WKR on Hoelzer Reich
By Jim Murphy December 8th, 2009Here’s a short and sweet analysis from Watch Kalib Run that hits the nail right on the head:
WKR really didn’t want to mention the absurdity of the Hoelzer Reich apparel brand and Zuffa’s decision to allow them to sponsor a fighter in the UFC (why give more media attention to a group with dubious ties to neo-nazisim?) but our conscience demands that we lay out where we stand on the situation.
First and foremost, WKR suggests that everyone read Bloodyelbow’s fact check on Hoelzer Reich as well as Fightlinker’s summary of the situation. Both websites have done a fantastic job of laying out the available facts surrounding this company.
For a company to use Nazi imagery e.g., the death’s head, the SS thunderbolts and Fourth Reich language, while having ties to the band West Wall which has ties to the Northern Hammerskins plus their sponsorship of Niko Puhakka makes the company an albatross for WKR.
As all MMA fans know we constantly have to deal with negative stereotypes about the sport and the people who watch it. Case in point, Bob Arum, who suggested that all MMA fans “are a bunch of skinhead white guy(s).” In no way should any MMA promotion or any member of the MMA community associate themselves with a company that indirectly helps propagate this ignorant point of view.
Thus it is in all of our collective interests to distance ourselves from this apparel line
December 8th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I now FULLY agree with your guys first assessment on the situation to just let this go already. I just wanted to physically write somewhere that I thought it was messed up. I want to go back to discussing fights/fighters/wrestling promos/etc… RIP DIMEBAG
December 8th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
On one level I agree, as I’d much rather talk about fighting. On another level, my concern is the potential collateral damage to the sport. We’re not planning to get into extended discussions on what is and isn’t offensive and why or the other ancillary issues. That’s not really our thing, and its being done well elsewhere. We will continue to address the story as it unfolds as we would any other major issue impacting the sport. Believe me, there are things I’d much rather talk about but IMO its too big of a potential problem for MMA to just ignore. I don’t want to have to spend the next five years of my life starting every conversation I have about MMA with a non-fan with ‘no, its not a bunch of neo-Nazis and skinheads.’
And RIP Dimebag–we’ll get some more Pantera videos posted later today. Just a good dude and a hell of a talented guitarist that was taken from us too soon.