Friday, February 1, 2019

Friday Night at the Fights

One of the most bizarre events in boxing history took place a mere six months after the Rumble in the Jungle.  George Foreman needed some therapy after Ali embarrassed him in Zaire.  The Tower of Power decided he would fight five boxers in one night.  Each crum bum, I mean boxer, would try to last three rounds with George.  ABC broadcast the event.  Cossell was the announcer.  What could possible go wrong? Did I mention who the thingy commentator was?

Yup, Muhammad Ali.  He donned the yellow ABC coat and proceeded to needle Foreman from the broadcast table at ringside.  It was better theatre than WWF and best of all, it was real. Get ready to laugh your ass off.

Posted below is a short documentary if you want to get a summary.



If you want to watch the entire night, here is the complete video.  Start watching at 10:00.   McMahon couldn't have scripted this one any better.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where's the fun part of watching these pitiful critters beat each other's brains into jelly? True, they were morons to start, so they didn't lose that many IQ points. But even pathetically stupid Cassius Clay degenerated into a blob of neuroputty not too many years into his life. And he was a fantastic defensive boxer -- didn't take THAT MANY shots to the head.

I confess to having watched a boxing match in my life but I did a lot of stuff fifty years ago that I am ashamed of. Having time to squander watching Django Unchained tell how pretty he was is some of that stuff.

Anonymous said...

Never knew this happened. Thanks for posting.

Anonymous said...

Talk about a transformation. He’s a lovable old teddy bear now.

Anonymous said...

This is one of the most interesting yet underappreciated stories of real life redemption you will find in modern history. George Foreman spent his young life as a very violent, hateful young man. He beat people up as a kind of revenge on life itself. He was very good at it so he found himself a lucrative outlet as a boxer. But he was not happy. He knew that people would accept him and show him something akin to love if he won. But nobody really loved him, they just feared him. He viewed Ali as the ultimate personality in the world and beating him as the chance to become the most celebrated figure in the world. It was the only way he knew to get people to show a brute like him some love. Ali embarrassed him and brought something out of him that he had not experienced while pummeling other people; fear and doubt of his own ability. He spent the next several months in pitiful efforts like you see here trying to regain what he thought he had lost. He was a desperate and defeated man. After dropping to rock bottom, he finally realized he was looking for a love substitute and not real love and he turned inward and to a faith he didn't know he really had. It was the hate and mean spirit that was really defeating him in life. Not Ali. What you saw in the fight was the old George Foreman. He was beaten. What you see now is the new George Foreman. He's victorious. He can't stop smiling. Check out his story beyond the boxing. It's worth it.



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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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