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UFC Paydays: An Unfair Fight?
Outside the Lines (Sunday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m. ET, ESPN2)
ESPN.com (a John Barr and Josh Gross piece is currently posted)
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It is arguably the fastest growing sport in America and while the UFC’s out-spoken President Dana White often grabs headlines, most observers credit C.E.O. Lorenzo Fertitta’s business acumen for the company’s remarkable growth. He and his brother Frank bought the UFC in 2001 for $2 million. Today some estimate the UFC’s worth at well over $1 billion. Last March, the UFC’s $34 million-dollar acquisition of rival Strikeforce prompted an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission. As a near monopoly, many within the sport are concerned that the UFC is not paying a fair percentage of its overall revenue to its fighters, some of whom earn only a few thousand dollars per fight. Reporter John Barr speaks with Fertitta, who discusses his fighter’s pay scale and the future of the company he’s helped build into a mixed-martial arts empire.
“In that neighborhood, yeah, in that neighborhood.” –Lorenzo Fertitta, UFC CEO, on if he pays fighters 50 percent of revenues, similar to what athletes in the four major sports earn, and not the 10 percent multiple sources told OTL they receive
“The UFC has gone out and strategically bought out every company, or they cut the knees out from underneath them when they tried to get started…There’s nothing wrong with that kind of business, but when you get in that kind of position, then don’t use that position to hold the fighters hostage” — Ken Shamrock, UFC Hall-of-Famer, on limited options for MMA fighters other than the UFC
“We are giving these guys tremendous opportunity to be able to make more money, have bigger exposure, get bigger sponsors. It is actually a great thing and when you throw the term monopoly it’s the most ridiculous thing that anybody could ever say.” – Fertitta
Tuck Rule Game – 10th Anniversary
NFL Countdown (Saturday, 10 a.m., ESPN)
https://youtu.be/vmM6D98TRUk
Ten years ago, a little-known rule may have altered the course of the NFL for the next decade. In the 2001 AFC Divisional Playoffs, the New England Patriots trailed the Oakland Raiders 13-10 with less than two minutes to play. After Raiders cornerback, Charles Woodson forced a fumble by sacking Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Oakland recovered the ball on the snow-covered field at Foxboro Stadium and thought it sealed the victory. But, the play was reviewed by referee Walt Coleman, and the fumble was overturned by what has become known as “The Tuck Rule.” The Patriots kept the ball and then tied and later won the game with two dramatic field goals by Adam Vinatieri. Several key members from both teams reflect on this historic playoff game.
“Tom Brady should really be indebted to the Raiders forever, if not to the Raiders at least to Walt Coleman because, if not for that reversal, he goes into the offseason as a guy who fumbled the ball away to lose a home playoff game.” — Tim Brown, former Raiders WR
“It saved our playoff chances and you know what happened after that we went on to be world champions.” – Troy Brown, former Patriots WR
“We got the call. It was really a very fortunate call, and the Raiders fans still let me hear about that call. But, we took advantage of it and made the plays to win the game.” – Tom Brady, Patriots QB
Jason Pierre-Paul
NFL Countdown (Sunday, 10 a.m., ESPN)
https://youtu.be/ZuX2oQal6WE
New York Giant Jason Pierre-Paul made a giant leap into the spotlight this season and finished fourth in the league with 16.5 sacks. But, Pierre-Paul’s father, Jean, has never gotten to see his son blossom into a premier NFL pass rusher. Jean lost his sight shortly after Jason was born, which forced his mother, Marie, to work 12-hour days as a hotel housekeeper to provide for the family. Rachel Nichols takes us inside how the father’s struggle motivated the son.
Bernard James: From Airman to Air Time
College GameDay (Saturday, 10 a.m., ESPN2; 11 a.m., ESPNU)
https://youtu.be/NLhqwv4pwM4
Bernard James’ journey to Florida State’s basketball team differed greatly from most Division I players. After dropping out of high school at 16, James earned his GED so he could enlist in the Air Force, where he served three overseas tours. But, it wasn’t until a unit supervisor persuaded him to play intramural basketball that everything changed for him and eventually led to being noticed by Seminoles’ head coach Leonard Hamilton. Chris Connelly reports.
Cuban’s Fight from Olympic Bronze to MMA
ESPN Deportes SportsCenter (Sunday, 11 a.m.)
Reportajes Especiales piece on ESPNDeportes.com
https://youtu.be/tGTI0kGcDrM
Alexis Vila’s journey from 1996 Olympic freestyle wrestling bronze medalist to MMA fighter was anything but a smooth ride. In a past that includes defecting from his country, finding himself behind bars and finally reinventing his career in a sport that came later in his life, the 40-year-old Cuban is training with a new title in sight.
“My childhood in Cuba — I come from a very humble family — I was a street brat and very bad. I did a lot of mischievous things. I would beat people up because I boxed well.” – Alexis Vila
Terrell Suggs’ infectious enthusiasm
ESPN.com
To read full story click HERE
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs is funny and outspoken and is having a season so dominant some in the league consider him a contender for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The fun-loving Raven is having his best season ever, and he says he hasn’t changed at all. Liz Merrill reports.
