One last thing…

by Zak Woods on Apr 3, 2009 9:00 AM EDT in Analysis Comment 5 comments

When I watched Dana White's videoblog this Wednesday I was shocked. Being an intrepid young blogger, I immediately downloaded the video and spliced it to highlight just the rant. My instincts told me that this was news and I needed to hang on to it.

The video is currently up on youtube and it has been interesting to see what kind of comments appear. Of course, it being the Internet people feel liberated to say whatever they want and in the most graphic terms. This comes as no surprise, but I was particularly shocked at the venom thrown at the anonymous source that Hunt quotes. Many viewers felt that White was vindicated in attacking such a person, some questioning whether the source even exists at all.

[Quick side note: If Hunt's piece was so meaningless and inaccurate, why did White respond with such immediacy and fury? It really is a disservice to one's argument when you claim your opponent's statements are unimportant and on the fringe, while you foam at the mouth in anger. Just really poor rhetoric.]

In Loreatta Hunt's article she explains her reason for using anonymous sources, that

"You don't ask questions of them. You know how that goes," said one manager, who, like multiple fighter representatives interviewed, would only speak on the condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions.

After watching White's reaction she and her source appear vindicated in taking such measures.

Sources are absolutely vital in being an effective reporter, and journalists rightfully guard their sources jealously. After all journalism is the procurement of information and then its subsequent dissemination.

Of course with any publication the citation of an anonymous source is a difficult issue. Editors and authors need to be sure of accurate information since it is there reputation on the line. We do see ambitious reporters juice stories with anonymous quotes, but these are usually isolated incidents.

Personally if I had a source that wanted their identity held secret due to fear of retribution I would honor that request and in this episode that is exactly what happened. In that respect I stand completely behind Loretta. It is also a reason why many writers have closed ranks as well.

Late last night there was news that White plans on issuing an apology to the Gay community. But that still doesn't cover his personal attack on a professional journalist who was simply doing her job.

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I’ve got to side with White on this one for several reasons. As far as comments about gays and women, so what. That’s just how guys talk. Plus, consider the situation, it wasn’t a press conference or a televised event. It was a video blog that was made solely for entertainment purposes. The unfair backlash White has received in this case is no different than the injustices that happened to Don Imus over his “nappy-headed hoes” comments, which I also defended. These things are for entertainment purposes only. When I watched White’s rant, I didn’t get offended. In fact I found it highly entertaining and funny. One of things I like about is that he’s a head of this billion dollar company and, yet he talks just like I do. Remember who the UFC appeals to as well, young men 18-35. Most of his audience uses the very same vocabulary that supposedly “offended” so many.

Context is also very important. Chris Rock did a great bit on this in his last HBO special, that Fightlinker also posted after this whole thing broke. A lot of people forget that the word “faggot.” Hey, he could’ve been referring to the unnamed source “A bundle of twigs, sticks, or branches bound together.” Seriously, it is a common term that guys call each when they’re acting unmanly. As far as “bitch”, for anyone to even bring that up is ludicrous. For anyone to complain about that, the complainer should have never called a woman a “bitch” in their life and, guess what, that eliminates probably 99.99999% of the population. If anything, White restrained himself. I mean, c’mon her name is Loretta HUNT. The barn door’s wide open on that to introduce a far more offensive, and far more effective, term for a woman. White didn’t take that bait and that’s more than I could say for myself, if I was in his situation.

As far as apologizing to Hunt herself. I don’t think this article was the only reason for that rant. He mentioned the Matt Lindland documentary and it shouldn’t be forgotten that she was also featured on Showtime extolling the greatness that was EliteXC. It appears to me that Hunt has some sort of campaign against the UFC. I wouldn’t be surprised if our good friend “Skala” was lining her pockets to write that disparaging article.

Between Hunt’s lack of jouranlistic and the whole Fightlinker lawsuit threat, I’m about ready to swear off Sherdog completely.

by Steve W on Apr 3, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Fightlinker does a great job of pointing ot the bizarity of free speech. Personally I feel that the PC faux-outrage is over the top. But that doesn’t deal with the larger issue, a lack of professioanlism.

White is the the face of a sport and its primary ambassador, thus he needs to carry himself with respect, including respect towards others.

Let’s face it MMA is still banned in several states and such actions by White hurt their investment.

I have also been receiving emails from people that basically say, “This is why I don’t like the UFC, its a bunch of meat head bigots”

That perception is something that we as a community need to overcome.

My point was to simply demonstrate, that her sources were correct in wanting annonymity, since there was indeed verbal retribution.

watchkalibrun.com

by Zak Woods on Apr 3, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

“But that still doesn’t cover his personal attack on a professional journalist who was simply doing her job”

If “Professional Journalists” want to be protected by some traditional sense of the status of an impartial observer, then they should at least try to not let it appear that they were a proponent of EXC. She drew the line with that and Matt’s documentary (and the fact that my dachshund writes better and has better sources than she does).

With the past campaign season, “professional journalists” have been pulled from their high moral perches (usually by their own actions) and the public doesn’t see a difference between such and partisan backers of any particular cause.

As for Dana, he was talking like guys talk. He had to apologize for it. End of discussion.

by ProCannonFodder on Apr 3, 2009 1:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I used to have dachshund, too! He was quite the journalist himself. Must run in the breed.

Zak, I see your point about the regulatory issue. I honestly never thought of that. That’s one area where my Imus comparison loses steam. Radio is still legal everywhere.

by Steve W on Apr 3, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs