NY Governor David Paterson proposes MMA legislation to reduce $9 billion deficit
by Jesse Holland on Jan 11, 2010 2:44 PM EST
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The State of New York must really be hard up for cash -- so much so that they've even decided to revisit the frequently-stalled introduction of statewide legislation for the sport of mixed martial arts.
Apparently, all that moolah that Philly made last August (and that Boston will make in August 2010) has humbled a few of the blowhards in office who can't answer to the public as to why the state has plummeted to a staggering $9 billion deficit.
Bill A.2009-B, created with the intention to legalize and regulate MMA in the state of New York, passed 14-6 in the Assembly's Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports last June and (surprise) hasn't been heard from since.
MMA is currently unregulated in New York, and appeared to be on the verge of being sanctioned in 2008, but some eleventh-hour concerns from uneducated members of the Committee scuttled its passage.
I don't want to call it a filibuster but if Yugi Shimada was in the house there would be more than a few yellow cards being handed out.
UFC Vice President for Government and Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner and president of the company Dana White have been ratcheting up the economic rhetoric and financial success of its mixed martial events in hopes of using the economic benefits of live shows to influence voters who may be on the fence.
Money talks … and the UFC has the numbers to back it up. An independent economic impact study indicated that the promotion would generate about $11.5 million for the "Big Apple."
Still, it will have an uphill battle so long as detractors like Democratic Assemblyman Bob Reilly, who referred to the sport of MMA as a "glorification of brutality and violence," have their say in the vote.
Stay tuned.
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That guy must be blind to the fact that MMA will impact a 9 billion dollar deficit.
oh…
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
Love when the ignorant refer to it as "Ultimate Fighting"
New York is so desperate for revenue that I’m sure this will pass. Question is how much they will want to tax the UFC?
Remember, this is the same state that was trying to pass an 18% soda tax last year.
@fjbar on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner
Yeah remind me… What does the U and F stand for in UFC again?
by Wet Nightmare on Jan 11, 2010 3:47 PM EST up reply actions
Could be worse
It’s called cage fighting by the media over here. Having a crossdressing fame whore as the face of the sport doesn’t help mind.
"Anderson Silva is the best fighter on the planet...any Anderson Silva fight that is on, people should be buying that PPV, not because he’s my fighter but you know what, he to me is like the Muhammad Ali of MMA...the UFC has been around since 1993, nobody (else) has 10 consecutive wins in the UFC. Anderson has had 10 fights in the UFC, only 1 has ever gone to a decision."
Ed Soares on why Andy is the best fighter in the world
grim
the UFC should give him a one off fight on a card when they come to England next. It’ll help nudge the UFC closer to the main stream through coverage in the main stream rags and the little scrote will get smashed up (whoever he fights) and then even people who have no knowledge of the sport will now he’s a shitter and he’ll hopefully go away
Fedor is our leader
OF course MMA will make money in New York
but this governor is dead wood. Not our hero.
He has zero credibility outside of his own office. If I were Dana I would be looking to seperate myself with Paterson. His career is about to get flushed and I wouldn’t want MMA going along for that ride.
why not call Rod Blagojevich to do some lobbying while were at it.
"He wants to get in close and use that reach advantage" - Mike Goldberg
"Half of this game is 90% Mental" - Tim Sylvia
"I have two words for you... Destiny" - Diego Sanchez.
Anyone interested in a dumbest MMA quote of all time poll?
It's about time
I live in the city and I am surprised the bar owners have not started a petition to bring MMA to NY. The amount of people that would go out would be staggering
the ufc will hold a couple of events in new york, but then the liberals will tax dana for his obscene profits
and the ufc will never go back there again. that is why new york is in this posistion in the first place. they think they have a right to other people’s hard work. damn i hate new york.
by Conan the Barbarian on Jan 11, 2010 4:35 PM EST reply actions
Who needs New York
Who cares about New York if they don’t want mma there then piss on them. It’s 2010 NewYork wake up. I say just skip em. UFC can go just about anywhere in the world.
Exactly, NY needs the UFC more than the UFC needs NY
Screw NY, I’m sure that they will just tax the hell out of MMA anyway, so regulating it won’t do any good. There are many places on the east coast like Philly, Boston, Virginia, Jersey, etc where MMA is legal and regulated and those shows do very well. Dana wants to do a show at MSG just to feed his ego, but the truth is that the UFC doesn’t need to ever do a show in New York.
There are no such things as lesbians, just women who have not yet met Chuck Norris
The new york fans need ufc
Fuck the state and government officials, new york fans need the ufc and theres is a lot of fans there.
You Watch
They will probably pass it. Then tax the living hell out of anyone who wants to hold a sanctioned fight there. Go Democrats !
Maybe with some of the tax money...
He can get surgery to straighten out his eye…I bet he’ll see things more clearly after that.
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