How much corruption and cheating would be necessary for Terrell to beat a prime Ali?

As for my own interest in steroids, it emerged from the old vs modern comparison that is the bread and butter of this forum.

It's *extremely* relevant to cross era comparisons, since it's one of the two or three major developments in athletic performance since the golden era. And it was also neglected (perhaps even head-in-the-sand ignored) until recently.

Nor is my focus on PEDs unique to me. You will see lots of PED discussion in boxing (check the General Forum sometime) and in MMA. It's a very common topic. Your aversion to discussing the issue may actually be a minority position now, although it wasn't one 20 years ago.

 

That's literally the topic of this thread, yes.

 

Steroids are not the only thing that I post about, so I don't really see the point of the question.

I've talked about Cribb, Sullivan, and Lenny McLean more often than most posters do as well. I mention turn of the century rules and Jack Johnson a lot, too, along with MMA. Am I not only a communist-Ali-hating-steroid-addict, but also a bareknuckle boxer?

Heck, I've made all kinds of weird threads, about all sorts of variables I think *might* explain performance differences in boxing. Multiple posts on twins, for example. Or entire divisions filled with a single fighter. Perhaps I'm a clone, too.

I've made threads about retired boxers' finances, which most people ignore. I've made threads speculating about talent pool differences, including the color line. But I'm also not an ex-fighter bar owner, and was never denied a title shot due to racial discrimination. Nor have I ever been hit by Shavers, even though I spent several hours, IIRC, breaking down why he was an exceptionally hard puncher.

Look, I realize that you don't like steroids. I realize you don't like people talking about steroids, either.

But not everyone on this forum shares your aversion to talking about them. I certainly don't. Perhaps in time, I will focus more of my attention on some other aspect of figuring out how to compare eras. There are plenty to explore. But I'm not going to stop mentioning them just because they make you uncomfortable. I think they are a legitimate point of discussion.

(Unless @McGrain tells me it's against the rules to discuss PEDs on the Classic forum; tagging him now to find out, just in case. Obviously, I'm not going to violate the forum's rules and discuss something out of bounds.)

 

Although I'm also not Panama Al Lewis trying to figure out how to cheat at boxing, if that's what you're getting at...

 

I suggest you not go into the General Forum, then. They talk all the time about whether Usyk, Joshua, Wilder, and a bunch of other boxers are on steroids. It's a constant source of speculation.

Additionally, you are a fan of a sport that involves intentionally inflicting brain damage on other human beings as a legitimate way to win. Steroids aren't the most disturbing part of the equation, IMO.

Finally, I do discuss lots of other areas of boxing. I listed a few in my post you just read. I find the implication that I'm a broken record who constantly obsesses over steroids unfair.

 

Er, I'm not denying you permission.

I'm saying that if you find discussion of steroids boring and disturbing, then you would not like the discussions that go on in the General Forum.

Because all of the steroid talk there would bore or disturb you, based on what you've said.

 

I don't really see your third diagnosis as any more plausible than the first two, based on what I actually post.

But speaking of broken records, I can't keep taking the time to answer your questions about whether I fit your diagnosis-of-the-week (steroid addict, communist oppressor of religions, bitter ex-fighter who wishes harm on Ali, and -- based on hints in this thread -- perhaps some kind of cheating coach next week?)

So I'll just save you time and reply prospectively for all time in the future: "No, whatever kind of extremist / psychologically disordered person you suspect me of being this time, you're probably off base here too."

 

Makes me wonder what the Facebook/LinkedIn profile of my alter-ego would look like.