Just a lil reminder for all y’all out there who feel like they’re slippin a lil on the morality tip.

Lucia Rijker is one of my favorite boxers of all time, and that’s across the gender spectrum. She’s got mad heart, skills and if you’ve ever see her interviews, her vibe is positive and down to earth. So it’s safe to say, she’s a strong woman who is deserving of every bit of admiration and respect she gets, and then some.

She was featured in a movie called Shadow Boxers which gives an intimate look into the world of women’s boxing.

I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t seen the film in it’s entirety, but I do review Lucia’s segments quite regularly for inspiration. There are two parts in the film that have always captured me. The first is when she admits that “ofcourse [she] was abused, otherwise she wouldn’t be a boxer,” which is something I have been meditating on since I became involved in the sweet science almost two years ago. Since immersing myself in the craft and getting to know the people that frequent the same space as me who become just as obsessed with The Life, I have realized that it takes a specific kind of person that enjoys the challenges it poses, and not to mention getting hit.

In Clint Eastwood’s movie Million Dollar Baby, Morgan Freeman’s character says something along the lines of how everything in boxing is backwards. To move to your left, you push of your right foot and how it’s a natural human instinct to avoid pain, and even turn away from it, however in boxing, you face it head on. It’s unconditional acceptance to understand that pain is part of it. So take pleasure in it.

The second part that I love in Shadow Boxers is significant to me in two parts. In the 3rd segment, Rijker is facing German boxer Jeanette Witte for the WIBF World Championship Title. Rijker takes a blow to the ear and finds herself without her hearing. She says to herself,”That’s okay, you still got your eyes, you don’t need your ears.” The significance of this tells me shes the type of person who can roll with the punches and use it to her advantage. Instead of becoming thrown off track, she chooses to accept this challenge in the face of adversity and find the positive in it.

In between rounds, Lucia sits on the stool, steadily catching her breath and feeling her heart rate slow back down again. Her coach Freddy Roach is doing his job, which he does quite well, of imparting what he’s seeing from the corner, and giving her some strategic tools to work with. He keeps asking her “Can you hear me?” while Lucia appears dazed and non-respondent. She thinks to herself, “It’s just you now. But that’s okay, you know what to do.” Now to me, that’s confidence, trust and faith in the process. She’s trained hard, for hundreds of hours, all culminating into this single experience, her shot at becoming a world champion.

“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.” – The Greatest, Muhammad Ali

Nuff said.

It’s not even March yet, and I’m starting to get the itch for open road, the feeling of the wind against my body, the sounds of deep rumbling and revving, and the feeling that I’m cheating death.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Lorenzo, my whip (pics to follow as soon as he gets so fresh n’ so clean, seeing as winter is beating its salty and icy breast against him), but nothing tops the feeling of cruising around on your own bike. I’m in between keeping Em, my ’89 Kawi EX500 (yes, I love the vintage look) for another year, or upgrading to a bigger and badder bike. I have always loved sportbikes, and always envisioned myself on one since I conceptualized my future as a ruff rider since I was likkle, but now I find myself becoming more and more drawn to the naked, raw, and menacingly blacked out looks of the cruiser/standard styles of bikes. Mainly, I’ve got my eyes on some bad ass mf Harleys. Obviously there are a few factors that may prevent me from making such a significant quantum leap, but a girl can dream, yes? Some girls want diamonds. I just want a bad ass muthafuckin bike. So sue me.

Oh, Hi! Meet the Iron 883. Do you see what I see?

Low and mean. Unlike the Iron 883 this Custom Superglide comes with seating for a passenger. As if you wouldn’t want to be seen on the back of this beast! I’m taking applications now, please submit a picture with your cv, thanks.

This is the Blackline. There’s something about fatty rear tires that makes me swoon. Something about this baby havin’ back, I’m sure!

I think of all the bikes I’ve shown you here, I’ve had my eye on this one for a long ass time. It’s the Forty-Eight and she soooo hot, want to touch the hiney!

And just to prove to you that I’ve still got the sportbike spirit deep in me, here’s a beautiful Buell Lightning XB12ss. There’s only one way to describe this color way and it’s: MUUUUUURDAAAH!