Katy Perry was one of the most reliable hit machines in music– until “Witness” happened.
Las Vegas
After 15 long years and a heck of lot of pain, heartbreak and inspiration, Shania Twain is back with “Now.”
Tom Petty was like Sara Lee. Nobody doesn’t like him.
Bust.
- Columbia J-SchoolLawNew YorkPoliticsSports
Battleground State: The Battle to Legalize Mixed Martial Arts in New York
Here’s my Master’s Project for Columbia. It’s fairly long, so I’m splitting it into 6 parts. Hope you enjoy!
- Columbia J-SchoolLawNew YorkPoliticsSports
Battleground State: The Fight to Legalize MMA in New York (Part 3)
The Lobbyist
Marc Ratner spent 21 years with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, including 14 as its executive director. In the mid-1990s, when MMA was in its infancy, Ratner spoke out against it, saying that it would never be allowed in Las Vegas. In 2006, however, Ratner accepted a job with the UFC as its vice president of regulatory affairs. “I had the best regulatory job in the world,” said Ratner. “But what intrigued me about the UFC was that it was a brand new sport. I wanted to be on the ground floor, to be a pioneer and try to get it legalized. You can’t do that in basketball or boxing, since those sports have been around so long.”
I’m Excited for the “Joshua Tree Tour,” But I Was Really Looking Forward to that “Pop” Re-Issue
I guess we’re not getting that 20th anniversary re-issue of “Pop,” then.
Battleground State: The Fight to Legalize MMA in New York (Part 4)
The Politician
In Ratner’s eyes, the man holding the people of New York hostage is State Assemblyman Bob Reilly, a Democrat from Colonie. Reilly has been a steadfast opponent of legalizing MMA in New York and believes it is his responsibility to make sure MMA remains an illegal, outlaw sport. “First and foremost, it is a violent sport,” said Reilly. “It’s like pornography. Like the Supreme Court says, you know it when you see it. For example, I watched an event recently because I felt obligated to. One fellow was sitting on another’s chest and hit him in the head at least 14 times.”