Something different - last fight.

[Aloha Hoosier]

The Howard thing brought back memories.

For me my last fight was when I was almost 17 before my senior year of HS. I had many during my childhood. I lived in some rough neighborhoods. In fact I had some fights I don’t really remember, but my sister and cousins remember them and have told me about them because they were fights to protect them. It’s kind of sad that I’ve filed some of them away as just another day at school. However, I remember several and especially my last one. The last one was with the brother of my girlfriend, a guy that was probably five inches taller and 40 pounds heavier. He started it and I ended it. I knocked out several teeth, broke some others, and bent a few in. Had his jaw wired shut for half of our senior year. We actually remained friends after the fight, which always kind of amazed me.

Anyway, I think my experience with fighting was one of the reasons I haven’t had one since. I did wrestling and boxing as a kid and have had hand to hand fight training in the military. Even at 60 I’m pretty sure I’d hurt someone if we fought. I’ve been provoked, of course, and the thought of fighting has crossed my mind, but the idea of doing significant injury and my maturity have always stopped me from actually fighting. What about you guys?

 

[Indianaftw]

Fighting was part of life growing up for me...Several. Won some, lost some. I guess the two that stick out most to me was when my high school sweetheart was present. One, a guy came after me and it was icy out. I hit him and he fell on the ice. I walk away and my girlfriend is beating his a$$ with her high heel. She did it again at another fight with a guy (cheerleading) for his buddy. Hilarious.

Edit: I would also add, win or lose, I got along with all involved parties afterwards. There was like a respect...It was different back then...This was mid to late seventies early eighties.

 

[mcmurtry66]

The Howard thing brought back memories.

For me my last fight was when I was almost 17 before my senior year of HS. I had many during my childhood. I lived in some rough neighborhoods. In fact I had some fights I don’t really remember, but my sister and cousins remember them and have told me about them because they were fights to protect them. It’s kind of sad that I’ve filed some of them away as just another day at school. However, I remember several and especially my last one. The last one was with the brother of my girlfriend, a guy that was probably five inches taller and 40 pounds heavier. He started it and I ended it. I knocked out several teeth, broke some others, and bent a few in. Had his jaw wired shut for half of our senior year. We actually remained friends after the fight, which always kind of amazed me.

Anyway, I think my experience with fighting was one of the reasons I haven’t had one since. I did wrestling and boxing as a kid and have had hand to hand fight training in the military. Even at 60 I’m pretty sure I’d hurt someone if we fought. I’ve been provoked, of course, and the thought of fighting has crossed my mind, but the idea of doing significant injury and my maturity have always stopped me from actually fighting. What about you guys?

I love these stories. I get Howard needing to be punished but sports are a different animal. My coach got into a bloody fistfight with one of my teammates (he was 24) before a game. We were in the visitor's locker at Clemson. I'll never forget it. Their coach came in to wish us luck and say hi only to find our coach on the ground holding a player in a headlock - both with blood pouring out of their noses. They walked out to the field like two of the Hanson Brothers

 

[anon_6hv78pr714xta]

The Howard thing brought back memories.

For me my last fight was when I was almost 17 before my senior year of HS. I had many during my childhood. I lived in some rough neighborhoods. In fact I had some fights I don’t really remember, but my sister and cousins remember them and have told me about them because they were fights to protect them. It’s kind of sad that I’ve filed some of them away as just another day at school. However, I remember several and especially my last one. The last one was with the brother of my girlfriend, a guy that was probably five inches taller and 40 pounds heavier. He started it and I ended it. I knocked out several teeth, broke some others, and bent a few in. Had his jaw wired shut for half of our senior year. We actually remained friends after the fight, which always kind of amazed me.

Anyway, I think my experience with fighting was one of the reasons I haven’t had one since. I did wrestling and boxing as a kid and have had hand to hand fight training in the military. Even at 60 I’m pretty sure I’d hurt someone if we fought. I’ve been provoked, of course, and the thought of fighting has crossed my mind, but the idea of doing significant injury and my maturity have always stopped me from actually fighting. What about you guys?

I've been in one "fight." 7th grade. I was being a jerk to another kid and tried to provoke him. He took the bait and we essentially wrestled in the boy's locker room at the end of PE, each of us threw a few punches to the mid-section but none really hurt. We both got the paddle, but he didn't deserve it.

