MMA is not OK for S.C.
By Gene Sapakoff
Horse racing is The Sport of Kings.
Mixed martial arts is The Sport of Goofballs.
Yet guess which one your state representatives think will make a positive addition to life in South Carolina?
That's right, bar fights repackaged as entertainment.
What you watch on TV when no one is looking is your business. But what South Carolina officially encourages, sanctions, recruits and promotes is something you ought to call, e-mail, text or write your state lawmaker about.
Flying groin kicks at 15 paces, anyone?
Yes, if Rep. Jim Merrill (R-Daniel Island) and his fellow House members have their way. They unanimously approved a bill Thursday lifting the state ban on mixed martial arts bouts, mainly aiming to cash in on the growing popularity of a "sport" combining elements of karate, street fighting, boxing, semi-professional wrestling, judo and family squabbles. We are still not sure if MMA events are real or fixed, but the bill is expected to move on to the state senate.
It's nice these politicos are looking out for ways to boost revenue, but maybe recruiting corporations, fixing up schools, downsizing government and protecting marshes is a better way to pass time in Columbia.
At least they didn't add a provision hereby decreeing that a logo featuring a crazed guy with lots of tattoos and a bloody nose be added to the standard South Carolina license plate.
Merrill's view
More exposure to MMA and "ultimate fighting" cannot be good for the kids of South Carolina. Ask your favorite middle school teacher or single mom.
Mixed martial arts is too mixed and not very artsy.
The nebulous area of submission holds, for instance.
Former presidential candidate John McCain, no softie, once called mixed martial arts "human cockfighting."
Merrill, the S.C. House bill sponsor, is a fine man who has done lots of wonderful public service for the state and Lowcountry. But we disagree more than slightly on this one.
"Like so many people, I've seen MMA on TV and I think they've made great strides from where it was a no-holds-barred, beat-the-crud-out-of-each-other sort of sport to one where there are actual rules and safety precautions, etc.," Merrill said Monday.
"It is one of the faster growing sports in the country. In terms of folks being injured, from the information I've received, less people get hurt from (MMA) than from boxing. I think they had one broken arm last year."
Daniel Island fun
What about regulation?
Sure, 37 states allow some form of MMA. But state athletic commissions have enough trouble regulating professional boxing, a venerable sport with long established rules.
"The guys who do this all the time would be able to determine that far better than myself," Merrill said. "That's why we have an athletic commission. If they get in there and they deem what they're trying to put on is not safe, than they wouldn't sanction it. If they say it is OK, they would go ahead and sanction it. From a standpoint of South Carolina, it seems like so many events, whether baseball events or boxing events or mixed martial arts events or whatever, we're kind of missing the boat. And when we do hold a couple of sporting events, the Heritage and Family Circle, unfortunately we end up doing them the same exact week."
OK, Jim. So if you are such a big MMA fan, how about hosting some MMA events on Daniel Island near your neighborhood?
"I think if Chuck Norris brought his version of it to Daniel Island, and did it there at Family Circle Stadium or over at the Charleston Battery's stadium, I think it would be fine," Merrill said.
Time for a new official slogan.
"Daniel Island. A town. An island. A way of life. Mixed martial arts every Friday night!"
Reach Gene Sapakoff at gsapakoff@postandcourier.com or 937-5593.
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly versionComments
my_2_cents (anonymous) says...
This has to be the most ignorant piece of journalism I have ever read. I guess you probably didn't want a hockey team here because the games usually have serveral fights. I bet more children attend hockey games than MMA fights. You really need to do more research or better yet there are several gyms in Charleston that train in the different MMA disciplines. Why don't you attend a couple of classes and learn what the sport is about and what it takes to compete before you form your opinion? I guess that would require some effort and you might learn something.
March 3, 2009 at 7:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
smit (anonymous) says...
Gene,
You are really wrong on your comments about MMA. "We are not sure if MMA events are real or fixed"?????? How can you say such a thing? Have you ever attended one of these events live? I have, and watch it on TV on SPIKE and Versus. I have been a fan of MMA for over 15 years and I have seen it evolve to what it is today. The purest form of one on one competition. It is not human cockfighting, It is a human chess match. These are the best fighters and athelets in the world. I respect them alot and they respect each other. Almost every fight ends with the fighters hugging, lifting each other up and congratulating each other. Boxing is a joke compared to MMA. A boxer wouldn't last one three minute round with a MMA fighter. Wake up Gene. Go interview some MMA fighters and you will become as big a fan as the rest of us.
