Kevin Iole

I tire of you.

I don't know Iole, but if his writing is any good indication, he's one of the most insecure journalists roaming this expansive earth.  Among a host of other problems, Iole insists on incorporating veiled jabs at MMA websites like Sherdog or even the entire MMA blogosphere, essentially websites who aren't court jesters for Zuffa and work to report the sport as they see it, errors and all.  The general charge by Iole is that these sites are either full of "keyboard warriors" or biased toward everyone not named the UFC.  Aside from laughing, all I can do is really pity grown men who use a mainstream writing gig as an outlet for their passive aggression.

This would all be funny were it not so pathetic.  The fact of the matter is that Mr. Iole - a man I do not know personally and may very well be a nice guy - is at the back end of the curve when it comes to technical knowledge of the sport.  The back back back end.  Less than a white belt back end.  I've busted him for confusing a gogoplata with a triangle choke before he even worked for Yahoo.  Then I busted him for not knowing the difference between a kimura and an arm bar. Let's also not forget his "the sky is falling" tirade after Babalu became a meanie.  And many of us in the blogosphere got a good chuckle when he recommended Yushin Okami - primarily a wrestler - use the Thai plum to defeat Rich Franklin since Anderson Silva used the position to devastating effect.  To anyone with even a cursory knowledge of the sport, that suggestion - to put it charitably - is downright moronic.

I normally have no interest in engaging in little pissing contests like this, but so long as Iole remains both ignorant and full of petulant opinions, I feel obligated to respond.  I'm sorry you're threatened, Kevin, but the fact is the vast majority of bloggers, Sherdogers, and Ugers are eminently more qualified to opine about MMA than you...even if they never make a dime.

So if you're wondering what it's like for me to read a Kevin Iole column or listen to his fighting advice, let's just say it's about the same as listening to this guy give spiritual advice:

You're entitled to your opinion, too, Kevin.  Just do us all a favor and work on making it worthwhile first.  Thanks in advance.