WKR reviews E:60's profile of Dana White

It wasn't the type of in depth reporting I was hoping for but then again I am a fan of David Simon and Fareed Zakaria so I am a little jaded.

But as a profile piece WKR will say it was a fair shake.

ESPN didn't go under the hood of the UFC and examine the inner workings or deal with topics like Randy Couture's contract dispute, locker room bonuses or Jon Fitch being cut over a videogame, but they did touch of Dana White's triumphs, which there are many, and gaffes.

Now this was a profile piece so a lot of it is about getting the temperament of the individual you're examining. On that level ESPN only partially succeed. They never offered the perspective of White's warmth and charity, something that equally exists with the profanity. On the other hand they did illustrate White's business savvy and success.

With any profile one must also address the controversy or doubts surrounding the individual. For E:60 this was Loretta Hunt, Tito Ortiz and Bob Reilly. Tom Farrey gave each individual a chance to speak their mind while simultaneously giving White ample opportunity to answer his critics. Unfortunately for UFC fans, those critics were the people that vex White the most (Bob Reilly being the exception), hence the disclaimer at the beginning of the segment. White's responses could leave a poor impression on viewers who are coming in with a blank slate.

The profile didn't offer an answer to its principle question "is the UFC ready for primetime with White at the helm?" For it to be a hatchet piece E:60 and Tom Farrey would of needed to answer that question. In the end they left it up to the viewer to decide and that's a good thing.

Some quick random thoughts...

• There is more footage available at espn.com
• 46 insults? What pertains an ‘insult'. Does "I am rubber and you are glue, whatever you say bounces off of me and stick to you" count?
  
• Okay just watch the internet segment, insults are profanity plus moron. 
• We are doing a segment on a guy from South Boston? Obviously this  requires Shipping off to Boston as the background music. 
  
• WKR's youtube page was featured. Does that mean WKR is mainstream now?
• Tito in a suit in front of display filled with clothes from his clothing line. Can't blame the guy for using free press to pimp his shit but seriously, come on. 
• Got to love it when this is your profile's disclaimer, "The following segment contains language that may be offensive to some viewers." 
• I am really torn about the black and white round tables that open each segment. I like them and loathe them at the same time. On one hand it is a sleek way to open a segment and introduce the viewer to the topic. On the other hand this is sports, its entertainment. Could you imagine an Entertainment Tonight segment starting with an uber-serious round table in black and white?

Some memorable quotes, 

• "With what's going on in the world today my fighters are making more than fucking Wall Street is.' ~ Dana White
• "I am a Dana White fan" Michael Eisner.
• "When it comes to the marketing side of his brand he really gets it, Donald Trump gets it, Oprah gets it, Dana White gets it." ~ Shaquille O'Neal    
• "One down one more to go HAHA" ~ Dana White on the demise of EliteXC according to Tito Ortiz.