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Drabness is a state of mind
A. Pedant

 
Boxing

I was extremely disappointed to read this piece of savage nonsense about/from the current UK Sports Minister

… Gerry Sutcliffe is determined to increase the number of schools offering boxing to pupils.

Only 4% of schools do so at present, though a pilot scheme involving 150 Sheffield schoolchildren is under way.

"If it is successful I want to roll it out in the rest of the country," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe is determined to increase the number of schools offering boxing to pupils.

Only 4% of schools do so at present, though a pilot scheme involving 150 Sheffield schoolchildren is under way.

"If it is successful I want to roll it out in the rest of the country," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

The report comes from the BBC.

A few years ago I argued that women's boxing should be allowed on the grounds that, if men are allowed to do something, women should be, too.

During last week, as the hype for the Hatton-Mayweather fight grew, I was tempted to argue about boxing again; this time, it would be to argue that the sport should be banned. Yet I find nonsense like this, from the Sports minister. So, here it goes:

Boxing is a savage sport that inflicts deliberate injury. Indubitably, it causes brain injury. Other sports sometimes cause injury but never deliberately - it is always accidental. It is about time that the bloody sport was banned. We've progressed to the extent of banning bear-baiting, cockfighting and dog-fighting. We should really stop people abusing each other by boxing, even though supporters might claim that boxers have free choice. Nor is it character-building to teach children – or anybody – to batter each other.

I never understood Tony Banks' support of this barbaric activity. I understand Gerry Sutcliffe's advocacy even less. One wonders is he could be prosecuted for incitement to inflict grievous bodily harm.

Do we really want children (or even grown men) taught to batter each other? To inflict injuries that are very likely to cause brain damage? As Woody Allen said 'My brain - that's my second favourite organ'. And are we really so uncivilised that we want people to inflict damage on each other for our entertainment?

Ban it immediately!

Labels: Boxing, brain damage, entertainment, Hatton-Mayweather, school sport

posted by josh at 1:28 pm