The much-anticipated ESPN Magazine cover story on Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champ Chuck Liddell is now online, and it gets this out of the way up front:He has on flip-flops, which reveal his toenails. They are painted an implausible neon pink. A [World Extreme Cagefighting] fighter walks by, slaps Liddell on the back, then notices the toes. "Look at that gayness," he says, cocking his head.
The sport of mixed martial arts will be better off when its participants don't nonchalantly toss around terms like "gayness," and it will also be better off when profiles of its most popular athletes don't have to go into the question, as the ESPN Magazine cover story does, of whether mixed martial arts is a legitimate sport at all.
The profile is likely to appeal more to people who don't know much about Liddell than it is to hard-core fans. It doesn't break a lot of new ground or reveal anything shocking.
But the mere fact that a UFC fighter is on the cover of ESPN Magazine is groundbreaking. If De La Hoya-Mayweather was the fight to save boxing, the May 26 fight between Liddell and Quinton Jackson may be the fight to introduce mixed martial arts to a mainstream audience. That would be great for the fans who don't know what they're missing.
Also on FanHouse:
Bruce Willis Endorses UFC Over Boxing
Jim Lampley: Boxers Have Skills You Can't Find in UFC
Randy Couture Heading for Sports Illustrated Cover?
















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5-15-2007 @ 11:13AM
jay said...
chuck liddell painting his nails pink is simply...gangsta.
Reply
5-15-2007 @ 11:11AM
jay said...
chuck liddell painting his nails pink is simply...gangsta.
Reply
5-15-2007 @ 1:27PM
Mike said...
Hopefully no one is going to make a big deal out of the "gayness" thing. The world is too pc as it is.
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5-15-2007 @ 4:33PM
Steven Rahn said...
Good for him. Maybe he's trying make a point. Courage, toughness, strength aren't necessarily about hating your feminine side. They aren't necessarily about being hetero-sexual for that matter.
Reply
5-15-2007 @ 3:39PM
holden said...
who cares? he is still the baddest ass on the planet
Reply
5-15-2007 @ 3:53PM
lsurob25 said...
I hope to hell he is gay cuz he is fine!!!!!!
Reply
5-15-2007 @ 4:10PM
mscallan said...
I hope he is gay cause he is a f*ckin' MAEN! honey
Reply
5-15-2007 @ 5:59PM
Finestdj said...
Quinton Jackson is gonna bust that ass again May 26th...Believe that
Enjoy your last days as champ....
Reply
1-28-2009 @ 3:46PM
Tommy C said...
Chuck is a bad ass. And he will mass up jacksons face. he shuld fight in the best league in the MMA. the WFC WWW.MMAWFC.COM from TOMMY C CEO MMAWFC
Reply
5-15-2007 @ 8:14PM
Tommy C said...
NEXT FIGHT WFC4 CAGE WARS IN TAMPA FLA 7/13/O7 THIS IS HOT CK IT OUT ----------------------------------
Reply
5-15-2007 @ 8:44PM
finestdj said...
Dana White won't put his money on Chuck as he dd in Japan...He learned his lesson...
Chuck should concentrate on losing his belly,You pork eating bastard...
Reply
5-16-2007 @ 4:25AM
TIM said...
Hey there some of you guys need to quit bending over, because your talking out of your ass. White or Black who cares, the fact is the man probally has absolutely beautiful woman at his side and they get a little freaky now and then, and guess what he don't care bout showing them because he'll just whip your ass if you talk smack. He's been beaten, as every one has been, the thing is thorugh those defeats he has grown and learned his mistakes and well dominated the rematches. When they last fought they were in a different arena. When in japan and your backed up you do not have a cage to hold you in the ring, you have ropes and it is not a friendly enviroment for a UFC fighter. When your used to getting pushed up against a cage you depend on that and train for counter moves, but when your tangled in the ropes and someone takes cheap shots at you in a undefendable spot it is likely you will get beat. But this time he Jackson is walking into the cage in which Chuck is the Lion, so "Rampage" is the wrong name. He will be known as Quinten "X-CAGE" jackson, because he will never want to step in there again. And Check if your reading this, after you Knock his ass out take some of your girls make-up and make him look like the little Bi..h he is. And to you punks that think you could take Chuck on, remember Danny Bonivucci(?) a 4th degree black belt, messed with him just playing around , but went a little to far and the next thing Danny knew he was on the floor getting woke up. Can't wait to see Chuck raise that belt again.
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5-16-2007 @ 6:03AM
claytor said...
Lol, making excuses for Chuck. Thats funny. Jackson was a relative unknown when they squared off in Pride, wth Liddell being the vet, even so far as to have Dana White calling the match and hyping him. Jackson beat that ass severely, wasnt even a fight. Heres to hoping this time it is, But be careful about talking that shit, its not like Chucks the only one capable of improving their fight game.
Reply
5-16-2007 @ 6:59AM
Jen said...
