MMA journalist Jim Genia and I got to sit in on BK Live, a daily talk show hosted by Brooklyn Independent Media. Of course we got to chat about New York MMA, along with Master Dave Herbert and the show's host Michael Bellamy. We even got to discuss man vs. beast matches...yes...MAN VS. BEAST! Can it get any better than that!?
BRIC has a swanky new studio just adjacent to Brooklyn Academy of Music in Downtown Brooklyn. You should all check it out! BK Live airs daily at noon on Time Warner 756, Verizon Fios 46 and streams online at BRICartsmedia.org/bkindiemedia.
Without further ado, here is the show:
BK Live 5/30/14: Sports - Mixed Martial Arts from Brooklyn Independent Media on Vimeo.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Columbia University Tackles New York MMA...
...in their sports management graduate program.
Yes, you heard it! Our seventeen year prohibition on MMA in New York has not only solidified itself as the laughing stock of the North American MMA community, a never-ending déjà vu of legislative posturing and a simmering constitutional legal battle...now there is a full fledged COURSE as part of the Columbia University graduate program in sports management designed to address the issue! Yes, really!
In all seriousness, this is an interesting development. Columbia's press release of May 29th entitled
A Battle for the Ages – Sports Management Class Takes on the Case for Legalizing MMA in New York states:
Yes, you heard it! Our seventeen year prohibition on MMA in New York has not only solidified itself as the laughing stock of the North American MMA community, a never-ending déjà vu of legislative posturing and a simmering constitutional legal battle...now there is a full fledged COURSE as part of the Columbia University graduate program in sports management designed to address the issue! Yes, really!
In all seriousness, this is an interesting development. Columbia's press release of May 29th entitled
A Battle for the Ages – Sports Management Class Takes on the Case for Legalizing MMA in New York states:
The project -- “MMA in New York: A Study in Whether It Should Be Legalized and Regulated” -- will be led by sports law attorney Carla Varriale of Havkins Rosenfeld Ritzert and Varriale, LLP. Varriale is an adjunct professor who teaches Sports Law and Ethics in the school’s sports management program. “The students are poised to study this issue. New York enjoys a plethora of professional sports, including boxing. Why is this sport such a lightning rod and, most importantly, can the controversy be overcome so New Yorkers can get the same access to the sport as the rest of North America?” said Varriale.
“Although MMA is a controversial sport, it is a popular sport that New Yorkers have an interest in, since they will travel to other states in order to watch it or are spectators via television broadcasts. The students will examine the reasons the sport was otherwise banned, whether it should now be permitted and, if so, under what sort of regulation in order to address safety concerns. The students will also follow the ongoing litigation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York that has challenged New York’s MMA ban on First Amendment and vagueness grounds, among other things. It’s a unique class and this is an opportunity to study how legislation is made (or not) and the challenges facing an emerging sport. At the conclusion of the project, they will issue a report and they will make recommendations regarding some of the safety and risk management issues.”While it is sad on one level, that our state's prohibition on MMA has become so entrenched that an entire course can now be dedicated to it, on a different level it will be exciting to see how a fresh group of young minds will assess and tackle the issue of the ban.
NY MMA: May Update
Not much new in NY MMA this year. Senate passed the legislation again. Assembly will likely not pass it again. The Zuffa et. al vs NYS Federal lawsuit moves on (currently in discovery phase), and amateur MMA continues to boom...with some controversy. Here are some recent stories to get you all up to speed.
May 21, 2014: Deadspin, HIV, Hepatitis C, and More: New York's MMA Scene is a Disaster
May 19, 2014: By The NY Daily News, NYS Assembly Speaker - NY MMA Looking Unlikely
May 19, 2014: By Jime Genia, Would MMA Lose a Floor Vote in the Assembly?
May 15, 2014: By Jim Genia, Will the Assembly Vote on MMA This Year?
