Vaughany's MMA Picks...
Collapse
X
-
Brian HemmingerSBR Hustler
- 12-02-13
- 53
#12741Comment -
Brian HemmingerSBR Hustler
- 12-02-13
- 53
#12743I'm sure you guys have seen it, but my all time favorite sci-fi film is Gattaca. Very underrated and didn't get nearly as much attention when it came out as it deserves.Comment -
SacreliciousSBR Hall of Famer
- 11-29-12
- 5984
#12744Has anyone ever seen HOME ALONE? I have heard amazing things and am contemplating watching it.Comment -
VaughanySBR Aristocracy
- 03-07-10
- 45563
-
marzwoodySBR MVP
- 01-03-14
- 3902
#12748^ The rise and fall of a legend.Comment -
VaughanySBR Aristocracy
- 03-07-10
- 45563
#12749The UFC Lawsuit, and My Thoughts
(David Weintraub)
In light of the class-action suit being filed against the UFC by Cung Le, Nate Quarry and Jon Fitch, I figured I'd weigh in. I've known Nate and Jon for many years, and consider both to be class guys.As many of you know I did production work for the UFC over the course of 6-7 years, and wrote for their magazine as well. Along the way I got to know many fighters on a very personal level, and a lot was shared between all of us. These days I'm completely uninvolved with MMA/UFC.
A number of years ago I had a conversation with a former champion about the idea of a union, about which he spoke openly to me. He had just lost his belt, but was signed to a 6 fight deal because as he claimed "they are worried I may go elsewhere." Even though they had no plans on him competing anymore. At the time we were discussing writing a book together, but chose not to do so, and this wasbefore my book with BJ Penn. After our talk in his hotel room, he said to me, "You should represent the fighters!" I laughed it off at the time, but he continued, "You know everyone, most people like you, and you have seen what goes on..."
Cannot say I was not intrigued, nor was it the last time I heard this suggested. But it was not my place, or my journey.
I do believe the fighters should unionize for a variety of reasons, but also think it's difficult for them to do because they're not part of a league. Unless, of course, you consider the UFC a league with one owner, which on some level I think it is. But I absolutely believe these fighters, especially the best of the best, need to protect themselves longer term. Whether that takes the form of a union, or something else, I have no idea. Yet these guys need protection. Just look at the retirees in the NFL.
A union would be very difficult for UFC fighters alone, so it would have to be offered to all MMA fighters. Membership and structure would be somewhat problematic because there are so many low-level fighters filling up cards these days it would be hard to bring them all under an umbrella, although I'm sure it could be done. Which brings me to another point...
The reason there are so many low level fighters, with combatants coming in and out of the company, is because the UFC is in fact attempting to monopolize the sport. They schedule their events to coincide with every boxing match, or other promotion's event(s). Certainly they're attempting to monopolize the sport, but who can blame them? Because of this practice of having so many lackluster events, we've reached a point where fight-cards are lined with filler fights with one cherry on top. And if that cherry happens to fall off because of an injury, like when the Jon Jones / Dan Henderson event was scrapped, an entire event is cancelled. In previous years any number of undercard fights could carry a PPV, but not anymore. Again, this is because the UFC has spread it's product so thin in an attempt to keep other promotions out of the space.
Is that a monopolistic practice? Absolutely. Does that make them a monopoly? Probably not. Surely this will be part of the argument regarding a "monopoly", but I'm not lawyer.
All of this said, irrespective of the fact I think fighters need a union, is I don't think the UFC will be declared a monopoly by the Department of Justice, which is where this probably ends. I say this because of the argument surrounding the 1994 case involving Ticketmaster, wherein the Justice Department failed to bring action against a company which was much more a monopoly than the UFC, at least that's my opinion.
It was argued then that Ticketmaster didn't have a monopoly because even though they controlled a substantial number of major venues in America (the majority of them), there were still countless other venues for artists to perform at. That TM did not control a majority of concert spaces in America, even if they controlled the marquee properties, meant Pearl Jam (petitioner) had many other options, both in the selling of tickets and spaces to perform.
