Whether it’s 1959, 2007, 1998 or 1989, high school bullying is always the same

A part of me really cringes when I watch this video. I was never bullied in high school, nor was I a bully, but I certainly witnessed my fair share of it. I graduated in 1998, which was the year of the high school shooting. Incidents in Mississippi, Kentucky and Oregon captured national attention, although nothing like what would overshadow them a year later, when in 1999, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris gunned down more than a dozen people at their school in the Denver area. Bullying seemed to be behind the shootings.

I wonder if this kid ever wanted to shoot anyone:

He’s the subject of a random youtube video from 1989.

I’m not sure where the video was shot, although I’m certain it was an urban school, possibly on the East Coast by the looks of things.

It starts out with some kids doing some moves:

I couldn’t hear what they were jiving to, but it could have been Steady-B or Public Enemy.

They even use some special effects on that neat old VHS of theirs.

I’m not sure what initiated it, but when the dancing is over, these boys head over to a study hall to taunt a fellow student, who looks to be Filipino or some type of Polynesian.

It all starts with some words and some pushing.

 

The Fight of The Century took place in a Cleveland area parking lot in 1989.

And so it begins: “McDonalds, the place”.

One of the greatest inventions to come from mankind in recent years is undoubtedly youtube. Certainly, it is the repository of many annoyingly unfunny videos , yet on youtube can be found unique and obscure videos that can enrich our lives and bring us to back to our past, connecting to us to our historical roots.

Two weeks ago, I stumbled across this video and it’s brother. Since finding both, I have been in a state of awe and amazement and have come back several times to show it to friends.

The videos do not have much description to them. Their contributor, who I have unsuccessfully tried to contact, purports that they are of a fight that took place in the Cleveland area in 1989. By the looks of it they are high school students. I would say that based upon their dress it is either late summer or late spring. The dress and vehicles in the video certainly indicate that it is the late 1980’s: Body Glove shirts, Astrovans and IROCs to name a few.

I believe that the two combatants are Rich and Dan, although upon multiple analysis, I can’t be too confident as I heard screams of “Get him, Scotty” also. Originally, I thought that the shorter fighter’s name was Rick Hoever, but it appears he’s one of the young men at the beginning of the video who introduce the fight and handicap it for the viewer.

So let’s get started.

The video begins with several high school students making predictions as to who would win in the fight, the Davidian Rich or the Goliath Dan, who according to them stands 6′-4″ and weighs 240.

We learn that Rich has a fighter’s heart and find comfort and inspiration in his underdog persona.

More analysis from area experts with great fashion sense follows…

…Sorta like Bob Costas and a little bit of Peter Gammons rolled up with some Bryant Gumbel, aye?

Our “protagonist” Rich makes his entry stage right Camaro ——>>>>>