SCENE: RIA Arena, night. The seats surrounding the ring are filled with thousands of raucous fans. In the ring are a REFEREE and the two CONTENDERS, ADOBE FLEX and MICROSOFT SILVERLIGHT.

Referee: In this corner: the undisputed heavyweight champion of the application programming world – Adobe Flex!

(Cheers and applause from spectators)

Referee (cont’d): And in the far corner, the challenger – Microsoft Silverlight!

(Boos and catcalls from spectators)

Focus turns to the broadcast booth, where sportscasters BUTCH BARDSDALE and SPIKE SPAVINS are seated before old-time stainless steel microphones.

Spike: Good evenin’, ladies and joyms, from Rich Internet Application Arena. I’m Spike Spavins -

Butch: And I’m Butch Bardsdale.

Spike: Tonight, we’re bringin’ you live – da match of da century – Adobe Flex vesus Microsoft Silverlight!

Butch: Well, Spike – dis should turn out to be a battle royale.

Spike: Yes it should, Butch. And we are predictin’ a serious grudge match, here. Adobe Flex has a lot of fans here tonight – an’  Microsoft Silverlight is nuttin’ more den an upstart punk new-comer -

Butch: Da one ting Microsoft gots behind him is a lotta bucks and marketing power.

Spike: Dat’s true, Butch – da guy what owns Silverlight is a heavy hitter, and he’s got muscle.

Butch: There’s a lot of folks who say that Silverlight’s owner ‘s been throwing his weight around too much and fer too long.

Spike: Mebbe so, Butch – but Adobe’s got age and experience. Dis may turn out to be a contest of brains over brawn.

In the ring, a scantily-clad brunette smiles broadly, strutting across the area holding up a sign upon which is written, “ROUND 1.”

The bell rings and the two contenders come out swinging.

Butch: And so it begins – Adobe gettin’ in some good punches dere wit’ its Flash-based platform.

Spike: Dat’s one ting Microsoft Silverlight can’t compete with -

Suddenly, ADOBE FLEX gets in a roundhouse punch square in the face of MICROSOFT SILVERLIGHT, causing the latter to stagger backwards.

Spike (cont’d): Ooh – dat’s gotta hoit.

Butch: But look – Silverlight’s comin’ back at ‘im wit’ cross-platform compatibility!

In the ring,  MICROSOFT SILVERLIGHT throws windmill punches using both Windows and MacOS. However,  ADOBE FLEX has his guard up and sneaks in an extra punch with Linux – right in SILVERLIGHT’S eye.

Spike: Did you see dat?!?

Butch: Indeed I did, Spike. Silverlight may have dat double Windows-Mac whammy, but Adobe was dere foist – and gots da Linux punch as well.

Spike: Silverlight’s trying to get in some punches wit’ da Java hook – but Adobe sees it comin and gets in anudder hit to da left wit’ its separate an’ secure Flash plug-in tucked away in ‘is Sandbox environment!

SILVERLIGHT continues to lash out at ADOBE, to no avail.

Butch: Wit’ ‘is fancy footwork – t’anks to da fact that he kin go anywhere – Adobe is keepin’ Silverlight at arms’ length -

Spike: Looks like Silverlight’s startin’ ta wear out like a cheap pair o’ shoes. He can’t even git close ta Adobe!

Butch: But what’s goin’ on? Silverlight’s getting’ a second wind -

Indeed he is; SILVERLIGHT makes a brief comeback, swinging hard with his dedicated developer tools, particularly Expression Blend; however, ADOBE is able to block it with Adobe Catalyst every time.

Finally, ADOBE delivers the knockout blow with a hard AMF to the side of the head; SILVERLIGHT collapses to the mat.

Referee: One…! Two…! Three…! (etc.)

Spike: Willya look at dat! Silverlight just folded up like an old accordion!

Butch: Dat’s because Silverlight’s .NET wuz never more den a cheap imitation of Adobe’s ActionScript! He couldn’t stand up -

Referee: Eight…! Nine…! Ten!!

Spike: And dat’s it fer Silverlight – down fer da count!

Butch: Down and out! Da Flex remains – undisputed champion!

The crowd goes wild as the referee holds up ADOBE’S arm in triumph and the scantily-clad brunette plants a kiss on his cheek and throws a garland around his neck.

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