 

[Indianaftw]

I've been in one "fight." 7th grade. I was being a jerk to another kid and tried to provoke him. He took the bait and we essentially wrestled in the boy's locker room at the end of PE, each of us threw a few punches to the mid-section but none really hurt. We both got the paddle, but he didn't deserve it.

Ahh yes the paddle. Back in the middle ages LOL. Whatever happened to that? One of our principals let you pick the paddle. They both made you sit afterwards too with your ass pounding while they lectured you.

 

[hoot1]

Thought i was tough until I played college football and scrimmaged against bigger and really dirty upper classmates. We didn't wear face masks and forearm shivers were popular among the guys which I referred to as the animals.

Being smaller and playing center my favorite tactic was blocking below the waist along with often double teaming. This tactic is no longer allowed. All it did was anger the animals who became outraged and ganged up on me. Spent one spring going to the team dentist's office after class having my teeth repaired. Got my teeth repaired at the athletic department's expense and then proceeded to quit the team.

Benefited from this in at least three ways. (1) i no longer think of myself as a tough guy. (2) Now, some sixty four years later, dentists marvel at the outstanding bridge work done on my teeth. (3) Haven't even raised my first toward anyone in the past sixty four years.

 

[Aloha Hoosier]

Ahh yes the paddle. Back in the middle ages LOL. Whatever happened to that? One of our principals let you pick the paddle. They both made you sit afterwards too with your ass pounding while they lectured you.

Our Principal had a red paddle with holes drilled in it to reduce wind resistance. You didn’t want any of that!

 

[hookyIU1990]

I'm 54 and the last fight I had was 6 years ago with my boss at the time. He later apologized and asked me not to say anything. He's no longer with the company, but there was a 4 year stretch there where he new he'd effed up and would go out of his way to avoid me. We'd known each other for years and he's still in our fantasy football league. Stress makes some people react in really off the wall ways. The previous fight was 25+ years prior on a basketball court in a pickup game at my apartment complex's gym.

I've always done everything I could to avoid a fight.

 

[Aloha Hoosier]

I'm 54 and the last fight I had was 6 years ago with my boss at the time. He later apologized and asked me not to say anything. He's no longer with the company, but there was a 4 year stretch there where he new he'd effed up and would go out of his way to avoid me. We'd known each other for years and he's still in our fantasy football league. Stress makes some people react in really off the wall ways. The previous fight was 25+ years prior on a basketball court in a pickup game at my apartment complex's gym.

I've always done everything I could to avoid a fight.

I didn’t look for fights and I wasn’t a bully at all. I’m fact, many of my fights were with bullies. I had one in fifth grade with the class bully. Big kid for his age, as many are, and he was picking on kids on our bus. He started picking on my sister and I told him I was getting off at his stop which was before ours. He thought I was kidding. I wasn’t. He stopped picking on the kids on the bus. I wouldn’t say fights were satisfying, but that one was. I hated bullies. I still do.

 

[mcmurtry66]

I'm 54 and the last fight I had was 6 years ago with my boss at the time. He later apologized and asked me not to say anything. He's no longer with the company, but there was a 4 year stretch there where he new he'd effed up and would go out of his way to avoid me. We'd known each other for years and he's still in our fantasy football league. Stress makes some people react in really off the wall ways. The previous fight was 25+ years prior on a basketball court in a pickup game at my apartment complex's gym.

I've always done everything I could to avoid a fight.

You had a fist fight with your boss six years ago? What happened?

On an unrelated note you really have to be careful today. When we were growing up some people obviously knew how to punch better than others but now you have legit trained fighters sitting at the bar next to you. A dark bar you can't always see what's up with their ears. That OK Football player learned the hard way

 

[DANC]

You had a fist fight with your boss six years ago? What happened?

On an unrelated note you really have to be careful today. When we were growing up some people obviously knew how to punch better than others but now you have legit trained fighters sitting at the bar next to you. A dark bar you can't always see what's up with their ears. That OK Football player learned the hard way

Yeah, I've spent too much on dental work to take a chance on a fight now.

When I was little, I was in fights all the time. I had 3 sisters - I couldn't fight them, so I got in fights all the time in school, mostly on the school bus, and usually no big deal. Then I had to go to the Principal one time after a fight. My mom was a teacher at the school. My parents let me know - in no uncertain terms - that there would be no more fighting. And my dad had no qualms about using the belt. After that, I had no desire to fight and walked away from many fights later that I actually wish I wouldn't have avoided.

