With the recent gay pride parade and supposed controversy about the event receiving federal aid, now seems like a great time to debate the merits of holding UFC events in Ontario. I have been on record as supporting funding for the parade as it does deliver a great amount of economic aid and stimulus to both the city, province, and federal government. However, the parade does cause quite a bit of criticism, most which is justified due to some displaying certain body parts that should really be covered in a public event. Of course when ever these complaints are brought forward, the usual suspects. led by David Miller, are quick to bring out the line about how much money the event generates for the city. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty also uses the financial aspect as a way of fending off complaints of lewd public displays and inappropriate behavior.
Which brings me to the debate on why the Ultimate Fighting Championship is still banned in the province. while David Miller has no say in the event being allowed, one would think he would be first in line lobbying for the event to be held. And one might think Dalton McGuinty and his government might be putting forth an argument for allowing the sport to hold events in the province, as the economic benefits are huge. Recent UFC events held in Montreal generated $50 million for the city and province. The UFC wants to hold an event at Rogers Centre, which has a far greater seating capacity of 50,000. The UFC has come a long way since it's early days, when it was rightly considered human cockfighting.
But now the UFC has become probably the most polished sport in North America, with sold-out events and a huge pay-per-view audience. Add in the fact the event would require no taxpayer money, would be held in a private complex, would bring tourists to Toronto, bring in tax dollars, put Toronto on the map with a huge pay TV event, and it seems like a no-brainer. In a city and province struggling, the silence of the politicians speaks volumes. Gay Pride fits their socialist ideology, MMA fighting does not, proving that the funds generated by Gay Pride events are just used as a means of explaining away holding the event. The UFC notes on its website that no fighter has been seriously injured at an event. As pointed out in CTV's article today, "Then again, Canada's national sport has its fair share of blood and hard head hits, and for many Ontario MMA fans, its hard not to point out the hypocrisy. "
And all that garbage generated at the Rogers Centre would be taken care of by private workers.
5 comments:
I'm against giving any taxpayer money toward events where children can see weird men prancing around in their undies in public. I don't want children to be exposed to muscle rippin' men in their teeny bikinis fisting each other as they throb at one another in some erotic cage of seduction. No Ultimate Fighting Challenge events in Ontario.
"Won't somebody think of the children?"
Dipper, that may just be the stupidest comment about UFC I've ever read. Keep your homo-erotic fantasies to yourself.
Until the last sentence, I wasn't even sure if Dipper was referring to Gay Pride or UFC. Although the UFC fighters do punch each other, admittedly with their fists, fisting is more often associated with Gay Pride than the UFC.
To Anonymous,
I don't know if you are familiar with the controversy over the Conservative government's funding of Pride Toronto and the demotion of Diane Ablonczy for actually promoting that the Conservatives funded the event.
I guess it's not OK for men to wave their asses in a parade but it is OK for men in similar outfits to pound the crap out of each other in a fighting ring.
I'll stay away from homo-erotic fantasies. I think I'll pop in a Saturday Night Live DVD showing "Hans and Franz." They make fun of girlie-men like you.
Skinny Dipshit said..."They make fun of girlie-men like you." I'm going to cry after such a hard-hitting attack!
I called you on your UFC comment.
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