Posts by ruggedfalcon2

Boozer said:I’ve been walking around town for a few weeks trying to hunt down some sneakers, a jacket, and some jeans—honestly, it’s been enough to give me a nervous breakdown. The selection out there is just... catastrophic. Truly awful. I strictly stick to a sporty style, but nothing being offered in the city fits my vibe at all. As far as I'm concerned, the jeans situation is a total disaster—they're either shredded, flared, or covered in random floral patterns... I mean, seriously, what the hell? 😕 After walking around town for six hours, I’ve finally come to a conclusion—most of the women here are clones. Everyone is wearing the exact same sneakers and the same jackets... seriously... 😁 😁 😁 So, I’ve decided—I'm heading over to Austria this Saturday just to go shopping for shoes. I haven't been able to find anything decent around here... everything is just so tacky and "meh." Not my style at all... 🙂 )

Look, ruggedfalcon2—it’s fine, really. You’ll definitely find some decent jeans over there... 😁 😁

👍 I've been going back and forth on this for about a month now—just weighing all the options and overthinking it... but I think I’m finally settling on the Levi's 501s. Honestly, I just have to experience those 501s for myself at some point... damn. 😁

Honestly, I’m feeling a bit down about those jeans—I really can't do it, even if I were asexual...☕

Maybe I'll check out all the Levi's models... they might even have the 505s with the crease 😁...

cosmicridge5 said:Why specifically the 501s? 😁 You might want to check out the Levi's 507s—the men's versions are actually great and feel way more "standard"... 😁

I don't know much about Levi's, so I just assumed the 501 was the only option... okay, I'll take a look at the 507s. 🙂

got it, thanks... by the way, sending you some love from the fast lane🙂 ☕

rustymoose54 said:Maybe I could help you out—but how can I, now that you’ve gone and insulted my taste in jeans up there? 😠

Just kidding... I get the frustration. Honestly, I’m dealing with the same thing. My husband too—we’re getting older, and honestly, those rapper-style, baggy, trashy looks just don't suit us anymore. 🙄

Check out Levi’s. Don't just stick to the 501s; they have plenty of those classic cuts left.

We actually picked up some decent, standard men's jeans at Tom Tailor recently. Not sure about Benetton, though—maybe give them a look?

-You’re just getting worked up over nothing. 😉

-Where even is this Tom Tailor, and what kind of brand is it?

Alright, so where can I actually find some "normal" jeans in Chicago? Diesel only seems to carry those super flared or wide-leg cuts now, and honestly, it’s the same story with every other brand... I’m looking for that classic, slightly worn-in look. It can't be true that I'm going to have to settle for Levi's 501s for the first time... 😢 Basically, does anyone know if there's somewhere in the city that still carries the kind of fit Diesel had about a year ago? You know—not everything is oversized or baggy or whatever else... 😢

Piggy said:Regarding Cikatica—since most of us only know him by reputation and don't have any actual arguments, we don't really have anything to discuss. But coppermarlin6 clearly has some firsthand info, and what he’s saying seems to align with the general vibe and atmosphere surrounding the guy.

I disagree with the idea that what people do outside the ring doesn't matter. Of course, everyone has different criteria for what they want in a sport or a skill, and what they expect from a master or coach. To be completely honest, if I were a student of Yip Man and found out he was regularly getting harassed in public establishments, I don't think I'd stick around. Maybe I would—I really don't know what kind of person he actually is... nobody is perfect... but for me, the character of someone I spend so much time with—especially in traditional martial arts rather than just combat sports—is at least as important as their technical knowledge. It's like if I were a master, I wouldn't let a student like that train with me (unless it's a pro club where you can't control that sort of thing). Or if I owned a company, I wouldn't hire a total scumbag, even if they could make me a ton of money through sheer talent; I don't want to deal with that type of person, let alone see them every day.

