e should never be afraid to stand for the virtues, to stand for what is right.The Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association is the latest attempt to organize f

LOS ANGELES -- Former champions Georges St. Pierre, Cain Velasquez and T.J. Dillashaw are taking on the UFC in an attempt to form a mixed martial arts fighters association.Current UFC fighters Donald Cowboy Cerrone and Tim Kennedy also announced their participation Wednesday in an organizing effort led by the five fighters and advised by Bjorn Rebney, the former CEO of Bellator.The fighters hope to persuade the rest of the UFCs talent to join them in unified negotiation for a greater percentage of revenue from the UFC. The promotion was sold to the WME-IMG entertainment conglomerate earlier this year for roughly $4 billion, an unprecedented price for a sports property.This is a different kind of fight, St. Pierre said. Even though youre afraid, its time to step up and do the right thing. Its a fight (between) what is right and what is wrong, and we should never be afraid to stand for the virtues, to stand for what is right.The Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association is the latest attempt to organize fighters in a famously individualistic sport into a collective bargaining unit. Kennedy, St. Pierre and Rebney all spoke passionately about the need to level the playing field between the UFC and its fighters, who are independent contractors.These athletes are risking more for less than any professional athletes on earth, Rebney said. They are paid pennies on the dollar.Rebney also described the UFC as an egregious, predatory monopoly and vowed to secure an unspecified set of benefits for former UFC fighters as part of a settlement for the promotions past revenue-sharing practices, in addition to improved conditions for current fighters.Other attempts at a fighters organization in recent years have made little headway or are only in their initial stages, but St. Pierre and Velasquez are the biggest stars to join an effort. St. Pierre reigned as the UFCs welterweight champion and one of its top pay-per-view draws from 2007-13, while Velasquez has won the UFC heavyweight belt twice during an injury-plagued career.St. Pierre hasnt fought in three years, but has publicly claimed he is considering a comeback. He has become increasingly antagonistic toward the UFC during his retirement, even claiming to be a free agent earlier this year when he announced tentative plans to fight again.I know agents will be threatened by UFC, and theyll try to convince their fighters that its a bad idea to join us, St. Pierre said. I know, because Ive been there before. I dont have to work another day in my life, but I want to change things for the right.Four of the involved fighters are represented by Creative Artists Agency, a rival of WME-IMG. Rebney repeatedly declined to identify the financiers of the fighters associations efforts, but claimed CAA isnt financially involved.Rebney indicated the fighters dont intend to form a union, but instead intend to persuade the UFC to listen to them through their unity. Rebney indicated labor strikes could be a possible last resort if the UFC declines to negotiate. Air Max Plus Clearance . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Air Max Plus Se Sale . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. http://www.airmaxplusstoresale.com/air-max-plus-tn-cheap/tns-red-discount.html . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Air Max Plus Sale . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. Air Max Plus Tn Cheap . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. NEW YORK -- Forty years ago, the worlds top two marathon runners were each handed an envelope with a check in it for $3,000 -- secret rewards for helping raise the profile of the very first five-borough New York City Marathon.It was an instant hit, a `Wow! says George Hirsch, chairman of the board of the New York Road Runners club that on Sunday hosts the 2016 race.What is now the worlds largest marathon began in 1970 when 126 men and one woman circled Central Park. Six years later, about 2,000 amateurs, including Hirsch, took the race to the streets of New York for the first time, touching all five boroughs.Leading the pack were American marathon record-holder Bill Rodgers and Olympic gold medalist Frank Shorter, paid to push the 26.2-mile run into the global spotlight. Hirsch -- then a prominent publisher -- passed them the checks under the table, he remembers.We wanted to give the most important runners in the world an incentive to be here, Hirsch says. They made a big difference.Rodgers won the first of his four New York marathons.The payments to hit the pavement certainly paid off.This year, about 50,000 people from more than 120 countries -- half of them women -- have registered. The elite athletes will be competing for a prize purse totaling $803,000, with potential time bonuses. The mens and womens champions will each receive $100,000. And $25,000 goes to the fastest competitor in a wheelchair.All eyes will be on Mary Keitany, of Kenya, last years defending champion, who also won in 2014, and last years male winner, Kenyan Stanley Biwott.Among A