Canzano gets no love from Yahoo sports!
Actual Story Title: UFC 102 react: Oregon columnist says someone will die in the Octagon some day
If someone posted this sorry. It has nothing to do with the Blazers, but it is funny how Canzano gets no love even when he writes about other sports besides bball. The writer- STeve Cofield of yahoo sports- of the story makes some great points-- check it out.
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So Canzano once again proves he's an idiot with an opinion ...
and an over inflated sense of self worth.
I am curious about one thing though. Since when is it necessary for a sport to have social value (however that is defined)? For that matter, perhaps someone should ask John exactly what social value basketball, tennis, football, etc have, other than providing entertainment.
hakkaa päälle !
Exactly -- great point!
I dont hate on John as hard as some folks, but over and over again it seems like he writes some crazy story that pisses of a bunch of people. Maybe he does it for a reason. To get more attention.
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Aug 31, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Sports generally ahve social value
They can bring communities together, teach lessons… blah blah blah.
Back in the days such sports would probably help out those charged with protection of the village improve their skills.
Today, I suppose they’d inspire others to learn or study martial arts.
That said, I’m not a fan of the sport, but I can see some value in it. I think kunk fu movies provide the same value and are much cooler.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
It gets kids off the streets and into gyms
Under the supervision of coaches.
"Goals are good. Plans are better." -Ben.
by Sabonis4Ever on Aug 31, 2009 8:14 PM PDT up reply actions
And teaches them to really beat people senseless
Not saying it’s bad, but man, I see these guys all the time, and their propensity to fight isn’t slowed down a bit. Now, more of them are just better at it.
I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich
hum
I’m not a fan of the sport and would probably agree with JC on this. I won’t know because I won’t read his stuff so i have no idea.
The guy writing the yahoo article seems pretty defensive. He also didn’t tell me, someone who’s NOT a fan of UFC, what value UFC had or why the blood thirsty fans like it. What is the whole picture? If he’s going to bash someone for not doing it, it might be nice if he tossed in a little of that stuff himself.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
Cofield is host of a radio talk show here in Vegas
Since Zuffa (parent company of UFC) is based here, I guess that makes him the resident ‘expert’.
I am a big fan of the sport so
I can try to respond to that. Initially (1993), the UFC held fights with almost no rules. Groin kicks were legal and so was just about anything else. The events were held in states with no athletic commisions to avoid regulation. The fan base was small but rabid. But there was not enough fans or money to keep the sport going. In the late 90’s, the UFC was on the verge of bankruptcy, and it was purchased by the current owners. Their goal was to make the sport mainstream, and thus, they embraced athletic commisions rather than running from them. Changes were made so the sport could be regulated like boxing. Today, all U.S. events are regulated. The referee and the fight doctor can stop a fight at any time. Fighters can surrender verbally or by tapping three times (that has been the case since the beginning). Drug tests are administered to check for elicit substances and performance-enhancing drugs. Fighters violating drug policies are suspended and fined. Some states administer random drug tests. The athletic commissions are in control of drug testing, hiring referees and fight doctors. So the UFC can’t “rig” fights to a certain fighter’s advantage. Essentially, it’s just like boxing as far as regulation.
Honestly, whether Mixed Martial Arts has any redeeming value depends on the person. I can tell you that it’s not an organized bar fight. The fighters dedicate their lives to learning various styles of fighting, and they are true athletes. Despite many fans “blood lust,” MMA is a very technical sport that requires a lot of training. And if you understand the sport, a good fight is truly a beautiful thing to watch.
Fans of the sport are very diverse, just like they are in any sport. Some fans know every aspect of the Blazers and can quote the the current CBA. Some like to drink beer and watch that Roy guy play. I think all sports have that quality.
The Yahoo article is really just as bad as Canzano’s. John sees nothing right with the sport, Yahoo sees nothing wrong with it. It’s a personal choice.
Yes, fighter’s get hurt. Ed Herman blew out his knee and couldn’t leave the Octagon without help, Chris T. took a vicious, though accidental, groin shot, and Chris Leben got choked until he passed out (he fell asleep before he tapped out) and flopped around like a fish out of water while waking up. That’s probably not eveyone’s cup of tea. Neither is soccer or professional billards. Ever watch bowling on TV? Redeeming value? It’s a personal choice.
by Sean M on Aug 31, 2009 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions 7 recs
rec'd
I too am a huge MMA fan. Anyone who watches just a few UFCs and a couple of the Countdown shows will see just how technical the sport is and that these guys are truly amazing athletes.
