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Results tagged ' George Brett '
Announcements from Pettitte, Chipper have fans thinking Cooperstown
The breaking news has been flying fast and furious out of Spring Training this week.
Chipper Jones is retiring. Andy Pettitte is returning. And the conjecture is resuming: Will either or both of these two fantastic players make it to Cooperstown?
Predicting the future of the Baseball Writers' Association of America Hall of Fame vote is best left to those who have a vote. But the eligibility rules for Hall of Fame candidates remain perfectly clear.
Start with Chipper, who announced Thursday that the 2012 season will be his last as a Braves player. If he plays in at least one game this year and hangs 'em up as planned, Jones would be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2018. Eligible candidates must not have appeared in a big league game in five straight seasons, meaning Jones would need to stay retired in 2013, '14, '15, '16 and '17 before he appears on the BBWAA ballot.
The 1999 National League Most Valuable Player has 454 home runs and 1,561 in both the runs and RBI categories – talk about symmetry – entering the 2012 season. Among Hall of Fame third basemen – Chipper has made 82 percent of his big league appearances in the field at the hot corner – only Mike Schmidt and Eddie Mathews have more home runs and only Schmidt and George Brett have more RBI (Jones trails Brett, the Hall of Fame leader among third basemen, by just 35 RBI).
Pettitte, meanwhile, is returning to the big leagues after retiring following the 2010 season. Technically, Pettitte's Hall of Fame clock has not yet been reset – since that happens only when a player appears in a regular-season game.
As of today, Pettitte remains eligible for the Hall of Fame Class of 2016 – assuming he adds 2012, '13, '14 and '15 to his non-active 2011 season. The 240-game winner, who also holds the MLB record for most postseason wins with 19, has pitched in 16 big league seasons and been a part of eight World Series teams and five World Series champions.
Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Bo Knows Records
I've been a Royals fan for most of my life. Ever since my family moved back to Kansas City in 1993, I've cheered for the Boys in Blue.
Unfortunately, Bo Jackson was already gone by the time I fell in love with the Royals. His last season in K.C. was 1990. But I remember seeing his larger-than-life persona everywhere. Even in rural Oklahoma, where baseball and football weren't on my attention landscape, Bo was there.
Between Nike's "Bo Knows" campaign, his Heisman Trophy, playing in the NFL "as a hobby" and his All-Star Game MVP Award, Jackson's exploits became folk legends. He's like Paul Bunyan and John Henry wrapped in to one when people talk about his run, literally up the wall in Baltimore, or his throw from the warning track in left to gun down Harold Reynolds at the plate in the Kingdom.
Video of him doing amazing things in Royals Powder Blue is engrained in my mind. But I've only seen the man in the person twice. The first time was in 1994 – the last season of his career. Jackson was on the warning track, chatting with fans before a June Angels-Royals matchup at Kauffman Stadium. The photo I have from that night shows a massive man – even after hip replacement surgery. He was an impressive sight.
Looking back at the box scores, Jackson only played in two of the three games that series. My memory is fuzzy as to which game I went to, so I may not have even seen him play. But the record of his career will lives on, not just in my mind, but in baseball lore.
In fact, among his more amazing accomplishments, one feat actually made it into the record books – since steps taken on a wall while parallel to a field and number of astonishing outfield assists to create plays at the plate aren't official stats.
In July and August of 1990, Jackson tied the record for home runs in consecutive at-bats. It's an interesting story, as most Bo legends are. On July 17, 1990, Jackson connected for home runs in his first three at-bats, pounding Yankees starter Andy Hawkins to the tune of seven RBI. He hit one in the first inning with Hall of Famer George Brett on base, connected for another blast in the top of the third – scoring Brett again – and hit his third in three trips to the plate in the fifth, scoring Brett a third time and adding Kevin Seitzer to his runs batted in. Even the Yankee crowd had to applaud. Brett called the performance colossal.
But in the bottom of the sixth, fellow two-sport star Deion Sanders came up with the Yanks threatening. A run had just scored and with a man on third, the Royals were up 8-5. Sanders hit a fly to deep right-center and Jackson started tracking it. Jackson's diving stab missed the ball and the Yankees' speedy rookie circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run. Jackson was removed from the game and put on the disabled list the next day with a partially dislocated left shoulder, missing out on his chance for the coveted four home runs in a single game.
But Bo wouldn't rest without setting some kind of record. The first ball he saw in his first at-bat back from the DL, he hit for a monstrous shot at then-Royals Stadium on Aug. 26th. Estimated at 450 feet, he said he saw the ball's threads on the offering from imposing Seattle ace Randy Johnson.
Twenty-five batters have hit home runs in four consecutive at-bats, but I can almost guarantee none did it quite like the iconic Jackson. I saw him for the second time in person on Opening Day this spring in Kansas City. Impeccably dressed in a suit, he still looked like a man who could do amazing things. While Jackson's specific record won't be included in the Hall of Fame's new One for the Books, the story behind his achievement is what the Hall's new exhibit is all about, which makes me excited for the opening on May 28th.
Trevor Hayes is the editorial production manager at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Hall Monitor: Award Season Begins
By Trevor Hayes
Awards, prizes, honors. No matter what you call them, they serve as validation for a year of hard work on the diamond.
First up were the Gold Glove Awards on Tuesday and Wednesday and the Silver Sluggers yesterday.
Rolen along: Reds third baseman Scott Rolen won his eighth Gold Glove on Wednesday. Now only two third basemen have won the award more than Cincy's man at the hot corner, Hall of Famers Brooks Robinson (16) and Mike Schmidt (10).
Meanwhile the New Red Machine, which reached the playoffs for the first time since 1995, placed two other Reds among this season's Gold Glove winners. Second baseman Brandon Phillips earned his second award and pitcher Bronson Arroyo won his first. The last time Cincinnati had more than one Gold Glove was over four straight years when the quartet of center fielder Cesar Geronimo, shortstop Dave Concepcion and future Hall of Famers Johnny Bench (catcher) and Joe Morgan (second baseman) won the awards from 1974 to 1977.
Joining the greats: Ichiro Suzuki has played 10 years in the majors and his numbers seem automatic: 10 All-Star selections, 10 200-hit seasons, 10 seasons with 30-plus stolen bases, 10 seasons with an average over .300 and now 10 Gold Gloves. Among outfielders, only two men have more Gold Gloves and just three others have received 10 trophies from Rawlings. Matching Ichiro at 10 apiece are Andruw Jones, Ken Griffey Jr., and Hall of Famer Al Kaline. But Ichiro is still looking up at Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente, who each earned the award 12 times.
Carl among select in left: Also on Tuesday, the Rays' Carl Crawford won his first Gold Glove – and he did it as a left fielder. Over the last three decades in the American League, center fielders have dominated the Gold Glove Awards, with right fielders earning sporadic recognition (aside from Ichiro Suzuki's 10 straight). Since 1958, when the Award was separated by league, nine men have earned 18 Gold Gloves as a left fielder – seven of which went to Carl Yastrazemski. Over the last 30 years, just four men have taken home the honor. The last before Crawford was Darin Erstad in 2000. Before him were Hall of Famers Dave Winfield (two straight in 1982 and 1983) and Rickey Henderson (1981).
"Fly away": 2008 Ford C. Frick Award winner Dave Niehaus passed away Wednesday night at the age of 75. For fans in the Seattle area, there will be an open house at Safeco Field from noon to 3 p.m. PT Saturday for fans to gather and reflect upon the Voice of the Seattle Mariners. There will be no formal program, but fans are invited to sign a remembrance book for the Niehaus family. There is also an online tribute page for available at www.mariners.com/dave, where fans can post messages and see highlights of his career.
No. 5 on Studio 42: Bob Costas' MLB Network show Studio 42, which revisits baseball great moments through interviews with key players and Hall of Famers alike, premieres tonight. The first episode will feature George Brett, who will join Costas in an hour-long conversation starting at 8 p.m. ET to talk about his career. Topics will include Brett's chase for .400, the pine tar incident, the Royals 1985 Championship along with their rivalry with the Yankees and more. Included during the program will be thoughts on Brett from fellow Hall of Famer and longtime nemesis on the diamond, Goose Gossage – the bulldog relief pitcher who faced Brett during several memorable battles.
Trevor Hayes is the editorial production manager at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Lucky 10,000
By Trevor Hayes
Colby Lessmann became a fan of the Hall of Fame on Facebook last week because he wanted to stay in touch. Little did he know that by clicking the "Become a fan" button on www.facebook.com/baseballhall, he'd be getting more than updates on his News Feed.
Lessmann just happened to be Facebook fan number 10,000 – a mark the Hall reached in just over a year after launching on Opening Day 2009. To honor him, the Hall of Fame has given away an individual membership. As a Member, Lessmann receives a subscription to the Hall's bi-monthly Memories and Dreams magazine, a Hall of Fame Yearbook, complimentary admission, a Tom Seaver membership card and lapel pin and a 10 percent discount and free shipping on all purchases through the Hall of Fame store at www.baseballhall.org/shop.
A baseball-lifer, Lessmann has been a fan since his early childhood, continuing to play the game through college and now as an amateur at age 37. He grew up four hours north of Kansas City and watched the glory years of the Royals, led by Hall of Famer George Brett. Many of Brett's heroic feats serve as Lessmann's greatest baseball moments.
"Back in the 80's my family and I went to a Royals game," Lessmann said of his favorite memory. "It turned out Brett had been injured, but he pinch hit in the ninth inning. When he came out on deck the crowd went crazy. He came up and jacked a home run over the right field wall and the stadium went wild."
An ardent Royals fan, he's been to at least one game in K.C. each year since 1979, but growing up in Iowa also provided the chance to easily travel to games in Minnesota and Chicago. As an adult he's taken that passion to a new level and vowed to visit every major league stadium.
"Of course, it is getting more difficult because they keep building new stadiums," Lessmann said. Among his conquests have been the brand new Target Field, Safeco Field, Chase Field, AT&T Park, Comerica Park, Great American Ballpark and 16 others past and present.
He's also writing on the history of baseball in his hometown of Sioux City, Iowa. And After doing some research for the book through the Library, Lessmann sought out the Hall's Facebook page.
"The Research Center at the Hall of Fame helped me out., (so I) wanted to be a fan to show my appreciation for a great museum and research facility" he said. "I have visited the Hall of Fame a few years ago and plan to go back in the future. I went probably 10 years ago when I was in northern New York State. My favorite memory was viewing all of the old memorabilia of Ruth, Gehrig and other greats. It is a great experience that any baseball fan should pursue."
Now as both a Facebook fan and a Hall of Fame member, he can continue re-living the great moments in baseball history with his connection to the game. Make sure you don't miss out on the Facebook action at www.facebook.com/baseballhall.
Trevor Hayes is the editorial production manager at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Tales from the Cactus League
By Jeff Idelson
I am so glad Spring Training is here, even if it was warmer in Cooperstown than in the desert for a few of the days I visited Arizona last week. Boy did I miss baseball. And in my job, I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to rub elbows with so many of the game's greats, bringing them closer to the Hall of Fame.
I got to see the Giants, Brewers, White Sox, Mariners, Indians, Reds, Royals and Rangers all play.
It was great to see the two reigning Cy Young award winners – Tim Lincecum and Zack Greinke – pitch. I brought Tim plaque postcards of Sandy Koufax and Jim Palmer. Why? They are the only Hall of Famers to win back-to-back Cy Young Awards. Perhaps they will help inspire Tim, not that he needs inspiration.
Before the Cactus League opener in Peoria, I visited my friends in the Mariners clubhouse: Head athletic trainer Rick Griffin and I talked about the health of his players; Ken Griffey Jr. told me he expected Ichiro to get twice as many regular season hits as he would – including spring training. "I'm aiming for 150 hits," said Junior. "Have you seen Ichiro get hot? You turn around, and he's gone 15-for-25. If anyone can get 300 hits, it's him." I don't doubt Griffey's sense of logic, having seen Ichiro play so many times.
Did you ever take an advanced or AP class in high school? I took AP Baseball last week with Professor Ryan. Nolan and I sat together for the Rangers-Royals game, where he gave me a breakdown of every player on the field. I had a similar experience a few days later with White Sox owner and Hall of Fame Board member Jerry Reinsdorf, who invited me to sit with him, his vice chairman, Eddie Einhorn, and his special assistant, Dennis Gilbert, the former agent for George Brett. I now know where the White Sox's strengths and weaknesses lie. Bobby Brett, George's brother, joined us.
We held our annual Cactus League Champions event in Goodyear, where the Indians and Reds train. It's a great complex. The Indians were very generous in hosting our Champions, those who support us with an annual donation of $5,000 or more.
Team President Paul Dolan and assistant GM Chris Antonetti addressed our group and let them know what to expect from the Indians this year. After the game, we all had dinner with Bob Feller and Fergie Jenkins, where they regaled the group with stories, photos and autographs.
Speaking of dinners, Billy Williams, Ryne Sandberg, Fergie and their wives joined me for dinner the night before. We toasted to a good 2010 Cubs team and the Williams' 50th wedding anniversary. Quite a feat for the Williamses, a lovely couple.
On my first night in Arizona, I was joined by Mickey Morabito and Steve Vucinich from the A's, Gary Hughes, the Cubs scout, Roland Hemond, the long-time Bill Veeck disciple who works for the Diamondbacks, and veteran writers Bob Nightengale, of USA Today, and Spink Award winner Tracy Ringolsby. We get together each spring to talk about scouting and the game today. We used to dine each year at the Pink Pony, a popular old-school steakhouse on North Scottsdale Road that finally closed its doors. We miss the Pony.
On my final evening, I hosted the dinner to end all dinners, at Don & Charlie's, a popular Scottsdale hangout with great steaks and ribs. We had a large group that included Bob Uecker, Rollie Fingers, Robin Yount and his brother Larry, George Brett and his guest Joe Randa, Mike Murphy, the Giants' clubhouse man since Day One in San Francisco, Brad Ziegler, my friend who pitches in the A's bullpen, Jerry, Eddie and Dennis from the White Sox, and Bob Crotty, who is a generous Hall of Fame supporter and owner of Green Diamonds Gallery in Cincinnati, an exquisite baseball gallery of artifacts and art.
Just before we were getting ready to sit down to dinner, Uecker calls me from his cell phone to let me know he invited two other mutual friends – Bob Costas and Joe Torre.
We had a great dinner and talked about the Dodgers impending trip to Taiwan, told Yogi stories, heard all about the Olympics, and tried to recollect if Torre and Fingers ever faced each other. "Did I ever face you?" Joe asked? "I can't recall," was Rollie's response.
So, I emailed Freddy Berowski in the Hall of Fame Library. Sorry Joe: You faced Rollie one time in the regular season, on May 1, 1977, and struck out. You also faced him in the 1973 All-Star Game and popped out in the 9th. None-the-less, you remain one the game's greatest players, managers and ambassadors and it's hard to imagine you won't be in Cooperstown one day.
Jeff Idelson is president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.


