Five Ways To Help Nick Diaz Play The Game

 
What is the game?

 Nick Diaz has complained that he does not know why he is not better paid and not getting the marquee fights. The answer is simple. He does not play the game well. While very few can compete with his fighting skills, he needs help in another area. Here are some tips for the world class fighter.

Attitude is everything is not an empty adage. On the last page of his book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,  Robert Prisig offers an integral life lesson: "Is it hard?" "Not if you have the right attitude. It's having the right attitudes that's hard." This encapsulates the essence of playing the game. Being a professional athlete requires more than excelling at one's sport. This is especially true with MMA. The young sport that is rising rapidly needs positive publicity. An exemplary attitude is at the crux of playing the game well. It entails: making nice with the media, helping others (owners/promoters) prosper, engaging the fans, and furthering the sport. Basically, as Rod Tidwell learned, it is about having the right attitude. Fighters who learn how to play the game benefit by having a larger fan base, getting more fights, being highlighted and promoted more by their organization, and being paid more. Those who do not play the game well often find themselves being released, fighting on undercards or in smaller shows, and being paid significantly less.

Why play it well?

Wanderlei Silva is 2-5 in his last seven fights. Yet, he is still co-headlining main events and is rising in popularity. He plays the game well. He is respectful of his opponents, is warm with the fans, provides exciting fights, and has a great attitude. Marcus Davis was never the best MMA fighter. He was recently released after being 3-5 in his last 8 fights. Yet, he stayed around for a long time because he carried himself well. Chuck Liddell was 1-5 in his last six fights before retiring. The Iceman stayed in the UFC because of his magnetic personality. Yes, each of these fighters had their moments of transgressions (Wanderlei had skirmishes with both Quinton Jackson and Mark Coleman, Marcus Davis clashed with Dan Hardy, Chuck had his publicized issues with Tito Ortiz). But, for the most part, their talking was done with their fighting and they won over fans/employers by being respectful, likable, and providing great fights. This kept them on the biggest stages and fighting under the brightest lights.

A fighter with a similar stand up and exchange style of fighting is Stockton, California's Nick Diaz. Nick's fights are in the same exciting category as Silva, Davis, and Liddell.  His fights should procure lucrative paydays for headlining major events. But, they don't. In two of his recent big wins he earned $39,950 (includes a $10,000 win bonus) for beating Frank Shamrock and $50,000 for defending his Strikeforce welterweight title against K.J. Noons. Both wins came while headlining main events. In their recent fights, Chuck earned $500,000, Silva $200,000 and Davis $91,000 (includes a $60,000 fight bonus). Nick's fight game has no holes, so what's the problem with how he plays the other game?

How does Nick play it?

  
I seriously doubt that anyone dislikes his skills, warrior spirit, and the thrilling nature of his fighting style. His name should be spoken among the elite. The 27 year old champion boasts an impressive record of 23-7 and has won 11 of his last 12 fights. So, why is he not in the UFC where he belongs? Well, Dana White explains this: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M99mZwJ6hQ) "The problem with Nick Diaz is that he won't even play the game this much," White said. "You can't be crazy all the time." How does Nick Diaz respond to this notion presented by the UFC president? Nick's response is to query: ( http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f61/shoot-nick-diaz-1380551/) "Tell me what I'm supposed to. What is my job description?"  It is confusing that he does not know what he is doing wrong. It is rather obvious.
 
What can he do to improve?
 
Okay Nick, here is what you need to do. I write this with the hopes of respectfully outlining the flaws in Nick's P.R. game and showing him how to get back to the big time. Here are some basic tips on how to play the game: 1) don't fight in public 2) enhance your image 3) exude a higher standard of class and sportsmanship 4) make better apologies 5) make realistic comments.  

1) No more street fights. 

Yes, Nick is a pro fighter. This does not give him carte blanche to brawl anyone, anywhere, anytime. Fighting is tantamount to assault and it is illegal. Keep the fighting to professional bouts at sanctioned events. Your post-fight encounter in a hospital with Joe Riggs does not make the UFC look good nor the sport in general. Healthcare workers exist to provide medical attention to those in need. People forcing them to neglect their duties to serve as surrogate bouncers are not well appreciated. That is a pro wrestling stunt and not the right strategy in propelling a fledgling sport to mainstream success. The Strikeforce incident in Nashville was also criminal. There is never a good reason for more than five members of the same group to all attack a lone individual. This is worsened when the person is merely making a challenge. Admittedly, Jason Miller was being  a jackass- as always-, but did nothing worse than that. Miller was not threatening anyone nor provoking violence. Ironically, Nick had done the same thing himself. He challenged K.J. Noons in the Strikeforce Octagon after a Noon's win.

Are there similarities in the incident with Diaz and K.J. Noons' camp and the Jason Miller interruption? Nick was there asking for a rematch as was Miller. Yes, he was invited by Goldberg, but the message was the same. In obtaining the rematch with Noons, he admitted to having done some things that were not above ground, but rationalized it by saying that he had to do what he had to do. So, why can't he afford the same latitude to Jason Miller? To his credit, he was allowing himself to be held back and was not actively escalating the drama. Nonetheless, this was another incident that never should have happened. So, the final lesson is to simply obey the law. Keep the physical altercations to zero outside of contracted bouts.
 

2) Sugar and spice.