I’m fairly certain the next decade will see the complete mainstreaming of MMA via the UFC (rumors of a UFC network deal are hot right now, even), and the next generation of fighters who train in all thee disciplines from the get-go will produce the best fighters the world has ever seen.
the poster formerly known as sergioftw, in recovery
I think MMA won't get any bigger than WWF when it was huge
When WWF was really big they had their own cartoon and a huge following but there will still be people who find it appalling and people like me who think it is just boring. MMA is practically mainstream now, the problem is the fighters don’t last long enough to get any real name recognition. By the time I kept hearing Chuck Liddell’s name, he was getting beat up frequently.
Well, if you are stuck doing PPV events and on Spike
name-recognition gets difficult. As the stories slowly creep into the front pages of Sports sections and Yahoo, and the events start to be on networks, I think that will no longer be a problem. There are fighters who are still at the top of their games who have been fighting at elite levels for years—they just need exposure. BJ Penn, George St. Pierre, and Anderson Silva would certainly qualify.
I think comparing WWF to MMA is really apples to oranges. WWF appeals to people who like spectacle and ‘drama’ (i am supposing here, as I can’t stand so-called professional wrestling) where as MMA appeals to sports fans, which is quite a different audience, though of course there will be cross-overs among the audiences.
the poster formerly known as sergioftw, in recovery
WWF and MMA are pretty similar
Both sports are just guys not wearing much clothes and hugging and all their major events are PPV. Most people I know who watch MMA do it at bars and that knocks out a lot of fans under 21. I know who BJ Penn is because friends keep trying to get me to be a fan of him on Facebook.
This is what I think of when I think of MMA. Man sweat hugging.
sweat hugging FTW!
just for the record, one difference- MMA=Real, WWF=Scripted, and thusly, not a sport.
the poster formerly known as sergioftw, in recovery
Yeah
I agree, but they’ll both be in the same category to me until you can watch a MMA fight on a normal channel during prime time.
I honestly don’t see the appeal though. I would totally watch it if it was like Bloodsport or Street Fighter. Watching two guys grapple is more boring to me than curling.
You mean like spike or vs? how about CBS? is that a big enough channel?
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
Are you saying Kimbo Slice does MMA?
I’m not saying I hate MMA, it’s just boring. My comments in this thread only had to do with a sport that is primarily on a fringe channel and all their big events are PPV’s. Look what VS did to the NHL. They might revive it with HD, but primarily showing on VS kicked the legs out from under the NHL.
The best way for something to become mainstream is to be easily accessible.
agreed
until it’s on the networks, it hasn’t reached the big time. But it will be, guaranteed. Seriously though, Tom, if you watch a few events you will see plenty of non-grappling action, I promise.
the poster formerly known as sergioftw, in recovery
Very intelligent thought process. Really, you should be proud of yourself.
Golf is just a bunch of guys wearing loud pants and shaking a stick.
NASCAR is a bunch of guys who like to drive in circles.
Rodeo is a bunch of guys who like to feel a powerful animal between their legs and have a clown fettish.
Football – What a bunch of wimps! They wear padding and helmets.
Basketball -They had to come up with a sport for freakishly tall people. Otherwise, they would have to join the circus.
Soccer is an elaborate, organized aerobics program that leads to brainwashed fans killing each other for no apparent reason.
Baseball is the sole reason that Coors Light and hot dogs still exist in our society. And evidently it’s also a game of some kind.
Hockey is an outlet for toothless people legally obligated to attend anger management seminars.
Boxing is a high-paying pillow fight.
And oversimplifying something you don’t understand is the sign of a feeble mind. I’m sure you are better than that. Aren’t you, Tom???
by Sean M on Sep 1, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agreed.
After reading my post again, I shouldn’t have included the final pargraph. Every sport is stupid to someone was my point.
Tom, I apologize for the insult. I should have taken my own advice and been better than that.
And I didn't even take it to the gay realm like I do with friends
Every love scene in Brokeback Mountain started with them wrestling. One of their most popular fighters first name is “BJ.”
Skin on skin, let the love begin.
