JANER
22-12-2002, 09:16 PM
Hey Guys I was just having a read on the ax forum and came across such as sad story about Daniel America. Then the gentleman Mr shiavello finds him comfort. Please read it all. (gream reaper is Daniel America)
Grim_Reaper writes:
Hi Axers
As some of you might be aware, I competed in a Super bout on Tarik Solak’s K-1 Max Card on 26 November, 2002, against Cedric Kongaika.
The show was taped, edited and shown on Fox Sports last night. My parents, family and friends were eagerly awaiting the viewing of my fight as they could not attend on the night. Friends and relatives in Queensland, South Australia, NSW and Victoria were also gathered in anticipation.
Sad to see that the powers that be took it upon themselves to ensure that my fight against K-1 Oceania qualifier – Cedric was the only fight not shown on Fox last night. The disappointment was quite devastating.
I guess had we agreed after the fight to appear on the next K-1 Oceania, as requested, things might have been different.
If I thought I was ready for it, I would have agreed, but I have only just turned 19 and still have some developing to do. Believe me, I am passionate about this sport and would love to be in the K-1, but I am in no hurry. I have sparred with Ray, Roni, Clay, Phil Phagan, Gurkan, Jayson Vermoa etc., and I know it isn’t only technique and skill that counts but size and strength are essential.
I have given away a lot of weight and size in 3 out of my 4 fights (Cedric – 96 kgs to my 83 kgs).
In the lead up to this fight I gave up a very well paid job as a Consultant in the fitness industry to concentrate fully on my training, but now I am beginning to wonder if it’s all worth it.
Since winning my fight against Cedric convincingly, it would appear that I am being treated like the “invisible” man. Could it be that on the night our Team went to the wrong venue? Did I fight a guy who was a Cedric Look-a-like? Or could it be that I didn’t read the script and was only meant to be Cedric’s human punching bag??
The only consolation I have is that the people who attended this event (including trainers, fighters, etc.) know that I fought a good fight and beat my opponent fair and square.
It also hurts to hear that bets were made on the fact that Cedric was not only going to win but completely smash me!! The fact that my opponent was featured on the big screen with his achievements, etc., and my name was in small letters, probably would have left a few red faces after the fight.
It is disappointing to see that politics are creeping into this sport as well and eventually will ruin it as it has many other sports, including professional boxing. All we need now is a black dude with a funny hairdo to make it complete. Things like this aren’t going to attract young people to this sport. Believe me, this leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth and I am not sure that I will continue.
If our fight had been of a poor standard, the fact that it was not shown, would have been acceptable, but I have been told by many who came up to me afterwards (including trainers and other fighters) that we fought very well.
When I defeated Cedric my dad told me that this fight would not be shown on TV, for obvious reasons, but I didn’t think that they would do that. What promoters must realise is that it is O.K. to put on shows and make the money but without fighters there would be no shows to put on.
Treat people fairly and give credit where it is due. Nobody likes to be treated like a piece of meat. I have been involved in the Martial Arts since I was 8 years old and it rules my life. I didn’t think that I would ever be writing like this. Most of you have known me for years. Please don’t think that I am a whinger but I feel this needs to be said.
We are all here because we care about the sport. I don’t know if any of you have had this done to you. If you have, then you will know how I feel right now.
Dan (Grim_Reaper)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Schiavello
Michael Schiavello writes:
Hi guys
Daniel, your fight was an excellent performance, we gave you huge wraps on the commentary... I havent seen the final edit myself yet but rest assured that Fox Sports is not influenced by the politics you hint at when it comes to editing a show. They have only two hours in which to cram three hours of footage, so unfortunately the powers that be at Fox's editing suite decided that their viewers would rather see a spectacular KKO by Nandex rather than a heavyweight distance fight, despite how good your fight was. They can't cut any of the Max fights because, obviously, it is a tournament and the main focus.
Several fighters in the past have complained that their fights have been cut from the final edit and unfortunately this is due to nothing more than time constraints... however, at times these cut fights have found their way onto other broadcasts, tagged in as super fights or special bonus fights to fill out some broadcasts which don't fill a two hour slot. Rest assured, POLITICS has NOTHING to do with what Fox Sports show in their final edit - TIME does.
Once again, yours was a fabulous fight and many people thought Cedric would be too strong for you and you won over him superbly with awesome technique and resilience. Your future is a bright one, and that's not just from my point of view but from the point of view of several people in the sport... don't get hung up on thinking that the world is against you because you beat Cedric but the fight got chopped... TIME was unfortunately your enemy here, not politics. If you have any doubts, ask the HAMMER and he will also say the same.. in fact, at the next show, as the Fox Crew - Director Mike Roach, Producer Steve Barnes or even ask Andy Raymond and they will tell you exactly why your fight was cut - DUE TO TIME restraints.
Like I said, the guys in the edit suite at Fox dont know Daniel America from Captain America and dont know Cedric Kongaika from Cedric the Entertainer... they just see three hours of footage, know that they have to cut it down to two hours for TV and so they take out the longest fight first or the one without the knockout - unfortunately that was yours. Being a tournament event, their options were limited.
Anyhow, congrats on a great result young man, you're one of the rising stars of the game Daniel and you know you always have my support and that of the Hammer... we're big fans... hope you can get an unedited tape and you'll see the wraps you get.
Best Wishes
Michael Schiavello
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Schiavello
Michael Schiavello writes:
PS: Regarding the Zambidis vs Parr decision... I haven't seen a replay but my thoughts on the night were that it should have been awarded a DRAW and an extra round... with a fight of such magnitude, if you can't call a DECISIVE winner either way then it seems only fair to award an EXTRA round.
