Tell me, my friend, have you ever danced with the devil by a pale moonlight?”
Jack Nicholson’s delectably diabolical “Joker” from 1989’s BATMAN
With that line alone, one of the greatest in cinematic history, Nicholson killed Heath Ledger.
According to legend (and depending on who you ask), Satan got all dressed up in black and offered the Son of God the world. Because of his affinity for darkness, he did this to his own music under the brightness of moonlight. Jesus wasn’t impressed, gave dude a dap, and told him he had to bounce. Said something about coming to see him before the world came to an end.
That happened however many thousands of years ago – so fast forward to 2015.
I go get a bowl of cereal and get on the very internet you’re on right now. Courtesy of my boys at Fight Time, I find out that Andre Ward (aka S.O.G, or Son of God) has just signed with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports, and it causes me to squint my eyes while tilting my head in wonder. With regards to this signing; if your image of Andre Ward is that of good guy Christian – it would seem you’re not that far off. By all accounts, he’s a devoted father and husband with a loving wife. He’s a great fighter, backed by the most powerful boxing network (still) in HBO.
But the cynic in me went dark, and I soon folded my hands under my chin while producing a wry smile.
With regards to the Joker’s question, the connotation implied is one of extreme immoral prejudice. To “dance with the devil under pale moonlight” means you are willingly engaged to sin against God behind the scenes. Or, that you have knowingly decided to behave in a manner inconsistent with one’s own faith or spiritual philosophy.
After many trials and tribulations over the last couple of years that would test anyone’s faith, could it be that Jay-Z, posing as the devil, came forward and asked Ward: “You are the son of which God?”
In many ways, this is Luke Skywalker joining The Emperor after allowing him to kill his conflicted father Darth Vader (and just so you know, both Jay-Z and Darth Vader are tattoed on my right arm for what its worth). Dan Goossen (RIP) had a very brief bout with liver cancer before succumbing to it quickly this past September.
Apparently, Jay-Z is a high ranking Freemason, and can freeload at the house of any member of the Illuminati that he f*ckin wants to. So perhaps Jay-Z used the dark side of the force to eliminate Goossen and free Ward of what had been a legal disaster that he was losing badly.
Ut-oh… I know what you’re thinking… “How could you say this?! This is in such poor taste! The man died for Christ’s sake!”
Aaaaa-nd so what?
First of all, I’m an asshole, plus I’m in therapy for it so I get a pass. BUT, so was Goossen for deliberately tying up Andre’s career. How is it that Ward beats Carl Froch in December 2011, and by mid-2014, Andre Ward’s stock is that of Lehman Brother’s compared to Froch?
His stock couldn’t have been any higher after a 10th round destruction of a then feared Chad Dawson in September 2012, but it was the last time Andre was relevant. When Adonis “Superman” Stevenson eviscerated Dawson via one-punch KO in the 1st round in June 2013, certainly the right thing to do would’ve been to get Ward in there with Stevenson that September.
There are many conflicting stories as to what happened with those negotiations, but according to Stevenson and his people, Ward went diva with A-side demands and insistence on the fight being in Oakland, with the door open for a rematch in Canada. There was also reports he wanted the fight at 168lbs, and I was furious that Ward blew that opportunity. He’s the same guy that got mad enough at Floyd Mayweather to challenge him to a catchweight fight after the two had a brief beef, before deciding to fallback.
But a catchweight should’ve been extended to Stevenson, and certainly, Jay-Z would’ve known this.
Ward would’ve gotten the spotlight on a high-profile fight on the heels of Mayweather/Canelo, and there’s no way Stevenson would’ve beaten Ward. Instead, Goossen and Ward watched “Superman” rise, while Andre was mired in his own kryptonite as a Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fight fell through.
Andre Ward is basically a much younger version of the Bernard Hopkins we saw getting white-washed by Sergey Kovalev in November 2014, and I don’t doubt that “Jigga” knows the same thing. After watching Gennady “GGG” Golovkin vault to near superstardom, the aforementioned Carl Froch and his continued surge, and Kovalev’s study ascension, the astute Jay-Z was able to get the equivalent of a 1st round pick for a 4th round price.
This is potentially a boxing version of Randy Moss to Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
Who the hell cared about Ward’s lone 2013 appearance with Edwin Rodriguez? PLEASE raise your hand if you did (don’t do it). After the signing, Ward was seen with Jay-Z at MSG the other day for what was called The 2015 Throne Boxing Fight Night, which trumped anything seen during his dreadful affair with Rodriguez.
Ri-Ri herself, Rihanna, was along for the festivities along with Fabulous. Don’t ask me who fought because no one cares. The real news is Ward was back with a vengeance, and S.O.G offered some hints of things to come via ESPN.
“I kept myself in shape and I’ve stayed motivated and hungry. But there’s nothing concrete now,” declared Ward. “I want to get back in the groove and consistently fight and get back on track. I don’t see what the rush is to push me to a higher weight class. I am not far off my fighting weight and I am super middleweight champion of the world and I want to defend my title.”
I don’t know what that means – or with who – but we do know that S.O.G is now with Hova, and that his 2015 calender should include a hot name or two. Since I’m especially ambitious, I won’t rule out a Chavez Jr., Froch, or “GGG” fight in ’15. Its time- and Andre is due for a big year. Just a thought, but I recommend the song he enters the ring to next be a Jay-Z classic.
“Lucifer” has a nice ring to it.