That sounds exactly like something I would say.
Nothing like a little homo-erotic banter to freak people out. I did once comment that the Brock Lesnar-Health Herring fight reminded me of a 15 minute soft-core, gay porn. I’ve just got to stop taking everyone so damn seriously.
However, if you live in Hawaii, I believe you bound by law to love BJ Penn, despite his unfortunate name. But I could be wrong about that.
Anyway, my hissy-fit is over. Is it October yet?
Nope
Yeah, BJ is everywhere. Mayhem lives here too. He sat at the table next to me at CPK and he is a loud talker.
When you put it that way Tom ....
… it suddenly becomes interesting.
Feel like slipping into something tight and coming over for a couple of beers while we watch a match or two?
hakkaa päälle !
Just don't tell Mortimer.
*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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I wish Fedor and UFC had got along... maybe then Brock Lesner could be taught a lesson.
by JordanLeDoux on Aug 31, 2009 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Fedor doesn’t have much to do with it, it’s the people who hold his contract, M-1 Global. They insist on co-promoting events, and the UFC won’t (and doesn’t need to) do that.
the poster formerly known as sergioftw, in recovery
Don't know if you know this
Fedor owns 50% of M-1. and his manager owns the other 50%. So it IS Fedor’s fault.
I love his skills, but sheesh
by GreatOden'sRaven on Sep 1, 2009 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions
I thought Canzano's column was fine
He’s not a fan of the sport and he wrote about it. He’s a columnist— he’s paid to give his opinion. I generally don’t think his columns are very good, but that’s another story.
Isn't that like hiring me to play PG for the Blazers?
I play basketball, that is what I’m payed to do.
I just suck at NBA level ball.
Isn’t that the opposite of fine for those watching the Blazers every week?
*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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well, Canzano's an Pulitzer winning columnist. I suspect his employers think he's doing his job.
Despite a lot of people not liking him (and thinking his columns are not very good), by at least some measures he’s doing his job pretty well.
by jksnake99 on Aug 31, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Good point.
Some people value him.
I’m just trying to convince you that the value of a columnist is in whether you personally find her opinions useful or entertaining. If Canzano’s takes are a waste of space in your opinion, mightn’t there be a reason to support him being fired?
Yeah, yeah. Perhaps since we both seem to not like him, but, more importantly, we couldn’t care less about him, it makes me the idiot for even bringing it up.
*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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A Pulitzer? I think he won some AP columnist award, but lets not get overboard, he is not the Tom Friedman of sports.
There's Gotta Be More To Life
Unless I'm mistak. en, all it takes to get nominated for a Pulitzer...
… is for your own paper to send in the nomination (along with entry fees, I presume)
But is it his job to judge if a sport is a sport, or a sport worth watching?
There's Gotta Be More To Life
sure, why not?
again, he’s paid to give his opinion. In this case, I agree with him. I have no interest in watching MMA.
The main problem I have with it is the same problem I have with most of Canzano's stuff.
He tries to project this aire of impartiality. He even went so far as to insinuate, while decrying the “blood-thirsty fans” and violence of the sport, that he would attend with an open mind. Of course that wasn’t the case at all. He was there looking for aspects of the sport that he found ugly and chose to focus upon that. Then he goes on to question whether or not fans who cheer for knockouts are less humane than other “normal” people. It’s just more of the rash generalization that we’ve come to expect from him. I mean, isn’t it possible that the people who are cheering for the knockout don’t actually want the loser of the fight to have serious injuries or lasting disorders?
He already knew what he was going to write about the next day before it happened.
I mean, it’s cool if he doesn’t like MMA. It’s definitely not for everybody. But if that’s his position, simply state it and move on. Taking a second shot at MMA under the guise of a fact-finding mission only serves to push his own agenda and make him look that much less credible.
Yes! Yes! In the face!
John's certainly entitled to his opinion.
He did not cover the event, though. Nor did he make any effort to understand the sport. He was looking for evidence to support his pre-determined opinion. And he found it.
That’s fine, I suppose. He is paid to give his opinion. But I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect an op-ed columnist to actually have an informed opinion. John sat ringside and watched one UFC fight card. Did he research the sport at all? Does he know the rules? Has he watched other fights? I have no idea. He doesn’t give any background about his knowledge of the sport other than to urge the athletic commission to change everything. He did state that Chris T. got kicked in the nads so hard he spit blood. Wrong. His lip was cut in the fight, and that’s why he was spitting blood. And I don’t remember any bones being broken as he states. Chris Leben was suspended due to a possible facial fracture. Did John speak to the athletic commission to confirm this claim? Maybe???
