| Milwaukee Sports Writer Claims MMA is "The End of the World" |
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| Written by Dom Velando | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tuesday, 09 June 2009 14:51 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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What is this apocalyptic catalyst? The collapse of the American economy? North Korea's nuclear weapons? The two Milwaukee police officers shot in their heads today in Milwaukee?
Of course not. It's the sport of mixed martial arts.
Begel never identified which promotion's show he was watching, whether or not he was watching a live or re-broadcasted event, or even which two fighters, who he described as, "two thugs who looked like they were anxious, willing and able to kill each other," he witnessed fighting.
He did, however, provide a dated picture of Mac Danzig, the same image that appears on the Wikipedia entry for "mixed martial arts".
According to Begel, "They have judges, but they hardly ever decide a match. Matches almost always end with a knockout or a submission", which leads one to wonder if he was aware of the results of UFC 94.
The author leaves us with this: "Somebody in Wisconsin ought to get on the train and take steps to outlaw this abomination. We are one of the few states in this country that outlaws capital punishment. Let's lead the way on this one, too."
The original article, as well as a comments section and Begel's e-mail address can be viewed below.
Is MMA fighting the end of the world as we know it? (OnMilwaukee.com)
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Comments (30)
McD
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In a column that appeared on the front page of OnMilwaukee.com, "award-winning" sports columnist Dave Begel reported that at some point "the other night", he was "
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panic button The tone of the article sounded just like when my grandma used to talk about "this new rock and roll these kids are listening to these days". Panicky and based on everything but facts. I suppose it's easier to make your deadlines if you're not tripped up by time-consuming research. |
BACON
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WHAT IF !!! Maybe he is right we should ban MMA this guy obviously knows what he is talking about. |
lukey dukey
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the end is nigh this dudes an idiot. society has many problems. mma is a sport not a world ender. if this guy thinks this is the worst thing going on in the world, he clearly doesnt watch the nightly news. hes just another reason us mma guys need to stick together. |
luke
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... everyone should take a second and register, then tell the dude how ignorant he sounds. Red had a good post! I'll post on it tomorrow |
Rdub
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... I just posted a link to it on the Underground. Hopefully the comments in support will quadruple before the end of the day. |
luke
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... ^^ nice work Ryan.... there's been like 31+ comments bashing that Dave douchbag __________ here's my formal complaint I emailed them... You all should send them one too: http://onmilwaukee.com/about/contact.html ______________ FORMAL COMPLAINT: I'd like to file a formal complaint against Dave Begel for his recent article "Is MMA fighting the end of the world as we know it?" It was extremely apparent that he did NO research on the topic before slandering the sport of MMA and all of it's participants. It was extremely offensive to everyone who read it. This is apparent from all the comments. I expect a formal apology from Dave and/or OnMilwaukee.com for posting a article such as this ... especially on the front page. Dave has already dug a HUGE hole for your website with the entire MMA community and I only see a written apology as the possible way to amend this. I expect a response. Luke Summerfield This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it P.S. If I receive a written apology I will be able to get it posted on WICOMBATSPORTS.COM to help dig your website out of the hole Dave created. |
Kaz
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... Wow was this a poorly researched and incredibly ignorant article......maybe 10 min of GOOGLE time would have clued you in on a few FACTS......something your article is clearly lacking....... 1) The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine recently published a report of a five year study of injuries sustained during sanctioned mixed martial arts competition that took place in Nevada. The conclusion: the overall risk of critical sports-related injury appears LOW. 2) Your contention that very few fights go to the judges scorecard is incorrect as well.....in the history of the UFC (a decent sample size) over 28% of fights of fights end in a decision. Total Matches = 1,143 (Updated through June 10, 2009) Percentage Submission = 31.58% Percentage KO/TKO = 38.23% Percentage Decision = 28.70% Other (Drawn, NCs, or Unknown) = 1.49 3) Your comparison to Capitol Punishment as off target as your comment related to Judges in MMA since 38% of the states in the union either don't support capital punishment or haven't performed an execution since the mid 1970's 4) Lastly your comments related to the fighters being thugs.....Mixed martial artists are some of the best athletes in the world. To stay competitive, athletes are trained in a variety of martial arts disciplines including Kickboxing, wrestling, boxing, judo and jujitsu. The UFC, the biggest MMA organization, boasts that a significant majority of their fighters have college degrees But then again who cares about facts.....after all your just a journalist. Purhaps you could consider doing your homework next time......it wasn't all that tough either.....took me just a few minutes to make you look as ridiculous as your poor excuse for an article! |
