BJ Penn’s comments about the way the MMA media covered the GSP greasing scandal
By Zach Arnold | July 29, 2009
BJ Penn was in rare form on Tuesday’s UFC conference call to promote his fight against Kenny Florian on August 8th in Philadelphia. As you can hear in this clip put on YouTube by Steve Cofield from the conference call, Penn is asked a couple of questions by Steven “Tom Hamlin” Marrocco from MMA Weekly. Not only is Penn still fixated on the greasing scandal, he’s also attacking the media for reporting on… what his own lawyer wrote and sent to them in documentation form.
TRANSCRIPT
Q: “I’ve been noticing that you’ve been doing a lot more posting obviously on your personal web site and less interviews with the media. Is there a specific reason for that or?”
BJ Penn: “Yeah, I just you know I’ll do any media that I’m contracted under with the UFC, you know, they’re my boss and this and that but I just didn’t like how the media portrayed me after the GSP fight. I didn’t like how MMA Weekly portrayed me after the GSP fight and I don’t know as far as that goes and that’s just it, man, I don’t like how Sherdog, how MMA Weekly, how MMA Junkie and how all you guys portrayed me after the GSP fight and I’m done doing you know, I’m done working with you guys.”
Q: “How do you feel we portrayed you?”
BJ Penn: “You know, Raffi (Nahabedian – Penn’s attorney), he send you guys the… he sent you my complaint to the Nevada athletic commission and Raffi’s a pretty high-strung guy and he went in and he added in that uh, of course it wasn’t my doing, I never even heard of a pill that could make someone greasy, Raffi went and added that in and that’s all you guys wanted to report, “Penn files a complaint, says GSP took a pill that made him greasy,” you guys didn’t want to report on anything else that we warned the commission before the fight, you didn’t want to report on anything, you guys got to remember when Ryan Bennett died our family, my family donated how much stuff for you for MMA Weekly, we kept doing stuff, we keep doing things for MMA Weekly because of our love for Ryan Bennett and that’s how you go and treat us? But whatever, I’m done with you guys.”
END
Here is Marrocco’s article on Penn about what he said on the conference call.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 14 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Boston Globe op-ed: MMA is ‘human dogfighting’
By Zach Arnold | July 28, 2009
I’ve long-written about the media’s obsession with tying MMA and dog-fighting together. Now the drumbeat has reached Boston’s largest daily publication.
The New York Times recently declared mixed martial arts a “mainstream sport.’’ The point was made within a truly bizarre account detailing how MMA fighters are turning to plastic surgery to alter bones and tissue so that when hit in the face they will be less likely to bleed.
Yes, the author (Peter Funt) is the son of Allen Funt, who produced Candid Camera.
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 5 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Station Casinos files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
By Zach Arnold | July 28, 2009
Despite months of haggling, the company failed to reach a prearranged agreement with all its lenders. Bondholders control $2.3 billion of the company’s $5.7 billion in debt.
The company’s 18 casinos are separate entities wholly owned by Station and aren’t part of the bankruptcy filing. They will continue to operate as usual, a Station official said. All of the debt is held by the parent company.
However, senior secured lenders did agree to allow the parent company to borrow up to $150 million from its noncasino subsidiaries, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Other articles:
- Bloomberg: Station Casinos files for bankruptcy as talks fail
- Associated Press: $5.7 billion USD in debt
- Zak Woods: Shedding creditors
- KXNT Radio: Reaching a deal with its secured lenders
- Reuters: Recession or over-leveraging?
- The Las Vegas Sun: History of Station Casinos
Topics: Media, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Fox News Channel covers the fake Kimo death news stories
By Zach Arnold | July 27, 2009
As you would expect, the channel called him an ‘ultimate fighter’ and did a few teasers throughout their “America’s Newsroom” two-hour program (9-11 AM EST). “Can ultimate fighter sue for fake reports of death?” Bill Hemmer & Megyn Kelly are the hosts. Every weekday, Kelly has a segment called “Kelly’s Court” where she tackles lawsuits and other legal issues (she got her JD from Albany).
On this morning’s “Kelly’s Court,” she covered the prospects of Kimo filing a lawsuit against media sources who inaccurately reported that he died when he did not. Footage of Kimo’s press conference last week aired. The network said that the Orange County Sheriff’s office got 200 calls about Kimo’s ‘death.’ Kelly’s guests were Kimberly Guifoyle and
Guifoyle said that he has a case and the focus is on TMZ, and she noted that there’s a campaign that TMZ will be pushed as “Truth Means Zero.” If TMZ wants to ‘hang with the big boys’ she said, they have to fact check their stories. FNC showed a mugshot of a guy named Beau Taylor (a goofy shoot where he’s smiling while arrested for public intoxication) who was ‘linked’ to as the message board source that got the ball rolling. David Wohl, a defense attorney, said that Kimo’s alive but his career was dead when he tested positive for steroids. No damages to his future business prospects and the fake death stories have now boosted his career prospects. Wohl said that he will give Kimo the benefit of the doubt that he and his people are not behind these stories. However, Kelly pointed out that Kimo’s manager said that a press conference would be held and when a media reporter supposedly asked the manager if he was alive or dead, the manager (according to FNC) said to wait for the presser. Guifoyle said that even though Kimo is a public figure, the reporting was reckless because TMZ said that they had ‘confirmed the story’ but ended up pulling back. Wohl said that it was goofy and not malicious. Guifoyle said that Kimo will be in New York to film some segments with Mike Straka of Fox News on Wednesday.
