Another Hoelzer Reich Post
by Zak Woods on Dec 8, 2009 11:43 AM EST
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PrintWKR really didn't want to mention the absurdity of the Hoelzer Reich apparel brand and Zuffa's decision to allow them to sponsor a fighter in the UFC (why give more media attention to a group with dubious ties to neo-nazisim?) but our conscience demands that we lay out where we stand on the situation.
First and foremost, WKR suggests that everyone read Bloodyelbow's fact check on Hoelzer Reich as well as Fightlinker's summary of the situation. Both websites have done a fantastic job of laying out the available facts surrounding this company.
Update: MiddleEasy.com has a great breakdown on Hoelzer Reich's use Nazi imagery. There is absolutely zero wiggle room for the UFC on allowing this company to sponsor fighters.
For a company to use Nazi imagery e.g., the death's head, the SS thunderbolts and Fourth Reich language, while having ties to the band West Wall which has ties to the Northern Hammerskins plus their sponsorship of Niko Puhakka makes the company an albatross for WKR.
As all MMA fans know we constantly have to deal with negative stereotypes about the sport and the people who watch it. Case in point, Bob Arum, who suggested that all MMA fans "are a bunch of skinhead white guy(s)." In no way should any MMA promotion or any member of the MMA community associate themselves with a company that indirectly helps propagate this ignorant point of view.
Thus it is in all of our collective interests to distance ourselves from this apparel line.
Update: Cage Writer reports that Hoelzer Reich will no longer be a Zuffa sponsor.
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Great post…that’s what so many people are missing in this. Even if you think Nazi imagery is just fine and dandy, this could snowball into a huge mainstream media debacle that could seriously damage the sport. The UFC is holding a show in Memphis this weekend, which also happens to be the site of the National Civil Rights Museum. A story about the irony of the company having HR as a sponsor in that environment practically writes itself and plays into every negative stereotype about MMA.
In the history of media, no one has ever made a successful defense of even a casual connection with Nazis. See Marge Schotz. Personally, I’d rather the UFC nip this in the bud now and not a year from now with Dana White facing hostile mainstream media interviews trying to pontificate on the fact that iron crosses are historically benign.
by The Savage Science on Dec 8, 2009 11:58 AM EST reply actions
The UFC is holding a show in Memphis this weekend, which also happens to be the site of the National Civil Rights Museum. A story about the irony of the company having HR as a sponsor in that environment practically writes itself and plays into every negative stereotype about MMA.
If I were an columnist for a newspaper this would make such a RICH and JUICY story however disingenuous and would be a seriously bad turn for the UFC and MMA
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