The Wrong Focus

by Michael Rome on Jul 17, 2008 3:07 PM EDT in News

I just spent some time listening to Steve Cofield's audio clips that are up over at the Yahoo MMA experts blog. He has a piece here arguing that the UFC's handling of the Rampage situation is a watershed moment for the company:

UFC's decision on how to handle the Quinton Jackson incident is a watershed moment for the organization. Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole said the right thing was done with the firing/suspension of Jesse Taylor after his antics on The Ultimate Fighter 7. But in the past UFC has dropped the ball with Jon Koppenhaver (pictured) and needs to get this one right. The inconsistency is confusing.

Realistically, this is not a huge story outside of the MMA world. It is all over TMZ, and PTI talked about it for a few seconds, but it has really not received the kind of national media attention some expected. Being consistent or inconsistent is not going to affect how the UFC is perceived by fans outside of the hardcores that wait all day to find something hypocritical Dana did to post about on 23 message boards. I'd be more concerned if they decide to cut a guy that is having a mental breakdown after a fight for their organization simply to show some level of meaningless consistency.

Further, this strikes me as completely the wrong angle to focus on for this story. Quinton Jackson was taken to a hospital for a mental evaluation because his friend was so concerned about the way he was acting. We've seen footage of him acting very strange the day before this incident as well. We don't know what's wrong with him, and to focus on how the UFC should handle this from a PR perspective is a very cold way to approach the situation.

Frankly, Dana's quote on the terrible radio show he was on struck the right chord:

"At the end of the day, we care about these guys. A lot of these guys are our friends. I want to find out what's wrong with Rampage and get him taken care of."

This is really what's important at this point.

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Well said, Michael.

by AJB on Jul 17, 2008 3:15 PM EDT 0 recs

Important

I think the peoples lives, like the pregnant woman whom was hospitalized are more important.

by MrNiceGuyMMA on Jul 17, 2008 3:16 PM EDT 0 recs

Value of Life

No one’s life holds greater value than anothers.

by lovingmma25 on Jul 17, 2008 3:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

You mean the woman the cop said had minor injuries? Surely she deserves sympathy too, but the injuries were so minor they couldn’t even name one in the report.

by Michael Rome on Jul 17, 2008 4:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

Like the potential miscarriage she could have? Its obvious you aren’t a father. He put peoples lives including unborn children in danger. He should be locked up either in jail or an insane asylum, not getting sympathy.

by MrNiceGuyMMA on Jul 17, 2008 4:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

I have a feeling you weren’t a Rampage fan before this either.

by Mike Fagan on Jul 17, 2008 4:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

We have no idea if what Rampage did was malicious or what. Let’s not go talking about him like he’s a convicted felon just yet, please.

by Jiiri on Jul 17, 2008 5:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

So if someone is not a father, they can’t have a different opinion than you? That makes sense. I am a father, and I think you’re way out of line. Was she killed? Did she have a miscarriage? Do we know what’s even going on? Good that you have such a strong opinion without any knowledge, it shows that you are a critical thinker.

by Jiiri on Jul 17, 2008 5:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

I don’t live in the future. I based what I say off of today, and the past. He is either a criminal with no regards to peoples safety or he is a psycho that needs to be hospitalized and then watched for a quite some time. Now Jiiri, if that was your wife who was struck in her car while pregnant, you would just shrug it off because of Rampage? Or would you defend your wife and make sure she isnt put in danger by some crazy man behind the wheel of some obsurd monster truck. If you would shrug it off then you are no husband or father.

by MrNiceGuyMMA on Jul 17, 2008 8:47 PM EDT up 0 recs

Meeting your definition of husband and/or father is not my concern, believe me. And yes, if someone hit my pregnant wife’s car, and everyone came out fine, and the guy turned out to have some mental or medical problems, I would wish him to get healthy and live a happy life. Your decision that he is one of those two things you mentioned is exactly why I eluded to your lack of critical thinking. There’s absolutely no other explanation, huh? Criminal or psycho. And you have just as much information as any of us, namely, nothing. He may turn out to be either, or neither, but how you already know I’d love to find out.

I’m a little amazed sometimes at the ignorance here.

by Jiiri on Jul 17, 2008 8:56 PM EDT up 0 recs

I just wanted to clarify that I don’t think BE readers are generally ignorant, not at all. My apologies if that last comment seemed to indicate that. I meant this thread.

by Jiiri on Jul 17, 2008 8:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

I agree

If everyone involved in the accident is okay I would be concerned for the driver who caused the accident. We do live in a society where it seems that no one has empathy for what the next human being is going thru. Everyone will experience an unexpected tragedy at some point in their life but that person should not have to pay for it for the rest of their life.

Again, we don’t know the facts involving Rampages behavior but let’s hope and pray that he does get the help he needs.

by lovingmma25 on Jul 17, 2008 10:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

I agree..

Very well said.. I also want to give props to Dana. I’m glad he’s not jumping to any conclusions about the situation.

by asmiley420 on Jul 17, 2008 3:16 PM EDT 0 recs

Boo-hoo. Rampage and Dana are public figures held up to public scrutiny. Get over it.

by raidernationz on Jul 17, 2008 3:24 PM EDT 0 recs

Really? That’s what you got from this post?

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard on Jul 17, 2008 3:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

It really baffles me that some of the MMA media are saying Rampage should be suspended or even dropped before we have heard his side of the story. The UFC is in business to make money, not lose money.

I guess this ends all discussions about Rampage getting an immediate rematch.

by steveoc24 on Jul 17, 2008 3:27 PM EDT 0 recs

Well, at least something was settled by this.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard on Jul 17, 2008 3:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

Good write up

The only thing you can do, including Dana, is wait for the facts. Why shouldn’t Dana support Rampage at this point? Before he (Dana) reacts he should have all available information to make his decision.

by lovingmma25 on Jul 17, 2008 3:29 PM EDT 0 recs

Spot On

I agree; it is best to hold off judgment until all the facts are in. At the end of the day, this should be about more than just examples being made, but the situation being handled and people getting the help they need, be it Rampage or those affected by his actions.

by Cori on Jul 17, 2008 3:44 PM EDT 0 recs

Also, let’s not act like kicking a guy out of the UFC who hasn’t even won a contract yet is the same as booting a guy who fought his way to the championship belt. Jesse Taylor is not the same as Quinton Rampage from the UFC’s perspective, and they have no responsibility to act ‘consistent’ from Iole’s, or anyone else’s, point of view.

by Jiiri on Jul 17, 2008 5:37 PM EDT 0 recs

That’s a really classy thing that Dana said. I have to give him some respect for that.

by Cmad77 on Jul 17, 2008 6:08 PM EDT 0 recs