Can anyone explain to me the phenomena of Bob Sapp?

[canman]

Now I may be way out here, but I'm really amazed at how popular Bob Sapp has become. I don't particularly dislike the guy, when I've watched him on tv, once you get past his scary face part, he seems like a rather nice guy. But I worry a little he is just feeding into the Japanese stereotypical gaijin mold. I know, I know he is getting a truck load of money to do this but I wonder what repercussions it will have for all us other f*cked gaijin.
I've read where he is now THE man, he has bumped all the other foreign "talentos" off the air. I wonder if there is some resentment between all the talentos.

[Taro Toporific]

Now I may be way out here, but I'm really amazed at how popular Bob Sapp has become.

Bottom Line on the phenomena of Bob Sapp:

Sapp's promoter is the Last-Man-Standing in the Japanese K1 and pro-wrestling. All the other big promoters have 'suicided" themselves or are in jail. In this vacuum, Sapp's promoter is cleaning up.

IF you are really into this (and I cannot imagine why), read the soap opera in the best damn site about Japanese pro-wrestling: Puroresu Power - Japanese wrestling news by Zach Arnold

Hoshu vs. everyone else in Japan.
Choshu's group is the only true big-league men's group in Japan with their own autonomy. Every other big-league men's group is now connected as if someone wrote a script based on Kevin Bacon's 6-degrees-of-separation. Let's take a look at the connections...
New Japan - tied up with K-1, PRIDE, Pancrase, and to a limited extent with NOAH.
All Japan - tied up with K-1, PRIDE, and ZERO-ONE.
NOAH - tied up with New Japan and ZERO-ONE.
ZERO-ONE - tied up between NOAH & All Japan as a bridge group, helped by New Japan staff for booking buildings.
Choshu - cooperation with guys from All Japan, but not with All Japan itself.

[stuckinkysuhu]

Having watched Bob Sapp on TV quite a bit, I have come to the conclusion that he has talent. I read a bit of history on him and apparently he used to do football, and now he is doing wrestling but he seems to have a natural gift for showbiz. I have noticed he has built up a lot more confidence in speaking in Japanese, and some of the things he says are just hilarious. I say good for him for building such a career for himself. No doubt people will tire of him eventually though.

The downside, it seems, is that other black people in Japan always seem to be compared to Bob Sapp even if they are short and skinny. I saw a show where they walked up and down Takeshita-doori in Harajuku asking black dudes to do Bob Sapp impressions. Haha. I am surprised they made it out of there alive. Just like the "gaigo gakuin" on karakuri tv, Bob Sapp is promoting stereotyping of foreigners in Japan, but that gives him a lot of power. If he uses it right, he can actually help us out.

[stuckinkysuhu]

That totally was him.
Maybe you're talking about "mecha iketeru" where they used him in a human version of that came where you stick swords in a barrel until the pirate comes out the top. Everytime he came flying out the top he would destroy the person. He pulled down well known comedian Okamura Takashi's pants and slapped his bare ass with a chair. He took the King Kong approach with the women, lifting them up and hugging them or cradling them like babies. Crazy guy.

[Big Booger]

He does whatever he can to remain in the spotlight. Unfortunately, I think he will eventually fade into the backgrounds of the rest of played out tarento...

I think he is amusing, and to Japanese, it is fun to stereotype gaijin. He will always have K-1, so why not pick up a few extra yen parlaying around Nippon on NHK.

If it helps his career, I say go for it. BUt inevitably he will have to realize he cannot be popular forever.. Japanese attention spans are some of the shortest in the world.

Bob Sapp will have the reinvent himself over and over to keep up his popularity in Japan. What more can he do? I mean tha stupid barrel gag, the eating contests, the beating up little Japanese men and women..
what's left?

[Big Booger]

BOB SAPP STATS:
BOB SAPP
Maurice Smith Kickboxing Center

COUNTRY : USA / Colorado Spring
HEIGHT : 205 cm
WEIGHT : 170 kg
September 22,1974 ? (K-1)
September 22,1973 ? (SRS-DX)

Taste : reading,Breeding of a cat
Net profit : stock investment
College:Washington
pharmaceutical department
(Sociology,Pharmacy)
A father is a policeman.

The best time of 100m competition:
11'03" 11'08 11'18"
Bench press:300Kg
Reach:86cm Neck:69cm
Chest measurement:153cm
Stomach:107cm Thigh:94cm
Arm:65cm Shoes size:45cm Span:35cm

HE sure has a lot of different interests..

