By Christopher Sabatini
Contributing Editor
When the Pasquinade asked me several years ago to make a nationwide
review of the top five places to watch a cockfight, I was truly ignorant
to the splendors that lay before me. I have since conducted a 137-town
tour across this great country, visiting cockfight establishments from
the elegantly wealthy to the slatternly destitute. I saw many brave men,
and many, many more brave cocks. I shed tears with my fellow countrymen
as we watched the untimely demise of some of our nation's most treasured
heroes.
Cockadoodle Spank, Hooded Killer, Butch the Klaw… we salute you, and
we miss you.
The Spinster's Revenge; Birmingham, Michigan
The Spinster's Revenge has been home to National Cockfight League [NCL]
champions for seven generations, beginning with Rodaby Bang in the late
'60s. The primitive cockfight ring has recently had electric lighting
added [making obsolete the old nickname "Candlestick Cock"] to keep up
with NCL regulations. Be sure to try the delicious mincemeat pie!
Jonestown's Peckers; Surprise, Arizona
The booming economy in beautiful Surprise has allowed for a state-of-the-art
cockfight arena. Relax in the comfort of plush stadium seats while you
sip on one of their signature chocolate martinis and watch as roosters
furiously try to disembowel each other!
Chet's Sak 'n' Attack; Ames, Iowa
The dusty dirt lot out behind Chet's provides for gritty, old-fashioned
cockfighting, the kind grandma used to watch. NCL play has never been
allowed in this venue, as cockfighting is illegal in Ames. In fact,
the authorities are often called to disperse the matches. However, Chet's
offers insight into cockfighting the way it used to be; I personally threw
down some greenbacks and won $27 and a bottle of homemade whiskey.
The Erudite Bunghole; Kennebunkport, Maine
For a refined, intimate cockfight, there is no place better than The Erudite
Bunghole. The New England area has a cockfighting history as old as time
itself, a history which is woven into the lives of the warm and friendly
people there. It is not uncommon to see several members of the Daughters
of the American Revolution in attendance. You can watch the feathers fly
six nights every week.
The top entry is a multi-way draw; various rural bars south
of the Mason/Dixon line
For a true experience of the potential glories of cockfighting, one must
certainly experience the cockfights of the Old South. The majority of
my travels were spent in this enchanted land, yet no one establishment
was discernible from any other. It is a testimony to the divine unity
of the South that their cockfight locales stand together and stand strong.
While their cockfight industry has certainly felt the strain from the
emergence of NASCAR, the fight remains a strong and immovable force in
daily life. Blood! Sweat! Feathers! Cocks! Oh, and don't look anyone in
the eye if you go to Mississippi.
For a complete transcript of my adventures in Cockfight Americana,
look for my forthcoming book, "Cockfight Americana: A Legacy As Noble
As Time" [Simon & Schuster, 1047p, $88.95], available in time for
Arbor Day.
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