fishman1988
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... Luke goos work, i to did send a formal complaint to on milwaukee and baseclly said the same as you did. I also sent an email to the author using that like provided. Needless to say it was three pages long of why is 3 paragraphs were false in EVERY way!! |
Krupp
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Pathetic I can see that cut-throat journalism is alive and well. This kind of crap is why MMA is still disrespected and hated by ignorant men and women; because of morons like Mr. Begel here. My friend did a mix martial arts fight last year, and he didn't get knocked out. He wasn't even hurt; he walked out of the cage under his own power, and he was completely fine the next day. |
luke
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... good stats Kaz! Good job on everyone posting on the article so far and sending letters to the editor. I would KEEP PUSHING to get an apology outta them. Just copy and paste my above statement and make changes. Send it to the link I provided above. It only takes 5 minutes and will be much appreciated by everyone in the combat sports community. |
Dom
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... It's important to remember that OnMilwaukee is probably getting record traffic right now, so it's important to think about how far we keep going with this, especially if he keeps writing the same kind of crap. |
OL' School
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More Liberal Ignorance Wow, Dave "Beginner" Begal presents no validity to any of his comments concerning MMA It's very clear to me, and anyone else who knows anything about "Martial Arts" that these talented fighters from Wisconsin are trained at the highest level, by some of the best trainers in the world, here in Milwaukee. Yes, fighting is a rough sport, so is the NFL, the NBA, the NHL, even Major league baseball. these are the sports that involve so much violence it makes me sick, with their sucker punches, & cheap shots that have ruined many careers, for no good reason. These are sports that don't involve fighting. In fact it's a joke, what happened to the sports role model? I know where he is, and Dave got to see some of them. Sure many MMA fighters may use a some trash talk, but at the end of the fight, no matter how much they may dislike each other, the embrace each other showing respect for the heart & respect of the true warrior. These guys don't fight in the street, they spend there days in the gym. Or guys like me work our careers, and jobs just to be able to afford the long physically demanding training with people from many backgrounds & cultures, one of the few places the color of your skin makes absolutely no difference because we are brothers. Many with realistic dreams of joining the elite, at the highest level. MMa have solidified the true Gentleman Warrior. And thank God, in this world of left wing panzies, there are still some real men. Dave, you disgust me, you ignorant schmuck. Mark OL' School Jensen "Team Knockout" |
Vandy Grift
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... That article was ridiculous. But then again, so is Dave Begel. I was one of the first to respond and made a few comments. But as soon as I heard he was on radio trying to defend his stance, I just threw my hands in the air. The guy obviously caught a few minutes of MMA and made a snap decision. I can actually understand that. But now, for some reason, he has decided to try and defend his stupid statements. He is just riding the wave of his own ignorance atthis point. That's what guys like Begel do. They make outlandish, ill informed, and downright retarded statements and then revel in the attention it brings them. As if being an idiot is something to be proud of. He's a smug little man who gets a kick out of winding people up. He doesn't care about MMA one bit. He simply thinks it funny to trash something that other people care about in order to bring attention to himself. You've all seen it a million times. The guy is pathetic. |
Rdub
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... Mark, I am an ultra-liberal guy, I do BJJ, have fought, and was a Marine, I don't see myself as left wing pansy but I am on the left wing. I don't get why the title of your comment was "More Liberal Ignorance" or why you threw out the liberal pansy line? what do my political leanings or the authors have to do with anything that was stated in that article? He's a jacka*s who made a snap judgment, but I doubt that his political ideology came into his judgment. I and many people of my ilk support and participate in MMA and have long before a lot folks jumped aboard, don't let your political leanings muddy the waters of what this about. |
MagnumMaid
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Does Dave Wegel get points or money... ..on how many people he brings to his blog/log-in to comment. I'd hate to think my post or anyones, has benifited him in any way....The ingnorance of his blather makes me think it has to have been intentional. Maybe I'm giving him too much credit for brains..LOL |
