Values and MMA

[Erik]

http://www.lockflow.com/article_view.php?id=592

"Ultimate Fighter is Good for America"
by Marvin Smith
November 1st, 2005 at 12:28 PM

The Ultimate Fighter Is Good for America;
Monday, October 31, 2005
By Mike Straka, Fox News

Lessons in the Octagon

OK ... so you're not a fan of Ultimate Fighting or mixed martial arts competitions.

I can't say I blame you. Fighting is not for everyone.

But if you can get past the scariness of witnessing two athletes going toe-to-toe in the middle of a ring called "The Octagon," you might find a lesson worth passing on to your kids, or one for yourself.

Last week, on Spike TV's "The Ultimate Fighter," a reality show that puts the word "real" back in reality television, aspiring professional fighter Sammy Morgan, a 23-year-old Minneapolis landscaper and nightclub security person, stepped into the ring with one of the most talented and fierce fighters the UFC has ever seen, a completely unassuming guy named Luke Cummo.

Luke is pretty much a dork.

He meditates, eats the weirdest concoctions of food and has a unique way of training. What everybody learned after seeing Luke fight is that what may look unconventional for some can be the secret to success for others.

Luke is one of the baddest, smartest fighters this side of Matt Hughes, a UFC veteran and also a coach on the TV show.

When Sammy and Luke squared off, viewers and fight fans were treated to a round-one action reminiscent of the legendary bout between Forrest Griffin and Stephen Bonner from last season's finale show. Round two brought a different reality, however.

Luke knocked Sammy out cold with a knee to the side of the face.

Why am I telling you this? Bear with me one minute.

Last week, I read a story about an apparently wealthy New Jersey family that is suing New York's famed Plaza Hotel because the hotel cancelled a Bas Mitzvah for the family's daughter.

The Plaza is undergoing a massive renovation and the place has to be shuttered during a time when the party is scheduled to take place. So a few days after making the booking, the hotel called the family and broke the bad news.

The Plaza subsequently refunded the family's $12,000 deposit on the estimated $21,000 party (a Grrr! in and of itself), and also covered $2,060 for the family's costs for invitations, pins and a family photo montage.

But that wasn't good enough, so they called a lawyer.

You see, the parents were both engaged and married at the Plaza, and the wife's brothers and sisters all celebrated their coming-of-age parties at the Plaza as well.

It's a family tradition that they were understandably looking forward to sharing with their daughter. Most people can reasonably understand their disappointment.

But a lawsuit seeking unspecified damages for "humiliation, indignity, distress of mind and mental suffering"?

The place is undergoing renovations, for crying out loud. These things happen. Start a new family tradition. Take up the Four Seasons. How about the Ritz? Surely there are other lavish places in which to begin new traditions.

What, the New York courts don't have other things to deal with — like prosecuting white-collar criminals and drug dealers and murderers and hit-and-run drunk drivers — that this family wants to help out the local justice system with something to occupy their time before dismissing this ridiculous claim?

It's shocking, to say the least.

But what does any of this have to do with Sammy Morgan getting knocked out? It goes right to the heart of what's wrong in our great nation — a nation of coddled citizens who throw tantrums in the form of lawsuits every time something doesn't go their way.

Morgan was competing for a six-figure contract to become a professional fighter in the UFC league. The UFC is sanctioned by state athletic commissions and holds pay-per-view and live fighting events in Las Vegas, Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida and other states.

Sammy is looking to make his dream come true, and with that comes sacrifice. It means leaving his jobs to train. It means going to bed early, exercising like a madman, lifting weights, eating well — in other words, working hard for a better life, something fewer and fewer of us are doing to live the American Dream.

These days, we simply expect that dream. We act like being born in this great country means we deserve of all the things it stands for, without the sacrifice.

When Sammy got his wits back after being knocked out, the realization that he was out of the competition and back to the drawing board hit him harder than Luke's knee.

"I didn't make it," he said. "I didn't make it."

And then the muscular fighter with the heart of gold and steel at once, a quiet man with an eye of a tiger, a man you'd want by your side in any dark alley anywhere in the world, cried his eyes out. He buried his face in his gloves and cried.

He then sought out his opponent and congratulated him on the win, and stood with his head high in the center of the ring while the ref announced Cummo the winner.

