Jamie Yager and the Dangers of Social Media
by Jonathan Snowden on Jun 3, 2010 3:21 PM EDT
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I'm very excited to announce that Jonathan Snowden, author of Total MMA, the best history of MMA I've read, is joining Bloody Elbow as our new features writer. Please welcome him aboard. Kid Nate.
Last weekend at the UFC's amazing Fan Expo, Zuffa owner Lorenzo Fertitta was like a proud poppa to hundreds of tattooed and muscle bound young men. Fertitta said the difference between the UFC and other major league sports organizations was the unprecedented access to fighters and executives. Not just at events like the Expo, but on Twitter and Facebook as well. Well, sometimes that public accessibility can backfire-and badly.
We all remember the tragic story of War Machine, let go from the UFC because of his uncontrollable tweets. Since then, we've seen explosions of the inappropriate from Chuck Liddell, Marcus Davis, and (of course) Dana White himself. This week, Jeremy Stephens and Jamie Yager got in on the action.
Stephens was the most egregious, using slurs for both homosexuals and blacks in an ill-advised attempt to challenge boxing star Floyd Mayweather Jr. But, Yager, the TUF fighter who quit on his stool last night, is the more interesting tale. Intrigue aplenty after the break....
BE coverage of The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale
After Yager's loss to the unheralded Josh Bryant, coach Tito Ortiz let fly, calling him a coward on national television. Since this is the 2010's Yager replied, not face-to-face or even on the phone, but via 140 characters. I guess that's why he needed 11 different messages to get his point across. Then, the bombshell. A newer, less populated twitter account proclaimed that the @The_Chosyn_One account was a phony. It wasn't Yager who called Ortiz a pussy and a faggot. It was an anonymous internet buffoon.
Mystery solved? Not so fast. Screenshots emerged. Both Yager's Facebook and his management team's twitter account both linked ot the "fake" address.
I contacted Yager's management company, Iridium MMA for comment to get to the bottom of this growing mystery. Ian Ho Whitaker helped shed some light.
We're not sure who @The_Chosyn_One is. As with so many guys who get on TUF, they get a surge of recognition and it sometimes spins out of control. People (fans and/or haters) sometimes set up fake accounts, fighters may have friends handle their accounts and with social media exploding the last several years, it's very hard to control. When this happens, confusion is inevitable and unfortunately, sometimes that confusion has detrimental results. Jamie's #1 focus is training and perhaps for that reason, Jamie was more susceptible to this kind misunderstanding. We're stilltrying to cut through the confusion ourselves, but @The_Chosyn_One is NOT Jamie Yager.
Iridium MMA claims that not only was Yager's Twitter account a fake, so was his Facebook page. MMA Gospel's "The Reverend of MMA" Turk Vangel is not sure he's buying it. He says he interacted with Yager via Facebook, even refrencing conversations the two had in person.
"If they are trying to cover up the remarks, it is simple PR damage control 101," Vangel said. "He said some things about Tito and used deragatory comments towards the homosexual crowd. This is something his management would want to bury very fast so as to not make him look like he is homophobic."
As the plot thickens, the Iridium_Sports twitter account that linked to the allegedly phony Yager account disappeared into the ether. Yager himself will answer questions about the situation from MMA Weekly's Damon Martin tonight on MMA Weekly radio. Whether Yager really made the racist and homophobic comments on Twitter is unclear. What is clear is crystal? Athletes better own their own cyberspace-or someone else will own it for you. And the results may not be appealing.
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Great add to BE!
One of the best mma writers to THE BEST mma site!
A true MMA fan from the great state of Arkansas.
by MMArazorback on Jun 3, 2010 3:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Will this mean
more back and forth debates with Leland?
Of course!
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Jun 3, 2010 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Absolutely
Couldn’t have happened quick enough.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
Absoultely agree Nastyem...
One of the best “history” books I ever read.
