Pat Miletich, Michael David Smith Spar Over Strikeforce Commentary

Pat speaks the Truth, true MMA fans can’t stand MDS

I generally agree with Smith, but I’d like to see this kind of criticism spread to the UFC and other promotions when it’s obviously merited. Strikeforce takes the brunt of the criticism, largely unfair.

x90000000000000000000

devote an hour in next weeks episode to it

its not like theres any pressing mma events or other coverage coming up other than the fight for the troops

at MMA Fighting. I am surprised it is MDS. He has a pound for pound list after every freaking fight

Pat lost me when he made a comparison preferring Glen Beck over Olbermann….

Liking Beck is one of those litmus tests for stupidity, in my eyes. Like people who oppose the “Ground Zero mosque.”

I think he and I can gldly debate the issue on air ny time @MMAPayout 11:37 AM Jan 8th via Mobile Web in reply to MMAPayout

get it done luke!!!

How in the world is Miletich any more of a company shill than a guy like Mike Goldberg is. Goldie is the ultimate shill. If you’re going to criticize Strikeforce’s commentary team, Miletich is not the commentator you are looking for.

Definitely a dangerous business we’re in with regards to offending the wrong parties.

IMO, MDS can be criticized if you disagree with the manner in which he went about said criticism; however, I think it’s kind of ridiculous to criticize a writer for writing an editorial. His points were well-reasoned, though I agree with those that feel he should have offered a point of comparison. Honestly, he probably didn’t expect to receive this kind of heat. He’s shown in the past that he is more than adept at handling a multifaceted issue in MMA and exploring it from all sides; this case may be one involving a lack of foresight, not knowledge or bias.

MDS is a known Zuffa paid journalist and works for a Zuffa based site, I’m not surprised by his actions

to be a shill.. Goldy, Rogan, Miletich, they are all just doing their job unless

Do you think when Goldy was broadcasting Cardinals games this season he went on air and said “who in the f’ing world is John Skelton?” of course he didn’t. He remained as positive about it as possible. That is their job, if something is very, very bad, of course you aren’t going to point out the negatives, you are selling a product, you point out the positives. It was even more important this weekend because Showtime had the free preview, you think Strikeforce/Showtime wants to waste that opportunity and let some commentator deride their organization on air? C’mon.

The only thing that should even come from this is Miletich’s response, MDS is doing his job as well. Why even give a response, then again, this is MMA where we don’t expect things like professionalism, do we?

Look, Showtime has had the ability to do what they and HBO have both done with boxing and have a fairly impartial announce crew. HBO’s crew generally doesn’t lie to you while watching. In fact, you’re more often than not going to hear someone like Larry Merchant outright tell you that a fight is bad should it be than blow smoke up your ass. Showtime didn’t bring that sort of crew in for Strikeforce, and that’s too bad for the fans IMO.

Obviously the comparison point is the UFC, who’s announcing is generally terrible, as one would expect with a comedian working as color commentator carrying the dead weight of a guy who’s job it is to play stupid and shout out names of sponsors or upcoming events rather than be the play by play man. And hell if either of them is going to tell you a fight is a glaring mismatch or poorly set up until it is A) over B) in the third round of a horrible, lifeless contest. I guess the defense MDS can use is that it isn’t pertinent to how Showtime’s announce crew works, and that’s true. But it doesn’t make it look like any less of a hit job.

What sort of credentials does Pat Miletich have to criticize a professional (in every sense) blogger? Has he ever put together a blog that reached an audience? Has he ever attempted to conduct professional interviews with subjects who are uncooperative, unprofessional, delusional, hostile, or all of the above?

I’m overstating to make a point, of course, but I have to ask: Did Miletich attempt to make a substantive point, or was it all a bunch of inane questions about MDS’ “credentials” and a Glenn Beck shoutout? I know Luke didn’t post the whole conversation, so I’ll reserve judgment.

But this sounds a bit like the “jockocracy” that Howard Cosell warned us about.

All that said, I’ve enjoyed Miletich’s commentary on various MMA shows. Just surprised he has either a really thin skin or perhaps a lack of confidence in his work to go ad hominem from the get-go.

It’s a bit absurd for anyone to suggest that he’s not talking up his company’s product. And it would be kind of absurd if he chose not to. His exaggerating the abilities of a guy like Woodley is not an issue to me. Why is anyone surprised that he puts a little extra sheen on his employer’s product? In addition to being an absolute Strikeforce cheerleader, he’s also an excellent analyst of what goes on inside the ring, and in another job, a thoughtful observer of and objective commentator on the broad spectrum of MMA, its fighters and promotions. He’s also apparently a sneering tea-party whack job, the kind that guy that puts dread into the hearts of rational people everywhere — but that’s also his right. He embellishes a bit and sometimes it’s noticeable because he doesn’t always have a lot to work with, but I would say he’s performing his job very well.