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| Fighting, Passion and Cheating |
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Written by Doug Jeffrey |
 "Oh, he hits him, and [Adam] Kennedy is charging the mound. Heeree we go!"
I was listening to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Major League Baseball) while working at home one evening when I heard Rory Markas describe the brawl between the Angels and the Texas Rangers. I jumped up from my desk and bolted to the radio so I could hear every detail of this baseball brawl.
I've always loved baseball fights, especially when it's my team throwing around a little leather. It shows passion, and it can jumpstart a team that is floundering in the doldrums. Based on talk radio and some of the newspaper editorials in the days after the fight, however, it became quickly obvious that not everyone agreed with me. And that got me to wondering. What is it about fighting, particularly MMA, that is so appealing?
For me, there are several factors that come into play. In addition to the incredible athleticism these guys exhibit, I have tremendous admiration for their mental tenacity, as well as their discipline, which encompasses training, nutrition and rest. And you can't ignore their passion and sportsmanship.
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Speaking of passion, I can't let the Ken Shamrock and Tito Ortiz fight go by without noting Ken's fervor. So much attention was focused on Herb Dean's decision to call the fight that most overlooked Shammy's zeal.
Think back to that night. Dean calls the fight, Shammy jumps up and is incredulous that the fight is over. He's so determined to prove that he's not hurt and that Dean made the wrong call that he goes after Tito. To quell the whole situation, police have to enter the Octagon. That's passion.
If Shammy didn't care and if he was hurt, he would not have reacted the way he did. He would have walked out of the Octagon and maybe even right into retirement. But that's not the case. This guy was still ready to rumble, and he deserves another chance at "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy."
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For the last several days (mid August), there have been stories in the Los Angeles Times' Sports page about cheating in sports. They have covered everything from cycling to running to baseball.
Which brings us to MMA. Fighters have told me that "everyone" in MMA uses steroids or some other banned substance because "you can't compete at this level" without using them. Of course, not everyone uses banned substances. That is an unfair generalization.
However, I've spoken to far too many officials who say that steroids and human growth hormones are prevalent in MMA, so it is apparent that cheating is happening in our sport.
I know all about the desire to perform well, and I fully understand that the career of a professional athlete is relatively short so he wants to do as well as he can while he has the chance. But I cannot comprehend how a guy can take a banned substance, tell his kids that he beat so and so, look in the mirror and feel good about himself.
Let's show the world our integrity. Unlike baseball and track and field and cycling, we don't need a black eye.
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