Quote of the Day: War Machine vs. Good Taste
by Chris Nelson on Feb 6, 2009 1:37 AM EST
in MMA News
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In case you missed it, the mixed martial artist formerly known as Jon Koppenhaver gave us all a quick reminder that he still exists at the end of January when he posted this message to his MySpace blog denouncing President Barack Obama as "a rich white guy with a dark tan" (among other choice pronouns) and expressing his hope that "someone smokes that f*cker and every president to come."
Apparently the folks at Bellator Fighting Championships didn't think much of the former TUF cast member's political views, as they released War Machine this week, months ahead of the promotion's scheduled April 4th debut on ESPN Deportes.
War Machine fired back on, of course, his MySpace page:
"Seems War Machine is being censored again. I can’t speak my mind at all without all the faggot higher-ups in the industry getting their panties in a wad. Just how my Evan Tanner bulletin got me kicked out of the UFC it seems that I have been kicked off the Bellator show before it has even begun. Seems they don’t like it when their fighters speak their mind on the politics of the USA and its [expletive]-ass presidents…. I’m not changing for anyone or any dollar amount. I could have earned over a quarter million in that tournament but I don’t give a [expletive]."
Part of me wants to make a fuss about freedom of speech and express disappointment over the fact that Bellator would cut a fighter over an opinion - a completely ignorant and vile opinion, but still just an opinion - posted on their MySpace.
Fortunately, the other part of me is still disgusted over the things he said about Evan Tanner and would like to offer only a sincere "good riddance."
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This is not a freedom of speech issue at all. War Machine can continue to say whatever he wants. Bellator is under no obligation to keep him under contract though.
by Mike Fagan on Feb 6, 2009 1:56 AM EST reply actions 5 recs
Yep this isn’t about freedom of speech at all it’s about companies not wanting certain kinds of people as employees. Having a job isn’t a right it’s a privelige, they don’t have to hire him if they thing he will be a problem for the company in the future(ESPN is owned by Disney and he definatly isn’t Disney approvable). War Machine can freely continue to say anything he wants, no one is stopping him but that doesn’t mean they have to give him a job.
Exactly.
Now, if Barack put him in jail for his comments.. But freedom of speech doesn’t mean you can say anything you want without personal consequences. Honestly, he makes MMA fighters look like the stereotype they and their organizations are trying to distance themselves from.
Skills aside, is there any question who someone would rather be associated with – GSP or War Machine?
His entire mediocre fighting career has been based off of his personality, and certainly not any kind of skills he’s shown in the ring. So in that sense, it’s completely valid to fire a fighter based on his public image when that was the only reason you had him on board in the first place.
Well put.
And might I add that I felt a twinge of guilt after hitting “POST” for even giving this guy any more exposure. He’s spent his 15 minutes and is definitely in overtime, possibly even a shootout.
The real exciting part of this is the prospect that Bellator will sign a more talented, more deserving fighter to take his spot.
He just needs to keep his
opinions private AND off the internet.
As ridiculous as they are, I don’t find it hard to believe that other people would believe the same thing.
He just put it on the wrong avenue for everyone to see. You can still have personality without going to the level he has.
If he did this from the start, he probably would still have a job with the UFC.
Meh, expect him on a local card near you.
I wish there was a way to only have freedom of intelligent speech – “You’re legally too stupid to talk!” Ah, dreams…
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Feb 6, 2009 1:59 AM EST reply actions
He belongs with Hitler
Straight-up criminal dawg.
by smoogy on Feb 6, 2009 2:27 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Ooooo!
War Machine will fuck you up for saying that! ONce he gets back from the Phillipeans.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
I doubt Mr Machine could afford to get to the Philippines being as he can’t keep a job. It’s a real shame his fans can’t help him fufill his life’s Alpha Male goal of being stabbed to death outside a Filipino bar.
Yeah...
don’t worry about the whole freedom of speech thing. Were I to go on this site and say something along the lines of what War Machine said (especially wishing that someone would kill the president as he did) my company would fire me too. Companies have the freedom to fire people for failing to conduct themselves in a manner that may bring significant negative attention to the company. He wasn’t fired because he doesn’t like President Obama…he was fired because he expressed a desire for him to be killed on a very visible way.
This kid won’t even be able to land a KOTC show soon enough.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 6, 2009 2:51 AM EST reply actions
In that case,
it boggles the mind why Bellator>ESPN>Disney would ever bring him on in the first place. It’s not like this is a one-off thing.
Actually, I think that threatening the President or similarly-important person is illegal. If the threat is credible, they can certainly expect someone from the government.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Feb 6, 2009 2:58 AM EST up reply actions
Slight difference here...
War Machine expressed a desire that someone else kill the President. He didn’t say he was going to or wanted to kill the President himself, thus skirting that law. However, War Machine’s still an astounding idiot and he has no one to blame being fired on but himself.
That dude is always a sad panda.
Da ist keine Stelle, die dich nicht sieht.
by Eugene Schelfaut on Feb 6, 2009 2:55 AM EST reply actions
I’ve been wanting to do one lately, but could never pull the trigger on it.
Da ist keine Stelle, die dich nicht sieht.
by Eugene Schelfaut on Feb 6, 2009 2:57 AM EST up reply actions
WAIT A MINUTE!!!
You can earn over a quarter of a million dollars by losing in the first round???
Damn! that is good money!
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
what a trainwreck.....
"I should apologize to girls for saying Sexson threw that helmet like a girl. I’m not even sure girls do that." - TAG 05/08/2008
Thing is, it’s not just about what you say (which FoS covers), but also about how and when. I mean, I’m an anarchist and an activist, and I write for radical political magazines. I also work for the government. I don’t insert anti-state diatribes into my work reports, and everyone goes home happy. It comes down to having the personal pride and good sense to know when and how to raise your opinions in an intelligent and respectful manner. War Machine (I still hate calling him that because it’s what he wants, but at the same time, it’s funny) knows nothing about intelligence or respect. If he did, he’d still have a job. Maybe two.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
He loves this. I know dudes like this and it’s not about being political and it’s not about free speech or changing anything. It’s about the juice they get amped up on by being toxic and it’s about self-destructing. Some people are addicted to their own destruction, and war machine is a good example of that.
There’s freedom of speech, and then there’s inciting violence against someone, which “War Machine” did, and that’s not acceptable. Don’t get me wrong, I think people should be allowed to say whatever they want, but there are laws against inciting violence. Imagine if instead of saying someone should smoke Obama, he had said that about an ethnic group.
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