Earlier today, I had to remind my neighbor of who the world champs are. It seems there's at least a few here that could use this reminder as well. I chose a boxing analogy, likening this season to a pro fight. Let's call it a 16 rounder. Like us, the champ has a target on his back as he attempts to make his 1st defense of his title. His opponent's never been hungrier.
RD1: The champ's hometown is the venue and the visiting challenger is hungry, proud... but also visibly anxious. He watched the demolition the champ put on his last opponent in winning the crown. It's a very unfriendly atmosphere and the challenger is suddenly reminded he's a long way from home. He makes mistakes early, is countered, then becomes afraid to throw (at Sherm). Champ wins this round handily (36-16).
RD2: The champ is brimming with confidence and swag, but he's still young. He feels he can't lose. That's never good and he gets away from some of the things that made him champ. The ring is hot and the opponent hotter. Fighting for recognition and using the jab masterfully, the challenger outpoints the champ handily (30-21) and many at ringside felt it wasn't that close.
RD3: The champ, no longer familiar with losing, if only a rd, comes out smoking. He is defending against the very opponent he won the belt against. He fights once again with a sense of urgency and takes a huge lead back to his stool (17-0). But the challenger is a crafty, cagey old vet and comes storming back, like his legacy itself is at stake. The champ squeeks out a win (26-20) in this round and the world is whole again. Or is it?
RD4: Champ wins another rd, (27-17) though some see a change in philosophy and perhaps even weakness. Is it the manager, the trainer or is the champ just not executing? More questions than answers here, even in victory.
RD5: The champ is tired and perhaps even uninspired. He is flat and the manager and trainer decide to get cute. It's not rope-a-dope cute, but neither is it what won the title. The champ himself is feeling uneasy about the new plan of attack and even after taking the early part of the rd, he just never looks himself. Perhaps even questioning his own ability, while others question his desire. Not since rd 1 has the champ clearly dominated a rd from post to post. The challenger senses this and seeing the champ in defense mode, offering little in the way of offense, he jumps hard and often on the champ, skating away with a resounding, if not easy (30-23), rd 5 in this 16 rd fight.
RD6: @ STL. The champ is a proud champ and observers feel he just needs to get back to the fundamentals that won him the crown. He needs to know the opponent is in do or die mode and thus, quite dangerous. With 11 rds remaining in the fight, the champ is ahead 3 rds to 2, but dubious ass pretenders and contenders are making noise in the ranks. It is possible another loss here could prevent the champ from controlling his own destiny and perhaps worse, shake him to the point where he forgets who the goddamn champ is around here!!
Let's go Hawks! Close this out 9-2 and take the power back!
Yes, I know this was corny...but it's raining here. Turn those frowns upside down people! This fight is far from over and even if we don't control our own destiny, it won't be over until we are eliminated from the post. 3-2 is a far cry from that.
RD1: The champ's hometown is the venue and the visiting challenger is hungry, proud... but also visibly anxious. He watched the demolition the champ put on his last opponent in winning the crown. It's a very unfriendly atmosphere and the challenger is suddenly reminded he's a long way from home. He makes mistakes early, is countered, then becomes afraid to throw (at Sherm). Champ wins this round handily (36-16).
RD2: The champ is brimming with confidence and swag, but he's still young. He feels he can't lose. That's never good and he gets away from some of the things that made him champ. The ring is hot and the opponent hotter. Fighting for recognition and using the jab masterfully, the challenger outpoints the champ handily (30-21) and many at ringside felt it wasn't that close.
RD3: The champ, no longer familiar with losing, if only a rd, comes out smoking. He is defending against the very opponent he won the belt against. He fights once again with a sense of urgency and takes a huge lead back to his stool (17-0). But the challenger is a crafty, cagey old vet and comes storming back, like his legacy itself is at stake. The champ squeeks out a win (26-20) in this round and the world is whole again. Or is it?
RD4: Champ wins another rd, (27-17) though some see a change in philosophy and perhaps even weakness. Is it the manager, the trainer or is the champ just not executing? More questions than answers here, even in victory.
RD5: The champ is tired and perhaps even uninspired. He is flat and the manager and trainer decide to get cute. It's not rope-a-dope cute, but neither is it what won the title. The champ himself is feeling uneasy about the new plan of attack and even after taking the early part of the rd, he just never looks himself. Perhaps even questioning his own ability, while others question his desire. Not since rd 1 has the champ clearly dominated a rd from post to post. The challenger senses this and seeing the champ in defense mode, offering little in the way of offense, he jumps hard and often on the champ, skating away with a resounding, if not easy (30-23), rd 5 in this 16 rd fight.
RD6: @ STL. The champ is a proud champ and observers feel he just needs to get back to the fundamentals that won him the crown. He needs to know the opponent is in do or die mode and thus, quite dangerous. With 11 rds remaining in the fight, the champ is ahead 3 rds to 2, but dubious ass pretenders and contenders are making noise in the ranks. It is possible another loss here could prevent the champ from controlling his own destiny and perhaps worse, shake him to the point where he forgets who the goddamn champ is around here!!
Let's go Hawks! Close this out 9-2 and take the power back!
Yes, I know this was corny...but it's raining here. Turn those frowns upside down people! This fight is far from over and even if we don't control our own destiny, it won't be over until we are eliminated from the post. 3-2 is a far cry from that.