"50% of this sport is 90% mental" - Tim Sylvia
by Figs on Jun 3, 2010 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Ditto. Although the only disappointment is you're not replacing Kid Nate.
"It's fourth and fifteen and you're looking at a full-court press." - Lt. Frank Drebin, Police Squad
by SSreporters on Jun 3, 2010 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
thanks
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Jun 3, 2010 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Welcome. Total mma is an amazing book. I read it cover to cover in about a week. We are glad to have you on the b.e. staff and I look forward to your articles in the future
by GroundNPound561 on Jun 3, 2010 5:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Thank you! Glad the 12 people who read Total MMA are all here!
by Jonathan Snowden on Jun 3, 2010 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I just finished reading Total MMA last week.Awesome book.Read it in about two days.Just a wonderful,wonderful book.It’s something every MMA fan should own and read.
Check out my MMA highlight videos!
http://www.dailymotion.com/WheelchairBandit
by Brian Mayes on Jun 4, 2010 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
So now what every time someone does something inappropriate and regrets it they will claim that it is a fake account?
First time I make a post everyone hates I’m blaming ID theft.
by Jonathan Snowden on Jun 3, 2010 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions
You should have blamed the anti-WEC stuff on ID theft.
I have liked every other article you have written on here, but that one is still stuck in the back of my head. What should I do? How do I get it out? Keep up the good work and hopefully you will defeat it.
Well, we aren’t likely to agree on everything. That would make the world pretty boring. Personally, I love the WEC. Always have. Big supporter. Will have an interview with a WEC mainstay here shortly….
by Jonathan Snowden on Jun 3, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Snowden a permanent writer?
I’m very excited to announce that Jonathan Snowden, author of Total MMA, the best history of MMA I’ve read, is joining Bloody Elbow as our new features writer. Please welcome him aboard. Kid Nate.
by RobertGBP on Jun 3, 2010 3:27 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Again, context. Like it or not, we are living in a time where use of the phrase “nigga” or “fag” can be taken in many ways. Just because a person uses it, doesn’t make them racist (in fact, you could say quite the opposite) or anti-gay.
Now, this doesn’t mean they aren’t morons for using it. Wait! did I just use a word that was once a medical term for a person of a certain IQ range? I must be anit-low IQ people?
We need to be less sensitive when these terms are used and place more emphasis on when they actually are used in the hateful manner.
And Congats Jonathan! I hope you are elitist enough for us at BE, lol!!!
by BJJDenver on Jun 3, 2010 3:31 PM EDT reply actions 12 recs
I agree.
A big problem is that it is really hard to tell what a person’d intentions are via twitter.
Sure the words may not be intended as hateful or hurtful, but if they are interpretted that way there is noone to blame but the person who used them. Def an at your own risk situation.
140 characters without any context isn’t good enough for you? COME ON!
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Jun 3, 2010 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Fixed...
<sarcasm>140 characters without any context isn’t good enough for you? COME ON!</sarcasm>
Some messages are easier to figure out that others… Lol… look how many arguements start on here because someone can’t figure out tone.
Oh, happens daily.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Jun 3, 2010 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Context?
My gay friends don’t like it when people use the word “gay” to describe something, even in a non-hateful context. One of them actually told me off for doing it the other day! That dyke bitch.
I have yet to try using the word “nigga” in conversation with people of colour, even attempting to emphasise the “a” over the less desirable “er”. Of course, my black friends say it all the time but I’m not going to say it, since I am a honky. Plus they might stop selling me crack.
Get rid of the ramp!
by ihateemo on Jun 3, 2010 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Also, this article was really good
Thanks, Jonathan. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Get rid of the ramp!
I think the point is that your gay friends know you are not a homophobe even though you called something “gay”. It is disrespectful, but not a true sign of hatered.
"Hateful" is probably too strong a word
Using “gay” is still associating homosexuality in a derogatory fashion, and the gays don’t like it.
