By Oluwatosin Oladipo (Glintsightnews)
“Many great heroes have passed away due to helplessness as a result of poverty or curable health saga without a single show of love and support from the nation that benefitted from their success stories. I now realised that the story differs base on society. Africans especially Nigerians don't care about the status of their great heroes until they are close to the grave, the emergency and elaborated support will begin when things have damaged beyond control. Hmm! remembering the likes of these heroes triggers tears from my eyes, the likes of Rashidi Yekini, Mike Onyemachara, Peter Fregene, Sebastian Brodericks, Emmanuel Ebiede, Thompson Oliha and Jerry Okorodudu among others who served Nigeria but died as a result of avoidable situations”
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| Mike Tyson |
The case study of Mike Tyson
These are great world boxing champion icons from different country and continent with the same challenge. dissecting how their society responded to their hullabaloo and result.
Bash Ali has been in the struggle to rewrite the boxing history on the African soil in Nigeria for about 18years now and still waiting for implementation but Mike Tyson who rose 8 months ago and his legacy fight became the talk of the time as he smiles in plenty again.
Mike Tyson quit boxing 19 years ago and was very broke. His country who cares about their heroes rally around to give him another lifting for survival.
The holy bible says in Haggai 2:10 that "the glory of the latter shall be greater than the former" yes its happening but its quit unfortunate that the stories of Nigerian heroes are irony of the statement as they always recount a 'a better yesterday than today'.
Today, Tyson story has changed with the help and support of his compatriots who decided to be an agents of positive change. He admitted his youthful reckless lifestyles and errors leading to the mismanagement of his resources which landed into the web penury. A genuine repentance and forgiveness attract blessings.
However, his country, the sporting fraternity and stakeholders of boxing who felt he had given so much to the sport and glory brought to America via his talent rallied round him to bail out.
These group fixed a bout with Paul Jake, a former blogger to create an avenue for the legendary Iron Mike to smile home with a whopping $20m. It was an inconsequential fight which brought a lot of positive consequences in the life of Tyson.
A nation that cares for its heroes! Hmm!
It was deliberately done to help him rebuild his life or better still help him bounce back as a “retirement benefit” even as he ages.
No one cared about his race or colour of his skin. No one bothered to ask, which or what religion he practices? No one asked, whose son he was. No one queried him on what he did with the millions he made in boxing while he was champ. No one reminded him of how reckless and lavish he was with money during his youthful age but care about humanity and how to make America great again through him. It was about giving someone a shoulder to lean on. It was about being one’s brother’s keeper.
He was a gambler, yes! Went in and out of nite clubs, frolicked with women and lived a larger than life lifestyle, of course yes!. These people careless of his past, all aim is for Tyson to age gracefully. All they wanted is to leave a legacy of ensuring the champ remains a champ.
That’s what life is all about. Don’t condemn others. Don’t pass blames. Don’t judge. Don’t mock…just help if you can and when necessary.
The Bash Ali case
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| Bash Ali |
A more recent example is the Nigerian icon, the undefeated World Cruiserweight champion, Bash Ali. At over sixty and still sparring in the gym, he has for many years asking the nation to sponsor a fight to enable him prove that Nigeria have some of the best athletes in the world despite his age. Successive governments since Obasanjo have ignored his call. As usual, he was invited to the US but he declines the invitation by sports loving enthusiasts on the grounds that Nigeria can earn over a billion dollar if it’s done here at home, a push that has seen Bash Ali in media bouts with sports ministers.
Now that president Bola Ahmed Tinubu is on the saddle, the world and indeed sports lovers in Nigeria are waiting to see how this government handle what has become a jinx with past sport ministers as Nigerian are asking if our Bash Ali will be favoured like Mike Tyson of America by opening the door of appreciation for our aging sports men and women.
The federal government of Nigeria has always shown interest in hosting this historic event in Nigeria and on three occasions, November 9, 2006, January 7, 2014 and on May 21, 2019 inaugurated the Bash Ali Boxing Project Local Organizing Committee with the office of the chief of staff of the President representing the Presidency, the office of the senate president and the office of the Speaker both representing the legislative while the private sector will fund the historic event and the FGN through the ministry of sports will provide an enabling environment for a successful show.
The FGN is not putting up a KOBO. Despite three inaugurations and the representatives of the FGN in the local organizing Committee, the historic event is yet to see the light of the day because of CORRUPTION.
Now, that President Tinubu has come on board with the renewed hope agenda, Nigeria and the world are looking forward to Bash Ali to rewrite Boxing History in Nigeria and earn a place in the Guinness World Record Book as the oldest boxer to ever defend and fight for a world Boxing Championship Fight.
The world is watching.
Lets build a legacy of making our champion remain champion.
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