WCW, K-1, NFl, J-TV, Singer, etc..

what is next car salesman? Vending machine operator? Internet pornographer?
LOL

[kamome]

The downside, it seems, is that other black people in Japan always seem to be compared to Bob Sapp even if they are short and skinny. I saw a show where they walked up and down Takeshita-doori in Harajuku asking black dudes to do Bob Sapp impressions. Haha. I am surprised they made it out of there alive. Just like the "gaigo gakuin" on karakuri tv, Bob Sapp is promoting stereotyping of foreigners in Japan, but that gives him a lot of power. If he uses it right, he can actually help us out.

Yeah, one of my buddies here is a fairly beefy black guy with a bald head, and all he hears are endless comparisons to Bob Sapp. He hates it and (rightly) considers Bob Sapp an idiot. The Japanese media loves to call Sapp "The Beast" and use his size to advertise things like steak restaurants and tabehodai deals.

By the way, you guys all know who Bob Sapp's brother is? All-star Tampa Bay Buccaneers defenseman Warren Sapp.

[canman]

Now I understand why he was so happy to be at the Superbowl, he could watch his big brother win, and cost me big, as I bet on the Raiders. What kind of pro career did he have anyway, does anyone know? I can tell he was not as good as his brother, or he would still be in the States playing.

[canman]

Do they fall under the entertainer, or do athletes get there own type of visa? Kamome you mentioned that your friend is always getting asked for their Bob Sapp immitations. So why doesn't he just pick them up and throw them to the ground, isn't that what BOb does?

[cstaylor]

Some old dude compared me to Harry Potter (I don't even wear glasses).

[Steve Bildermann]

Some old dude compared me to Harry Potter (I don't even wear glasses).

Did he look like Richard Harris with a beard? If so listen carefully to him he may have your examination results. U do have your Owl handy don't U?

[cstaylor]

I just used a memory charm on him.... "You are Rob Pongi's loyal assistant Sancho Yamada"...

[Big Booger]

Kobe Tai is one hot tamale.. But she's been rotor rootered too many times. Her plumming is spotless.


She has had her ass torqued*
note* see image below

[GomiGirl]

Some old dude compared me to Harry Potter (I don't even wear glasses).

You don't look anything like Harry Potter!!!!

[GomiGirl]

Some old dude compared me to Harry Potter (I don't even wear glasses).

You don't look anything like Harry Potter!!!!

I get told I look like everybody from Jodie Foster to Nicole Kidman - neither of which are very close to the truth!!

[GomiGirl]

[Taro Toporific]

[hanabi]

By the way, you guys all know who Bob Sapp's brother is? All-star Tampa Bay Buccaneers defenseman Warren Sapp.

I know no one actually cares, but they're not related at all.

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl, some of the Japanese journalists covering the game in January queried defensive tackle Warren Sapp about whether the two were related. They are not, but that mattered little to the writers, who still managed to interject Bob Sapp into their Super Bowl commentaries.

A friend of mine also quoted (on her weblog) an interview from CBS.Sportsline.com that I can't find:

When somebody asked him if he was a cousin to Bob Sapp, a 6-foot-3, 350-pound giant of a man currently considered one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters in the world, Warren seemed hardly afraid to snap at the questioner, "Bob Sapp the ultimate fighting champion? No, that's not my damn cousin! I can't stand that!"

[Taro Toporific]

He does whatever he can to remain in the spotlight. Unfortunately, I think he will eventually fade into the backgrounds of the rest of played out tarento...

what's left?

Sapp-Tyson pro wrestling angle highlights K-1 show
iveaudiowrestling.com / Saturday, August 16, 2003 1:36:00 AM

Mike Tyson and Bob Sapp shot an angle tonight at the Bellagio Hotel after Sapp scored an unimpressive win over Kimo in the main event of the first joint K-1 and ESPN PPV from Las Vegas.

After an exhausted Sapp, who was bloodied over the right eye, came back to knock out Kimo with a rabbit punch in 1:11 of the second round, Tyson, who was at ringside, climbed over the guard rail. They did a pull-apart brawl, although Tyson., who appeared to be directed by K-1 legendary promoter Kazuyoshi Ishii (who has already admitting to tax fraud and is awaiting sentencing in Japan) had a hard time keeping a straight face. Sapp's much-publicized U.S. debut was actually something of a flop as he gassed out in 90 seconds and was lucky to survive the first round...there was concern Sapp wouldn't be able to answer the bell for the second round.

[Taro Toporific]

Sapp-Tyson pro wrestling angle highlights K-1 show
iveaudiowrestling.com / Saturday, August 16, 2003 1:36:00 AM.

RIGHT NOW on "Chanell 8" Fuji TV Tokyo, 7:30pm Sat. the rebroadcast of the fight is being shown.

Kimo VS Sapp

[GuyJean]

RIGHT NOW on "Chanell 8" Fuji TV Tokyo, 7:30pm Sat. the rebroadcast of the fight is being shown.