While smoking isn't exactly a huge deal—bad habits don't necessarily define someone's character, even if they aren't exactly virtues—what's being said about Branko is a completely different story. Besides, things like alcoholism or other addictions mostly just hurt the individual, but here we're talking about messing with people's careers and lives, especially when dealing with the potential of a professional fighter. We're also talking about how someone operates within the martial arts world and how fights are organized. So, this isn't about Branko's private life; we aren't pulling out stories about drug addiction, mistresses, or financial schemes. If what coppermarlin6 is saying is true, then it directly impacts the sport itself.

Maybe this should be moved to a separate thread, unless there's an actual plan to do a show specifically about Branko...

Truntic would be an excellent choice if he could be talked into it... He's the first person who comes to mind when you mention traditional martial arts in America, and it seems others feel the same way.

- I have arguments and I know Branko... and I know all those stories coppermarlin6 is rambling about... but I don't think it has anything to do with a martial arts show... it belongs with other institutions... if anyone feels that strongly about it.
-Like I said, I don't expect people to be Supermen... Huxley used to smoke, too; does that mean we should burn his books and stop letting kids read them???? Just thinking aloud...👎

Patrick Fowler83 said:It’s not like you can just wall off your athletic life from your private life—at the end of the day, a person is still one single individual.

And as for blaming someone for signing a contract without reading the fine print? I have to disagree. Fraud isn't something to be celebrated, and contracts are a fundamental part of any sport; if they aren't fair, the whole system falls apart.

You're looking at this all wrong... here's an analogy: personally, I think movies by Kusturica are fantastic, even though I couldn't agree more with his political views. So, according to your logic, should I be forced to weigh his creative genius against his political shortcomings? That's not how I operate... I don't care about, nor do I expect anything from Kusturica outside of his filmmaking. You guys are thinking like kids... trying to build your own little Superman... I don't. To me, Brian is our greatest fighter, period. Whether he's a certain type of person, how he runs his gym, or even his personal domestic issues... none of that interests me at all. 👋

coppermarlin6 said:We’re talking about a man acting as a coach and manager for specific athletes. You're clinging to his fighting record like a drunk to a pier. We already settled that—his success is indisputable. But the guy didn't stop existing just because he won K1. His relationship with his fighters is the issue here, not his private life or his accolades as an athlete.

As for me and the knowledge he passed down, I'm grateful to him and hold him in high regard for that. But I don't see things in black and white.
His workshop could have easily produced five more fighters like Mike... and even he only hit global stardom after he moved on. Anyone who was actually paying attention knows that.

If I respected him unconditionally, I would have never left his side.

Why would his attitude toward anyone be a problem? Is someone forcing people to sign contracts without reading them? Is anyone holding people at gunpoint to train with him? I've never understood these arguments... why a master isn't polite, why he doesn't show everything, why you supposedly have to train for years to prove something, why he's arrogant, or whatever else... everyone has the right to choose. You can discuss how much skill someone has mastered, but does their attitude toward students really matter? Everyone has their own way, and that's how they build or break a market... all this talk about "if he were this, then that would happen" is just childish nonsense. Honestly, what's most pathetic is how people in the West today don't know how to respect their teachers... there's so little character shown, as seen in your post. 👎 One's relationship with the person who taught them how to "walk" should be much different... in that context, Mike falls short too. 👎 I just think about everything he used to say—how he'd threaten or challenge his own teacher, the very man who got him on his feet... it's pathetic. I simply don't understand people like that, and I never will. 👎

coppermarlin6 said:This is cult of personality at its absolute worst. It happens when followers don't actually know the person they're worshiping and just build up this myth from afar. Get to know the man better and you'll see exactly what I mean.

I’d love to show you the contracts—if I were allowed—that fighters have been signing with the gentleman. They are completely one-sided; the club and the boss basically have zero obligations to the athlete other than taking their money. These deals get signed without anyone even reading them, under circumstances I won't even go into... anyway, I've said enough.

