Quinton (Rampage) Jackson has finally been charged following his escapade in his pickup truck. I'm not trying to say it's about time. It's just that we MMA fans were wondering when it might happen.
I'm also not saying he's guilty of any of three felonies -- reckless driving, hit-and-run and evading police -- with which he's being charged. I don't know all the circumstances surrounding the incident near his home in California six weeks ago. Perhaps he was, as his lawyer is claiming, suffering some sort of temporary delusion.
What I do know is that when it comes to this case, it is serious stuff. Many people were in serious danger of bodily harm by his alleged recklessness in his vehicle. And it may have resulted in a woman miscarrying -- a lawsuit is potentially forthcoming. Which makes me wonder whether Jackson and the UFC are doing the right thing by having him make the public appearances he is, and acting like everything is okay without really talking about the incident.
I get Dana White being there for his friend and former champion, and bailing him out of jail. But having him on the podium for pre-UFC 87 news conferences didn't sit well with me. And to be even talking about him fighting on an upcoming card when we don't even know if he'll be a free man is a little premature.
Jackson's lawyer says "he's a very kind, gentle giving person." Then why does he so often act like a buffoon? For example, he's now reportedly saying that he's lost respect for Forrest Griffin for not coming out and admitting he really lost their fight. Are you kidding me?
"A man is not a man if he can't 'fess up to when he gets his ass kicked," Jackson told Fighters Only Magazine. Sorry, Rampage, but "a man is not a man" if he can't be gracious in defeat. In my opinion, you lost that title fight. It was close -- probably closer than the judges' decisions -- but you lost. And by the way, you've been a mixed martial artist long enough to know that if you don't get the job done in five rounds -- i.e, you don't finish your opponent -- you leave it up to the judges, at which point you should accept their decision and keep your mouth shut.
Do you really expect Forrest to say, "Rampage should have won, I don't deserve the belt, I vacate it and let's have a rematch"!? Griffin came in with a good game plan and got it done, so give him his props and that's it.
Jackson should be more worried about whether he'll be fighting again at all anytime soon, not whether he'll get to fight Griffin again in short order. Because he is definitely facing some possible jail time.
Rampage deserves a good legal defence, which I'm sure he'll get. And I hope that there was something he was suffering from and that he can get the help he needs instead of going to prison. I just think it's in everyone's best interest that he is out of the public eye until the legal matter is closer to being settled.
