12/21/24
May 15, 2003
Is it Don King vs. Jimmy Hoffa Jr.?: Will the loser sleep with the fishes? Two unions have now sprung up for professional boxers, promising benefits and retirement packages. Will this be the move that helps clean up the sport, or is turning to the Teamsters a bad idea?
Anything to loosen Don 'the Hair' King's grip on the sport has got to be good. If that HBO movie is even a remotely accurate portrayal of his dealings, a collective could provide a semblance of protection.
posted by garfield at 05:52 PM on May 15, 2003
There is power in a factory, power in the land Power in the hand of the worker But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand There is power in a Union Now the lessons of the past were all learned with workers blood The mistakes of the bosses we must pay for From the cities and the farmlands to trenches full of mud War has always been the bosses way, sir The Union forever,defending our rights Down with the blackleg,all workers unite With our brothers and our sisters from many far-off lands There is power in a Union Now I long for the morning that they realise Brutality and unjust laws cannot defeat us But who'll defend the workers who cannot organise When the bosses send their lackeys out to cheat us? Money speaks for money,the Devil for his own Who comes to speak for the skin and the bone? What a comfort for the widow,a light to the child There is power in a Union The Union forever,defending our rights Down with the blackleg,all workers unite With our brothers and our sisters together we will stand There is power in a Union
posted by squealy at 05:58 PM on May 15, 2003
Or alternatively, Come gather round children, it's high time ye learns 'Bout a hero named Homer and a devil named Burns We'll march till we drop, the girls and the fellas We'll fight to the death or else fold like umbrellas. So we'll march day and night by the big cooling tower They have the plant, but we have the power. ;-)
posted by squealy at 06:02 PM on May 15, 2003
I don't think anything can hurt boxing much, just because its image is so utterly tarnished to the casual boxing fan and those outside its circle. The main reason I'm pleased to see this becuase it might force promoters to think just a little bit about the futures of the fighters, meaning their long-term health and welfare. God knows if anyone on this earth needs health care for when he retires ... it's a boxer.
posted by wfrazerjr at 07:16 AM on May 16, 2003
As soon as you let the teamsters in, you're going to see fixed fights. I mean, um... becuase boxing is... um... I guess it really doesn't make a difference does it?