Staff Reports
In an age when everyone seems obsessed with the latest sports apparel, there comes a refreshing bit of regular old denim standing its ground. Why get caught up in the sea of skin-tight neon when you can simply work out in your genes – I mean, jeans, of course. That’s exactly what these two “macho men” on a recent show segment decided to do, taking on the impressive challenge of completing 50 pull-ups and 100 push-ups. That’s no small feat, yet they insisted on doing it in 5.25 minutes while clad in beloved denim.
Now, let’s take a moment to appreciate the comedy of one of these participants, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., boldly sticking to his denim guns. Apparently, he made a personal rule against taking off his jeans for workouts, ever since someone told him not to exercise in them. It’s almost as if to say to the world, “Who needs spandex when you’ve got blue jeans?” Let’s be clear: in this epic battle between fashion and function, RFK Jr. has decidedly thrown his hat – or jeans – in the ring for fashion.
Humor flows from every denim thread in this saga. People usually have different jeans for different occasions, and surely RFK Jr. is a strong proponent of this lifestyle, from church jeans to beach jeans. This whole scenario is a vivid portrayal of the average rugged American who feels right at home in jeans, no matter the activity. The commentators even jest that his wardrobe consists solely of different types of these versatile pants. Clearly, less is not always more, particularly when it’s about good old American denim.
While some might scoff at the notion of hiking or even sweating out 100 push-ups in jeans, others see it as bringing a slice of common sense, and perhaps a dash of rebellion, back into fitness fashion. Besides, why break the bank on high-tech athletic gear when regular denim has been fulfilling the job of trousers for decades? If RFK Jr. can still manage to strike a pose—shirtless but in jeans—with an animal companion, who’s to judge?
Ultimately, beyond the humor and the sweat, what RFK Jr. is championing is authenticity. In a world increasingly dictated by norms that decide what is acceptable and what isn’t, it’s somehow refreshing to see a figure who proudly bucks the trend, even when it involves risking a fair amount of chafing. Maybe he’s onto something larger, something about remaining authentic while staying ever so slightly irreverent. If nothing else, it’s a reminder that sometimes the bravest thing to do is to be your denim-clad self, unfazed by what the “fitness gods” ordain.
