When i was in 4th grade the World's heavy weight boxing champion was Sonny Liston. Fight experts, the press,, fans and even little boys in 4th grade felt that he was invincible.
A loud mouth brash young upstart who had won an Olympic Gold Medal as a light heavy weight, by the name of Cassius Clay declared to all of the world that he would "whip" Sonny Liston. He would pugnaciously say "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, Liston can't fight what he can't see"
When watching an hour long sports show detailing the mismatch, my mother wondered outloud if the boxing commission should allow the fight. It seemed to her that Clay's life was in jeopardy if he stepped into the ring with Sonny Liston. My father and older brother both laughed at what a fool young Cassius Clay was, and joked about the upcoming mismatch . I then spoke up, and told them that if anyone's life was in jeopardy it was Sonny's. When asked why I thought that, I said because Clay is the better boxer. They all laughed.
At school, the 4th grade teacher told the class that braggers are insecure and brag out of a feeling of inferiority. She then drew the analogy of that braggart, Cassius Clay. She said that he was going to be "destroyed" by Sonny and Cassius would then have to suffer the humiliation that all braggers suffer.
I raised my hand. She called on me. I told her that the fools were the people who thought that Sonny would win. The teacher and the class had a good laugh. The teacher then asked how was it that I would know that Cassius would win, when everyone else thought differently?
I gave an answer that shocked her when I said "would you have asked that same question of Christopher Columbus when he said that the world was round?"
She replied that I would have to live with my obstinance. However I might regret my big mouth after the fight proves me to be ridiculous.
I then responded, "and what will you have to live with when Cassius proves to you and the whole world that it was in fact you that were the stubborn ones"
She, of corse, sent me to the principal's office for being disrespectful.
I don't know who is going to win on Saturday. My objective hunch is that it is likely to be Washington. However, Steve Greatwood has said that the steak will not end, and I am not laughing at him.
Go Ducks!
