OTTAWA -- The House of Commons has passed a bill legalizing contact sports such as mixed martial arts. The legislation, which originated in the Senate, takes certain fighting sports, including taekwondo and karate as well as the popular sport of MMA, out of legal limbo. The sports were not technically covered under prize-fighting law, making it difficult to regulate them and protect the safety of fighters. The bill passed the Commons easily with 267 members of parliament in favour and only nine opposed. The Criminal Code section on prize-fighting was last changed in 1934, long before the rise of the new fighting sports. Section 83.1 of the Criminal Code only exempted boxing. The section said anyone who "engages as a principal in a prize fight," encourages, promotes or is present at a prize fight as an aid, second, surgeon, umpire, backer or reporter is guilty of an offence -- unless the "boxing contest" is "held with the permission or under the authority of an athletic board or commission or similar body established by or under the authority of the legislature of a province for the control of sport within the province." The section also allowed "a boxing contest between amateur sportsmen, where the contestants wear boxing gloves of not less than one hundred and forty grams each in mass." Some jurisdictions ignored the antiquated wording of the law. The UFC, the largest promoter of MMA fighting, lobbied for the legislative change. As it has done in the U.S., the UFC has pushed for government to sanction the sport. "This is a major development for the sport of mixed martial arts as we now have a consistent legislative framework for Canada and its provinces," Tom Wright, the UFCs director of Canadian operations, said in a statement. Liberal Massimo Pacetti, who supported the bill, said its an important move. "We are laying the groundwork for the general acceptance of these sports across the country," he said during the debate. Supporters say MMA bouts are no more dangerous than boxing matches. Others say they may be safer, because MMA fighters can quit when they want, while boxers tend to fight until theres a knockout or the referee steps in. Since 2008, the UFC has hosted 12 Canadian events split between Montreal (six), Toronto (three), Vancouver (two) and Calgary (one). Winnipeg is set to host UFC 161 on June 15. The Edmonton-based Maximum Fighting Championship is the largest Canadian promoter. In most jurisdictions, MMA is regulated by the same athletic bodies that oversee boxing. Currently, MMA is sanctioned at a provincial level in British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec, while it has been sanctioned on a municipal level within Alberta, New Brunswick and the Northwest Territories. Nike Blazer Sale . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. Air Jordan 32 Sale . Michell Burger, a woman who lives on an estate next to Pistorius gated community, said she and her husband were awoken by the screams in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14 last year, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a door in his bathroom. https://www.wholesaleshoesforcheap.com/nike-react-sale/ . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Air Max 90 Sale . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Adidas Shoes Sale . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Larry Brown, the Hall of Fame head coach who resigned from SMU?in July, might return to the sideline --?for the East Hampton High School Bonackers on Long Island, New York.While staying at his summer home in East Hampton, Brown learned the local high school unexpectedly needed a new boys varsity coach after the newly hired one resigned last week. Brown could become what he had envisioned as a youngster: a high school coach.Tonight, Im going to the high school and see the kids and talk to the [athletic director], Brown, 76, told ESPN on Tuesday. I wish I could tell you when Im going to make a decision. Im hopeful, its pretty close.East Hampton athletic director Joe Vasile-Cozzo told Newsday on Tuesday that were game if Brown decides to coach. Brown had initially discussed his interest in the high school job with The Kansas City Star on Thursday.?Bus rides to away games and untelevised games in small, cramped gyms dont give Brown pause -- he said they would be fun in the same way that Michael Jordan found relief while stripped of all the amenities during his two years of playing minor league baseball.Brown said his responsibility would only be coaching; he wouldnt also have to teach history or a physical education class. And from what hes seen in recruiting during the past four seasons with the Mustangs, Brown said coaches generally have gotten away from teaching and holding kids accountable.What Ive foound, on every level, they want to be taught, Brown said.ddddddddddddThey want somebody thats more than just a workout coach. So many people are afraid to teach kids, and I think thats a big mistake.Browns hesitation in pursuing the job is he has already made many commitments and still had more offers to participate in clinics both in the states and overseas. Many from his coaching tree, including Kentuckys John Calipari, Marylands Mark Turgeon and Colorados Tad Boyle, have invited him to watch and evaluate their practices.If outside obligations would take too much time away from coaching East Hampton, Brown said he could not do it.Brown, who stepped down from SMU because he wanted a new contract, said he wants to share what I was taught before I get where I cant do it.Brown is the only coach to win an NCAA title (Kansas, 1988) and an NBA title (Detroit Pistons, 2004), and said hes built differently thanks to all the coaches he has played for or helped groom.When youve played for the people that Ive played for and had people sit next to you like I have, it wouldnt seem right if I didnt share everything I was taught, Brown said. I know I have this gift that I can teach. I just want to help the game thats giving me so many unbelievable opportunities that I want to give back. ' ' '