The BulleTin • Thursday, June 10, 2021 A7
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
DEAR ABBY
Write to Dear Abby online at dearabby.com
or by mail at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Dear Abby: I have a grand-
son (25) and granddaughter
(22) who are both extremely
overweight (300 pounds
each). They not only have
health issues, but also mental
issues. Both work part time
at the same company as their
mom and dad — and still
live at home. They don’t date,
don’t drive and are very de-
pendent on their parents be-
cause their parents encourage
it. My granddaughter is being
treated with meds; my grand-
son is not.
I’m very close to him, and
he shares a lot with me. He
has issues with both of his
parents, but more so with his
mom. They were raised in a
VERY Christian home. There
were always weight issues for
the entire family because they
eat most of their meals out
and the house resembles a
“Hoarders” home.
I have tried talking with
my son and his wife but they
have a convenient excuse for
everything I bring up. During
my last conversation with
my grandson, he was so un-
happy he mentioned suicide.
PLEASE can you help me?
— Distraught Grandma in Texas
Dear Grandma: Do your
son and his wife know their
son is depressed to the point
of talking about suicide? If
they are unaware, put them
on notice. While you’re at it,
give him the number of the
National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255.
Because you have already
tried talking to his parents
and found them unreceptive,
would you consider inviting
your grandson to live with
you for a while? It would be a
way of teaching him health-
ier eating habits, and if he
needs medication, you might
be able to see that his doc-
tor prescribes it. Living apart
from his parents might also
be an incentive for him to be-
come more independent in
other ways.
Dear Abby: There is a trend
happening these days. Young
people live together for sev-
eral years, get pregnant and
go to the justice of the peace
to get legally married. Then, a
year or more later, they some-
times decide to have a formal
wedding ceremony. Friends
throw them a shower, and the
wedding is often elaborate.
I thought a shower gift or
wedding gift was to help the
new couple to get their house-
hold set up. These couples al-
ready have everything in their
house. I feel this is a slap in
the face of tradition. What are
your thoughts?
— Old-Fashioned
Dear Old-Fashioned: Yes,
it’s a break with tradition.
These changes have occurred
because of changes in social
mores, the economy and gen-
der roles. The tradition used
to involve a young woman go-
ing directly from her parents’
house to that of her husband.
More recently, young peo-
ple have postponed marriage,
established themselves in the
workplace and achieved eco-
nomic independence before
coupling up. This is a posi-
tive step because if the mar-
riage fails or the spouse dies,
the widowed spouse isn’t left
without the tools to support
themselves and their family.
While you may think
the couple “already has ev-
erything they need,” take a
peek at their bridal registry
because it may be an eye-
opener. And remember, if
you cannot celebrate happily
with the couple, no rule of et-
iquette dictates that you must
attend the wedding.
YOUR HOROSCOPE
By Georgia Nicols
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
DYNAMIC | POSITIVE | AVERAGE | SO-SO | DIFFICULT
MOON ALERT: Caution! Avoid shopping or making important decisions
after 10:30 a.m. Pacific. The Moon is in Gemini.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021: You are
mentally sharp and creative, and you love music. You are independent and
persistent. You are also generous. You are entering a busy, fast-paced year full
of many different kinds of activities. You will enjoy the company of others and
vice versa. You might join forces with someone you have not seen in a while.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
This is a confusing day, so don’t beat yourself up if you feel lazy or
you want to spend a lot of time daydreaming. Nevertheless, jot down any
creative ideas that you might have, because you can think outside the box to-
day. Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Tonight:
An intense conversation.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
Everything to do with finances, shopping and earning money is
subject to confusion today. Therefore, tread carefully! Postpone important
financial decisions. Do not shop except for food or gas. (See above.) Tonight:
Money discussions.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
The Moon is still in your sign today, but now it’s at odds with fuzzy
Neptune, which will encourage daydreams. This is why it’s a poor day to
make important decisions. (Use caution against things that cloud your judg-
ment.) Tonight: You need to talk.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
Today you might seek a dreamy escape because you want to “get away
from all this.” This is a poor day to embark on something new that requires
clear thinking. It’s also a poor day to make important decisions. But you will be
interested in studying supernatural phenomena or secrets. Tonight: Dig deep.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
A conversation with a friend might be confusing. For starters, you
might idealize this person in an unrealistic way. Or perhaps the conversation
between the two of you will be like two ships passing in the night. Many in-
teractions are confusing today. (Yikes!) Tonight: Keep things light.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Conversations with partners and close friends, as well as bosses and
parents, are subject to misunderstandings today. Your best defense is to clar-
ify anything that’s important. Make sure others know what you are saying.
Make sure you know what they are saying. Tonight: Listen carefully.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
You might be interested in ancient subjects, philosophies and fables,
especially stories that hearken back to the times of Arthur and Merlin. Today
your curiosity is aroused because you are more sensitive to everything around
you, which puts a new possibility on everything. Tonight: Enjoy fantasies.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Although you might be focused on shared property, taxes, debt and
insurance matters or anything that you hold jointly with someone else, this is
a poor day to make decisions regarding these matters. For one thing, most of
this day is a Moon Alert; in addition to which, it’s a foggy day all day anyhow.
