Posts Tagged ‘Fox Sports 1’

Refreshingly Unapologetic Chael Sonnen Refuses To Be a Fraud!

Posted: October 16, 2014 in Combat Sports, UFC
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Photo by: Bob Fisher Pugilpix.com

Photo by: Bob Fisher Pugilpix.com

By: Jonathan M. King The Clinch Report

Photo: By Bob Fisher Pugilpix.com

Apologies are a slippery slope. The become easy to spit, and often lose all meaning. That is why it is refreshing when an athlete like Chael Sonnen comes along. Sonnen who has always made headlines in his career made them once again when he tested positive on multiple occasions for PED’s. He retired as a result, and since has been issued a 2 year ban by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Then he was released from his position as a broadcaster, leaving a major hole on the FOX Sports stage.

Since his departure, Sonne recently called the shots at “MMA Battlegrounds” with legendary announcer Jim Ross. He also started his own podcast titled “You’re Welcome”. During the inaugural episode Sonnen discussed his positive test with Ariel Helwani and offered a refreshing take!

“For me, the litmus test was flawed. Here was my litmus test: can’t be a steroid and it’s got to be legal. I can’t take anything, I don’t want to be in possession or consume anything that’s not legal. And what I’m talking about there is I’m not talking about the commissions and the rules, I’m talking about the law. I’m talking about if I’m holding something in my possession and a police office sees me, am I allowed to have that or aren’t I? If the answer’s Yes, then I’m in. That was my test. If I can get this legally, if there’s a legal medication, I’m taking it. I’m not cross-referencing that with the commission. I’m not going to take the rules or anything over that of a doctor. I told myself to sleep well at night. That’s a flawed test. I don’t think a lot of guys do that from this era.”

“I don’t think there’s a lot of guys that do it. I think that the problem, or the guys in the violation of the rules are the guys from my time. The guys that before these rules take place or were changes and adapted to what they are now, the guys that got set in their ways, they grew up through the 80’s and grew up in the early ’90s, they just grew up doing stuff wrong. I think that’s where the real problem is. I know that’s where it comes for me. The other thing is that it was working. I was feeling good, I was having some good success. You’ve got to stay in compliance, it’s completely wrong, but there it is. I’m speaking purely about mindset now. I think that’s what my mindset was.” Chael Sonnen  From his podcast “You’re Welcome” on Podcastone.

Maybe its time we stop looking for forgiveness. Or maybe we should just go back to using our parents as role models. Maybe we should just let the athletes entertain. When they do mess up like you and I; maybe they should be judged as men and women, not as pariahs!

One thing is certain is Sonnen’s ‘I’m sorry im not sorry’  approach (and i’m paraphrasing) is a fresh take, one long over due in sports. Im not saying we should forgive him for cheating, but for god sake how long do we have to endure his absence? Maybe its time we reward honesty, instead of continually perpetrating an apologetic fraud!

 

To listen to “You’re Welcome” click the link below

http://podcastone.com/chaelsonnen

UFC on FOX: Can We Forgive Chael P. Sonnen Already, Please?

Posted: August 24, 2014 in Combat Sports, UFC
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Photo by: Bob Fisher Pugilpix.com

Photo by: Bob Fisher Pugilpix.com

By: Jonathan M. King

The best way to describe Chael P. Sonnen’s personality is polarizing. His cantankerous approach and quick tongue leave most people who come across him on one side of the room or the other. Not many  folks find themselves in limbo when asked “What do you think of Chael?” He is charismatic, talented, extremely intelligent, and his fight analysis is as cerebral as anyone in the business. He can also be a dick. A big one! He doesn’t mind playing the bad guy. He understands that in the world of entertainment everyone has a role to play.

These characteristics are the reason he became the face of the UFC on FOX. Simply put, no one else was a better fit. He was the perfect ambassador for the sport. A good looking, witty dude, who engaged the camera as if it were the viewer themselves. Sonnen made you part of the broadcast weather you agreed with him or not, he involved the viewers. His WWE style promos endered fans who once thought him as brash, but now branded him as ‘colorful’.

Most importantly he raised everyone else’s game to his level. He made Karyn Bryant that much better than she already was… His back and forth exchanges with Kenny Florian, were always hysterical, and his presence made the shows fun to watch. Sort of the way Will Ferrel does, Sonnen’s presence commands the room. You never can be sure what you are going to get from him, and that edginess created a ‘Howard Stern-like’ quality that even his detractors had to watch.

Then it all disappeared. Following two failed drug test (for competition in the UFC, not narcotics) Sonnen was released from his position at FOX, the network cited his conduct as their reasoning.

Ever since the quality of the FOX broadcasting of UFC events has been lacking. Sonnen’s chair has been filled with an ever-changing group of fighters that include (most recently) Josh Koscheck, Matt Serra, Chris Lytle, and Jake Ellenberger. All of whom made Sonnen’s absence that much more obvious with less than stellar performances.

Broadcasting and working with other broadcasters is an artform. A talent that Sonnen has displayed naturally. Maybe we miss him now because those who have tried to replace him have been horrible. However I don’t think its about the what the others lack, per say, its more about what Sonnen possesses. Simply put they’re failures are that they are not Chael!

Not everyone is meant to be a fighter. The same can be said about analysts.  Sonnen’s absence from the FOX broadcast team has shined a glaring spotlight on that fact. The void left in his absence is tremendous. It reminds me of what the news must have been like after Cronkite left…There was no news, because he WAS the news!

Punishment and forgiveness go hand in hand. With the circumstances around this case, with the types of drugs he was taking, and the reasons for taking them (coming off of TRT, and fertility treatments for the soon to be father), maybe its time to forgive. Not because he is needed so badly but….well yeah, because he is needed so badly.

Lets face facts ‘The UFC on FOX’ programming is horrible without ‘The American Gangsta’, borderline unwatchable. The last few shows have proven like Cronkite before him, Chael Sonnen is the identity of ‘The UFC on FOX’ programming. Without him, there really isnt much too watch. Its time to stop fixing mistakes with other mistakes. Please, put Chael back on TV.