Strikeforce’s Frank Shamrock made an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last Thursday to promote Strikeforce’s Dec. 4th event as well as his anti-bullying campaign, Stand Up Together.
Payout Perspective:
Shamrock’s appearance is a big step for the mainstream visibility for Strikeforce. I thought he was great but I would be interested in knowing whether the casual MMA fan knew the names Babalu Sobral or Dan Henderson, even if both were in the UFC at one time. It’s a good start for Strikeforce if they can get Shamrock on as a regular guest to promote Strikeforce fights. He’s a likeable guy and seems to understand Fallon’s comedy.
As for the anti-bullying campaign, it was a good way for Shamrock to leverage his appearance to promote his non-profit. The campaign makes sense for Shamrock since it could reshape the public perception of MMA fighters like Shamrock, appeal to a wider audience and elevate his image. Although not a target for bullying, Shamrock’s cause shows empathy for people that are susceptible to bullying.
Frank Shamrock is being opportunistic with his bullying campaign. He only started it after portraying himself as being bullied by Dana White. His bullying campaign wasn’t born out of the thought of helping others. It was about himself first and foremost. It’s sad he has sunk that low and he should be called out on it.
It started with Frank saying disparaging things about Dana. Saying Dana was bad for MMA. Dana responded by calling Frank a two-faced liar. Part of Frank’s response to that was to call Dana a bully and portray himself a victim of bullying with these comments:
” “Wow and false, is all that I can say about Dana’s comments that I am a two-faced liar and further, what a bully and terrible example of combat sports meets corporate America,” Shamrock wrote.
“Dana’s recent comments on AOL are ridiculous and insulting and I am sad to see them associated with our sport,” he continued. “We will never be a true sport, or art for that matter, until we are free to speak our hearts and minds. I was being genuinely honest about my beliefs and dreams and did not attack, insult, curse or become angry with him in any way. And yet in return, I was attacked, ridiculed and bullied, and finally, my character questioned publically.”
Shamrock went on to say that White is an example of the bullying epidemic that is a current topic of national attention.” ”
That all from here: http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/10/25/war-of-words-between-frank-shamrock-and-dana-white-continues/
Frank spoke his mind about Dana being bad for the sport of MMA. Dana spoke his mind in his response by calling Frank a two-faced liar and a jack-ass. Frank absurdly made himself a victim of bullying in that exchange. Some how in Frank’s world it’s ok for him to speak his mind about Dana but if Dana responds then it’s bullying.
A couple weeks after that Frank started his bullying campaign. It’s clear to see Frank is being opportunistic and he shouldn’t be applauded for this contrived BS he should be taken to task for it.
I couldnt agree more. Shamrock was always a scumbag. Here is Frank in a nutshell. He has an average career in Pancrase. He got huge success during the dark ages of the UFC vs lack luster comp and ran off before he was exposed. When he comeback he had Fedor-esque demands so he didnt have to prove himself against the best in the world and could hand pick fights in other Orgs who needed his name. His demands from the UFC were incredible. I believe he wanted creative control over the UFC and wanted the UFC to take their brand name off the PPV and only leave the main event fighters at a time whe the UFC brand was the only thing known. That would be stupid even now not to mention pre TUF.
Frank is always looking out for himself and is nothing but a conman.
Forgot to add/ Frank left MMA because he hoped to leave a big star and parlay than into big business. It didnt work. When Frank realized no one knew who he was. He ran out of opportunities. So he tried to comeback to MMA. I have never seen him give an honest answr in his life. I would read one interview where he was asked who would win between him and Ken. He said as a fighter i have to say me but it would be hard and i would take a lot of damage because he is bigger. But he would never fight him. Then when Ken is beated and washed up Frank is claiming he would destroy Ken and wants to set the fight up. He had the same double talk about fighting Tito. Claimed he would fight him anytime then when the UFC started trying to set it up all of a sudden Tito was to big. That is until he went to another Org then he was calling Tito out again.
The guy would literally sell his sole for a buck.
Mixed feelings about Frank. He does come across a bit of an egoist. I did a paper on bullying in the workplace as part of my MBA program and based on the definition of a bulling Dana’s actions do fit the grade. However, to his defense that is his public face and may or may not be how he treats his staff. Anyway, just my two cents.