The Runner-Up

 

If you're here for a duel, then I'm afraid I'll let you down.
Today's the same as any day here, if you look around,
But sitting as a spectator, there's much that you don't see.
And you no longer know the real me.
If you're here to see the champion, he isn't here today.
You'd find him in a jail cell, far too far away,
Getting tested like a lab rat and dueling to survive;
The competition never will arrive.
But if you came to see a show, a medal made of plaster,
Look no further, keep your eyes on me, the Master of Faster.
If what you cheer, you scream for, is something false and pretty,
Here's your singing, dancing runner-up of New Domino City.

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Background:

When I saw "Fire It Up!", I was very struck by Jack's attitude when he reluctantly arrived at his first duel after he lost to Yusei. He saw the stadium as though from within a bubble: "If everyone here wants a show, then I'll give them a show... Go on, cheer. Scream your lungs out. Buy season tickets. Crowd around your televisions to witness this deceit! Huh. It's all a waste. You came to see a champion? Well he's stuck in a cell somewhere. But if you want a show, step right up-- I'm the all-singing, all-dancing runner-up of New Domino City!" Even more interesting was the contrast to Kaiba, whom we've often heard boldly declare that his tournaments were *not* shows, they were all-out wars.
I know it's hard to resist imitating Jack when you read this aloud. Don't bother to try; I don't.