The Fighter
The perks of winning31 total reviews
Comment from Father Flaps
Hi Jay,
Riggs? Was that 38 year-old Joe Riggs you sprawled on the canvas?
I enjoyed your true flash. I always enjoy a good Heavyweight boxing match. I can close my eyes and still picture Smokin' Joe Frasier's shoulders stalking Ali from corner to corner. He just kept coming. Unwavering. But the dancer picked away at his head. Unending jabs.
One of my favorite movies is 2005 "Cinderella Man", starring Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger and Paul Giamatti. The movie was directed by Ron Howard, and was based on the life of Depression-day James J. Braddock, who was a boxer among boxers, a boxing legend.
The perks of winning... there are better and better boxers (players/teams) also striving to reach the top, that gold medal, that shiny cup. And they are trained to take your head off your shoulders.
I didn't realize that those dots count as words if they are just out there in space. Good to know. 98-102 words makes a lot of sense.
Great story, Jay! Good Luck in the contest!
Cheers,
Kimbob
reply by the author on 16-Nov-2020
  |
Hi Jay,
Riggs? Was that 38 year-old Joe Riggs you sprawled on the canvas?
I enjoyed your true flash. I always enjoy a good Heavyweight boxing match. I can close my eyes and still picture Smokin' Joe Frasier's shoulders stalking Ali from corner to corner. He just kept coming. Unwavering. But the dancer picked away at his head. Unending jabs.
One of my favorite movies is 2005 "Cinderella Man", starring Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger and Paul Giamatti. The movie was directed by Ron Howard, and was based on the life of Depression-day James J. Braddock, who was a boxer among boxers, a boxing legend.
The perks of winning... there are better and better boxers (players/teams) also striving to reach the top, that gold medal, that shiny cup. And they are trained to take your head off your shoulders.
I didn't realize that those dots count as words if they are just out there in space. Good to know. 98-102 words makes a lot of sense.
Great story, Jay! Good Luck in the contest!
Cheers,
Kimbob
Comment Written 16-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 16-Nov-2020
-
You are so kind, Kimbob. No, the true name of the boxer I KO'd is long forgotten. That was 63 years ago. Riggs just floated to the surface of this addled mind as I wrote. I too am a fan of the heavyweight division. A jab flicked by a heavyweight is like the right cross of a featherweight. Thanks again for your thoughts.
Comment from Bill Pinder
Great job with your true short story about a brief view from the top of your boxing world before you got pummeled and made a rapid descent. Thanks for sharing your creativity and good luck in the contest. Bill
reply by the author on 16-Nov-2020
|
Great job with your true short story about a brief view from the top of your boxing world before you got pummeled and made a rapid descent. Thanks for sharing your creativity and good luck in the contest. Bill
Comment Written 16-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 16-Nov-2020
-
Thank you so much, Bill. I'm happy you enjoyed it.
Comment from Sandra du Plessis
A very well-written true story flash. We work and fight hard in our younger days to reach the desired top level where we wanted to be. When we get older we can look back and contemplating our wins and losses.
reply by the author on 16-Nov-2020
|
A very well-written true story flash. We work and fight hard in our younger days to reach the desired top level where we wanted to be. When we get older we can look back and contemplating our wins and losses.
Comment Written 16-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 16-Nov-2020
-
I'm so happy you enjoyed this piece, Sandra. Afraid I haven't learned much from its deeper lessons. But on the surface, I do stay out of the ring.
Comment from amada
I could feel the emotion in your written words. I know that high emotions last forever. The details of your story are very good; everybody loves a winner. But believe me, I was cheering for you.
reply by the author on 16-Nov-2020
|
I could feel the emotion in your written words. I know that high emotions last forever. The details of your story are very good; everybody loves a winner. But believe me, I was cheering for you.
Comment Written 16-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 16-Nov-2020
-
Thank you amada. I'm glad you found meaning in it and it's good to know I had you on my side.
Comment from Gloria ....
