Rock Candy

ORIGINAL TOUGHMAN COMPETITION
8 p.m., Statehouse Convention Center. $16-$25.

You'll note that in this week's Arkansas Reporter (“State goes easy”), John Williams details the lack of regulation in Toughman competitions in Arkansas. A participant died just two weeks ago in Texarkana. Call me cynical, but I doubt that'll amount to even a blip in attendance. The appeal of watching one random guy kick another random guy's ass weighs too heavy. Or perhaps even more — the appeal of watching one random woman pummel another random woman. The only bio of a woman I have is for Angela “The Georgia” Peach (5 feet 4 inches, 150 pounds), a single mother from Little Rock, “who loves boxing, dirt bikes, running and just about anything outdoors.” On the men's side, we've got “Grandpa” Mike Cagle from White Hall (6 feet, 240 pounds), a 52-year-old autoworker who's apparently won before and wants to win again before he's “too old.” Then there's Robert “Too Tall” Davis from Searcy. He digs swimming pools and is an avid weight lifter and race car driver. He made it to the finals two years ago. The competition continues on Saturday.