I don't know if Leanord Shapiro is a blogger or whether his work appears in the Washington Post on a regular basis.
What I do know is that this post about Mixed Martial Arts and CBS is absolutely ridiculous and worthless.
Nor do I have any idea what " Special to washingtonpost.com" means. Does it mean that this is exclusive to the newspaper's website ? My guess is that in this case it actually describes Mr Shapiro's reduced faculties and no one wants to use a pejorative adjective. Hence the use of the word "special".
What I do know is that Mr Shapiro is hopelessly out of touch, and unquestionably uneducated about Mixed Martial Arts and the athletes that participate when he says "You put two guys (usually heavily tattooed) in a ring enclosed by a cage, surrounded by a howling mob, and just watch the blood flow as they pummel themselves into submission, or occasionally break a bone or three. That's entertainment?"
The he shows his sexist side with " Oh yes, women will also fight it out on CBS, yet another revolting development."
Then to show how little mis-informed he is " Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is getting involved, promoting MMA matches and also airing them on his HDNet channel on DirecTV. For that alone David Stern ought to fine and suspend him. He probably yells at those refs, too ".
Hey Leanord, HDNet is on every smart cable and satellite provider reaching more than 66mm homes. But if you get us on DirecTV, thats great. Maybe you should actually try watching one of our MMA events, or Inside MMA on Friday Nights on HDNet. You might learn what MMA fans have come to love about the sport. Its one of strategy, discipline, athleticism and determination. What I really love about MMA is that anyone can be beaten on any given day. Its not a cliche. The number of undefeated fighters at the top of the ranks are few and far between and even those fighters will tell you it would be tough to stay undefeated. More importantly, the top fighters in the sport from Randy Couture, to Fedor, to St Pierre, to Silva to Jackson and more want to fight the best. Thats what makes this, and any sport fun. Recognizing the best striving to be the best.
To your question "So why is it that nearly any time I happen to surf past the Spike or Showtime cable networks that currently carry MMA events, the combatants are beating the bloody bejabbers out of each other?"
Maybe rather than surfing past the fights, you should actually watch one. Or better yet, since you apparently cover Football, talk to a player on the Redskins or better yet, the team doctor and ask them if they "beat the bloody bejabbers out of each other". Then ask them this, "are there automatic suspensions for any hints of concussions or injury after every game or simply for precautionary reasons ?" There are after every fight in MMA
In fact, the argument can easily be made that MMA is far more science and humane than boxing has been. In MMA a fighter must know multiple disciplines in order to be successful. In MMA, a fighter need not fight until he or she is knocked out. Unlike the shame of "throwing in the towel" or "No Mas" its acceptable to tapout and avoid injury when a fighter is beaten.
Furthermore, to refer to MMA fans as " a howling mob " further proves your ignorance.
I could go on and on about MMA. Its always easy to dismiss what you don't understand. As you prove.
MMA is easily the fastest growing sport in America. Participation is growing with kids starting classes as young as 6. Its this generation's equivalent to karate classes for kids of previous generations. Which makes the prospects for MMA even more exciting. Today's crop of athletes started by learning a single discipline and then adding others. Future generations will learn them all and add their own enhancements. The best is yet to come.
This Guy Proves Anyone with a Keyboard can be Stupid
Reader Comments
(Page 2)22. Hey Mark,
Thanks for the Retard joke, love those.
/Not
Way to resort to bloggy ad hominem attacks that you hate so much. good show.
Posted at 11:28AM on Mar 19th 2008 by Adam
23. A blogger is a blogger is a blogger.
This proves it! Just because a Big Name stands behind a blogger does not mean that Blogger is better. Media Blogger's have to spin everything.
I would prefer a blog by non-media people speaking how they feel. I read enough of them to conclude my own thought. I do not need main stream media spinning stories for me.
Posted at 12:04PM on Mar 19th 2008 by Jeremiah Boughton
24. Mark,
This is Pankration for Kids. No strikes to the face. These kids are each 13 years old.
Blue is trained by Rani Yahya, black trains at Team Quest in Temecula. Highlighting Kids Pankration on Inside MMA might bring awareness to this sport. I don't believe Pankration is legal in all states. Ridiculous if you ask me. Safety of the kids is taken seriously. Two refs to insure fights can be stopped quickly if need be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnhxd8IhNs
25. There's a lot of idiots writing for newspapers too, Mark--idiots are not exclusive to the Internet.
Posted at 4:17PM on Mar 19th 2008 by Alex
28. Mark:
Thank you for commenting on this article. I run a website dedicated to local Mixed Martial Arts in the DC area and needless to say was annoyed by this article (though sadly not surprised).
We have been trying our best to show the public that not only the top fighters like the ones they see on Spike or HDNet but the ones training and fighting down the street from them, are for the most part hard working normal people.
