**new Dana White interview with espn on steroids** - Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1

stillstanding · 07-31-2007, 09:23 PM

Dana White has gotten back form his vacation and had some things to say about Sherk, Franca, and any other steroid users.

ESPN - Hockensmith: UFC prez White fires back at steroid criticism - MMA

Fist of Fury · 07-31-2007, 09:40 PM

Not giving them their bonuses? Wow Dana, way to lay the smack down! In my opinion he was making excuses for Sherk and totally doesn't feel he did anything wrong. He keeps saying that he is Sherk's friend and what a family man he, blah, blah, blah. You are the President of the UFC, act like it, you don't have to be their best friends.

This just isn't exactly something that strikes fear into fighters who are cycling on and off of roids.

codkaz · 07-31-2007, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fist of Fury

Not giving them their bonuses? Wow Dana, way to lay the smack down! In my opinion he was making excuses for Sherk and totally doesn't feel he did anything wrong. He keeps saying that he is Sherk's friend and what a family man he, blah, blah, blah. You are the President of the UFC, act like it, you don't have to be their best friends.

This just isn't exactly something that strikes fear into fighters who are cycling on and off of roids.

Actually we dont know how much the fighters actually make in bonuses. It is quite possible dana gives massive pay raises that dont get released to the public. It would explain the lack of pay check complaints. In that case this would be a significant punishment. Just my speculation

Fist of Fury · 07-31-2007, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codkaz

Actually we dont know how much the fighters actually make in bonuses. It is quite possible dana gives massive pay raises that dont get released to the public. It would explain the lack of pay check complaints. In that case this would be a significant punishment. Just my speculation

Your probably right, but I just don't think that looks very strict to the mainstream media, who he is really trying to court right now to take the UFC to the next level.

codkaz · 07-31-2007, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fist of Fury

Your probably right, but I just don't think that looks very strict to the mainstream media, who he is really trying to court right now to take the UFC to the next level.

yah definatly i agree with that, it doesnt look that bad on paper.
And i do agree with you about dana defending sherk, although i still hope he didnt do it.

Cuts O Meat · 07-31-2007, 10:22 PM

It is quite possible Sherk didn't do it. We'll have to wait and see what becomes of it, unless you're one of those who like to pass judgement real fast.

codyfromstorm · 07-31-2007, 10:24 PM

Dana defends Sherk only becuase they are friends, would you not stick up for your friends through thick or thin things, I know I would. Also, going 1year without pay seems pretty strict, I mean I deffinitly couldn't live without a steady income for a year that's forsure.

Is it just me or in that video Dana says Chuck hasn't lost for 4years that his last loss was to Rampage, but Chuck lost to Couture correct? I'm a bit confused here.

comucazi · 07-31-2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codkaz

Actually we dont know how much the fighters actually make in bonuses. It is quite possible dana gives massive pay raises that dont get released to the public. It would explain the lack of pay check complaints. In that case this would be a significant punishment. Just my speculation

dana has been known to give huge bonuses remember the bonus karo got? that is a big setback for a family not to get that bonus. plus a guy like sherk who's contract isn't for that much a fighter but is a champ probably gets a nice big ole bonus

codkaz · 07-31-2007, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comucazi

dana has been known to give huge bonuses remember the bonus karo got? that is a big setback for a family not to get that bonus

exactly, and we dont really know how many bonuses like that dana gives out. It could be a quite common favor dana does for his fighters, that way they arnet taxed on much of their pay

GeorgeXVX · 08-01-2007, 12:27 AM

Quote:

ESPN The Magazine: Overall, what is your reaction to the [alleged] failed tests?
Dana White: Everybody knows our position on steroids. We invest a lot of money in these guys, then they get caught doing something stupid. It's going to happen. It's so hard to deal with. Should I call everybody every day and say, 'Don't snort cocaine, don't smoke heroin, don't kill anybody, don't drink and drive, don't do steroids'? It's common sense. Steroids are illegal. If you get caught by the athletic commission, you're getting suspended and fined and you'll never be looked at the same way again.

ESPN The Magazine: What changes do you plan to make?
White: Moving forward, I am putting the b---- slap on guys who get caught using steroids from here on out. The fighters make a lot of money. I have all these nickel-and-dimers starting up leagues, and they don't steal fighters from me. There are a lot of morons out there throwing money around, and nobody's leaving me. When what you're selling is human beings competing against each other, there are always going to be issues, man. Personal problems. Contract issues. There are always problems.

ESPN The Magazine: But what is the punishment? What are you going to do?
White: They're not going to get paid. I take care of all of my guys. If you fight your ass off for me, you'll get paid. But what I'm going to do is: I'm going to wait and see if they pass their drug tests. If they don't, you're going to get paid what's in your contract and that's it.

ESPN The Magazine: So you're going to pay the guaranteed money but any fight bonuses would be withheld? That's not a slap on the wrist.
White: No, that's a kick in the nuts, and they know that.

ESPN The Magazine: How did you feel personally when Sherk [allegedly] flunked his test?
White: I've known Sean Sherk for a long time. He's a really good man. He trains hard and has worked hard to get where he's at. You and me probably have six nanograms [of the steroid Nandrolone] in our system; he had 12. Other guys who've been busted for the same steroid have had over 50 nanograms in their system. What my experts tell me is, there's no way that he would only have 12 in his system. I'm not his father. If he did it, he'll have to face the consequences. People make mistakes. If your life was over every time you make a mistake, that's pretty f---ing harsh. How many times do I have to tell people not to use steroids? It's to the point where it's just stupid.

ESPN The Magazine: But don't you see why fans are frustrated?
White: The fans are frustrated? How do they think I feel? You build these guys up, you tell them over and over again not to do this stuff, and they do it anyway.