What I've observed about most fights is, whoever gets the first punch in usually 'wins'. People jump in to stop it and the guy who gets punched doesn't get to retaliate.

I liked the old days, where the gym teacher would get out the boxing gloves and have the combatants go at it. Then it's over and no one gets hurt too badly.

 

[Aloha Hoosier]

You had a fist fight with your boss six years ago? What happened?

On an unrelated note you really have to be careful today. When we were growing up some people obviously knew how to punch better than others but now you have legit trained fighters sitting at the bar next to you. A dark bar you can't always see what's up with their ears. That OK Football player learned the hard way

Reminds me of an officer that worked for me when I was a Lieutenant Commander. I was the First Lieutenant on a big deck amphib. First Lieutenant is the title for the Deck Officer, a department head position. My Assistant First Lieutenant was a Limited Duty Officer which is a prior enlisted specialist officer. He was an O2 and didn’t get promoted to O3 which is hard to do if you can fog a mirror and haven’t screwed up.

He got a great fitness report from me and it was signed by the CO who eventually made two star Admiral. I asked him what he’d done in his past to keep him from promotion. He told me he’d had a fight with his boss on his previous ship - and it happened in front of his XO. He went to Captain’s Mast for it. He told me everyone agreed that the guy deserved being punched, but that didn’t matter. I told him that he’d never get promoted regardless and advised him to revert to his enlisted rank. He did and retired as an E9. That’s the highest enlisted rank and a good retirement check. Good guy, but hitting another officer has consequences.

 

[mcmurtry66]

Reminds me of an officer that worked for me when I was a Lieutenant Commander. I was the First Lieutenant on a big deck amphib. First Lieutenant is the title for the Deck Officer, a department head position. My Assistant First Lieutenant was a Limited Duty Officer which is a prior enlisted specialist officer. He was an O2 and didn’t get promoted to O3 which is hard to do if you can fog a mirror and haven’t screwed up.

He got a great fitness report from me and it was signed by the CO who eventually made two star Admiral. I asked him what he’d done in his past to keep him from promotion. He told me he’d had a fight with his boss on his previous ship - and it happened in front of his XO. He went to Captain’s Mast for it. He told me everyone agreed that the guy deserved being punched, but that didn’t matter. I told him that he’d never get promoted regardless and advised him to revert to his enlisted rank. He did and retired as an E9. That’s the highest enlisted rank and a good retirement check. Good guy, but hitting another officer has consequences.

Wow!!!

 

[Aloha Hoosier]

Yeah, I've spent too much on dental work to take a chance on a fight now.

When I was little, I was in fights all the time. I had 3 sisters - I couldn't fight them, so I got in fights all the time in school, mostly on the school bus, and usually no big deal. Then I had to go to the Principal one time after a fight. My mom was a teacher at the school. My parents let me know - in no uncertain terms - that there would be no more fighting. And my dad had no qualms about using the belt. After that, I had no desire to fight and walked away from many fights later that I actually wish I wouldn't have avoided.

What I've observed about most fights is, whoever gets the first punch in usually 'wins'. People jump in to stop it and the guy who gets punched doesn't get to retaliate.

I liked the old days, where the gym teacher would get out the boxing gloves and have the combatants go at it. Then it's over and no one gets hurt too badly.

First, my grandfather gave me the same advice. Don’t look for fights, but if it can’t be avoided you try to get the first punch in and end it quickly. It was good advice.

Second, we had similar gym teachers. He was also my wrestling coach in middle school. Occasionally he’d decide it was time to break out the boxing gloves and let us go at it in a supervised fight. My best friend and I were told to lace on the gloves and we went at it. Despite the head gear he almost knocked me down and out, but I survived and we fought to a draw. We laughed about it after and to this day. I still think I would have won if we had a fourth round!

 

[Bill4411]

I wouldn't think it would be wise to get into the typical fistfights of the past because too many people are packing. In my grandfather's day in the little town that my relatives would frequent for more than one occasion fighting was kind of a sport. Men would stand outside the bars with a $5.00 bill attached to their shirts which was the signal they wanted to brawl. I have never seen that behavior in my life although that still may happen in some rougher neighborhoods.

 

[DANC]

First, my grandfather gave me the same advice. Don’t look for fights, but if it can’t be avoided you try to get the first punch in and end it quickly. It was good advice.