Its unfortunate that people like Mr. Shapiro refuse to accept changes in what they remember as important aspects of society. A lot of the problems with things like network tv, newspapers, music, baseball, etc are caused by that thought process and it really is it pity.
So from the Washington DC MMA scene, thanks. And keep doing what your doing. Its great to have someone has powerful and visible as yourself who "gets it".
Posted at 8:00PM on Mar 19th 2008 by Dan vonHerrmann
29. To each his own (form of entertainment, method to earn a paycheck, etc.). I find zero interest in watching people punch, kick and otherwise beat the crap out of someone else for the "sport" or "satisfaction" or "paycheck" or "trophy" of it all. To me, it's further evidence we've not evolved much past the savage beasts of our ancestry. But if floats your boat, as an active participant or observer, then more power to ya.
Posted at 10:37PM on Mar 19th 2008 by Joe
30. "Mixed Martial Arts Set to Sully Network Television"... ummm, yeah, because the MSM has not sullied itself already with Oprah, Dr. Phil & Desperate Housewives...
This guy hasn't thrown a punch in his life. Put up the challenge for him Marc, line up George Costanza or some paraplegic in a wheel chair to change his view.
My money is on the paraplegic.
31. I tuned into a MMA match a couple years ago and thought it could be really cool. The first few moments were then they went to the ground and it was like watching greco roman wrestling (something I personally find dull). I tuned out soon after. If they'd stay on their feet I'd tune it. Yeah, I guess by definition MMA includes the wresting on the ground stuff, I'll just keep an eye out for a sport like this where the "mix" doesn't include rolling around on the mat.
Posted at 1:05AM on Mar 20th 2008 by John
32. Science? Sweet Science? Someone please educate me. Or how about comparing hitting a golf ball with an overhand right to the head? I'm not getting it. Isn't the point of MMA, boxing for that matter, to knock someone unconscious? Oh, but MMA is more humane because it encourages the fighter that is about ready to be taken to unconsciousness to 'tap-out'. Supposing he is conscious enough to do it, and also considering that he probably should have done much earlier than he did. Sure, other sports have times when there is physical contact and players get concussions, but that isn't the whole purpose of the sport. Isn't the purpose of fighting of any kind to beat the, what was it..."bejabbers" out of the other person? The fact that people watch hockey to see a fight, or NASCAR to see a crash, just emphasizes the wrongness of MMA. "Here is the lowest common denominator of entertainment for humans...humans beating up other humans, humans bleeding, muggings with refs and an audience. Don't sit for 3 hours waiting for a crash, or a watch a hockey game waiting for a fight...watch this and see the fight, the violence, the suffering. Then let's talk about how athletic, and artful, and talented these guys are!" Someone please educate me
Posted at 1:46AM on Mar 20th 2008 by Dale B.
33. Mark,
Given the increasing popularity of MMA, this guy's article does demonstrate that anyone with a keyboard can be stupid. However, was there really a need for you to take a shot at special needs kids/adults to prove your point? Do you think it added to your post to take aim at a group of people whom -- unlike bloggers -- don't have the resources to defend themselves? C'mon Mark, you are better than that ...... aren't you?
35. I'm a pretty big Cuban fan but other than the Direct TV comment there's not really anything that stands out as an idiot comment or opinion.
I'm (very) reluctantly an MMA fan. My two biggest beefs with it are that 1) it can be a little too bloody at times...some federations seems to let the fights go on a little too long imho and 2) sorry mma guys - unlike almost every other major sport, you do not HAVE to be a world class athlete to compete at a high level in this sport. When someone can pick up your sport after high school and rise to a level where he's fighting in televised matches, that discredits the sport on some level.
With that being said, I think it is entertaining but with the exception of just a handful of fighters, I think world class athletes are few and far between within the sport.
Posted at 1:06PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Brian
38. Mark, thank you for addressing this article. You're absolutely accurate about your prediction for the future. MMA isn't going away. In GSP, Anderson Silva, and a lot of up and coming guys, we're only seeing the tip of the iceberg. The next generation of fighters are going to be even better.
Posted at 9:34PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Jay
39. Yep! I agree with you fo sho! keyboard = danger! danger! Mr. robinson! We are getting fat finger attacks! LOL!
Posted at 10:36PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Mitchell
40. Leonard Shapiro sounds like someone who is trying to save the world, but in reality, has a hard time adjusting to the changing times. He has to realize that MMA is a speeding locomotive with no brakes and is here for the long haul. Next stop, Spike TV, HDNet, Showtime, CBS, NBC...
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21. That guy is totally ignorant and as you said, out of touch.
Some people will never understand the sport.
Posted at 10:40AM on Mar 19th 2008 by Dexter