Comments on: Japanese media coverage of PRIDE’s death

By: zenki

zenki — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 01:19:26 +0000

The Gaijin
2nd that….

By: The Gaijin

The Gaijin — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 23:01:55 +0000

Actually PRIDE was coming off winning the NYE ratings war against K-1 with one of their best NYE rating ever, iirc.

So as for fans jumping off the bandwagon months before – I have no clue what you’re talking about…

By: shatterproof

shatterproof — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:56:41 +0000

if the japanese fans didn’t want Pride to die they should have called up SkyPerfecTV and demanded a new contract there. Fans were jumpping off the Pride wagon for months before Sky decided not to work with Pride ever again. Sucks for Japan, but it remains great for north americans who finnaly get to see some of that talent pool in our own back yards!

By: Michaelthebox

Michaelthebox — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:17:36 +0000

Well, looks like Jeff just covered everything that needs be said. Thanks a lot Jeff.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:21:36 +0000

American perspective: How dumb were those 20 employees? For crying out loud! For months, Zuffa did nothing in Japan, nor did it look like they were ever going to. Those employees had months to find new jobs, but just kept muddling along, doing nothing (literally) but waiting for something to come from Pollack. They had an easy gig (doing nothing), and the gravy train came to an end.

Japanese perspective: Once again, the American behemoth takes over an institution created by Japanese, and then casts the Japanese aside when they have what they want. Furthermore, despite the loyalty of their employees, those poor souls are just abruptly turned out into the street, wondering how they are going to recover their lives. Lousy Americans!

By: Rohan

Rohan — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 13:05:56 +0000

But having got in their position (having bought) what would you do? It was a foolish effort but on a practical level the 20 employees would have been fired long before if Zuffa hadn’t stepped in. Therefore for them to be crapped over now is quite amusing.

By: Lynchman

Lynchman — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:58:00 +0000

We knew, months ago, that Pride was done. Dana has repeatedly said they were unable to secure a television deal and that without a deal, they would not run any Pride shows.

I think the Colts comparison is absurd.

By: Zach Arnold

Zach Arnold — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:26:15 +0000

They should have never bought the PRIDE assets or done business with DSE, in my opinion. They would saved themselves a world of financial and emotional trouble, plus not put their own business image at risk in Japan.

By: Rohan

Rohan — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:52:20 +0000

Zach – see my post on the other PRIDE death thread.

Did any of the Japan media mention why UFC had to the opportunity to take PRIDE over (they were a corrupt company), why PRIDE was effectively a dead organisation which UFC had very little shot of resurecting no matter what they (no TV company would touch them), and what UFC owned offices were being used for since the take over.

On a serious point Zach – what would you do having got into Zuffa’s position? You’ve got a money losing dead ship with no chance of turning it round – and your assets are being used to help run a company you don’t own. Oh and as you pointed out (i think) in the other post your employees are likely mates with the mafia and can have you roughed up if you show your face.

By: fitch

fitch — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:30:03 +0000

Does this come as any real surprise?

When all the top talent immediately started to show up in the UFC you knew it was over. The Pride name was forever tainted by the scandal. A name change after the new management may have saved it but I don’t think the Fertitta’s understand business in Japan welll enough to have pulled it off.