Sammy had class.

All the way across the country, in what is a world away from Sammy's reality, a wealthy and successful family is suing a storied establishment because their daughter won't be able to have her lavish party there. What kind of lesson do you think those parents are teaching their daughter?

I feel sorry for her. I'll take Sammy's way any day of the week. Nobody deserves anything, and when things don't work out, lick your wounds and find another way. Come on!

[X_plosion]

I previously read the article on bullshido.net. Like I said there, I like the article a lot for "telling it like it is". I truly admire the competitor's character as opposed to those "party people".

[Ninja in training]

I'm starting to see UFC with a casual interest. I saw that fight, and I was also touched by the moment. It makes me see the sport in a different light.

[Jeff Burger]

Thats a great article.

I overheard some other people putting Sammy down for crying.
My response was "You need to shut up".


"These days, we simply expect that dream. We act like being born in this great country means we deserve of all the things it stands for, without the sacrifice.'

AMEN

"All the way across the country, in what is a world away from Sammy's reality, a wealthy and successful family is suing a storied establishment because their daughter won't be able to have her lavish party there. What kind of lesson do you think those parents are teaching their daughter?'

To make money any way you can.
Dont let foolish things like honor, self respect, common sense.... get in the way.


Jeff

[AndrewSimonsen]

You would be suprised at who cries, some of the toughest guys cry. Guys who have put so much effort into succeeding only to lose, god forbid they show emotion.

[Jeff Burger]

I had a few words for these guys about how they couldnt understand cause they have never given as much of themselves to anything to care enough to cry. Not having anything you would cry for isnt tuff its shallow.
They are too scared to commit to anything that much cause they know that dont have what it takes to succeed or handle the failure.
So if your going to be a zombie shut up so your not an annoying zombie.



I like winners and I like losers cause they are both gamers. But if your not even going to try your just using up air and space.


Jeff

[fightgrrl]

I think most of the guys who lost ended up crying. It's really emotionally draining to put all your stuff out there and not win.
I am glad Mike Whitehead didn't cry, he didn't deserve that luxury.

[AndrewSimonsen]

For me it has never been losing that was emotionally draining, but when I found out I wouldn't be able to wrestle my senior year I cried. I didn't cry when I injured my neck (screamed alot though), but hearing the doctor say that I was done wrestling did it for me.

[Jeff Burger]

I have had more than one doctor tell me my martial arts days were over.
After a back injury I had one tell me Im going to be in a wheel chair by the time Im 40. That CRUSHED me.
Im 38 now and doing fine. Thought of going into his office on my 40th birthday in a wheel chair and then jumping up and slapping him has crossed my mind.

I dont know what your injury was but I have heard alot of people overcome their all kinds of injuries.


Jeff

[fightgrrl]

I cried when I got my knee sprained 2 days before the North American Grappling Championships in 2002. I went anyway and came in 4th in BJJ. Went on the mat with my cane and all!
I cried when I tore my left achilles tendon. It was my 3rd day back training after the knee injury,(over a year of taking it easy) and I was not doing anything strenuous. I figured I was DONE...but I overcame that one too!

[TonyU]

The only time I cried (with tears) in disappointment was when I was discharged form boot camp.
When I tore cartilage in my right knee during practice I just cried like a stuck pig.

[Jeff Burger]

"Went on the mat with my cane and all!"

Good thing you didnt try to use it from we say on those videos.




The article is disturbing, though not surprising. We see lawsuits over everything.
Example... Kidnergartener hits a kid in his class. Parents want so sued the school the parents...oh and the Karate instructor.

Kids are not learning how to earn or lose.
I see scoreless sports, everybody gets a trophy.....
What are kids learning?
Oh wait I know thats communism.

We have kids who are not going to make promotions for whatever reason and parents telling me if they dont pass they will be devestated. Well sounds like all the more reason to fail them to me. If your going to be "devestated" over a belt then you need to be rewired.

[Jeff Burger]

"I cried when I tore my left achilles tendon. It was my 3rd day back training after the knee injury,(over a year of taking it easy) and I was not doing anything strenuous. I figured I was DONE...but I overcame that one too!"

And recovered in record time.


Jeff