He criticizes the UFC fans for their “blood lust” and yet that phrase accurately describes his brand of journalism. Yes, John, somebody probably will die in the Octagon some day. Just like boxers have died in the ring, and extreme skiers/snowboarders have died on the mountain, and I could go on and on. Your manufacturing your own version of “blood lust” against MMA. Isn’t this the guy who started the rumor that the Blazers weren’t treating Brandon Roy fair. Suddenly, people actually thought we might lose Brandon. Was there a point to this ridiculous speculation other than to increase his readership.
John had one sentence in his article that stuck with me. “I left feeling conflicted and sick. And thinking a lot about humankind.” Yep, John. That’s exactly how I feel about your journalism.
by Sean M on Aug 31, 2009 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
all that could be true, I really have no idea
If indeed Canzano had his facts wrong, then obviously that’s not doing a good job.
For me, violent sports like the UFC and boxing where the primary purpose is to beat someone up are not fun to watch, but obviously a huge number of people disagree, given the popularity of the UFC.
I am not a fan of Canzano...
…but am less of a fan of UFC and MMA. I have to agree with you that there is no fun in watching someone get bloodied and beaten. I am not trying to tell someone else not to be a fan of this sport. I can though see why Canzano would take this angle…
I agree
that said, I can understand why fans of the UFC are frustrated by Canzano’s piece and feel he didn’t go into the event with an open mind, as he said he would.
actually it's just canzano and mind that are mutually exclusive
Truth never was or can be propagated by fire and sword - Albert Gallatin
my last.fm
by Zaron5551 on Aug 31, 2009 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
There may be no fun - for you.
That is not the same as there being no fun in the sport.
And even though there are lots of folks unwilling to recognize the fact and who wet their panties when the subject comes up, there is social value in maintaining an interest in and development of controlled aggression and violence.
The US Army has adopted a form of Brazilian jujitsu that it teaches in unarmed combat training. It is my understanding that it is a style similar to what is seen in UFC / MMA events. The Army recognizes the value in having it’s men and women capable of aggressive and violent action when needed.
Of course I’m sure there are folks who see little or no social value in the military, but that’s a discussion for another venue.
hakkaa päälle !
I know many people who enjoy the sport...
… I just don’t. I am glad that the Army teaches our soldiers how to defend themselves but to tell you the truth I don’t want to watch them beat people up either. There is a difference between a need for violence and a thirst for it.
I’m not sure I understand the “wet their panties” reference. Are you inferring that people, like myself, who don’t have a desire to watch this sport or that don’t have the need for a venue to expel our pent up anger are incontinent?
Enjoy the sport… I choose not to…
Sorry that you don't understand idioms.
“Wet your panties” = get really upset at an emotional level, usually for no logical reason
Seriously, the timg56’s point still applies to this statement. Just because you are aggression free doesn’t mean others are too. By what standard are you judging others?
How do you define the difference between need & want?
Clearly, you are absolutely entitled to your opinion about anything. It is just that Canzano appears to think he should be able to enforce his opinion on others.
*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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Sorry you missed my sarcasm...
I’m very aware of the meaning…or idiom if you will. I’m not sure it’s proper to call somebody a panty wetter for not sharing your views… but I understand it’s meaning. “Getting upset at an emotional level, usually for no logical reason” certainly isn’t a fair assessment of how I feel about the statement in question. This is not a political blog so suffice it to say that I don’t see a social value in UFC or MMA.
I do not claim to be aggression free but choose to express mine in another manner. That being said the only “judgement” you could construe from my statement above is that I don’t watch the sport. I never said no one else should or that people that do are A, B or C… and I never mentioned bladder control issues either… (sarcasm again)
Need and want in this context are simple… A person in the Army NEEDS to defend themselves or use applied aggression. A UFC or MMA fighter chooses the pursuit and therefore WANTS to.
I absolutely agree with your take on Canzano and in no way was I giving him my support. But how does assuming that I should feel the same way TImg56 or you do on this differ from him “enforcing his opinion?”