“Kimo has no case against TMZ,” was Kelly’s ruling. However, Taylor may be a target but he likely doesn’t have deep pockets so he doesn’t make a great legal target.
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 22 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC fighter Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and a police dog
By Zach Arnold | July 27, 2009
Incredibly, Knoxx Gear posted this video on YouTube with the following teaser:
UFC fighter, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson volunteers himself during a Police K9 bite work training session. Eric Abenoja, a police officer assigned in the K9 unit, brings his police service dog ,Billy, to work with Johnson in this session.
Oh, the timing…
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Las Vegas Sun ribs Chuck Liddell
By Zach Arnold | July 27, 2009
I find the “celebrity spotlight out-on-the-town” articles to be silly. Thankfully the Sun’s article does not have a Page Six vibe to it, but poor Chuck just got needled here:
Meanwhile, UFC president Dana White had a wine and champagne-laced dinner at N9NE Steakhouse with eight others. Recently-inducted UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Lidell was also in the steakhouse’s dining room on Friday, and, like White, also ordered the petite filet for his main course.
Yet when the fighter tore into his steak, it wasn’t from a seat at White’s table: Lidell and his two dining companions were seated at another table and drank Fiji water instead of bubbly.
The champion fighter and his friends did indulge themselves, though, and followed their meal with some chocolate banana pie.
I couldn’t resist the temptation to bold those phrases like the yellow tabloids do in London.
Speaking of tabloidish, check out this article by Bill Gallo in The New York Daily News labeling MMA as the “Bucket of Blood Palace.”
I am glad that we are hearing from Wes Sims because the last time I saw him on TV, he was on the IFL’s My Network TV show two years ago getting choked out while audio played in the background of a heartbeat flat-lining.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
When an ‘exclusive’ is not an exclusive
By Zach Arnold | July 27, 2009
I hate using that term when writing articles. I try to avoid it at all costs. (Now don’t throw a punchline back at me that I’ve never had an exclusive here… geek.) I find it to be a most self-serving term and it doesn’t really mean all that much to a reader.
However, if you’re going to use it, you better be accurate that what you are, in fact, reporting is something that no one else is reporting about.
Mike Rome of Bloody Elbow has some egg on his face. (Update: Bloody Elbow comment response here.)
On July 24th, he breathlessly reported a ‘Bloody Elbow exclusive’ with the following headline: Major ESPN Executive Attends UFC 100 as a Guest of Dana White
Bloody Elbow can confirm that John Skipper, Executive Vice President at ESPN in charge of content attended UFC 100 as a guest of Dana White. This was the first UFC event he has ever attended.
Unfortunately, this news was not an exclusive. Michael David Smith of AOL Fanhouse dropped the proverbial hammer on this ‘exclusive’:
I first learned that Skipper had attended UFC 100 on July 16, when I heard UFC President Dana White talking about it on Dan LeBatard’s radio show. I checked with someone at ESPN who confirmed that Skipper was there, and that ESPN is keeping its eyes on MMA, but added that Skipper attends sporting events all the time and that his attendance at any single sporting event isn’t necessarily a sign of anything.
So that’s why I didn’t write anything at the time, and that’s why I was surprised a week later when I started to hear from people in the MMA community who think a UFC-ESPN partnership is imminent. I don’t think it’s going to happen, but White did promise something big at his July 31 press conference, so we shall see.
It’s hard to keep track of every Dana White interview, but Dan Le Batard’s a pretty big voice in sports talk radio. Hard to say exclusive when Dana White said the ESPN item publicly a week before the ‘exclusive’ report.
Addendum: I get criticism a lot for what I write and so do others. Nobody should play favorites and no one is above being criticized if the questioning is on-target and fair. To suggest that MMA writers like myself can’t take criticism or haven’t taken criticism, well, you’re on your own there…
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 15 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Fedor’s boss says he would meet with UFC…
By Zach Arnold | July 26, 2009
- He says that Affliction folded because… “The fact is that according to American laws, if you advertise the showing of an event on a paid television channel, you are obligated to deliver what has been advertised.” He’s never heard of “card subject to change” before, has he…
- Would Fedor fight Josh Barnett after everything that has happened? “There are many business meetings and negotiations planned with all the major promotions. We will explore the possibility of Fedor fighting Barnett and will even look into whether the fight can take place as soon as August (since Barnett has not been suspended).” You may as well book those plans for NYE in Japan for this fight given this statement.
