Boxing vs MMA

The hot topic among some sports fans is whether Boxing is dying and can the sport of MMA (mixed martial arts) take its place among sports fans.
First of all,boxing has been dying for as long as I can remember and it is still here,so I don't buy into that much.
But boxing has made some errors through the years,mainly in not keeping a network television presence.
Stars are made on networks,then can progress to HBO or Showtime after creating a following and then for the super fights go the pay per view route.
People will not pay 50 bucks to see fighters they are not familiar with even if they are terrific fighters.
Another error is just too many "champions".There needs to be more uniformity in the champions.
I have no problems with 2 or 3 champions in some weight classes,after all with one champion,the title would hardly be defended.
But when the time is right for unification fights,they need to be held just to see who the best is and for the fight fan-creating the best fights.
MMA has their top brand in the UFC,but with several other organizations muddling the waters,MMA may be in worse shape than Boxing on that topic.
For example the IBF Welterweight titlist can fight for the WBA title,there are no exclusive contracts with championship organizations,but in MMA there are and that could be a long term problem in making the best fights.
In closing,you don't have to choose between them(as many seem to do),although I prefer Boxing.
They are different sports,related only by the fact that they are combat sports.
I heard a terrific analogy and I would credit them,if I could remember who came up with it.
Boxing is like playing Basketball-fouls,officiating and the structure of the game,while MMA is basketball in the schoolyard,almost with no rules.
They both use the same ball and hoop,but otherwise different.
Enjoy them both(or the one that you enjoy) for what they are.

Bullpen Notes

Atlanta and Tampa traded yesterday as the Braves sent headcase infielder Willy Aybar to Tampa for journeyman pitcher Jeff Ridgeway.
Ridgway pitched a third of an inning for Tampa last year and allowed 7 runs during it,as he posted a 189.00 ERA!
Tampa also picked up Chase Fontaine in the deal.
We saw Fontaine at Myrtle Beach last year and he signed some stuff for us.
Looks like Tampa got the better end of this deal.

The Devils return to action tonight with a game against the Panthers at the Rock.

Chess genius Bobby Fischer has died in his adopted home of Iceland.
The eccentric Fischer won the world chess title from the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky in 1972,but lost the title without defending it in 1975.
Fischer was forced to move to Iceland after ignoring an international sanction against dealing with Yugoslavia and playing Spassky ( and defeating ) Spassky in a 1992 rematch.
Fischer's behavior had gotten bizarre over the years,as he often ranted with anti-Semitic statements through the years,but to my generation-Bobby Fischer was American chess and the game has never recovered from the loss of Fischer.
Fischer was 64.

Photo Credits
Boxing-Unknown
Fontaine-Topps
Fischer-AP File