March 3, 2009 at 8:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whseguru (anonymous) says...
Another brilliant piece of writing by our very own Sports writing icon. While WWE has writers who think it would be cool to drop from the ceiling, only to have the rigging fail, and an athlete drops to their death, in front of a paying crowd, Roid Rage, etc, yet the SC Sports Comisssion will welcome this side show when it has the oportunity. MMA will pass "wrastling" in popularity, and can be a huge boost as an event that packs venues. If you do not want to watch it, change the channel. Those who chose not to watch...do not buy tickets. Another pen to paper article, with zero research.
March 3, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ThePhink (anonymous) says...
Only the Newsless Courier would put a weekly article on "rasslin" in the SPORTS section and then sit back and trash MMA without research.
March 3, 2009 at 9:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCHoser (anonymous) says...
GENE-save time, money and space-the entire article could have been summed up in one sentence by you:"I hate MMA".
March 3, 2009 at 9:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cougar (anonymous) says...
I agree... Absolutely rediculous article... It's a shame that he's on the payroll at the Post and Courier and that the article made it to print. This article is meant for the Op/Ed section of the Paper, not the Sports section.
March 3, 2009 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
softbatch (anonymous) says...
MMA athletes are the best in the world? Why, because they can punch and kick? Let me know when these guys can run a 4.40 40 or jump 45" or do what hockey player do. MMA guys are in the same class as Nascar drivers as far as being athletes go. Hell, even Tiger Woods is a better athlete than the MMA guys.
March 3, 2009 at 10:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OldSalt (anonymous) says...
One shot at the knee and Tiger would be done; but wouldn't you love to see Tiger force Phil Mikkelson into submission, just once?
March 3, 2009 at 10:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JF (anonymous) says...
I kind of think of MMA as apealing to the lowest common denominator as a form of entertainment, however to say " we are not sure if it is fixed?" is an an ignorant statement.
I don't think watching MMA is healthy for kids, but neither are a lot of other things like WWF, Hanna Montana, Flavor of Love etc. Not allowing events in South Carolina however will not prevent its influence. Unfortunatly the popularity of MMA is typical of an increasingly violent society we live in.
March 3, 2009 at 10:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ThePhink (anonymous) says...
Can we get Gene and Ken to square off in the octagon? Maybe during intermission of a Stingrays game? Or maybe during the 7th inning stretch of the Riverdogs?
We can make it a loser leave town match. This way we will at least see the results in the paper on Sunday morning.
March 3, 2009 at 10:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rockyfarrelly (anonymous) says...
I would have thought a journalist would have done enough research to realise that MMA is a real sport just as boxing is and therefore not acted or staged.....
March 3, 2009 at 12:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Sark (anonymous) says...
You probably get some nosebleeds yourself Gene sitting up on the mountaintop.
Softbatch, that's just dumb. Why would an MMA fighter need to be able to do the things hockey players do? Why would hockey players need to do the things football players do? They're different sports. Whether MMA fighters can shoot a puck has no influence of the fact that they're tremendous athletes.
March 3, 2009 at 12:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wegwam (anonymous) says...
Once again Sapakoff proves his ignorance. Whatever happened to real journalism when a writer would do research, ask real questions from those involved, present facts from both sides of an argument and then allow the reader to form an informed opinion? Instead we must subject ourselves to this constant drivel that Gene spews from his mind.
On another front why would our state, in these economic times, want to turn down the revenue generated by this sporting event? Good thing at least one of our elected officials is thinking proactively. Good thing we arent yet dumb enough to elect Sapakoff.
One more thing, can you imagine genes picture after he is attacked by one of these "crazed mma fighters" he might look better. now thats a scary thought.
March 3, 2009 at 12:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
softbatch (anonymous) says...
was referring to the fact that hockey players can skate on ice going 20 mph, get the crap knocked out of them and still have the balance and ability to control a small object with a stick. MMA their is no thinking and very little skill involved. Basketball players are the best overall athletes followed by football players and track & field. MMA guys are just meatballs slamming each others head on the ground. Hard time believing any MMA fighter is a better athlete than Kobe, Randy Moss, or Derek Jeter.
March 3, 2009 at 1:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
callsignfuzzy (anonymous) says...