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For fans like me, Lance Armstrong doping saga spoils memories
(Read article summary)Peter Ford, who covered Lance Armstrong's winning streak at the Tour de France for the Monitor, writes that Armstrong's doping has 'tainted some of my happiest memories of reporting in France.'
Peter Dejong/AP/File
Thirteen years ago, on an idyllic summer's afternoon, I stood by the side of a road in the cheesemaking region of Cantal and watched Lance Armstrong speed by, tucked into the peloton, on his way to his first victory in the Tour de France.
It was 1999. A year earlier the Tour had been in tatters, devastated by a doping scandal that had seen police and judges raiding riders' hotel rooms in the middle of the night, seizing drugs. Armstrong's successful arrival on the scene after overcoming cancer "is symbolic of the way the Tour de France is emerging from its own battle against disappearance," said the tour director at the time.
His victory would be "highly symbolic of the combat he fought against death, and that we are fighting against doping," promised Jean-Marie Leblanc.
It turns out that Mr. Armstrong beat the Tour de France organizers just as he had beaten death. Today the International Cycling Union (UCI), accepting evidence gathered by the US Anti-Doping Agency that Armstrong was a serial drug-taker, stripped the US "champion" of all his titles.
Even back in 1999, people suspected something was wrong. "Armstrong is very strong, too strong, incredibly strong," commented one French TV journalist the evening that the US rider won a punishing stage in the Alps.
But that could be dismissed as sour grapes, as an American charged into a sport long dominated by the French and swept all before him, "winning" a record seven Tours.
And we all wanted to believe in Armstrong, from the UCI – for whom he was a magnificent money-spinning mascot for his sport – down to the lowliest spectator standing by the side of the road who admired his comeback courage.

subset: commoncrawl


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As something unique I also offer Tantra Massage, Tantra Wellness, Sensory Journeys, Tantra fantasy Massage and Tantra Sliding Massage. They are relaxing types of Tantra Massage, based on dissolving tensions throughout the body, to make you feel at ease and trigger your senses. They enhance your sensual and sexual desire and thus your life energy. It is the purpose to enjoy the moment in a physical, sensual, sexual and spiritual loving way. The treatments can be experienced as very intense and deep and you may experience reactions such as joy, sorrow, pain, relief etc.. this is natural, and I give space for you to express your reactions.
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text: FINE LIVING Fine Living Galleries The New-Old 21 Broad Nantucket Special Places To Stay Special Places To Stay W Lakeshore Hotel W Lakeshore Hotel L'Ermitage Beverly Hills' Studio 54-Themed Suite L'Ermitage Beverly Hills' Studio 54-Themed Suite Peninsula Hotel Paris Peninsula Hotel Paris Coming Next OR 0 5 Back to Top ▲ The New-Old 21 Broad Nantucket The New-Old 21 Broad Nantucket The New-Old 21 Broad Nantucket Jared Paul Stern Share on Facebook Share on Twitter 0 Shares Think of Nantucket and you probably picture lobsters, shingled cottages and preppies frolicking on the beach. Cute female preppies. Our thoughts exactly. Now, thanks to Lark Hotels, there's even somewhere to stay. Lark has been reinvigorating New England with boutique spots in picturesque towns lacking in hotel options, including the Ale House Inn in Portsmouth, N.H. and the Break Hotel in Narragansett, R.I. Their M.O. is to buy historic properties and give them a fresh, modern twist with plenty of style but fairly reasonable pricing. Their newest venture, 21 Broad, is smack in the middle of all the Nantucket action. The building dates from 1876, and Lark has done it over with lots of fresh white paint, natural woods, impressive works of art, sea grass, and earth-toned linens. There's also a spa, iPad and iPod docking stations, 40-inch LED Smart TVs, and concierge service. Whether you wear shorts with little whales on them is up to you. Next Page Luxury Hotel Hotel fine living Boutique Hotel Comments Show Comments More Like This Promoted Around the Web Special Features


