Quote of the Day: EliteXC on CBS Will Ruin MMA Edition

by Luke Thomas on May 12, 2008 4:45 PM EDT in MMA News

"The problem is most people are going to see it - they're going to see it for the first time - and they don't understand it. And, I guarantee you the Monday after that event all the screams of "It's a bloodspot" and "It's human cockfighting" - remember all those things that MMA has tried to extricate themselves from, all those labels? Man. Just wait for the paper on Monday after that event.

And, why? It's because I think the promoters have not really cared, to be honest with you, or really maybe even considered - I don't know if they care or not - but I don't think they've considered what's going to happen if Gina Carano gets her face opened up and America has to see a girl with a bloody face. Now what you're doing is you are going to be in crisis control mode.

Instead of educating the population saying, "You know what? Girls get cut all the time. Girls serve in the military. Women do all these things and, guess what, [it's] not a big deal." Those cuts, they may be bloody, and just because something creates blood doesn't mean it's particularly dangerous - it may be a bit gory for your taste but physicians are very good at stitching up cuts. Can't remember the last time someone died from a cut on their face or a bloody nose. Now, it may be a bit shocking for you to see for the first time but hardly makes it dangerous.

But, you need to tell the mainstream public that before it happens. Not after because nobody's listening then. Because now I was mortified when I thought, "Did you see what happened to that pretty girl?"

-- Dr. Johnny Benjamin, predicting hysteria and apocalyptic ravings by Americans witnessing EliteXC's version of MMA for the first time on primetime television.

I'm on the fence with the good doctor's argument. On the one hand, he calmly and quietly provides perfectly good reasons to not overreact to the visceral sights of the exceedingly pretty face of Carano bleeding from violence-induced cuts. On the other hand, Dr. Benjamin is, well, a doctor. He's not only qualified to give medical evaluations, he's also an educated American less likely to offer condemnatory proclamations of wrongdoing based on instant judgments.

The question then becomes whether or not those who are not predisposed to enjoying combat athletics will cry foul should any of the fights be particularly bloody or brutal? Has the UFC and the efforts of the sport's ambassadors put enough positive equity in the media bank should disaster strike? I tend to think yes, but it's a tenuous yes...at best.

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Comments

Re: Quote of the Day

I can definitely see the doctor's point. But I think if EliteXC can put on a real quality event that excites people, it won't really matter what the newspapers say. So long as it gets ratings (hopefully good ratings), it will be fine.

At the end of the day, it's violent at times for sure, but for some reason the north american public is able to digest violence better than sexuality. I mean, an exposed nipple at the superbowl drove people crazy, but serial killers maiming victims, hockey fights and Jackass stunts are okay? Strange, but true. Hopefully the show can shocase all that MMA is (BJJ, Wrestling, etc), instead of just the knockout aspect.

Really, its about getting the ratings, and riding out the whining about the end of civilization as we know it. Despite what some say, I totally believe commerce will triumph over personal taste.

by pud333 on May 12, 2008 5:11 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Quote of the Day: EliteXC on CBS Will Ruin MMA

I kinda agree this is a possibility. Gina getting split open would be a disaster for everyone involved.

by Michael Rome on May 12, 2008 5:23 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Quote of the Day: EliteXC on CBS Will Ruin MMA

Hopefully one of the announcers can smooth it out with a nice "she ain't pretty no more."

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on May 12, 2008 6:20 PM EDT reply actions

EliteXC on CBS Will Ruin MMA Edition

This strikes me as a major over-reaction. You could just as easily make the opposite argument: people who "label" MMA are often those who only experience it from a distance, and very few things close the distance better than free television. Making MMA accessible and letting more people see it than otherwise would be possible - and let's be honest, likely in the company of someone is already an MMA fan who happens to be holding the remote - is one of the most educational things that anyone can do.

I'm not sure I believe that argument either, but you see my point. The idea that anyone can accurately predict how people will react to or feel about a spectacle like MMA is simply impossible. The generalization is too broad and the prediction too specific. The likelihood of a massive backlash does exist, but is pretty remote (regardless of whether or not Gina gets cut). The likelihood of a massive wave of new supporters is equally real and equally remote (regardless of whether or not Kimbo's fight lasts longer than one round). In reality, there is a massive range of possible reactions, and opinions (being like assholes) will likely fall along the entire spectrum.

Anyone who sits down long enough to actually watch the show likely knows at least something about MMA; it's a common enough sport now that the complete ignorance is not as pervasive as it once was. And anyone who does watch that long is welcome to their opinion, positive or negative, just as any of us are welcome to ours and welcome to respond to others' opinions and try to change their minds. Anyone who only watches long enough to make a snap judgement, well, they would make that same judgement regardless. At some point, all you can do is put the product out there, and let the (potential) audience make up their own damn minds. And if we fans don't like the reactions we hear, maybe it's up to us to do some talking and convincing. I got my wife on board that way, and now she's just as hardcore about MMA as I am.

