Open Letter to Dana White From a Web Journalist
Dana White is an interesting guy. He makes interesting arguments. He is, on most fronts a marketing genius.
On at least one front, he’s completely and totally full of dogshit.
Promma.com posted an article this week which details White’s take on all the web sites that dedicate their efforts to following the sport that has lined his pockets. If you don’t work for a newspaper, a major magazine or some media outlet that can serve his agenda, you can, in essence, fuck right off…
In an interview this week on the Canadian sports show “Off the Record,” White and host Michael Landsberg discussed what it takes to get credentials to cover a UFC event.
Michael Landsberg: “Why is Sherdog not accredited to be backstage?”
Dana White: “None of the MMA sites have been for years.”
Michael Landsberg: “Why?”
Dana White: “Cause I don’t want ‘em there. Just because you own a website doesn’t mean you are a real reporter.”
Michael Landsberg: “So you are now able to measure what people say about your product. You are able to edit it by allowing certain people backstage and not allowing others.”
Dana White: “Actually we credential all the real media. Guys that are real media, they are credentialed. There’s guys that rip us but at least they are professional and they are fair and they do it the right way. Believe me, I don’t ever expect anybody to agree with everything I say or do. That’s never gonna happen. But we credential the guys that are real professionals. You think I should credential every guy that pops up with a website?”
Michael Landsberg: “But hold on, Sherdog is not every website, they have massive massive followers.”
Dana White: “Sherdog is just like every other guy, he’s just been out there longer.”
On that score, White is way, way off the mark. White needs to understand that “every guy that pops up with a website” is probably also a fan, say, like me. You don’t get rich doing this, but if you love it, you might make a living. You want access to the fighters because they interest you. You don’t give a flying shit if you have access to Dana White.
He should consider these facts or discover down the road that someone (read Bellator or EliteXC) who’s way back in his rearview mirror right now will blow by him like he’s standing still.
On the other hand, he does crack me up, and seeing anyone dog-slap Bill O’Reilly is always pure, unadulterated joy in my book. And Rich Franklin is an excellent ambassador for the sport as a whole…
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