The Friendship Factor
by Bill O'Reilly

One of the more interesting aspects of Sylvester Stallone's brilliant screenplay for the original Rocky is the emphasis on friendship. Rocky Balboa's life is bound in friendship to his trainer, Mick; his brother-in-law, Paulie; and later, his rival Apollo Creed. Mr. Stallone clearly understands male companionship and the difficulties it often entails.

Unlike women, who usually depend on friends for emotional support, men seek male companionship for a totally different reason. Guys just want to relax and be accepted by other like-minded guys. In male cameraderie, men seek escape from the demands and responsibilities of everyday life. In other words, guys just want to have fun. Sorry, Cyndi Lauper.

Few men unburden themselves to their friends on a regular basis the way many women do all day long. Guys would rather talk about common interests: sports, sex, money, and hell-raising. For men, friends are all about common experiences and having a few laughs. Pop-psych gurus call it "male bonding," but it's not that at all. It's simply blowing off steam with guys who like you and are like you. Since all men are still essentially little boys, this should not come as a shock to anyone. Boys like to play and always will.