May 14, 2014: By Fightland, Fighting for Nothing - And Everything - In New York
May 14, 2014: By Jim Genia, Analyzing New York's 2014 MMA Bills
May 14, 2014: Stephen Koepfer and Al Iaquinta on the TNS Podcast
May 9, 2014: By Jim Genia, Bjorn Rebney on the Battle for MMA in New York - "I've Stayed Out of It"
May 1, 2014: By Jim Genia, Yesterday's Press Conference in Albany Generates Some Media Attention
April 27, 2014: By Popular Mechanics, Fight Night - Watching MMA in NYC
April 24, 2014: By Jim Genia, One on One with Senator Liz Kruger, New York MMA's Most Vocal Enemy
April 4, 2014: By Jim Genia, The UFC, the Cullinary Union and the Battle for New York
March 14, 2014: By Jim Genia, New York Senate Still Likes MMA
May 21, 2014: Deadspin, HIV, Hepatitis C, and More: New York's MMA Scene is a Disaster
May 19, 2014: By The NY Daily News, NYS Assembly Speaker - NY MMA Looking Unlikely
May 19, 2014: By Jime Genia, Would MMA Lose a Floor Vote in the Assembly?
May 15, 2014: By Jim Genia, Will the Assembly Vote on MMA This Year?
May 14, 2014: By Fightland, Fighting for Nothing - And Everything - In New York
May 14, 2014: By Jim Genia, Analyzing New York's 2014 MMA Bills
May 14, 2014: Stephen Koepfer and Al Iaquinta on the TNS Podcast
May 9, 2014: By Jim Genia, Bjorn Rebney on the Battle for MMA in New York - "I've Stayed Out of It"
May 1, 2014: By Jim Genia, Yesterday's Press Conference in Albany Generates Some Media Attention
April 27, 2014: By Popular Mechanics, Fight Night - Watching MMA in NYC
April 24, 2014: By Jim Genia, One on One with Senator Liz Kruger, New York MMA's Most Vocal Enemy
April 4, 2014: By Jim Genia, The UFC, the Cullinary Union and the Battle for New York
March 14, 2014: By Jim Genia, New York Senate Still Likes MMA
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Friday, April 4, 2014
More of the Same for NY MMA in 2014
Honestly, there is not much news to report from the NY MMA battlefield since my February update. But there is of course, some minor news and tidbits to report. As usual MMA Journalist Jim Genia is on the scene.
Check out his latest report on the further developments of the Zuffa, et. al, vs NYS federal lawsuit targeting the constitutionality of the NY MMA ban (Click here for some history on the suit). If we are to get Pro MMA in New York this year, I feel this suit is our best shot.
For a solid sitrep of the perpetuating legislative cycle that New York is stuck in regarding the pro MMA ban, here is Jim's latest: The UFC, the Culinary Union and the Battle for New York.
Check out his latest report on the further developments of the Zuffa, et. al, vs NYS federal lawsuit targeting the constitutionality of the NY MMA ban (Click here for some history on the suit). If we are to get Pro MMA in New York this year, I feel this suit is our best shot.
For a solid sitrep of the perpetuating legislative cycle that New York is stuck in regarding the pro MMA ban, here is Jim's latest: The UFC, the Culinary Union and the Battle for New York.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
2nd Annual ABC approved MMA Judge Course: Report
Last year's course was held in Long Island, NY. This year, the class was held in the heart of Manhattan at New York Combat Sambo; the first time an ABC approved MMA official's course has ever been hosted in New York City.
Over a dozen attendees came to the gym turned classroom to participate. Included among the students were current and aspiring MMA judges, fighters, coaches and journalists. We were honored to have newest member of the New York State Athletic Commission, John Signorile in attendance for part of the course as well. The Commissioner's presence was critical and motivational. Mr. Signorile was extremely supportive of bringing pro MMA to New York and learning as much as he can about the sport in order to help do so.
Also in attendance was legendary MMA journalist and author Jim Genia who wrote a fantastic review of his experience in the class for his MMA Journalist Blog.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Battle Begins Again...Battle Begins Again...Battle Begins Again for MMA in 2014
2014 is here and so is the 17th round of fighting for regulated pro mixed martial arts in New York. Yes, yes...we are the last place in all of North America where the sport is still prohibited. You actually can time travel! Just visit New York and you will be given an opportunity to get a taste of 1997...over and over again.
Here are some recent stories from January regarding our great state's idiotic ban on pro MMA:
FightLine in the Field: UFC Presser in Albany – 1.28.14
By Jim Genia
January 29, 2014 (Fightline)
MMA Rally for New York Legalization
By Keeler in the Morning
By Keeler in the Morning
January 29, 2014 (WIBX 950am)
By Matthew Dondiego
January 29, 2014 (Legislative Gazette)
January 28, 2014 (NY Daily News)
By Autumn Ziemba
January 21, 2014 (Sci Fighting)
By Jimmy Vielkind
January 17, 2014 (Capital Pro)
January 8, 2014 (MMA Frenzy)
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