couldn’t pass up the opportunity. He was not the same mentally but was sure he would beat Leonard.
The biggest parts of this heist took place in negotiations. Leonard wanted a bigger ring to move around in, 10 oz. gloves rather than 8 oz. to mitigate Hagler’s power, and a 12 round fight rather than 15 (this was still negotiable in title fights at the time). The latter was the most important.
Hagler was a truth machine when it came to conditioning. Leonard knew it would be easier to run for 12 rounds than for 15. He got all three in his favor.
Hagler was the champ. Leonard wanted the fight. Rather than use his position, he gave Leonard everything he wanted just like his buddy Duran did giving Leonard a rematch on short notice after blowing up in weight.
Hagler was no longer holding camp in the seclusion of winter in Provincetown. He was now training in Palm Springs. Still, nobody gave Leonard a shot to win.
Sugar Ray had a plan to run, frustrate Hagler and fight in 10 second spurts. He wanted to know when there were 10 seconds left in a round so he could flurry to steal it.
When fight night came, Leonard entered first. Looking confident in white with red trim and tassels he came to the ring in this jacket that is common now, but was very flashy at the time.
Hagler came to the ring bobbing and punching in his traditional dark blue robe; pointy hood up like a middleweight Grim Reaper.
As the fight got under way, Leonard moved and jabbed sharply. Hagler came forward slightly hesitant in his attack but landing at times. A notoriously slow starter, Hagler came out fighting orthodox rather than southpaw.
Leonard even admitted that Hagler did him a favor. Gil Clancy pointed out that Leonard was getting tagged in camp with straight lefts from southpaws.
Though ambidextrous, Hagler was best from the southpaw stance, especially against Leonard’s style. As the early rounds went on, Hagler did land, but he was fighting Leonard’s fight trying to out-box him.
Hagler’s overconfidence raised Leonard’s confidence as he was allowed to get comfortable. Hagler switched to southpaw in the third.
He began wearing Leonard down with pressure, and hurt him in the fifth. Hagler started fighting his fight, but his age showed. He was slow to get off when he had Leonard trapped. He was only 31, but this was his 67th fight.
credit to: Grantland
Though Hagler was pressing the action, Leonard would often flurry late in the round. The punches were not hurting Hagler and many didn’t even land, but they looked good.
Hagler was landing the better shots, especially the straight left, but it didn’t look as pretty. Combine that with the fact that nobody thought Leonard could even be competitive in the fight, it gave the illusion that Leonard was doing more than he actually was.
credit to: HBO, Legendary Nights
The crowd went nuts every time Sugar Ray did anything. The showboating Hagler let him get away with helped.
Leonard was also warned 39 times by referee Richard Steele for holding, but never docked a point. He also had a low-blow off a bolo punch and hit after the bell.
As the fight went on, Leonard showed fatigue but held on. He even dug deep and flurried at times. By the final bell, it was a close call. Leonard dropped to his knees in exhaustion showing how important that 12 round negotiation was.
To the scorecards it went. Lou Filippo scored it 115-113 for Hagler. JoJo Guerra scored it 118-110 for Leonard. That’s right, he gave 2 rounds to Hagler! Dave Moretti scored it 115-113 for the NEW Middleweight Champion of the World, Sugar Ray Leonard.
The caper was pulled off. I was going on 12 years old at the time. I was fooled too until I watched it again. I thought Leonard won the fight at first. It was easy to get caught up in his moral victory.
Leonard outlanded Hagler in total punches; Hagler outlanded Leonard in power punches.
I watched the fight on Youtube last week. As I have said in prior articles, I give razor close rounds to the champion. Based on that, I have it 117-111 for Hagler.
But robbery either way doesn’t fit as far as what happened in the ring. Almost every round was close, and if you buy into Leonard’s flash, you can absolutely score it for him.
The robbery took place in negotiations. That along with his slow right-handed start is where Hagler handed Leonard his middleweight title and his place in history.
Hagler was physically past his prime at this point and Leonard’s layoff actually kept him fresher. But had Hagler not given it away, he keeps his title.
There is a line in the movie Full Metal Jacket where the drill sergeant screams to a bumbling private who leaves his footlocker unlocked that if it were not for idiots like him there would be no thieves in this world. I can’t help but feel that applies to my favorite fighter.
Another interesting fact I learned from Marantz’ book: JoJo Guerra who had it 118-110 for Leonard was a replacement judge at the request of Pat Petronelli.
Harry Gibbs of England was tabbed to judge the fight. Petronelli did not want a British judge because he felt the Brit would favor Leonard’s style. Marantz reports that Gibbs scored the fight for Hagler.
Hagler was the main accomplice in this heist. Fearing Leonard would play games in negotiating a rematch combined with his disgust over the decision, Hagler didn’t even push hard for one.
Leonard offered one in 1989, but Hagler never got near a gym after the fight. To this day, Hagler can’t stand to be around Leonard.
Marantz points out that when some or all of “The Four Kings” (title of Greg Kimball’s book title about Hagler, Leonard, Hearns and Duran) are in the same place and pose for pictures, Hagler avoids standing next to Leonard. I don’t believe the decision or the loss are what haunt Hagler most.
If that were the case, he would have pushed harder for an immediate rematch. What I think haunts him most is the fight he always wanted came along when he no longer wanted it.
Rather than make sure he used all his leverage and skills to seize the moment and his place in history, he gave it away. Tough for such a proud man to live with.
As a sports fan, this night and the 2004 ALCS are the two events that still bother me. But the ’04 Red Sox comeback can be explained.
The momentum shifted, the Yanks ran out of starting pitching and God just decided it was Boston’s time. The Yankees didn’t give it away.
