More on the Kimbo Slice PTI Interview

Others seem to have problems with my minimal assessments of the Kimbo Slice interview. I never really went into detail about it, which makes the criticisms of "my" argument a tad strange, but let's work with them as they stand. In short, the blame for the terrible interview (we all seem to agree there) lies more with Kimbo Slice for his lack of media savvy/professionalism and EliteXC for not doing a better job of handling or prepping Kimbo or hyping the actual event.

What might come as a surprise is that to a large extent I agree. I guess I must accept some blame for having others state my opinions for me when I write a dramatic headline without a great deal of further explanation. I suppose that makes matters unclear and folks begin to think they know what my views are in those circumstances.

In any case, yes, Kimbo Slice is partly to blame here. I think Kornheiser et al. are far more guilty (I will get to that in a moment), but the sad reality is even if bias on the part of ESPN talking heads or the viewer is the real culprit, Kimbo did himself or the sport no favors.

If you criticize Dana White for using coarse language and donning street attire for public interviews, the same standard must be extended to professional athletes (less so with the attire given he isn't part of the business end of EliteXC's executive team - which is why Liddell and Couture in Affliction gear get a similar pass). Moreover, say what you will for canned answers and polished responses, but they work. Kimbo is more thoughtful and honest than he is often given credit, but that candor can be detrimental. His answers conflate some kind of meaningful relationship between his street fighting past and MMA fighting present, a huge no-no which can cultivate confusion in the mind of the casual sports viewer regarding what MMA is about. While his humility about his place in MMA is welcoming and should be acknowledged, Kimbo answers questions as if he's unaware of his position in the sport. As a fighter, it's fairly low. As a figurehead, it's almost without parallel. He seems either unconcerned or unaware that his answers and presentation carry water for entities far larger than himself. He has the ability to create talking points and set the narrative should he choose to, but that's not a responsibility he is ready to accept. Consequently, the resulting inelegance creates doubt in the minds of PTI's mainstream viewers as to what Kimbo and his sport are truly all about. I'm sorry, folks. Kimbo and his handlers may not want the vaunted position I've described, but they've already accepted it. The Left Hand cannot accept an enormous range of endorsements, main event status, cultural ubiquity, potential movie deals and more only for the Right Hand to say "sorry, the rest isn't our responsibility." One begets the other whether they like it or not. Gina Carano must accept the same fate.

Those were Kimbo's problems. Now let's assess ESPN.

To think they bear no responsibility here is madness, period. There is no absolving them from blame.

While I don't expect questions about far side armbars, I do expect more than asking Kimbo if his appearance is meaningful to his career; I do expect more than to let Kimbo talk about James Thompson as if he's a heavyweight Yuki Kondo; I do expect more than asking if the unified rules of MMA help or hurts Slice's in-cage efforts. There is an infinite universe between asking about nuances of jiu-jitsu and his beard. It is not hard to find the appropriate territory to ask those kinds of questions provided you give a damn about the subject matter, guest, or professional responsibilities. To think that ESPN couldn't achieve this balance is appalling.

It is perfectly acceptable to expect more from ESPN, now and forever. Suggesting that we know what we are walking into with PTI is true, but doesn't negate the role of external truthful criticism. They can play their role of 5 minute perfunctory interviewer and I can play mine of outraged pundit. The roles often dovetail nicely, in fact. 

But my larger concern is that some at ESPN and in the mainstream press believe MMA to be the one sport where ignorance or jejune dismissal of the sport is perfectly acceptable. While I understand that PTI is a show a bit on the light-hearted side, I've also heard their interviews with college football head coaches and those sound absolutely nothing like yesterday's farce. We must press PTI and ESPN to take the sport more seriously (and also Slice to do his part as well). In fact, without continued criticism, the march towards acceptance is that much longer and slower. If that's fine by you, ok. But I find this Bataan Death March unnecessary and cumbersome.

So, yes, there is blame to go around. Slice has some work to do, but so does ESPN and PTI. To watch that interview and not realize the larger impact those kinds of interviews have or the implications resulting from it is, at best, wilfull ignorance. And I, for one, want no part of that.

Demand more. Now.

UPDATE: For a completely different view, head over to this FanPost.