The same can be said in this situation. There are a number of outlets for fighters to perform, some of which are even on cable television. Considering these fighters are individual actors, they have the right to fight in any promotion, and take the risk he/she is popular enough to garner an audience, which in turn would result in higher pay. It would even result in the rise in popularity of a separate promotion.
So no, I don't think the fighters will be successful in claiming the UFC runs a MMA monopoly.
I do think it's quite possible any case made against the UFC will take a bite out of the company, and this is probably the greater point. The recent deal with Reebok was probably a bit too much to chew after a number of fighters feeling they have less earning power because of company practices. This has been happening slowly for many years.
I think one thing to look out for is the structure of fighter contracts, and whether a fighter will more easily be able to leave the UFC for another promotion, if in fact the UFC is claiming each fighter is an individual actor. The contracts are very restrictive.
In summation, I don't see the UFC being labeled a monopoly, but I do think the fighters will make gains from any suit/case going forward.
*
Pardon my haste in writing this. Sloppy, I know.
Comment -
BeelzebubzySBR Hall of Famer
- 06-06-11
- 6995
#12751Is Weidman ITD -125 the gift line of the new year?Comment -
MDSBR Hall of Famer
- 01-31-12
- 9728
#12752I watched that for the first time a few months back. Very different type of film. Scarlet Johansson does some incredible voice acting and Joaquim Phoenix is excellent. It's not for everyone, but I enjoyed it very much.
I was on a huge movie kick a few months back. I think everyone should see Memento by Christopher Nolan, one of my favorites.Comment -
NunyaBidnessSBR Hall of Famer
- 07-26-09
- 9345
#12753I watched that for the first time a few months back. Very different type of film. Scarlet Johansson does some incredible voice acting and Joaquim Phoenix is excellent. It's not for everyone, but I enjoyed it very much.
I was on a huge movie kick a few months back. I think everyone should see Memento by Christopher Nolan, one of my favorites.
Christopher Nolan is perhaps the most overrated director currently working. Not a single one of his movies make any goddamn sense at all if you think about them. The constant exposition, hackneyed dialogue, plot holes. Don't know why he gets so much credit.Comment -
NunyaBidnessSBR Hall of Famer
- 07-26-09
- 9345
-
NunyaBidnessSBR Hall of Famer
- 07-26-09
- 9345
#12755
I enjoyed it as well.
Have you seen Under The Skin yet? In a lot of ways its the opposite of Her (also starring Scarlet). It haunted me the same way that Upstream Color has. I read the book the day after watching the film (which is a rarity for me, I usually read the book or watch the movie, not both), and enjoyed it as well, although outside of the setup they have absolutely nothing to do with eachother. The book was a bit preachier and didn't seem to know how to end.Comment -
MDSBR Hall of Famer
- 01-31-12
- 9728
#12756I enjoyed it as well.
Have you seen Under The Skin yet? In a lot of ways its the opposite of Her (also starring Scarlet). It haunted me the same way that Upstream Color has. I read the book the day after watching the film (which is a rarity for me, I usually read the book or watch the movie, not both), and enjoyed it as well, although outside of the setup they have absolutely nothing to do with eachother. The book was a bit preachier and didn't seem to know how to end.Comment -
VaughanySBR Aristocracy
- 03-07-10
- 45563
#12757I second this. Wasnt impressed by Inception at allComment -
mirinquadsSBR MVP
- 04-22-13
- 3927
#12759
Dark Knight was awesome though.Comment -
MDSBR Hall of Famer
- 01-31-12
- 9728
#12760I honestly think Insomnia is the most cohesive Nolan movie. Memento is his best, but Insomnia felt more like a complete film than any of his others.Comment -
JIBBBYSBR Aristocracy
- 12-10-09
- 83693
#12761Yep.. Just remember to hit the resolution button and go to 720 or higher in the bottom right corner before viewing for the best picture quality available..
