Gus Johnson Responds to the MMA Criticisms
by Zak Woods on Apr 21, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Email
Print 
For some reason, Cagepotato's new editor decided to make Gus Johnson angry. You don't make Gus Johnson angry, you wouldn't like him when he's angry.
"I take a lot of criticism, but I try my best to try to help promote this fucking sport, when nobody else, including television executives could give two shits because they think it's barbaric and it's filled with a bunch of hoodlums, which is exactly how it looked to everyone watching the show Saturday night. The problem with MMA is that these Internet guys ruin the sport because they're negative 90 percent of the time. I try to say as many good things about these athletes in this sport on a network level - not on an underground level or a Spike TV cable level or a pay-per-view level. My job isn't to promote the sport. I'm paid to give my opinion and to describe what I see and it's my opinion that the guys they had Jake fight were supposed to beat him. That's how I see it. I said it, so I believe it. That's disrespect. Do you mean to tell me that Strikeforce didn't bring a former Pride champion [like] Dan Henderson in to beat Jake Shields? Come on, man. I'm also not blaming Miller for what happened. Mayhem didn't do anything that Shane Mosely hasn't done, or other fighters who aren't a part of the main event of the card who get in the cage or the ring to hype a future fight haven't done hundreds of times before. It always happens. That's not a big deal. The reaction from Gilbert and Jake and all these guys was what was the big deal. It was improper, and to be honest, it was shameful."
The crux of the issue are the last two words of Johnson's comment brawl commentary "Sometimes these things happen in MMA." Those two little words give MMA detractors ammunition to blast the sport (something Johnson is acutely aware of). But it's not like these detractors would have been firing blanks had Johnson not said something.
A brawl on network television would get any sport in trouble. The problem is that MMA, which includes the UFC, is still struggling for acceptance. Not just from the sporting public at large but from advertisers and executives.
What happened on Saturday night sucks and Johnson's "these things happen in MMA" add a crap-berry on top of the sundae of suckitude. But sometimes these things happen in play-by-play announcing...
14 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Unfortunate but understandable
I’m not a big Gus Johnson fan but I do think that being put in a position like that it’s easy to make an unfortunate mistake and say a comment like that. The guy was standing just a few feet away from an 8 on 1 assault on live tv and messed up, many of us would.
Of course he doesn’t do the right thing an admit his mistake, he just drops some F-bombs and tried to justify it.
respect
it does seem like he cares about the sport, and I’m sure the “sometimes these things happen in MMA” was a momentary lapse in judgement.
If he had said “sometimes these things happen in sports” no one would have cared.
"It’s going to be like sex with a grizzly bear, you know, a lot of scratching and growling on both sides." - Don Frye
You know what? Sometimes those things happen in MMA.
by Jonathan Snowden on Apr 21, 2010 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly
Some people seem to have short memories. Remember the KJ Noons/Diaz Brother skirmish from a few years ago? Or Pride 31? Or Wand-Rampage? Yeah, these things do happen in MMA sometimes.
"Old Dogs does to the screen what old dogs do to the carpet. It's unfortunate that only the latter can be taken out and shot." -Kyle Smith
watchkalibrun.com
by Nick Becker on Apr 21, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed.
I like Gus Johnson. He is a marquee announcer, always shows a ton of enthusiasm and is still learning about the sport. He’s making an effort which is more than someone like Jim Lampley would do. I would’ve also rather him said that “sometimes these things happen in sports” — but he didn’t, let’s get over it.
"Old Dogs does to the screen what old dogs do to the carpet. It's unfortunate that only the latter can be taken out and shot." -Kyle Smith
watchkalibrun.com
by Nick Becker on Apr 21, 2010 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I think I heard he actually trains BJJ
"It’s going to be like sex with a grizzly bear, you know, a lot of scratching and growling on both sides." - Don Frye
Stick to Basketball Gus
After Kimbo lost to Seth Petruzelli…“The most incredible victory in the history of Mixed Martial Arts!!”…I was done with Gus doing MMA Commentary.
by Doors Hate MMA Fighters on Apr 21, 2010 12:22 PM EDT reply actions
That was a definite misstatement but it shouldn’t be a reason to write him off completely.
"Old Dogs does to the screen what old dogs do to the carpet. It's unfortunate that only the latter can be taken out and shot." -Kyle Smith
watchkalibrun.com
by Nick Becker on Apr 21, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
May seem harsh
I wasn’t a Gus Johnson fan before he said that line and the stuff he said during the melee continues my dislike of his MMA commentary.
To casual fans who happen to watch SF, hearing him say “this happens in MMA…there’s a lot of testosterone in there” is pretty bad and to me, makes the sport look comical. “Sweaty dudes rolling on the floor” is bad enough with the casual/non-fans, no need to give them more ammunition.
Luckily the mainstream news didn’t go nuts with this story (I saw small segments at the end of ESPN’s PTI/ARH), and it’s more of a MMA community issue that’s just kind of embarrassing.
by Doors Hate MMA Fighters on Apr 21, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Look I do not feel bad in the least for ragging on gussy boy. When miller was on football people freaked and got him sent packing and with good reason. A good announcer is supposed to add but never take away from the event.
And I’m sorry but after saying “this is the biggest upset in human history, kimbo slice losing right now is akin to the fall of the roman empire, seriously this is worse than the crucifixtion, kimbo christ has just been presented with a crown of thorns by seth petzruzelli.”
I dunno somewhere around that statement I decided I didn’t give a shit about gus johnson
why are we shifting blame to GUS, he did nothing wrong but point out people were acting stupid, the cage after the fight was practically shoulder to shoulder with people, strikeforce staff are the actual idiots
by Cheyenne Erfani on Apr 21, 2010 12:49 PM EDT reply actions
oh and i love how everyone blames nick diaz for throwing first punch when shields actually threw first punch
by Cheyenne Erfani on Apr 21, 2010 12:51 PM EDT reply actions
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