Does Chuck have any kids? If so, does he have a girl? Because I have seen other Dads with fingernails and toenails painted because their daughter did it. That isn't anything but being a great Dad.
Reply
5-16-2007 @ 7:24AM
Judy Jones said...
FOR THE RECORD, I rarely respond to these things. Why? I find most bloggers have nothing better to do with their time, than spread hate, intolerance, and prejudice along with their non-constructive thoughts and behavior. I one can't be helpful and positive, why should they contribute to making things worse?
#1 Walls are PAINTED!
#2 Fingernails and/or toenails are POLISHED!
#3 Even more important... Why is it any of our business what consenting adult is sleeping with what consenting adult behind closed doors?
A) If they are NOT physically hurting anyone, that's what counts. (All you self-righteous, nosey zealots out there, don't split hairs on this comment. Have you ever REALLY listened to the nonsense you obsess over when there are so many important and constructive things you could be doing to make this a better world? I seriously doubt it!)
B) A person should not be defined by something that is NONE of our business. Their color, hairstyle or looks, for that matter, their religion and/or their sexual preference have nothing to do with what's in their heart and character or their worth in this world.
B) Are they good law abiding citizens? Then can you please get a life that doesn't include bashing others, and/or judging and trying to run others lives? Most probably by spending so much time and thought on the personal/private business of others, there's a strong possibility that your own life is spinning out of control or at the very least, needing your attention and improvement!
#4 God Bless us all for any intolerances, small mindedness and judgmental behavior that is NOT the least bit healthy. Why can't we, as a whole, strive for more love instead of hate? The chronically malcontent out there need a serous attitude adjustment.
Further, it's been my experience in life that...
The biggest blowhards out there who fuss and fuss and bash those who make different life choices than their own, or even than the majority of the population, often have something deep down inside that THEY are frightened or even ashamed of! And usually THAT is what really is making them act so hateful!
Let's STOP focusing so much on what WE perceive to be WRONG, especially when it's a personal and private issue, and try to clean up our own acts, by doing our part to bring love, peace, warmth and decency back to this world. How wonderful and refreshing that would that be!
Reply
5-16-2007 @ 7:28AM
Judy Jones said...
Whoops--I got so riled that I found some errors which I wish I would have caught! Oh well!
Reply
5-16-2007 @ 7:36AM
paul said...
chuck is going to mess up the Q in a harsh way...haven't you seen how many times Q has been beaten senseless in the pride ring since their last fight...yep, foolio is about to enter chuck's world, and we're gonna watch those eyes roll back in his head and i'm gonna collect my money!
Reply
5-16-2007 @ 7:38AM
Judy Jones said...
FOR THE RECORD, I rarely respond to these things. Why? I find all too many bloggers have nothing better to do with their time, than spread hate, intolerance, and prejudice along with their non-constructive thoughts and behavior. If one can't be helpful and positive, why should they contribute to making things worse?
#1 Walls are PAINTED!
#2 Fingernails and/or toenails are POLISHED!
#3 Even more important... Why is it any of our business what consenting adult is sleeping with what consenting adult behind closed doors?
A) If they are NOT physically hurting anyone, that's what counts. (All you self-righteous, nosey zealots out there, don't split hairs on this comment. Have you ever REALLY listened to the nonsense you obsess
over when there are so many important and constructive things you could be doing to make this a better world? I seriously doubt it!)
B) A person should not be defined by something that is NONE of our business. Their color, hairstyle or looks, for that matter, their religion and/or their sexual preference have nothing to do with what's in their heart and character or their worth in this world.
C) Are they good law abiding citizens? Then can we please get a life that doesn't include bashing others, and/or judging and trying to run others lives? Most probably if we're spending so much time and thought on the personal/private business of others, there's a strong possibility that our own life is spinning out of control or at the very least, needing our attention and improvement!
#4 God Bless us all for any intolerances, small mindedness and judgmental behavior that is NOT the least bit healthy. Why can't we, as a whole, strive
for more love instead of hate? The chronically malcontent out there need a serous attitude adjustment. Further, it's been my experience
in life that...
The biggest blowhards out there who fuss and fuss and bash those who make different life choices than their own, or even than the majority of the population, often have something deep down inside that THEY are frightened or even ashamed of! And usually THAT is what REALLY is making them act so hateful!
Let's STOP focusing so much on what WE perceive to be WRONG, especially when it's a personal and private issue, and try to clean up our own acts, by doing our part to bring love, peace, warmth and decency back to this world. How wonderful and refreshing that would that be!
----------------------------------------------
Reply
5-16-2007 @ 7:42AM
Tom Stracke said...
Poor Chuck had to have lost a bet,somthin.
Reply
5-16-2007 @ 8:08AM
Michelle said...
Chuck has at one daughter and one son. ...all you haters leave him be he is a sweet family man whos wife passed away a few years back so leave him alone..do your research before you go calling him names..
Reply