Legalization of MMA Facing Opposition in NY
Mixed martial arts has garnered near country-wide support as organizations like the UFC have continued to grow and expand their influence. Picking up where withering sports like boxing have left off, MMA is seen as both engaging and brutal. Fans believe the sport is safe and well regulated while opponents feel it is dangerous and overly aggressive.
New York is the last remaining state to allow officiall MMA events to take place within its borders. Pressure has been building to allow entry but it looks like the sport will run up against opposition once again:
“The fight to legalize mixed martial arts in New York is probably facing another split decision this year.
The state Senate passed a bill Tuesday to legalize the controversial but popular sport for the fifth straight year.
But the effort is likely to be knocked out in the Democrat-dominated Assembly, which thus far has refused to allow a vote to come to the floor.
Insiders close to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver don’t expect that to change before the legislative session ends in June.
New York is the only state in the country that still outlaws the sport.” – NY Daily News
The tide seems to be turning against those opposed to MMA but that doesn’t mean the sport will be a shoe-in for NY fans any time soon. The battle continues through the legal process and MMA proponents will have to watch closely as the votes come down one way or another.
An important part of the decision making process is the involvement of women in the sport. Most female MMA athletes would suggest their training has been empowering but other voices suggest it is exploitation and degradation. A close examination of how the female athletes are both marketed and handled throughout MMA organizations might reveal truth in both arguments.
Avoid Carrying Keychain Weapons While Flying
We all know there is inherent risk in flying, both from the plane and from other passengers. Nevertheless, it is not acceptable to carry weapons of any kind onto an aircraft. This feels obvious for items like swords, nunchaku, knives, etc but also pertains to smaller less obvious implements.
A man recently pulled a ‘double wammy’ at JFK airport and tried to board a plan with an obvious weapon and a not-so-obvious weapon:
“A Central Pennsylvania man was arrested Wednesday after trying to pass through security with a loaded handgun and a martial arts weapon.
TSA officers stopped the man, from Lebanon County, PA, after he took off his vest and put it in one of the plastic bins before walking through the X-ray machine.
Inside his vest pocket was a loaded .32 caliber handgun with five rounds, according to TSA officials. Along with the handgun, the man was also armed with a “cat eye-knuckles martial arts weapon” which appeared in the X-ray image.” – Pix
This individual was clearly of the mindset that it was his right to carry weapons at all times and in all situations. He is incorrect and his possession of a weapon put the rest of the passengers in danger. Most people forget that if they carry a weapon, and a threat gets the drop on them (which can occur quickly), the weapon can easily be used against them and other passengers. In addition, the airline has no clue about the mental stability of the weapon carrier and cannot assume the person should be trusted in a confined space with a deadly implement.
The loaded gun was an obvious mistake, but the cat eye knuckles would have gotten him in trouble by itself. Small weapons, especially keychain weapons, are easy to forget about when preparing for a flight. Many individuals walk around with tools like kubotan, pepper spray, folding knives, metal knuckles, etc so frequently that they forget the implement is even there. This is especially true for women who are actively encouraged (and rightly so) to improve their chances of successful self defense with effective tools.
Before flying double check your own belongings. Look at your keyring as well as your wallet, purse, pockets, etc. Even if your tool seems silly (like cat knuckles) remember that airlines are still on high alert and will confiscate the implement. In addition, you may find yourself facing interrogation and even criminal charges.
Bruce Lee Featured in New UFC Video Game
Bruce Lee, one of the most iconic martial artists of all time, is back at it again – this time in video game form. Lee’s legend has inspired a wide variety of books, movies, toys, and even video games, but it has been a number of years since he has appeared on the digital stage. The time seemed right to UFC owner Dana White to put him front and center in the octagon.
“I’m a huge Bruce Lee fan,” Dana White, UFC president and co-owner, tells USA TODAY Sports. “Having him as a character in the game is fun. Anytime Bruce Lee can be involved in the UFC, I’m in. I love it.”
The UFC has released three video game titles since 2009, but none incorporated any aspect of Lee’s likeness. However, with next-generation gaming consoles allowing much more realistic character models than in the past, White, along with Lee’s daughter, Shannon Lee, feel now is the time to pull the trigger.
“There hasn’t been a Bruce Lee video game in a while,” Shannon Lee says. “Not that this is a Bruce Lee video game, but to be able to bring my father into that space in a way that I think is super fun and pretty exciting was intriguing to me.” – USA Today
Fans can expect Lee to possess some of his trademark moves and mannerisms. The game creators poured through tons of video and photographic imagery in order to get the rendering just right. Technology has never been better at creating lifelike 3d models so players can expect a close-to-life experience when playing as Lee.
In the world of mixed martial arts Lee is seen as something of a progenitor. Dana White has pointed to Lee on multiple occasions as someone who understood the goal of mixed martial arts before UFC even existed. The inclusion of Lee as a character is a natural expansion and point of homage as well as marketing opportunity.
If the past few decades have taught us anything it’s that interest in Bruce Lee is never likely to die out. Interest may wain, but then opportunities come along to introduce fresh generations to his legacy. This pattern is likely to continue for the foreseeable future as technology only gets better at re-creating his singular talent.
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