Hartley Miller's Slap Shots For July 24th
By 250 News
Would you find it strange if someone promoted steak but didn’t like meat? What if you knew someone who endorsed the idea of traveling in airplanes yet didn’t like flying? How about an individual who publicly supported Meisner's radio show but detests the blabbermouth host? I think most people would find it outlandish if a person promoted adult videos but didn’t care for sex.
Wayne Sponagle is a co-promoter of Summer Beat Down August 7, which is at the Roll-A-Dome. This event marks the first time a Prince George fight card will consist of both Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and professional boxing. With no pun intended, here’s the “kicker”: Sponagle isn’t even a fan of MMA.
What? The 63-year-old Sponagle is the Head Coach of the Spruce Capital Boxing Club. Fans and fighters respect him as a boxing purist, a dedicated individual who has spent most of his life, in a variety of capacities, devoted to this sport. He has never hidden his feelings about simulations often stating that he wouldn’t walk across the street to watch such imitations as Hockey enforcers, tough guys or even MMA.
“It's not so much I am softening in my old age. You know better than anyone that Mixed Martial Arts isn't one of my favorite sports, but the thing is, it’s the sport of the future, it's here to stay and I do respect these athletes that partake in Mixed Martial Arts”, said Sponagle.
Come on now! Here's the crux of the matter. There aren’t enough boxers for a pro card locally, plain and simple. So, what does Sponagle do? Well, he comprises his previous beliefs and hops into bed with the local MMA club with the intent to make a profit for his Spruce Capital Club.
"That's partly the reason. Today, the culture has changed so much for professional boxing that a small town like this couldn't support a full pro boxing card. The cost for these two six round boxing fights isover $10 thousand. It's a very big expense to put on professional boxing. The MMA guys get paid, but there pay scheme is a lot different than pro boxing”, stated Sponagle, an outspoken enthusiast who certainly lacks the hair to have him compared to Don King.
So, this leads to the next question- Why should a boxing “purist” come to the fights (at 25 to $100 a ticket) when he or she will get just two boxing bouts compared to roughly 10 Mixed Martial Arts matches? "The MMA guys now are getting versed with their hands a lot better than when it first came out. Many of the MMA people are going to boxing coaches to learn how to use their hands. As long as they are using their hands, I'll watch it because it’s the same as boxing. But I don't like the kicking, I don't like the grabbing and wrestling around. To do these submission holds is a great skill,” suggested Sponagle, clearly with his promoter’s hat on.
The McLellan brothers (Roberto and Stewart) of Williams Lake will each box an opponent from Montreal. In addition, several local MMA fighters from the Shank Tank will participate. If that’s not enough mayhem, two local radio personalities from the same 94X morning show, Doc Andrews and Gary Long, are now in training to fight each other. “I know the fight fans in this town pretty good. If you give them what they really want and they think they are getting full value for their money they'll support it. But you have to give them something out of the ordinary, you have to give them something different”, said Sponagle with a big grin.
Well, you will get no disagreement from me on that statement. It certainly is “different”. Whether that sells tickets, we will get an answer in just two weeks.
From the quote rack:
An environmentally conscious brothel in Germany is offering a discount for cyclists. In a related story, the Tour de France has been postponed indefinitely.
Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Had Manny Ramirez been traded to Minnesota during his suspension, then gone on atear upon returning, the headline would have been Manny Carrying Twins.
Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle
Barack Obama was criticized by fashionistas for wearing "mom jeans" to the All Star game. In his defense, he said he purchased a pair recommended by Manny Ramirez.
Most of the players said that meeting President Obama was a highlight of the All-Star experience. Tim Wakefield said it was almost as exciting as the time he shook hands with President Lincoln.
Tom Watson almost became the oldest man ever to win a major PGA golf tournament. This after last year, Greg Norman almost accomplished the same feat. Let’s hope they don’t end up declaring Ensure a performance-enhancing drug.
Man walked on the moon 40 years ago this week. 42 years ago, the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup. The Carnac question here - Name two incredible things we may never see again in our lifetime?
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)
Nike confiscated an embarrassing tape of a kid dunking on King James. Leafs have asked CBC to bury the footage of the team from '68-'09.
When a Visa bill for $23,148,855,308,184,500.00 showed up a Texas man said that was the last time he takes the family to a Yankee game.
Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)
Study--survivors of the 1918 flu pandemic seem immune to the swine flu. But Chris Chelioscan still get the chicken pox.
In a new book due out soon, Landon Donovan rips David Beckham, calling him 'a bad teammate'. Beckham reportedly issued a statement, telling Donovan to 'get bent'.
Erin Andrews (ESPN reporter) was surreptitiously videotaped in the nude through a peephole in a hotel room. The hotel says that that's the last time it will ever host a Star Trek Convention.
Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson have apparently split up. Fortunately, for Romo, he signed a pre-numbskull agreement.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
I'm not saying that New York Mets General Manager Omar Minaya rambles during interviews, but the other day he fell one double-talk short of babbling for the cycle.
Obama to Congress: We Must Reform Mets Health Care in Our Lifetime.
Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York
The NBA says fewer than half its teams made a profit last year. Mostly because half the fans showing up at games are buying tickets with the "My dad is an NBA player" discount.
Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)
54 years ago last Friday Disneyland opened in Anaheim. Back then, Disneyland provided more laughs-per-square-foot than anywhere in America. Today, that distinction belongs to the Clippers.
Justin Timberlake’s new golf course – Mirimichi – will open Saturday in Memphis after a $16 million renovation. Greens fees are $75 per person; $5 for women who are willing to have a little wardrobe malfunction.
Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/
And in case, you missed it:
In Illinois, four people have been arrested for digging up corpses and then selling the empty cemetery plots. They got the idea from watching the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline.Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg
Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com
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