Thursday, March 12, 2009

THE BLOODY TRUTH ABOUT AMERICA’S FASTEST GROWING SPORT

THE BLOODY TRUTH ABOUT AMERICA’S FASTEST GROWING SPORT
I’m sure nearly everybody that reads this blog has heard of Hulk Hogan or the WWF (World Wrestling Federation). Surely, even some of you remember when you were little kids sitting in front of the TV watching Hulk Hogan pick up 600lb Andre the Giant in Wrestle Mania, hold him in the air, body slam him to the mat, and win the championship belt. THAT WAS SOME VIOLENT STUFF!!… right???

It seems that America is craving yet even more violence. It’s hard to believe that this violence, more recently, has become greatly overshadowed by a new emerging sport. The Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight format has indeed came into the picture and has yet to slow its momentum of popularity. According to an article posted by the Los Angeles Times in Sept. 2008, MMA is a high adrenaline fight format that is illegal in 18 states, it is not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle, and is quickly becoming a branded magnet that will attract most every slice of pop culture pie which includes bar room brawlers, parents, and kids. It first appeared not that popular in 1993 in the pop culture radar under the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) League because it was basically an “anything goes- bar brawl spectacle”. It wasn’t until the league reformed to actually having rules, weight classes, and round formats before it currently became the fastest growing, yet bloodiest sport that has ever been allowed to be broadcast on TV. According to an article released by the New York Press there’s even been talk about the UFC totally eclipsing the sport of boxing.
Despite the fact that I absolutely love the sport, I think that young children should not view this sport. In watching this sport I have seen people knocked out, bloodied up, broken limbs, broken noses, and eyes swelled completely shut. Even before the UFC came out there were many articles and statistics that show the effects violence can have on children. TV and Film Violence
What are your thoughts on the sport itself and thoughts about this new nature of violence? Do you think in the future that there will be sports allowed on TV that are even more violent? When will this trend stop? Will it?
The UFC Corporation uses many things that relate to topics we have discussed in our PR classes. News releases are distributed every day on the UFC website. In these news releases are upcoming fights and other information that is going on around the league. People and the media crave this broadcasted information. The UFC uses many things such as the internet, face book, TV commercials, action figurines, nutrition and strength supplements, among many others to get the “Seeing is believing message across” to the millions of fans out there.

6 comments:

  1. I just do not get this sport at all! I know people....mostly guys...like watching fights and all that stuff but seriously can't watch someone bleeding or bones sticking out or anything gory for that matter! However, It is a sport that is loved by many and I can only see it getting more popular in the future. Like you said though, young kids should definitely not be watching this sport as I think it will only cause them to want to re-create it themselves and end up getting seriously hurt. I think you tied this story in very well with what we are talking about. They publish many news releases in many different ways like you talked about and that’s how they are getting so much popularity.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow... Wow...
    I know that watching people getting the crap beat out of them is gaining popularity. There are youtube videos of teenagers beating up other kids and than bragging about how many views they have.
    I believe sports like these portray a negative lifestyle. I do not think that violence is the answer. Yes, I know it is a sport, but is it safe? Definately not.
    I also believe what makes this sport so popular is how real this sport is. It isn't fake like the WWF, when people are hit over and over... they feel it and it shows.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I remember the days when Ken Shamrock was the top dog along with Tank Johnson bashing guys faces in. Wow, the UFC has sure taken off since those days becoming more regulated with safetly and fighting rules. Heck, back in the day you could punch a guy in the back of the head when he was down on the ground, not anymore. That was the way I liked it, but the UFC had to change and with change came a huge growing fan base. You talk about the violence alot in your, hey come on its not that violent about a month ago I saw I guy it is ear literaly punched off at a UFC pay per view. I also liked how you said kids shouldn't watch the UFC and then later in your article you talk about action figures they have out. I guess their already targeting the kids. That is an example of targeting all audiences.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I will say that I am a fan of the UFC and its sponsors. I will also agree that this type of violence will not go unchecked and because of that, the want will only grow. People love to do things that they are told they can't. That is our society today... If someone told me that I couldn't go bunjie jumping off of a bridge, I would try to do it just to spite them and show them that yes, I can do it. People all over the world have this mentality. Thus I can only see more violent shows and the continuation of shows like UFC to continue long past our lives.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am a huge fan of this sport! There is nothing better than to watch UFC or WEC and find yourself tensing up or moving your legs when you don't even mean to. It is so intense andd if it was illegal in all 50 states, it would definately go underground and continue illegally. I know it's not for everyone and I know people get seriously injured, but those referees are highly trained and try to keep it as safe as possible. If someone hasn't seen this on TV they should definately watch it with unbiased opinions first.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I like to watch Mixed Martial Arts on television or in person, but there are some scary trends going on with this. I have heard of fight clubs started by high school students that are posted on youtube. Also, there is a trend of parents getting their children into training for MMA at very young ages, and getting them into organized fights at ages of around 5 years old. These could be bad trends for kids to get into because sooner or later someone will be hurt.

    ReplyDelete