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Righties, word of warning: You won't like this ad at all, in part because I think you'll think it's quite good. http://rawstory.com/news/2005/MoveOn.org_to_release_ad_calling_for_0203.html
CNN-Moveon.org the left wings answer to Fox News/Limbaugh.com My dogs better than your dog _____________________________________ :rocker: :rocker:
Sorry, Wrong on both counts. I love the ad. But not cause I think it is any good. Because it is factually based on a lie; it is a pointless ad. But that is why I like it. The more often Move On goes wasting liberals money on useless ineffectual ads promoting an agenda with absolutly 0 chance of doing anything the better. And the less chance they actually try and do something I would have a problem with like coming up with an actual agenda for what they are for instead of finding everything wrong with republicans.
Gumby, it's not factually based on a lie; at worst, it's based on an interpretation of facts that some (not even all Republicans) dispute. From a political point of view, associating Bush's views with Nixon's famous remark is not likely to win Bush any new support. Your reaction would have been predictable if I had not expected more from you.
Say whatever you want, but illegal wiretaps are clearly illegal and this is agreed to by both sides of the aisle. If GWB wants to do this change the law, if not he is the same as Nixon.
Totally agree with your post, Boy. ...but wiretapping is still unconstitutional without a warrant - don't you agree?
I expect an honest answer whether or not I agree. Boy shouldn't be dismissed so easily. He has been here for 8 decades and, IMO, has a lot to offer. The most important thing is not to have someone agree with me.
Yes I do agree and I am sure Bush will pay dearly for it once the "Uncle Teddy Gang" can prove it. BUT, CAN THEY PROVE IT. Everything the Bush Haters have come up with to pin on Bush has blown up in their faces since day one. They started with the DUI and have worked themselves up to the most recent one, wiretapping, they scratch and search for anything that they can use to destroy their president and they constantly come up with NOTHING. What will happen this time. (wonder what Dan Rather has to say about this "new one")
Its not a lie...its just that the right wing whackos are completely delusional... completely and utterly, hopelessly manipulated by Rove and the rest of Bush's criminal propaganda outlet. Goebbels is alive today and his name is Roger Ailes/Rush Limbaugh/Rupert Murdoch.


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Barbara Walters' Surprise 'SNL' Appearance
ABC News' Barbara Walters Delivers her own one-liners on "SNL's" Weekend Update.
Barbara Walters: Celebrating a True Original
Watch her final appearance on 'The View' on May 16 and 'Barbara Walters: Her Story' on May 16 at 9 p.m. ET


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Southend United's Chris Barker after Northampton Town and before Morecambe
Blues now regular centre-back Chris Barker knows his side have to cut out the defensive errors if they are going to move up the League Two table. CHRIS Barker wants Southend United's defensive sloppiness at Northampton Town on Saturday to be just a blip. Blues gifted the Cobblers both their goals in a 2-1 League Two defeat at the Sixfields Stadium. But centre-back Barker now wants to see a return to the form which saw his side concede just once in their three matches before the weekend. "We had been doing OK at the back until Saturday and we want to get back to being like that again," said the 30-year-old. "We made two basic errors which led to their goals, which is disappointing, but now we need to start again against Morecambe this weekend and start to kick on again." Morecambe are currently bottom of the League Two table having picked up just three points from their opening six games of the season. Blues have enjoyed more success than the Lancashire side and had secured three successive victories before Saturday's defeat. But Barker is still frustrated that the winning run came to an end as a result of Southend's mistakes. "It's very disappointing because I think we lost the game rather than them winning it, to be honest," said the experienced defender. "We were 1-0 up after an hour and were well placed to go on and win it. "But we gifted them goals and you just can't afford to do that."
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Slatewell holdings ltd, Wordpress
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Votes (1)Posted October 05, 2012
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hmmm. Slatewell Holdings Ltd. finally! Im about to solve my problem with this,.,Cheers!
Posted October 11, 2012
By ninca cortez
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Is this Slatewell Holdings Ltd. connected to the group of petroleum industry companies?
Posted October 12, 2012
By kathy bates
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for you to know! Haha,.," SLATEHOLDINGS is the operating arm of Slate Exploration, LLP and the parent of a group of petroleum industry companies that provide multi-faceted service to the oil patch. "
Posted October 15, 2012
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Posted October 17, 2012
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Troubled RiverCity faces end of the road
PUBLISHED: 30 Sep 2010 10:21:00 | UPDATED: 01 Oct 2010 06:08:14PUBLISHED: 01 Oct 2010 PRINT EDITION: 01 Oct 2010RiverCity Motorway, the financially troubled owner of Brisbane's Clem Jones Tunnel, said on Thursday it could wind up the company after September 2011 if it did not reach a financing agreement with its banks.
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16 Amazing Anti-Aging Beauty Tips
Tried and true beauty tips to keep your skin looking young and fresh.
Anti-Aging x3?
Imagine a product that could minimize wrinkles, reduce spots, and boost firmness...now imagine that it's a reality! Such a product does exist, it's called Avon Anew Genics Treatment Cream ($38, avon.com), and it promises this triple play against aging. Its patented ingredients claim to stimulate a "youth" gene that's been found to be especially active in a long-living community in Italy. But does it deliver?
How We Tested: Women age 35 and over used the night cream for eight weeks. At the start and finish of the test, our scientists used high-tech lab equipment to examine testers' skin for wrinkles, age spots, firmness, and moisturization.
The Results: In the lab, the majority of testers had an increase in skin firming, and a few had improvements in age spots. However, none showed any reduction in wrinkles. Lab tests proved the cream to be a decent moisturizer, and most testers confirmed that their skin felt firmer and softer. "My sister-in-law told me my skin looks amazing," reported one tester.
Bottom Line: Best used for skin-firming and softening.


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Electronics » Motion Control Modules » RC Servo Controllers »Pololu Micro Serial Servo Controller (partial kit)This version of the micro serial servo controller is packaged as a partial kit in which the surface-mounted components are already assembled. Male header pins are included, but you can also connect your servos directly to the PCB if space or weight are a concern. Compare all products in RC Servo Controllers.
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text: We have visited quite a lot of Thermen in Germany, and a problem is that the food generally is quite bad. Sometimes it is not so bad, but then it is generally very expensive. But here, in the restaurant in the sauna area of Therme Erding is really good. We have eaten here many times, and have... read more


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Running Naked Fat Man
Senior Member
Lets head off the flamers first.... 1) No Banshee Veil wasn't involved, spell/skill cancellation of any kind was not even present in the game. 2) I know how to play Gang Plank, for that matter the person playing Jax knew how to play 3) Yes I made it a point to test this.... Now to the bug... I have noticed that Jax has a 100% Dodge Chance against Parrrley. I was recently in a game, playing Gang Plank, and an opponent had Jax. Now the person playing Jax was good, and I give him/her credit for that. However the entire game Parrrley couldn't hit Jax, he had a 100% Dodge against Parrrley. Now I am not saying he dodged almost all of my Parrrley, I am saying he Dodged EVERY parrrley. I even went out of my way to find him, and shoot him. Every time to watch it miss. I understand Jax has an extremely high Dodge rate, but this is crazy. My Parrrley would miss, yet I could walk up and slap him with my sword. Again, this was a 100% Dodge rate against Parrrley, without question. Is this a known bug?
just unlucky i think, played some games with gankplank vs jax in the last few days and my parley hitted but nevertheless the whole game no shot on jax is pretty unlucky
Was there a Teemo/Corki with him in the lane? Parrrley also doesn't hit if you're blinded.
Negative. As far as character and items go, nothing in play that would effect it not hitting. The only other weird thing today was the previous game my good friends Ultimate wouldn't work, the entire game. He had points into it, but it wouldn't go off....very frustrating.


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Ann Driscoll, SBC Program Director
Ann Driscoll, SBC Program Director
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Ann Driscoll, Sustainable Business and Communities Program Director, speaks about the SBC program at Goddard College.
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Raj Nagra, Bombay Sapphire Global Brand Ambassador
The always vibrant and charismatic Industry personality and Global Bombay Sapphire Brand Ambassador Raj Nagra brings Bacardi Global Brands over two decades of unique industry knowledge from both a business and trade perspective.
Now in his 13th year as a brand ambassador, Raj has brought his dynamic personality, knowledge and passion to make a positive impact on Bacardi brands.
Raj started out bartending and managing some of Australia's best bars and clubs from a young age, he consulted to the Sheikh of Dubai with his team and opened the Emirates Towers Hotel in 2000. He was running bartender training programs, consulting and executing events before he became the unprecedented Australian Brand Ambassador, working with Bacardi, traveling the country extensively training and educating bartenders since 2001. He became an International Bacardi Ambassador in 2003. Then in 2006 was awarded Bartender Magazines Australian Brand Ambassador of the Year. Raj made a move to Shanghai and became the Bacardi Asia Pacific Brand Ambassador – where he traveled extensively across the region, styling cocktails, educating and consulting to bars, clubs and hotels on Bacardi's portfolio of brands, including Bombay Sapphire, Bacardi Rum, 42Below, Grey Goose and Dewar's Whisky.


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At Chain Link in Minneapolis in July 2011, CGOA held the inaugural CGOA Crochet Hall of Fame event at the Textile Center of Minneapolis. The grand event celebrated the induction of Jean Leinhauser, the first Hall-of-Famer, into this auspicious soon-to-be cadre of crocheters. Unfortunately, soon after Jean had been told she was to be honored, she lost her battle against illness. The event still celebrated Jean's life with her dear friends Bobbie Matela, Susan Sullivan and Rita Weiss sharing stories, history and photos of their associations with Jean and her prominence in the world of crochet. The CGOA Board of Directors has voted to rename the recognition to the Jean Leinhauser CGOA Crochet Hall of Fame. Jean's memory will be forever linked with this honor.
Hall of Fame Awards:
The above members were nominated for the award in 2014 and may be nominated again in 2015. Voting will begin next year about three months before conference in July. We thank everyone for their nominations and as you can see by the names above, this is truly a talented organization!