You guys are respected, longtime posters on here and I respect your views. That doesn’t mean I always have to agree does it?
Yeah, you're correct.
I was just teasing you about the wetting your panties thing.
I don’t watch MMA either, but I’m more like Tom. I just get bored.
*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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If John had his facts right
but still came to the same conclusion about the sport, I wouldn’t have commented. He is entitled to his opinion, and violent sports are definitely not for everyone.
Contracted fighter pay and medical suspensions are public information. Anybody can contact an athletic commission and request the information, and several MMA websites publish this information. It does not appear that any bones were broken nor can I figure out how John came to that conclusion. He states it as a fact, and that set me off.
Chris T. was shown several times after the fight. His lip was cut all the way through and was bleeding quite a bit. It was gross but was likely the reason he was spitting blood. I highly doubt the low blow caused him to spit blood. And the athletic commission regulates how long a fighter has to recover from an injury, usually 5 minutes. I doubt they were pressuring Chris T. to continue. Likely, they were informing the ref and the fight doctor that time was up, and a decision had to made if the fight would go on. The ref, the doctor, the fighter and his cornermen all could have stopped the fight at that point. The fighter said he could continue so he was allowed to, just like in boxing.
John took real events and slanted them to prove his point. He could have easily written the article using the correct information and still made his point effectively. He chose not to do that. It was bad journalism. It’s obvious he did very little research before the event, and did no follow-up to support his claims. He observed things from a far, then interpreted what he saw. It would have taken very little effort to obtain the correct info. Maybe actually talk to Chris T. or a member of the athletic commision. Or at least try.
Isn’t that what a journalist is supposed to do?
by Sean M on Aug 31, 2009 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
jake
whether you agree with his assessment of “the sport sucks”
pretty much everything he wrote is BS.
I have no idea how he has a job.
by GreatOden'sRaven on Sep 1, 2009 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Typical Canzano fear mongering
He had the opportunity to witness one of the greatest fights of the year between Couture and Nog…
I talked to a couple of people I know who work for Zuffa about Canzano. Pretty much expressed how much it bugged me that a clown like that was able to go to the fights when there were so many many empty seats in the Rose Garden.
"Should I ask? What's a punani?" - by annthefan on May 3, 2009 1:55 PM
by Sexual Tyrannosaurus on Aug 31, 2009 3:17 PM PDT reply actions
Canzano is very uninformed (as is usually the case)
There are soo many things he is wrong about in this article that there could be a post just on that. But one of the main things he says it that there needs to be more rules and that the gloves should have more padding. He also states that it is only a matter of time before a serious injury occurs.
If the gloves had more padding in them you would see the fights go on for longer and people would be hit in the head more with a dull blow rather than the sharp blow they get now. The bigger padding is what makes boxing so dangerous and causes so many brain injuries.
As far as the deaths or injuries, football and nhl all have way more serious injuries and at their core are about violence as well, (who doesnt love the “big hit” in either sport)
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
Thicker gloves would do more than just make the fights last longer
If MMA fighters had to wear thick gloves like boxers they would just stop punching with their fists and instead focus on getting a submission, or striking with kicks/knees/elbows, which do more damage than punches anyway. It would change the nature of the sport, though probably not in a way that makes it safer.
My girlfriend who fights a little
tells me the gloves are really to protect your hands, not the other person. I’m not sure gloves would be necessary otherwise.
Disclaimer: everything I know about basketball I learned on Blazersedge.
Gloves definitely help protect the other boxer at the higher levels of boxing.
At least that’s what I read over at Bad Left Hook a bit ago.
But for sure they are to help protect the boxer’s hands.
*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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I'm waiting to see a scientific explanation of how getting kicked in the nuts can cause one to spit blood.
Yes, that’s exactly what Canzano contended he saw happened at UFC 102.
Now I don’t doubt that hurts like hell. Incapacitating even… But that’s beyond hyperbole, that’s just a flat out falsehood by a hack painting semi-fictional pictures to make his belabored points.
Canzano is full of himself, which is appropriate, because I think he’s “full of Canzano,” too.
"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal
Forgive my wrong verb tense and WHEN THE HELL IS SBN GONNA GIVE US AN EDITABLE BOARD??!?!?!?!?!?
