Fight like a man

Author: Huang Jianxiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features:
—When a person, after youthful recklessness, has experienced the world, he either becomes a shrewd maneuverer or a man who fights. My friend Huang Jianxiang chose the latter. This suggests that his previous strengths will be amplified, while his flaws will linger. He aims to be his authentic self, not a pleasing imitation of others.
—When a well-known sports commentator runs into the next room and shouts, "I just admire Zhang Liying," it proves he has both work and life, a life that keeps pace with the times. And we know that a person without life is not good at work.
—When a person who expresses himself through voice publishes a new book every four or five years, it shows he is not just a "loudspeaker" trying to gain recognition; he has his own independent thoughts, memories, and judgments, regardless of whether his writing pleases the masses.
—Famous sports journalist Li Chengpeng: No true Chinese football fan doesn’t admire Huang Jianxiang.
—a true football lover, a true football expert, a true person who knows how to comment on football, and more importantly, a true person who dares to speak out and doesn’t act like a coward. If you don’t expect to hear such a person comment on matches for you, then who else can you expect to listen to? In the field of football television commentary, Huang Jianxiang has indeed become indispensable. The scope and extent to which a person is indispensable reflect their own value. Six years later, Huang Jianxiang has published another book. Even though I thought I already knew him quite well, when reading the manuscript, I still discovered so many emotions and stories I had never known, so many joys and sorrows I had never experienced, that it took me three hours to read it through in one go, still wanting more.
—Famous sports journalist Dong Lu: Thank football, thank life. After finishing this book, I lost interest and inspiration in writing. As a result, the editors had to wait for another two weeks just for this preface. My dilemma was not knowing what else to say and not knowing how to write a preface for my own book. One afternoon, while driving on Beijing’s Second Ring Road, the sky was clear, a gentle breeze brushed my face, and golden sunlight streamed into the car, instantly brightening my mood. In the past few months, my life had fallen apart, chaotic and messy. I had experienced the complexities and inadequacies of human nature, while also suddenly facing countless trivial household chores. My inner world and real life were filled with painful struggles, leaving me constantly depressed, pessimistic, and even somewhat weary of life. But this ray of early spring sunlight suddenly made me realize: I should thank life, thank this experience. It was because of this life that my journey has become richer, more exciting, and more meaningful. In that moment, I also remembered the autobiography of Diego Maradona I had read. I recalled the very long "thank you" at the beginning of the book, where Diego thanked hundreds of people, some of whom I knew and some I didn’t. After finishing his autobiography, I had mockingly laughed at his excessively long list of thanks. But at that afternoon, at that moment, I suddenly understood Diego’s intention: to live like this is already enough, even if it’s just for a few days. How many people in this vast world can live so freely? Of course, one must be grateful to everyone connected to their life. I even understood the famous quote by my country’s swimming champion Luo Xuejuan: "I want to thank everyone who hates me!" Thus, I sincerely wrote down the following thanks:
—Thank all those who care about and support me. Without your love and understanding, I would not have persisted until today.
—Thank all those who hate and dislike me. Without your existence, I would have lost the meaning of progress and even the interest to continue. For you, for me—a strange person like me—it is a strange kind of motivation.
—Thank all those who know my name. In this vast world, with so many people, why should you know my name? I truly appreciate it.
—Thank my parents. You have worked hard your whole lives. Your son should have let you enjoy your later years in peace, but now, at almost 40, I’ve returned to your side, making you worry about me and your grandchildren’s growth.
—Thank my leaders and colleagues, whether they are mentioned in my book or not, whether we have had personal interactions or not. You are all people I should thank.
—Thank all those mentioned in my book, including those who have criticized me and those I have criticized, those who have discussed me and those I have discussed, because you are all part of my life’s journey.
—Thank all the names I have mentioned in my 10 years of commentary career, all the stadiums I have been to. You are all punctuation marks in my life.
—Thank my teachers from my student days, especially my physical education teacher, my alma mater, and my classmates. It was because of the time spent with you that I have the strength I have today and the direction of my current life.
—Thank all those who have loved me and those I have loved. Thank love. Love is the most magical thing in the world. With love, anything is possible.
—Thank football. It is her charm that has given me everything I have today: honor, fame, work, and even more.
—Thank life, thank CCTV-5.
—"To Fight Like a Man" was originally just the title of a football commentary I had written. Before the manuscript was completed, I used it as a temporary title for the book. But it soon spread among my friends, who used it to write many reviews. Since everyone liked the title, I decided to use it as the book’s title and as a motto to encourage myself. In reality, only those who have experienced true battles can understand that in life’s battlefield, it is not just about wielding swords or fighting bare-handed. "Fighting" also includes patience, restraint, tolerance, and composure. Sometimes, smiling in the face of everything is also a form of battle. As I grow older, I prefer the latter. In fact, in peacetime, what true battles are there? A person who overcomes themselves and does their best is already a winner.