Of course, I still do it because it’s still ingrained into my lexicon (and, you know, I’m a RED-BLOODED, REAL MAN!!!!). But I try to only say it amongst people who aren’t going to take offense and understand the context.
Just like I call my friends “my niggas”. Except, you know, when there’s black people around.
Get rid of the ramp!
My meaning, of course, being...
…that people shouldn’t be saying that shit ON TWITTER when people are reading.
Get rid of the ramp!
I agree...
It should not be said and the sayer deserves whatever negative reaction they get. All I am saying is you can’t always relate the bad words to homophobia or racism.
I can get behind that...er, no homo
Though white people REALLY don’t have any excuse to be throwing the n-word around in any context.
Get rid of the ramp!
THIS!!!
I have that problem like no other. I LOVE DMX and you can’t sing or quote his stuff without using the N-word. It’s gotten me into odd situations many times.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
i really don't care one way or another
but people taking offense to the word gay when it obviously isn’t referring to homosexuality is dumb IMO. Especially because gay and fag both had meanings prior to the current use, and are both used as colloquialisms to describe things daily that have nothing to do with homosexuality
I'm like PacMan fightin you silly kids... throw ya Hatton the ring, and get knocked outlike Ricky did.
lol.
A real close gay friend of mine
calls stuff he doesn’t like gay and he drops the fag bomb all the time. He generally laughs, or agrees, when we do the same. Then again, he really isn’t your typical gay.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
Oh fuck, you said “typical gay”, here we go…
by ufc4 on Jun 3, 2010 11:27 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah
I’m gonna go ahead and rec that for the ways both paragraphs end ;)
Training BE since January 2010
I don't like it when people use "gay" to describe themselves or someone else as a homosexual
as the word is part of my name and didn’t originally have that meaning
This post is the very reason
we need a negative rec system. Because this is fucking stupid.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Jun 3, 2010 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
What is stupid? Because I didn’t make an unclear post that says nothing and clarifies no opinion?
It isn’t saying it is ok to use these terms, just that they aren’t always used in a context where a person is being racist or such and that classifying them in that manner dilutes cases when it is used that way.
by BJJDenver on Jun 3, 2010 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
There are two options.
If somebody uses those words, they are either ignorant or bigoted. Use of the conjunctive ‘or’ for the win.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Jun 3, 2010 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
ignorant does not = racist. While I agree using these terms is almost exclusively ignorant, I don’t think we can classify every ignorant person as racist.
When I say this, I mean that racist people are even more disgusting than ignorant people.
Agreed, rectangle is not always a square and all that.
Doesn’t mean the two aren’t very similar and often identical.
When the best possible outcome of using a word is that you’re forgiven racism on the basis of just being too fucking stupid to understand what you’re saying, I’d suggest not using them or defending those who do.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Jun 3, 2010 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I always found it odd that the rules on sexual harrasment state that it’s only harrasment if the comments/actions are unwanted by the target. If a girl at work doesn’t mind you grabbling her ass then it’s not harrassment, well unless someone else in the workplace sees it and gets offended. In a lot of ways racism/homophobia can go a similar way. If you have a friend that doesn’t mind what you call him or thinks it’s fun then there is no problem but if your language offends a bystander then it’s a issue whether you meant it that way or not. The emphasis is on other people’s perceptions not the speakers intentions because other people don’t know or care about personal intentions. It’s best to just not use those words because you just don’t know how they will be taken by people and you can be guilty of racism/sexism/homophobia even if that wasn’t actually your intention.
If a girl at work doesn’t mind you grabbling her ass then it’s not harrassment
I wanna work where you work…
No you don’t, I work for the government :D
The inverse of this is that you can be found guilty of sexual harrasment and not even have a clue you were doing it. If anyone in the office views your actions as sexual harrassment (even a uninvolved bystander) then it is considered sexual harrassment. This is based on legal precedent not just something from where I work.
