As a frequent visitor to Las Vegas, I couldn't help but notice the validity of what the HBO commentators spoke about during the overhead shots of the Vegas strip during the night of the Pacquiao-Diaz clash. It was a scene that relayed the tough economic times that America is going through. A street that is usually filled with heavy summertime traffic looked more like a pre-rush hour scene on the Vegas strip Saturday night. They say history repeats itself. If this is true, then our current economic state may indicate that we're due to see a hero emerge in the sport of boxing...a hero, most likely an underdog, that inspires hope in a downtrodden time. Every once in a while, a fighter has the ability to touch the hearts of fans and that of a nation.
Johnson, Ali, Louis and Braddock...all names that turned out to be the right person for the right time in our nation.
Boxing's first black heavyweight champion, Jack Johnson, seemingly began the cycle. Born March 31, 1878, Johnson was a new breed of individual as he came to this world shortly after the Emancipation Proclamation that declared the freedom of all slaves. He would turn out to be a new breed of fighter as well, as he shook up the boxing world with his skills and power, earning him a title shot against Tommy burns in 1908. It was a fight in Reno, Nevada on July 4, 1910, however, that cemented his legacy. Dubbed "The Fight of Century", former undefeated heavyweight champion James Jeffries came out of retirement to prove, as he said, "that a white man is better than Negro." In front of crowd of 22,000 people chanting "kill the nigger," Johnson would go on to knock Jeffries down twice before the fight was eventually stopped in the 15th round. Johnson's knockout of Jeffries would spark nationwide race riots. Although it ultimately forced a 30-year ban that prevented any black man from having the opportunity to challenge for the heavyweight title, it inspired hope in the black community.
Perhaps the biggest boxing hero to emerge during the lowest economic time of our nation, the Great Depression, was "The Cinderella Man" James Braddock. Braddock, who was considered nothing more than a journeyman, was handpicked by as an easy payday for then heavyweight champion Max Baer. On June 13, 1935, the 10-t0-1 underdog Braddock defeated the seemingly unstoppable Baer in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. His decision win aroused a nation full of poverty and starvation. Braddock touched the hearts of those that needed hope during the nation's dark hour. After his victory, Braddock would not defend the title for nearly two years as his brash-talking manager, Joe Gould, entertained offers, perhaps ushering in the beginning of today's athlete who prefers to forego taking on big risks to hold out for a big money opportunity. The opportunity and title fight would eventually go to Joe Louis, but only after Louis agreed to pay Braddock a percentage of all of his future earnings...a contractual investment that would prove prosperous for Braddock.
The trend of heros would continue in 1938 with Louis himself. His knockout of German Max Schmeling, during a time when Hitler and the Nazi regime was rising to power, brought inspiration during a time of impending war. His victory was perceived as a win for good over evil. Louis would later go on to provide even more inspiration by serving in the Army from 1942 to 1945.
The arrival of a young, outspoken Muhammad Ali during the Vietnam War era provided a voice for a nation torn with public outcries against the war as he refused induction into the military. It was an unpopular and annoying voice to many, but in time, it would be recognized as a voice of leadership and change in our country. The tale of Ali has been well chronicled and documented for everyone, fight fan or not.
Yet again our nation is nearing crisis, with gas prices rising and our economy in recession. Who, though, will emerge in this time to be our nation's hero? Who will be our inspiration and our hope? While our country has seen worse times, it would be nice to see someone who not only touches our hearts, but revives a sport against the ropes in the eyes of many fans. If I had a name for you, than this article would be unnecessary. Instead, I'll just leave the door wide open for someone, anyone, to come into our hearts and breathe new life and hope. Are there any takers? Somebody? Anybody?