I get that MMA is not everyone's cup of tea. Fine. I don't watch NASCAR, football, opera, or "reality" shows. But there is no reason to ban the sport.
MMA is a combination of disciplines like boxing, wrestling, karate, judo, Brazilian Jiujitsu, and so on. To compete in MMA, you effectively have to be good at two or three separate combat sports. This means being in peak physical condition, because everything from strength, speed, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, balance, coordination, flexibility, etc come into play. Having trained in MMA for years, I can tell you that managing all the different aspects of the game is akin to playing chess at 90mph.
And yes, Mr. Sapakoff, MMA is real. "As real as it gets", according to the UFC's slogan. If it were fake, it would look prettier. Compare the WWE's telegraphed punches, unrealistic bodyslams, and ultra-close-up camera work to the rawness of two athletes trying to determine whether a kick or a takedown would be the better option, all the while trying not to get punched or submitted. It draws top athletes from amateur wrestling, Jiujitsu, Judo, and kickboxing, including Olympic medalists and world champions, for a reason.
I also agree that there could probably be better things that the government could be doing than taking thirty minutes or so out of their day to repeal an outdated ban on a sport with a better safety record than boxing, football, skiing, and cheerleading, but what are you going to do?
Incidentally, John McCain has since changed his stance on MMA, saying that it has come a long way. Didn't you know that, or was it too inconvenient to mention?
March 3, 2009 at 1:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Marcawesome (anonymous) says...
Do you know anything about MMA? Honestly this is the worst thing I have ever seen. Your an old dog that refuses to learn new tricks; hopefully this newspaper puts you to sleep.
March 3, 2009 at 1:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rockyfarrelly (anonymous) says...
"MMA their is no thinking and very little skill involved."
Softbatch this is one of the most ignorant things i have ever heard!!! These guys master multiple disiplines, are sometimes world or olympic champions, fight a super fit super strong opponent...and then get told there is no thinking and very little skill involved?!?!?!?!?
March 3, 2009 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wdavid1865 (anonymous) says...
I was formally a boxing fan, but I have been hooked on mma for the last 8 years. For those of you that think there is no skill involved, you truly do not have an understanding of what you are watching.
I too was more intrigued by the stand-up fighting initially, but I have become more educated to the intricacies of ground fighting.
What most of the detractors fail to understand also is that many of the more successful mma practitioners come from traditional wrestling backgrounds(college/olympics).
March 3, 2009 at 4:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
"Mixed martial arts is too mixed and not very artsy." Did a damned man just say that? I mean really... I love MMA. It is highly skilled and very entertaining, I'd love to see the UFC hold fights here.
March 3, 2009 at 5:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
NathanCrowe (anonymous) says...
Just another example of someone who has no idea about what MMA really is. Too bad Sapakoff has this forum to spout his ignorance of this sport. Yes Gene it is a sport. You obviously have no idea what kind of training, discipline and sacrifice it takes to be an MMA fighter. Not to mention the skill that the top performers have. To compare it to bar fights is just plain ignorant.
March 3, 2009 at 6:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
roxiann (anonymous) says...
I currently have a son traing to be a MMA fighter and coudn't be more proud of him...Yes I am a MOM of a MMA fighter. This SPORT has given him a outlet to learn so many things in life that need to be learned..sportmanship, honesty, respect, dedication. He is in the best physical shape in his life. He has his first fight coming up soon and I will be there cheering him on as well as the other guys who work so hard to be able to get in that ring. He has worked so hard for years to be able to do this. He's also made wonderful friends with some of the firefighters, police officers and other respected individuals who also participate in this SPORT. You are one very undereducated individual. That is all that I learned from reading your article today. Why don't you "man-up" and visit one of the gyms where these guys work out. Educated yourself. Or are you scared!
March 3, 2009 at 7:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kara_Zor_El (anonymous) says...
"human cockfighting"...really? MMA is sweet! I love it! and like coolfreaknbeans, I'd be right there at the UFC fights!!
March 3, 2009 at 7:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
orlis (anonymous) says...
Oh my-where do I start? I'm guessing you aren't a reporter, because not much of the content of your article was reporting. Pretty much it was biased & based on your opinion, which obviously has been gleaned by listening to other people who know nothing about MMA. And unfortunately you've taken their opinion(s) as cold hard facts. Sad.