Second, we had similar gym teachers. He was also my wrestling coach in middle school. Occasionally he’d decide it was time to break out the boxing gloves and let us go at it in a supervised fight. My best friend and I were told to lace on the gloves and we went at it. Despite the head gear he almost knocked me down and out, but I survived and we fought to a draw. We laughed about it after and to this day. I still think I would have won if we had a fourth round!

Not really a 'fight', but in basic training we used pugil sticks. The idea was to use the one end as a bayonet and the other as a rifle butt.

I used to really piss my drill sergeants off because I would thrust the bayonet end right away and got the other guy out. It was such a simple move, but they wanted you to try to knock the guy's head off. I think drill sergeants are masochists.

I had no previous experience, and I'm pretty normal size, but I had listened to what they said the objective was and didn't get all emotionally involved in kicking the guy's ass. Keeping your cool is definitely to your advantage.

 

[Aloha Hoosier]

Not really a 'fight', but in basic training we used pugil sticks. The idea was to use the one end as a bayonet and the other as a rifle butt.

I used to really piss my drill sergeants off because I would thrust the bayonet end right away and got the other guy out. It was such a simple move, but they wanted you to try to knock the guy's head off. I think drill sergeants are masochists.

I had no previous experience, and I'm pretty normal size, but I had listened to what they said the objective was and didn't get all emotionally involved in kicking the guy's ass. Keeping your cool is definitely to your advantage.

No doubt about that. Keeping your cool is a requirement. I loved boxing and wrestling and knew I’d win when the other guy lost his cool.

 

[Baller23Boogie]

Growing up, I was never in a lot of fights. I was always the guy everyone got along with, jocks, brains, grunge, weirdos. I had friends in all the groups.

It didn't hurt being 6'4, 200 lbs in high school either, I guess.

 

[Aloha Hoosier]

Growing up, I was never in a lot of fights. I was always the guy everyone got along with, jocks, brains, grunge, weirdos. I had friends in all the groups.

It didn't hurt being 6'4, 200 lbs in high school either, I guess.

I also got along with all those same groups. Except for that fight before my senior year, I didn’t have any after 9th grade. I’m friends with just about every kid I had fights with now. Some of them only on Facebook, but we’re all much more mature now. And old . . .

 

[NPT]

I didn’t look for fights and I wasn’t a bully at all. I’m fact, many of my fights were with bullies. I had one in fifth grade with the class bully. Big kid for his age, as many are, and he was picking on kids on our bus. He started picking on my sister and I told him I was getting off at his stop which was before ours. He thought I was kidding. I wasn’t. He stopped picking on the kids on the bus. I wouldn’t say fights were satisfying, but that one was. I hated bullies. I still do.

That is funny... sounds like my older brother. There was a bully at my high school and like you my brother did not like bullies. He did something and the bully dared him go to into the restroom to settle things. Of course my brother is not gonna back down so he said he made sure that he went in the door first. As quick as he heard the door shut behind him he said he turned around and just flatten the bully's nose. That was the end of the fight.

 

[IUINSB]

I think drill sergeants are masochists.

Think? No think to it. They are.

 

[Aloha Hoosier]

That is funny... sounds like my older brother. There was a bully at my high school and like you my brother did not like bullies. He did something and the bully dared him go to into the restroom to settle things. Of course my brother is not gonna back down so he said he made sure that he went in the door first. As quick as he heard the door shut behind him he said he turned around and just flatten the bully's nose. That was the end of the fight.

It’s the only way to do it. Even now I think about how I’d quickly end a fight if it can’t be avoided. Fortunately, I’ve avoided them for decades now.

 

[Baller23Boogie]

I also got along with all those same groups. Except for that fight before my senior year, I didn’t have any after 9th grade. I’m friends with just about every kid I had fights with now. Some of them only on Facebook, but we’re all much more mature now. And old . . .

My last fight was actually with a kid that is in prison for murder (was the first amber alert in Indiana I believe, a horrible situation).

We lived around the block and were cordial at the time (he was a couple years older then me) and he had been playing a little rough that game with me. I was a much better player then him and got lose and went up for layup and he pushed me from behind. I just remember I came up swinging and connected and his brother grabbed me from behind to stop me. He got up and went after me but by that time we had 3 or 4 kids between us. His nose was bleeding pretty good.