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ai playz hidez 'n sneekz
Kitteh, yoo awr awfully gud at hiding. Can we play Red Rober next insted?
Love LOLcats? Who doesn't?! There are so many more over here!
Well how do ya like that? ...the Keebler elves ...How you guys doin'?
It's not just kittehs that love captions! ALL THE ANIMALS DO! Check out Animal Capshunz for MOAR!
u cant see me! i is a flower!
Cyoot puppehs and funneh goggies: I Has a Hotdog has 'em all!


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Moderators: Adam, ElGuano, LuvMyTJ, BenDronePilot
FASTFJR wrote:Since I don't want to wear goggles this seems like a good set up
http://www.dslrpros.com/Products/tabid/ ... fault.aspx
hjscm wrote:so if i got the phantom2 with gimble i do not need a cable out of go pro? the gimble has on that plugs into go pro 3 and then i can plug the vtx cable into my fatshark 250mw? what kinda connector comes off bemuse to fatshark? do i need something special there?
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12 Blank Table Tent Place Cards, Tiffany Inspired, Stripes, Wedding, Bridal Shower, Baby Shower, Birthday
ByProduct Info
♥ Ships 3 business days after purchase♥
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♥ Shipping upgrades available in the checkout ♥
These table tent style place cards are terrific way to make your party even more special!
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* Use on your table settings as place cards, food labels, table numbers.....
These are not personalized - you simply write on your info. (Pen not included.)
I can personalize these for you - cost is an additional $.50 per card. Message me *before* you order for details about font styles, shipping time, etc.
Need more than 12 cards? Simply change the quantity from the drop down menu. A quantity of "1" = 12 cards, "2" = 24 cards, etc..
♥ Ships 3 business days after purchase ♥
♥ This item ships by USPS First Class Mail (once in the mail, this is usually a 2 to 5 day delivery time) ♥
♥ Shipping upgrades available in the checkout ♥
PLEASE NOTE: If you need something rushed, please contact me first. I will check my production schedule to see if I can fit your order in. $10. rush fee will apply.
PLEASE NOTE: While this is a "Tiffany-inspired" design, computer monitors vary. I cannot guarantee the print product color will look exactly the same way it appears on your monitor and I cannot guarantee it will be an exact match to the trademarked "Tiffany blue" color.


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371M Mobile Computing
Undergraduate Program
Electives Overview of mobile computing. Emphasis on mobile application development. Use of mobile capabilities: sensors, location, telephony, multimedia.
The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Computer Science 311 or 311H or 313K or 313H, 314 or 314H or 315 or 315H, 310 or 310H or 429 or 429H; and Mathematics 408C, 408K or 408N and credit with a grade of at least C- or registration in CS 439 or 439H.
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Richard Seymour out 6 weeks
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Livinginthe past
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Re: Richard Seymour out 6 weeks
Originally Posted by
Atlanta Dan
You keep throwing out his age of 27 as if he is practicing law or investment banking - wear and tear on the knees of linemen carrying serious weight can erode skills fairly significantly while a player is still in his mid to late - 20s.
Belichick may correctly assume it is all about the playoffs (which the Pats obviously are going to make given the level of competition in their division) and that having Seymour good to go in January is all that matters, but given that the D was the problem in the playoffs last season having your best lineman out the first 6 weeks of the season has to be at least a minor cause of concern even in that best of all possible worlds that exists in Foxborough.
Casey Hampton - 29
Chris Hoke - 31
Brett Keisel - 28
Travis Kirschke - 32
Aaron Smith - 31.
I'd take a closer look at the Steelers D-line before labelling the Patriots as 'old' or whatever it was you were attempting to do.
They've been great for a while now, three Super Bowls' worth of great. But only this season have the New England Patriots become The Show, the must-see team of stars, pretty boys and reformed bad boys. Suddenly, the Patriots are not simply great; they're compelling, fascinating, appearing to be almighty and a touch lawless.
The Patriots didn't bother with swagger to start this NFL season; they went straight to defiant. Either you're one of them or you're about to get crushed.
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DiamonArt® Cubic Zirconia Hoop Earrings
Cubic zirconia hoop earrings are as essential as the little black dress. DiamonArt® earrings are set in sterling silver and cast an exceptionally pretty sparkle.
Metal: Sterling silver
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Carat (ct.) total weight (t.w.) represents the approximate total weight of diamonds or equivalent appearance.
Jewelry photos are enlarged to show detail.


text: I just finished the LFS 6.0 book. Successfully booted into my new LFS system. I wanted to check if my on-board LAN is working properly. when I issue the ping command the systems just sits there. After Ctrl-c, it indicates that 10 packets transmitted, 0 packets received, 100% packet lost. Below are my /etc/hosts and /etc/resolv.conf files. Any help would be greatly appreciated. /etc/hosts # Begin /etc/hosts (network card version) 127.0.0.1 linux1 localhost 192.168.1.1 <linux1>.example.org linux1 # End /etc/hosts (network card version) /etc/resolv.conf # Begin /etc/resolv.conf nameserver 192.168.1.254 nameserver 184.108.40.206 nameserver 22.214.171.124 # End /etc/resolv.conf


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Palazzo Franchi Bardavi Villa
From $407 / night
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- 4 bedrooms
- 4 bathrooms
- Sleeps 12
- Villa
Description from the owner
Sleeping in the silence of the country, having breakfast under the bower looking at the sea and the mountain, in the breeze wich mixes sea and mountain air. Enjoying an atmosphere of cosy relax, in an ancient suburb.
Four rooms, four different worlds, different colors, furniture, atmosphere and details. On the floor of the garden two rooms dedicated to the story of the Palace, Sarto and Ninfa; on the first floor, two rooms dedicated to the story of the family, Baroni Suite and Orientale. Four elegant double rooms with private bathrooms and Television, beautiful landscape and warm atmosphere. Each room offers the possibility of adding a third bed ...Read more
Palazzo Franchi Bardavi Villa
Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy
What's Nearby:
Additional Location Information
Close to sea and mountain, in a kingdom of uncontaminated nature.
Ancient suburb of a country village, wonderful landscape far from confusion but close to everything. With Train station and Airport near us. Landscape, strategic position, antique building value, refined design, avant-garde equipments and tecnological systems, high quality supplies and facilities. Brand new and never rented before.
Close to entertainment at any level: mountain, seaside, museums, cities of art and many more.
Abruzzo has so much to offer and is really unique in the Italian Panorama. Arielli then has a strategical position: You can refresh in the Mountains in the morning and easily dive in the Sea in the afternoon, but enjoy a countryside feeling during your stay in the Villa without ever feeling isolated. Moreover, the historical value of the building and the stunning views give the property a priceless and remarkable value. Italy is not only Tuscany. Abruzzo can provide excellent food, oil, wine, history, hicking and swimming with the twist of exploring an area which is still genuine and fool of real italian tradition.
Only 15 minutes drive, different kind of beaches available: private or public / sandy or rocks you can choose everyday a different kind of strand. In the nearby National Park of Majella or Gransasso you can visit differrent lakes as Scanno, Barrea, Campotosto etc. Passo Lanciano is the nearest Mountain place. Campo Imperatore is considered the TIBET of Europe for the fantastic landscape it offers:only 60 Km away from here. Historical Centre of Arielli, Between Mountains and Sea, both can be admired by the terraces, riverside walks down the street. Drugstores,Pharmacy,Market,Kindergarden,Bars, Restaurants,Pizzeria,Church. Pescara is the nearest town, very modern and great for shopping and nightlife! Palazzo Franchi Bardavi gives the impression of being deep in the countryside, but it is placed in the Historical Centre of a Village where all the primary needs can be fullfilled, Peace and Confort
More About This Location
Rural retreats
- Local Guides/Maps
- Linens Provided
- Central heating
- Towels Provided
- Housekeeping Optional
- Soap/Shampoo Provided
- Safe
- Telephone
- Internet Access
- Ocean or water views
- Mountain Views
- Parking
- Paper Towels Provided
- Satellite or cable TV
- Television
- Porch
- Balcony or terrace
- Garden
- Outdoor Dining Area
- Patio
- Pet friendly - no
- Smoking allowed - no
- Suitable for children - yes
- Suitable for the elderly - yes
- Wheelchair accessible - yes
Overall Rating


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Yes, Please. (These treasures are from Revolve Clothing)
I don't know about you, but I've been spending a lot of time making lists and checking them twice. And none of those lists are mine. I doubt I'd ever get around to getting something for me, but if I did, I might be looking straight at L.A.M.B.'s Holiday Collection. Oh, Gwen Stefani….you've done it again. No Doubt!
Keep reading to see more and to find out where to nab these hot items.


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Here's what today's other US data shows
PUBLISHED: 02 Feb 2013 04:48:30 | UPDATED: 02 Feb 2013 04:52:48PRINT EDITION: 02 Feb 2013US manufacturing activity accelerated in January, construction spending rose in December and consumer sentiment was higher in January: more signs that the US economy is strengthening.
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I have a Glock 20 10mm that I purchased over a year ago from Bud White. After getting it, I sent it to Robar Industries to get one of their grip reduction and high ride grip reductions.
I lucked out and found someone on Glock Talk selling a new Bar Sto match 10mm barrel which was expertly fitted by Robar gunsmiths. I also installed a pair of Tru Glo TFO sights and a Glock armorer fitted a NY trigger spring. All of these mods makes my G20 a special 10mm indeed.
Now comes the "heresy" part: I want to purchase a drop-in .40 S&W barrel for my gun. The reason is because my agency issues me .40 S&W training and (a limited amount of extra) duty ammo. As such, training with my G20 fitted with a .40 S&W barrel will make for (really really!) cheap training.
I know Lone Wolf Distributors has these barrels as does KKM.
Anyone has any experience doing this conversion? Any experience with those barrels?
I understand from my limited Internet research is that loading a G20 magazine with the shorter .40 S&W ammo will not cause any feeding problems. I may have to fiddle with the recoil spring; it still has its OEM spring.