Grim_Reaper writes:
Hi Axers
As some of you might be aware, I competed in a Super bout on Tarik Solak’s K-1 Max Card on 26 November, 2002, against Cedric Kongaika.
The show was taped, edited and shown on Fox Sports last night. My parents, family and friends were eagerly awaiting the viewing of my fight as they could not attend on the night. Friends and relatives in Queensland, South Australia, NSW and Victoria were also gathered in anticipation.
Sad to see that the powers that be took it upon themselves to ensure that my fight against K-1 Oceania qualifier – Cedric was the only fight not shown on Fox last night. The disappointment was quite devastating.
I guess had we agreed after the fight to appear on the next K-1 Oceania, as requested, things might have been different.
If I thought I was ready for it, I would have agreed, but I have only just turned 19 and still have some developing to do. Believe me, I am passionate about this sport and would love to be in the K-1, but I am in no hurry. I have sparred with Ray, Roni, Clay, Phil Phagan, Gurkan, Jayson Vermoa etc., and I know it isn’t only technique and skill that counts but size and strength are essential.
I have given away a lot of weight and size in 3 out of my 4 fights (Cedric – 96 kgs to my 83 kgs).
In the lead up to this fight I gave up a very well paid job as a Consultant in the fitness industry to concentrate fully on my training, but now I am beginning to wonder if it’s all worth it.
Since winning my fight against Cedric convincingly, it would appear that I am being treated like the “invisible” man. Could it be that on the night our Team went to the wrong venue? Did I fight a guy who was a Cedric Look-a-like? Or could it be that I didn’t read the script and was only meant to be Cedric’s human punching bag??
The only consolation I have is that the people who attended this event (including trainers, fighters, etc.) know that I fought a good fight and beat my opponent fair and square.
It also hurts to hear that bets were made on the fact that Cedric was not only going to win but completely smash me!! The fact that my opponent was featured on the big screen with his achievements, etc., and my name was in small letters, probably would have left a few red faces after the fight.
It is disappointing to see that politics are creeping into this sport as well and eventually will ruin it as it has many other sports, including professional boxing. All we need now is a black dude with a funny hairdo to make it complete. Things like this aren’t going to attract young people to this sport. Believe me, this leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth and I am not sure that I will continue.
If our fight had been of a poor standard, the fact that it was not shown, would have been acceptable, but I have been told by many who came up to me afterwards (including trainers and other fighters) that we fought very well.
When I defeated Cedric my dad told me that this fight would not be shown on TV, for obvious reasons, but I didn’t think that they would do that. What promoters must realise is that it is O.K. to put on shows and make the money but without fighters there would be no shows to put on.
Treat people fairly and give credit where it is due. Nobody likes to be treated like a piece of meat. I have been involved in the Martial Arts since I was 8 years old and it rules my life. I didn’t think that I would ever be writing like this. Most of you have known me for years. Please don’t think that I am a whinger but I feel this needs to be said.
We are all here because we care about the sport. I don’t know if any of you have had this done to you. If you have, then you will know how I feel right now.
Dan (Grim_Reaper)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Schiavello
Michael Schiavello writes:
Hi guys
Daniel, your fight was an excellent performance, we gave you huge wraps on the commentary... I havent seen the final edit myself yet but rest assured that Fox Sports is not influenced by the politics you hint at when it comes to editing a show. They have only two hours in which to cram three hours of footage, so unfortunately the powers that be at Fox's editing suite decided that their viewers would rather see a spectacular KKO by Nandex rather than a heavyweight distance fight, despite how good your fight was. They can't cut any of the Max fights because, obviously, it is a tournament and the main focus.
Several fighters in the past have complained that their fights have been cut from the final edit and unfortunately this is due to nothing more than time constraints... however, at times these cut fights have found their way onto other broadcasts, tagged in as super fights or special bonus fights to fill out some broadcasts which don't fill a two hour slot. Rest assured, POLITICS has NOTHING to do with what Fox Sports show in their final edit - TIME does.
Once again, yours was a fabulous fight and many people thought Cedric would be too strong for you and you won over him superbly with awesome technique and resilience. Your future is a bright one, and that's not just from my point of view but from the point of view of several people in the sport... don't get hung up on thinking that the world is against you because you beat Cedric but the fight got chopped... TIME was unfortunately your enemy here, not politics. If you have any doubts, ask the HAMMER and he will also say the same.. in fact, at the next show, as the Fox Crew - Director Mike Roach, Producer Steve Barnes or even ask Andy Raymond and they will tell you exactly why your fight was cut - DUE TO TIME restraints.
Like I said, the guys in the edit suite at Fox dont know Daniel America from Captain America and dont know Cedric Kongaika from Cedric the Entertainer... they just see three hours of footage, know that they have to cut it down to two hours for TV and so they take out the longest fight first or the one without the knockout - unfortunately that was yours. Being a tournament event, their options were limited.
Anyhow, congrats on a great result young man, you're one of the rising stars of the game Daniel and you know you always have my support and that of the Hammer... we're big fans... hope you can get an unedited tape and you'll see the wraps you get.
Best Wishes
Michael Schiavello
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Schiavello
Michael Schiavello writes:
PS: Regarding the Zambidis vs Parr decision... I haven't seen a replay but my thoughts on the night were that it should have been awarded a DRAW and an extra round... with a fight of such magnitude, if you can't call a DECISIVE winner either way then it seems only fair to award an EXTRA round.