By the end of the night, he was over at my house swimming with the rest of the neighborhood kids.

Glad I made nice with that guy. 😄

 

[BCCHoosier]

I'm 54 and the last fight I had was 6 years ago with my boss at the time. He later apologized and asked me not to say anything. He's no longer with the company, but there was a 4 year stretch there where he new he'd effed up and would go out of his way to avoid me. We'd known each other for years and he's still in our fantasy football league. Stress makes some people react in really off the wall ways. The previous fight was 25+ years prior on a basketball court in a pickup game at my apartment complex's gym.

I've always done everything I could to avoid a fight.

Yes Hooky, we need some more details behind this story. Office setting, factory, what led up to it, etc.?

Good stuff.

 

[hookyIU1990]

You had a fist fight with your boss six years ago? What happened?

Yes Hooky, we need some more details behind this story. Office setting, factory, what led up to it, etc.?

Good stuff.

I'd lost a giant multi-year deal in which we were never really in it, just column fodder all the way. We got involved late, never had a good cadence with the decision team, etc.... The POC at the prospect had gone dark on me, which is never good. I got a Dear John email, which we knew was coming, but it struck a nerve with my boss, Mr Wonderful because I'd gotten it while in a meeting with one of the partners, so he wasn't the first to know. I was being berated for not getting the last look, not doing my job, being a general POS, and all the other stuff you say to the person who has been the most productive seller in the brief history of the company, depsite having never done the job yourself or even having a basic understanding.

Small office, big desk, and the chair that I was sitting in had only one way in and out as they were smushed in between the front of his desk and a corner. I was running him through the nuts and bolts of it for about the 15th time and getting more and more annoyed as I fed off his negative energy. He had never been in sales, but was running the teams at the time. I was tired of hearing about it and said something to the affect of "I can't make these SOBs pick up their phone, return a call or answer an email. This deal's been dead for weeks and we've all known it, except for you. I've moved on. You should too." Bad move on my part.

Now he's throwing stuff, knocking things over, just basically losing his shit and MFing me the whole time. I got up and he moved a couple of steps over to block me into that little cubby with the chairs where I had been sitting. He's a big dude who is probably used to bullying people, but we're roughly the same size, so I wasn't outwardly fearful despite shitting bricks. That pissed him off even more. He started pointing at me and we closed the distance, which now put his finger in my chest. I told him to move before one of us ended up hurt. He decided to wind up from somewhere in the next office, so I luckily saw it coming and it was just a glancing blow off my dome. I came up and stepped forward while popping him in the chest with both hands (my jr high football coach would have been so proud). He was way off balance from the wild swing and fell down. I got off the X and slipped out the door. Much yelling and cursing ensued. I packed up my shit and left the office for what was left of the day. I think it may have even been a Friday.

I got a phone call from him around an hour later. I listened to his apology. When he was done, I kind of matter of factly told him if he ever did that to me again or to anyone else on the team, I'd make it my job to bury him. I meant professionally, but I didn't clarify and he didn't ask. Maybe that's why he avoided me from there on out.

About 6 weeks later, I had a meeting with my CEO at a watering hole. Over beers I laid out my case, leaving out that altercation, and said I wasn't going to work for the guy anymore. That led to me reporting directly to him instead of Mr. Wonderful. About 9 months to a year later, Mr. Wonderful got moved to a new role which had no direct reports and isolated him from the entire sales org, the entire company really. He finally left the company last year. I guess in a way, I did bury him. It just took a while. LOL

The office next to his had our VP of Marketing in it. He heard the whole thing through the wall, but was a fan of Mr. Wonderful. He pressed me for details for a few weeks, but I would just say we had a disagreement and it's behind us now. Not sure if he got the full story from Mr. Wonderful or not, but he went into avoidance mode too. He got canned about a year later for being a total non load bearing individual.

 

[Indianaftw]

I'd lost a giant multi-year deal in which we were never really in it, just column fodder all the way. We got involved late, never had a good cadence with the decision team, etc.... The POC at the prospect had gone dark on me, which is never good. I got a Dear John email, which we knew was coming, but it struck a nerve with my boss, Mr Wonderful because I'd gotten it while in a meeting with one of the partners, so he wasn't the first to know. I was being berated for not getting the last look, not doing my job, being a general POS, and all the other stuff you say to the person who has been the most productive seller in the brief history of the company, depsite having never done the job yourself or even having a basic understanding.

