Because of a sad, involved story involving the long-defunct Extreme Fighting organization attempting to one-up the UFC and hold an event in New York State in 1997 -- both making lots of noise in the media and shaming legislators in the process -- MMA has been unwelcome in Madison Square Garden. In terms of outdated prohibitions, this ranks right up there with obscure laws about spitting in public or walking backwards on a Thursday.
"We're going to say to kids, don't fight and don't bully, but it's okay for us to do it, because we're making money off it,” he told the news outlet. “That's a pretty horrible message I think.” Reilly then turned his attention to rejecting any state revenue earned in taxing alcohol and tobacco. Of course he did.
Reilly continues to ignore the fact that if children are going to be psychologically damaged from watching cage fights, it’ll probably happen as a result of the dozen hours of weekly MMA programming already available on their television. Watching a live show and getting a closer look at a disgusting hematoma or water-sprinkler cut might actually dissuade them from ever getting physical with anyone.
That’s just a guess. Ask Reilly: he’s clearly the one with the psychology degree.