Never before in the history of mankind has there ever been a more exciting and interactive time to live in. We are in the midst of a Technological revolution. Never before have we ever been able to connect with others in the way we are able to now and the future only promises more! We has human beings have finally come to the conclusion that we are only limited to our imaginations and no better example of this is the internet. Who would of thought even 10 years ago we could carry a device small enough to fit into our pockets that could connect us to ANYONE in the entire world in real time. The development of this lifestyle is very new and god damn am I ever excited for the future! Social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook now allow us to connect with friends and family and even strangers, in incredible ways. If it's just sharing funny videos, passing along pictures of grandchildren or keeping up with your favourite celebrities, we are now able to do it in mere seconds. Gone are the days of having to go to libraries and looking at encyclopedias for new and interesting information, now it is all at our finger tips. But even now, this technology and social networking are old news. This is just my opinion, maybe you agree/disagree, but the future of communication and entertainment are podcasts. Simply put, for the uninformed, podcasts are usually an audio file (sometimes video) of talk shows, that allow the artists to communicate with their listeners in an uncensored manner that is free from restraints of the FCC or television execs that tend to manipulate the artists work. I recently in the past year have become a fan of podcasts and cannot be more happy I discovered this medium. I first got hooked on podcasts by discovering the Joe Rogan Experience, a usually two time a week show featuring comic and UFC commentator Joe Rogan and his friend Brian 'Redban' Reichle. The Joe Rogan experience is a fascinating show because it explores a plethora of topics from comedy, mma, world events, technology, pornstars, psychedelic experiences and more in an open environment free from execs who feel they need to have the artists act in a certain way because they provide the cash in order to make the show happen. It's a refreshing feeling to finally see media like this being presented to the world where people can broadcast to potentially millions of listeners/viewers in an honest open minded format that allows the listener to take what they will from the artists projections and allow our brains to process the information in a way we feel pleasing and will help us grow. In my opinion there is no greater medium that allows people to express their opinions, hear others and discuss and learn from each other, because no two people are alike and we can all learn from one another and grow in a positive way. One terrific example of debate and open discussion and difference of opinions, which inspired this writing, came on today's Joe Rogan Experience, which featured guest, comedian Bill Burr. After a solid two and a half hour discussion of various topics the topic of Stitcher and podcast sharing and advertising came up and did contrasting opinions ever start to fly! Comedian Bill Burr clearly stated his opinion of Stitcher stealing his podcast and attaching advertising to make money for themselves and showing Bill no compensation until he pressed legal action. To sum it up in a short manner, Burr was displeased with Stitcher for placing his podcast on their application without his permission and attaching advertising to it which in turn made them money and they offered him no compensation, until he came after them with legal action. I totally agree with Burr and his beef with Stitcher, his work is making them money and they are using it without his permission, kind of reminds me of concert ticket scalpers, which I consider pretty much the scum of the earth. However, Redban (Brian Reichle) had a different opinion of the matter, which I tend to agree with more. One must realize the nature of the beast that they are getting involved with. Basically the internet is the largest form of media, which also intern is the most manipulated by people that are looking to make money in any way that they can. When you post something on the internet, you have to realize once it is released, in whatever format it may be, it is up for manipulation, re-editing and stealing and if it is popular for sure there are going to be people wanting to attach themselves to it to make a buck, simply and sadly put, that's human nature. Perhaps also that is the beauty of the internet, it's whatever you make it out to be, almost a wild west cyberworld of no rules, which can manipulate your work and make others money from it, but also gives you the forum to do whatever you please also. Fighting these "cyber scalpers' as I will call them, in my opinion, seems pointless. The fight has been done before, anyone remember Napster 10 years ago? Sure it was shut down eventually; however, and I'll admit it I usually get my music from other free download sources that have come along since then. It reminds me of this so called 'war on drugs.' Sure you can bust a trafficker at a border but everyone knows there is just going to be another that will take their place instantly, as long as money is to be made. This discussion on The Joe Rogan experience was absolutely fascinating in my opinion because it addressed an issue that is new, one that is our generations and one that will grow into the future. That is the beauty of podcasts and open discussion right there, two or more people can have different opinions of issues, state them in an uncensored environment and allow the listener to process each side, pull from the good and bad of each, become more educated and develop their own opinion on a topic that they perhaps would never look into. Well enough of me rambling, but today's events were so incredibly inspiring I felt I needed to spew some thoughts. Below are a couple of links to some of the podcasts I frequently watch/listen to: The Joe Rogan Experience and The Deathsquad family; check them out, open your mind and grow, but also keep exploring what's out there in this computer universe and share what you find with others! We can all grow in a positive manner from this unlimited ability to share information with others!
