Sad Shamrock Article

I remember Ken Shamrock in the glory days. Shredding Pat Smith's leg. Tapping the mat three times against Royce Gracie. Showing the integrity to admit to referee Joao Alberto Barreto that he had indeed quit. Learning, growing, and coming back for UFC V to control the seemingly unbeatable Gracie.

Ken Shamrock helped make MMA. He was the biggest star in the promotion's glory days. When things got dicey, he used his newly built tough guy reputation to make big money with the WWE. When he returned to MMA, he helped spearhead Pride's first attempted invasion of America, and then showed Zuffa how it was done by making them a mint. In a third act with the UFC, he and Tito Ortiz set PPV records and were rolling in dough.

Ken Shamrock should be settling into a life of comfortable retirement. He should be introduced to the crowd during every UFC event to raucous applause. He should be making media appearances as the sport's elder statesman. Instead, Ken Shamrock is 46 years old, broke, and has burned his bridges with both the UFC and Showtime/CBS. So we get what we got last night.

It was a sad moment for the man who once inspired such fear and awe. Shamrock, wearing every one of his 46 years on his weathered face, was thrown to the wolves against Pedro Rizzo for Impact FC in Australia. Rizzo, one of the most successful and dangerous leg kickers of all time, wailed away on Shamrock's brittle bones. Each shot made the audience wince in empathy-it didn't help that Ken looked like he wanted to cry with every blow.

Shamrock, who is a very proud man, tried to get out of the bout gracefully. In a moment of quiet desperation he dropped to a knee, practically begging referee "Big" John McCarthy to stop the fight. Rizzo looked to the referee as well. McCarthy, perhaps remembering Ken's vehement complaints about Herb Dean's "early" stoppage of the second Ortiz fight, forced Rizzo to inflict more punishment. It was a sad and pathetic moment, not just for Ken Shamrock, but for fans of mixed martial arts.

We've all seen athletes who didn't know it was time to hang it up. For every Bret Favre, who returns to form long after his salad days, there are ten Willie Mays, embarrassing themselves in unfamiliar jerseys and hanging on simply because they don't know what to do next. That's not the Ken Shamrock story. Ken Shamrock knows he shouldn't be fighting. Ken Shamrock doesn't want to be fighting. Ken Shamrock has to fight. He has no other options, and in a moment of candor after the fight, Shamrock let the worldwide audience know he was available for future beatings-at a cost.

"As long as the fans come and keep watching me, I'll keep getting beat up."


http://www.bloodyelbow.com/

That is sad. Wonder why he doesnt take a shot and go back to pro wrestling. They are always looking for spins and shit like Shamrock. I could picture him with TNA or even get into announcing MMA. He is very knowledgeable of the sport and I actually think he wouldnt be a bad announcer. Just throwing out suggestions cause I ate seeing legends exit this way.

He's a terrible announcer. Punchdrunkism and announcing...eh.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

He's a terrible announcer. Punchdrunkism and announcing...eh.

Anything is better than letting him fight anymore.

he wasnt bad when he announced for UFC fights like Rizzo vs Timmy IMO, he should either fight easy fights or go to wrestling IMO

He would be a better announcer than his brother in My opinion. Frank is fully shot, Ken could actually provide some insight I think, he could possibly be as good as Bas since he has a personality. It was sad last night watching Ken slow as fuck try to punch Rizzo who was three times as fast and able to slip almost every punch and land counters then leg kick Ken to death. If not Announcing Ken would be better served being a coach full time and teaching new-comers full time.

Can't he coach? Open a gym or just stay with the Lion's Den and train folks. I imagine there would be a ton of aspiring athletes that would love to learn from Ken.

The problem with announcing is that he burned his bridges with the UFC and Strikeforce. Who would he announce for? But I would rather hear him than Frank.

EDIT:

Good article. Sad stuff.

he wasnt comparing him to Brett Kings

he said for every Brett (succesful old ass athlete) there are 10 Willie Mays (play to long, suck and its sad to watch)

Lions Den Arizona, Lions Den Conneticut, Lions Den California, and Lions den Las Vegas all still open, Ken mainly runs out of the Las Vegas one

oops....i'm usually good at reading comprehension...i swear.

hahah its ok dont worry end of the article easy to misinterpret

the last time we saw a Prime Ken Shamrock

http://www.videowired.com/watch/?id=3338811354