Lee Dresselhaus / L’Observateur / January 19, 2000

So. They say there is a first time for everything. Well, I guess maybe there is, and this just proves it. In the words of MontyPython, and now for something completely different.

Last October there was an officially sanctioned boxing match, I think it was someplace on the West Coast, in which MacGregor won a decision over Chow. Okay, you say, so that’s news? In this case it is.

That was Margaret MacGregor (female, in case you can’t tell by the first name), winning over Loi Chow (male, in case you can’t tell by the first name which in this instance you can’t unless you happen to be familiar with such things). And now, since that particular boxing match wassanctioned by whatever powers-that-be who sanction such things, there is a move on to sanction all male/female boxing matches, making them a regular spectator sport.

Well, slap my face and call me Sally.

Now there’s a sport for you. Is it just me, or is there a weird littleproblem with this? I’m generally pretty open to the whole equality thing, especially when it doesn’t affect me in any real specific way. Go ahead, goout and be equal. Be equal until your head explodes. I don’t care. Be morethan equal. Be the Queen Of The Galaxy if you want. If that’s your trip,make it with my blessing. Just don’t expect to drag me into it with you,unless it benefits me in some really cool way, of course.

My wife once asked me if it bothered me that she made more money than I did. I think she assumed that the Male Ego, being what it is and beingeasily bruised, would cause some insecurity on my part because of her higher salary. I have since assured her that, being a more mature and self-assured male, things like that really and truly don’t bother me. I then wenton to encourage her to make even more money, lots more money, so I could perhaps retire and take care of the house like a good little hubby. She sawthrough that act pretty quick, but that’s another story.

Anyway, I’m up for women being equal, so I’m not sure why the thought of women boxing men bothers me the way that it does. There’s justsomething there that is just not natural, not right in the cosmic sense of things.

Maybe it’s that men of my generation don’t find it all that amusing to watch a woman get hit in the face. Repeatedly. From time to time ontelevision they show women boxing other women, and I don’t even like to watch that. It just doesn’t seem…normal. Men have been pounding on oneanother since they found out they could. Like it or not, it’s normal. Notpolitically correct these days, but as normal as the sun coming up.

Historically, it just hasn’t been a woman thing to punch another woman in the face for other people’s amusement. I don’t really care to see twowomen in physical conflict unless there’s oil involved, but then, I’m something of a pig when it comes to those things, like most guys. That’snormal, too.

And now, somebody is thinking it’s a good idea for women to fight men.

Sorry. Equal rights are a good thing, but this doesn’t cut it.Out of curiosity I checked the internet for this bit of politically-correct sports trivia after I first heard about it the other day. Lo and behold, Ifound a little blurb on it. Sadly, it was true. But not only that, I also foundan internet readers poll on the sports site that covered this event. Thepoll asks the readers if cross-gender boxing should be officially sanctioned by the boxing federations, or organizations, or whatever.

The results, as posted on the internet, are as follows: Yes: 11,247 (32 percent) No: 23,546 (68 percent) Well. My, my. I don’t know their motivation, nor do I pretend to, but thereseem to be a whole lot of people out there who feel the way I do. Needlessto say, I cast my vote with the politically-incorrect nay-sayers. In fact, Ifelt so strongly about it that I voted twice. You can do that on theinternet.

I’m curious about our readers’ reaction to this particular piece of political correctness. If you have an opinion on this, or anything else for thatmatter, or if you just want to tell me what an idiot I am or something equally endearing, e-mail me at Pilgrim150@hotmail.com. This should befun.

And one last thing. I spoke of the Male Ego earlier in this column and howeasily bruised it is. Can you imagine how Mr. Loi Chow must have felt afterlosing that fight? Now, that would give a fellow bragging rights when he’s slamming back a few with his buddies wouldn’t it? I wonder if Margaret has kids. If they do, what do they bring to school forshow and tell? Mom’s mouthpiece? Do they say, “So? My Mom can beat up your Mom. AND your Dad!” That would make a kid proud, wouldn’t it?

LEE DRESSELHAUS is a regular columnist for L’Observateur.

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