MMA continues to be a smash hit

Published:  Thursday, June 19, 2008 (1 year, 9 months ago)
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The Mixed Martial Arts show “Phantom Fight Explosion III” put on Saturday night by Matt Schwinnen and Jody Poff was great, a nice way to spend a Saturday night.
This was the second card I have watched live and the matches were even better.
The thing that really stands out for me is the sportsmanship shown by the competitors. They have just battled each other for up to nine hard minutes — submission holds, wrestling, boxing, jiu jitsu, chokes — and yet they almost root for one another when it’s over.
They can be fierce rivals — take the Abe Peterman vs. Justin Bermudez rematch, where there was some gamesmanship before and during the match — and also best of friends.
There is something about respect, of knowing how hard your opponent trains because you have to train just as hard.
Another thing that caught my eye is how the sport has seemingly changed. It has gone from the days of Tank Abbott — the legendary warrior who would fight on a moment’s notice and who was known more as a pure brawler — to today’s more technical fighters.
I write seemingly because I am not sure if it ever really was the truly brutal “blood-sport” some made it out to be, where blood and broken bones and hospitalizations were par for the course and only fueled even more bloodthirsty ways.
I think there will always be some of that because that’s just the nature of certain fighters; they are out there to brawl.
For the most part, though, I believe fighters and their trainers and coaches and promoters realized long ago that for longevity and staying power, this is much better. I think more fans also like it this way, where you steadily wear an opponent down and get him to submit rather than the pure fury of a knock-down, drag-out bloodfest.
Sure, it’s tough on the fighters either way because it is a rugged sport but I think fans appreciate it more, though there are some that still want the old-fashioned barroom brawl.
For example, how many of us who love pro and college football might hate so-and-so from this or that team or such-and-such team but do not like it when a member of that team — or that player — is carried off on a stretcher? Look at the players themselves: they go at each other for 60 minutes and want to pound each other to gristle but will pray together when one of their own is carted off immobile.
Football itself evolved from the days in the early 1900s — maybe even before — when it was so brutal, I believe there were calls for Congress to get involved and clean it up, perhaps even outlaw it.
Who would say it isn’t a lot better today, even though it still takes a toll on the human body?
As Jody Poff told me after Saturday’s card, “you gotta love it!”
Chris Henry has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL after his fifth arrest in April.
Is anyone surprised?
It’s getting to the point regarding these athletes that a side of you — think the angel in “Animal House” — hopes he is not guilty and will be able to resume a still-promising career.
Then there is that “devilish” side that is sick and tired of all the chances these guys waste — it’s as if they expect it from us, that we “owe” it to them because, after all, they are professional athletes — and wishes they throw this “bum” into the hoosegow for a year or so.
This goes not just for professional athletes.
Maybe that is the only way these guys will realize that the law applies to them, too.
Or how about former Bengal Odell Thurman, who was recently suspended by the league for another violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy?
How many of us would kill to have the kind of talent these guys have, for the opportunity to play at the highest level of your sport?
We shall see if Roger Goodell continues to set a hard line.
It is good news that the College World Series will remain in Omaha, Neb.
For once, tradition wins out.
The NCAA will keep the CWS in that city through 2036 after signing a new 25-year deal.
One thing will change: Rosenblatt Stadium, site of the annual tourney since 1948, will be no more. The deal begins in 2011, when a new park — a tip to the need for modern amenities — will take over for Rosenblatt.
That is one thing I have always wanted to do: go to the CWS at Rosenblatt. I have a better chance of that than of attending a BCS title game or the NCAA Men’s Final Four.
Maybe next year.
Anyone else perhaps interested in this road trip?
Among the most interesting of NHL awards is the Lady Byng Trophy — for gentlemanly behavior.
I just have a hard time of associating hockey, a tough, hard-nosed sport if there ever was one — with being a gentleman.
I can see being a good sport, a class guy, a clean player but a gentleman?
Come to think of it, the aforementioned virtues are what a gentleman is about, even in the tough times.
Problem solved.
I found it interesting how it was described when the Lakers blew a 24-point lead to lose to the Celtics in Game 4: it was all about how the Celtics rallied, Celtic Pride, etc.
How about this: the Lakers choked? gagged?
Mark Jackson, on ABC’s Game 5 telecast Sunday, hit it on the head: it was both/and. Boston rallied but L.A. helped them a ton. One can say all you want about Boston’s defense but when a professional basketball team makes only 13 field goals in a half, well, that speaks for itself.
That isn’t “defense” as much as grabbing your throat and squeezing until you pass out!
It would have been the same had the Lakers rallied to down the Celtics in Game 2.

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