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Mitrione suspended for Fallon Fox comments
April 8, 2013
Coming off of a First Round TKO Saturday, Matt Mitrione was feeling good as he returned to The MMA Hour for his "Mitrione Minute." However, his "jokes" and then commentary on transgender fighter Fallon Fox got him suspended by the UFC.
The UFC suspended Mitrione from his UFC contract based upon a violation of the Code of Conduct included in each fighter's contract.
Mitrione's controversial comments came after a Lloyd Irvin "rape joke" which he actually had written down. Mitrone is a regular guest on Ariel Helwani's show and a part of his schtick is jokes or thoughts he's written down. Mitrione called Fox a "disgusting freak" and referred to her as "he".
Mitrone stated that Fox is someone that wants to beat on women. He analogized Fallon Fox beating women to the Chris Brown and Rihanna situation.
Zuffa acted swiftly by suspending Mitrione and calling for an investigation:
"The UFC was appalled by the transphobic comments made by heavyweight Matt Mitrione today in an interview on the 'MMA Hour.'
"The organization finds Mr. Mitrione's comments offensive and wholly unacceptable and — as a direct result of this significant breach of the UFC's code of conduct – Mr. Mitrione's UFC contract has been suspended and the incident is being investigated.
"The UFC is a friend and ally of the LGBT community, and expects and requires all 450 of its athletes to treat others with dignity and respect."
Payout Perspective:
According to a Bleacher Report (via Bloody Elbow) article, the UFC Code of Conduct may include a financial penalty and community service. The community service may include working in the community for which the fighter made disparaging comments. This may mean Mitrione working with a transgender organization. Although less publicized as a violation of the Code of Conduct, you might recall tweets made by Forrest Griffin about rape and then Griffin appearing and making a donation at a women's shelter.
For the UFC, Mitrione's comments go beyond Fox. His comments may offend a whole community of people that may be fans of the UFC. If the UFC did not respond, it could have faced a storm of bad publicity. Moreover, the silence could be seen as an endorsement of Mitrone's comments.
Maybe the "Mitrione Minute" on The MMA Hour should have been more like 45 seconds. Mitrone usually is off color and uncensored on the show but for him to have a great fight and then do something so foolish just to put himself over was unnecessary. What was ironic is that he said he was going to do whatever the UFC wanted him to do with respect to who he would fight next. Now, he's going to have to hope the UFC lets him fight in the organization again.
Wandy Fools Around on Monday
April 2, 2013
Quite a stir was caused on Monday when Wanderlei Silva tweeted that he had been contacted by the UFC about filling in to fight Gegard Mousasi at UFC on Fuel TV 9. While many picked up on it as true, Silva was playing an April Fool's Day prank.
As many reported and confirmed on Tuesday, Alexsander Gustafsson had an injury and was required to pull out of the fight. No opponent was announced by the UFC until Dana White named Gustafsson's training partner as the new opponent.
UFC news my guys fight Saturday agains Musasi!!! What you think? UFC just contact me about Saturday,UFC acabeu de me ligar o que acha?
— Wanderlei Silva (@wandfc) April 1, 2013
Before confirmation of the injury, Silva took to twitter stating that he was going to fight Mousasi. Even Mousasi tweeted that he was not sure if he had an opponent on Monday. Silva revealed that it was all a part of April Fool's Day.
H/T via Cagewriter
Payout Perspective:
The power of social media. Without it, Silva probably would not have caused such a stir. Silva made a statement, followers took the statement as true and others picked up on it. It shows how people consume their news and its a cautionary tale for media (including us) to ensure what we report is true. Even looking through MMA tweets about Silva possibly fighting on Saturday there was little verification on whether the report was true. Further, there was no mention that it was April 1st…and the possibility that the story might be a hoax. What Silva's ruse did amounted to was a stealth PR campaign to get some attention. Its something that happens on twitter all the time.
A recent post on StiffJab outlines the problem through the example of false reports of boxer LaMont Peterson failing a drug test. There is a need to be first, get page views and followers. Many times the sacrifice comes with a cost. While Silva's "prank" was relatively harmless, it did highlight an issue with social media and reporting.
Zuffa Copyright Claim Correct Action Under DMCA
March 28, 2013
Can Zuffa have YouTube take down a video of Nick Diaz being told by a UFC official that the Quebec Athletic Commission would grant the fighters a 0.9 pound allowance of the mandatory 170 pound weight limit? Short Answer: Yes.
The UFC's decision to take down the video of UFC Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs and Assistant General Counsel (what a title) Michael Mersch has sparked controversy as many have questioned whether its legal. It is.
Bloody Elbow took issue with the UFC making a copyright claim:
The video was of a conversation, the UFC does not own a copyright on conversations that take place in the stadium seats. Nor does it own a copyright on anything actually shown in the video. The video doesn't even show something like the Octagon which the UFC could try to make some sort of (wrong) claim that violated their copyright. It is strictly a conversation in the stadium seats.
But the issue is not the substance of the video but where the video was taken. It was taken backstage at the weigh-ins. In order to get there, one must obtain access from the UFC. And while we do not have definitive information on this, it's likely that the UFC made each person sign something and/or wear a pass to get to the back. We also assume that the UFC limits its liability as well as has language which states that it owns rights to videos, images, sounds, etc. for those entering the backstage area. Its not a public area although we might think it is. Certainly, we all would want to hang out before weigh-ins if we could. But we cannot. Why? We don't have the necessary access.
If we may infer from the UFC fighter contracts, the UFC has contemplated the control of pre and post-bout access. One can look to the Eddie Alvarez contract which was produced in the Bellator litigation to take note that pre and post bout happenings are covered by the UFC.
The Alvarez Promotional and Ancillary Rights Agreement is a section entitled, Ancillary Rights. The section provides an exhaustive list of rights that the fighter agrees to grant Zuffa. Among the rights is Section 2.3(b) which states:
2.3. The Rights include the following:
b. All media, including, but not limited to, motion picture, radio, television (which term whenever referred to herein shall include, without limitation, live or delayed, interactive, home or theater, over-the-air broadcast, pay, pay-per-view, satellite, closed circuit, cable, subscription, Video On Demand, Near Video On Demand, Subscription Video On Demand, multi-point, master antenna, or other), telephone, wireless, computer, CD-ROM, DVD, any and all Internet applications (including,without limitation, netcasting, podcasting, direct download, streamed webcasting, internet channels (e.g., Youtube) or any other form of digital media download or web syndication), films and tapes for exhibition in any and all media and all gauges, including but not limited to video and audio cassettes and disks, home video and computer games, arcade video games, hand-held versions of video games, video slot machines, photographs (including raw footage, out-takes and negatives), merchandising and program rights, in connection with or based upon the UFC brand, the Bouts or activities pertaining to the Bouts, including but not limited to, training, interviews, press conferences, weigh-ins and behind-the-scenes footage for the Bouts (the "Pre-Bout Events"), post-fight interviews and press conferences (the "Post Bout Events") and any parts thereof on a commercial, sustaining, theatrical or other basis, and by any and all means, methods and devices whatsoever, now existing or hereafter devised. (our emphasis)
An interesting note about the Ancillary Rights that Zuffa will retain from the fighter. It lasts in perpetuity – even after the fighter dies. Yes, its repetitive but emphasizes that Zuffa owns the rights forever.
Based on this particular language, it means that someone like Nick Diaz probably signed over his rights to any "Pre-Bout Events" such as a "behind-the-scenes footage." Even if the video was shot by someone else, it still features a UFC official and Diaz talking backstage at a UFC weigh-in. Thus, the UFC could make the copyright claim.
There are steps that an individual can do to reclaim their video. The first is to send a counter-notification.
Via YouTube re counter-notification:
A counter notification is a legal request for YouTube to reinstate a video that has been removed for alleged copyright infringement. The process may only be pursued in instances where the upload was removed or disabled as a result of a mistake or misidentification of the material to be removed or disabled, such fair use. It should not be pursued under any other circumstances.
Bloody Elbow via MMA Junkie's Stephen Marocco states that the person that uploaded the video has filed a counter-notification.
If the video does reappear as a result of the counter-notification, the UFC could file suit.
The Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) is the center of this copyright claim controversy as all of the claims to take down videos online are based on this law. It is used by media companies to protect its intellectual property. It can be a confusing law as to what rights an individual may have to upload videos to sites like YouTube.
This issue of a spectator's rights at a sporting event came up with NASCAR this past February. NASCAR has flipped on its stance on the reasons for taking down spectator videos of the crash but the fact remains that NASCAR had licensed its rights to the images. Poynter.org has an interesting recap of the NASCAR event as well as arguing whether NASCAR had a legit claim to take down a video of the crash. One of the arguments made is that facts cannot be copyrighted. One of the commenters (with a legal background) noted a case, NBA v. Motorola, which found in favor of a pager service that would provide live scores and stats of NBA games. The Court held that while the official recordings of the NBA may be protected by copyright law, actual athletic events are not copyrightable. The commenter believed that the holding in the case was premised on the logic that the NBA could assert protections over its official recordings, but not over every recording in the arena.
