Look, we all know we’re sick of reading and writing Couture/Dana break up story blogs just as much as we all can’t stop reading or writing them. It’s like compulsive eating: you know it’s wrong, it’s become a job you might not even enjoy, and yet you can’t stop doing it. Who am I to be any different with my commentary? I could write another open letter to Dana-style article, but after so many in the last two weeks, boy did Greg Doyel really put a dagger in that concept. Ouch!
I would like to point out that for the two people who haven’t heard, Randy Couture’s gonna be all over the place Thursday afternoon. Couture - ah heck, to me he’s just Randy - is gonna be having a press conference. Everyone’s favorite middle-aged man is gonna be eloquently discussing with every media person ever to write a blog his future, Dana White, his contract, Dana White, Fedor and M-1, and um…did I mention Dana White.
While I’m happy and thankful that HD Net, Proelite.com, and possibly the Fight Network will be covering this event, the story sidebar to the press conference is what ESPN does.Any mainstream press to give this conference TV time or press is a decent nod that should not be considered an also-ran. Second to ESPN, what some major papers do will have an impact. Do they stay internet for the under 30 crowd, or do they print the story and stir up my 50-something father? More importantly, does an article stir up some 50-something TV exec. or sponsor?
Third and final sidebar, if Dana White gets too reactionary without thinking and gives a comment to the first person to call his office, how does that impact UFC and major MMA? You might not think it means anything except, “Dana’s an @ss%ole”, but the general public and casual fan have a way of losing interest in something over the most frivolous things. Fickle fair weather friends, them pay-per-view buying 20-somethings. If Dana blasts Couture with words, that would be a huge misstep. Especially if that phone call is ESPN News or USA Today. Even Steve Seivert at the Houston Chron. or everyone’s favorite safe bet, Kevin Iole, would be a huge blunder.
The Fertittas, having heard this, should have called Dana White just to tell him they’d like to take him out for lunch Thursday afternoon. No cell phones allowed.
E-mail John Philapavage at johnnyp@mmaopinion.com
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