"Mixed martial arts is The Sport of Goofballs"? I'm offended. What a rude statement.
"...bar fights repackaged as entertainment"? Well, I've been to bars & never seen MMA-type fights ensue. Not sure where you hang out for a cocktail after work on a Friday night, but you might consider a change of venue.
"Flying groin kicks at 15 paces, anyone?" Who in MMA does this? This is not part of mixed martial arts. Why are you implying this is acceptable in MMA to your readers when it's not? Talk about hitting below the belt sir. In fact groin kicks are illegal. As with karate sparring, football, baseball, hockey, ice hockey, basketball & tennis, accidents can occur. But they aren't the norm, & certainly they are neither part of the sport, nor are they condoned.
"nebulous area of submission holds"? What is nebulous about submission holds? Have you never watched collegiate wrestling? Guess what they use? Yeah- nebulous submission holds. In fact, submission holds have been practiced & perfected for hundreds of years in a variety of martial arts systems throughout the world. Are all of those people wrong, but you, who obviously know nothing about the martial arts, are correct?
"But state athletic commissions have enough trouble regulating professional boxing, a venerable sport with long established rules." Again your apparent lack of reporting skills shows here. (whitecollarboxing.com) "Boxing became part of the Olympic Games in about 688 BC. Boxers fought with leather bands around their fists for protection & sometimes wore metal-filled, leather hand coverings called cesti, resulting in bloody, often duel-to-death, battles." In the early days, boxing was fought bareknuckled, & included gouging & wrestling, until the use of gloves became mandatory.
Furthermore, "Because of its violent nature & its identification with betting, boxing has had a controversial history. There have been periodic efforts to outlaw the sport. The November 1982 death of South Korean boxer Duk Koo Kim, for example, prompted two editorials in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jan. 14, 1983) calling for a ban on all boxing." Yeah - a real venerable sport.
And just to help you learn a bit more, most AC's do not depend on just themselves to regulate MMA. They usually work with other sanctioning bodies, such as USA Boxing, the World Karate Association, the International Kickboxing Federation or the International Sport Kickboxing Association. So they aren't on their own, & I'm sure they'll do just fine with the help of these excellent organizations, in spite of the naysayers who know nothing about this exciting sport.
March 3, 2009 at 8:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
orlis (anonymous) says...
Softbatch - yeah. See the thing is, I can understand that if one doesn't know about a particular sport, like you, they could comment on that sport and sound ignorant. It's not your fault, you just don't know any better. So I can forgive your ignorance.
Sapakoff on the other hand is supposed to be reporting on MMA, so ignorance is not an excuse for his incorrect and obvious flaming statements.
My suggestion to both of you, quite seriously, is that you go take a couple of classes. I'm sure you can each find a dojo in your area that teaches a variety of martial arts.
This will help you to learn what is real and what is not; you can learn what all is involved in fighting an opponent in the ring and how it's more intellectual than you think; and finally, what incredible athletes these fighters really are. I suspect I've got a few years on Softbatch, but since I train and have been for years, I can probably run circles around you.
Once you've gone to class for a few weeks, come back and tell us about your experiences and what you've learned from personal experience, instead of your armchair/office view. That way you'll be talking from a more informed, less ignorant, point of view.
March 3, 2009 at 9:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Teach7775 (anonymous) says...
Does this guy realize how stupid he has made himself sound??
March 3, 2009 at 9:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Teach7775 (anonymous) says...
Softbatch and Gene hang out together to drink red wine while they watch "The Bachelor"......
March 4, 2009 at 7:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
roxiann (anonymous) says...
My husband had something to add to my comments. Thanks for "stirring the pot" You have just done more to help the Sport! Thanks!
March 4, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
softbatch (anonymous) says...
You booger eaters are getting upset because someone doesn't agree with you. I don't mind MMA as a sport, i'll even watch it from time to time. I took acception to the fact that a previous poster said the MMA fighters are "the best athletes in the world" which is one of the most false statements ever.
March 4, 2009 at 8:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Teach7775 (anonymous) says...
Softbatch, if you knew anything of the sport you would know that elite level MMA fighters are among the best athletes in the world. Most elite level fighters are "top-ten" level in 2 or more different figthing disciplines (Jui Jitsu, Wrestling, Kick-Boxing.)
It would be similiar to an NBA player who also plays MLB, but is an All-Star in both.
