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Opening Arguments

Bread- and circuses

As the recession deepens, Hoosiers can be grateful that there are so many venues for gambling, so that those down on their luck can turn their last few pennies into a fortune. Now, our down-and-outers might have yet another way to escape from poverty:

A bill currently being tossed around in the House could potentially clear the way for ultimate fighting events to be staged in Indiana.

They are known to fill venues as big as Conseco Fieldhouse. Since the state would collect 5 percent of general admission and 5 percent of pay-per-view, it could prove to be profitable for the state as well.

This will work out somewhat better for those who beat someone's brains out than for those who actually have their brains beaten out, of course, so the state must never cease in its efforts to provide ever-greater opportunities for the less fortunate. Say, how about dance marathons? Yowsah, yowsah.

Comments

Bob G.
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 9:17am

I always liked the idea of getting all these druggies and dealers onto the field, give them drugs until they ALL overdose, and then we can bet on who lasts the longest before croaking.

a- gets rid of the drugs.
b- gets rid of the druggies.
c- provides good entertainment.
d- frees up jail space.
e- saves the states TONS o' money.
f- stadiums pay for themselves in no time.

What's there NOT to like???

;)

Michael B-P
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 2:19pm

Bob's idea would definitely fly in this town and get the ratings on national TV as a "reality" show. Maybe relatives could be invited on, and some writers from 'Intervention' could spice things up for the audience. Hand out some baseball bats, take bets and you've got the best of today's urban economic development worlds combined: drug abuse, gambling, and personal combat. Surely there's an independent consultant out there who can work the numbers for an okay from the administration. Now if we could somehow fold postitution into the package . . . or randomized public bus cannibalism . . .

Steven T.
Fri, 03/13/2009 - 2:33pm

I don't watch the fights so much any more, but I was an avid fan of UFC and WEC for a while. Frankly, I thought it was a good thing to show our kids that 1) martial arts, particularly the abbreviated forms taught in too many U.S. gyms, are no guarantee of winning a fight in the real world, and 2) people who fight BLEED.

I have no objection to ultimate fighting events in Indiana at all; on the contrary, I welcome the sport, which already has some stars who are Hoosier-born and trained.

In fact, the UFC/WEC and Chuck Norris' World Combat League nowadays draw sell-out crowds that Boxing matches only dream of.

And unlike boxing, UFC/WEC referees stop their bouts instantly when undefended blows to the head may risk brain injury. UFC fighters are very rarely hurt significantly, in my experience.

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