Bleacher Report - Articles by Josh Hall

Why Does The Sports Media Bury Positive Stories Regarding MMA?

Josh Hall — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:28:28 -0400

For all the strides MMA has made in reaching out to a broader fan base, it is doing so fighting mainstream media every step of the way. The national media was quick to jump on the story of Quentin "Rampage" Jackson going crazy in a huge truck. It was all over the story of Justin Eilers getting shot and killed as well as the murder/suicide of Justin Levens. But, when UFC heavyweight fighter, Antoni Hardonk saved a man from being robbed by three men at knife-point, the story was nowhere to be found.

In the media driven society we live in, I am appalled and disappointed that this story was not reported by any major media outlet. I would not expect this to be the lead story, but if Sportscenter has time to devote an 8 minute segment to competitive eating (as they did today), then they certainly can find time to acknowledge an athlete for doing something truly heroic.

All we hear as sports fans are the terrible things athletes do. As much as the media is willing to villify celebrities for anything possible, it is irresponsible to ignore a story such as this. Antoni Hardonk was in the safety of a vehicle after being accosted by three young men, saw another man being attacked by these same men, and he acted. He was able to get the situation under control and disarm the assailants.

He is a hero. He risked his life to help a man he had never met before. Why? Hardonk was quoted as saying "I believe if you can do something to help someone else, you should. We're all here and we should all try to help each other if we can. It's the right thing to do. I just did what I thought was right." If parents want an athlete their children can look up to, here he is. The problem is no one will know about it, because it is not important enough for mainstream sports media to mention it.

This is not the first time the mainstream media has buried the stories of MMA fighters performing heroic acts. In October 2008, UFC middleweight fighter Goran Reljic heard a car crash into the Adriatic Sea near his home in Croatia. He awoke from a dead sleep and while still in his boxer shorts, Reljic dove into the freezing waters, broke out the windshield of the car, and pulled both men to safety.

In 2006, Strikeforce middleweight Benji Radach was eating at a restaurant in Vancouver, WA when a robbery took place. An armed assailant was trying to rob the cash register when Radach intervened, putting the gunman in a wristlock to disarm him, and breaking his jaw with a punch from his right hand.

I do not know why the media feels the need to bury feel good stories such as these. It does not make sense to me. The media expects athletes to be role models for kids (and is highly critical of them when they are not), but when someone lives up to those standards, the story is not told. ESPN has enough space on their front page to reference the DUI citation of WNBA player Diana Taurasi but they cannot acknowledge true heroism?

Antoni Hardonk, Goran Reljic, and Benji Radach. Remember their names. You probably won't hear them anywhere else. Shame on ESPN and every other media outlet that ignored this story and others like it.

Rockets-Lakers: Video Evidence Be Damned, the NBA Must Have the Lakers Advance

Josh Hall — Sun, 10 May 2009 13:08:40 -0400

The NBA is making a mockery of the NBA playoffs with their decisions made regarding the Houston Rockets-Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference semifinal.

After the Rockets won Game One, a very nasty tone emerged, and the referees and the league are using this to push the Houston Rockets out of the playoffs.

In Game Two, Derek Fisher committed one of the most blatant cheap shots I have ever seen in an NBA game. His elbow on Luis Scola was inexcusable. He was ejected, and rightfully so.

In the same half of the game, Kobe Bryant threw another blatantly-illegal elbow on Ron Artest. Kobe did not get thrown out, though. He did not even get called for a foul—but Artest did.

What ensued was embarrassing to watch as a basketball fan. Artest tried to argue the call and the referee would hear none of it. Artest confronted Kobe, and was immediately ejected from the game. That was pretty much the end of Game Two for the Rockets.

Now, some people might say the referee missed Kobe's elbow on Artest, and mistakes do happen—but no! We have instant replay for that exact situation, and it was utilized after Derrick Fisher's cheap shot on Scola before he was ejected. The refs never consulted the replay to see what Kobe did—even after seeing Artest explode after the play.

After the game, the NBA decided to suspend Derek Fisher for one game and, upon finally watching the video, issue Kobe Bryant a flagrant-one. The one that did not carry a mandatory suspension? Really?

