Arturo Gatti

What are the odds of two recently retired athletes, both 37, being murdered on consecutive weekends? If I were Michael Strahan, I would stay home and lock all the doors next weekend. But even then, with all the domestic disputes and what not, are you truly safe? The whole thing is really sobering.

Arturo Gatti fell into the category of sports celebrities I "knew of," but did not follow. If you read the Alexis Arguello post, you'd remember that I was into boxing in the eighties, but have since lost interest. I do find it somewhat ironic that the suicide and murder of two boxers occurred in all the pre-fight hub-bub of UFC 100, a sport which I also do not follow, but I know it has really gained some momentum in the last couple years, at the expense of boxing.

I have to say, I wish I followed Gatti a bit more, given his reputation as the human highlight film. His trilogy, as they called it, with Irish Micky Ward was epic. And at this point I have to give pause and reflect on two things I just said. This "trilogy" idea makes me laugh because I associate the word with elves and minotaurs. Or perhaps other self-important works of art. And then, the other thing is "Irish" Micky Ward. As if the name "Micky Ward" needs some sort of modifier. In the absence of a deep frame of reference. I have nothing to cling to but interesting little turns of phrase. It's what I do. I'm a writer, not a boxer.