- On working with UFC… “We want to talk to the UFC about having Fedor compete against some of their fighters, but only within the framework of co-promotional efforts with M-1 Global.” In other words, business as usual in the manner of which Fedor’s management has used with six promotions/events that have folded (RINGS, Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye, PRIDE, Bodogfight, Yarennoka, Affliction).
Topics: Affliction, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 51 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Former WBC champion Vernon Forrest murdered in Atlanta
By Zach Arnold | July 26, 2009
News reports
- WSB Radio (Atlanta): Forrest shot and killed in attempted carjacking
- The Examiner (New York): Murdered – Vernon Forrest, good fighter, greater citizen, 38
- ESPN: Police – ex-champ Forrest shot to death
Topics: Boxing, Media, Zach Arnold | 8 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
How will Josh Barnett handle his PR problem in Japan?
By Zach Arnold | July 26, 2009
His options are limited and there’s no right answer:
On August 9th in Tokyo at Ariake Colosseum, Barnett will be wrestling on Antonio Inoki’s show. There will be a lot of media writers in attendance and Barnett’s going to be facing the heat. Barnett can’t get away with issuing a ‘no comment’ because that will make it look like he’s hiding something or trying to run away from the heat. If he declares his innocence 100%, he’s still going to have to answer questions about how the Affliction fighters lost paychecks because of what happened. And if Barnett comes out and admits that he made a mistake and did in fact use steroids and apologizes to the Japanese fans, it might help his situation out but it would destroy his appeal in California (if he goes through with it). Things are about to get very rough for Josh and he needs to get as much advice as he possibly can on how to handle the PR situation, and by advice I don’t mean simply his normal ‘inner circle’ of advisors, either.
Topics: Affliction, Japan, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 8 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
No sugar-coated coverage in the Japanese media for Josh Barnett
By Zach Arnold | July 24, 2009
Amazingly, the major Japanese newspapers (Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports, and Sports Nippon) all played it straight with coverage. You know you are in trouble when phrases like “anabolic steroids,” “failed drug test,” and “drug scandal” are used without any sort of softening by a favorable media corps.
Antonio Inoki said that Barnett would be given a chance to fight on 8/9 in Tokyo at Ariake Colosseum for IGF. For a show that had little-to-no media attention going in, suddenly there will be a lot of focus by the media on Barnett. He will be answering a lot of questions.
Barnett’s drug suspension gained attention because his fight with Fedor was supposed to air on SkyPerfecTV PPV in Japan live. Plus, the show was going to feature Takanori Gomi fighting on the card. The fight between Barnett and Fedor had been marketed in Japan as “The Fight of the Century.”
Topics: Affliction, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 16 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
How low can things go?
By Zach Arnold | July 24, 2009
So what will happen to the fighters on the Affliction Trilogy show who haven’t been paid?
“Where we are right now with all the fighters, is their managers and lawyers are looking at how (the fighters) are going to be compensated for lack of a fight,” said Tompkins.
One source told Sherdog.com Friday that the clothing purveyors-turned-promoters are offering T-shirt deals to the ousted fighters to help offset their losses.
Topics: Affliction, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 52 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Press release on Affliction’s 8/1 Anaheim show being canceled
By Zach Arnold | July 24, 2009
Seal Beach, California (July 24, 2009) – The highly anticipated fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett at the Affliction Trilogy MMA show has been cancelled. The mega fight was scheduled to take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim on August 1st. The unforeseen license denial of Josh Barnett gave Affliction limited time to find a replacement and adequately promote the new main event.
“Finding an opponent for the number one ranked MMA heavy weight champion in such a short period of time was a huge endeavor and I’m thrilled at the amount of fighters willing to take on this challenge,” said Tom Atencio, vice president of Affliction Entertainment. “But in the end, we just didn’t have enough time to promote a new fight to our standards.”
Affliction is deeply disappointed that the under card is also canceled through no fault of its own. Affliction stands behind the company’s brands and delivers premium products to the most passionate and loyal customers. Affliction’s first priority is to ensure that all future events live up to the company’s high standards.
Ticket holders for the canceled event should contact Ticketmaster or ticketmaster.com for a refund.
—
Affliction has now closed up shop and is officially back as a sponsor with the UFC.
Later on Friday, Affliction opted to get out of the promoting business and, in a joint statement with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, announced it would become a sponsor of the UFC. The fate of the fighters under contract with Affliction is not known yet.
In the original Yahoo Sports story by Kevin Iole, the following quote about UFC/Affliction was this:
“White said an Affliction attorney flew to Las Vegas only days after UFC 100 and offered to fold and turn its contracts over to the UFC if the UFC would remove its ban on its fighters wearing Affliction T-shirts.
“I told him, ‘I hope you idiots stay in business,’ ” White said. “We had a record year in 2007. We had a record year in 2008. And we’re going to have an even bigger record year in 2009. I said, ‘I hope you … stay around in 2010 and burn every dollar you have.’ What they do is of no concern to me.””
It should be noted, for historical reference only, that this is the third MMA promotion that Fedor has been the ‘ace’ of and seen shut down – RINGS, PRIDE, and now Affliction.
Topics: Affliction, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 30 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |