Permanently Extinct

Once, horse racing and boxing were grand. They occupied both conversation and the front page. Despite their paucity, title clashes and the Triple Crown were sporting crown jewels. On Saturday, the 133rd Kentucky Derby and a glitzy championship bout occurred. Unfortunately, neither captivated America.

Boxing has numerous impediments. Pay Per View bouts are overly expensive. Only HBO and Showtime televise title clashes. Boxing airs late night. There is a weight class excess. There is a champions excess. Fighters are overly technical. They are also sans personality. Once, African-American youth admired Muhammed Ali and Mike Tyson. Now, they mimic Lebron James and Dwayne Wade.

Horse racing has been stereotyped. The sport is affluent and caucasion. Cameras pan white crowds. Dress is suits, dresses, diamonds, and elegant jewelry. Drinks are commonly unrecognizable. African-Americans enjoy a proud horse racing tradition. However, the sport’s current complextion is pale.

I enjoy horse racing and boxing. I respect their history. Despite their diminished status, I continue viewing. My patronage is rare. Horse racing and boxing will never reassume prominence. They have become footnotes. The aforesaid is lamentable. However, the previous two paragraphs are unalterable.