Fact vs. Fiction

In the darkness at the edge of the arena, two large metal doors open and light streams in. Standing in the door is the unquestionable figure of Don King. A hush falls over the crowd. Fact is standing in his corner of the ring with his coach David Kolb standing firm beside him. The crowd looks toward Fact. Are they looking for a reaction? Will fact flinch? Don King strides a few steps ahead of the smoke and light as the announcer begins, “And in the other corner of the ring, challenging Fact – iiiiitttttsss Fiction!”

“Bob, Fiction is a big contender for Fact. I know we saw a surprising upset between Emotion and Fact but Fact could be in a great deal of trouble here,” the TV announcer states. Bob returns the color commentary, “You’re right. In most of the fights with Fiction, we have seen his stunning ability to sway the crowd and whip them into a frenzy. It’s not so much his ability to fight but his ability to create an advantage.”

The fight begins. Fact is fighting a clean fight – a straight fight. To all but the skilled fighter and bookie, Fiction seems to be fighting well and clean. Those in the “know” see the sucker punches and the cheap shots and can easily identify the toll that Fiction is taking on Fact. Fact has only one advantage - endurance. Round after round, looking beaten and tired, Fact comes back into the ring. Fiction seems unscarred by the fight and looks tremendous. “I don’t know how Fiction does it Bob. It is incredible. He looks like everything is fine. It’s amazing!” A few more rounds and out of nowhere Fiction seizes up.

His face contorts and without even one more punch he collapses to the mat. “He didn’t even take a punch on that one….the doctor's in the ring….Folks we are saddened to report that Fiction is dead. Fiction is dead, Bob,…this is…It’s confirmed, Fiction died of a heart attack.” The crowd is not yelling. The room is silent. No one can believe it. The bookies are making their percentage and more. The masses that were certain that fiction was the fighter to win are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. The question of how it happened echos in minds that were so sure of Fiction just hours ago. The arena is empty. David and Fact are troubled as the Referee raises their arms in victory – they have seen the dismay in crowds' faces before. They wonder how long the crowds will keep showing up for the fights.