THE SIT DOWN

By Roger Esty

I've alluded on the thread recently about fighters who didn't have it. Spud Murphy was one of the fellas' I talked about. His father wanted him to be a champ. The poor kid couldn't win in the prelims. He would take some awfull beatings. The Commission grabbed his license because he had suffered some brain damage. His father who ran a gym, let him spar with the fighters anyway. Spud died one day in that gym collapsing in the shower.

Remebering Spud Murphy was linking his situation with my grandson Adam. Adam is the nicest boy you'd ever meet. He's sensitive and well behaved. He's kind and loves his parents very much. But his dad wants him to be a rough tough guy. Adam is eight.

His dad has put him in Karate. He goes everyday because his dad wants him to. Adam will try anything that his dad asks him to do without complaining.

Adam is not a very aggresive kid. We saw that in T Ball and Soccer. He doesn't want to mix it. Now dad puts him in Karate. Adam is excellent with his "Katas"(standing alone going through his techniques),but when it comes to combat,he gets smoked. Once he cried. Yet he still goes out there because his dad wants him too. Adam doesn't complain.

Last week Adam was in a tournament in Orange County. He lost his first two matches and was eliminated. I wasn't there. I had picked him up from school. He was wearing his ball cap. I asked him how he did.
"Not so good,"he said.
"Do you like Karate,?"I asked him.
"Yes,I like "Katas",but I don't like fighting that much."
"Does Daddy know how you feel?"
"No"
Time to talk with his dad I figured.

I came home and there was my son in law on the couch.
"I hear Adam lost again,"I said.
"Oh yeh."
"You're not going to enter him in any tournaments in the near future are you,"I said firmly.
"Oh no."
"You know Adam shouldn't be pressured right now. He should practice,but he's not ready to compete."
"Yeh. I know."
"You don't want to destroy his confidence and self esteem."
"Oh no. Wouldn't want to do that."
"Good."
My son in law wasn't going to rationalize out of this one.
"Adam told me that if someone would try to hurt his family,he'd go after them,"I said.
My son in law broke out into a smile of relief.
"Adam said that?"
"Look,sometimes it's not knowing how to fight,but when."
"You're right."
Damn right I'm right I said to myself.