Of course, this is assuming anyone watches the show. I figured most people would be watching the Chuck Liddel special...

by AJB on May 12, 2008 6:43 PM EDT reply actions

Re: EliteXC on CBS Will Ruin MMA Edition

Your points are good, but I don't think the doctor is issuing idle concerns. It seems to me the salient issue is that we should prepare ourselves for the negative reactions should there be brutal knockouts or, to use the doctor's example, if Carano gets her face split. That is, it seems likely the EXC event will elicit a lot of reactions like this and we must use the institutions in place - existing fans, blogs, MSM writers, etc - to educate and counteract any negative pushback.

by Luke Thomas on May 12, 2008 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: EliteXC on CBS Will Ruin MMA Edition

That's fair enough, because it's due caution. The doctor's comments sounded a little more towards the alarmist apocalyptic side of things.

by AJB on May 12, 2008 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Quote of the Day:

He's an idiot, and you're an idiot for being "on the fnece". Are you fucking kidding me? Do you live in the 50's, the 70's? This nation is desensitized to all but the most egregious of acts. This question of psychology is much too large to actually debate, but just get over it. $$$ talks, and when there is money to be made, someone will make it. Who fucking cares if more ppl watch, or that they dont get it at first, did any of us? No. No one is going to tune in and say to themselves, "Hey honey, get the kids, this new mixed martial arts thing is on and I hear it's family oriented." STFU. If you doom and gloom about our near history, you're a fucking moron. To the top it goes. Enjoy the ride.

by MoreThanUFC on May 12, 2008 9:20 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Quote of the Day:

ixnay on the ame-nay alling-cay.

by Kid Nate on May 12, 2008 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Quote of the Day:

ame-nay alling-cay nothing. That argument is so poorly put together, to think someone who portends to be an intelligent MMA blogger would actually fall for that, well dude, then he aint that smart. DOOM AND GLOOM!!!!! IT'S ALL OVER!!! EWWWW, BLOOD. zzzzzzzzzzzzz But, I'm on the fence, in the middle of the road. He could be right, or he could be wrong. I'll posture a guess at maybe.

Hmmm, what did Plato, Aristole, Nietchze, Kant and Locke say about ppl on fences? Amazing they all reached the same conclusion 4000 years and whole countries apart. PICK A FUCKING SIDE.

But really, that neither here nor there. This Doc's argument is so juvenile and weak, it really is laughable.

by MoreThanUFC on May 12, 2008 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Quote of the Day:

"It seems to me the salient issue is that we should prepare ourselves for the negative reactions should there be brutal knockouts"

Oh, boxing has never had one? Man, check your self before you try to spread your "intelligence". Luke, you are getting more pompous as the weeks tick bye. Stop over thinking shit. If you live your life this way, you must be one miserable prick. Does anyone give a fuck any more about what happens to someone on TV? No. The worse it gets for the person, the more this moronic "I just saw the most awesome car accident" crowd will get. These fuckers live and die on the shit you see at teh grocery checkout line. We the hardcores will suffer because our sport will become more and more like boxing, more and more populist. We care about our fighters, we get to know them. We understand the style vs style. Go to a bar and watch the UFC. Enjoy that shit. We are the minority amigo.

by MoreThanUFC on May 12, 2008 9:28 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Quote of the Day:

"he's also an educated American less likely to offer condemnatory proclamations of wrongdoing based on instant judgments."

Pompasity and elitsm to it's fucking core. Dude, you're a fucking joke. Enjoy your life, it's a fucking shadow. Read "Allegory of the Cave" and wake the fuck up. Done.

by MoreThanUFC on May 12, 2008 9:45 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Quote of the Day:

I took an entire class on Plato's allegory. Already read it, but thanks for the rec.

by Luke Thomas on May 12, 2008 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Quote of the Day:

zing

(the poster formerly known as holden636)

by TheFightJournal on May 13, 2008 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Quote of the Day: EliteXC on CBS Will Ruin MMA

This seems right in line with all of MoreThanUFC's bitching - check Michael Huckaby's meltdown over at 5 oz. over being called an "elitist" (http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/05/12/mma-online-world-of-elitists-and-n00bs/#comment-27071).

MoreThanUFC should probably hold off on trying to see how many right-wing keywords he can squeeze into a comments thread over there. Huckaby is likely to go postal if he does.

(the poster formerly known as holden636)

by TheFightJournal on May 13, 2008 12:14 AM EDT reply actions