Rob Ford Vs. GSP

Last Saturday I saw a couple of tweets saying something like: "Lets see Rob Ford vs GSP."  Why not.  Lets line these two fighters up and juxtapose their character in a way Rob Ford might appreciate.

We've heard plenty about Rob Ford, so lets take a look at Georges St. Pierre first.  Here we have the longest reigning UFC World Champion in history.  He's a Canadian and he is probably the most humble champion of any sport.  GSP is a true hero and role model. 

The previous fight against Nick Daiz was the biggest grossing pay per view event of all time.  I remember the class GSP showed during and after that fight that really contrasted with the challenger.  Diaz was bad mouthing him the whole time.  After the fight Diaz couldn't even look at him or speak to him, but GSP showed nothing but class.

Last Saturday GSP technically won the fight.  Two of three judges scored it 48-47 for GSP.  Almost no one else saw it that way.  Even GSP himself thought, acted and spoke as though he lost after the fight was over.  Hendricks, the challenger, may have hit harder but that isn't what judges score on.  Every move that connects is scored.  There is no value and currently no way to measure the force with which each hit connects.  Perhaps if there were wireless accelerometers in the gloves they record the force of a good hit but for now good execution is all that counts.  The only way a fight doesn't go to the judges scorecard is if one opponent is knocked out or taps out. 

I can't but think that if Rob Ford had followed good advise and vanished for a couple of weeks he would still have all his powers as Mayor.  

Watch how GSP handles a severe beating especially at the 2 minutes mark.  If only Rob Ford had said something like that and took off for a couple of weeks.




Instead Rob Ford is going to do it his way.  Its his decision to make.  He has the better view of his situation than I do and I hope he succeeds.  Instead of getting out of the public eye he's hosting a TV show.  He's doing interviews with everyone who wants to talk.  Good Luck!

My late Grandfather loved to play chess.   He would read books on it and play it constantly.  He would even play out momentous chess games by grand masters on his own board to learn from them. 

I remember one game in particular where I made move without a lot of thought behind it.  This was the most interesting game we ever played.  My move was not the smartest move which completely took my Grandfather by surprise.  It wrecked all his plans.  None of the great players made a move like that and me being a novice forced him to change his game plan on the fly.  I still lost the game, but it was fun.

Ford's handling of his mistakes strikes me a lot like that strange move.  There is value in the wild cat move.  It tests established assumptions.  In general it is better to have the enemy reacting instead of acting.  I just hope it works.

Rob Ford could pull out an upset, or more likely he'll just lose.  I don't know how dedicated or how big Ford Nation really is.  Will Ford Nation grow or fade over the next year?  I can't predict.  I know what Rob Ford will predict but I don't think there is any plan here.  He just says and does what comes to mind. 

The other day he said he wants to be Prime Minister.  'Excuse me?'  I thought.  We have now the best most competent and accomplished Prime Minister in our entire history.  We can't even get everyone on our own team to row in the same direction half the time!  How in the hell does Rob Ford think he'll manage to become Prime Minister?  (Is this before or after you become an astronaut?)  Mayor of the 4th largest city in North America is responsibility enough for now.  Turning your entire council against you is a defeat no matter how you cut it.  Political or not.

If Rob Ford is a Nation, then call me a sunshine patriot.

I want him to succeed.  I can't square his actions with my values.  People make mistakes.  People get themselves into trouble.  Some of those people can turn things around and become great once more.

Unfortunately, I have to wait and see that actually happen before I can trust him.  I gave him the benefit of the doubt when this whole crack thing started and now that I've been misled I cannot give it to him again.  Not now.  He's got to earn back that trust.  Anything less would make me into a sucker.

Ford Escort

Has anyone considered what happens to this woman if she is not an escort?


I read somewhere that her mom says she isn't.  She'll never be able to do much else now regardless.  Just another casualty in the carpet bombing of Rob Ford.  Nothing will stand between the grand city of Toronto and her proud dignity.  Not the Ford family and not random people in random photos. 

Is she a prostitute?  I have no idea really.  Maybe she was another extortion setup like the crack video itself. 

Ever seen the movie Trading Places?  Its a classic Christmas movie though its been buried since Obama became president.  In it, these old rich guys decide to totally ruin and destroy the life of a man played by Dan Akroyd.  They do everything to him.  They frame him as a thief, plant drugs on him, even send a prostitute out to embarrass him in front of his fiancé.  (at the same time they elevate Eddie Murphy making it a double fish out of water Christmas story)  At least some of the Rob Ford story is like that. 

The video seen around the world of Ford in a drunken stupor seeming to make threats was actually him doing a wrestler impression around the time he was arm wrestling Hulk Hogan.  All is fair against Rob Ford I suppose (until he throws himself from his office window).  But this escort business could potentially destroy both his family and some random woman's life. 

Giving Rob Ford the benefit of the doubt has had worse than expected results.  Suddenly every allegation is plausible.  He's already admitted to smoking pot, crack and drunk driving.  Why not paying for sex?

This is what lost trust can do.  This is what "my word is my bond" is all about.  One lie and now nothing can be trusted. 

Yet he fights on.  His tenacity is admirable.  He wants the job and the ridicule of an entire world will not make him give it up.  Instead of counselling he's doing a TV show. 

Its unprecedented.  This is unknown political territory.  I can't predict the outcome of the Rob Ford saga.  Odds are that the train wreck will continue, but no embattled politician has ever been given a show before. 

I can't in good conscience support Rob Ford for any public office.  -but I also can't help cheering for him.   I hope he can battle his vices as hard as he battles to keep his job.