Vandy Grift
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... Hey Rdub, I was a Marine myself and agree that there is no real reason to bring politics into it. However, I think the reason that some people are mentioning Begles political leanings and liberal attitude is because not only does Begel not like MMA, he believes it should be outlawed. As in, get the Gov't involed and make it illegal because he personally doesn't approve of it. That is a tactic common among guys like Begel. Forget about "live and let live" or "if you don't like it, don't watch it". Guys like Begel believe if they don't like or approve of it, Government should come in and ban it. That's just a sad fact. |
Kaz
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... Guys politics has nothing to do with it.....remember McCain is a republican and he lead the origanal crusade against MMA |
Vandy Grift
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... That is a fact. Listen, I don't care how anyone votes or what they believe. Including Dave Begel. But when people start calling for something to be "outlawed" just because they don't like it, it bugs me. What can I say? |
BACON
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VOTES MATTER !!! Old people vote more then anyone else because they have nothing better to do. So If the AARP decides they dont like MMA you can kiss it good bye and my gramama does not like it. |
Redford
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... Haha, as a libertarian I don't agree with either side, but I get more negative MMA shit from religious conservatives. They are the people that think it is their business to tell people what they can and can't do. If you don't like it then fine, but keep your morals to yourself... |
Vandy Grift
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... Oh, now were gotta bring religion into it too huh? lol!! Watch. We all came to this thread out of disdain for Begels column and we'll wind up fighting amongst ourselves! Ha! |
Kaz
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... UNLESS YOU ARE ON A ROADTRIP W/ RED, THE BEARD AND WOOGIE.....THEN IT'S OK CUZ WE ALL JUST AGREE TO DISAGREE.... |
Mark Jensen
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SEMPER FI RDUB, My negetive emotions for Dave got the best of me, you are correct sir, it's not a political issue. and thank you for your service to our country, once a Marine, always a Marine. Mark Ol' School Jensen |
scottjoffe
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Come in Moon Base Alpha! Part 1 Here is my letter to OMC & Dave Begel from Monday, June 15, 2009: My name is Scott Joffe and I am Duke's partner in Duke Roufus MMA Academy and Gladiators Fighting LLC (producers of live MMA events). I have to say at first I was upset when I read what Dave Begel had to say on OnMilwaukee.com about his first experience watching MMA on television (Really?? First?? Living in a cave on the Moon Mr. Begel??). I had no intention of responding, however I will admit I cringed a bit while trying not to laugh too hard. That was some very bad writing to say the least. Like MMA or not, NOTHING Mr. Begel wrote made any sense. The more I read it, the less sense it makes. Let me try reading it backward or in a mirror, that might be the secret, not sure...?? If he was trying to be serious, he wasn't. If he was trying to be funny, he wasn't. If he was trying to provide factual information to back up his opinion, he didn't. I read all of the responses and postings to his rants, thankful to see that over 95% of them were POSITIVE. I was proud of what MMA fans had to say, proud they voiced their opinions so pa*sionately, and proud the reality is they got the facts right, and It was at this time that I realized why I am so pa*sionate about the sport and people involved in MMA. - Note to all OMC executives, writers and staffers: 1) More of your readers than you probably ever imagined enjoy watching, training and competing in Mixed Martial Arts. The students I come in contact with everyday in our school (that you so casually lumped into a pile with "thugs") include (you asked for this Mr. Begel, so here goes sir...) decorated police officers, sheriffs, firemen, members of all branches of the Military, including the United States Coast Guard and National Guard (all who would lay their LIFE on the line for you at a moments notice Mr. Begel), teachers, students, laborers, librarians, doctors, lawyers, members of the media (people who do what you do, but FACT CHECK everything first), extremely prominent sports celebrities, business owners, developers, pharmacists, etc... The list goes on and on Mr. Begel, but I will stop now as I think others (not you) get the point. You are, however, free to refer to these people simply as "thugs." I hope you never need their help or encounter them as you have no confidence in them, or our future, as you wrote. What will you do?? Kind of reminds me of the movie "Crash" in a way; |
scottjoffe
