A little publicity for me today in the Washington City Paper. To wit:
But listening to Kinard, it sounds like management has decided Thomas can transcend his surroundings.
"We thought we’d experiment with some different kinds of shows last year, and of all of them, MMA Nation is the only one that lasted," Kinard says. "I wasn’t aware of anybody else doing [an MMA show]. And [in April] he outperformed our normal weekend ratings by more than double. We started out thinking this has the potential to be a nationally syndicated show, and that’s still our plan. You see MMA all over the place on TV, so why not on the radio?"
I hate to be over the top with the self-promotion, but no one is going to hand me the job and career I'm after. I want to work in MMA full time and the fact is I have to make it happen for myself. Thank you to everyone who has ever shown me an ounce of support towards the pursuit of that dream.
Onward and upward.
5 months ago
Luke Thomas
51 comments
3 recs |
Email
PrintComments
Congrats Luke!
You are very good on the radio and you bust your ass. Good things come to good people who work hard. I hope your success continues. How is the shoulder by the way?
by Nick Travaglini on Jun 11, 2009 8:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Much, much better. I’m in physical therapy now. I can carry groceries and reach for the cereal in the morning. And put on deodorant, so that’s a plus.
Thanks for supporting me. So very much appreciated.
by Luke Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ALSO
I injured the shoulder lifting weights, NOT training for a debut fight. I’ve since contacted the author to get the article corrected.
by Luke Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 8:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I remember it was vanity that injured your shoulder.......lol
You revealed that you injured your shoulder lifting weights in order to look “good” for a Warriors Challenge broadcast. Right?
"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"
by Warhand on Jun 20, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To me, there is nothing more embarrassing for MMA media than when it’s members look like contestants on The Biggest Loser. We’ve probably all got a little weight we could lose and I’m no exception, but being a disgusting fat body should really not be the norm for media personnel.
I’ve been lifting weights a long time and just wanted to put on some extra bulk. I guess that wasn’t too bright after all.
by Luke Thomas on Jun 20, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Excellent Write-Up
No one should fault you for making the most of the opportunity to further your MMA-related aspirations. How prominent is this paper?
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Jun 11, 2009 8:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well, its not Washington Post, but it’s decent. I think it has a circulation of 85,000.
by Luke Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not bad for a former Marine...
;-)
(former Army Infantry)
by Razreshat on Jun 11, 2009 8:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
HAHA! My grandfather was in Patton’s third army and his brother was a Marine in the Pacific. He called him a seaborne bell-hop. Still my favorite cross-service barb
watchkalibrun.com
by Zak Woods on Jun 11, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think people can call you matt brown from that pic.. Haha. But seriously though, I hope you achieve the goal of going full time. Goodluck! :)
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 11, 2009 8:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
also.. What would it take for you to go full time?
If BE got bigger and get more sponsors, and if your radio show goes national, would that be enough for you to be in mma full time? Or will you have to get another gig like being in mma live or the WEC or something similar?
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 11, 2009 9:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s hard to say exactly. There isn’t one magic formula, but yes, BE would have to make a lot more money for me to rely on this site. If the radio show eventually goes national, I have no idea what that would pay, but it’d probably be enough.
If I were 24, I could quit and live off the money I make from MMA. Technically, I can be broke, but I could go full time. The issue is that I have a mortgage now, so I just can’t risk it without stable financial backing.
by Luke Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well yeah ofcourse you've got to be financially stable first..
Hopefully BE becomes bigger, cause it actually deserves to get more recognition than some of the other sites out there.. Thats not me being biased or whatever, cause it’s true..
Where else could you find the most news and intelligent conversations / analysis within the whole community? There aren’t any other sites that has that.. Combine that with sbn’s auto-refresh in the comments is the key factor that I love about this site..
Imagine auto refresh comments in sites with people who go, “stfu n00b!” that would make 500 comments of trolling.. Haha.
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 11, 2009 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Congratulations on the article, Luke.
It’s good to hear that MMA is also getting its exposure through the radio as well.
Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com
by Leland Roling on Jun 11, 2009 9:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Congrats!
Congrats, Luke – I listen to the podcast so I know what that article must mean for you. It’s like I say, MMA is as contagious as MRSA, so a nationally syndicated MMA Nation should do just fine.
by E_liminatorjr on Jun 11, 2009 9:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
congrats luke
While i sometimes agree with chad dukes that you are a communist nobody can argue that when it comes to MMA you are the uncrowned king. Bloody elbow is by far the best site on the web for information, its the best community for the user, and i look forward to everything you do in the future.
also thanks for serving the country
by bearcox13 on Jun 11, 2009 9:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
well done Luke
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
by Kid Nate on Jun 11, 2009 9:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Congrats, Luke.
sweat sweat cause i'm a poisonous pill
by Eugene Schelfaut on Jun 11, 2009 9:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Great Job Mr. Thomas
I enjoy listening to MMA Nation, love the website keeep up the great work.
by EVeezy on Jun 11, 2009 9:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice, but not surprised....
Nice job Luke, as someone who has been a fan of Bloody Elbow for a while now, it’s great to see the success come from the hard work… Keep it up!
cough IAVA ad banners? cough
by DeepStrike on Jun 11, 2009 10:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good job Luke!
