Men are desperate

If someone can explain the social forces behind "pay-per-view" events, please let me know.

It can't be a coincidence that the only sporting (or "sports entertainment") events that are at least modestly successful as pay-per-view franchises involve men beating the tar out of each other.

Really, what sporting event would you pay $50 to see on television? The 2008 Wimbledon final? Not even that would make the cut for me.

But apparently men will dole out any amount of cash to see blood or sex.

Though there are boxing fans who will say that moving all major fights to pay-per-view, while perhaps a financial windfall for the sport's benefactors, has been one of the many reasons for the decline in popular interest.