Small office, big desk, and the chair that I was sitting in had only one way in and out as they were smushed in between the front of his desk and a corner. I was running him through the nuts and bolts of it for about the 15th time and getting more and more annoyed as I fed off his negative energy. He had never been in sales, but was running the teams at the time. I was tired of hearing about it and said something to the affect of "I can't make these SOBs pick up their phone, return a call or answer an email. This deal's been dead for weeks and we've all known it, except for you. I've moved on. You should too." Bad move on my part.

Now he's throwing stuff, knocking things over, just basically losing his shit and MFing me the whole time. I got up and he moved a couple of steps over to block me into that little cubby with the chairs where I had been sitting. He's a big dude who is probably used to bullying people, but we're roughly the same size, so I wasn't outwardly fearful despite shitting bricks. That pissed him off even more. He started pointing at me and we closed the distance, which now put his finger in my chest. I told him to move before one of us ended up hurt. He decided to wind up from somewhere in the next office, so I luckily saw it coming and it was just a glancing blow off my dome. I came up and stepped forward while popping him in the chest with both hands (my jr high football coach would have been so proud). He was way off balance from the wild swing and fell down. I got off the X and slipped out the door. Much yelling and cursing ensued. I packed up my shit and left the office for what was left of the day. I think it may have even been a Friday.

I got a phone call from him around an hour later. I listened to his apology. When he was done, I kind of matter of factly told him if he ever did that to me again or to anyone else on the team, I'd make it my job to bury him. I meant professionally, but I didn't clarify and he didn't ask. Maybe that's why he avoided me from there on out.

About 6 weeks later, I had a meeting with my CEO at a watering hole. Over beers I laid out my case, leaving out that altercation, and said I wasn't going to work for the guy anymore. That led to me reporting directly to him instead of Mr. Wonderful. About 9 months to a year later, Mr. Wonderful got moved to a new role which had no direct reports and isolated him from the entire sales org, the entire company really. He finally left the company last year. I guess in a way, I did bury him. It just took a while. LOL

The office next to his had our VP of Marketing in it. He heard the whole thing through the wall, but was a fan of Mr. Wonderful. He pressed me for details for a few weeks, but I would just say we had a disagreement and it's behind us now. Not sure if he got the full story from Mr. Wonderful or not, but he went into avoidance mode too. He got canned about a year later for being a total non load bearing individual.

Good for you...I could never EVER figure out how guys that had nothing to do with sales were sometimes in charge of sales people. We once made employees (1980's no matter what position they were in) cold call on the phone until they took a couple calls and dealt with the process. Total game changer for the company as we used to hold that over anyones head that copped a tude with the sales team.

 

[mcmurtry66]

I'd lost a giant multi-year deal in which we were never really in it, just column fodder all the way. We got involved late, never had a good cadence with the decision team, etc.... The POC at the prospect had gone dark on me, which is never good. I got a Dear John email, which we knew was coming, but it struck a nerve with my boss, Mr Wonderful because I'd gotten it while in a meeting with one of the partners, so he wasn't the first to know. I was being berated for not getting the last look, not doing my job, being a general POS, and all the other stuff you say to the person who has been the most productive seller in the brief history of the company, depsite having never done the job yourself or even having a basic understanding.

Small office, big desk, and the chair that I was sitting in had only one way in and out as they were smushed in between the front of his desk and a corner. I was running him through the nuts and bolts of it for about the 15th time and getting more and more annoyed as I fed off his negative energy. He had never been in sales, but was running the teams at the time. I was tired of hearing about it and said something to the affect of "I can't make these SOBs pick up their phone, return a call or answer an email. This deal's been dead for weeks and we've all known it, except for you. I've moved on. You should too." Bad move on my part.

Now he's throwing stuff, knocking things over, just basically losing his shit and MFing me the whole time. I got up and he moved a couple of steps over to block me into that little cubby with the chairs where I had been sitting. He's a big dude who is probably used to bullying people, but we're roughly the same size, so I wasn't outwardly fearful despite shitting bricks. That pissed him off even more. He started pointing at me and we closed the distance, which now put his finger in my chest. I told him to move before one of us ended up hurt. He decided to wind up from somewhere in the next office, so I luckily saw it coming and it was just a glancing blow off my dome. I came up and stepped forward while popping him in the chest with both hands (my jr high football coach would have been so proud). He was way off balance from the wild swing and fell down. I got off the X and slipped out the door. Much yelling and cursing ensued. I packed up my shit and left the office for what was left of the day. I think it may have even been a Friday.