Look, I know Chuck Liddell very well... but like I said, his private life doesn't interest me... and honestly, I don't think it should be the focus of any combat sports show. On the flip side, who can blame anyone? If you sign a contract without reading it, you're just asking for it—you're more laughable than pitiable at that point. But I really don't want to dive into those topics. Chuck is a genius in the ring, and that’s the only thing this show needs to cover. If legal disputes are your thing, feel free to start a thread about Chuck Liddell over on the Law subforum. 👋 👎

coppermarlin6 said:I think I’m probably the most qualified person here to weigh in on this gentleman, considering I spent ten years training in his gym and learned a thing or two about him along the way.

My suggestion was simply to produce a segment on Rudan—a world champion currently under contract with Chuck Liddell, who hasn't been able to compete legally for two years because Chuck won't let him, despite having zero interest in actually investing in him or managing him. It would make for an incredible radio story... a top-tier talent being held back right when he should be on his way to becoming the next Mirko Cro Cop. And all because of Chuck Liddell. I have the proof for everything I'm saying here, so ruggedfalcon2, stop making things up.

Whether Chuck is our best fighter—or *was* our best fighter—is indisputable. But he has managed to ruin EVERY single fighter who ever came close to his level of success. Anyone with half a brain walked away while they still could... and I know exactly how things ended with Mirko, too, since I was right there at the gym watching it happen live. This was long before all the drama involving the company or Unknown started...

If you think I'm talking behind anyone's back, just know I told Chuck exactly what I thought about how he treats his fighters before I ever left the gym. And again, I have proof for that.

That's a great comment, but the fact that you learned everything you know about Muay Thai from Chuck Liddell in his own gym tells me everything I need to know about you... I don't think any more needs to be said... I can't respect someone who talks trash about their own teacher like that. By the way, I'm not lying... I just said a show shouldn't be about personal frustrations or the "suffering" of some "huge" lost potential... if it weren't for my math teacher, I'd be the next Einstein today. 🙄 🙂

placidbison20 said:I also feel like that show should spend a bit more time promoting the ethics and philosophy behind martial arts—rather than just focusing entirely on the combat sports side of things...

👍

Patrick Fowler83 said:Just like you shouldn't spit on someone, you shouldn't overhype them either. Why act like Chuck Liddell is the ultimate GOAT? When people talk like that, they create this illusion for the audience that he’s just as legendary outside the cage as he was inside it.

Everything can be handled with a healthy dose of objectivity and just laying out the facts—like what he actually accomplished in the ring versus what he did in his personal life. Let people judge for themselves, or better yet, let them decide if they even care about him at all.

Objectivity and neutrality...

Besides, the guy is already a media superstar. Why not focus on the lesser-known masters? The ones who have dedicated their entire lives to training without the spotlight.

I can't think of a name right away, maybe Unknown—that old master who teaches Kung Fu out of his garage. People say he traveled the world and has endless stories to tell. There must be tons of guys like him who would be way more interesting than the usual household names like Chuck Liddell or Mirko Cro Cop.

Sure, based strictly on the stats, Chuck Liddell might be the best... 😉 but that doesn't mean he's the best person outside the ring. For example, Ip Man was a genius of Kung Fu... does it really matter if people claim he was always high? I don't see how that's relevant. Anyway, I agree that we need to stay objective and neutral. 👍
- I agree that Unknown is a total diamond. He could probably talk for hours, not just about Kung Fu, but about Karate (since he was a pioneer of it here in the States), Judo, etc., or weapon applications. By the way, if foreign journalists were able to do features on him back in the day, I don't see why our local media can't step up and do the same... the only question is whether he's still up for it. Honestly, I don't think he's interested in the limelight anymore... but hey, who knows, they should try. 🙂

placidbison20 said:Should I just keep deleting this thing? I’ve already done it a few times...
We're basically just bickering about Chuck Liddell at this point.
And does that even make it off-topic now?
Every single reply mentions some radio station or TV show, but honestly, the original post has nothing to do with the media or broadcasting.
Hmm...

