An offer to fight Muhammad Ali came after Stevenson won his second Olympic gold in Montreal in 1976. Stevenson was at his peak. The world had never seen a heavyweight with the tools Stevenson brought into the ring. Brin-Jonathan Butler alibringfight share on social
I have no arguments to defend how brutal and disturbing a ritual the corrida is. Like all tragedies, no matter the beauty created, there are no happy endings. If it is indeed an art form, bullfighting is the most disturbing I have ever witnessed. Brin-Jonathan Butler argumentartbeauty share on social
Boxing distills and illuminates the essence of an athlete. There's nowhere to hide. Boxers live and perform at the extremes. They provide us with answers about a given contest, but more important, they ask us fundamental questions about human narratives. What does this person really stand for? How far will he go to defend it? Brin-Jonathan Butler answerathletebox share on social
I've been going to Cuba since the Elian Gonzalez affair. Brin-Jonathan Butler affaircubaelian Change image and share on social
In film or on stage, in reflecting life through art, an actor has a second take or another day with his or her performance if something goes wrong. Bullfighters are spies crossing into enemy lines. Any mistake, no matter how minor or trivial, is potentially fatal. Brin-Jonathan Butler actorartbullfighter share on social
He's the best practitioner I've ever seen of the Cuban style. But I think that what Rigondeaux sees as an immaculate performance has no corollary to what fans see as a perfect performance. In his mind, to make an opponent look terrible who has been lauded as exciting or favored against him gives him satisfaction. Brin-Jonathan Butler corollarycubanexcit share on social
At the heart of all romanticism is suffering. Brin-Jonathan Butler heartromanticismsuffer Change image and share on social
Cuban eyes often look close to tears. Tears never seem far away because both their pain and their joy are always so close to the surface. Brin-Jonathan Butler closecubaneye Change image and share on social
Maybe the real subject of every interview is how you really can't learn much of anything about anyone from an interview. Brin-Jonathan Butler interviewlearnreal Change image and share on social