The day after I posted it, I thought “Geez, posting on Bleacher isn't like posting on my website…these people don't know me. What if they don't know that I was kidding?” LOL

You're not the only one who didn't realize at first. I had hoped that by being completely absurd that it would be obvious, but not really. I like the font idea

Cheers
JR

I'm an over-the-hill tennis coach. I'm so old that when I was born, the Dead Sea was just sick! So now my gi hangs in my closet, collecting more spider webs than Miss Havisham's wedding cake!

But at age 52, and wearing all of 178 pounds draped over a 6ft frame, I still beat younger, stronger, and bigger muscle-heads in arm-wrestling on a regular basis. So Instead of complaining about the aches and pains of old age, I embrace the aging process by keeping those young whippersnappers in their place.

Here's to hoping that everyone else has it as easy as I do when they hit 52!

Now my wife wants me to join her bridge club. I jump next Tuesday!

I think that I may have inadvertently hit a nerve because I was absolutely not suggesting that only someone with a fighting background (such as myself) should speak or give opinions on MMA. That would be silly…

I can see how you may have taken it that way, but my comments were more directed at all of the fickle fans who most definitely have no clue what it takes to pursue a dream of this magnitude.

This isn't about fighting or not fighting.

It’s about living your life to the fullest, regardless of what other people think of your intentions or motives.

For me, this really started with Brett Favre and has grown immensely since reading all of the comments and blogs after the fights this weekend.

‘Fans’, like children, can be very cruel. I wanted my article to be that “light of hope” for any aging athlete (who wouldn’t take himself too seriously) that may take offence to the harsh criticisms about their age (apparently Cro Cop couldn’t stand the heat, so he got out of the kitchen – which is a real shame because he deserves more respect than that).

A lot of unfair comments were made (not saying that you are included with that, which is exactly why I wanted to give you the head's up and an apology in advance).

Only the athlete in question should decide and have a say in when would be the best time to walk away from a sport that they have contributed so much.

No one else.

JR

PS
When I first joined a few weeks back, I read an article by Dorothy Willis which had to do with Michael Vick (another issue I am quite passionate about). I loved your comments and I am now permanently turned off from any of her articles. I just won’t read them.

I like that we can discuss and disagree. I would never put you down because you don’t share my same opinion. All that means is that I have to do a better job in selling my view points – which in turn will make me a better writer. Thank you.

I don't understand why some people, in this case you, always want to go to the “I get to observe and criticize others for having the talent and courage to attempt things in their life that I couldn’t possibly imagine” angle.

Just because someone isn't a fighter doesn't mean they can't hold an opinion on the subject. That is what writers do. It's not about courage and the fact that you and many others bring it there comes off as a sense of superiority, which is ridiculous.

I don't fight because the idea of getting punched in the face repeatedly doesn't interest me. That doesn't mean that I haven't spent years following the sport, educating myself on the entire industry and forming opinions about fighters that are fair, valid and deserving of being heard. It just means I don't like getting punched in the face.

I know this isn't directed at me personally, so, despite the forthcoming use of I, I'll be making my stand for everyone who is lumped into this “courage-less, basement dwelling, opinionated mass” you disagree with…

Having a different opinion is cool. In fact, it's beneficial, as we can have discussions like this. The problem, as I see it, is where I gave my personal opinion on the future of three greats and paid them just tribute in doing so, you're simply saying that we don't deserve to hold our opinion because we're not fighters and how dare we say what we feel when we've never stepped into a ring…

At least that's how it always comes off to me…

Thanks for reading my article and taking the time to leave a comment.

Next time, I will try to lay the sarcasm on a little thicker LOL

I listed this article under 'Humour' (Canadian spelling) because this was my way of poking fun at the critics who seem to think that they are somehow entitled to speak out on how another person should get to live their life….which I am against.

Check out my article from UFC 102 and you will see that I am most definitely not against older fighters. To me, age should not be an issue.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/245165-ufc-1…

Everyone is entitled to their opinion – that's why we are here – to write about and express our opinions. Right? Fine.

What drives me crazy, is when some people think that others should stop living out their dreams or stop doing something that they love doing.

Is it really out of genuine concern for the athlete?? Not from the blogs that I have been reading.

My idea started when everyone was criticizing Brett Favre. If he can still play, why should it matter how old he is? What business is it of anyone else's if he retires, stays retired, plays, retires again, etc…?

Heck, if I were Brett Favre, I'd want to keep playing for as long as possible and too bad for the fans and their “tainted memories”. Even at a diminished capacity, these one-time super star athletes are still better than most.

PLUS – I WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED!! I want to see the big names.

My final statement was the only true expression about how I feel. “To each his own. Do what you want. Mind your own business. If you don’t like it—too bad for you.”

Hope you understand.
JR

Can't that be applied to the “over-the-hill” fighters you so obviously loathe?