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Come in Moon Base Alpha! Part 2 2) MMA enthusiasts are much, much more intelligent, well adjusted and gainfully employed than Mr. Begel could have ever imagined. Knowing many MMA participants with college degrees (and double degrees, masters degrees, executive positions, etc...) and others just trying to make their way through life and stay on the right side of the tracks, I felt especially insulted for these people who are working so hard in achieving some lofty long term goals in life and MMA is their "Fortress of Solitude." They are far from thugs participating in an "abomination" as you call our sport. As well, MMA offers all people a chance to get in shape without competing, or a chance to train hard for a pro career at the top (many of whom live and train in Wisconsin) and make real money. Everyone knows Martial Arts changes lives in a positive manner. All of the MMA school owners that I personally know, which is many, only want one thing for their students. They want them and their lives to be affected in a positive way by their experience training, and competing if they choose to go that route. Now that Martial Arts is finally "real" and you can watch excellent Boxing skill combined with the 700 year old national sport of Thailand, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Tae Kwon Do, Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Wrestling, Grappling and even Pankration (the original "MMA" in the original Olympics,... where have you been Mr. Begel??) amongst many other styles, you want to outlaw fighting Mr. Begel?? It's way older than you and it's now on HD everywhere you look, I guess even as you channel surf in your Moon cave, as you just discovered "Watson." Seriously, as a "journalist" (What are you really?? Muckraker?? Bored?? Both??) who looks to be taken seriously, what do you read Mr. Begel? Where do you get your news and information? Really. Seriously. The Bedrock Times? You seem to enjoy other sports so for one moment I will a*sume the Moon gets ESPN or other major sports networks. Did you ever wonder for one second what "MMA" means when it scrolls along on the bottom ticker and then some news about MMA follows? Ok, maybe you've been at this for so long you gave up being inquisitive on selective issues (from the looks of your writing about MMA you did). Again however, you are free to write and believe whatever you want. Only I know the truth first hand, and you don't; |
scottjoffe
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Come in Moon Base Alpha! Part 3 3) And finally, when an MMA fan or participant is challenged by a completely uninformed, out-of-touch OMC "writer" they respond in kind, by writing back. Most real, straight up "thugs" can't write and are probably not on the Internet (and definitely not on the Moon so what are you so worried about Mr. Begel in the first place??). I didn't see any challenges to a meeting with Mr. Begel in a cage, ring, ally or lion's den. MMA proponents answered him within the same uncaged boundaries of his cyberspace attack on MMA and it's participants . . . online. The "thugs" (as Mr. Begel calls them) responded with a cyber beatdown of their own, using accurate information provided by recognized and respected universities and studies, that consistently showed regulated MMA to be much safer than Boxing (which makes sense, considering the additional chances a Boxer may get to continue in a bout), Football (which I love), Hockey (which I wish I could play) and Soccer (which I never played, but should). They also schooled Mr. Begel on a few other issues he was clueless on, as well. I thought it was nice of the MMA community to try and educate (help) Mr. Begel, as is their nature. People who know me, know I stand up 200% for your right as an American to say/post whatever you want about anything you want, and yes, others do not have to read it if they do not want to or ever visit OMC again for that matter, as other readers have suggested to MMA fans (Note to OMC: not a good solution if you want to retain readers and get new ones...!!). However, putting the title "Is MMA fighting the end of the world as we know it?" on your front page was very sensationalistic (National Enquirer/Star yes) for starters. Then we find this thing (MMA) that was so "new" to Mr. Begel isn't new at all, as we have been correctly informed. As well, bash MMA now all you want, it's already been done Mr. Begel here on Earth years ago. Fans and participants are flocking in droves to the sport and there is no turning back. A regulated state is a safe state and it's sweeping the nation. The sport is not going away in any of our lifetimes. Participants will always gravitate to the states where it's regulated, safe and allowed and the sport will only continue to grow and grow. The end of the world, if it comes from the hand(s) of a human, does not come from MMA sir. No, it will be much more violent than MMA could ever hope to be. MMA is the least of your worries with countries like North Korea and Iran rattling around. But the Moon has no North Korea or Iran (right??) so you're safe, I a*sume. Let me ask the "thugs." I'll get back to you on that one... maybe. All the best, Scott Joffe Partner Duke Roufus Academy LLC Gladiators Fighting LLC |
Vandy Grift
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... That was a great letter. Unfortunately, as far as Begel is concerned, I'm sure it fell on deaf (and dumb) ears. |
MagnumMaid
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Excellent letter ! I would like to add "Families" to the list of those that have benefited greatly from MMA. The derth of history behind the Gracies and other groups and individuals, the focus on strong healthy living, the variety of the individual arts and their histories. My family,as one microcosum in to the MMA community, is people helping themselves and each other, to strive (mentally, spiritually and physically) to be the best they can be. The balance that participating in MMA provides to my family, in the sedentary,consumer-centric, Pharma-obsessed life of modern society, is priceless. |
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