Local newspaper writer Derek Mann prints “I Hate Frasier Crane” in his daily column, which enrages and embarrasses Frasier. In retaliation, Frasier criticizes Derek on the air, which causes Derek to respond with yet another unflattering piece on Frasier and his show.

Derek fans the flames of the feud by challenging Frasier to a fistfight. Remembering the time that Frasier backed out of a confrontation with a childhood bully because he had a clarinet lesson, Martin encourages his son to face Mann.

Niles, Martin, a nd Daphne s how up at Cafe Nervosa to lend support. After some last minute pointers, Frasier goes outside to confront Derek. Although the police arrive before any punches can be thrown, Frasier feels victorious because he wasn’t going to back down. He doesn’t see Martin take one of the cops aside and thank him for showing up as he had requested.