A LESSON IN PROPER DECORUM
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 11 Dec 2007
LOS ANGELES -- The battle between two unbeaten titans at the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas Saturday night was as exciting as the boxing hype-masters had predicted.
There was excitement galore with the battle shifting tide as it went along. Earlier in the fight, Britain?s pride, Ricky Hatton?s bullying technique proved effective against Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather. Then as it progressed, the tide shifted in favor of the Pretty Boy ending with a 10th round TKO and the bullish Brit laying on his back.
Given its magnitude, the fight should have been unforgettable. After all, it was one that lived up to all that was expected of it, money-wise particularly. But from the perspective of this writer, it became so, not because of the performance of the two fighters nor the money they generated. It was because of the poor behavior of the crowd.
There were reportedly more than 30 thousand Brits that came to town. Most of them were inside the MGM Garden Arena. Those that did not make it, watched the fight on closed-circuit venues around town.
Cheer, they did ! They were so loud that the noise was deafening.
The noise they created was understandable given the fact that it was alcohol-driven. Besides, they did not fly from all over the UK to Las Vegas to be quiet. They were there to support their hero?? loudly.
But being loud was not the problem. Knowing when to be loud was.
For some pointless reason, the Brits booed continually while the US National Anthem was being sung prior to the fight.
The behavior was not only disgusting. It was insulting to the host country as well.
I can only compare their behavior to some guests you invited to your house for dinner and during dinner, they insulted your mother.
Yes, it was that bad!
And, I always thought the Brits are prim and proper!
It was one thing for the Brits to boo Mayweather and even hate him. After all, he was going against their hero.
But to boo the US National Anthem was truly rude. There was no reason for. The booing was deliberate and meant to drown out and negate the significance of the American national song.
Perhaps they thought that the US is still in their control just like the early days of the pilgrims. What a shame.
Clearly the Brits who were there Satuday night needed a lesson in proper decorum.
Top photo: Photo show part of the huge British crowd Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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