The Eye of the Tiger: Rocky III as a Metaphor for the Trump Indictments
& Current State of the USA
Upon initially seeing the “mug shot heard ‘round the world,” one of the first thoughts that came to mind was that “Trump has the ‘Eye of the Tiger.’”
Many of you will recall that as one of the iconic phrases from an iconic movie: Rocky III; that phrase was even the title of the movie’s theme song.
Upon further reflection, it then came to mind that there is a metaphorical aspect – indeed several metaphorical aspects – between that the Rocky series, especially Rocky III – and the (latest) Trump indictment and dire, existential circumstances in which our USA now finds itself.
Not superficial metaphors, but compelling ones.
First, a refresher on the Rocky plotline. In the preceding two movies – first premiering in our Bicentennial year of 1976 – we saw a working-class everyman (“Rocky Balboa”) beat a heavily favored heavyweight boxing champion (“Apollo Creed”), and himself become the world heavyweight champion.
Not unlike Trump’s come-from-behind, beating-the-algorithms victory in 2016.
By Rocky III, Balboa had been world champion for some years, was resting on his laurels, and became overconfident, complacent even. A dynamic referenced in the theme song:
So may times it happens too fast
You trade your passion for glory
Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive
An ambitious – but arrogant and crass upstart – Clubber Lang, challenges Rocky for a title fight. At first rebuffed, eventually the fight is arranged. Just before the fight, Clubber goes out of his way to insult Apollo Creed as a “has been.” Apollo then tells Rocky: “give everybody a present and drop this chump, alright?”
Rocky goes down to defeat. This is followed by a personal malaise era, with Rocky’s self-esteem and confidence decimated.
Eventually, Apollo approaches him with a proposal that he will train Rocky for a rematch with Clubber. This is arranged, but at first Rocky’s lost confidence is tainting the training. This continues until he has a heart-to-heart with his wife Adrian, who with strong will and words, snaps him out of his slump. That discussion concludes with the following exchange:
Rocky: “How did you get so tough?”
Adrian: “I live with a fighter.”
(It is plausible to imagine that Melania – who history I believe will come to recognize as an unsung hero – has shared similar “I live with a fighter” sentiments with Donald.)
Just before the rematch fight, former adversary Apollo gives Rocky his American flag-themed trunks to wear in the fight – the same trunks he wore while fighting Rocky. Meanwhile, TV commentators opine that the older Rocky is past his prime, his days are past, and so expect that the result is a foregone conclusion.
Similar sentiments expressed by many today about our USA – that America is in inexorable decline; this will be the century of China and/or BRICS nations; that nation states themselves are a relic of the past as we move into a “Great Reset” of “global governance.” They want us to believe that. They need us to believe that.
Back to Rocky III. Words are insufficient for conveying the rematch; instead, watch for yourself concluding scenes of the fight:
Metaphors aren’t exact replicas – their power lies by offering parallels and comparisons not among similar things, but among very dissimilar things. Such as a Hollywood movie about prizefighters, and our nation.
Think of the Rocky story as a metaphor for our nation – and simultaneously, President Trump as a metaphor not just for the Rocky Balboa character, but also for our nation.
Like Rocky, what became the USA started out from nothing, and by sheer grit and ambition – ambition for liberty on the part of our Founding Fathers – against all odds, beat the prevailing power in the world. Rocky defeated the world heavyweight champion; the Americans defeated the British Empire.
Rocky became the world heavyweight champion, and the USA became the most prosperous and powerful nation in history.
And then …
Rocky grew complacent, as did the USA. With the fall of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, we believed that our triumph was irreversible, our position as that “shining city on a hill” unassailable.
But since the fall of the USSR and the “defeat” of Communism (or so we thought). we’ve allowed subversion within our country, from the Globalist-CCP Axis and numerous enemies domestic.
They’ve succeeded (so far) in unmooring us and setting us adrift from our Judeo-Christian roots.
Adrift from our history, our heritage.
Adrift from our American culture.
Adrift from our Constitution and our Constitutional Republic.
So, when our 2020 election was stolen, and the unelected Biden-Harris Junta was installed in the White House, it was not unlike that first fight with Clubber Lang – we lost our title, our Constitutional Republic,
As with Rocky after his loss, we now find ourselves living through our own malaise era.
BUT, President Trump, our Rocky, has not conceded. We’ve all been living with a fighter.
And he too is pursuing a rematch: the 2024 election.
His Atlanta mug shot just screams out “Eye of the Tiger.”
He’s got it, and is showing it to us all. And to our adversaries.
The Globalist-CCP Axis has been working to divide Black and White and Hispanic in this country, to make us forget that we’re all Americans — and that we will either rise or fall together.
Rewatch the fight video now. In mind’s eye you can picture Trump saying: “Your indictments ain’t so bad … hit me with another one!”
In the movie, watching Clubber Lang beating on Rocky, Apollo at one point exclaims: “He’s gettin’ killed out there!”
To which Paulie excitedly replies: “No, no, no! He ain’t gettin’ killed; he’s gettin’ mad!”
And patriotic Americans are coming to a similar realization about President Trump: “No, no, no! He ain’t gettin’ killed; he’s gettin’ mad!”
That is the mug shot. That is it’s spirit. It’s strength. And ours.
Instead of a crowd cheering “Rock-y Rock-y Rock-y,” in mind’s eye we can see a crowd cheering “Trump! Trump! Trump” as he battles the Globalist-CCP Axis a/k/a “Deep State” in a 2024 rematch.
As with Rocky, the 2024 rematch is our last chance, and so our only chance.
If we are victorious, our Constitutional Republic can be reinstated. If we are not victorious, before there can even be a 2028 election, we will already be irreversibly descending into the abyss of a totalitarian, dystopian “new world order” a/k/a “one world government.”
To avoid this fate, first we have to get to the rematch. Donald J. Trump has shown Rocky-like strength and fortitude, and willingness to give it all to save our Constitutional Republic.
They evil side is already working to prevent President Trump from even appearing on the 2024 ballot. If he / we overcome that, they will once again work to steal the election – and likely worse things yet (such as “false flag” terrorist incidents).
Cornered rats and all that.
Still, if we all – Black, White and Hispanic Americans – do our part, the USA can pull-off an against all odds, Rocky-like victory.
But we have to have Trump’s back and support him. And mobilize. It’s up to us. So it’s our responsibility. But victory is within our grasp.
If we pray.
If we too have the eye of the tiger.
Risin' up, straight to the top
Had the guts, got the glory
Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop
Just a man and his will to survive
It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watchin' us all with the eye of the tiger