If there’s one point UFC president Dana White has wanted to hammer home in the lead up to UFC 124, it’s that Georges (Rush) St. Pierre is the most famous athlete to ever come out of Canada.
White took the opportunity to bring it up yet again at today’s pre-fight press conference, which elicited the usual response: What about Wayne Gretzky?
“I never said anything about Gretzky,” White said. “Everybody keeps talking like I’m smashing Gretzky. I never said anything about Gretzky. I said he (St. Pierre) is the most famous athlete to ever come out of Canada.
“It’s a fact. We’re in half a billion homes worldwide. This guy’s a huge superstar. The PR guys were just telling me they had him call in to an ESPN radio show in Albuquerque and the phones crashed because of how many people were calling in to ask him a question. It’s a reality, Canada -– deal with it. This guy is the most famous person to come out of Canada as far as sports go.”
So how does St. Pierre react to such a bold statement?
“Growing up, Wayne Gretzky was my idol,” St. Pierre said. “I believe Wayne Gretzky has done more for hockey than I’ve done for mixed martial arts and my goal is to reach that point and maybe even pass that point. But if you talk about worldwide, it’s true, the sport of mixed martial arts is more popular than ice hockey. Ice hockey is only big in North America and some countries in Europe. Outside of (those areas) it’s not that popular. Mixed martial arts is worldwide. If you talk worldwide, Dana’s right.
“But I haven’t reached the point where I’ve done enough for my sport to be like the Wayne Gretzky of MMA. I’m not there yet.”
What a classy guy…..a great rep for us canadians!
Note to Josh….you’ve pissed off Georges. See what happened to B.J. after his personal attacks on St. Pierre (an over night stay in hospital after the fourth round). GSP is also one of the most respectful, proffessional mma fighters in the sport. Can’t waite to see him in Onatrio!
The simple fact that he wears a suit to these photo opps is a sign of his respect and humble nature. It’s a better image for a sport that has it’s share of idiot egos. I fear the day that the image of the sport turns so far over towards the theatrical promotion like WWF/WWE and it’s hokey marketing, that it looses it’s true appeal as a sport. i’ll move on after that…. and it’s getting there.
I think Dana should drill home to his stable of fighters that the image carried by GSP is something others should consider to keep at least a balance of respect in the image and promotion outside the Octogon.
I know there are millions in marketing flowing with the whole Tap Out lines and the like, but just as those are promoted and sold, it wouldn’t hurt Dana to try and find some fine clothiers to sponsor and put together lines for the final reach into the marketplace for the more sophisticated audience. A $500 GSP suit could make up for the $20 Tap Out T-shirt and tattoo, at least for some fans with cash and a desire not to dress like a beer swilling, nose picking bar fart.
All i’m trying to say is keep a level of civility in the sport for it’s longevity through image outside the Octogon.
Inside the cage, that’s a different matter…
Ummm…..I think basketball is the 2nd most popular sport in the world behind soccer, which I think would put Steve Nash into the conversation as most famous Canadian athlete……also, GSP cannot touch Gretzky. Maybe lets have this conversation in a few years if he can have the longevity and dominance that Gretzky had.
Syd Dithers
I 100% agree
There is a certain point where things are taken to far, where theatrical becomes to wishy washy and the sport is marketed towards a certain audience.
Class is a rare thing in anything these days and some spectators that watch this sport ( key word “some”) are and I quote as you put it “beer swilling, nose picking bar fart” type of people….its all about who has the expendable income.
I would love to see this sport stay classy but everything in the end become commercialized