Miletich responds to 'shill' commentary

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                                Miletich responds to 'shill' commentary

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                    <p>Over the weekend, MMAFighting writer Michael David Smith did an opinion piece, that while respectful, accused Miletich of shilling during his strikeforce commentary:</p>

Pat Miletich is the best broadcaster in mixed martial arts at recognizing the action in the cage and explaining it in a way that's accessible to fans. There's no one as good as Miletich, a former UFC champ, at taking his experience as a fighter and applying it as a broadcaster.

That's why it's so disappointing that Miletich does so much to destroy his own credibility by shilling for the Strikeforce product, offering blatantly dishonest analysis designed to make Strikeforce fights and fighters sound better than they are.

--

Why does Miletich do it? I'm not sure. Maybe Strikeforce and Showtime pressure him to do it. Maybe he loves the sport so much that he gets caught up in the excitement of the fights and overstates things. Maybe he has personal animosity toward the UFC that makes him want to portray Strikeforce as superior.

Whatever the reason, he should stop. Miletich is a good broadcaster. If he ever ceases BS'ing the viewers, he'll be great.

Read entire article...

Pat Miletich then took to twitter to respond, and went back and forth with both Smith and MMAPayout:

@MMAPayout:
I respect @PatMiletich as analyst but wish would give viewers more candid assessment of SF.
10:51 AM Jan 8th

@patmiletich:
Please explain MDS credentials?
Saturday, January 08, 2011 11:03:03 AM

@MMAPayout:
Address the issue, not the person. Tell us why you beg to differ. MDS is just offering constructive criticism.
11:24 AM Jan 8th

@patmiletich:
He reminds me of Keith Olberman getting better ratings when he talks about Glenn Beck.
January 08, 2011 11:42:10 AM

@patmiletich:
And based on your ratings you are obviously a UFC Shill
January 08, 2011 11:46:24 AM

@MichaelDavSmith
If I were a UFC shill I wouldn't cover Strikeforce Challengers. I follow all MMA and consistently criticize UFC when warranted.
11:48 AM Jan 8th

@MichaelDavSmith
The most recent rankings I did featured fighters from Sengoku, Dream and Bellator: 11:51 AM Jan 8th

@patmiletich:
I think he and I can gldly debate the issue on air ny time
January 08, 2011 11:37:28 AM

@MichaelDavSmith
I look forward to that. Should be good discussion the whole industry can learn from. 12:00 PM Jan 8th via web

Read entire twitter... (Pat Miletich)
Read entire twitter... (Michael David Smith)

 

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The MDS guy was being a super nit picky bitch in the article. Militech never said OSP was the "only" he said "one of the only" which means to me one of few. Anyone with sense knows that.

I also dont think Pat was far off with anything he said, I mean if that guy cant recognize talent and future potential for MMA and state what he thinks, exactly who the fuck is more qualified to do so?

Looks more to me like another member of "MMA press" doing what they do, which is allow the popularity of MMA to turn their amatuer blog level of writing into shit I have to see at some point.

3

Pat Shilletich needs to come clean IMO!

4

why wouldn't he cover strikeforce challengers? Not interested in his own job?

5

Pat called the last challenger event's main event "boring" on air. No shill would say that. A shill would sugarcoat it.

6

Pat > this clown

7

liquidrob - Pat > this clown


100% agreed. When did it become the job of the press to express mealy mouthed opinions? Wouldnt reporting actual news be a better use of time? Or perhaps if we are going to have some personal commentary, about something that has real meaning in MMA?

I wonder at times if any of the "press" actually do any training, ever fought or anything directly connected to MMA. Not so much because of a dearth of technical knowledge or commentary (even the dumb ones know to consult people who actually know wtf they are talking about with those issues) but more the disrespectful nature of what alot of them say about fighters/trainers/figures in the sport. I cant think anyone who has walked in the same shoes as alot of these guys would spend time on such worthless shit as that article.

8

 MDS is a fantastic reporter and not one of the fly by night MMA Media who love to bash everything and everyone.



The whole SF booth was overselling the hell out of pretty much everything Friday night.

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jjj2121 -  MDS is a fantastic reporter and not one of the fly by night MMA Media who love to bash everything and everyone.

The whole SF booth was overselling the hell out of pretty much everything Friday night.



So great reporters think nit-picking the hell out of a guy's performance that is live, calling him a shill, is somehow a good thing?

I think fantastic doesnt mean what you think it does.

10

I have noticed that Miletich has a pop at Zuffa whenever he is given the opportunity on Twitter. He's in a place where he's earned the right to judge though, but it does seem like there's something there.

I really like his technical commentary, and surely he's just pleasing his employers?

11

PatrickFreitas - Pat called the last challenger event's main event "boring" on air. No shill would say that. A shill would sugarcoat it.

Still think you are wrong about this.

He was saying they were tough guys and most other opponents would have been put to sleep - not the audience.

12

Fight! UK Online - I have noticed that Miletich has a pop at Zuffa whenever he is given the opportunity on Twitter. He's in a place where he's earned the right to judge though, but it does seem like there's something there.

I really like his technical commentary, and surely he's just pleasing his employers?


Well you know Dana called him up and tried to chew his ass like he was a delinquent teenager when he was called by the IFL to give some of his guys a venue, right? Dana has acted in a most immature manner with Militech, so if he takes a dig back, well he certainly has good reason.

13

Many of the new MMA reporters dont understand that its not acceptable to most in this community to disrespect the fighters like mainstram sports writers do about football etc,I dont think that MDS understands that pat does have a right to question who he is as in this sport your name like your actions say who you are.

14

"He's in a place where he's earned the right to judge though, but it does seem like there's something there."

Militech's problems with Dana White are pretty well known.

15

omg even pat miletich is using the term shill... shoot me now

16

forrestfan -
PatrickFreitas - Pat called the last challenger event's main event "boring" on air. No shill would say that. A shill would sugarcoat it.

Still think you are wrong about this.

He was saying they were tough guys and most other opponents would have been put to sleep - not the audience.

I was never commenting on the 'put to sleep' dialogue. I'm talking about the moment when Pat specifically used the word 'boring' in reference to Woodley vs Tarec. It was right at the conclusion of their fight.

17

lmao @ MDS Who? never heard of him and never would have had he not called Pat a shill. someones website needs some traffic imo

18

jbapk - "He's in a place where he's earned the right to judge though, but it does seem like there's something there."



Militech's problems with Dana White are pretty well known.



I know, but they're a couple years old at least now. I'm sure Pat never appreciated being called "a fucking dummy" or whatever it was and Dana's will to smash the IFL, but he's on with his own thing now and I thought he might have let it slide. Obviously not. He's within his rights to bash whoever he wants though.

20

I like when Frank and Pat were both in the booth, they need to drop Mauro at some point and pick up The Voice, The Voice, Frank and Pat would be a great 3 man booth

21

Although Smith a terrific writer, I thought that particular piece was not particularly compelling. Miletich is an awesome announcer. For that matter, Jens Pulver was one of the best I ever saw.