Certainly this rationale goes against the UFC's copyright claim here and our argument that it is valid. But the contractual issue probably would hold the day here. If Diaz and other contracted UFC fighters in the video signed Zuffa fight contracts, they likely signed over their Ancillary Rights as well. Thus, the UFC would have a strong case to stake its claim to have YouTube take down the video.
Chris Camozzi takes stand against lowball fight sponsor offers
March 23, 2013
Chris Camozzi made some headlines pre-UFC 158 with a blog post which outlined a pattern of low offers made by sponsors. Camozzi called out the fighters and managers that take low offers which lower the standard for everyone.
Camozzi wrote that despite UFC 158 being a big card it did not mean a windfall when it comes to sponsorship. His blog post, found on his web page, did not request the UFC do something about the lowball sponsors offers or the sponsors to cease its tactics but the fighters to turn down such low offers. As an example, he cited that a couple years ago a walkout shirt could make $10K if a fighter appeared on the main card of a PPV. He stated that for UFC 158 he was offered $3K.
In the same post, Camozzi indicated that he is against a union as that is a "lazy" way for allowing another to set a baseline. He called for up and coming fighters not to take low offers from sponsors. He states that he turned down more money at UFC 158 to make the point. He also reminded fighters that the sponsors paid between 5 and 7 figures for "permission" from the UFC to have ads displayed on fighters and its the sponsors that need the fighters not the other way around.
Payout Perspective:
Camozzi's post is interesting as he's requesting other fighters to "leave money on the table" in order to take a stand. This sounds good but for the present conditions in the UFC, it's a hard proposition to follow. In a crowded fighter roster, one loss could spell the end of your UFC career. From an up and coming fighter's perspective, if you do not capitalize now, you may never have that chance. If you are a manager, one would hope you are trying to get as many sponsors as you can for your fighter. But, if you are on the prelims, one can imagine it being harder to find sponsors. So, if posed with an offer that is less, do you take it or turn it down waiting for a better offer? An offer that may never come.
Camozzi does make a point. At times, the UFC will be making more money from its sponsor fee than the fighters will from the sponsors. Sponsors need fighters to advertise their brand and fighters should be compensated accordingly.
One of the problems is that UFC production has cut walkouts which curbs the amount of time a walkout shirt is seen on television. On FX, Fuel and Fox shows, some fights are cut to where the fight banner is barely seen and the fighter doesn't have his shirt on. From this perspective, the amount of time seen by a viewing audience has gone down.
It will be interesting to see if anyone takes Camozzi's call for fighter solidarity on this issue. It would be a hard thing to do for a young fighter with an uncertain future. But, Camozzi is bringing up issues that will affect a fighter's future.
Media Relations 101 – Nick Diaz
March 16, 2013
Most media and fans think pre-fight press/teleconferences are pretty boring with media asking formulated questions and the fighters answering with formulaic answers. This goes out the window with Nick Diaz.
Diaz went on a verbal tirade last week at the teleconference at no one and everyone at the same time. While he expressed disdain for GSP, he also claimed he respected where the champ was at in his career. He also lobbied for change in the sport which would make the sport more entertaining.
At this week's press conference, Diaz told us who sold "wolf tickets" and inferred that GSP was taking steroids. Stuff like that could get you sued (ask Floyd Mayweather).
Nick Diaz is a person that has a hard time articulating his opinions but it seems like (most) everyone understands. Diaz is the real Stone Cold Steve Austin from WWE fame. Yes, Austin was based on real feelings of the man playing the character, but Diaz is real. At both press happenings for this event, he's brought up the differences in classes; his working class/poverty-stricken background versus GSP's affluent upbringing. To be honest, I'm not sure GSP's childhood can be characterized as affluent. Yet, it works for Diaz as its not the fuel you put in the tank but how you use it.
Diaz is loyal to his Stockton roots. He's proud of where he's from and revealing how he's seen his friends shot is a personal tragedy that goes beyond the UFC. Again, it's what fuels him but not the issue at hand.
As for Diaz's media relations style, it works. The controversial comments had many trying to find Diaz's pressers online. It would be inadvisable to most athletes to use expletives and infer your opponents use steroids, but that's him. For someone to adopt this to get attention would be foolish.
Diaz does his own thing which includes not appearing at mandatory appearances. Of course its unprofessional but "no-showing" events is something that occurs with professional athletes in other sports. Diaz is unrefined and genuine and that's an attribute that makes him popular. It is also could be the problem.
Diaz is a fighter. He's a tortured soul that finds the world always turning its back on him. But, he uses this to make him successful. Many people empathize with Diaz's plight. His working class roots are seen by many and its one of the reasons why he has so many fans. Also, his "do my own thing" attitude also ingratiates him to many wishing they could do the same to their employer. Its what made Stone Cold such a popular figure in pro wrestling.
Its undeniable that Diaz has gotten under GSP's skin for the simple fact that he's pushed GSP over the edge personally. In the end, if Diaz wins Saturday, his world is going to change and he will be asked (read: forced) to play "the game." The irony of the situation is that with a win, Diaz's hard work and dedication to being a martial artist will mean he will become "the man"; which means the money and fame that should come with it. It would be an interesting next chapter in the life of Diaz.
UFC 157: Payout Perspective
February 25, 2013
Welcome to another edition of Payout Perspective. This time we take a look at UFC 157 from The Honda Center in Anaheim, California. In the main event, Ronda Rousey defeated Liz Carmouche in the first ever women's bout in the UFC.
Rousey submits Carmouche, UFC wins
Saturday night's title fight between Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche could not have gone better unless it had gone 5 rounds…or even 2. But, Rousey's trademark armbar with just seconds left in the first round left the crowd and many fans satisfied with the main event.
The fight legitimized women's MMA. Rousey did what she does (i.e., armbar) and Carmouche showed that she was not a tomato can. In the end, the UFC ended up winning as it showed that the women could put on a show. It took a risk in putting this as the main event and the women came through. Now the only issue is where it goes from here.
Machida wins, the fans do not
This fight complemented the main event because it was not an entertaining fight. If Rousey-Carmouche were not on top of the card it would have been this fight. Fortunate for everyone, the UFC went with the women. With that said, it was a tactical fight that was slow paced. Whether it was Machida's in and out or Henderson's constant measuring of the Dragon, the fight lacked any excitement.
Machida will get another shot at Jon Jones but after watching this fight, I'm not sure if that excites anyone.
Faber chokes out Menjivar
The details of jiu jitsu. If you have the fight on DVR, during the finish watch how Urijah Faber uses his non-choking arm to peel back the forehead of Ivan Menjivar which exposed his neck despite Menjivar's attempts to tuck his chin. With the neck exposed, Faber slid in his arm and coupled with the body triangle Menjivar was forced to tap. The peel back of the arm is what Carmouche was unable to do with Rousey when the two were in a similar position.
An impressive win for Faber as he looked fresh and reminiscent of his time in the WEC. However, the rub is that he's in a place where he's better than the mid-card but not good enough to claim a title. We'll see what the UFC does with Faber.
Attendance and Gate
Announced at the post-fight press conference, the Honda Center was sold out with 15,525 for a gate of $1.4 million. There was no confirmation on paid attendance versus comps.
As we detailed here, it was the highest attended event at The Honda Center which included UFC 121: Velasquez versus Lesnar. It also bested the two Affliction events held at The Honda Center although Affliction: Banned earned more ($2.1M gate per MMA Payout's Blue Book).
It seems as though Anaheim is the "go to" venue outside of Vegas. This venue worked for this event. The Honda Center is down the road from Rousey's home in the LA area and up the road from Carmouche's in San Diego. Most fans could travel easily up or down Interstate 5 to support their fighters. Southern California is a hub for MMA and is more progressive than most areas of the country. Sure, it's in Orange County but it's in Anaheim, not Newport Beach.
As reported previously, the bonuses were $50,000 each and were awarded below:
Fight of the Night: Dennis Bermudez v. Matt Grice
Submission of the Night: Kenny Robertson
KO of the Night: Robbie Lawler
Promotion of the Fight
Rousey was on every media outlet imaginable: ESPN, SI, The Jim Rome Show, Time and HBO Sports to name a few. The UFC stated that this event received the most media attention ever and Rousey has received more media than Brock Lesnar. The Rousey media blitz drew support from mainstream notables that gave their support via twitter.
Got daughters. History this wknd. @rondarousey wins 1st women's UFC bout & @danicapatrick just Bcame 1st woman 2lead green lap @daytona 500
— Stuart Scott (@StuartScott) February 24, 2013
Congratulations Mohr Stories veteran @rondarousey . Amazing fight. Brilliant finish.
— Jay Mohr (@jaymohr37) February 24, 2013
Who all is watching Rouzey vs Carmouche?!?! Major night for women!!! Lets entertain the world!!! Who you going for? #fb
— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) February 24, 2013
The UFC pitched gay media to focus on the Liz Carmouche her story. The UFC did a good job in marketing Carmouche as a pioneer for the gay community without exploiting her sexual orientation. It also stressed the fact that she was a U.S. Marine.
With Danica Patrick competing at the Daytona 500, media were eager to jump on the women's weekend. Realistically, it's hard to blame the media focus: it is historical, out of the ordinary and an easy lead that would get readers/page views.
UFC Primetimes
The 3 part UFC Primetimes were especially good this time around. It had more meat to it for the obvious reasons. Both fighters had compelling stories that drew you in. It's what the Primetimes are supposed to do. It seemed more like the good HBO 24/7s especially the last 5 mins of the first and third episodes. Good narration and great writing made the shows.