ESPN The Magazine: What are you going to do with the 155-pound weight class?
White: I don't know. Like I said, I trust when Sean Sherk tells me something, and I believe him. I'm not just saying this because I'm president of this league. He's my friend, and if he tells me he didn't do this, I believe him. He's innocent until proven guilty. He's not a liar, he's not a cheater. We'll see what happens. If at the end of the day the commission says he took steroids, then that's what the ruling is and he'll get whatever they put on him. That division will live on. This is a speed bump, and it hurts us bad. But we're going to move on.

ESPN The Magazine: One of the things Hermes Franca hinted at was that he was forced to take steroids because he had an injury but he had to fight.
White: That's one of the dumbest things ever said. He said he twisted his ankle. It happens all the time. He called us and said he was hurt. Two days later, he said he could fight. Nobody is ever forced to fight. I can go down the list and tell you 50 guys who've pulled out of fights because of an injury.

ESPN The Magazine: Do you think this could hurt you with sanctioning bodies?
White: No, it happens. These guys are human beings. We're talking about people here. And people have problems. When these guys have problems, I'm the first f---ing guy they call and we get it taken care of. I do the best I can to take care of these guys.

ESPN The Magazine: The prevailing sentiment on message boards is that this is Dana White's problem and that you need to fix it.
White: This thing is on my lap. People think if you get caught in the UFC, nothing happens, but that's wrong. Your life is ruined. You disappear for a year and you don't make any money. And now we're going to make it even worse if you cheat. And I'm not just talking about steroids -- drugs, period. If you get caught with anything, you're f---ed.

ESPN The Magazine: And the biggest thing the UFC plans to do is withhold any extra contract money?
White: What else am I going to do? Kick these guys' asses? You want to drag these guys and their families into the center of town and stone them? What else can you do? Their lives are f---ed. They lose their ability to make a living for a year. At the end of the day, these guys are stupid for doing steroids.

ESPN The Magazine: Another issue that's been brought up is the lack of drug testing at the overseas events.
White: There was only one event that didn't have drug testing. There was one event in the U.K. where things were moving too fast and we were trying to figure out how to do it. But we did drug test in Ireland, we just never made it public and nobody ever asked.

ESPN The Magazine: Did anybody test positive?
White: No, nobody tested positive. I'm not lying or B.S.-ing. Nobody tested positive. If they did, I would tell you. The reason it's never been out there is because nobody ever asked me or Marc Ratner.

ESPN The Magazine: Who did the overseas testing?
White: We have an independent company that comes in and drug-tests the guys. We do it the same way the commission does it. Plus, when we went over there, we flew a lot of the Nevada commission inspectors over there to stand there and make sure the right guy was pissing in the cup.

ESPN The Magazine: How would you rate the UFC's steroid testing?
White: Combat sports -- MMA and boxing -- really have the best steroids testing in sports. Every time we compete, we're tested by the government. You can't get more serious about it than that.

ESPN The Magazine: Who have you talked to about this? Have you had a conference call with trainers, fighters, etc.?
White: That's coming. When we get a break after the Sept. 22 card, I'm putting on a two-day seminar. It's not going to be just about drugs, but that'll be a big part of it. It's going to be all of our top-level guys and all of our midtier guys. It'll easily be 50 fighters, maybe over 100.

Ryan Hockensmith is an associate editor at ESPN The Magazine.

ESPN - Hockensmith: UFC prez White fires back at steroid criticism - MMA

earvinarp · 08-01-2007, 02:04 AM

Awesome. Excellent that the big fish (aka ESPN) is putting some pressure on White. This is not Sherdog telling him what to do, but the people that can actually make the UFC grow. So Dana has to put up with it and respond to all of the questions and, above all, do something about the whole steroid bull****.

Thanks for the share.

BCguy · 08-01-2007, 02:11 AM

http://www.fightforum.com/ufc/12502-...ana+white+espn

It could be worse. · 08-01-2007, 02:18 AM

*Saw the link, and moved my reply to the more established thread

It could be worse. · 08-01-2007, 02:20 AM

Agreed. Steroids have no place in a sport such as this, and are a horrible public relations issue to a community that has enough to deal with. Nice to compound stereotypes of violent thugs with those of 'roid rage.

I also think that the severity of punishment is just, as well. Even though they are screwing the sport and fans, the fighters that bend to the pressure of using substances like this are hurting themselves the most in the long run. The sport will continue to grow and mature, and they have removed themselves from a period of one of the most meteoric rises in popularity a new (in this form) competitive sport has ever experienced. That's gotta hurt. It's not like they are injecting some crap in their veins and then playing video games all day. They are working like mad and just made a bad choice that negates all of that hard work as it relates to other's esteem.

Heatwaves · 08-01-2007, 03:35 AM

Wow! Great post, GeorgeXVX. I always begrudge you (fyi... I successfully used "begrudged" in a sentence) for omitting Chuck Liddell in your UFC rankings, but you more than make up for it with exceptional nuggets like these.

I largely support Dana White, but he does come off looking like a bit of a homer in this interview.

That being said, I'd much rather have Dana White running the UFC than Roger Goodell, Bud Selig or David Stern. At the end of the day, it's better to be passionate, than correct. (BTW... that last quote is available for purchase for only 500 FF points.)

Mulla · 08-01-2007, 07:32 AM

The 2 threads on this subject by GeorgeXVX and stillstanding have been merged into this one thread.

GeorgeXVX · 08-01-2007, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulla

The 2 threads on this subject by GeorgeXVX and stillstanding have been merged into this one thread.

sorry... i looked and though i looked well before posting the thread... guess i dropped the ball.