Paaaaaathetic... I've lost almost all my admiration for the man. What's wrong with a little conditioning? He's an exhausted blubbering mass after 30 seconds!.. And the garbage with Tyson...

Can you say 'predictable'?

'Pride' is much better. They wanted to expand the audience of K-1 to the States? It came across as a joke.

GJ

[Taro Toporific]

... What's wrong with a little conditioning? He's an exhausted blubbering mass after 30 seconds!.. And the garbage with Tyson... ...
...'Pride' is much better. They wanted to expand the audience of K-1 to the States? It came across as a joke.

"Pride" promoter Kazuyoshi Ishii seemed to be up to new tricks . . .

My question is: if "Wresting" is 99% fake and Boxing is 98% real, what is K-1? Honestly, even after seeing it ringside ("comped" tickets), I haven't a clue. I guess I will try to find out whether there is a betting "line" on K-1, if so it's real.

Tyson.,, who appeared to be directed by K-1 legendary promoter Kazuyoshi Ishii (who has already admitting to tax fraud and is awaiting sentencing in Japan) had a hard time keeping a straight face.

Read the blow by blow-job here
[url]http://www.mmafighting.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?s=3f3dd0d2fd71ffff]

[Kurofune]

You've probably seen the Time Asia edition with him on the cover. The article portrays him as the typical failure in the US who comes to Japan and makes it big. He didn't seem to feel that differently, talking about his bad fighting technique and riding out his tarento gig without screwing it up. He also seemed exhausted and sick of his Japanese handlers giving him no space.

[Taro Toporific]

He does whatever he can to remain in the spotlight. Unfortunately, I think he will eventually fade into the backgrounds of the rest of played out tarento...

what's left?

Tyson grapples with a career change
New York Post / August 24, 2003
No, you say, not Mike Tyson again. It's an ongoing story - what can I do? You see, he's really got to be as broke as a guy wiping windshields ...t he is looking for some more easy money....
...What he conceives to be easy money is going into the ring with Bob (The Beast) Sapp, 6-4 and 375 pounds of solid beef.
...now comes this new talk of Sapp fighting Tyson, whether it be under martial arts rules or those of the Marquis of Queensbury.
Either way, if handled right, this one could be a very good moneymaker for both fighters....It's nothing new, this wrestler vs. boxer thing....ight champions like Primo Carnera, Joe Louis, Jersey Joe Walcott and even Muhammad Ali tried it at least once.
Ali fought (well, not fought - kicked was more like it) Japanese pro wrestler Antonio Inoki in Tokyo in 1976. Although Ali was paid the most he ever earned for one night's work, the contest was a farce.
For the 15 horrid rounds that Inoki spent on the canvas, Ali received $6 million. It wasn't that Muhammad put him down - the "Japanese sand crab" put himself on the canvas so he wouldn't get hit and was able to kick Ali in the legs, leaving them swollen and black and blue...."There on the canvas Inoki was safe. How was Ali going to knock him down when he was there already?
"This left Ali with one one thing to do: when Inoki kicked Ali, Ali kicked him back. You know, like two kids playing in a sandbox."

Ali vs Inoki

Inoki, the Dietman in North Korea

[omae mona]

I picked up this semi-tasty snack yesterday at the local konbini:



Now this got me wondering... if Mike Tyson comes over here to fight Bob Sapp, would it be just for the fight? Or will there be other business deals tied in? Could this finally bring some badly needed competition to the gaijin-product-spokesperson field?

Inspired by a few shots of Grey Goose, I came up with this grisly image of what the future could hold.




(OK, I admit, I was looking for an excuse to finally learn how to use the graphics software that has been sitting on my computer... and clearly I still need some work)

[Taro Toporific]

Now this got me wondering... if Mike Tyson comes over here to fight Bob Sapp, would it be just for the fight? Or will there be other business deals tied in?

Tyson's new J-company

[Taro Toporific]

Tyson's new J-company

Not to be confused with

[jim katta]

seeing that snack sample done (raather well I might add) by omae mona is perhaps the one thing that could get me to actually appreciate sapp's presence in japan. if I have to choose, I definitely prefer sapp's buffoonery to tyson's, er, how shall I say, 'will eat raw meat' vibe. please keep that effing madman out of japan.

[omae mona]

Too late?

Tyson looks to Japan for income
Associated Press, August 29
Mike Tyson is looking outside boxing to pay some of his debts.

The former heavyweight champion has signed a deal with a martial arts promoter in an effort to diversify his income. The agreement, according to Japan's K-1 organization, gives it certain management rights and rights of refusal for Tyson's activities in Japan.

It apparently, however, doesn't call for Tyson to engage in a martial arts contest with K-1 star Bob Sapp, who Tyson challenged after viewing one of his matches in Las Vegas earlier this month.




http://www.people.or.jp/~rio/game/punch/mike.htm