Sadly he lost his title fight on Saturday against Tim Sylvia, but nevertheless the YouTube clip above is a fascinating interview with Jeff Monson, the UFC competitor who at every turn knocks down stereotypes: looking like that one at the back of the Fordham Baldies gang in the cult film The Wanderers, he is in fact an anarcho-syndicalist with a BA and MA in psychology who puts the average football player to shame in the articulation stakes in this calm and considered interview. All the more impressive 'cos it appears that he has just finished training. (Doubly impressive when you consider some of the moronic comments in response to this interview tagged onto the original clip on YouTube.)
For further background, there is an interesting article/interview with Monson from the American radical journal In These Times.
Hat tip to Alan J. Bonecrusher at the MaleStrong blog who, like me, couldn't punch his way out of a wet Socialist Standard.
15 comments:
Great new lay-out for the blog, Darren!!!
Just chuffed to see it.
Quality video. I reckon I could have him, though.
Actually , a rolled up copy of the Socialist Standard in the hands of a trained SPGBer is a lethal weapon and Standard sellers are required by law to register them as such with the local police when street selling. Not many people know that .
Alan J wrote:
"Not many people know that ."
What, that there are actually Party members who sell the Standard? ;-)
Darren, you've changed man! Nice one.
Predictions for tonight - 1-3. And we won't even finish third in the group!
Reidski,
I fear the worst tonight. Rooney on the rampage.
While presumably not as politically advanced as your man here (never mind "I like free trade", hmm), the German women's boxing champion is a member of the union Ver.di who sponsor some of her fights, and use her on their recruiting posters. "Hallo boss, I'm in a union. Mess with me, you mess with her." - is presumably the subconscious line the adverts are using.
Daggi,
yep the 'free trade' comment was a bit of an anomaly but neither the interviewer nor those watching the clip felt brave enough to make an intervention.
To be honest, I'm impressed with anyone talking about abolishing the wages system on camera. No matter if it's a hard bastard like Monson or if it was Jon Bon Jovi or David Baddiel. I would locate a cap and doff it to them.
Interesting about the female boxer in Germany. I heard a few months back a podcast of the Under the Pavement radio show - an anarchist show that goes out on local radio in Manchester - and I swear I heard them interview a Finnish weightlifter and/or wrestler who was both a committed anarcho-syndicalist and vegan, but sadly I couldn't find the link for this post.
It's also the case that the blog will from time to time get traffic from people googling whether or not Gary Neville is a socialist or not. No idea if he is or not, but my fingers are crossed.
Regarding the "free trade" comment, he's probably been reading Proudhon.
You're also going to - as of now - get people reading your blog who have been searching for David Baddiel. Did you really intend that? Rob Newman would be more likely on that front.
To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what's "left wing" about fighting though - it would be a shame as well if someone with those opinions dies early through brain damage. I wouldn't tell him that to his face, obviously.
Regarding the free trade comment - I got the significance straight away and I'm not some bleedin PB, autonomist, syndicalist or ultra-leftist or any other 'clist you'd care to mention.
All he's saying (surely) is that trade under capitalism is not a cost free undertaking (and he'd be correct in that) - trade is not a cost free transaction when capital and relations of production are in private ownership). Trade will still be necessary even without private capital or a capitalist mode of production but it will be free trade.
Celtic result the night I hear...new post by any chance?
DTW,
you are being unnecessarily po-faced . . . Dave ;-)?. The title is in keeping with the light hearted nature of the blog. See other post titles for further proof.
And 9/10 of footballers are inarticulate. Not me being snotty. Just a case of me watching the latest Wayne Rooney post-match interview.
Will,
Still too busy hyperventilating to type at the moment. ;-)
Rooney on the rampage?? Happy Champions League night then.
Rooney on the rampage?? Happy Champions League night then.
Aye - but trade isn't a cost free transaction man!
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