American Gladiators promotes physical fitness

Back in the late 80’s, when I was in the service, I recall a night over at a Coast Guard base. It was about 2 in the morning and I was with a friend. We were watching a show that I had never seen before, and I thought it was great. It was American Gladiators.

Being the fit and uber in shape Marine I was at the time I was wondering if I could compete in the television show. Unlike wrestling, and with no other “reality” programming existing on television it was the only program where regular people could display the physical fitness we worked on attaining. I never did try to get on the show, but in a year or so the program became an underground hit and goes to a more realistic timeslot.

Fast forward to today, and we see that American Gladiators has returned to television. With it has returned the opportunity for real people to show their stuff. Not like the unreal “reality” programs that dominate the airwaves these days. Just regular people, who have worked out and stayed, fit throughout their lives. Some even having started to become fit latter in life.

Now this is not a program that is high-brow in any sense. It’s physical competition. It’s a display of dedication that contestants have made over time, and none of them are professionals. And that’s why I enjoy it.

This is the one show where you or I could get on. That’s the motivation. We work out, maintain a proper diet, exercise on a regular basis, and without becoming an Arnold Schwarzenegger clone, we have a realistic chance of appearing and winning $100,000. It takes me back to my time in the military and that night at the Coast Guard base.

Sometimes we all need a reason to do what we know we should do anyway. Sometimes we need to see a regular person do something we can do as well. I love football, but there is no way I’m ever going to get into the NFL no matter how fit I become. But American Gladiators is a possibility.

Perhaps it’s unrealistic to think I will ever make it on television for such a program. But the next time I’m in the gym, or you are, seeing that Joe Average guy that did the same things we do in the gym might just help get one more mile on the treadmill, or that extra set of push-ups.

But does it matter if I don’t make it to the show? If I, we, gain the reward for being more physically fit does it matter what motivated us? If it only means I will live better, play golf better, and spend more time playing with nephews (not to mention get a second or third look from the ladies) have I not gotten the reward I really wanted?

There are many reasons why men get physically fit. If American Gladiators can add one more reason to the list, it’s a good thing to me. How about you?