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ESPN.com (a John Barr and Josh Gross piece is currently posted)
https://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/7452261/ufc-fighters-say-low-pay-most-painful-hit-all
It is arguably the fastest growing sport in America and while the UFC’s out-spoken President Dana White often grabs headlines, most observers credit C.E.O. Lorenzo Fertitta’s business acumen for the company’s remarkable growth. He and his brother Frank bought the UFC in 2001 for $2 million. Today some estimate the UFC’s worth at well over $1 billion. Last March, the UFC’s $34 million-dollar acquisition of rival Strikeforce prompted an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission. As a near monopoly, many within the sport are concerned that the UFC is not paying a fair percentage of its overall revenue to its fighters, some of whom earn only a few thousand dollars per fight. Reporter John Barr speaks with Fertitta, who discusses his fighter’s pay scale and the future of the company he’s helped build into a mixed-martial arts empire.
“In that neighborhood, yeah, in that neighborhood.” Lorenzo Fertitta, UFC CEO, on if he pays fighters 50 percent of revenues, similar to what athletes in the four major sports earn, and not the 10 percent multiple sources told OTL they receive
“The UFC has gone out and strategically bought out every company, or they cut the knees out from underneath them when they tried to get started…There’s nothing wrong with that kind of business, but when you get in that kind of position, then don’t use that position to hold the fighters hostage” Ken Shamrock, UFC Hall-of-Famer, on limited options for MMA fighters other than the UFC
“We are giving these guys tremendous opportunity to be able to make more money, have bigger exposure, get bigger sponsors. It is actually a great thing and when you throw the term monopoly it’s the most ridiculous thing that anybody could ever say.” – Fertitta
Tuck Rule Game – 10th Anniversary
NFL Countdown (Saturday, 10 a.m., ESPN)
Ten years ago, a little-known rule may have altered the course of the NFL for the next decade. In the 2001 AFC Divisional Playoffs, the New England Patriots trailed the Oakland Raiders 13-10 with less than two minutes to play. After Raiders cornerback, Charles Woodson forced a fumble by sacking Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Oakland recovered the ball on the snow-covered field at Foxboro Stadium and thought it sealed the victory. But, the play was reviewed by referee Walt Coleman, and the fumble was overturned by what has become known as “The Tuck Rule.” The Patriots kept the ball and then tied and later won the game with two dramatic field goals by Adam Vinatieri. Several key members from both teams reflect on this historic playoff game.
“Tom Brady should really be indebted to the Raiders forever, if not to the Raiders at least to Walt Coleman because, if not for that reversal, he goes into the offseason as a guy who fumbled the ball away to lose a home playoff game.” Tim Brown, former Raiders WR
“It saved our playoff chances and you know what happened after that we went on to be world champions.” – Troy Brown, former Patriots WR
“We got the call. It was really a very fortunate call, and the Raiders fans still let me hear about that call. But, we took advantage of it and made the plays to win the game.” – Tom Brady, Patriots QB y
Jason Pierre-Paul
NFL Countdown (Sunday, 10 a.m., ESPN)
New York Giant Jason Pierre-Paul made a giant leap into the spotlight this season and finished fourth in the league with 16.5 sacks. But, Pierre-Paul’s father, Jean, has never gotten to see his son blossom into a premier NFL pass rusher. Jean lost his sight shortly after Jason was born, which forced his mother, Marie, to work 12-hour days as a hotel housekeeper to provide for the family. Rachel Nichols takes us inside how the father’s struggle motivated the son.
Bernard James: From Airman to Air Time
College GameDay (Saturday, 10 a.m., ESPN2; 11 a.m., ESPNU)
Bernard James’ journey to Florida State’s basketball team differed greatly from most Division I players. After dropping out of high school at 16, James earned his GED so he could enlist in the Air Force, where he served three overseas tours. But, it wasn’t until a unit supervisor persuaded him to play intramural basketball that everything changed for him and eventually led to being noticed by Seminoles’ head coach Leonard Hamilton. Chris Connelly reports.
Cuban’s Fight from Olympic Bronze to MMA
ESPN Deportes SportsCenter (Sunday, 11 a.m.)
Reportajes Especiales piece on ESPNDeportes.com
Alexis Vila’s journey from 1996 Olympic freestyle wrestling bronze medalist to MMA fighter was anything but a smooth ride. In a past that includes defecting from his country, finding himself behind bars and finally reinventing his career in a sport that came later in his life, the 40-year-old Cuban is training with a new title in sight.
“My childhood in Cuba I come from a very humble family I was a street brat and very bad. I did a lot of mischievous things. I would beat people up because I boxed well.” – Alexis Vila
Terrell Suggs’ infectious enthusiasm
ESPN.com
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs is funny and outspoken and is having a season so dominant some in the league consider him a contender for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The fun-loving Raven is having his best season ever, and he says he hasn’t changed at all. Liz Merrill reports.
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