Nick mentioned in an interview that Forrest Griffin knew how to use television to make himself a star. Yes, you are right; he did. How? Smiling and being gracious. Speaking well of others. Do not always say great things about oneself and disparage others. It is rare that you hear Nick Diaz saying something positive about any fighter outside of his own camp. Even rarer that he criticizes himself. The cursing should be reduced and the kindergarten teacher was right: a smile goes along way in making new friends :) I know an immediate instinct might be to resist such actions as it may offend his honourable pursuit of "keeping it real". Well, that is why we are having this dialogue. How is that working for him? Keeping it real is not getting Nick Diaz where he wants to go. Consider how much more talented Nick is than Forrest with his fighting skills, but how much better Griffin is at playing the game. Randy Couture does not have the best record in MMA, nor the most appealing fighting style. Find an MMA fan that does not find him affable and admirable. He speaks well of others and uses polite language and is charismatic. At almost 50, the UFC is at his beck and call and will give him practically any match he wants. Consider Nick's interviews, he is surly, foul-mouthed, and arrogant which are traits that do not usually ingratiate themselves with your average person.
  
Nick showing some need for charm school: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KfM0e-ZpvA&feature=related
 

3) A little class goes a long way.

Fans love a humble winner and a respectful loser. Being classy and having excellent sportsmanship wins over the fans, the company, and sponsors. Here are some examples of where he may have gone wrong in this department. After his loss to K.J. Noons he stated that his loss was due to lucky shots. He also offered these reasons for the loss: that it was embarrassing for him to fight Noons in the first place, and he's not excited about fighting people who are not good. He and his camp also felt that the fight, stopped by a deep cut over Nick's eye, should have been allowed to continue. Nick had a chance to shine while fighting Diego Sanchez at the TUF  Season Two Finale. He prefaced the bout by discrediting Diego's elevated status in the UFC  and even after Sanchez won a unanimous decision he still felt that Sanchez was undeserving of his status. Tito Ortiz was once at the top of the popularity charts, but his penchant for disrespecting opponents and making excuses for his losses brought his star crashing down. That wears thin. Nick can do better. He made funny comments to Robbie Lawlor about his clothing without going too far. Overall, he needs some major adjustments to his approach. This will prevent his form becoming irrelevant like Tito.

Nick's perspective on the Noons' loss: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTmlZZh8tyA
 
 Here are Nick's thoughts on class and sportsmanship that may need to be rethought in order to better play the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evvO3Ku7eIg

4) Be accountable.
 
Express sincere regret and offer a quality apology when you do something wrong. This post-brawl in Nashville apology does not convince me that he feels regretful. Accept responsibility and do not try to play the victim card. Nick and the other fighters from his camp- 5-8- all attacked another fighter. Nick stated that he had suffered injuries as a result of the fracas that he began. One can't feel victimized and complain of some strikes to the head after attacking someone. When he failed a drug test for marijuana use, he stated that he has always used the illegal drug. Thus showing no compunction for following well known laws and breaking obvious regulated policy on drug usage. He responded by saying that he had never seen a book telling him what he could and could not use. Furthermore, the loss cost him a beautiful win over Takanori Gomi in Pride. This would have been one of the best wins on his resume. However, the win was changed to a no-contest because of the failed drug test. Nick states he sees it as a win; regardless of the official status on the record.
 
How apologetic is this interview to you? http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/04/18/nick-diaz-apologizes-for-post-fight-brawl/
 
 Be believable.

5) Nick, be realistic. People are listening to you, so give them something to believe. Expecting Georges St-Pierre to step up and demand that you be exonerated and given a UFC title shot is not realistic. Since when do people dictate terms to Dana? People are not so foolish so as to believe things that are obviously not so believable. Nick complains that Dream is against him and insinuates that Sakurai is ducking him. While this is all possible, it is not helping to create a public image that is positive and likeable. Nick says tell me what to do and I will do it- well there are very obvious laws about fighting and drug use that you know of which you do not follow. So, it is not realistic that you are unaware of what people expect from you.
 
Nick making claims that most people may take with a grain of salt:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFX2huCOuwE
 
Win/Win

Diaz is set to battle Evangelista Santos, better known as Cyborg, on January 29th. This will be a very entertaining fight as Cyborg is a powerful fighter and loves to exchange. Nick is never in a boring fight and this match up is designed to please the crowd. Inside the fight, Nick will shine. Outside, most likely, he will not. Athletes with bad attitudes is not a new story. The real life tales of Curtis Gates (brother of Hoop Dream's William Gates) and 30/30's  Marcus Dupree testify to the woes of having the wrong attitude. The names on the wasted talent list are many. Giving to the fight game like Nick does, he deserves more than what the game is giving back. His name should be on a more prestigious list.

 So, who is losing out with Nick failing to "play the game"? Everyone. Nick, Dana, you, me, and every other fan. Why? He can outbox K.J. Noons, out-strike Robbie Lawlor, out-grapple almost every other welterweight around, pushes the fight pace like Tyson, and has a thicker beard than Santa. He is right- he deserves bigger paydays. He leaves his fights with countless badges of courage that warrant higher compensation. Conversely, he does need to be classier, more civil, attack people less, be more accountable, and make more reasonable assertions. That does not sound too difficult to me. Take a page from Jerry Maguire's challenging client Rod Tidwell and appreciate the cold hard truth that sports is entertainment. Nick, take the giant chip off your shoulder and cash in the chips on the windfall you deserve. The world wants to love fighters like you- just give them an attitude that they can tolerate.

Rod finally being shown the money: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InJuNtv_FOk