If you were my secretary we would have a problem but on the internet that’s ok. Heck on the internet it is expected that someone will be offended by pretty much everyone and everything.
Or...
what if you get sexually harassed by somebody you work with, but have never met in person. Say blogger one send pictures of his junk to blogger 2…. Is that sexual harassment?
I think you’ve added a lot to the discussion here.
I beg to differ on one point. My understanding is that you can’t be sanctioned for sexual harassment until you’ve been told that your behavior is bothering someone. So you may be “guilty” of doing something wrong, but you can’t get in trouble unless you continue to do something offensive.
Use all ten points.
I am not at all an expert on this but I would imagine that what you are talking about would be something used to build evidence of wrongdoing, not a definition of what the wrongdoing is. Lots of places have rules in place where you must recieve a warning before you can get into trouble for about anything at all but that doesn’t have anything to do with legality in court. If the action was something that would reasonably be seen as sexual harrassment(say telling a woman she would only get a promotion if she slept with you) then I would doubt the lack of a verbal warning would change the case that much if at all.
Good post
Out of this entire argument this is the best I’ve seen. Interesting way to look at it. I think everyone should be able to say whatever they want and everyone else should grow up and deal with it.
There is literally nothing you could say that would offend me.
by Electro Boy on Jun 3, 2010 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
There is literally nothing you could say that would offend me.
There is littlerally nothing that can be said about me that will offend me. I am comfortable in my skin and about who I am.
If someone were to say things about my friends, family or ancestors the reaction will be different. If someone were to completely write me off for no reason other than the color of my skin or sexual orientation, that would grind me too.
I do not tolerate racism. Racism and violence towards women just don’t fly around me. I have reemed out friends for making what I thought to be ignorant / innapropriate remarks.
Racism is not funny and racism is not cool. Those words aren’t water under the bridge because there are still hateful people out there who use them and act negatively towards people of different races.
Not everybody who uses a racial slur is racist, but you best believe they are ignorant for ignoring all the reasons not to say them.
by truck on Jun 3, 2010 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think you missed the point entirely here, I wasn’t making a point that you can say whatever you want I was pointing out you could be guilty of racism/sexism/homophobia due to what a bystander percieved of your statements not what your intentions were. The offense is in the perception not the intent.
That said I have no problem with anyone who says what they want as long as they understand that they are responsible for saying it. Having the integrity to stand behind your comments is a very rare thing anymore.
This is so naive
and absolutely not true at all. People being oversensitive to words is what causes the problem. A word is just a word, intent is all that should matter.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
by Chris Barton on Jun 3, 2010 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
A word that exists only for hateful people to express their hate
is never benign.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Jun 3, 2010 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Name one...
Name one word that exists ONLY for hateful people to express hate. I don’t see one on this page.
That word doesn’t exist.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
There are several, including several I've been called.
“Wetback” exists for no reason but racism, as well as “spic”. I’m not gonna write out a ton more for fear of the banhammer, but this will do for now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Jun 3, 2010 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Those words exist as racist slurs, but they are certainly not the only reasons for them.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
Please, explain the non-hateful origin and uses of "spic" to me.
I’d love to hear why I’ve been getting upset for no reason all these years.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Jun 3, 2010 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions
I wasn't disgussing origin
There is no argument about origin, just the evolution of the word itself. My cousins live in Whittier and are first generation Americans on their mothers side, she was born in Mexico. They use that word as a symbol of pride. I’ve seen it used many times for comedic effect.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
I wasn't aware that Carlos Mencia is still considered comedy.
I’ll make a note of it.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Jun 3, 2010 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions
People have feeling...
It is part of being human. People are sensative to words that have been used to slander them in the past. It is pretty basic logic.
Sure
but it doesn’t make the word intrinsically bad. Words are colloquial. I don’t blame anyone for being upset at the use of a word that has a personal negative meaning for them, because years of intent has conditioned them that way. It doesn’t make the word and everyone using it “bad”.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
Actually it can mean just that. In these situations the offense is generally taken to be from the perception not the intent. If someone is offended by your language then you have offended them whether you meant to or not.
