Contender: The Only True Reality Show

I don't know how many times I can say it, but each time is sweeter than the last... I LOVE FIGHTING. I don't like to see people get hurt, but I LOVE the Art of Fighting, no matter what style: Jeet Kune Do, Aikido, Karate, Muay Thai, Juko Kai, Kung Fu, Ninjitsu, Jujitsu, Capoeira--- and yes--- good old boxing. And at that, I wanna say: The Contender is the only real reality show on television and may be one of the dopest shows PERIOD.

In case you've never heard of it, lemme paint a picture. 16 men trying to take their boxing careers to the next level, some young, some coming out of retirement, some in their prime. Many of these men have families, jobs, moving stories behind them. With all these things at stake, they enter the ring and fight with one another; each fight is a win-or-go-home situation.

Each contender brings his own style to the table and refines his technique to compete with the others. There are friendships made, rivalries sparked, and even enemies gained as the fighters bang out to the top. The styles, size differences, work ethics, attitudes, and personalities make every fight totally unpredictable. That's great television people.

You know what else I love about the show though? The women. And no, I don't mean how beautiful they are or anything like that (because some of these dude's wives are GORGEOUS). But this is what I like: They support their men. It's really something to witness these women and their children gathered behind their warriors in such a high stakes competition. You can't help but admire them if you're a guy, because you want a woman that's down for you just like that. If you're gettin your brains beat out, she's right there behind you, not reprimanding you for risking it all, but pushing you to make sure you give it your all. That's real talk right there.

To top it all off, the final four contenders go from show-hosted bouts to a grand main event held at the Staples Center and broadcast on ESPN as a real sporting event. You can't ask for anything more than that: reality show to reality.

I don't watch a lot of TV aside from cartoons, A Different World, and stand-up comedy; but people, this is good television. Screw every other reality show on TV; you can't fake heartbreak and you can't ruse a bruise... this is the Real Deal.

My Don King Impression... Ya Like? B-J