Alexei Auld is back with a brand new book available 7 Secret Sources of Inspiration: A Snappy Guide for Creative Procrastinators to grill Eugene S. Robinson (who’s pushing a GoFundMe to pay for the new Oxbow album) and myself with some PR stumpers from the world of combat sports.
For the audio only version check us out on SoundCloud and be sure to subscribe to MMA NATION on iTunes and subscribe to MMA Nation on YouTube so you’ll never miss an episode. This week’s kerfuffles include:
- You’re WME-IMG. After watching your UFC on Fox promo about the upcoming Women’s Bantamweight Championship, Joe Rogan tweeted “I find it extremely bizarre that all these @UFC 207 promos only focus on Ronda and very little about the champion @Amanda_Leoa”. Do you make amends for your PR sins and if so, how? – 1:29
- You’re Dana White. After Conor McGregor’s coach John Kavanaugh told RedFM that the UFC stripped Mystic Mac of his Featherweight Championship, you replied to Yahoo Sports, “He’s misinformed…Yeah, he doesn’t know all that has gone on, I guess. Do you think I just did this? This was Conor’s decision.” Now Conor’s come out and not only insists he’s the champ, he named checked the powers that be, and left you out, “I expect them to fly that jet to me. Ari, Patrick, the new owners from WME-IMG, the guys that bought the UFC for $4 billion, I want to speak to them. I want to see what their plan is. Because right now I don’t know what nobody’s plan is.” What is your plan to put some respek on your name? – 10:38
- You’re WME-IMG. You bought the UFC and inherited their golden children, Sage Northcutt and Paige VanZant, with your purchase. In wake of their crushing defeats last Saturday on free TV, do you continue treating them like fair haired favorites or move on to your own kids? – 16:55
- You’re Bernard Hopkins. As a fifty-one year old fistic foe of Father Time, how can you best take advantage of a retirement which began with a your being on the receiving end of a brutal knockout through the ropes and onto the floor last Saturday night on HBO? – 23:07
- You’re Rob Kardashian. After your baby mama Blac Chyna cleaned out your house, your refrigerator, your baby, and claimed you were responsible for her Instagram getting hacked and revealing plans of dumping you, you IG’ed “This weekend I was in an emotional bad place and did some things that embarrassed myself and my family…I apologize and I’m seeking help to deal with my flaws/issues. Please pray for me and I’m sorry @blacchyna. You are a great mother to our child and I love you.” Was this good PR and why? – 28:20
- You’re Booth Newspapers. On Monday, the main story on the front page of your papers in multiple markets ran with the same photo, and headline, “LIONS ROPED BY DALLAS COWBOYS”. The problem? It was the New York Giants who “roped” the Lions. Dallas plays Detroit next week. How can you salvage your reputation when you played yourself? – 32:41
- TEACHABLE MOMENT: You’re Newsweek writer Kurt Eichenwald. Last Thursday, you tussled with Tucker Carlson over your tweet about Donald Trump’s mental health. Shortly thereafter, you received a malicious tweet that read “You deserve a seizure for your posts” and triggered your epilepsy. Monday, you tweeted, “As promised, I will be tweeting legal updates about the assault on me. I’m coming for you, you son of a b—-” with a scan of your Dallas District Court Petition to reveal the identity of your assailant. What can we learn from your torrid week? – 39:13
- KID NATE’S HEEL TURN – 43:55
- EUGENE’S LOST BATTALION – 48:30
Enjoy!