😕

Just delete the posts where people are trash-talking Chuck Liddell... on the other hand, maybe leave them up as a reminder that you shouldn't go around disrespecting people on air.

Balkanijan Pig said:There’s some logic to what you're saying. It doesn't make sense to turn a show into a shouting match or a platform for airing dirty laundry... but then again, if someone truly talented gets screwed over because of some else's arrogance (I'm not sure exactly what happened here, mind you) and they can't do anything against the establishment... how else are they supposed to change things besides using the media?

So, I guess it all comes down to the show's concept—whether it wants to stay strictly focused on the technical side of combat sports in America or if it's willing to dive into the more controversial topics 👋

Honestly, how does someone "suffer" because of someone else's arrogance? We aren't talking about kids here; these are grown adults... nobody is forcing anyone to train under a specific coach. It's always easiest to say, "Oh, I would've been the best in the world if this guy hadn't screwed me over." It's much easier to point fingers at others than to take responsibility.👎

Balkanijan Pig said:It’s possible... though most of those top fighters' belts are pretty debatable and the titles feel somewhat relative..
That just depends on what the show is trying to achieve...

If you're making a show about boxing, you can't really sidestep Don King and his whole circus... even if he isn't a fighter himself, and honestly, he hasn't been a respectable figure for a long time 😁.. but he’s such a polarizing character and has had—and continues to have—too much pull within the sport to be ignored... especially considering Branko is such a legend, and one can assume (again, I can't speak on this definitively since I don't have any ties to him or the organizations running these big events to know exactly how much weight he carries) that he still holds significant influence even if he's no longer competing... it’s hard to bypass that, whether the impact was good or bad..

Anyway, it all comes down to the vision for the show...

Regarding any "issues" involving Branko or anyone else, there are actual institutions meant to handle that.. it's unlikely a single TV show would be the reason for someone getting dragged into that kind of mess... for example, if someone trashes Branko on a show today, then goes after Mirko tomorrow, where does it end? Unfortunately, it doesn't end in the ring. 👎 👋

Balkanijan Pig said:There’s no question that Branko is a fighting legend—he’s an absolute staple in any look at American (or global) combat sports... though I wouldn't be surprised if what coppermarlin6 suggested was actually true—assuming there's proof, of course—regarding him being bought by certain TV shows.
I don't see why that would be ruled out...
If people just spoke face-to-face, none of this media, internet, or news cycle nonsense would even matter... but then again, people who live in the public eye—who basically make their living "entertaining" the masses—are naturally going to be more exposed and self-promoting. So, in my view... just like you have to be careful not to use the media for petty personal vendettas or smear campaigns based on simple dislike... it's the same here. If it turns out Branko really has been doing things to sabotage other people's careers for his own gain (that's how it reads to me, anyway—I don't know the specifics, so I'm taking this with a grain of salt), then he should be fair game for a media takedown when he tries to use those very same outlets... whenever it suits him...

The show needs to stick to the ring and actual skill... there's already plenty of gossip floating around other media outlets. Branko Cikatić is our greatest fighter of all time, and honestly, that's the only thing I care about regarding him. 👋

Balkanijan Pig said:Maybe he’s a legend, but his flaws are visible from space. Just like Mirko, really...😂

Typical Americans... 🙄

Look, the show is about fighting, not about judging someone's character... if anyone has an issue with Branko, they should just say it to his face instead of acting like this... then again, nobody expects Branko to be everyone's cup of tea... the show is meant to cover combat sports, and it would be better if they actually stuck to that topic.

coppermarlin6 said:Write a profile on Ivan Rudan, a world champion in Thai boxing—just another victim of Branko Cikatić’s ego and madness.

I really hope this show avoids those kinds of outbursts... where they try to drag down and insult American legends like Branko Cikatić... just stick to being objective and neutral... leaving the insults to the internet trolls and anonymous handles.👎