Tell ESPN That We Want Representation: A Call To Action

Please Buzz this FanPost.

Please Digg this as well.

In the midst of merely the latest in a string of 200+ comment decimations of WAMMA to grace Bloody Elbow's front page, Brent Brookhouse humbly submitted a proposal:

I vote...

that everyone write ESPN and say that I should be on as a guest the next time Miletich is on presenting their rankings for a friendly debate.

I was then drafted by Rundownloser to get the word out.

Despite Brent's efforts to give WAMMA the benefit of the doubt, indicating that Robbie Lawler v. Matt Lindland would be considered a title fight led to this article.  I've had my criticisms of WAMMA, as well:

Unreal.

…notwithstanding your attempt to cover yourself which was woefully insufficient.

Aside from Matt said IN THE ARTICLE that it was SATIRE???

On a personal note, I have always taken ample time to answer any of your emails and find your article harmful and just plain spiteful, to be frank.

That sounds like someone at a diner ordering a full plate of ‘who gives a shit?’.

He could’ve easily registered, posted himself and squared what Pat said with WAMMA’S rankings and policies. But because that’s fucking impossible, he decides to leap to libel (which would never, ever, ever be held up in an American court) and order around a fan whose only crime was to read what people said and care.

Frankly, according to the first Amendment, I can write this:

My sources say Michael B Lynch is a crossdresser – a serious allegation if backed up by subsequent events.

How about a refresher course in not being an asshole?

Also.

Since MMA Live is a web show (and presumably the venue at which such a discussion would take place), I believe this is the correct place to submit our request to have Brent appear opposite Pat Miletich for a friendly debate.  If you'd like to submit your own letter, by all means, but I have the one I wrote here if you'd like to copy and paste:

Hello.  As an MMA fan, I'm worried that fans attempting to get into the sport are often thrown off by the many organizations in the sport.  This problem in recruiting new fans to the sport makes objective, sensible, accurate ratings of all fighters (regardless of affiliation) all the more important.  I am concerned that ESPN's recent decision to adopt the World Association of Mixed Martial Art's ranking system will skew a large audience's perception of the true lay of the land in MMA.

Bloodyelbow.com, a member of the SBNation network, recently partnered up with USA Today to print their comprehensive 'Meta-Rankings.'  These rankings include WAMMA and a number of more experienced, thorough and reputable rankings, and use a methodology to glean an overall picture of rankings throughout the community.  As Bloodyelbow.com has no vote in the rankings (nor any fiscal motivation to manipulate them, unlike WAMMA), I consider their approach to be much less vulnerable to corruption or inaccuracy.

Brent Brookhouse, contributing editor to the site, recently offered to appear on MMA Live for a friendly debate with a WAMMA representative, and I am writing to support that idea.

If WAMMA is truly distraught about what it perceives to be unfair and biased treatment from BE (and, given Jonathan Snowden's noble if Quixotic defense in the comments sections, it seems they are), then they should welcome the opportunity to answer Brent's concerns in a forum they control.  By offering to debate on ESPN, and not the pages of USA Today, Brent has shown a willingness to engage this topic regardless of the medium and eliminate any sense of perceived bias from the beginning. 

Seeing to it that Brent is given a forum and this issue is aired will not only absolve ESPN of any charges of bias, it will educate fans even more about the sport that you and I both hope to grow.  I hope you will strongly consider it.

 

Sincerely,

I can't think of anyone else that will ask WAMMA the questions we want answered.  Get behind this, gang.

From themachiavellian in the comments:

Also email mmalive@espn.com! That’s the directly address for the show, where they get their viewer mail! Their support email is support@espn.go.com! Send it there too! Send this message to as many outlets as possible! FREEDOM!