Yesterday, I listened to Ariel's MMA debate with Pat Miletich and they seemed to be locked into this talk on Chael Sonnen's latest samples of crazy talk. I don't think Pat Miletich made a compelling case against Ariel who really seemed flustered by the entire thing. It did made me dig up Mauro Ranallo's interview with Kenny Rice back on April 4.
I really have to say that I agree with Kenny here. Journalists ought to be trying to get the truth out there and you can't just let crazy stuff fly out like that unchallenged. Ariel Helwani is a great journalist and interviewer. You just have to see the way he cracked Nick Diaz's barriers to really appreciate what the guy can do. Getting anything out of Nick Diaz that feels genuine, raw and special is always interesting. Sad to say, I get the total 180 impression when he does interviews with the likes of Chael.
Chael Sonnen talks crazy stuff. He does it all the time, and I think people know it. His style attracts in the same way media punditry does in the world of cable news. It is sad that someone of Ariel's expertise would stoop so low as to give Chael a forum to spew nonsense and never really choose to hold that guy accountable for what he says. It really looks like he's out to get more page hits on his site because everyone knows sound bites sell. Everyone knows that conflict sells. It's why CNN and other cable news spend a lot of money on graphics and showmanship.
To me, it's not news. It's BS. If Ariel wants this kind of interview with Chael, he should put up a late night talk show where Chael can do whatever he wants and Ariel can laugh while the money rolls in.
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