Today’s cover story on Ari Emmanuel, our mayor Rahm Emmanuel’s brother, reminded me of a sordid piece of news that went unnoticed at the time. MMA was illegal here in Illinois, until our governor at the time, Rod Blagojevich (now in prison), struck a deal with Ari-
Blagojevich writes of his distaste for the sport, which takes place in an octagonal steel cage and combines boxing, karate, jiu-jitsu and other martial arts. But he says he put that distaste aside and signed the legislation legalizing mixed martial arts to score points with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel’s brother, Hollywood superagent Ari Emanuel, the real-life model for the character Ari Gold in the HBO series “Entourage.”
ironically, the same day there was a UFC on Fox press conference at the Allstate Arena, Rod was getting sentenced to Federal Prison just a couple of miles away.
Zero corruption alleged. Article states the only things needed were "the usual mix of political clout and a little campaign cash..."
Blagojevich didn't care for MMA but accepted campaign donations from Zuffa.
Ari Emmanuel's brother is Rahm Emmanuel.
Zuffa made campaign contributions of $30K to 23 other state holders.
STOP THE PRESS!! O THE CORRUPTION!!!
Call it corruption, call it business as usual, but it boils down to cash payments to 23 state officeholders who were voting on legalizing MMA, and continual "donations" to campaigns. Also Zuffas lobbyist was a former state employee who after the vote married one of the officeholders who voted for it. And anyone from Chicago knows about how this was part of a bigger issue with Rod using Rahm's open congressional seat and Obama's senate seat as bargaining chips for political favors. That was illegal enough for it to lead to Rod's imprisonment.
Blagojevich was convicted yes and it was for corruption, but it was primarily his attempts to sell President Obamas's vacant Senate seat. Any MMA stuff was barely neglible to his crimes.
Also if everyone that donated to state holder campaigns were convicted of a crime, no lobbyist would be left standing.