Oy! Tonight: A passionate discussion.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Be extra clear in all your communications with family members and
partners, because there’s a lot of room for confusion today. If you feel offend-
ed by what someone says, wait a minute, because you can probably chalk
this up to a confused communication. Tonight: Busy conversation.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
It’s important to know that information concerning your health might
be mistaken today or confused. Therefore, this is the classic time to get a
second opinion on another day. You also might have an issue with a pet, par-
ticularly with poison or food that is bad. Tonight: Get organized.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
You will spend a lot of time daydreaming today; however, for those
who work in the arts, some of these daydreams might be creative possibili-
ties. Make notes, but don’t act on them today during the Moon Alert. Parents
should know where their children are. Tonight: Be creative.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
A family conversation could be confusing today, especially if substance
abuse is involved. Or perhaps you will resort to some childhood attitudes,
which ultimately will mislead you. This can happen. Hey, you’re an adult now.
Tonight: Family discussions.
Olympic medalist, boxing champ Shields to make PFL debut
BY DAN GELSTON
Associated Press
Claressa Shields has nar-
rowed her walkout music for
her MMA debut down to three
songs. She needs a tune she
can dance to on the way to the
cage, though the gold gladiator
costume and her customary
entrance theatrics will be left
behind with her boxing gloves.
“I actually need to make
more TikTok videos,” she said,
laughing. “I dance all the time.
At the gym. In between rounds
of sparring. I’m always doing
some kind of dancing. When I
walk out and I’m dancing and
singing, that’s how I feel calm. I
can’t walk out all serious.”
Her mood switched inside
the boxing ring. Shields was
fierce, focused, and carried
that Flint, Michigan chip with
her all the way to two Olym-
pic gold medals and champi-
onships in three professional
weight classes.
She was undefeated, un-
challenged and conquered
boxing as the self-proclaimed
GWOAT. Yes, the Greatest
Woman Of All Time.
On Thursday, the 26-year-
old Shields begins another at-
tempt at greatness — just six
months after she started mixed
martial arts training — when
she makes her pro debut in a
155-pound fight against Brit-
tney Elkin in the Professional
Fighters League.
Shields says bring on the
haters who doubt her skills will
translate to MMA.
“What if your MMA debut
goes all wrong and you lose?
How are you going to feel,” she
says, mocking some reporters’
questions. “Why would you ask
me something stupid like that?
Who thinks about losing?”
Certainly not Shields, who
went 11-0 over five years and
became the fastest fighter in
boxing history — male or fe-
male — to become a three-di-
vision world champion. She
took time out of her boxing
prime and trained with former
UFC champions Jon Jones and
Holly Holm, most of her days
since December were spent at
the Jackson Wink MMA Acad-
emy in Albuquerque, New
Mexico.
“I let the coaches know right
off the bat, I’m an aggressive
NCAA
Continued from A5
Sen. Richard Blumenthal
(D-Conn.), who has sponsored
with Booker the sweeping Col-
lege Athlete Bill of Rights, said
he would block any federal
NIL bill that is less permissive
than Connecticut’s.
“We need to listen to the ath-
letes,” Blumenthal said. “They
are the ones who are all too fre-
quently outnumbered in this
conversation.”
There were no athletes
among the witnesses who tes-
tified at the fifth NIL-related
hearing in Congress over the
past year, but chairwoman Sen.
Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) said
there was a plan to hear from a
panel of athletes in the future.
College sports leaders have
warned a patchwork of state
laws will make it impossible for
schools that compete against
each other to do so on a level
playing field.
“The impact would be enor-
mous,” Gonzaga men’s bas-
ketball coach Mark Few told
the committee. “You’d be at a
huge competitive disadvantage,
both when student-athletes are
coming out of high school and
when they have the opportu-
nity to transfer.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn
(R-Tenn.) scolded Emmert and
the NCAA for not taking care
of the NIL issue sooner.
“This is why the states have
taken it upon themselves to do
what the NCAA has proven
incapable of doing,” said Black-
burn, who also took direct aim
at Emmert. “Don’t you think it
is time to call your leadership
of the organization into ques-
tion?”
Emmert said that was a
question for the university
leaders who sit on the NCAA
Board of Governors. The
board approved a contract ex-
tension for Emmert in April.
Emmert reiterated the
NCAA wants a national NIL
law that would preempt state
Carlos Osorio/AP file
Claressa Shields, left, hits Marie-Eve Dicaire with a left during the fifth
round of a boxing bout for the women’s super welterweight title in
Flint, Michigan, in March. Shields makes her pro debut for Professional
Fighters League on Thursday night in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
person,” she said in an inter-
view with The Associated
Press. “Whatever somebody
dishes at me, I can dish it back
and I can take it. Once they
realized that, it was a game
changer for us in camp.”
She knew how to use her
hands and mostly used pads to
work on her kicks. She learned
the intricacies of MMA, like
how to defend, get off the cage
and rebound from takedowns.
