Seeing the post about Emanuel Steward's passing reminded me that Jeff Blatnick died this week from complications during heart surgery.
He was the 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist in Greco Roman Wrestling. The first time that anyone from the U.S. had won a gold. He fought off cancer twice and was a very good wrestling commentator for college and olympic wrestling.
He was also the voice of the UFC for several years, and was I think its first Commissioner. He actually coined the phrase Mixed Martial Arts because it sounded less barbaric (and more likely to get legalized) than what it was originaly called (No Holds Barred Fighting).
I never had the privilege to meet him, but I have never heard anyone say anything bad about him personally. He was a volunteer youth coach in New York state at the time of his death.
He was the 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist in Greco Roman Wrestling. The first time that anyone from the U.S. had won a gold. He fought off cancer twice and was a very good wrestling commentator for college and olympic wrestling.
He was also the voice of the UFC for several years, and was I think its first Commissioner. He actually coined the phrase Mixed Martial Arts because it sounded less barbaric (and more likely to get legalized) than what it was originaly called (No Holds Barred Fighting).
I never had the privilege to meet him, but I have never heard anyone say anything bad about him personally. He was a volunteer youth coach in New York state at the time of his death.