I’m not sure how your conclusion supports your first statement here. The offended persons perception of the word being bad, thus being offended, doesn’t make the word bad in fact.
To that person I would point out that intent should matter, but it’s well within his right to be upset. I have friends just like that, in fact. We argue often about how I feel that his being oversensitive to racial slurs about Blacks actually exacerbates the problem. We agree to disagree about it.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
I’m not sure how your conclusion supports your first statement here. The offended persons perception of the word being bad, thus being offended, doesn’t make the word bad in fact.
Because how these situations are judged by the public (and the media in bigger cases) is based completely around perception not intent. Your opinion is just fine here and has merit but in the larger sense of how these words are percieved when used you can damn well guarantee that you will end up offending someone so they should just be avoided. If the word offends then it is considered offensive, right or wrong that is just how these things are viewed by the general public.
I think that might have boiled it down to exactly where our impasse exists. I don’t care what the general public thinks because the general public is dumb.
Words go in and out of style as far as being offensive to the general, so I think relying on them to be the final judge is a bad idea.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
Oh I agree that the general public is dumb (very very dumb), it’s just that this is the social system we are stuck with currently. Knowing it exist and what it means and caring about the consequences of breaking it are two different issues to me. Heck I respect people who know and accept those consquences but still say what they intend to say anyway. Just don’t say something and then act surprised when someone gets offened or try and make excuses for saying it (as in the article being discussed here).
I have no problem with the fact that you don’t care, heck as I said above I have no problem with anyone who says something and stands behind it offensive or not as long as they understand that people can be offended by it. Saying a word knowing that there are some people who would be offended but sticking to it instead of trying to make excuses is fine by me.
Just because you don't think people should be offended
Doesn’t mean they will be. If you say something that you know is likely to hurt or offend people that makes you ignorant. There is not moral superiority in being a dick.
Context or no
Taking those words that are full of negativity regardless of the context and that have a history of hate and violence behind them, and then using them in a public forum is ignorant, idiotic, inappropriate and unnecessary and deserve all the scorn that they get.
I agree completely with this. They should be considered idiots for doing this, i just don’t think we can make a blanket statement calling them racist or a homophobe.
A fool is a fool is a ...
fool regardless of the reason. Even if someone using that term isn’t trying to be racist or homophopic or whatever, they also aren’t trying not to be, if you get what I mean.
A word is a word is a
word. They can’t hurt you unless you let them. Most people learn this in elementary school.
Are you sure you can spare any?
"The common denominator of the Universe is not harmony, but chaos, hostility, and murder."
by Ephemeral Artery on Jun 3, 2010 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions
You think it's the words that hurt them
or is it the being marginalized or being discriminated against? My guess is it’s the latter.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
My guess
is that one plays into the other and if people have a hard time recognizing that I can recommend any number of good books, classes and videos to help make that connection.
Well you’re right about that, honestly. When a group is marginalized and discriminated and then has a word invented to describe them in a derogatory sense it’s automatic that the word would then be equated with said treatment.
I think there is enough evidence from previous times this sort of thing has happened that the colloquial nature of language will win out and the words will then be used for multiple reasons. That said, I think that discussion is far beyond the scope of this article.
I would like to add I really enjoy the dialogue as it’s both well thought out and represented, as much as I disagree with your conclusions.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
the main issue is to be cognizant of who will hear you/read your quote. I’m sure we all say things to those close to us that we wouldnt in mixed company. Also, we all have made mistakes “in the heat of the moment”. However, thats no excuse to those who find offense whether intended or not. It’s about having respect, self control and sensitivity to other’s feelings. It doesnt make you a little bitch either, its actually the opposite.
I’m glad you came aboard, Mr. Snowden.