Hitting the mat isn’t necessarily
the death knell it can be in box-
ing, and Shields had developed
her own specific techniques to
stand back up from the often
inevitable ground fighting.
“I just had to get comfort-
able with being there,” she said.
“One I got comfortable being
there, it was no longer a fear of
being taken down. I know how
to get up.”
Make no mistake, Shields
has not quit boxing and still
has challengers she’d like to
fight. She wants a rematch with
middleweight champion Sa-
vannah Marshall, the last per-
son to beat her in an amateur
bout in 2012. Shields defeated
Franchón Crews-Dezurn in
her pro debut in 2016 but
wants another bout now that
the French fighter holds the su-
per middleweight crown.
Beyond that, not much else
appeals to Shields.
“What would be the differ-
ence between being a 12-time
world champ and a 20-time
world champ in women’s box-
ing? It’s nothing,” she said. “It’s
no different. I was already at
the cap of where I could make
money. I was at the cap of what
the networks would give me,
what they would allow.
“Where’s my pay-per-view
opportunity? Where is my $1
million payday? Women’s box-
ing doesn’t give you the oppor-
tunity. ”
Shields saved her money
but never commanded even a
high six-figure payout for a ti-
tle fight — she says she never
made more than $350,000
for one fight, a professional
pittance to the kind of cash
earned on the men’s side by,
say, a YouTuber in an exhibi-
tion bout.
Over the past decade MMA
has been much kinder to
women earning main event
spots and richer paydays. Kayla
Harrison, a two-time Olym-
pic judo gold medalist, has
emerged as the face of PFL
and has a 9-0 record. Ronda
Rousey, Amanda Nunes, and
Rose Namajunas are among
the women that blossomed
into main event stars in UFC,
with popularity and pay that ri-
valed or surpassed many male
fighters.
laws, keep college athletes
from being employees of their
schools and provide limited
antitrust protection from fu-
ture litigation.
The NCAA’s NIL proposal
would place so-called guard-
rails around deals athletes
could make to protect against
third-party payments being
used as recruiting inducements
or pay-for-play.
Most of the state laws that
have been passed also place
some limitations on the types
of NIL deals athletes can do.
ESPN college football ana-
lyst and former Stanford foot-
ball player Rod Gilmore, who
also holds a law degree, said
guardrails benefit the NCAA
more than athletes.
“Players have been treated
like second-class citizens,” he
said.
Sen. Ben Ray Lujan
(D-N.M.) ended the hearing
by asking each of the panelists
if they thought college athletes
should be able to profit from
their names, images and like-
nesses.
After each answered, yes,
Lujan asked: “So why is this
taking so long?”
What’s next?
Sen. Chris Murphy
(D-Conn.), who did not par-
ticipate in the hearing, is one
of the most vocal critics of the
NCAA in Washington. He
agrees with Booker that college
sports needs broad reform, not
just an NIL law. Murphy and
Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.)
recently introduced a bill that
if passed would allow college
athletes to organize and collec-
tively.
“What would be the
difference between being a
12-time world champ and
a 20-time world champ
in women’s boxing? It’s
nothing. It’s no different.
I was already at the cap
of where I could make
money. I was at the cap of
what the networks would
give me, what they would
allow. Where’s my pay-
per-view opportunity?
Where is my $1 million
payday? Women’s boxing
doesn’t give you the
opportunity.”
— Claressa Shields
Shields said she’s already
reaped the benefits of the
MMA jump, including an en-
dorsement deal with a major
headphone company and got
an all-access docu-series on
ESPN+. She also signed for
acting roles in two upcoming
movies and is involved in a
planned movie about her life
that has been delayed by the
pandemic.
“I haven’t even fought yet
and all this stuff is coming to
me,” she said. “And there’s go-
ing to be more the more suc-
cessful I am. When you’re suc-
cessful, people want to invest
in you. ”
The PFL opportunity in-
cludes a main event spot in At-
lantic City, New Jersey against
Elkin (3-6) on the ESPN2 main
card that starts at 10 p.m. EDT.
“It’s going to be awesome for
my personal experience and
journey,” Elkin said. “I’ve been
fighting for 12 years and this
is definitely the biggest match
I’ve been in.”
Shields hoped to have one
more MMA fight in August
and wants to “squeeze in” two
boxing matches this year be-
fore deciding if she’ll attempt to
win the PFL title in 2022.
Murphy said complicat-
ing this issue in Congress is
overlapping jurisdiction. The
judiciary and education com-
mittees can also weigh in. He
said a solution is not coming
as quickly as the NCAA would
like.
“I can make an educated
guess that there is no way
something’s passing by Au-
gust,” said Murphy, who has
put forth one of six NIL-related
bills that have been introduced
in the House and Senate since
December.
“The NCAA’s argument is
that the sky’s going to fall if all
these state laws become oper-
ative,” Murphy said. “Why not
test that theory? Why not let
these state laws come on the
books and see if the result is a
nasty, hard-to-manage com-
petitive imbalance?”