Help, Time Warp (Or “Kimbo Can’t Come Over to Play”)

I don’t usually break news in my blogs, but this story just couldn’t wait. Mixed Martial Arts is about to go Mainstream! I heard it on Dan Patrick’s radio show. Then later, I heard Scott Van Pelt, of ESPN TV and Radio, talking about it.

It’s odd though. They kept calling it Ultimate Fighting, which confused me – the consumer – since I just watched the UFC last week. Then once they told me about Elite XC, sort of, I had another question.

Didn’t MMA already go mainstream? See, I remember it really well because it was over the Memorial Day weekend. It was also the last Saturday in May. In fact, it’s crazy I know, but I could have sworn every mainstream sports guy who once dreamed of having the integrity and newspaper turned SI job of Frank Deford was doing the same story last year. As in A year ago this weekend!

Interesting that they forgot. They talk about this Ultimate Fighting with such disdain. Or they try to embrace it for their audience, but make it clear to me – still the consumer – that they don’t know much about it. I always find that funny. One, because it’s their job to do the slightest bit of research. Two, because little
by little alot of information or purposeful misinformation slips out. I know I keep using that odd word, but isn’t it odd when 30-40 TV/Radio/print guys do the exact same story with the exact same mistakes they made the exact same weekend last year? ODD!

Except this year it’s Kimbo Slice instead of Chuck Liddell that ESPN is smitten with. Not smitten like they are with that lovable Kobe Bryant. No, they own that NBA contract. CBS is a Viacom company. But they love to talk about that bad boy Kimbo. Chuck is like, so last year. Dan Patrick even said something to the effect of where is he now? I wish I had Dan’s number. I’d tell him the Iceman is in Cali or Vegas spending his millions and rehabbing his injury before shilling products or drawing hundreds of thousands to plop down $50.

Thing is, Patrick starts talking about Brock Lesnar. He mentions Lesnar might be facing Heath Herring. The caller that tries to correct him isn’t even aware of the very true booking rumor. Then Patrick tries to deflect from the UFC is a brand/MMA is the sport correction. It’s odd, but I think Mr. Patrick might be bending the truth a bit. Maybe Mr. Patrick is a fan.

My favorite moment in reading about the barbaric stuff going on my TV tonight (still no talk about how everyone’s kid takes kickboxing or jui-jitsu, or plays football for christ sake), yet I’m not sure what it is. Kevin McDonough syndicates a column telling everyone in hundreds of newspapers what’s on TV tonight. This morning Kevin wrote to me that “Something called Elite XC Saturday Night Fights” is on. He called them pugilists, than never explained what they do. Perhaps these Elite XC boxers know where I can find more Ultimate Fighting?

It really is odd. At least twice a year I read a news cycle of a hundred articles telling me about this horribly barbaric spectacle of Ultimate Fighting and how it’s breaking mainstream. They just can’t seem to get their hands on any facts though, so it all stays vague. I hope everyone is alright. I’d hate to think that these people don’t do a good job reporting on their very important subjects, like football players, NBA games, or baseball stadiums being built.

Nope. I googled New Yankee Stadium – still there. Sorry Kimbo, guess we’ll have to hang out some other time. Don’t worry. I heard on PTI this thing called Ultimate Fighting is about to break mainstream in about six months. Maybe we can hang out then.