By Steve Trellert
02.09 - As the Boxing world gets ready once again for the latest chapter of the 'Talent of Tedium' that is Roy Jones Jr's career, I get the sneaking suspicion that more eyes will be focused onto something else other than the insipid headliner between Mr. Jones and Clinton Woods. No, not the redundant undercard between Ronald 'Winky' Wright and Bronco McKart, or an honest placard in the crowd with 'Less stiffs at the morgue' written on it. The most memorable moment from this Portland, Oregon, boxing card will likely not come from the action within the ring, but in the presence of HBO commentator Larry Merchant.
Some deride Larry Merchant as they perceive him to be biased, opinionated, insensitive, and sometimes arrogant. Why these are reasons to acclaim Mr. Merchant not dismiss him, and besides, these labels are not necessarily wholly accurate. It is true that he has a bias against certain fighters that fail to entertain the public sufficiently. A case in point is Heavyweight Chris Byrd towards whom Larry can barely conceal his contempt. Chris Byrd lacks the decisive power to really entertain the majority of the public who tune in to see dramatic moments such as knockouts or slugfests. Chris Byrd is not responsible for his deficiencies in terms of power and yet Larry treats him like a pariah. This is blatantly unfair. But what does this say about Larry other than that he is unfair? It states that he loves the sport and is publicly self-conscious, without restraint, of its perception by the viewers. He realizes that if the fighters fail to entertain the public, they have done the sport a disservice and cost it some viewers and future support. This does not excuse his behavior, but it does demonstrate his priority of passion over prudence with regards to boxing.
In terms of being opinionated Larry should be praised not pricked. In today's prevalent politically correct atmosphere of choking smog, a man or woman who calls a spade a spade is a rarity. Usually we get a verbally castrated announcer who adheres to a Clintonesque philosophy of being all things to all people irrespective of its blatant dishonesty. Larry Merchant is one of those commentators who will call a boring fight a piece of crap irrespective of the fact that this may cause some to grab the flicker and tune to Martha Stewart where anal superficiality is in vogue. People appreciate and recognize honesty and sincerity when they see it, and that is why they keep tuning in even when John Ruiz and Kirk Johnson fight. Sanitizing the broadcast makes it less colorful and interesting, and once that occurs apathy begins to reign like Lennox Lewis fighting in Africa. Nothing kills a sport (or boxer) quicker than apathy. Make someone's blood boil by cutting to the chase and they will be back. Howard Cosell was on many a hit list (way beyond Larry) but he did not hamper the sport did he?
Larry has been insensitive too, but that frequently has been a blessing in disguise. Whether cutting down Vernon Forrest's interview advertising campaign, or a zillion thank you's to God for a victory he must have declined the other guy, or countless cliches like "I am a pugilist specialist (ok Larry needs to work on that one)," Merchant helps get to the real point the viewer wants to hear. Playing patsy again results in apathy.
Arrogance? This gets overblown. Those individuals who hold strong convictions frequently get accused of arrogance. Just because Larry does not feel he is wrong, even when he is, does not necessarily entail arrogance. Conviction yes, arrogance no. Additionally, Merchant attempts to be highbrow with his views as if he has revealed to the world an insight of brilliance. Well, whether he has or not is irrelevant but the benefit is important to note. Whether it is Larry Merchant's pseudo-intellectual bantering or Emmanuel Steward's technical insight, boxing can always use more 'science' in the 'sweet science'. This always aids in diminishing the widely perceived (yet inaccurate) view that boxing is simply two people attempting to bash each other's brains in.
In a Larry Merchant cost-benefit analysis the benefit greatly outweighs the cost, and this weekend the potential benefit will reach yet again another one of those rare critical points where Larry can maximize his influence upon the sport he loves. This weekend we have a particularly weak HBO boxing card after a few stellar ones. The headliner is once again another Roy Jones Jr. escapade of supreme predictability. We all know Clinton Woods has a greater chance of getting hit by lightning on the way to the fight than actually winning it. Surprisingly, the undercard is similar in that Winky Wright has already beaten McKart twice and there is no reason to think differently this time out. With two mismatches at hand I find it hard to believe that Larry Merchant is not seething with disgust this week in preparation and will let it hit the fan in his commentary both during the fight and in the post fight interview with the ambitiously shallow undisputed champion.
This weekend I am hoping Larry Merchant will pull out all the stops and do a repeat performance of what he did during his post fight interview with Shane Mosely after he decapitated Adrian Stone. Larry's reaction to Mosely's decisive win? Basically, 'So what, you beat a nobody.' Soon afterwards Sugar Shane upped his quality of opposition and boxing benefited. Will he once again do this with Roy Jones Jr. in an enhanced impatient manner we all know he can? Probably. Will it work? Probably not. Nevertheless at least we will finally get to see something never seen in Roy's fights, Roy Jones under pressure. Give em hell Larry.
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