Need for Speedo

There aren’t a lot of sports institutions whose rulebooks explicitly state, “speedos only.” Thank God. Sure, the Cards’ linemen are athletes, but “Speedo only” athletes they are not. Mixed Martial Arts athletes, however, embrace a workout regimen grueling enough to terrify even the most ardent of gym rats. Thus their mandatory scantily clad-ness has hardly been an impediment to the sport’s success. In fact, the machismo of the cage coupled with images of exceptionally fit men in speedos has culminated into a perfect storm tearing through the sports world in recent years, with the allure successfully reaching across the gender aisle.

It’s strangely diplomatic, actually: The men generally tolerate the speedos for the sake of the violence, while the ladies do precisely the opposite. Either way, MMA fans can witness the carnage live when King Of The Cage comes to Scottsdale’s Talking Stick Resort, 9800 East Indian Bend Road, at 5 p.m. Monday, May 26. Tickets start at $51. Visit www.kingofthecage.com or call 480-850-7734 for details.

Mon., May 26, 5 p.m., 2014