Great job with this true story flash. This is just exactly how this kind of story is told. Your whole life came together in just those few words where a pummel and cut tossed you off the number one spot. Superb story telling and I wish you much luck with the Committee. :)
Gloria
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2020
|
Great job with this true story flash. This is just exactly how this kind of story is told. Your whole life came together in just those few words where a pummel and cut tossed you off the number one spot. Superb story telling and I wish you much luck with the Committee. :)
Gloria
Comment Written 15-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2020
-
Thank you so much, Gloria. I am humbled by your words, which is tough because I'm mighty proud to hear them. Have a happy holiday season, dear friend.
Comment from Benshu-bookgai
A potent, fall-from-grace arc brimming with machismo and manliness, but not enough to cross the threshold into toxic levels. Very nice :). Tying in the recurrent imagery of the summit was also a great way to fold the story back in on itself for a clean finish.
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2020
|
A potent, fall-from-grace arc brimming with machismo and manliness, but not enough to cross the threshold into toxic levels. Very nice :). Tying in the recurrent imagery of the summit was also a great way to fold the story back in on itself for a clean finish.
Comment Written 15-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2020
-
I like the way you praise, Benshu-bookgai! Thank you for reading and leaving me such an articulate exposition.
Comment from humpwhistle
I love the economy and the voice. especially all that is implied in
'Summit view? Unparalleled.' and 'Descent from the summit? Instantaneous.' Though I might've used 'free-fall' for the last word.
You've packed a lot of story in 98-102 words!
Oh, I learned about the ellipse thing the hard way.
Best of luck, Jay.
Peace, Lee
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2020
 |
I love the economy and the voice. especially all that is implied in
'Summit view? Unparalleled.' and 'Descent from the summit? Instantaneous.' Though I might've used 'free-fall' for the last word.
You've packed a lot of story in 98-102 words!
Oh, I learned about the ellipse thing the hard way.
Best of luck, Jay.
Peace, Lee
Comment Written 15-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2020
-
Dang git, Lee--where were you when I was looking for the perfect last word? Seriously. But I really should say "thank you!" Because I combined your choice to freefall (just to be safe about the hyphen). And for good measure, I removed THE before Adulation. So I'm down to 100! Ah, freefall! I love it!
Comment from catch22
Hi Jay, this is an excellent piece of flash memoir. You tell a complete story with lots of showing rather than telling about what your life was like in the military. The story captures to arrogance of youth being humbled in a very relatable way. I wish you well in the contest.
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2020
|
Hi Jay, this is an excellent piece of flash memoir. You tell a complete story with lots of showing rather than telling about what your life was like in the military. The story captures to arrogance of youth being humbled in a very relatable way. I wish you well in the contest.
Comment Written 15-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2020
-
Thanks, Pam! I've always appreciated your comments. And your added well-wishes.
Comment from djsaxon
Awesome write. Glad you got a handle on the rules ð??? The strength of the write lies in the superb economy of your clever pen. Love 'summit' view and subsequent 'descent'. The clarity throughout is faultless. Huge respect - DJ
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2020
|
Awesome write. Glad you got a handle on the rules ð??? The strength of the write lies in the superb economy of your clever pen. Love 'summit' view and subsequent 'descent'. The clarity throughout is faultless. Huge respect - DJ
Comment Written 15-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2020
-
DJ, it means a lot to win your respect. Thank you for reading. I'm so happy you were touched by it. And, oh my God! A six! Woo-hooo!
-
Mate you are a ray of sunshine in this sometimes muddy pond. I am a tiny bit over "faith in the Lord" stuff. lt's a do or don't and rarely worthy of yet another ill constructed poem. DJ
Comment from Elizabeth Emerald
Knock-out punch! The higher we fly, the harder the fall. Masterful application of single-sentence (word!) paragraphs enhances the power of this elegant prose. This may be a winner.
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2020
|
Knock-out punch! The higher we fly, the harder the fall. Masterful application of single-sentence (word!) paragraphs enhances the power of this elegant prose. This may be a winner.
Comment Written 15-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 15-Nov-2020
-
Thank you, Elizabeth. You honor me and I can only blush.