SPECTATOR SPORT
Prince Narcissus
Simon Barnes
ARROGANCE is the mark of the second- rater; self-certainty that of the true champi- on. This matter has been considered before in this space: now, with the latest outpour- ings of that ghastly little man 'Prince' Naseem Hamed, it is brought to our atten- tion again.
Narcissism is a word that fails to do justice to the overwhelming tides of self- adoration that flood from Naseem. He fell in love with himself at an early age, and it is a passion to which he remains touchingly faithful. The symptoms of self-certainty and arrogance are disturbingly similar; indeed, the two qualities are often confused. But bluster, posture and preen are never part of a real champion. Showmanship, now that is another matter entirely. Some champions have had a wonderful theatrical pretence, have exploited their theatricality to maximum effect; Ian Both- am and Dennis Lillee to name but two in another field altogether. But there is a cru- cial difference between showmanship and showing-off. Naseem is a show-off. Since Muhammad Ali, many boxers have believed that shouting and bragging are part of being a champion, much as Ameri- cans believe that being a drunk is part of being a writer. But there is a world of dif- ference between Ali's showmanship and Naseem's showing-off.
Last weekend, Naseem continued his attempt to win the hearts and minds of America. He made himself more greatly hated — to a point of weariness, rather than relish. He had claimed charmingly that when he took on Wayne McCullough he would 'smash him to bits'. As it was, McCullough hung on for 12 rounds and lost on points.
Hardly a triumph for Naseem. He then walked out on a live television interview and badmouthed the Sky Television commenta- tor, Ian Darke. He also, in a pre-fight press conference, singled out my old sparring partner, Colin Todd of the Sun, for public abuse. His self-love is clearly blinding him to self-interest. He was booed into the ring and
out again. There are reports of rifts with just about everybody who matters in his life, but he still manages a court of sycophants.
Naseem's talent is for showing-off and show-boating (an American term for ponc- ing about in the ring). He is not a poor man's Ali: he is the diametrical opposite. Ali was pure showmanship. The key to All's public persona was his love of conjuring tricks. Both were fascinated by the differ- ence between appearance and reality. Ali won his first world championship by pre- tending to be mad, knowing that Sonny Lis- ton had a deep fear of madness. Ali loved the power of illusion. Even after he became a Muslim, he relished his tricks, always enjoying explaining them afterwards. The explanation somehow made the trick an aspect of righteousness, rather than ungod- ly deception.
He had or has a trick of imitating an insect noise with the friction of finger and thumb. He used this to tease people with on planes. He was and is aware of the differ- ence between performance and day-to-day living. All desired, above all things, to be loved. Naseem has no need of such a thing. These days, he is concentrating on the con- fluence of self-love and self-destruction.
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