I remember in the early 2000s when VH1 was on its nostalgia kick, basing a good portion of its programming on celebrities relevant in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. They had entire block of television dedicated to talking about the fads of the past decades, they got your favorite 80’s bands back together (who didn’t want to see A Flock of Seagulls play again?), and they even got some of your favorite sitcom stars of the 90’s back into shape on celebrity weight loss competitions.

Other networks followed suit, with FOX premiering “Celebrity Boxing” in 2002, pitting stars of yesterday like Greg Brady and Danny Partridge against each other inside the squared circle in a battle to determine who knows what other than some cheap publicity.

I’m fine with Greg Brady getting wailed on by Danny Partridge for no apparent reason. These were people that entertained us and made us laugh. That’s why they’re celebrities, and that’s why it’s OK for them to do ridiculous things. It’s entertaining. We’ll watch. I always wondered if the nerdy kid from “Saved By the Bell” could fight anyway.

But, celebrity boxing is now making a comeback in perhaps the worst way possible with George Zimmerman planning to step into the ring for who knows what reason. Zimmerman, who was found not guilty of second degree murder and manslaughter in last July’s Trayvon Martin case, said he plans to take up boxing in his latest effort to profit off his “celebrity.”

You’d think someone in Zimmerman’s situation would want to lay low following everything that happened last summer, but here we are. Possible opponents for Zimmerman include hip-hop has-beens DMX and The Game. Neither have had any notable hits in years, but both are eager at the chance to land one on Zimmerman, in what is perhaps the most disheartening publicity stunt in recent years.

Danny Partridge and Greg Brady were trying to get some cheap publicity off their names as child actors. Zimmerman is trying to get his off gunning down an unarmed teenager. DMX and The Game are trying to get their names out there off slapping around this same guy, and it makes them no better for it. As much as people would love to see some sort of retribution or justice come Zimmerman’s way, there probably isn’t a worse way than something as ridiculous celebrity boxing.

Is knocking down Zimmerman in a boxing match really going to heal the wounds of Martin’s family and friends? Are they really going to say, “Wow, DMX, your left hook in the third round really did it for me. This is what America needed.”?

The real way to move forward after the death of Martin isn’t through celebrity boxing, but to make sure it never happens again. It involves pushing for a re-evaluation of our legislature regarding things like defining self-defense and taking a closer look at gun control. It involves opening up the conversation about the way certain people view others based on stereotypes. It’s going to take all that and probably a lot more, but what it definitely doesn’t need is a boxing match.

Dominic Renzetti is a senior family and consumer sciences major. He can be reached at 581-2812 or dcrenzetti@eiu.edu.