I got a phone call from him around an hour later. I listened to his apology. When he was done, I kind of matter of factly told him if he ever did that to me again or to anyone else on the team, I'd make it my job to bury him. I meant professionally, but I didn't clarify and he didn't ask. Maybe that's why he avoided me from there on out.

About 6 weeks later, I had a meeting with my CEO at a watering hole. Over beers I laid out my case, leaving out that altercation, and said I wasn't going to work for the guy anymore. That led to me reporting directly to him instead of Mr. Wonderful. About 9 months to a year later, Mr. Wonderful got moved to a new role which had no direct reports and isolated him from the entire sales org, the entire company really. He finally left the company last year. I guess in a way, I did bury him. It just took a while. LOL

The office next to his had our VP of Marketing in it. He heard the whole thing through the wall, but was a fan of Mr. Wonderful. He pressed me for details for a few weeks, but I would just say we had a disagreement and it's behind us now. Not sure if he got the full story from Mr. Wonderful or not, but he went into avoidance mode too. He got canned about a year later for being a total non load bearing individual.

Holy shit! That's quite a story. Awful. I witnessed that once. One of my old partners choked a senior associate. Had him by the throat. Broke the door. All of it. In a small office like you describe. I was always amazed by the associate's self-control. He could have killed the partner but basically wrestled him off of him and got out the door. He never came back.

 

[hookyIU1990]

Good for you...I could never EVER figure out how guys that had nothing to do with sales were sometimes in charge of sales people. We once made employees (1980's no matter what position they were in) cold call on the phone until they took a couple calls and dealt with the process. Total game changer for the company as we used to hold that over anyones head that copped a tude with the sales team.

I wish we'd do that. That's a fabulous idea.

I have called out a few people in staff meetings in the past who were complaining about what the sales team's comp plans look like. Nobody has ever taken me up on the offer to put half of their base salary and all of their bonus at risk in exchange for a chance to double it if they hit their bogey.

 

[hookyIU1990]

Holy shit! That's quite a story. Awful. I witnessed that once. One of my old partners choked a senior associate. Had him by the throat. Broke the door. All of it. In a small office like you describe. I was always amazed by the associate's self-control. He could have killed the partner but basically wrestled him off of him and got out the door. He never came back.

That's crazy. Good for the assoiate for not getting his ass kicked or kicking the partner's.

When I look back it, I certainly egged him on and escalated the situation. Not proud of it, but I've also known the guy for over 20 years from a previous employer, so there was a history there that just bubbled over that day.

 

[UncleMark]

I have called out a few people in staff meetings in the past who were complaining about what the sales team's comp plans look like. Nobody has ever taken me up on the offer to put half of their base salary and all of their bonus at risk in exchange for a chance to double it if they hit their bogey.

Back in my early 20s (so in the late 70s) I sold cars for the small town local Chevy dealer. There was one month where we were all hot and selling like crazy, which meant the back end people in the office were buried with doing title paperwork and finance documents and insurance stuff, all by hand before computers. A couple of the gals were grumbling that they had all this work to do but unlike us sales people they weren't going to get paid any more. Owner offered to put them on straight commission, but reminded them that meant there might be weeks (or months) when they didn't get paid for shit. No one took him up on it.

On the other hand, I spent the majority of my working life in back end type positions, which meant I/we had to keep the promises the salespeople made. Let's just say there were occasions when we weren't all on the same page.

 

[iuwclurker]

I also got along with all those same groups. Except for that fight before my senior year, I didn’t have any after 9th grade. I’m friends with just about every kid I had fights with now. Some of them only on Facebook, but we’re all much more mature now. And old . . .