March 4, 2009 at 9:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
lmao @ Teach7775's 7:11 a.m. comment.
March 4, 2009 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
softbatch (anonymous) says...
we can agree to disagree i guess. we'll continue this discussion when MMA ("best athletes in the world") start signing $100-275 million contracts like A-rod, Kobe and Manning and when they get 50-100K people to come watch them compete. That should happen any day now seeing how they are the premiere athletes in the world.
March 4, 2009 at 10:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Teach7775 (anonymous) says...
How much money does Shaq make?? How good of an athlete is he these days?
In today's day and age their is no direct relationship between the athlete's ability and the pay they receive...
March 4, 2009 at 10:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
orlis (anonymous) says...
Well I don't agree to disagree. I'll speak my mind and if you don't like it, I could care less, because IMO if someone is going to make absurd statements that don't make sense, then their opinion doesn't really matter to me.
You probably feel women shouldn't get paid equal salaries for equal work in spite of similar training and education either, do you?
March 4, 2009 at 12:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
locally (anonymous) says...
Gene probably thinks you can get herpes from Beer Pong.
March 5, 2009 at 10:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Georgia_Boy (anonymous) says...
You, sir, sound absolutely ridiculous. Really hard to believe you get paid to put your nonsensical mutterings out there. Please do a little research before writing such garbage. My guess is you haven't been to a gym -- any kind of gym -- in forever. But if you'd take the time to put the Cheetos and Mt. Dew down and actually step inside an MMA gym to learn a little about the sport, perhaps you wouldn't sound like such an idiot.
April 2, 2009 at 9:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Georgia_Boy (anonymous) says...
On second thought, after the "sport of goofballs" comment, you might not want to step inside an MMA gym, after all.
April 2, 2009 at 9:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
johnl1985 (anonymous) says...
This can't be for real, can it? First, "Flying groin kicks." What?! Were you trying to make an intelligent comment or just adding a few more characters to this masterpiece?
Also, Gene, how about a date to accompany that quote from Sen. John McCain? Was that something that he said recently or could it be a quote from 15 years ago?
How about you try this quote from Sen. McCain in 2007: "They have cleaned up the sport to the point, at least in my view, where it is not human cockfighting any more."(NPR)
It's not your fault, Gene. I think you might have just confused MMA with the fights you see outside your window on King Street.
May 9, 2009 at 1:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pugs (anonymous) says...
I just do not know where to begin. Was this article the result of a looming deadline? Did this writer's wife run off with someone named Gracie? Is he on the pay role of pro Boxing or the WWE?
It goes without saying that his credibility has taken a serious blow with this embarrassing example of ignorance in journalism. I have notice an almost institutional intolerance among the established sports "media" where the sport of MMA is concerned. I have come to believe this is almost entirely due to laziness and an unwillingness to play catch up with a sport that is evolving and growing in popularity as I type.
Writers in general and sports writers specifically wear their ego on their sleeves. Learning the history and rules of MMA is time consuming and laborious. It's much easier to mock and lampoon than it is to write credibly on a subject that requires some research.
" Horse racing is the sport of Kings"
Guess what? Kings were and are predominantly douche bags!
" Mixed martial arts is The Sport of Goofballs "
MMA has more college graduates per capita participating at the professional level than any other major sport. This is due in part to the intellectual and psychological aspects of the game and the fact that many participants were collegiate wrestlers, who until recently expected to depend on their education as a way to provide for themselves post college. Spend some time around elite fighters like Georges St Pierre, Josh Barnett or the frequently provocative but always articulate Jeff Monson and try to hold on to your belief that MMA fighters are street fighting thugs.
I hope Mr. Sapakoff realizes his opinions regarding MMA will one day soon appear as humorous and backward as southern DJ's in the 60's refusing to play Rock and Roll records.
I vote the Post and Courier give Orlis a column
May 9, 2009 at 8:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
Full terms and conditions can be read here.
- Most Commented
- Most Emailed
- S.C. losing port traffic to other states
- Out with old ...
- Water — 'The smell is gone'
- Cart gives Buddy new lease on life
- Schools plan to update visitor-security system
- GenPhar site 'red-tagged'
- Man, 17, killed in motorcycle wreck
- Off campus
- Historic manor house used by Girl Scouts is among buildings that might be torn down to make way for future
- Tough times have taught comedian's sister to love life