On another note, to be filed under semi useless drivel, What’s up with Most MMA media with Sherdog ties and crazy facial hair? Is it a requirement that you have it as some point? Scott “Jesus” Holmes, TJ, Josh Gross, Sherwood, etc. I’m not going to be surprised to find out Hunt has recently stated to form a hair lip.
by natyong on Jun 11, 2009 10:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s nice to be recognized for hard work. Congrats.
by pr0cs on Jun 11, 2009 10:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
'grats Luke
Well deserved. Keep it up.
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on Jun 11, 2009 10:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Congrats Luke… I’ve listened to the show a few times. Great Job. It’d be nice if they did syndicate it. I’d love to have something to listen to out here in california.
by asmiley420 on Jun 11, 2009 10:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Way better than the profile pic. :-P
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
by jemaleddin on Jun 11, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Congrats Luke, you’re doing a fantastic job with the radio show. It’s probably now my favorite in the sport, partially due to the guys at Fightlinker getting a bit less funny, but I really wish you all the success in the world.
by MMAEruption on Jun 11, 2009 11:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I enjoy the show. Keep up the good work.
by Jonathan Snowden on Jun 11, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You deserve your success. Keep up the good work.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Jun 11, 2009 11:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You've earned this and a whole lot more
Your dedication, passion and perspective is unreal and I wish you a ton of success. Ignore the naysayers (especially me) and remember: It’s how a blogga EAT!
PS – Gong is right on the money, that is an absurdly adorable pic of you and you should use it more often. Your other bust is more macho, but given the nature of your site, I think this one is a better representation of your editorial style.
by asa on Jun 11, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good feedback and thanks for the kind words.
Honestly, I was worried about this picture because I’d gotten only two hours sleep the night before. I thought I was going to look like a disaster. Crisis averted, I suppose.
Seriously, THANK YOU EVERYONE!
by Luke Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
About the pic
It make you look worn, but in a good way like you work hard which is sort of the point. It also hides your hugeness. It makes you look like a slight man.
Luke is tall everyone. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting him, he is tall, but proportioned so in photos without scale he seems like average guy. He is not HMC freak tall, but he is very tall and deceptively so.
by szucconi on Jun 11, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Plus, the gray adds gravitas.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
by jemaleddin on Jun 11, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow – nice! Congrats on all your success, you’ve earned it!
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
by jemaleddin on Jun 11, 2009 12:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I was thinking about trying to get this paper (I guess its in the paper as well as on the site), but I am unsure at what point my efforts would jump from support to stalking. Congrats anyway.
by szucconi on Jun 11, 2009 12:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Congratulations Luke! You have earned some recognition. I have been a big fan of yours since you were at Mad Squabbles. Moving over to BE provided you with a solid team to allow you to focus on doing what you do so well: writing. It’s been nice to watch the rest of the BE team’s writing rise up toward your level as time passed. I really think the intelligence and writing ability of everyone at BE is what made the site so good, which, in turn, attracted a more intelligent audience and now provides the most intelligent debates in MMA.
I really wish that BE could become more financially successful if for nothing else than to see you guys compensated properly for your hard work. It seems like you have enough people on the team with coding/programming know-how to do all sort of stuff. It sucks seeing a solid site like this not making the big bucks while a site like Sherdog that has really one person at it who still seems like they even watch MMA anymore (i.e., Breen).
P.S. – Out of curiosity, what other job do you have? I was under the impression that you had become 100% supported my MMA a while back.
(formerly TheFightJournal)
by Lucas2 on Jun 11, 2009 1:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Just got a chance to read this...
Good stuff. ’Grats, Luke!
by Chris Nelson on Jun 11, 2009 3:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Your show needs to follow Jim Rome. There is a terrible lack of good conversation available about MMA. BE and your show are what keep me from boring my friends who are not big MMA fans with talk of upcoming and past events.
I dislike Matt Hughes.
by MonkeyCHops on Jun 11, 2009 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Great show (I’ve cought it a couple times) and great website. Only great things can come to those who put the time and effort in. Congrats!
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, growing up as a child Kimbo Slice was never given any bread with his meals. This is why he insists people... give him his bread."
by xFenixKnightx on Jun 11, 2009 4:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You don’t look anything like Matt Brown in this picture.
Very disappointing!
But congratulations on living the dream, or atleast living the dream on the way to the bigger dream, or something.
by DirtyML on Jun 11, 2009 5:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sounds to me like you need a MMA Nation Street Team to increase awareness in the most powerful city in the world(and surrounding areas).
I have K-1 level jiu-jitsu.
by ronniebonnie on Jun 11, 2009 5:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Just wanted to chime in—when I first got linked over to BE, I found my way to one of Luke’s online radio shows he was doing back then. Actually I think he was talking with Sam Caplan, ironically. Anyway, it was the first MMA radio show I heard where the host didn’t sound like he was “playing radio” but actually sounded like a real radio host. I’m always honored to go on there, and I think the show could be a serious trailblazer for MMA radio nationwide.
by Michael Rome on Jun 11, 2009 6:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That’s great. I don’t know of anyone with the MMA expertise, writing ability, and live radio/TV prowess of Luke. He’s a bit excitable at times, but that’s just passion shining through. ;)
by Cannon Jacques on Jun 11, 2009 10:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
