For the Love of Fighting
by Katie Beller
Since the days of Saved by the Bell weUve been conditioned to laugh at lines like this and consequently are completely desensitized when it happens in real life. Zack and Slater (or maybe it was Screech) depicted much more than they realized in this commonly mocked scene. . .the glorification of fighting.
I attended a "No Holds Bar Fighting" competition at the National Guard Armory on Jan 14; it's hard to admit, but painfully true. (The things we do for the one we love, right?) Admission was $15 a person for standing room only, and $30 for a table seat. Before I knew it, I was sitting five feet away from a ring that in minutes would tell the fate of several burly men. To those who don't know what this "No Holds Fighting" thing is all about, I don't blame you. Basically, itUs muscle bound men (and some boys) dueling it out with their fists, legs, heads, or whatever they feel will do the most damage to their opponent. These men could be best friends, but when thrown into a ring together, they turn into savage beasts. The key element: there are no rules. Just men, pumped up by boiling testosterone and the screams of the crowd, ready to show the arena that they can "whoop some booty." I couldn't help but want to scream "well la-dee-dah" when a winner was declared by "tap out" (a term used to define the loser of the match beating the floor because he made the choice to give up, rather than pass out)! This display of grotesque behavior was enough to make me want to gag right along with the guy standing in front of me holding his crooked nose. (I am NOT exaggerating!)
But I WAS there.
Why is it that these things are so attractive to members of the human race? Could it simply be the nature of the beast to blame? Since the days of cavemen it has been manUs instinct to fight for what he wants. In between grunts, he'd fight for the girl, dinner or a piece of land, and of course now it has gone to varying extremes (the grunts remain). Depending on how badly he wants it, many times he will fight to the end. (man as in human is a most interesting creature; the mind, the body and the uses for both are limitless). So much potential for greatness, and this is what we come up with. We have no cure for AIDS yet, but we have discovered thousands of ways to break a man's jaw with a single punch. We declare fame and fortune to a man who is victorious in a ring where dignity is either gained or lost.
I'm sure there are some proud mothers out there!
You're flipping the channels and Rocky IV is on, the fight scene with the Russian... do you turn away? Most likely no, your eyes will remain glued to the television set (even though everyone knows Rocky will win.) The blood, gore, and grossness of the whole situation is lost in the action, suspense, and drama we all love. Then when we sit and witness it in real life, the same could be true. I'll be the first to admit that for at least the first few minutes, the pain that the people in the ring were going through was a minute issue in comparison to who would eventually win or lose. I eventually snapped out of the trance I was in and realized what was actually taking place before me. The whole evening was senseless, silly, yet still considered entertainment. Of course the grunting fellow next to me was having a grand ol' time, never quite caring about the foulness of the situation at hand.
Is there really any sense in pointing out the absurdity of the whole thing? It happens in the ring, on the screen, and is a regular occurrence at parties. In the end, will it forever be human nature to get caught up in it, at least for a minute?