Game Three may have been the final nail in Houston's coffin. At the tail end of the fourth quarter, Ron Artest went up to contest a layup with a hard foul. He got a lot of ball, but it was definitely a foul.

He was once again ejected immediately. The officials did not consult the replay to see if he was going for the ball—they instead called a flagrant-two foul on the spot. This led to an automatic suspension for Ron Artest in Game Four.

I am not here to say the Rockets would be winning this series if not for the officiating. The Lakers are a talented team capable of winning on their own.

But I am sickened to watch the NBA disregard all sense of fair play in order to set up the cash cow that a Kobe vs. LeBron finals would prove to be. All I wanted was a fair series—but for the NBA, that is simply too much to ask.

If you think that I am just a bitter Rockets fan, I ask you to simply watch the video evidence that supports what I have to say.

And if you think the NBA is above fixing a series to get Kobe in the finals, go watch a tape of the 2002 Sacramento Kings-Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference Finals. Hell, just Google it. Seven years later and Sacramento fans are still just as upset.

Video evidence is irrefutable. The problem is the NBA has its eyes elsewhere. They are far too busy counting the money they are going to make off Kobe vs. LeBron in the finals.

David Stern, your product has lost all credibility. I hope the money you will make from the corruption is worth it.

Please Stop The Unfair Attacks On Michael Phelps' Character

Josh Hall — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:22:37 -0500

Yes, sports fans, it is true. Michael Phelps has smoked marijuana. The greatest athlete off all time took a bong hit. If you listen to many professional sports writers, he has tarnished his legacy. I, however, could not disagree more.

Last time I checked, Phelps still has 14 gold medals. He still holds countless world records. This has not changed, and it never will. If he tested positive during a competition, that would be totally different. If he ever tests positive for any performance enhancing substance, that would be a black mark on his legacy. Taking a bong hit weeks after finishing the Olympics is not the same thing. It isn't even close.

I was amazed at the comments I heard by prominent sports writers earlier today. Comments by Jamele Hill that Phelps disrespected what he has accomplished, his family, and sponsors. She called his behavior a clear pattern, referring to a DUI he had in 2004. Two totally separate incidents five years apart. That does not a pattern make.

Skip Bayless actually said he was "glad he finally got exposed." Bayless went on to say that after two Olympics Phelps really isn't 23, he is an old guy in terms of the Olympics, so he should know better. Just because a man has been an elite athlete for years does not change the fact that he is still only 23-years-old. But I really would expect nothing else from Bayless, who has taken every opportunity possible to take cheap shots at Phelps.

Michael Phelps legacy was created in a pool, by outracing everyone put in front of him. He never asked to be the poster boy for every child to aspire to be. The sports media put the label on him, and now they want to tear him down. It is unfair to hold Michael Phelps to any higher standards than anyone else in this country. How many people can honestly say they would never be photographed doing something stupid or regrettable if people were constantly following them around looking for any picture they can sell?

Michael Phelps is not perfect. I have never heard him claim to be. He is 23-years-old, and has spent the majority of his life in a pool training for greatness. At this very moment, he is probably doing exactly that. I really hope that people can separate his greatness in the pool from the couple of mistakes he has been caught making in his personal life.

I commend Speedo, Omega, and the International Olympic Committee for their continued backing of Phelps through this controversy. These organizations were willing to support their man through a rough time, when they easily could have made it much worse for him.

There are many of us out there that still support Michael Phelps, despite him showing that he is only human. For all those who will no longer support Phelps because of this, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Do not hold him to a greater standard than you would hold yourself.

