Jeff Blatnick
Jeffrey Carl "Jeff" Blatnick (July 26, 1957 – October 24, 2012) was an American super heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler and sports commentator. He won NCAA Division II heavyweight wrestling championships in 1978 and 1979 and won the Olympic gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling in 1984 after battling back from cancer. During his wrestling days, he and Dan Severn were on the same U.S. National Wrestling Team. As a commentator, Blatnick worked UFC 4 through UFC 32 for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He also served as the UFC commissioner and was instrumental in helping the UFC get regulated by the athletic commissions, which kept the sport of mixed martial arts alive during its Dark Ages in the United States at the time. Blatnick is among the people credited with giving the sport of mixed martial arts its name. He served as an MMA judge for the New Jersey athletic commission. Early Life Blatnick grew up in Niskayuna, New York, outside Schenectady. His older brother Dave, whom ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Niskayuna, New York
Niskayuna is a town in Schenectady County, New York, United States. The population was 23,278 at the 2020 census. The town is located in the southeast part of the county, east of the city of Schenectady, and is the easternmost town in the county. History The town of Niskayuna was created on March 7, 1809, from the town of Watervliet, with an initial population of 681. The town's name was derived from early patents to Dutch settlers: ''Nis-ti-go-wo-ne'' or ''Co-nis-tig-i-one'', both derived from the Mohawk language. The 19th-century historians Howell and Munsell mistakenly identified Conistigione as an Indian tribe, but they were a band of Mohawk people known by the term for this location. The original meaning of the words translate roughly as "extensive corn flats", as the Mohawk for centuries cultivated maize fields in the fertile bottomlands along today's Mohawk River. [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships
The NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships for individuals and teams were first officially sponsored in 1963 and have since been held annually. The NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships is a double-elimination tournament for individuals competing in ten weight classes. Sixteen wrestlers in each class qualify through four "Super Regional" tournaments. During the championships, individual match winners earn points based on the level and quality of the victory, which are totaled to determine the team championship standings. In addition to determining the national championship, the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships also determine the Division II All-America team. The top eight finishers in each weight class qualify for Division II All-American status. On March 13, 2020, the NCAA cancelled all of its 2020 wrestling championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Team champions *Prior to 1963, only a single national championship was held for all members of the NCAA; Divis ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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All-America
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an All-America team for their sport. Some sports have multiple All-America teams, and list the honorees as members of a first team, second team, or third team. All-America teams are composed of outstanding U.S. amateur athletes. Individuals falling short of qualifying for the honor may receive All-America honorable mention. The designation is typically used at the collegiate level, although, beginning in 1957, high school athletes in football began being honored with All-American status, which then carried over to other sports like basketball and cross-country running. The selection criteria vary by sport. Athletes at the high school and college level placed on All-America teams are referred to as ''All-Americans.'' Term usage Individuals ear ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, and its county seat. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers: the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern Mill River (Springfield, Massachusetts), Mill River. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city's population was 155,929, making it the List of municipalities in Massachusetts, third most populous city in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the fourth most populous city in New England after Boston, Worcester, Massachusetts, Worcester, and Providence, Rhode Island, Providence. Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts, Metropolitan Springfield, as one of two metropolitan areas in Massachusetts (the other being Greater Boston), had a population of 699,162 in 2020. Springfield was founded in 1636, the first Springfield (toponym), Springfield in the New World. In the late 1700s, during the ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Springfield College (Massachusetts)
Springfield College is a private university in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. The institution's mission, called the Humanics philosophy, calls for educating students in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others It is also notable for its historical significance as the birthplace of basketball, which was invented on campus in 1891 by Canadian-American instructor and graduate student James Naismith. History Founded in 1885, as the Young Men's Christian Association department of the School for Christian Workers in Springfield, the school originally specialized in preparing young men to become General Secretaries of YMCA organizations in a two-year program. In 1887, it added a Physical Education department. In 1890, it separated from the School for Christian Workers and became the YMCA Training School and in 1891, the International Young Men's Christian Association Training School. In 1905, the school became a degree-granting institution.Glenn ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Niskayuna (town), New York