As for the post itself, a little self-control can go a long way. If you’re grown-up enough to fight for the UFC, you should be grown-up enough to use social networking responsibly. And don’t tweet drunk (looking at you Heathen). I always find it funny when cage fighters (people I’d consider warriors) turn into keyboard warriors. Is it really the best way to get your point across?
http://www.twitter.com/TB_Money
You’re assuming that acting like a grown-up and having the ability to fight well enough to get a UFC nod go hand in hand. I would argue that, like in boxing, there is almost no correlation between a fighter’s skill and his maturity level. Keep in mind that most of these up-and-comers are just kids, none of them having achieved any level of fame or notoriety before entering the UFC.
"The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world..."
All we just need now are those "Fuck You, We Are Bloody Elbow" t-shirts..
Then we would be the true elitists of MMA
by RobertGBP on Jun 3, 2010 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Yay for JS
Always does an excellent job with the journalism and writing :)
"Alas, there is no time-share on my balls." -Luke Thomas
I really think this is the perfect forum for me. Unlikely to face the political and financial pressure you find at a site with closer promotional connections. If you catch my drift. Lots of truthiness here.
by Jonathan Snowden on Jun 3, 2010 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
and yet people say I have no journalistic integrity
because I’m addicted to attention getting headlines.
Those straight talkers on the take on the other hand…
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
Not a fake account
If you read the tweets before the outburst, it was run-of-the-mill, normal stuff. If this is a hoax, it is an extremely well-planned and ingenious one. And the anger seems real.
Occam’s Razor says he regretted his remarks and wanted to get out from under them and a “fake account” does the trick nicely.
█♣█
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who -- Jay-Z
by thetakeover on Jun 3, 2010 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
My thoughts
I will start off saying that I am for the most part, not a politically correct person. I have no problem making fun of my Jewish or Irish heritage (yes those two can go together) but there comes a point when a derogatory term is being used SO much that it starts to piss off the wrong people.
I will say first and foremost that I am bi and not ashamed of it AND an MMA fan. Not that I flaunt it or need the whole world to know, but the point is, I’m tired of all these people using slurs to get their points across. Dana White, Michael Bisping, Rampage Jackson, Yager, Stephens.
I don’t mind the word fag being thrown around occasionally but it seems to be a trend now that fighters use this slur to get their point across. If you want to come off as intelligent and half-way sociable, there are far better ways to do it.
You’re right. A lot of fighters come from neighbor hoods where that type of language is not only acceptable but part of their common vocabulary.
You mean fighting? Fighting is free.
And people who choose to get their faces smashed for money tend to not live in the most socially conservative lifestyles. A lot of these guys aren’t exactly reading Emily Post.
Well what I mean is: I doubt too many kids from bad neighborhoods are handing over $100+ every month to learn their jits.
Just because fighting is free doesn’t mean kids from bad neighborhoods are able to sign up to compete at a high or even regional level.
And i don’t disagree with your assessment either :)
There’s a lot of guys who totally back up your statement—well-educated guys who had the free time and income to take the classes and train and travel.
But then you got the poor kids who did high school wrestling and got their scholarships paying them to train, kids who learned to brawl from a young age due to the background they grew up in. A lot of the fighters I have met in the indiana scene were firmly lower-middle class blue collar guys, dudes that liked to fight and started their own gyms and accumulated the talent. Torres Martial Arts and Duneland Vale Tudo, et al., places that sprung up in pretty economically depressed areas. Hell, back in Valpo, I was taking BJJ lessons for 5 bucks an hour from a teammate of Hornbuckle.
And then there’s Crazy Horse.
by judonerd on Jun 3, 2010 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think this best sums it up
Back in my home state of ‘insert home state,’ the guys fighting on the local circuit were far from upper class. Most of them were upper-low to low-middle class blue collar guys that fought because it was the macho thing to do. They were the guys that would get into a bar fight to break up the monotony, only now they were perfectly willing to pay $60/month to learn how to do so more effectively. Granted, most of these guys never made it out of the local scene, and most of them would get absolutely destroyed by most of the proficient, well-trained guys (also from the same economic class, only they took their training more seriously).