The night's sponsors in the Octagon included Xyience, MetroPCS, UltimatePoker.com, Toyo Tires, Dodge Dart, TapouT, new sponsor Head and Shoulders and Bud Light in the center. Corn Nuts also sponsored the corner cam.
Rousey was sponsored by the UFC as she donned the UFC-Monster headphones and wore UFC sponsored gear although I believe that Lululemon Athletic made the fight gear. Will double check on that. She also had a Xyience patch on her shorts.
In addition to inside the Octagon, Rousey also has deal with Fuji gis.
Carmouche had several sponsors including VA Home Mortgage (which sponsored several fighters on the card), Salesforce and Torque.
Henderson had his Twitter and Facebook handles on his shorts in addition to Clinchgear.
Machida was sponsored by official UFC sponsors Bony Acai and Head and Shoulders in addition to Venum,
Kenny Robertson won submission of the night and also gets the award for best sponsor: Mason Funeral Home. A funeral home sponsoring a UFC fighter? Everyone dies so it is in the UFC demo.
Josh Koscheck and Lyoto Machida are still sponsored by Lugz. I didn't know that the company was still around. But, these two have had long-term sponsor deals with the company.
Post-UFC 157 Headlines
What's next for women's MMA – It was a good debut for the women in the UFC. It was an exciting, competitive match and no blood. There was the concern of Rousey almost losing her top but the UFC avoided that issue. So, what's next? Rousey will be a draw the next time she fights. But, the bigger issue is what happens when other women fight. The UFC would not be able to get as much buzz for another women's fight if Rousey is not in it. We'll see how the UFC uses women's MMA to complement the male card.
Machida next for Jones – Is anyone excited to see this rematch? Perhaps the UFC hoped for Henderson to win here to get a redo for UFC 151. I'd rather see Alexander Gustafsson get the shot.
Odds and ends
– Kenny Robertson will be teaching class on Monday at his "day" job.
– I was sitting on the tweet that Henderson was going to knock the head off of Machida's shoulders all night. It didn't happen.
– I wonder if there was a proposition bet on whether Carmouche would have gotten out of the 1st round. If so, that would have been exciting.
– It's obvious that the UFC has a working relationship with Invicta as Carmouche's coach wore the shirt and the logo was seen during the UFC Primetimes. Zuffa wouldn't let this happen unless there was a business relationship. If women's MMA starts to take off could we see another Zuffa purchase? More likely I could see the UFC using Invicta like a farm system and call up fighters to fight on a UFC card.
With all of the great media attention the UFC received for Saturday's event, it will be interesting to see how much of the media attention will convert to PPV buys. It reached out to more media than usual in getting attention for this event. Rousey and Carmouche have been great ambassadors for women's MMA. But, I think it will boil down to whether the casual viewer can stomach the possibility of seeing a woman busted open and bleeding like Joe Lauzon at UFC 155. Or, can they watch an arm be broken right in front of their eyes. These are questions that seem silly but will really determine whether women's MMA can succeed with the UFC.
With that being said, a low to mediocre PPV buy rate would be disappointing considering the amount of public relations and press buzz the UFC received for this bout. Yet, how many new viewers can be added for this event? Would the backstory of Rousey and the novelty of the women's fight be enough to convert non-UFC followers to pay for the PPV. Last year's PPV average hovered around 450,000 buys. If UFC 157 hit the average it would be a success.
The marketing of Liz Carmouche
February 22, 2013
UFC 157 will go down as a historical night for the company regardless of the PPV buys. For the first time the UFC has put its faith in women behind Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche. While we all know about Rousey, Carmouche is a compelling story that complements the company's first foray into women's MMA.
The UFC is making a calculated risk by reaching beyond its normal demographics of young males in order to grab some mainstream appeal. Dana White has made a 180 degree reversal from his original stance that women would never fight in the UFC. Rousey was the perfect fighter to be the first woman signed to a UFC contract. Under the radar from the Rousey media storm is the fact that Liz Carmouche is also a pioneer in the sport. Not only is Carmouche participating in the first women's fight in the UFC, she is openly gay.
The UFC marketed Carmouche's sexual orientation smartly. It has promoted the accomplishment while not exploiting it. The UFC Primetimes have detailed Carmouche and coming out as gay even detailing how she met her girlfriend. In its pre-fight press, the UFC targeted gay media outlets to garner coverage for this demographic.
"I think the UFC is not shy about promoting her sexual orientation," said Jim Buzinski of Outsports.com "Having an openly gay fighter is great in terms of showing that gays and lesbians are everywhere, even in the octagon."
"The UFC's inclusion of Liz is fantastic for two reasons," stated Aaron McQuade of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), "First, it introduces their [UFC] fans to an openly gay fighter who's considered one of the best in the world. Second, it shows their [UFC] fans that the world of mixed martial arts is open and accepting of all people, no matter who they are."
The outreach to gay media should get the interest of some readers that may make an impulse buy of the PPV based on their support of a gay fighter. It might also help that it will be the first time women fight in the male-dominated UFC. With respect to Carmouche, she has been steadfast in being comfortable in who she is and what she stands for in the eyes of others. For those fans of Carmouche, she calls her followers "Lizbos," an obvious play on words.
White's opinionated stance on issues helped with the UFC marketing Carmouche. At the recent media scrum for the event, White respected Carmouche for coming out while stating he could care less about her sexual orientation. White's comments imply that he doesn't care whether Carmouche were gay, straight, bisexual or all of the above. When asked how would it be if a male fighter were to come out, White stated that the UFC would not treat them any different. I tend to agree with this comment although it would be clear that the UFC would likely market this individual (as it is doing with Carmouche) to the gay community.
White's stance on the subject can be seen as a progressive look on societal changes. It can also be seen as taking advantage of a situation its been presented. His policy change on women's MMA likely stems from the popularity of Rousey, Zuffa's acquisition of Strikeforce and a need to inject some life into its flat PPV business.
Carmouche's background is relevant because its rare in sports that an athlete comes out. We need only look to the NFL to see that even in the most popular sport in the United States, its players may not embrace an openly gay athlete. Earlier this month, San Francisco 49er Chris Culliver made anti-gay comments during the week preceding the Super Bowl. Interesting for Culliver when he plays for a team that actively markets toward the gay community.
For the UFC's part, there has not been a backlash about Carmouche or homosexuals in the lead up to the fight this Saturday. Of course, it's likely that opponents of homosexual athletes participating in MMA have kept quiet to avoid the ire of White.
Payout Perspective:
Despite the UFC marketing of Carmouche, the fact that Carmouche is openly gay seems to be an afterthought in this fight as Rousey has been the center of attention. Carmouche is articulate, a role model for women and is good for the sport of women's MMA. The only problem is that her best fight was a loss to Marloes Coenen. Ironically, Dan Henderson main evented that night. Carmouche is the overwhelming underdog here. Still, with the shocking KO of King Mo in Bellator, this sport doesn't have gimme fights.
UFC 156: Payout Perspective
February 4, 2013
Welcome to another edition of Payout Perspective. This time we take a look at UFC 156 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Aldo sends Edgar to third straight loss
Thud. The leg kicks of Jose Aldo last night were reminiscent of those he delivered to Urijah Faber at WEC 48 which (IMO) was his coming out party. To Frankie Edgar's credit, he was able to deal with most of those with an effective counter. Aldo's cardio issues were evident in rounds 4 and 5. But, he had done enough to stop Edgar.
For Aldo, the first couple rounds showed his dominance that he had in the WEC. He was quicker, had the counter and snuck in the devastating kicks to Edgar's legs. Will Dana White take the request of Anthony Pettis and give Showtime a shot to fight Jose Aldo. What about Ricardo Lamas? The guy who beat the guy (Erik Koch) that was supposed to fight Aldo for the title shot. What about the Featherweight rankings?
For Edgar, its his third loss in a row. The dip to Featherweight now looks like a waste unless he's willing to take a couple fights before getting another shot at Aldo. For Edgar's benefit, a couple fights to get back some confidence would help. Losing three straight decisions has to be hard on him.
Bigfoot Silva KOs Overeem
And that's why haters are going to hate. Alistair Overeem wore a shirt to the weigh-ins saying, "Haters Going to Hate." The end result was a reason why people hate. A classic case of underestimating your opponent. Overeem had the first two rounds with ease although a couple shots at the end of the second round gave Bigfoot some momentum. And then, Bigfoot laid hands on Overeem and that was all she wrote with Silva talking smack over a prone Overeem.
Overeem's loss messes up the UFC's hope for a Cain-Overeem fight. For Silva, a Velasquez fight will not happen although JDS might be a good matchup to see which heavyweight gets back into the title picture.
Attendance and gate
MMA Junkie reports that the attendance for UFC as released by the Nevada State Athletic Commission was 10,275 for a gate of $2.437 million.
The Bonuses drew some eyebrows as it was only $50K per bonus as opposed to $60-65K which had been the standard in 2012.
The bonuses were as follows:
Fight of the Night: Aldo-Edgar
KO of the Night: Bigfoot Silva
Submission of the Night: Bobby Green
Interested that they did not give sub of the night to Dustin Kimura with a Rear Naked Choke for the sheer fun of announcing Kimura won with a Rear Naked Choke.
Promotion of the Fight
The UFC decided to promote Frankie Edgar's move down to Featherweight as the main sell point for the PPV and touting Edgar-Aldo as a "Superfight." Certainly, the battle of a past and present champion has some juice but the UFC also had a Heavyweight battle between the returning Alistair Overeem and Bigfoot Silva. It also had Rashad Evans, a proven PPV draw go up against a veteran in Little Nog. We also know that Frankie Edgar is not a PPV draw. And, at this point, neither is Aldo.
