The Fight of the 21st Century

By John McGory

The recent death of Smokin’ Joe Frazier brought to mind three of the greatest sporting events of the 20^th century.  Frazier’s epic championship fights with Muhammad Ali in the 1970s were battles of legend.

Ali, the fast-talking, smooth fighter out of Louisville captured the hearts of the young with his brash manner and opposition to the military draft.  His flair and athleticism made him a darling of television. 

Frazier was a classic brawler with a dynamite left hook.  His never-back-down style and support of the military made him a favorite of conservatives.

Frazier won the first battle, which promoter Don King titled The Fight of the Century.  It lived up to its billing.  Ali won fights two and three including the classic Thrilla in Manila.

The fight of the 21st century is not between bruising athletes.  It is a much more subtle affair waged daily.  But this battle is capturing worldwide attention just as the Ali-Frazier fights did 40 years ago.

This scrap is between the two main ways people communicate. It is the reigning champion, the written word, versus the up-and-coming challenger, video.  Let’s look at the tale of the tape to see who has the advantage.

The written word goes back about 5,000 years to Mesopotamia.  It is the undisputed champion of culture and civilization.  Video is a newcomer.  Its history goes back a little more than 100 years, but its influence on education and entertainment has been impressive.

Much like Ali, video is the darling of the young and brash.  It is quick and involves more senses than its opponent.  Conservatives are fans of the written word. Reading the written word requires more thought and involvement by its fans.

The Internet is the arena for this slugfest.  The aging champion, the written word, is showing some wear when it comes to the on-line venue.  Its plodding style does not fit the new, fast Internet world.  Video’s ability to capture thoughts, music, images and actions makes it a big draw for younger and creative fans.

Some pundits are predicting that more than 90 percent of material downloaded onto the Internet in the coming years will be video.  Today, it is slightly more than 50 percent.  That spells doom for the champ.

But the written word has not lasted 5,000 years without being resilient.  Its skill at capturing emotion, complex thought and personal insight are formidable.

The video challenger is definitely impacting the way we do business and enjoy life.  The Internet and social media are both in its corner.  Video has knocked the champ to the Internet canvas.  To paraphrase the late sportscaster Howard Cosell, “Down goes the written word, down goes the written word, down goes the written word.”  Whether it gets back up will make for great 21st century drama.

McGory is a partner at Webface, an social media and video communications firm located in Columbus, Ohio.  Look for more information at www.web-face-solutions.com.