Do MMA journalist need to be choked out once or twice?
Today’s MMA writers seem to believe that the best advocacy for the sport can only be found in the lap…
Today’s MMA writers seem to believe that the best advocacy for the sport can only be found in the lap of the harshest critic; that to show a love of the sport and an appreciation for the fighters is akin to selling out. We have to show the ignorant masses the unvarnished truth, they seem to say; time to stop coddling all of these fans and fighters and give them a wake up call. We’re sports journalists, by god, we know what we’re talking about! If you want to know what’s really going on, you’ll listen to ME, because I’m not drinking the company Kool-aid! I’m an honest writer, and the truth always hurts.
Of course, all of this, every single bit of it, is total bullshit.
By their actions, they are simply revealing themselves as hacks who share only an appreciation for the harshest, most negative kind of criticism (and yes, there is more than one kind). They’re not the elite writers who possess a keen grasp of the sport that they’d like you to believe they are. This a notion they are trying very hard to sell to you, because if you buy it, then you bestow upon them a legitimacy that they don’t actually possess. They are only interested in coming off as witty and as sharp as they can, while cutting down that which we should all be looking to help build up.
This is not to say that MMA does not need criticism. Every sport or art needs at least some degree of criticism, and the media is usually seen as the voice of the people. This works better if the writers are actually fans of the sport and those who compete in it. When this is the case, the writer can be looked upon as a barometer for the issues at hand. They can also bring to the forefront those smaller issues that are sometimes forgotten by the movers and shakers. Usually, in such circumstances, the writers shine a light on topics that honestly need illumination. The media does carry a significant amount of weight, especially in MMA. There are writers and other media members out there who ply their craft with a high level of personal dignity and honor. Kevil Lole and Ariel Helwani are just a few.
Sadly, there are many more writers who seem to view their posts and articles like a baseball bat. And they are happy to swing it anytime, anyplace, almost as if they themselves are the star. They use harsh criticism like a razor, unconcerned for the message they send. In fact, they are so unconcerned, that when they do make a serious error, they act like it never happened. Sometimes you can’t help but wonder if they are fans of MMA at all. Maybe they would rather be covering football or baseball.