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Martin Devlin: Israel Adesanya makes headlines again

Author
Martin Devlin,
Publish Date
Thu, 24 Sep 2020, 12:21PM

Martin Devlin: Israel Adesanya makes headlines again

Author
Martin Devlin,
Publish Date
Thu, 24 Sep 2020, 12:21PM

Another Israel Adesanya fight, another blazing Israel quote making national news. "I'm bigger than the All Blacks" he said.

Or did he? And if he did does it bother you? Does it bother the All Blacks? Is it actual fact and if so what if it is? And that's my point. This is one of the best examples of modern-day media headline-making click-baiting. It's the perfect CBH (Click Bait Headline.

You see it, you go whaaaaat, you read it, you wonder what all the fuss is about. Well that's what I thought and still do think. And I'm also not saying whether that's good or bad, you have to make your own mind up on that.

In this business I work in which I've made a career it feels a bit rich to criticise someone else's methods and motives around how they present news and views - providing of course their intent is obvious and upfront and leaves the reader or listener able to decide for his or herself whether it's worthy or worth trashing.

My bigger concern being with stories like this and their  conveniently used or mis-used quotes is if any of it alters your perception (or not) of Israel and if so in what way. For what it's worth, i.e. the point of this piece, I can honestly say it doesn't change anything I happen to think about the guy. Biased? Sure. I've met him, I've talked with him, I like him.

As a person I mean. That's just me as a person liking this other person I met.

And no interview quotes or questions will probably ever change that.

So all I'm looking at is Israel as an athlete, and on that side of things I really like him.

Unless you've actually done it, none of us know what it must feel like to physically and emotionally fight for your income. And do it in front of millions of people with plenty of those happy to see you get well bashed for your efforts.

Yes it's his choice to do what he does. But all of us know it's not a game for fools.

It's a game that demands incredible courage, self-belief, discipline, endurance and a good healthy amount of crazy. And every now and again we even see that side of him, which again, I just happen to like. I wish you well this weekend young man. Do us proud and win the fight.

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