Top 10 Pro Bowl Snubs

Josh Hall — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:10:04 -0500

As usual, there a lot of questions that need to be answered when it comes to the pro bowl voting. It happens at every position, and there are always some players that just should not be there. Many deserving players will not be in Hawaii, but in many cases there were too many great players at a position (NFC running back and wide receiver). The Pro Bowl does not seem to carry the importance of the NBA or MLB all star games, but the right players still deserve to go. The New York Jets led all teams with 7 selections. The Jets? The New York Giants and Tennessee Titans get 6 apiece, and the Jets get 7? I also have to question how the Minnesota Vikings get 6 selections. They are a mediocre team at best, and I am fine with Adrian Peterson, Antoine Winfield, and Steve Hutchinson being chosen. Pat and Kevin Williams both should be suspended right now, and they are 2/3 of the NFC defensive tackles. I will go into Jared Allen later. I have made my rankings based on the players I feel got the worst snub. A player that had a phenomenal season, but was left off because there was nowhere to put him will not rank as high as one who was left off for someone less deserving. This is my first list I have done, and I welcome any feedback from people who agree or disagree. Im sure not everyone will agree with my selections, and that is fine. I am just using my firsthand knowledge and statistical research to try and come up with as accurate a list as possible.

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Dunta Ronbinson: The Key to a Playoff Run in '09

Josh Hall — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:48:19 -0500

A healthy Dunta Robinson next season is exactly what the Texans need to shake up the balance of power in the AFC South. The Texans have been plagued all season by two things: the secondary and turnovers.

With Matt Schaub returning from his MCL injury, looking better than ever and a new and improved run game behind rookie Steve Slaton, the offense looks good.

The bigger question mark is the defense, especially the secondary. At least it was, but now we have started to see more and more Dunta Robinson on the field. That, combined with the emergence of Jacque Reeves as an ever-improving young corner, has sparked the defense.

This is a defense that is one of the youngest in football and is growing up together. On paper, it looked good this year, but with Robinson out, it made too many mistakes as the corners kept getting beat and opposing teams were able to score at will.

Since his return, Dunta has already recorded two interceptions, one more than Fred Bennett, who has started at corner in his absence. He has four passes defended, only one behind Bennett.

His own stats do not tell the story, however. It is in the team defensive stats that you really see the difference he makes. In five games without Dunta, the Texans were 1-4 and gave up 31.6 PPG. In eight games with Dunta, they have a 5-3 record and give up 21.6 PPG. The numbers are staggering. The defense has its QB in the lineup again, and his leadership has changed everything.

With all the young talent on the defense, especially Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, Amobi Okoye, and Zach Diles, this team is set on the line and at LB. The Texans have built their team around defense, and with the acquisition of a good safety in the draft or free agency, they will be a force to be reckoned with next year.

Thank You UFC For Giving Back To Those In Need

Josh Hall — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:23:18 -0500

The UFC and Dana White should be commended for their efforts to raise money to help the soldiers suffering from TBI, or traumatic brain injury. Most UFC free cards are basically promo time for their upcoming Pay Per View event. This however, was very different.

I greatly appreciated the in-depth look into the post war lives of specific soldiers suffering from TBI. The UFC really made this event about the soldiers, and watching it I felt a great sense of pride. Too often our soldiers are simply discarded when they return home from battle, and it was great to see a tangible effort made to help those in need.

As an MMA fan, I was also thrilled that a phenomenal card was put together that featured a little bit of everything, from brutal KO's to one of the nastiest armbars I've seen in a long time. Many people were critical of the card leading into the event; however, it more than delivered.

This card was well worth the price of a PPV. Since it did not cost a dime, I urge everyone to donate to the fallen heroes fund. Any amount of money will help the cause, and it is needed badly. If you have family or friends that are MMA fans, TAPOUT has a new shirt out where all proceeds go to the fallen heroes fund. Buy it for a loved one for Christmas. You can give a nice gift and help the troops at the same time. It is a win-win scenario.

Thank you to the UFC, Dana White, and the Zuffa organization for putting the time and effort into making this show really worthwhile. Thank you to the TAPOUT guys for putting out a shirt where 100% of the proceeds go to this worthy cause. Thank you to all the celebrities that took the time to appear on the show and ask for donations. Congrats to Josh Koscheck, Mike Swick, and the other fighters that helped to put on an amazing show.

There are so many negative stories that dominate the sports world nowadays that it is wonderful to have a good one to write about. Please go to fallenheroesfund.org and give whatever you can to help these real American heroes.