Much to the dismay of my wife, I am a boxing fan. Yes, I recognize that it is cruel. The prime objective is to inflict hurt and even injury on the opponent. But there is something compelling about it, and as a matter of fact, I boxed a couple of years when I was in school.

Whether you are a fan or not, chances are good you probably admire a boxer like George Foreman, who is striking a blow for "the old geezers" with his marvelous attitude.

The most unusual fight to ever take place easily occurred in the '30s. In this "fight," C. D. Blalock was knocked out in an unheard-of twist of events. Blalock took a swing at his rival, but ended up hitting himself because his punch missed the intended target and collided with his own face. Blalock staggered and then fell down for the count.

Historically speaking, he became the first and only prize fighter to score a knockout against himself. Please don't ask me to explain how that happened — I don't have a clue. But, according to a report in "The Citizen," it actually happened.

Strange story? Yes, but perhaps there is a strong message here for each of us. How many times do we self-destruct by losing our temper, consistently being late, forgetting important appointments, neglecting to care for our health or being rude to people who genuinely love us and, for that matter, to strangers?

All of these are self-destructive behaviors and bring nothing but grief and turmoil. The Golden Rule still works. Treat other people like you want to be treated, and you dramatically reduce your chances of self-destructing. Take this approach, and I will see you at the top!

Watch out for phony or easy solutions to complex problems. When you spot a quack, duck.

To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

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