RIP Jeff Blatnick

kurt · 10-24-2012, 02:15 PM

I hope the UFC inducts this guy into their Hall of Fame.

Gene Parmesan · 10-25-2012, 02:55 PM

R.i.p. True legend.

ck26 · 10-26-2012, 09:27 PM

True legend; first American to win Greco-Roman gold at the Olympics. I don't know where I stand about non-fighters being in the Hall of Fame, but as a builder who helped get MMA credibility as a legitimate sport, he was second-to-none.

DeathFromAbove · 10-27-2012, 12:05 PM

If ****ing Mask Lewis can make it into the hall of fame, Blatnick should definitely be in there.

DaaaaB's · 10-29-2012, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeathFromAbove

If ****ing Mask Lewis can make it into the hall of fame, Blatnick should definitely be in there.

So why don't you think Mask should be in the hall of fame?

DeathFromAbove · 10-29-2012, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaaaaB's

So why don't you think Mask should be in the hall of fame?

You could start with the fact that he didn't even work for the UFC. There are many more deserving guys in the builder category than Mask Lewis.

kurt · 10-30-2012, 03:05 AM

Blatnick's service to the sport of mixed martial arts is basically unparalleled.

It seems strange that he wasn't more of an American icon too, given his achievements in wrestling, his battle with cancer, etc.

ck26 · 10-30-2012, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kurt

Blatnick's service to the sport of mixed martial arts is basically unparalleled.

It seems strange that he wasn't more of an American icon too, given his achievements in wrestling, his battle with cancer, etc.

Dan Gable, Rulon Gardner, Cael Sanderson and Dave Schultz were all world champions, but the two most well-known amateur / greco / freestyle wrestlers in America these days are Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle, and the only real outlet to make a living in the sport is either coaching or using it as a basis for a crossover to MMA. What does that say about wrestling's place in the American sports hierarchy?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaaaaB's

So why don't you think Mask should be in the hall of fame?

What did he do exactly? Sponsor the UFC? Sell ugly shirts? I don't see how this is different than what Harley Davidson and Assassin's Creed 3 do now.