Over the holiday, I subjected my oldest son, William, to the complete “Rocky” saga starring Sylvester Stallone. In the past, there have been several occasions where I brought up the movies. He never really understood the life lessons that I was trying to impart to him using them as an example, so I decided it was time to make him watch them all over the week between Christmas and New Year's.
Since I was an amateur boxer during the heyday of “Rocky,” the movies were a pretty big deal to me growing up. I have seen every one of them many times, but, until last week, I do not believe that I have ever seen them in order. While it was a wild ride down memory lane, I can state confidently that the probability that I will ever watch them in order again is pretty small. Some things are better left experienced only once.
After completing the marathon, I considered the lessons that the movies offered and realized there were not as many as I remembered. Even though the lessons are somewhat limited, they are important and worth remembering. What follows is not an exhaustive list of lessons, just the ones that stood out to me:
Rocky I
1. Be kind to those weaker than you: Rocky fails to break the thumbs as instructed of a man who owes a loan shark money because he won't be able to work.
2. Face your fears: After Rocky realizes that he cannot beat Apollo Creed, he decides he just wants to go the distance and do the best he can.
Rocky II
1. Your pride can be expensive: Apollo Creed allows his pride to get him in trouble for the first time in the series. He can’t stand the fact that people think he lost to Rocky in the first fight, and goads Rocky into another fight, and ultimately loses his title over the decision.
2. Be willing to change your plan: Rocky learns to fight differently and gains a victory over Apollo Creed in a last-second knockout.
Rocky III
1. Keep your edge: Rocky becomes civilized and loses the title when he runs into a much hungrier and angrier Clubber Lane (played by Mr. T). Rocky does get his edge back via help from Apollo and wins in a rematch. (There are some good fight scenes, but not many lessons.)
Rocky IV
1. Pride can be very expensive No. 2: Apollo takes on the huge Russian fighter in an attempt to regain his youth. His pride costs him his life this time.
2. The Russian people will cheer for you if you win.
Rocky V
1. Never put your crazy brother-in-law in charge of your money: Paulie, Rocky’s bro-in-law, blows all of Rocky’s money, and he is forced to move to the old neighborhood. Along with the move, Rocky, who is now brain damaged, forgets all he has learned about how to talk and degenerates into the character from the first movie.
2. You can teach a man how to act, but money will often change him: Rocky takes a young Tommy Morrison under his wings and teaches him how to fight. An unscrupulous promoter and Tommy’s greed cause a split, and Tommy goes his own way. Eventually, Tommy is haunted by comparisons to Rocky, and the movie ends with a fist fight between Rocky, and his protege, with Rocky ultimately knocking him out.
There was a final movie in the saga titled “Rocky Balboa,” which dealt with Rocky when he is much older. This was not included in the marathon. Enough is enough. As I said, this experiment will not be a new tradition in the James house, only a memory of a time gone by. Sometimes, single memories are as good as traditions, since they usually improve over time.
It is time to face the new year and take all that I have learned over my life and use it to deal with the day to day challenges ahead. I hope to limit the amount of past mistakes repeated this year and will apply the “Rocky” lessons as I have the opportunity. Learning from lessons no matter where they come from is always a good idea. That is especially true for those of us starting the new year way up in the CHEAP SEATS!