The most recent films though are recorded in movie theaters off a camcorder.. Don't waste your time even watching those.. Horrible picture and sound quality.. Usually gotta wait a few months til after they are out of the theaters to get a quality movie view on Putlocker..Comment -
NunyaBidnessSBR Hall of Famer
- 07-26-09
- 9345
#12763
As V said, I liked the Prestige quite a bit as well. And I like Memento for what it is, but it doesn't hold up well if you remove the narrative technique.Comment -
NunyaBidnessSBR Hall of Famer
- 07-26-09
- 9345
#12764Because he makes movies that make dumb people feel smart. Inception and Interstellar being prominent examples. He also has insane budgets, and can set some quite bombastic scenes. That's his strength as a director. He can set a scene real well.. But yes a lot of his films are a mess.
Dark Knight was awesome though.
He takes his films to all these places and then does the least interesting things with them. Inception, you've got this idea about entering people's dreams, so you use it to stage gun fights in warehouses? Interstellar, a guy has been alone on a spaceship for some number of years having no idea when his compatriots are going to return, and nothing but lip service is paid to it? His story is far more interesting than what happens on the planet.Comment -
marzwoodySBR MVP
- 01-03-14
- 3902
#12765The Dark Kight Rises was nearly as bad as Drive.Comment -
mirinquadsSBR MVP
- 04-22-13
- 3927
#12766Agree completely. People saying Interstellar is 2001 for this generation is insulting.
He takes his films to all these places and then does the least interesting things with them. Inception, you've got this idea about entering people's dreams, so you use it to stage gun fights in warehouses? Interstellar, a guy has been alone on a spaceship for some number of years having no idea when his compatriots are going to return, and nothing but lip service is paid to it? His story is far more interesting than what happens on the planet.Comment -
marzwoodySBR MVP
- 01-03-14
- 3902
#12767The Dark Knight is Nolan's best film. anyone that disagree's can suck a fat one. by the way he is almost Michael Bay tier. nothing special.Comment -
marzwoodySBR MVP
- 01-03-14
- 3902
#12768Quentin Tarantino is the GOAT of film making today.Comment -
VaughanySBR Aristocracy
- 03-07-10
- 45563
#12770Marz, if your in to Kidulthood, TopBoy and all that kind of stuff then you may like this, its a bit farfetched and silly but pretty good for an English movie!... ''The Guvnors'' http://tunemovie.so/movies/the-guvnors-13474.html
Guy out of Rizzle Kicks Harley Sylvester plays the rude boiii in it, he over-acts a bit at times but is quite convincing and makes you want to see him get fuucked up cos he's such a shit!Comment -
marzwoodySBR MVP
- 01-03-14
- 3902
#12771Marz, if your in to Kidulthood, TopBoy and all that kind of stuff then you may like this, its a bit farfetched and silly but pretty good for an English movie!... ''The Guvnors'' http://tunemovie.so/movies/the-guvnors-13474.html
Guy out of Rizzle Kicks Harley Sylvester plays the rude boiii in it, he over-acts a bit at times but is quite convincing and makes you want to see him get fuucked up cos he's such a shit!
Comment -
VaughanySBR Aristocracy
- 03-07-10
- 45563
-
VaughanySBR Aristocracy
- 03-07-10
- 45563
#12775The Interview is on tunemovie fellas. Not that funny thoComment
SBR Contests
Collapse
Top-Rated US Sportsbooks
Collapse
#1 BetMGM
4.8/5 BetMGM Bonus Code
#2 FanDuel
4.8/5 FanDuel Promo Code
#3 Caesars
4.8/5 Caesars Promo Code
#4 DraftKings
4.7/5 DraftKings Promo Code
#5 Fanatics
#6 bet365
4.7/5 bet365 Bonus Code
#7 Hard Rock
4.1/5 Hard Rock Bet Promo Code
#8 BetRivers
4.1/5 BetRivers Bonus Code