In Detroit, Matt Bishop notes UFC is “running four shows this month, three on FX, starting with ‘The Ultimate Fighter: Live Finale’ at 9 Friday on FX, and then two of the following three Fridays, as well.” UFC will also “go back-to-back nights with UFC on FX 4 in Atlantic City, N.J., and UFC 147 in Brazil.” The “overflow of cards creates a serious depth issue.” Bishop: “As it stands now, it's insulting to ask the fans in the United States to pay $54.95 for a show that would compare to many of the company's offerings on FX.” It is a “near-certainty many fans will voice their displeasure by not ordering the pay-per-view, especially when the UFC is running two of them in July.” With 12 events already held this year in addition to the three this month and four in July, that is “19 events in seven months.” That is “a lot for even the most ardent MMA fan” (DETROIT NEWS, 6/1).
WHAT TIME WORKS FOR YOU? In London, Neil Harman reported the Int'l Tennis Federation, which manages the Davis Cup and Fed Cup, has asked IMG to “put together a questionnaire to discover how the players believe the two events should be staged, in what format, and at what times of the year.” The players can either “sign their names to their answers or remain anonymous.” Rafael Nadal has “refused to play at all" this year for defending Davis Cup champion Spain and Novak Djokovic "did not appear for Serbia in either of their World Group matches this year.” The players reportedly are upset about the “inconvenience of the dates, a convoluted format and the decision to award ranking points in the championships to certain levels of the event and not others” (LONDON TIMES, 5/31).
TROPIC THUNDER: The Hawaii Tourism Authority said that it has “suggested creating a pro football developmental league in Hawaii.” In Honolulu, Ferd Lewis noted under the initial proposal the league “would have two teams on Oahu and four more spread across Hawaii Island, Maui and Kauai.” The league would “play its games in spring or summer to help groom players for the NFL.” The HTA said that it has also “proposed the NFL play an exhibition game in Hawaii in years when the Pro Bowl is played elsewhere” (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 5/31).
