FanNation

We live, we grow old, and the more we grow older the more the lessons learned at the local park or elementary school playground become more poignant.  Case in point; the subject of bullies.  Conventional wisdom has parents telling kids, "if you're bullied, go tell a person of authority and they will take care of the bully."  That works about 14.5% of the time.  How about this one?  "Stand up and say no, and tell the bully to stop."  That's some of the lamest schtick a kid could do.  Nope, there is one time-honored way to confront the bully, and that's by stepping up to the plate and handling them with equal fire and letting them know "I'll punk you back."

Game 4 of the Celtics-Hawks series had a bully moment.  When KG threw and elbow at Zaza Pachulia he was doing the typical "I'm Kevin Garnett and I'm the big dog around here" act.  Zaza wasn't having any of that.  Instead of letting Garnett snipe at him, Zaza confronted the bully and called KG's bluff.  That moment changed the game for the Hawks.  All of the sudden the Celtics were humbled because their guard dog turned into a lap dog when his lack of bite was exposed by someone who didn't fear the cacophony of his bark.  Thus, Zaza effectively took away the mystique from the bully.  This is not to say the Hawks will win the series, but they sure won't be in awe or afraid of taking the fight to Boston. 

The classic example of the exposed bully is your old friend Mike Tyson.  Up until February 11, 1990 the words Mike Tyson sent fear through professional fighters, most of whom were bullies in their own right.  One man, James "Buster" Douglas, didn't let the mystique of the bully thwart him, and instead he took to beating the beater.  After being exposed by Douglas, Tyson's world fell apart.  No longer the bully, Tyson had to face life as a normal person who has fears and fallibilty.  The rest is history.

In closing, if you're still being bullied go to Youtube and look to Zaza Pachulia for some guidance.  And if you're the bully, just look at the ridiculous tattoo on Mike Tyson's face.

FlyMaster Signing Off...For Now!