BJ Penn: Experience Keeps a Dear School...

Oh, my heavens.

The fight is over and so many lessons were learned (I Hope).

From having taught American Literature many years ago, perhaps before BJ Penn was even born, I like to quote the famous and wise American Benjamen Franklin who wrote in his "Little Richards Almanac" that "Experience keeps a dear school, but a fool will learn in no other."

I am not gloating when I quote this.

I have used it as my own personal philosophy and preached it to friends and family; really, to anyone who will listen to me.

I preach it because I have come to believe it more strongly with each passing year.

So now it comes to mind again after viewing the UFC 94 title/super fight between Georges St. Pierre and BJ Penn.

To me BJ was lucky to walk away from his first fight with no visible damage, because now, as back then, I do believe that Georges was the superior and more serious fighter.

But apparently because he was lucky enough not to be injured, BJ tempted fate by calling down the fury of the fighter he called a "little bitch," a " quitter," and threatened to kill in the fight.

For me BJ's worse threat was to show Georges who referred to Jon Fitch after their fight as "the terminator" that he (BJ) "was God."

If my sons or grandsons said that I would probably spank them or shame them for making such an arrogant and sacrilegious comment, but of course BJ is not my son (although I believe we both use the name Dee).

All this aside, BJ reaped what he sowed and brought down the wrath of a whirlwind named Georges.

The saddest part of the aftermath for me, and no I am not referring to the Vaseline incident, is that BJ has stated that he had planned for this to be his last fight.

Though readers may doubt my sincerity, I do think that BJ was a great fighter in the Lightweight division, although I did not appreciate the way he won (Stevenson especially bothered me), or his pre and post fight behavior.

Threats, trash talk and blood licking leave me repulsed.

BJ has won may distinctions in the sport of MMA and has belts and many, many honors to his credit.

By far his best accomplishment in my humble and maternal opinion, is bringing an exceptionally beautiful daughter into the world.

To me little Ava is BJ Penn's greatest triumph and in the years to come will bring him the most joy and satisfaction in his life.

Ultimately, BJ Penn is no loser.

He has his large, loving and very supportive family, a beautiful daughter, and so many memories of being "the Prodigy" in a sport of elite champions of whom he is known as one of the very best.

There is no shame and nothing at all foolish in that.