Saturday’s New York Times features an op-ed calling for the legalization of MMA in New York State. Entitled, “It Only Looks Dangerous,” and written by the editor of Men’s Health, David Zinczenko, he states that he has changed course on his position on MMA and is now a firm supporter of the sport.
Coincidentally, this month’s Men’s Health features GSP on the cover. Zinczenko states that he had opposed MMA and prohibited MMA from its front cover in the past.
Via NY Times:
But I’ve come to believe that, in fact, the New York Legislature is wrong. Mr. Reilly is wrong. And more to the point, I was wrong (an admission my brother will hold over my head as long as I live). Mixed martial arts may be a violent sport, but it is much safer than other, supposedly more civilized competitions, and New York and its fellow holdouts should finally sanction it.
With West Virginia regulating MMA recently, New York, Connecticut and Vermont are the only states with athletic commissions that have not legalized MMA. Connecticut has legislation pending.
Zinczenko subtely calls out the traditional sports of football and boxing as more dangerous than MMA. He cites the appearance of safety in helmets and padded gloves as not safe at all.
These (helmets and boxing gloves) are, in fact, more like the equivalent of poorly designed sunscreen — “protection” that allows athletes to submit to even greater levels of punishment.
(H/t Fight Lawyer)
Payout Perspective:
This is another editorial attempting to educate the public (and more specifically New Yorkers) that MMA is not as dangerous as other popular sports. The op-ed seemingly is an admission of wrong by the author as he has changed course after discovering that MMA is not as dangerous as boxing or the NFL. Hence, New York should rethink its position on banning it in the state. This is a sound argument and good for proponents of MMA. But, the fact that GSP is on its cover prior to one of the UFC’s biggest events of the year colors the opinion. Is the author changing position because it sees the success of the UFC and is jumping on the bandwagon to sell magazines? Secondly, what of the subtle diss of the NFL and boxing in essentially calling the sports unsafe. This position probably would not sit well with Roger Goodell. Despite the fact that the NFL is in labor strife, calling out the sport now may not be a wise decision.
Zinczenko has been a vocal opponent of MMA for years. Now the magazine business is in the toilet and he writes an op ed piece supporting MMA sanctioning at the same time he puts GSP on the cover of his failing crappy magazine. I’m sure next month this sanctimonious idiot will be supporting the legalization of guns and prostituion and putting Dog the Bounty Hunter and Tila Tequila on the cover to goose his magazine sales.
As MMA fans, we can use all the support we can get.just not from people who speak out of both sides of their mouth. Jerk. See you at the fights. Oh right, you’ll be afraid some sweat will get on your Armani.