Tough Guys (book)
{{short description|2017 book}}
{{Infobox book
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| name = Tough Guys
| image = File:Tough Guys (book).jpg
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| author = Bill Viola Jr, Dr. Fred Adams{{Cite web|url=https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/40-under-40-2016/|title=40 Under 40: 2016|date=October 19, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldstandard.com/sports/local/tough-guys-book-an-inspiring-read/article_29ef5877-dddb-5871-afbd-96c89684fe96.html|title='Tough Guys' book an inspiring read|first=Jonathan |last=Guth|website=heraldstandard.com}}
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| country = United States
| language = English
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| genre = Mixed Martial Arts
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| publisher = Kumite Classic Entertainment{{cite web |url=https://journals.psu.edu/wph/article/view/58821/58547 |title=Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum |last=Madarasz |first= Anne |website=journals.psu.edu|access-date=2020-12-01}}
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| published = 2017
| media_type = Print, Kindle{{cite web |url= https://www.amazon.com/Tough-Guys-Birth-American-Sport-ebook/dp/B075J4ZYXV|title= Amazon listing|website=www.amazon.com|access-date=2020-12-01}}
| pages = 447
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| isbn = 978-0-9961633-0-9
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Tough Guys is non-fiction mixed martial arts book inspired by CV Productions Inc., and the Tough Guy Contest.Trombola, Nick. Martial arts master. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. (September 27, 2019). The book was written by Bill Viola Jr., and Dr. Fred Adams and published by Kumite Classic Entertainment in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://blackbeltmag.com/forging-a-path-for-half-a-century|title=Forging a Path for Half a Century|date=September 12, 2019|website=Black Belt Magazine}}Bowen, Jessie.(2017). Who’s Who in the Martial Arts. Elite Publication. ISBN 9781387161539{{Cite web|url=https://www.pittmag.pitt.edu/news/alumni-updates-winter|title=Alumni Updates: Winter 2018|website=Pitt Magazine}}{{Cite web|url=https://archive.triblive.com/ccpa/?page=/sports/other-local/tough-guys-documentary-profiles-local-creators-of-mma-viola-caliguri/|title=/ccpa/|website=TribLIVE.com}} It was the basis for the 2017 film Tough Guys which made its network television debut on Showtime.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2017/09/showtime-tough-guys-documentary-explores-mma-roots-1980s-pittsburgh|title=Showtime's 'Tough Guys' documentary explores MMA's early roots in 1980s Pittsburgh|date=September 13, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5023566/|title=Tough Guys|date=June 15, 2017|via=IMDb}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/9/15/16309972/tough-guys-documentary-sheds-welcome-light-on-forgotten-mma-tourney-that-pre-dates-ufc-1|title='Tough Guys' documentary sheds welcome light on forgotten MMA tourney that pre-dates UFC 1|first=Mike|last=Chiappetta|date=September 15, 2017|website=MMA Fighting}}Guerry, Matthew. Book Review: “Godfathers of MMA” WHIRL Magazine. (8/24/2016){{Cite web|url=https://archive.triblive.com/ccpa/?page=/aande/movies-tv/tough-guys-traces-mmas-roots-right-back-to-western-pennsylvania/|title=/ccpa/|website=TribLIVE.com}}
Background
Tough Guys was originally published under the title Godfathers of MMA (2014).{{Cite web|url=https://www.skillsetmag.com/2020/06/16/pennsylvania-tough-guy-contest/|title=How Pennsylvania's Tough Guy Contest Gave Birth to Modern Day MMA|date=June 16, 2020}} The Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, discovered the book and subsequently established a permanent exhibit to recognize Pittsburgh as the birthplace of modern sport of MMA in the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.Golden Gloves. Senator John Heinz History Center{{cite web |url=https://www.alleghenycounty.us/uploadedFiles/Allegheny_Home/Dept-Content/County-Council/Meeting-Minutes/2019/9-24-19%20Minutes.pdf |title= City Council meeting minutes |date=2019 |website=www.alleghenycounty.us |access-date=2020-12-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/whirlmagazine/docs/decemberwhirl2017|title=WHIRL Magazine: December 2017|website=Issuu}}
New York based MinusL Productions secured the rights to produce a documentary film about the history of MMA and used the book as the basis for the film named Tough Guys co-starring Bill Viola Sr., the author's father. Tough Guys made its world premiere June 15, 2017 at the AFI Docs Film Festival in Washington, D.C.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2017/06/15/afi-docs-is-your-ticket-to-3-world-premiere-films/|title=AFI Docs is your ticket to 3 world-premiere films|first=Kristen|last=Page-Kirby|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/morgan-spurlock-mma-documentary-tough-guys-1202463964/|title=Morgan Spurlock to Exec Produce MMA Origins Documentary 'Tough Guys' (EXCLUSIVE)|first1=Dave|last1=McNary|date=June 13, 2017}}
