JJ: Don't Be a Muppie

After the “basketbrawl” between the Pistons and Pacers, I heard a new word introduced into our lexicon: Muppies, or Men of Unspecified Purpose.

More than 22,000 people, including myself, attended the Cory Spinks-Zab Judah welterweight title fight in St. Louis on Saturday night. We were there to witness two elite athletes go toe-to-toe.

Electricity filled the air as the contenders approached the ring. The music was raucous—fellow St. Louisan Nelly was chanting alongside Spinks—and the anticipation swelled. But who were those 30 people accompanying each fighter? Why were 50 people crammed into the ring before the fight? Were these the Muppies? After Judah knocked out hometown hero Spinks in the ninth round, the Muppies began throwing haymakers and chairs.

Don't be a Muppie spectator. Find a purpose—something you feel passionate about—and put your heart in it. The alternative is to sit back and watch others live out their purposes and then complain or criticize if they fall short. And what kind of life is that? Muppies, you have been deactivated. - Jan