They just don’t want you to whip their ass again…

 

[Standard Issue]

I've been in a few, mostly places where alcohol was present. On my best day I'm probably 5'7" so drunk guys looking to scrap prefer me. The best one happened on the "L" in Chicago. My first week in the city, seats are full, I'm the only one standing. Guy comes up and says "I'm going to kick your ass" (repeatedly). I didn't/don't remember the full chain of events, guys I went to school with told me afterwards. I guess I dropped my backpack, chucked him in the gut hard enough to knock him off his feet and when the conductor got to us I had my knees in his back and was bouncing his head off the train car floor. My classmates said it was the coolest thing they'd ever seen because I never actually threw a punch. Apparently adrenaline and nerves don't help form memories

 

[anon_6hv78pr714xta]

Holy shit! That's quite a story. Awful. I witnessed that once. One of my old partners choked a senior associate. Had him by the throat. Broke the door. All of it. In a small office like you describe. I was always amazed by the associate's self-control. He could have killed the partner but basically wrestled him off of him and got out the door. He never came back.

A partner was choking an associate??? Where was this? That's ridiculous.

 

[mcmurtry66]

A partner was choking an associate??? Where was this? That's ridiculous.

It's been ages ago. Partner was talking super loud, shouting really, in an office next door while the associate was in full melt down mode on the phone over something. Associate put the phone down and shouted something like SHUT THE **** UP and went to shut his office door. As he shut it the partner slammed it into him, broke it, and grabbed him by the throat.

I was at a firm in Fla and one of the partners played rugby while he was in law school at Penn. He was probably 50 at the time. Thought he was still a hard ass. Was actually a super nice guy. He was doing a real estate deal with another lawyer and a couple of clients. It was probably 7 at night. Had food delivered in etc. And they started bullshitting about rugby and strength and all that and I can't remember if it was the client or the other lawyer but our partner and he arm-wrestled at the conference room table (super, super swanky office too) and the partner with my firm had his arm broken. It was a horrible break. Had to call 911 lol

 

[larsIU]

Good for you...I could never EVER figure out how guys that had nothing to do with sales were sometimes in charge of sales people. We once made employees (1980's no matter what position they were in) cold call on the phone until they took a couple calls and dealt with the process. Total game changer for the company as we used to hold that over anyones head that copped a tude with the sales team.

“In charge of sales people”. Hahahahahahahah

Nobody’s ever in charge of sales people. And definitely not the old sales person they make mgmt.

 

[Indianaftw]

“In charge of sales people”. Hahahahahahahah

Nobody’s ever in charge of sales people. And definitely not the old sales person they make mgmt.

Wow, don't know where you have worked. I've had great manager/mentors. I've had people from 20 years ago keep in touch and appreciate all the work we did together.

My son, who is in sales, still talks about a couple of his sales managers.

Once you get to a certain point I guess what you say has merit, but you have to learn from someone.

 

[Hoopsdoc1978]

One fight in my entire life. 5th grade, Ryan Robinson. Complete and total prick who’s undoubtedly serving a life sentence somewhere now. We wrestled around for like a minute and then both got hauled to the principals office.

I was more upset about that than I was about the fight.

I stood toe to toe with a drunk bastard who was disrespectful to my wife a few years ago until his friends dragged him away. THAT dude deserved an ass beating for what he said to her, which I won’t repeat here, but his friends basically asked me to let him off because of how drunk he was.

I will get into a fight if I ever see that prick again.

 

[larsIU]

Wow, don't know where you have worked. I've had great manager/mentors. I've had people from 20 years ago keep in touch and appreciate all the work we did together.

My son, who is in sales, still talks about a couple of his sales managers.

Once you get to a certain point I guess what you say has merit, but you have to learn from someone.

Spoiler. I’m not in sales. I just like give some stick from time to time.

 

[NPT]

The only ones that I ever had fight with was my two brothers. Once in a while we'd get into a little scrap over something. It never amounted to much.

 

[anon_6hv78pr714xta]

It's been ages ago. Partner was talking super loud, shouting really, in an office next door while the associate was in full melt down mode on the phone over something. Associate put the phone down and shouted something like SHUT THE **** UP and went to shut his office door. As he shut it the partner slammed it into him, broke it, and grabbed him by the throat.

I was at a firm in Fla and one of the partners played rugby while he was in law school at Penn. He was probably 50 at the time. Thought he was still a hard ass. Was actually a super nice guy. He was doing a real estate deal with another lawyer and a couple of clients. It was probably 7 at night. Had food delivered in etc. And they started bullshitting about rugby and strength and all that and I can't remember if it was the client or the other lawyer but our partner and he arm-wrestled at the conference room table (super, super swanky office too) and the partner with my firm had his arm broken. It was a horrible break. Had to call 911 lol

Awesome stories. Love the arm wrestling one.