"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal
by timbo on Aug 31, 2009 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
im not sure why everyone is going off on canzano
he has a point. someone might get seriously disabled or killed one day in the ring…same with boxing. im not a fan of watching fights so i cant comment into details about what all they do to look after fighter safety
"shaq and zach randolph have the same trainer... "
best one liner i ever heard.
Can’t say I’m a UFC fan, but from what I have seen and read it looks like other full contact sports like boxing and show wrestling are at least as dangerous for sustaining severe head injuries (plus spine injuries and PED misuse and others for wrestling). What is hard to ignore is that the sport already has a huge following among young males (bigger than golf, tennis, NHL, … and coming to a level with college football). So it’s here to stay no matter what a local columnist writes.
There's Gotta Be More To Life
So?
A person runs the risk of getting seriously hurt or even killed every time they get out of bed.
What is with all this “Oh my God!” “Someone might get hurt!” crap? People get hurt and even killed in all sorts of competative and recreational sports. Should we protest against skiing because some poor soul runs head on into a tree? Should people be prohibited from riding bikes because they can fall off and get hurt?
I remember watching the game where Lawrence Taylor hit Joe Theismann, snapping his leg. That was a far more grusome thing to see than anything you’ll find in a UFC ring. And I’m willing to bet that more football players have died while suited up than boxers or MMA fighters.
hakkaa päälle !
by timg56 on Sep 1, 2009 7:41 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Absolutely correct.
Everything in life is a risk. Being one of the healthiest people in the world as an MMA fighter probably lowers your risk for heart disease, a much bigger killer than punching.
*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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people have been killed in boxing
many times sadly. no one has ever been killed in MMA.
Not defending one over the other, i prefer boxing to MMA but love them both.
however, these guys are PAID to fight. they KNOW thats a possibility. Although its a sensitive comparison…. a soldier is paid to patrol, fight if needed and is in risk. They take that risk knowing they may get seriously hurt and die. they signed up for it. Just like fighters do. both get paid (although the military men do it for more than money usually) and are alike in this repect.
by GreatOden'sRaven on Sep 1, 2009 11:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Not quite true
http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=dm-fighterdeath120207&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Sam Vazquez. Maybe it was a couple weeks later, but given that he spent all of those weeks in the hospital and it was pretty clear he died due to injuries suffered in the fight, I’d say it counts.
The truth is, comparing total deaths to boxing is just a fallacious argument to begin with. Sanctioned MMA is something like 15 years old. There have officially sanctioned boxing matches for roughly 100 years longer than that. What will be interesting to see over the next 30 years is the relative long-term effects MMA fighters have to deal with compared to boxers. Everyone’s seen Ali’s parkinson’s or heard stories about major brain damage in older boxers, but there just aren’t that many older MMA fighters because it’s a young sport. As these guys grow older and retire, will they suffer similar effects?
Not only does the longer history of boxing make the comparison ineffective,
but the # of boxing matches vs. MMA matches per time would heavily skew it as well.
Boxers, however, have been dropping like flies this year.
*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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this is no surprise
Portland finally gets a big sports event, and John Canzano has to make it about him. what an idiot.
Value of MMA:
It’s simulated real fighting. It’s the closest you can get to actual fighting while preserving safety (which is actually done quite well). Other fighting sports have arbitrary rules that make them much more artificial.
Fighting is the oldest and most natural form of physical competition. A way to watch something similar to real fighting, without anyone getting seriously hurt, would seem to be inherently interesting.
Is there social value in it? I don’t know—is there social value in any sport? It seems valuable to me to have a sport like this.
And to finish my rant: I’m not even a fan. I just know someone who is (and is sort of an amateur participant). But at least it’s better than boxing which is completely artificial.
Disclaimer: everything I know about basketball I learned on Blazersedge.
by pualo on Aug 31, 2009 9:16 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
To answer your question - yes.
As I mentioned above, there is certainly social value in encouraging an interest in and development of controlled aggression and violence. Despite laudable efforts in trying to get human beings to live together in a peaceful and harmonious manner, no society has succeeded in eliminating violence. (At least not without maintaining a significant level of violence and cohorsion (sp?) against the members of its own society.) There is always those who have little hesitation to use violence to achieve their personal goals. The best bulkwark against these people is having a society that in general is capable of responding in an aggressive manner and with controlled aggression.
hakkaa päälle !
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