The Joe Rogan Experience (hosts Joe Rogan and Brian 'Redban' Reichle)
http://www.ustream.tv/joerogan
Deathsquad Podcasts (home of: The Naughty Show, Potcast, Little Esther's Piecast, Blackoutcast, UFC Drunkcast and others with hosts Brian 'Redban' Reichle and others)
http://www.ustream.tv/redban
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Friday, 4 March 2011
MMA Judging...Is There a Fix?
MMA Judging....Is There a Fix?
With recent controversial decisions in the past two UFC events and many other MMA fights in the past, fans are left with a feeling of dissatisfaction and almost anger having seen their favourite fighter be robbed on a close decision and even missing out on perhaps a title shot. With any sport that is being judged comes controversy and MMA is no exception to the rule. The fastest growing sport in the world has most recently come under scrutiny from the fans, fighters and even promoters for its latest string of controversial decisions and it's about time something be done about it. First off, I'm just a regular fan, in no way am I going to pretend I know what it takes to step into a cage and what criteria it takes in order to win a fight. Unless you train, in all aspects of the sport, you really cannot be qualified to judge MMA so I won't pretend I can, unlike some others. Perhaps the judges in place now are qualified in one aspect of the game, as I hear most of them are boxing judges, but are they qualified to judge the intricacies of rubber guard? The answer is simply no. I'd like to throw some ideas out there, just to spit ball, open up some discussions and get people talking about what can improve the sport we all love.
1. Qualified Judges...This MUST Happen!
We need people who know all aspects of this sport behind the score cards. These un-educated judges have to go. Would you want a Urologist performing open heart surgery on you? No, even though both are Dr's each one has their specialty. There needs to be professional MMA judges, athletic commissions should have MMA divisions, with qualified people, instead of boxing judges/politicians behind the scorecards.
2. Eliminate the 10 Point Must System
Is it me or does it seem silly judging one sport on another sport's criteria? Adopting the boxing 10 point must system worked in the early days of MMA but with more dynamic fighters and higher quality competition and closer fights this system is becoming outdated. In boxing the rounds are 3 minutes and awarding points is based solely on strikes landed with the fighters hands. How can the same system translate over to a 5 minute round where pretty much anything goes? There's so much more going on and in a longer time period. Perhaps a 20 point system or more use of 10-8 or even 10-7 scoring. It just doesn't make sense for a round where one fighter lands maybe 1 or 2 more strikes to receive the same score as a fighter who would dominate an entire round perhaps landing 10+ more strikes than their opponent.
3. More Judges?
Why only have 3 judges? Why not have 5 or maybe 7. With more people judging there will be a greater census of who truly wins. With a 3 judge system it allows 1 judge alone to have an impact where their opinion alone can determine the winner of the fight. No matter what everyone will have biases. Opinion of fighters, personality and crowd response can easily manipulate one's perspective of things and that alteration of thinking should not potentially have control over who wins a fight. With more judges perhaps more perspectives of the fight are taken into consideration when determining a winner.
4. A Judge for Each Aspect
Here's where I start thinking out of the box. Why not have one judge for each aspect of the game? Say perhaps have a pro K1 fighter judge striking based on a compustrike system and have it entered into a computer system. Then, have a world class wrestler and/or Jiu Jitsu blackbelt judge the ground game based on a system similar to wrestling with points awarded for control, advantageous positions obtained, holding an opponent in a position for a certain period of time (riding points) and have them entered into a computer also. Once each judge enters the data based on their findings have it computed by a program that has a programmed algorithm of what each point for each aspect is worth in the grand scheme and have a printout of the final score??
5. Introduce the Passivity Rule
Nobody likes a boring fight! Too many times fighters will know they are ahead by 2 rounds to 0 and will play it safe and coast for the third round. Everyone pays to see a fight, fighters train to fight, so lets see it! Based on the points system that is in place now why not have the threat to have a point taken away in the final round if a fighter runs away. Lets put the threat of losing the fight in the fighters mind if they only fight for two thirds of the fight, make each round count! Let each round possibly determine the winner of the fight, not just by KO or submission, but have it in the fighters mind that even though they are well ahead on the score cards, playing it safe could possibly cost them the fight.
The above are just a few ideas I've thought of that could MAYBE change some of the judging problems in MMA. I also realize I contradict some of my own points; however, the point of my writing is just to start a brainstorm of ideas and not me stating what needs to be done. Again I would like to state in no way do I know what it is like to fight and in no way am I qualified to say what is right and what is wrong, I'm not that drunk dude in the bar wearing an Affliction shirt and thinks he's a badass and has to have his opinion heard...lol but I am a fan and have been since the very beginning and as an observer I am just trying to get some discussions going in order to improve my favourite sport. Only good can come from listening to others opinions and having them hear yours, everyone becoming more educated can never be a bad thing! So please write back, express your ideas of what could be done, or just tell me I am plain full of shit with my ideas all feedback is welcome!