The book was updated and rebranded as Tough Guys (2017) and published the same day as the network television debut of Tough Guys on Showtime.{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2017/09/15/MMA-roots-Pittsburgh-Showtime-documentary/stories/201709150029|title=Showtime documentary proves Pittsburgh-area early mixed martial arts fighters were 'Tough Guys'|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}} The re-released commemorative edition peaked at No. 1 on the Amazon individual sports charts September, 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://mmahistory.org/tough-guys-amazon-1-best-seller/|title=Tough Guys MMA Book reaches #1 on Amazon best sellers list|date=September 19, 2017}}
Summary
The book is a noted MMA resource and historical reference for early competition.{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/other-sports/2016/02/19/From-Pittsburgh-roots-Ultimate-Fighting-Championship-mixed-martial-arts-have-grown/stories/201602190223|title=From Pittsburgh roots, MMA, UFC have grown to staggering heights|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}{{Cite web|url=https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/two-pittsburgh-tough-guys-made-mma-safe-for-everyone-but-themselves|title=Two Pittsburgh Tough Guys Made MMA Safe for Everyone But Themselves|date=May 14, 2019|website=MEL Magazine}}{{Cite web|url=https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/the-early-years-of-mma-were-a-no-holds-barred-freakshow-that-couldnt-be-more-different-from|title=The Early Years of MMA Were a 'No-Holds-Barred Freakshow' That Couldn't Be More Different From…|date=July 7, 2018|website=MEL Magazine}} Tough Guys documents mixed martial arts in the late 1970s-1980s.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/mma/post/_/id/36/the-zuffa-myth-and-ufc-auteur-theory|title=The Zuffa myth and UFC auteur theory|date=August 24, 2010|website=ESPN.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/5/23/3026002/mma-martial-chronicles-before-fighting-was-ultimate-it-was-super|title=Before Fighting Was Ultimate It Was Super|first=John S.|last=Nash|date=May 23, 2012|website=Bloody Elbow}} In 1979, Bill Viola Sr. and Frank Caliguri established CV Productions Inc. and created a new sport that combined martial arts, boxing, wrestling, jujutsu and various forms of combat sports. The “anything goes” Tough Guy Contest introduced regulated mixed martial arts competition to America and launched the first MMA league, later rebranded as “Super Fighters.”Blinebury, Fran. "No Holds Barred as the Super Brawlers Take Over the Civic Center." Philadelphia Journal: Jun 13, 1980, 27.
Tough Guys chronicles mixed martial arts a decade before the term became popular or the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was created.Gross, Josh. Ali vs Inoki - The Forgotten Fight that Inspired MMA {{ISBN|9781942952190}} It details the Toughman (boxing) vs Tough Guy (MMA) controversy, the death of Ronald Miller and the Tough Guy Law which outlawed mixed martial arts in 1983.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/18/sports/toughman-boxing-brings-controversy.html|title=Toughman Boxing Brings Controversy (Published 1981)|first=Jim|last=Benagh|date=May 18, 1981|via=NYTimes.com}} Tough Guys documents the sports early history and legal issues with the Pennsylvania State Legislature and Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission. It concludes with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania outlawing mixed martial arts.{{cite web |url=https://toughguycontest.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Fighters-Only-Nov.-2013-Tough-Guy-Contest1.pdf |title=MMA's Forgotten Forefathers |date=2013 |website= toughguycontest.com|access-date=2020-12-01}}
References
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Further reading
- Samuel Brace [https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2017/06/morgan-spurlock-producing-mma-origins-documentary-tough-guys/ June 14, 2017].
- Yahoo entertainment: [https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/zullo-henry-roosevelt-craig-dibiase-202600899.html?guccounter=1 September 14, 2017].
- Academy Award Nominated Morgan Spurlock Joins Academy Award Winner Ross Kauffman For [https://www.shootonline.com/spw/academy-award-nominated-morgan-spurlock-joins-academy-award-winner-ross-kauffman-mixed-martial The Mixed Martial Arts Documentary “Tough Guys”].
- Johnson, Ted. May 12, 2017: [https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/afi-docs-festival-line-up-2017-1202425420/ AFI Docs Line Up Includes ‘Atomic Homefront,’ ‘Saving Brinton,’ ‘Tough Guys’ Premieres].
- Stefano, Dan. [https://archive.triblive.com/news/ufc-makes-long-waited-pittsburgh-debut/ (6/2/2011)].
- Heather, Hlotschlag. Preserving Tough Guys Heritage. IC Mag. (3/14/2018)
- Zuchowski, Dave. Book and Film Chronicle Brownsville Native's Creation of New Sport. Pennsylvania Bridges. November 2017
Category:2017 non-fiction books