In 1975, the third chapter of the greatest rivalry in the heavyweight boxing history played out in the Phillipines. Muhammed Ali met Joe Frazier for their final battle. The bout lasted 14 rounds. It was a titanic bout in which Ali and Frazier traded devastating barrages. Joe Frazier was hit so hard so often in the head and face that his eyes were swollen practically shut. Ali’s ribs had been broken early in the fight, restricting his breathing and making every subsequent punch a brutal blow. Between the 14th and 15th rounds Eddie Futch, Frazier’s trainer, stopped the fight after watching his boxer get relentlessly tagged with viscous head shots. Frazier had been fighting blind since the 13th round, and Futch would watch no more. The decision cost him his relationship with Frazier, who so wanted to finish the fight, he never spoke to Futch again. For his part, Ali would later say the “Thrilla in Manilla” was the closest he’d ever come to death.
I would do a disservice to the biographers and historians who’ve done much more in-depth studies of the men and their cultural significance, to try and retell that story. What is important-these two men genuinely disliked each other with a fervor bordering on hatred. Both captured within and running parallel to that hatred was a passion; a passion to prove themselves to one another and to the world. They were each others’ equal and opposite the unstoppable force of Ali, versus the immovable object of Joe Frazier. It was their epic rivalry that unleashed the greatness with both of these men.
Frazier was not only the first fighter to beat Ali, he was the first fighter to prove he deserved to be in the same ring with him. For Ali to defeat Frazier it would take all of his skills, all of his heart and indeed all of his courage. At the same time it’s equally important to remember that without Ali history wouldn’t remember Joe Frazier. His workman like style and admirable record would have been collected in the annals of boxing history with no great fanfare, he was a good fighter...Ali made him a great fighter.
They Hated Each Other. They Needed Each Other.
So what’s the point? Why bring all this up?
Our culture is fractured in many ways. The battle over “green” and sustainability in our culture is no different. In one corner, you have the green community, lead by scientists and activists, who’ve done the work necessary to amass an argument that the world as we know it will end if we continue down our unsustainable path. In the other corner, the traditional business community that will not build sustainability into their practices because it’s the hot new trend or because a politician tells them they should. They see no need to hurt their margins for the sake of what they see as junk science. The two sides of this seemingly intractable battle draw a parallel with Ali and Frazier. I’m not suggesting Al Gore and Dick Cheney square off in the ring for 15 rounds...I’m suggesting that the cultural battle being waged in the America can yield positive results. Just as the battle between Frazier and Ali forced them to become better boxers, and pushed them to the outer limits of their courage. These competing movements can push one another to higher greatness. The work of sustainability advocates is forcing corporations to think more responsibly about the Earth. The movement is forcing all of us to think more about our impact on the globe. At the same time, as the “green” movement grows so does the opposition movement and so it’s no longer enough for “treehuggers” to levy a guilt trip. Sustainability advocates must prove not only that their suggested course of action is better for the planet but better for business.
The struggle between these competing ideologies in our culture will continue to have low points (just as the Ali/Frazier war of words did.) But in all of this, it’s important to remember that it is exactly those enflamed passions that will challenge both sides to refine and get better. Good can come from rivalry, good can come from competition. So whether you're a "treehugger" or a "suit" remember despite the battles you are fighting now...there is something better waiting on the other side. A better, more complete culture.
Thrilla in Manilla: The Battle For a Sustainable Culture
I would do a disservice to the biographers and historians who’ve done much more in-depth studies of the men and their cultural significance, to try and retell that story. What is important-these two men genuinely disliked each other with a fervor bordering on hatred. Both captured within and running parallel to that hatred was a passion; a passion to prove themselves to one another and to the world. They were each others’ equal and opposite the unstoppable force of Ali, versus the immovable object of Joe Frazier. It was their epic rivalry that unleashed the greatness with both of these men.
Frazier was not only the first fighter to beat Ali, he was the first fighter to prove he deserved to be in the same ring with him. For Ali to defeat Frazier it would take all of his skills, all of his heart and indeed all of his courage. At the same time it’s equally important to remember that without Ali history wouldn’t remember Joe Frazier. His workman like style and admirable record would have been collected in the annals of boxing history with no great fanfare, he was a good fighter...Ali made him a great fighter.
They Hated Each Other.
They Needed Each Other.
So what’s the point? Why bring all this up?
Our culture is fractured in many ways. The battle over “green” and sustainability in our culture is no different. In one corner, you have the green community, lead by scientists and activists, who’ve done the work necessary to amass an argument that the world as we know it will end if we continue down our unsustainable path. In the other corner, the traditional business community that will not build sustainability into their practices because it’s the hot new trend or because a politician tells them they should. They see no need to hurt their margins for the sake of what they see as junk science. The two sides of this seemingly intractable battle draw a parallel with Ali and Frazier.
I’m not suggesting Al Gore and Dick Cheney square off in the ring for 15 rounds...I’m suggesting that the cultural battle being waged in the America can yield positive results. Just as the battle between Frazier and Ali forced them to become better boxers, and pushed them to the outer limits of their courage. These competing movements can push one another to higher greatness. The work of sustainability advocates is forcing corporations to think more responsibly about the Earth. The movement is forcing all of us to think more about our impact on the globe. At the same time, as the “green” movement grows so does the opposition movement and so it’s no longer enough for “treehuggers” to levy a guilt trip. Sustainability advocates must prove not only that their suggested course of action is better for the planet but better for business.
The struggle between these competing ideologies in our culture will continue to have low points (just as the Ali/Frazier war of words did.) But in all of this, it’s important to remember that it is exactly those enflamed passions that will challenge both sides to refine and get better. Good can come from rivalry, good can come from competition. So whether you're a "treehugger" or a "suit" remember despite the battles you are fighting now...there is something better waiting on the other side. A better, more complete culture.