THIS THE WAY IT IS

By Roger Esty

OK Kevin . I bet you've never been to TJ to see a fight. I bet you've never been to TJ at all. Maybe to Revolucion Street once to go to Jack In The Box to eat a taco,but you have no frame of reference on this subject matter of this fight or any fight that goes on down there.

You guys on the U.S. side,especially the gringos,go if you want to go. You won't get killed .Honest.

So Tijuana is off limits to the Marines. What a joke. It's not the first time. Marines love Tijuana because it's red light district offers them everything that's illegal on this side. Besides,the hookers down there are inspected by U.S. doctors. And 20 bucks will get you a girl that could work Vegas if she had the papers.

So we know the Marine generals know their boys aren't sissies. Tijuana is a lot safer than Iraq. It's just diplomatic red tape bullshit on both sides.

Now that I've cleared the air on the safety issue,you might wonder if I'm going. NO I'M NOT. Why? Look,I've been to plenty of fights in TJ. Read the thread for intimate details. I ain't goin' cause it ain't worth it. Sure,there'll be 1800 Tijuana cops standing around. That's what they'll be doin'. Standin' around. Parking will be a mess. The line at the border will be a mess. I can see it later on Mexican TV. And pay 75 to 150 bucks to watch JC Jr.? I paid ten to watch his old man dismantle Danilo Cabrera at the race track.

I've seen fights at the old downtown bullring that's now gone. I saw Mantequilla,Olivares,Saldivar,and JC.Sr. Oh yeh,Baby Vasquez to name a few. The 60's and 70's when Mexican boxing ruled the lighter weights.I never shelled out more than ten bucks to throw the dead rattlesnake around the ring.

That's why I ain't goin'. I'd have to go by myself .Besides, I can't find a Marine who'd go with me anyway.