Mikeyhol
With recent controversial decisions in the past two UFC events and many other MMA fights in the past, fans are left with a feeling of dissatisfaction and almost anger having seen their favourite fighter be robbed on a close decision and even missing out on perhaps a title shot. With any sport that is being judged comes controversy and MMA is no exception to the rule. The fastest growing sport in the world has most recently come under scrutiny from the fans, fighters and even promoters for its latest string of controversial decisions and it's about time something be done about it. First off, I'm just a regular fan, in no way am I going to pretend I know what it takes to step into a cage and what criteria it takes in order to win a fight. Unless you train, in all aspects of the sport, you really cannot be qualified to judge MMA so I won't pretend I can, unlike some others. Perhaps the judges in place now are qualified in one aspect of the game, as I hear most of them are boxing judges, but are they qualified to judge the intricacies of rubber guard? The answer is simply no. I'd like to throw some ideas out there, just to spit ball, open up some discussions and get people talking about what can improve the sport we all love.
1. Qualified Judges...This MUST Happen!
We need people who know all aspects of this sport behind the score cards. These un-educated judges have to go. Would you want a Urologist performing open heart surgery on you? No, even though both are Dr's each one has their specialty. There needs to be professional MMA judges, athletic commissions should have MMA divisions, with qualified people, instead of boxing judges/politicians behind the scorecards.
2. Eliminate the 10 Point Must System
Is it me or does it seem silly judging one sport on another sport's criteria? Adopting the boxing 10 point must system worked in the early days of MMA but with more dynamic fighters and higher quality competition and closer fights this system is becoming outdated. In boxing the rounds are 3 minutes and awarding points is based solely on strikes landed with the fighters hands. How can the same system translate over to a 5 minute round where pretty much anything goes? There's so much more going on and in a longer time period. Perhaps a 20 point system or more use of 10-8 or even 10-7 scoring. It just doesn't make sense for a round where one fighter lands maybe 1 or 2 more strikes to receive the same score as a fighter who would dominate an entire round perhaps landing 10+ more strikes than their opponent.
3. More Judges?
Why only have 3 judges? Why not have 5 or maybe 7. With more people judging there will be a greater census of who truly wins. With a 3 judge system it allows 1 judge alone to have an impact where their opinion alone can determine the winner of the fight. No matter what everyone will have biases. Opinion of fighters, personality and crowd response can easily manipulate one's perspective of things and that alteration of thinking should not potentially have control over who wins a fight. With more judges perhaps more perspectives of the fight are taken into consideration when determining a winner.
4. A Judge for Each Aspect
Here's where I start thinking out of the box. Why not have one judge for each aspect of the game? Say perhaps have a pro K1 fighter judge striking based on a compustrike system and have it entered into a computer system. Then, have a world class wrestler and/or Jiu Jitsu blackbelt judge the ground game based on a system similar to wrestling with points awarded for control, advantageous positions obtained, holding an opponent in a position for a certain period of time (riding points) and have them entered into a computer also. Once each judge enters the data based on their findings have it computed by a program that has a programmed algorithm of what each point for each aspect is worth in the grand scheme and have a printout of the final score??
5. Introduce the Passivity Rule
Nobody likes a boring fight! Too many times fighters will know they are ahead by 2 rounds to 0 and will play it safe and coast for the third round. Everyone pays to see a fight, fighters train to fight, so lets see it! Based on the points system that is in place now why not have the threat to have a point taken away in the final round if a fighter runs away. Lets put the threat of losing the fight in the fighters mind if they only fight for two thirds of the fight, make each round count! Let each round possibly determine the winner of the fight, not just by KO or submission, but have it in the fighters mind that even though they are well ahead on the score cards, playing it safe could possibly cost them the fight.
The above are just a few ideas I've thought of that could MAYBE change some of the judging problems in MMA. I also realize I contradict some of my own points; however, the point of my writing is just to start a brainstorm of ideas and not me stating what needs to be done. Again I would like to state in no way do I know what it is like to fight and in no way am I qualified to say what is right and what is wrong, I'm not that drunk dude in the bar wearing an Affliction shirt and thinks he's a badass and has to have his opinion heard...lol but I am a fan and have been since the very beginning and as an observer I am just trying to get some discussions going in order to improve my favourite sport. Only good can come from listening to others opinions and having them hear yours, everyone becoming more educated can never be a bad thing! So please write back, express your ideas of what could be done, or just tell me I am plain full of shit with my ideas all feedback is welcome!
Mikeyhol
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)