As a long time admirer of Nick Diaz, I am not surprised at his positive drug test.
Dana White, however, is “beyond disappointed” at the positive results.
Yes, Mr White, I do believe that you are most definitely beyond disappointed. I believe that you, Sir, are responsible for the failed drug test.
Oh, no, Mr White! I am sure that you did not supply Nick with the weed. nor do I think you asked Joe Rogan to share his personal supply with Nick. I do, however, believe you drove him right to his usage of the mind numbing affect of marijuana to counteract all the nervousness his participation in you required dog and pony show produced in him.
Seeing you behind the podium stating that you know who Nick Diaz is and would not ever try to change him was just another one of many false statements you have made in public.
After chastising Nick for failing to honor his contract and absenting himself from the press conferences with Georges St-Pierre, you fired him.
Fortunately for you, Mr White, Nick forgave you and fought BJ Penn, a friend of his, on the main card when Georges St-Pierre was unable to meet his obligations due to an untimely injury.
Presumably, the numbers from that event were high enough that you decided to throw Nick a bone and allow him to fight with Georges, but fate stepped in and Georges stepped out with a torn ACL. But wait, what an opportunity to make even bigger bucks on an interim WW challenge using Nick Diaz to fight the other contender, Carlos Condit, in another main event.
Of course, knowing Nick Diaz as well as you have professed to, you realized that Press Conferences are an anathema to him and avoided at all costs. So your next move. . . requiring Nick to be present at numerous interviews and pre-fight events, which would drive most people to a state of nervous breakdown.
Nick complied. He even was polite enough to let the public into his psyche and the reason he so hates the media.
How ludicrous it was then, as an observer like me, to witness the press asking inane questions such as: “Why did you say that you have to hate the fight. . .” among other equally offensive questions?
What could Nick say? He had answered a primary question and now was being asked to explain it. Well, duh! Why does anyone say anything to the press when it is going to be repeatedly asked and picked relentlessly apart by countless interviewers.
Big clue to the media: Nick said what he meant! Period! Get off his back!
Well, Dana continued to trot Nick out, force him to be in close proximity to the foe he would soon fight, and even acknowledged that when Nick said the press conferences and media interaction takes away from a fighter’s endurance.
With Nick’s endurance worn thin, surprise, surprise—he turned to the medicinal use of a drug he has a prescription for…in California.
From Joe Rogan’s typical over the edge performance, he appeared to have partaken as well. Another drug issue that has annoyed the UFC president.
So Dana may say he is beyond disappointed, but I ask, is Dana beyond responsible for Nick turning to the drug?
I think he is.
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