That said, the most well-known guy to come from that area is a top WEC fighter. He never finished college and was a true blue collar guy as he worked his way up. People with the drive to fight and the ability to pick up the game will find a way. A bit of a rambling post, but work’s almost over and I’m feeling a little loopy. Good response though Judonerd.
"The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world..."
Actually, I find this stereotype
counterproductive. Low expectations breed low results. Many fighters are dumb, but they don’t fight because they’re dumb.
Some do
Some fight because they are dumb, it’s not like guys like Mike Tyson could get any other kind of employment.
Slurs are what cavemen use to articulate their insecurities.
by pud333 on Jun 3, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t tip because society says I have to…
"...ride life straight to perfect laughter,
it's the only good fight there is."
by dancingChicken on Jun 3, 2010 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Quote fail
*just because
"...ride life straight to perfect laughter,
it's the only good fight there is."
by dancingChicken on Jun 3, 2010 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought that was mostly immature teenagers that talked like that...
30 year old take about how slutty moms are and about how much how much sex they had last night event hough they are mostly virgins living in their mom’s basements.
It's quite simple
every time an athlete/celebrity makes an outlandish comment without thinking first or possibly under the influence of something that might make “speaking out” a little easier and then claims it was the work of a “hacker”… I don’t believe them.
Helps keep things pretty easily sorted out.
If you can't laugh at yourself... Who can you laugh at?
The Packers, that’s who.
-- The almighty Manimal
Don’t always agree with what you write but it’s always top-notch, it’s about time they went ahead and put you on staff Snowden.
This story is just funny, next thing you know they will be trying to say that Spike edited Jamie Yager to look bad on the show and that he isn’t really the jack ass he came off as in the house.
by who me on Jun 3, 2010 3:59 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Thanks “who me”. Always glad to respectfully disagree with all comers!
by Jonathan Snowden on Jun 3, 2010 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Welcome Jonathon
I don’t know if you listen to the Jim Rome Show, but as Jim says, “Twitter is like a loaded gun for athletes. They’ll eventually shoot themselves in the foot.”
"Even the Swedes are getting mad."-Randy Hahn
"It's very cozy in the sin bin."-Randy Hahn
Lorenzo was so happy to tweak the NFL for limiting its athletes. But this is an example for why that might be smart for a product with a conservative audience. I think MMA fans are more forgiving than football fans. I know the MMA media is more forgiving. ;)
by Jonathan Snowden on Jun 3, 2010 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Baseball did the same thing
After Giants closer Brian Wilson was talking sh*t to someone on Twitter. Some people need to just relax.
"Even the Swedes are getting mad."-Randy Hahn
"It's very cozy in the sin bin."-Randy Hahn
First, i don’t buy that it was fake. Chosyn_One was Yager.
Secondly, to me, the embarrassment isnt that he used slurs, but that he came off as completely irrational, delusional, and revisionist. i don’t give a crap if he called everyone “niggerfagqueerkikewetbackdikechinkwopdego” but he comes out sayin he thought Tito was a pussy all along, “i shoulda lost early and got the wildcard,” hopefully i’ll get a “for sure” contract, “Tito beats women”. it’s all just dumbassery even beyond the slurs.
I find it funny that he likely wouldn’t have felt the need to make a new account and call the old one fake if he had said everything the same except the slurs. he and his PR team only care because they don’t want people thinking he’s a racist homophobe. i bet Yager doesn’t even realize how dumb all the other stuff makes him look
Bienvenido Jonathon
also Yager seems a bit
"Justice is the whim of a judge, check his chest density
It leaves much room for error, and the rest left to destiny."
-Sage Francis
by DamnSevern on Jun 3, 2010 4:08 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Is it the hair that gives it away?
