Excellent article on Kimbo, CBS, and MMA

[Krazikarl]

Originally Posted by tmlfan

and the beginning makes it seem like Kimbo was plucked straight from under a bridge where he was living... no mention that he was university etc.... uggh

Kimbo went to college for a very short time. He was out of there very fast.

And he had been living a very hard life. It was immediately before, but after the whole college thing he was homeless and living in a beatup car for a while.

The whole point is that Kimbo is a legitimate guy off of some very rough streets. And you cant disrespect him for that - hes had a very tough life and has gotten through it pretty well. That deserves respect. But while that does deserve respect and Kimbo does deserve to make some money off of his talents, all that isnt representative of the sport of MMA. Most MMA guys arent like that, and portraying them as such is not a good thing for the sport overall in the opinion of many people.

Everybody who talks about Kimbo is going to stress that street stuff. EliteXC and CBS certainly will - they make money off of that persona.

[tmlfan]

Originally Posted by Krazikarl

Kimbo went to college for a very short time. He was out of there very fast.

And he had been living a very hard life. It was immediately before, but after the whole college thing he was homeless and living in a beatup car for a while.

The whole point is that Kimbo is a legitimate guy off of some very rough streets. And you cant disrespect him for that - hes had a very tough life and has gotten through it pretty well. That deserves respect. But while that does deserve respect and Kimbo does deserve to make some money off of his talents, all that isnt representative of the sport of MMA. Most MMA guys arent like that, and portraying them as such is not a good thing for the sport overall in the opinion of many people.

Everybody who talks about Kimbo is going to stress that street stuff. EliteXC and CBS certainly will - they make money off of that persona.

from wiki..

Ferguson was a star defensive football player for Miami Palmetto High School in the Pinecrest area of Miami, Florida. In college, he went on to the University of Miami on academic scholarship, but did not play football. He was there for only a year and a half.

I just mean he had some potential from the start, its not like he came from nowhere. and a year and a half of univeristy is a lot more than some can say.

[Krazikarl]

Thats interesting - wikipedia's info directly contradicts that in ESPN's writeup on Kimbo. From ESPN the Mag:

It hadn't always been so. Two years earlier, in 1992, Ferguson had been a middle linebacker at Miami's Palmetto High with the skill to think college ball. But then Hurricane Andrew blew through South Florida, wrecking Ferguson's home and hopes. Palmetto's season was shortened, and Ferguson's scholarships disappeared. He tried college at Bethune-Cookman but flunked out. By early 1994, he was out on the street.

Since Andrew happened in August of 1992, that would mean that Kimbo was a senior in High School in 92-93. So he would have been at Bethune-Cookman for 1 semester before flunking out. And according to ESPN, he never went to Miami.

I think that wikipedia is just wrong on this one.

[Ifightforaliving]

Originally Posted by thecoylewis

Is this article written by Dana White under a pseudonym?

I agree whole heartedly with the parts about Kimbo but if you remove him from the card, you have a pretty decent and UPSTANDING card by an organization that is trying to survive. Gina Carrano's fight is great for the sport and Robbie Lawler-Scott Smith is about 2 gifted athletes not a freak show to sell tickets.

As for saying the UFC doesn't pad their fighters records, that's crap. Yea, they threw Lesnar in the fire but there are a bunch of other fighters who get thrown cans to pad the record. Not nearly as bad as Elite does but it does happen. The UFC is still the king of MMA though and I wish it were them getting the network deal.

dude thats no gang sign thats just the STRANGER

[Krazikarl]

Also, ProElite confirms that wikipedia was wrong on Kimbo and college:

Ember disputed a Wikipedia claim that Kimbo went to Miami on an academic scholarship. According to Ember, Slice went to Bethune and Miami on a football scholarship. Slice never played a down of football for the Hurricanes and Ember claims that Slice didn’t stay in college long.

From:

MMA Fighter Blog - Kimbo 'Kimbo Slice' Slice - ProElite

[Ember is Kimbo's manager]

[atj-lucko]

Originally Posted by earle

The author makes some good points, and I think the dancing girls at Elite shows make it look sleazy.

Yeah dancing girls who wants to see that? so gay!!!
(insert extreme sarcasm above)

[tmlfan]

Originally Posted by Krazikarl

Also, ProElite confirms that wikipedia was wrong on Kimbo and college:



From:

MMA Fighter Blog - Kimbo 'Kimbo Slice' Slice - ProElite

[Ember is Kimbo's manager]

fair enough.

I also though I saw a video where it was mentioned to, but false info flows from everywhere.

[rugoatee]

I personally don't have as big a problem with it as others do. I don’t mind watching a lower level org on network TV because 1) it’s free and 2) it still has some skilled fighters on the card. It is true that the main event will lack some of the polished skills of a Joey Villasenor or even Robbie Lawler. But if you look at the card as a whole, I don’t think it is as bad as everyone thinks and I will enjoy not having to pay to see the sport I enjoy.

That being said, I TOTALLY understand the points the author is making and the greater implications it has on the future of the sport. Get ready for a whole new round of MMA bashing articles Monday morning. The end result of this event is that it is going to be viewed by a bunch of writers that know little to nothing about MMA. All they are going to take away from the card is what happens in the main event.

This will probably be:

1 – Numerous clips of Kimbo engaging in illegal backyard/boatyard brawling
2 – Announcers new to the sport not doing a very good job of explaining the science and technique behind what goes on in the cage and how much dedication it takes to reach this level
3 - JT sprinting across the ring as soon as the bell sounds
4 – JT getting met by a Kimbo right hook
5 – Kimbo doing some kind of crazed celebration that will make this look like a street fight

Once all this takes place, what are the writers (that are new to MMA) supposed to think?

I don’t think CBS will play up the fact that Kimbo is now a family man and he only engaged in illegal fighting to earn money for his family. Or the fact that now he trains with a legend of the sport. I think these points will get mentioned but the focus of the show will likely be the hype around his street fights and his “gangsta” appearance.

I can only imagine some of the headlines on Monday

[grambino]

I don't begrudge Kimbo any opportunities he gets, as I have pointed out in the 1 million Kimbo threads, but I am completely dreading the conversations with new fans after the Thompson Can Affair. It's already difficult to discuss MMA with new fans who are convinced Kimbo is the best HW out there and when he KO's a huge ass Thompson in no time at all it'll only get worse. I don't know if anyone else has had to endure MMA talks with casual fans but it's nerve wracking as hell. It's all Chuck Liddell and Kimbo, they're the 2 baddest dudes out there. A little Tito and Randy mixed in, but mostly Chuck and Kimbo. Fedor? Nog? Get outta here, Kimbo would kill those dudes. They're all like the "loud but wrong guy" from SNL. I'll have 3 or 4 of them over Saturday and I'm already dreading it. I'm praying for an effort from Thompson equal to the Frye fight.

[Krazikarl]

One thing I will give CBS/EliteXC is that they got a real announcer who isnt going to be some dipshit who tries to make MMA seem super edgy and acts like its the WWE. Gus Johnson is a legit guy who I personally consider one of the best play by play guys out there in any sport. Just having him calling things instead of some WWE style moron will do a lot for the publics perception.