I watched it. It is a complex story told pretty well. One part of the documentary addresses Jessi's frustration at her relationships. (just one part) and a lot of the story is Jessi working through what she wants, why she does what she does etc. I think it was well done and fair.
When I was in high school, a dad of a classmate had been a boxer (well known but not rich or anything) anyway, they had a ring in the backyard and if you had a beef, once a month this dad would let guys come, put on the gloves and fight it out. They had a keg and for a couple of bucks you could go and watch people whale on each other. It was 'pretty well' supervised but, you know, it is all fun and games until someone gets hurt.
One of my brothers had gotten in scuffle and the other guy said,'lets box' and so, I was in 8th grade, but I went. the had about 5 fights before my brothers. I knew from boxing in the backyard, your arms get heavy fast...and most of the fights were 2 rounds with one guy getting smoked because he either got tired or gave up the attack and tried to 'rope a dope' which didn't work.
My brother got in there and the bell rings and he did what my old man always told us 'be violent, show him the left, and then hit him with the right' and keep hitting him and be super aggressive hoping that he will simply go into defensive mode. Well, the second shot, the other kid went down like a sack of potatoes. I think my brother's fight was chosen second best fight of the night.
I stood by the dad that hosted the fight and he said something like: 'Almost everyone has an off button. If you hit them and it switches them off, good for them, that is pretty safe, the guys who are good at boxing, their off button doesn't work so good, so they don't know when to stop. They can get fucked up but keep coming, it makes them good boxers, but they can get fucked up worse than the guy who gets popped and his off button goes.'
When that guy said that it clicked.
I think Jessi didn't know where her off button was. What I saw when she had scary stuff happen was that she was 'scared' but there was a surprise that nothing happened and then she could go right back out... even with her very serious back injury, it didn't trigger that. I got the feeling that she kept going for the speed record well past what she was comfortable with.
What really sucked was that the only group who would give her the keys were smart, committed people but who did not have the resources nor the 'full picture' to realize (genuinely) the threat of what they were doing.
She was and awesome person and the documentary showed that clearly. It also showed (successfully) the complexity of who she was and the drive she had as well as 'the person'.
Her family (parents and siblings) were all really good and 'normal' and it makes you ache even more. She was just getting started (even at 40) and I just hope that the next Jessi can get a ride sooner in their career and with folks who are capitalized to the degree that she could attain her goals without the 'button' (both her own AND all of the surrounding people) to know when to stop or slow down and get it right.
just a fucking shame.
you suck at the sirch.
www.broadwayworld.com