Notwithstanding what we know now, (that Overeem may be overrated and that while Evans brings a big event feel walking to the Octagon,he showed little in it on Saturday), it gave the lighter weight class the top bill. Strategically, the UFC could be giving its lighter weight classes the opportunity to show what it could do. With Aldo out, the Featherweight title has not been defended since last January. Marketing the PPV around Edgar-Aldo will be a test to see where the fan base is with respect the lighter weight classes.
The octagon featured UltimatePoker.com, Xyience, MetroPCS, Harley Davidson, the movie Dead Man Down, MusclePharm, Tapout and Bud Light in the center. Dodge also sponsored stats during the PPV as well.
Dead Man Down had the corners of the Octagon. One had to wonder if there was hope that a fighter would be knocked out in one of those corners. In fact, Overeem went down up against the Dead Man Down signage. How appropriate.
Based on his wearing his headphones after the fight, Jose Aldo is sponsored by a headphone maker although I could not make out the brand.
Rashad Evans had top level sponsors as always. Notable sponsors included Jaco, Corn Nuts and Bony Acai. The last two are official UFC sponsors.
Little Nog signed a deal with Venum prior to UFC 156. He also was sponsored by Bony Acai.
It appears that the UFC was sponsoring Frankie Edgar last night. He had the UFC brand on his shorts and in a prominent spot on his fight banner. He was also sponsored by FeartheFighter, Alienware, MicroTech, Wild Wing, Virtustream and Gaspari Nutrition.
Buy My Autographs.com was the most intriguing fight sponsor of the night. The website, established in 2012, offers signed MMA memorabilia.
F3 Nutrition was a sponsor with big name fighters (Overeem and Rashad) wearing its logo that did not do so well with their outcomes.
Post-UFC 156 Headlines
Aldo versus ? – We will see if Aldo will take on Anthony Pettis for the Featherweight crown. Pettis just introduced himself to the nation on Fox last month and will have to wait for a lightweight shot after Bendo-Gil fight on Apri 20th. What better way to stay busy than a title fight? It would be an interesting scenario for the UFC to consider.
Cain's next challenger – The UFC had hoped that Overeem would have beat Silva to get it to Cain versus Overeem in a big matchup that it could set for this summer. Now, we will see what is in store for the Heavyweight Champion.
Odds and ends
It was a good night for Brazilian fighters. A lot of Brazilian sponsors on many fighters tonight as well.
Fitch/Maia was a fight that went unnoticed by the media hype for this card but was intriguing from a tactical standpoint. It was not a fight for people liking standup but for those grappling folks, it was outstanding control by Maia over Fitch. Maia could be close to a welterweight title shot soon.
Evans and Little Nog had the best walk in music of the night but the worst fight of the night. In the words of Joe Rogan, "That was not an entertaining fight." To complement that fight, at the end they showed Wilmer Valderrama and JWow. It was as if the UFC wanted to make sure you knew that fight sucked.
Silva was very thoughtful in his post-fight interview when he said knocking out Overeem was the biggest in his career since it was the UFC. Obviously, he was thinking his Fedor knockout as bigger but since it was in Strikeforce and he is now in the UFC, why insult your employer.
Would you check a kick from Jose Aldo?
As I alluded to earlier, this PPV will test to see whether the lighter weight classes can carry a PPV. It will also test again whether Frankie Edgar can be a PPV attraction. Last week's Dodson-Johnson main event on Fox scored 5.2 million viewers. Did the commercials featuring a closeup of Edgar's face do enough to draw people to buy the PPV? Aldo has been out for a while and is still relatively unknown. But there may have been enough buzz for it to get to 500,000 PPV buys.
Rousey to UFC?
October 25, 2012
MMA Fighting reports on Dana White's interview with Sports Illustrated on Tuesday where he indicated that women's MMA will be heading to the UFC. The reason for the move is due to Strikeforce Women's Champ Ronda Rousey.
White was an opponent of women's MMA in the UFC and affirmed his position when Zuffa purchased Strikeforce. However, it appears that White has changed course based upon the popularity of Rousey.
White indicated that there is no time frame for this and Rousey's manager stated that she still has three fights left on her Strikeforce contract.
Payout Perspective:
With the addition of events in 2013, its plausible to argue that the UFC will need attractive fights to fill its cards. Rousey is a hot commodity in MMA as she has built an impressive resume in a short timeframe. And she's finished her opponents with an armbar – her signature move. Moreover, and most importantly, she is an outgoing, attractive female that is a good ambassador for the sport. But, the question will be whether viewers will be interested in Rousey. And if so, will they be interested in women's MMA as a whole.
While many MMA enthusiasts are fine with the blood and bruising involved in a men's match, how many casual viewers will be fine seeing a women busted open? Sure, MMA purists will point to the fact that its sport and if you don't like it don't watch it. But, the point of including Rousey in the UFC is that you want to attract viewers.
Will the decision to bring in women's MMA help the UFC? Or, does it mean that Strikeforce is on its way out? While we can argue the overarching question of whether women's MMA would appeal to an audience, the more practical question is whether the move means the demise of Strikeforce?
The argument that Strikeforce may be on life support is buttressed by the fact it has cancelled its last two events due to injuries to its main events. It has pointed to 2013 as its next event but nothing has been made official. Moving Rousey, and women's MMA to the UFC would be a sign that the organization could be sunsetting in the near future. Without Rousey, there is no women's MMA in Strikeforce.
If Rousey headlines or co-main event's a UFC card, would it speak to the advancement of gender equality in MMA or the popularity of one? Invicta FC has shown that there is an audience for women's MMA. Rousey drew the biggest ratings for Strikeforce on Showtime this year. And she has shown a penchant for promoting fights. It will be interesting to see how UFC and Fox handles the issue if and when it happens.
What to learn from the Jeremy Stephens situation
October 10, 2012
Does the UFC need a crisis communications department? Last Friday showed that the UFC has not learned from its mistakes when it comes to addressing an emergent situation.
Friday night's UFC on FX 5's event was marred by Jeremy Stephens as he was arrested the morning of his fight on an outstanding warrant. Despite his incarceration, Dana White maintained that his fight with Yves Edwards was still on despite the fact that Stephens had not been released from custody.
White made his obligatory "blame the media" argument as he told his twitter followers not to believe the media that were claiming the fight was presumably off. Of course, we come to learn that while White was trying to get Stephens out of jail for the fight, he did not know at the time of his tweet whether the fight was going to happen. Even if he thought it was going to happen, it didn't happen.
Is this a problem?
We are again presented with the UFC asserting a point before it actually knew it as fact. Recall the UFC 151 press conference when Dana White stated that Lyoto Machida would face Jon Jones next. Except, the UFC did not confirm that Machida would take the fight.
White sent out via his official spokesperson, his twitter handle, that the fight was still on and not to listen to the media.
Don't listen to the media! Nobody ever told them Jeremy isn't fighting. He is fighting!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) October 5, 2012
OMFG!!! YES Jeremy Stephens is fighting tonight! At no point did ANYONE from UFC say he wasn't. Some media jackasses said he wasn't
— Dana White (@danawhite) October 5, 2012
Likely, not the most professional way to address the situation.
A more professional representation of the unfortunate (for the UFC) facts could have been to give the "no comment" or the "we are still gathering facts and we will let you know." Certainly, the UFC could have let Edwards, its own contracted fighter, know the status without leaking it to the public/media. In a post-fight interview on Fuel it was apparent that he was kept in the dark as much as the media that tried to uncover facts. Edwards looked visibly shaken…as if all of his sacrifice, training and hard work went for nothing. Well, it did.
If there's any justice for Edwards, he should have been paid his show and win money. He did make it to the arena without being arrested whereas his opponent did not. If nothing else, put Edwards at the top of the injury replacement list. We all know someone is going to get injured on a card sometime soon. UPDATE: Edwards will be on the UFC on Fox card this December per MMA Junkie.
The issue with the Jeremy Stephens situation is how it was handled. It was done poorly and it was obvious that the only plan was to try to negotiate with the police to get Stephens out in time to fight. The lack of a plan only magnified the situation. Remember, the Stephens-Edwards bout wasn't even on the main card. It was a Fuel prelim. Realistically, only the hard core UFC fans would have noticed the absence of this bout. Moreover, what would have been the real fallout if the UFC announced that the fight was off due to a legal issue involving Stephens.
How bad would it look if the UFC would have let media members know about the Stephens legal issue and that it was "working with authorities (not negotiating) at this time and details would be released once it they were made known by the authorities"? Probably not that bad. While the spiel is formulaic and "PR" speak for Stephens got arrested and we don't know what's going on its better than what happened.
What's worse about this latest misstep is that it happened so soon after the UFC 151 fallout. And it was the same issue: releasing information without knowing the truth of the information.
Crisis communications does not always mean that a company must respond to issues at a moment's notice but it can. The role is to protect the company and its reputation when faced with a public challenge. Here, one of the UFC's fighters was arrested. Not an unusual situation except for the fact that it occurred on the day of his fight. This issue could have been addressed from the start without the confrontation of the media. While we understand that the UFC wants to stand by its fighters, it does not help to provide further misinformation (i.e., that the bout was still on) and then blame Iowa authorities for not letting Stephens out. What were to happen if this was one of the main event fighters was detained? How would the UFC adjust? By calling out the media?
It's easy to Monday Morning Quarterback the situation here, but the UFC is a professional organization that should have policies in place to deal with these issues.