Niskayuna is a town in Schenectady County, New York, United States. The population was 23,278 at the 2020 census. The town is located in the southeast part of the county, east of the city of Schenectady, and is the easternmost town in the county. History The town of Niskayuna was created on March 7, 1809, from the town of Watervliet, with an initial population of 681. The town's name was derived from early patents to Dutch settlers: ''Nis-ti-go-wo-ne'' or ''Co-nis-tig-i-one'', both derived from the Mohawk language. The 19th-century historians Howell and Munsell mistakenly identified Conistigione as an Indian tribe, but they were a band of Mohawk people known by the term for this location. The original meaning of the words translate roughly as "extensive corn flats", as the Mohawk for centuries cultivated maize fields in the fertile bottomlands along today's Mohawk River. [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Niskayuna High School
Niskayuna High School is a public high school in Niskayuna, New York, United States, and is the only high school operated by the Niskayuna Central School District. History Niskayuna High School opened in 1957 after the Board of Education recommended in 1954 that the district build its own high school. Until then, students attended an area high school of their choice. The 1st graduating class was 1959 with 138 students. Since then, over 18,000 students have graduated from Niskayuna High School. A large expansion was completed in April 2011.. an ongoing capital project includes a new track, parking lot, new athletic fields, and adding pedestrian sidewalks. Academics Niskayuna High School was named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1983. In 1999, the ''Wall Street Journal'' named Niskayuna High School one of the top performing high schools in the country. In 2003, the ''Washington Post'' cited Niskayuna High School as one of the best high schools in the nation. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Cortland Standard
The ''Cortland Standard'' was a digital and print newspaper covering the Cortland, New York area. The newspaper was founded on June 25, 1867. Its final day of publication was on March 13, 2025. History The ''Standard'' was founded in 1867 by Francis G. Kinney. In 1876, the newspaper was purchased by William H. Clark, who became the first of five generations of his family to run the paper. In 2024, the paper was added to New York State's historic business registry. The newspaper closed in March 2025 with proposed tariffs on Canada, which would raise the cost of news print cited as a major contributing factor. At the time, it was one of the five oldest family-owned newspapers in the United States. As a result of the newspaper's closure, the Cortland area became a news desert A news desert is a community that is no longer covered by daily or nondaily newspapers. The term emerged in the Newspapers in the United States, United States after hundreds of Decline of newspapers, dai ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor (company), Endeavor Group Holdings. The largest MMA promotion in the world, the UFC has over List of current UFC fighters, 578 fighters contracted that fight across 11 Weight class, weight divisions (eight men's and three women's). The organization produces events worldwide and abides by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. , it had held List of UFC events, over 700 events. Dana White has been its president since 2001 and CEO since 2023. Under White's stewardship, it has grown into a global multi-billion-dollar enterprise. The UFC was founded by businessman Art Davie and Brazilian martial artist Rorion Gracie, and the UFC 1, first event was held in 1993 at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado. The purpose of the UFC's early compet ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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UFC 32
''UFC 32: Showdown in the Meadowlands'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey on June 29, 2001. History The card was headlined by the first Light Heavyweight Championship Bout (previously called "Middleweight") between Tito Ortiz and Elvis Sinosic. The event also featured the first appearance of future Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez. UFC 32 marked the last appearances of long time commentator Jeff Blatnick, who had been with the UFC since UFC 4 as well as Frank Shamrock, who had been commentating for the UFC as well after retiring his promotional Light Heavyweight championship. The event poster shows the towers of the World Trade Center in the background. Less than 3 months after the event, they were destroyed in the September 11 attacks. The event was seen live on pay per view in the United States, and later released on home video. Results Encyclopedia awa ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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UFC 4
''UFC 4: Revenge of the Warriors'' was a mixed martial arts (MMA) event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on December 16, 1994, at the Expo Center Pavilion in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States. The event was seen live on pay-per-view, and later released on home video. Background As usual, virtually all martial artists of any significance were contacted by the promoters of the event. The other way they recruited was what later became known as the "Royce's challenge letters." Even Mike Tyson was "challenged" by Royce Gracie while in jail. History ''UFC 4'' used an eight-man tournament format, with the winner receiving $64,000. The event also featured three alternate fights. All seven tournament fights were shown on the live pay-per-view broadcast, as well as the Jason Fairn vs. Guy Mezger alternate fight. The tournament had no weight classes or weight limits. Each match had no time limit or rounds, therefore no judges were used for the night. The referee for the ni ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Dan Severn
Daniel DeWayne Severn (born June 8, 1958), nicknamed "the Beast", is an American retired professional wrestler, retired mixed martial artist and amateur wrestler. A UFC Hall of Fame member, Severn is considered one of the leading pioneers of mixed martial arts and the first true world-class wrestler to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is best known for his success in the early years of the UFC where he became the first UFC Triple Crown champion in history by winning the UFC 5 tournament, Ultimate Ultimate 1995, and UFC Superfight Championship. Severn has also competed in King of the Cage, PRIDE FC, Cage Rage, WEC, RINGS and MFC, and holds a professional MMA Record of 101–19–7. In professional wrestling, Severn is a two-time world champion by winning the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship twice, with his first reign lasting for over four years, and an NWA Hall of Fame member. During his almost year-long tenure with the World Wrestling Federatio ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |