Look On The Bright Side | Defector

"Life is what you make it. Attitude. It snowed a week ago in New York City, but it hasn't warmed up since then, so the dirty snow piles are still stacked along the sidewalks. Even in Midtown, commuters have to line up at corners and walk single file through narrow paths cleared on the icy pavement. It sucks. Then again, it shows cooperation. It's about how you look at it."

"Boxing can get you down. It's easy to see the bad parts. Saudi Arabia is taking over the sport as another of its cultural sportswashing programs. In Madison Square Garden this weekend, they had all the press up in the rafters, so they could sell the ringside seats to dudes who wear fur coats and big black shades indoors. The big blue ring was adorned with sponsors' logos: The Ring magazine, also owned by Saudi Arabia; some ambulance-chasing law firm; freaking Door Dash;"

"But look-don't dwell in the muck. Spike Lee makes great movies. Brooklyn's own Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller weighed in for his heavyweight undercard fight at a cool 317.6 pounds. Not svelte. That could be a problem. When he fights, though, he puts his hands up and his head down and leans his enormous bulk against his opponent, Kingsley Ibeh. Now those 317.6 pounds are his opponent's problem. Positive thinking."

Snow left dirty piles along New York City sidewalks and narrow cleared paths force commuters to line up and walk single file, revealing cooperation amid inconvenience. A man in Penn Station shouting "My bitch bad! My bitch bad!" illustrates unexpected moments that prompt nonjudgment and positive perspective. Boxing presents troubling commercialization: Saudi Arabia's cultural sportswashing, corporate sponsors plastered on the ring, VIPs taking ringside seats, and press relegated to rafters. Turki Alalshikh appeared ringside while Spike Lee prowled nearby. Heavyweight Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller weighed 317.6 pounds and uses mass and pressure tactics in his fights. Focus on positives and avoid dwelling on the muck.

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