Las Vegas Sun columnist J. Patrick Coolican recently challenged UFC President Dana White's position on wagering, deeming it "inappropriate, especially as UFC tries to earn legitimacy" and that by "haphazardly associating his sport with Vegas sports betting, White is giving New York authorities an excuse not to welcome UFC."
White could not disagree more.
"He's an idiot," White said of Coolican. "This guy lives in Las Vegas and is scrutinizing the fact that you can bet on the fights? Hey dummy, the fact that you can bet on these fights makes it legit. … Las Vegas is where people gamble, and you live here, too. If you don't like it, then don't follow me on Twitter."
Coolican and other critics of White's willingness to tweet wagering lines often draw comparisons to commissioners of professional sports leagues such as NFL boss Roger Goodell or MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, who each distance themselves from gambling talk.
While some observers suggest White could learn a little from those conservative sport heads, the fiery UFC exec said he's often asked if it should work the other way.
"People always ask me, 'Do you think that Roger Goodell and Bud Selig should act more like you?'" White said. "No. I think their model is doing just fine. These guys are incredible commissioners that have taken their sport to incredible levels. They're doing fine. My style is different than other people's style.
"If this jackass from the Las Vegas Sun doesn't like the fact that I'm telling you what the line is, too bad. Yeah, I'm not Roger Goodell, and I'm not Bud Selig. I'm not those guys. If you haven't figured that out by now, your head is further up your a-- than I thought it was after reading your story."
Source: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/mma/story/2012-05-01/UFCs-White-defends-TUF-gambling-talk/54663260/1
White could not disagree more.
"He's an idiot," White said of Coolican. "This guy lives in Las Vegas and is scrutinizing the fact that you can bet on the fights? Hey dummy, the fact that you can bet on these fights makes it legit. … Las Vegas is where people gamble, and you live here, too. If you don't like it, then don't follow me on Twitter."
Coolican and other critics of White's willingness to tweet wagering lines often draw comparisons to commissioners of professional sports leagues such as NFL boss Roger Goodell or MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, who each distance themselves from gambling talk.
While some observers suggest White could learn a little from those conservative sport heads, the fiery UFC exec said he's often asked if it should work the other way.
"People always ask me, 'Do you think that Roger Goodell and Bud Selig should act more like you?'" White said. "No. I think their model is doing just fine. These guys are incredible commissioners that have taken their sport to incredible levels. They're doing fine. My style is different than other people's style.
"If this jackass from the Las Vegas Sun doesn't like the fact that I'm telling you what the line is, too bad. Yeah, I'm not Roger Goodell, and I'm not Bud Selig. I'm not those guys. If you haven't figured that out by now, your head is further up your a-- than I thought it was after reading your story."
Source: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/mma/story/2012-05-01/UFCs-White-defends-TUF-gambling-talk/54663260/1
