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Alistair A McLauchlan
Tuesday 13 October 2009
Sunday 11 October 2009
More than sport in the ring
For families of the armed or emergency services the prospect of losing a spouse or child is an every day risk but for those with sportsmen or women in their home it is an unimaginable nightmare.
In Boxing however the threat is multiplied 100 fold such is the nature of this physically punishing sport.
In no other sport are competitors subject to such intense physical abuse and beatings to the head and body. The aim of the match is to put your opponent on the canvas or render him incapable to continue. As a result many boxers are left bloodied and bruised with far reaching effects to their health in future years.
A little more than 4 months ago a rising star in Marco Antonio Nazareth,23 had the chance to grab his chance for super stardom. Fighting in his home town of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Nazareth he was pitched against fellow country man and established boxing star Omar Chavez, son of Mexico boxing legend, Hugo Chavez Jnr.
Nazareth was confident, gutsy and cocky in front of his family and friends enjoying a bright start to the fight despite being knocked down in the first round. But as the fight progressed talent and experience told and he was battered and put down again in the fourth. When the referee finally stopped the bout Nazareth was clearly in trouble and was stretchered from the ring to the nearest hospital.
Four days later he died from a brain haemorrhage.
Boxing is no doubt a brutal sport and many including the British Medical Association have called for its banishment as a recognised sport. However, television viewing figures do not lie and millions tune-in for every bout and relish the chance to see two men or women hammer and punish each other.
Undoubtedly for the boxers rewards are great, especially for the few that reach the big paying Las Vegas nights however alike many sports only a select few reach the very top of their profession.
The sport of boxing is littered with tragic tales of old champions left with nothing due to financial incompetence or corruption. Years a physical abuse leave them permanently punch drunk or worse, Muhammad Ali, the greatest ever is now a sad shadow of himself.
Essentially sport is entertainment however no right-minded person wants to view the death of a sportsman live on TV. Unfortunately the Nazareth family now have a visual record of their son and brothers demise.
No other sport can lay claim to providing that.
In Boxing however the threat is multiplied 100 fold such is the nature of this physically punishing sport.
In no other sport are competitors subject to such intense physical abuse and beatings to the head and body. The aim of the match is to put your opponent on the canvas or render him incapable to continue. As a result many boxers are left bloodied and bruised with far reaching effects to their health in future years.
A little more than 4 months ago a rising star in Marco Antonio Nazareth,23 had the chance to grab his chance for super stardom. Fighting in his home town of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Nazareth he was pitched against fellow country man and established boxing star Omar Chavez, son of Mexico boxing legend, Hugo Chavez Jnr.
Nazareth was confident, gutsy and cocky in front of his family and friends enjoying a bright start to the fight despite being knocked down in the first round. But as the fight progressed talent and experience told and he was battered and put down again in the fourth. When the referee finally stopped the bout Nazareth was clearly in trouble and was stretchered from the ring to the nearest hospital.
Four days later he died from a brain haemorrhage.
Boxing is no doubt a brutal sport and many including the British Medical Association have called for its banishment as a recognised sport. However, television viewing figures do not lie and millions tune-in for every bout and relish the chance to see two men or women hammer and punish each other.
Undoubtedly for the boxers rewards are great, especially for the few that reach the big paying Las Vegas nights however alike many sports only a select few reach the very top of their profession.
The sport of boxing is littered with tragic tales of old champions left with nothing due to financial incompetence or corruption. Years a physical abuse leave them permanently punch drunk or worse, Muhammad Ali, the greatest ever is now a sad shadow of himself.
Essentially sport is entertainment however no right-minded person wants to view the death of a sportsman live on TV. Unfortunately the Nazareth family now have a visual record of their son and brothers demise.
No other sport can lay claim to providing that.
Maradona survives, for now
The living soap opera that is Diego Maradona has been granted permission for one more episode.
Yesterday Argentina kept their World Cup qualification hopes alive with a dramatic 2-1 win over Peru. An away win against Uruguay on Wednesday shall ensure a South Africa spot. A loss however coupled with a Columbia win against Chile then they shall be eliminated completely.
Maradona’s tenure has been shambolic at best. A 6-1 humbling to Bolivia and 3-1 home defeat to Brazil were disastrous. His team choices and tactics have been confusing and inconsistent and his out of management antics farcical.
Maradona recently returned from an Italian health clinic, citing stress and health problems. Upon reaching the Italian retreat his ear-rings were seized by tax authorities attempting to recover a 20 million tax bill from his Napoli days. In a previous visit he was relieved of his Rolex watch.
The Argentine press want his head, the fans are disillusioned and the Argentinean Football Association are sharpening their knives (especially in the face off endless Maradona criticism and ravings).
However for many Maradona is a football genius and arguably the greatest player of all time He is treated with god like status back home after his 1986 World Cup winning success and many hope that the Midas touch shall rub off onto the current team.