"Even the Swedes are getting mad."-Randy Hahn
"It's very cozy in the sin bin."-Randy Hahn
This haircut but bigger = more room for crazy...
by truck on Jun 3, 2010 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
ya
both are in my top 10, respectively.
"Justice is the whim of a judge, check his chest density
It leaves much room for error, and the rest left to destiny."
-Sage Francis
As an aside
“The Chosyn 1” is the worst goddam nickname ever. He must have been the only person who thought Justin McCully’s was catchy.
Get rid of the ramp!
Any news on Stephens.
Has he or his manager been contacted?
completely offtopic
but is anyone going to write an article about Dream using WWII imagery in their D14 promo
"Justice is the whim of a judge, check his chest density
It leaves much room for error, and the rest left to destiny."
-Sage Francis
I was going to touch on it, but… I’m not sure I really care all that much. Sure, it’s a bit absurd and strange… but I don’t know if I really offended or anything by it.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Jun 3, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
It's viewed differently over there than it is here
But please remember that it was interspersed with footage of Aoki and Zaromskis — two of their champions — both getting smashed by their respective Strikeforce counterparts. :P
Welcome to the wasteland that is SB Nation, with arms wide open
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
You, sir, are now on the shitlist. Look at that! Ugh!
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Jun 3, 2010 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions
bad music is bad
"Justice is the whim of a judge, check his chest density
It leaves much room for error, and the rest left to destiny."
-Sage Francis
LOL
I love that everyone shat on Creed. What, no one like’s the sound of a terrible Bizarro Eddie Vedder singing songs likely written for the finale of American Idol?
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jun 3, 2010 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
flagged
"Ten more seconds is all I ever ask. That's the good thing I learned about being KO'd twice. You don't see it coming -it's like death- you don't plan for it so don't wait for it. So many people are afraid of getting Ko'd that their hands stay home, but not me. I got to go out there and shoot the lights out and fall down" Jens Pulver
I think this is my favorite of all the “haters gonna hate” pictures. Honorable mention to the bald eagle walking on water.
no no no
"Justice is the whim of a judge, check his chest density
It leaves much room for error, and the rest left to destiny."
-Sage Francis
I like that he's pissed his pants, like the kid from "Magnolia"
But this one is a classic:
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jun 3, 2010 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
A great addition to one of the best sites in the business. Looking forward to reading more of your work as usual Jonathan.
"Old Dogs does to the screen what old dogs do to the carpet. It's unfortunate that only the latter can be taken out and shot." -Kyle Smith
watchkalibrun.com
by Nick Becker on Jun 3, 2010 5:08 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Snowden?? oh man, there goes the neighborhood
seriously though, congrats; I’ll still enjoy disagreeing with you (maybe even more now that you are official)
Hey, I enjoy the discourse. If I say something dumb it is your solemn duty to rub my face in it.
by Jonathan Snowden on Jun 3, 2010 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions
The irony
We shun the use of homophobic slurs in sports — yet it’s not even acceptable to BE openly gay in MMA or NFL or MLB or NBA. Collective prejudice with politically correct window dressing.
The people who shun the use of the slurs in sports are not the ones creating the non-accepting atmosphere for homosexuals in the locker room. That is to say that the media, the leagues are the people that shun slurs from their athletes but it is the athletes who have conveyed feelings of uneasy about playing with openly homosexual teammates.
The bottom line is that you can’t make people think a certain way but you can make them act a certain way.
How did I end up on this bandwagon and why does everything say property of Chael Sonnen?
Thanks to all for the warm welcome. Look forward to what is to come.
by Jonathan Snowden on Jun 3, 2010 11:45 PM EDT reply actions
Welcome Mr. Snowden – this plce just keeps getting better
When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, and he looks you crooked in the eye and he asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail." - Jack Burton
Welcome Jon
You are one of my favorite fanpost writers and now you’ll be one of my favorite feature writers.
follow me twitter.com/GotaHemmi
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