by Christian Duque
Dana White and TBS have sunk to all-time lows by placing forth a brand new sport often called Energy Slap. That is most likely one of the vital shameful situations of irresponsibly profiting off the struggling of others. And earlier than anybody tries to attract comparisons between this and different full-contact sports activities like boxing or MMA, let me level to 1 obtrusive distinction. In boxing and MMA athletes actively defend themselves, particularly their head from strikes. In Energy Slap, the competitor should stand there and take an open blow to the pinnacle.
Though it’s a palm strike, versus a closed fist, it could nonetheless trigger fairly harmful penalties. Many Energy Slappers run the fixed danger of concussions, mind injury,and facial disfiguration. And though I’m positive authorized groups for each White and TBS have most likely toiled for appreciable intervals of time writing contracts that protect them from legal responsibility, I nonetheless assume they’d be held liable ought to contestants wind up laid up with mind injury and/or lifeless.
What actually turns my abdomen is that community television could be an lively participant in an exercise reminiscent of this. I’m having a very arduous time calling this a sport and I can see loads of youngsters and adolescents making an attempt to behave out what they see on television of their basements and backyards. The choice to maneuver ahead with this can have dire penalties with our youth. That as a lot I can all however assure. What’s unsettling although is that sponsors are most likely lining as much as be part of this new fad. If Dana might discover a authorized strategy to have fights to the loss of life on pay per view and/or at massive arenas, I feel he’d do it. Gladiator fights galore!
I’m not right here to move ethical judgment on a man who makes his cash presenting violent sports activities, however that is totally different. Whereas some boxers and/or MMA guys might need mind injury because of being concerned in combat sports activities, I can’t think about not getting mind injury doing Energy Slap. And what’s it going to take earlier than the federal government steps in? I’m not a fan of elected officers dictating what’s leisure and what’s not, however the sort of content material doesn’t belong on community tv. So am I advocating censorship, one thing I’ve lengthy despised? To a sure extent I’m resulting from social welfare considerations.
I’d make Energy Slap as accessible as hardcore porn. If adults – 18 and over – need to watch it, wonderful, however children don’t have to see this. As a result of we all know all too properly how impressionable they’re and we will nearly converse with factual certainty that they may do this at house. You possibly can put all of the disclaimers you need, however once they see these individuals ingesting in style power drinks, in automotive commercials, with beautiful ringside women strolling round, they’ll be slapping the hell out of one another in hopes of getting found. It’s fairly pathetic how morally bankrupt guys like Dana White are however we’ve got to share this rock referred to as Earth with them.
If Dana is cool with having guys slap one another to the purpose they’ll turn out to be greens of their 20’s and 30’s one can solely think about the place he attracts the road. What’s subsequent? Cock fights? Canine fights? Senior cage matches for extra money for his or her pharmaceuticals? All of us hate the federal government sticking its nostril into our affairs, however not everybody holds fundamental tenets of decency. That stated, the extra authorities’s concerned, the much less private freedoms we’ve got. It’s a commerce off although.
I don’t for a second need the identical guys who ban prohormones to now inform us what’s ethical and what’s not, however once they completely step again, we’ve got travesties like this being introduced to us as “sports activities.” One nice litmus take a look at is the Olympics, the NCAA, or the AAU. We’re NEVER going to see Energy Slap featured in any of those revered athletic organizations. Sadly, it appears simply wonderful for TBS and presumably different networks. Overlook Dana White. Simply because he indicators off on it means little subsequent to nothing to me, however a significant station like Turner Broadcasting System? That’s alarming. It’s alarming and it’s disturbing.
I’m curious what sort of viewership this exercise will draw. I’m curious what time it’ll air and what sponsors it’ll draw.
Many People love violence. Now don’t get me flawed, Iron Journal readers come from everywhere in the world, however this nonsense is coming from the U.S. and I’d wager it’s largest viewer demographic will probably be American as properly. As I stated, People love violence. Whether or not it’s in motion pictures, music, video video games or “sports activities.” In actual fact, if there’s an excessive amount of grappling or an excessive amount of hugging in between flurries of punches in boxing or MMA, some individuals begin fuming. They need to see blackeyes, fats lips, bloody faces and guys struggling to breathe. They feed off of it. They don’t need to see anybody get badly damage post-fight, no less than that’s the hope, however they need fighters to actually earn their maintain. They determine in the event that they’re going to make 1,000,000 {dollars}, they need to go to hell and again for it. They usually don’t need fast fights, both. They need the fighters to go the gap. Who cares if the longer they go the upper the chance they’ll get badly damage. Nobody likes to consider that. On this surreal world everybody wipes the blood off their forehead they usually’re out partying later that night time. Everybody’s joyful..
Effectively everybody’s not.
Even the very best paid fighters who jetset around the globe and drive essentially the most unique automobiles should pay the piper sooner or later. And what are White and TBS going to do? Conduct CT Scans and MRI’s of slappers after each bout? Or are they simply going to avail themselves of the contracts they get these poor bums to signal and wash their palms of any everlasting injury these contestants could endure because of their silly lust for simple cash? I imply it doesn’t get any simpler. You simply stand there, arms and palms at your aspect, and watch as a man slaps the hell out of you. Who can simply stand there and take that sort of abuse? After all, after you’ve taken it for weeks, months, and years, a few of these guys could have a lot mind injury that they’ll be of the opinion that they’re screwed in any case, what’s just a few extra hits?
Let me stress that I’m not a physician. I’ve no medical coaching. Nevertheless it’s frequent sense that taking unprotected, direct head strikes will most probably have very actual penalties. The individuals who join this are nuts, however to every their very own. I simply pray that youngsters and adolescents don’t do this at house. I think this “sport” will lead to fairly high-profile litigation and authorities motion. I’d be shocked if this little enterprise lasts greater than a yr or two. Disgrace on Dana White, TBS, and anybody else will get concerned.
It ought to be famous that as of press time TBS eliminated Dana White’s slap league from its community however solely as a result of a video of Dana and his spouse hitting one another at a bar went viral. I’ve a sense the community will put the league again on as soon as the home violence stink wears off. They didn’t pull it out of fears for the athletes’ security or to guard impressionable youth that may watch it, they solely pulled it to guard their investments. It’s clear their chief concern is getting cash so I’m positive we’ll be seeing it again very quickly. That stated, TBS or no TBS, White will certainly press on. He’s one other one who’s all about getting cash.
There’s nothing flawed with being worthwhile, however it’s the way you get there that I take concern with. Energy Slap just isn’t a sport in my view. What’s your tackle Energy Slap?