Despite this he is also viewed as tragic figure, in much the same way as Paul Gascoigne is viewed in the UK. Recent high profile struggles with cocaine, alcohol and his weight have ensured he has graced many tabloid newspapers and magazines. Also in 1994 he was expelled from the World Cup for testing positive for drugs.
It remains to be seen whether Maradona shall be allowed to continue even if Argentina qualify.
Many great players have failed to replicate their playing form in to management success however none have entranced and delighted the public alike Diego.
Yesterday Argentina kept their World Cup qualification hopes alive with a dramatic 2-1 win over Peru. An away win against Uruguay on Wednesday shall ensure a South Africa spot. A loss however coupled with a Columbia win against Chile then they shall be eliminated completely.
Maradona’s tenure has been shambolic at best. A 6-1 humbling to Bolivia and 3-1 home defeat to Brazil were disastrous. His team choices and tactics have been confusing and inconsistent and his out of management antics farcical.
Maradona recently returned from an Italian health clinic, citing stress and health problems. Upon reaching the Italian retreat his ear-rings were seized by tax authorities attempting to recover a 20 million tax bill from his Napoli days. In a previous visit he was relieved of his Rolex watch.
The Argentine press want his head, the fans are disillusioned and the Argentinean Football Association are sharpening their knives (especially in the face off endless Maradona criticism and ravings).
However for many Maradona is a football genius and arguably the greatest player of all time He is treated with god like status back home after his 1986 World Cup winning success and many hope that the Midas touch shall rub off onto the current team.
Despite this he is also viewed as tragic figure, in much the same way as Paul Gascoigne is viewed in the UK. Recent high profile struggles with cocaine, alcohol and his weight have ensured he has graced many tabloid newspapers and magazines. Also in 1994 he was expelled from the World Cup for testing positive for drugs.
It remains to be seen whether Maradona shall be allowed to continue even if Argentina qualify.
Many great players have failed to replicate their playing form in to management success however none have entranced and delighted the public alike Diego.
Many swarm to Azteca
The primed athletes’ stand, hearts exploding with pride as they sing their national anthems. Mentally, they build themselves up a competitive fury, ready for battle, a fight to the death. It seems nothing can stand in their way, that is until mother nature intervenes.
This was the scene before the Mexico vs. El Salvador World Cup Qualifier on Saturday in the Azteca Stadium. The game started normally but as the play reached the Salvadorian goal mouth it was clear the goalkeeper and defenders were in distress.
At first many thought it was the laser pen that some idiot had brought to the game and was shining in the eyes of the visiting team but on closer inspection it was far more.
A swarm of bee’s had descended on the goalmouth and had decided to hang around despite the protestations of the capacity crowd.
At first no-one knew how to handle the visiting bee’s, choosing the usual ploy of racing in circles and swatting the air in blind panic. Various suited officials marched up the to bee’s, as if to scare the insects away but fled like big Jessie’s when then bee’s responded.
Finally, one smart guy got a fire extinguisher and blasted the visitors from there new home. A new swarm congregated on a TV companies microphone but the extinguisher had no effect. So in a act of inspired madness a bucket of water was poured on the insects and the electrical equipment.
It worked.
The swarm disappeared and the game continued with Mexico running out 4-1 winners and ensuring their World Cup qualification, the bee’s must have flew on to the nearest hive.
In aftermath there were rumblings of foul play, that the El Salvadorians had smeared the goalposts with sugar or honey in hope of abandonment but surely only the most ardent conspiracy theorist would suspect this.
In this game it was El Salvador who felt the sting..
This was the scene before the Mexico vs. El Salvador World Cup Qualifier on Saturday in the Azteca Stadium. The game started normally but as the play reached the Salvadorian goal mouth it was clear the goalkeeper and defenders were in distress.
At first many thought it was the laser pen that some idiot had brought to the game and was shining in the eyes of the visiting team but on closer inspection it was far more.
A swarm of bee’s had descended on the goalmouth and had decided to hang around despite the protestations of the capacity crowd.
At first no-one knew how to handle the visiting bee’s, choosing the usual ploy of racing in circles and swatting the air in blind panic. Various suited officials marched up the to bee’s, as if to scare the insects away but fled like big Jessie’s when then bee’s responded.
Finally, one smart guy got a fire extinguisher and blasted the visitors from there new home. A new swarm congregated on a TV companies microphone but the extinguisher had no effect. So in a act of inspired madness a bucket of water was poured on the insects and the electrical equipment.
It worked.
The swarm disappeared and the game continued with Mexico running out 4-1 winners and ensuring their World Cup qualification, the bee’s must have flew on to the nearest hive.
In aftermath there were rumblings of foul play, that the El Salvadorians had smeared the goalposts with sugar or honey in hope of abandonment but surely only the most ardent conspiracy theorist would suspect this.
In this game it was El Salvador who felt the sting..
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