Evan Tanner: Drinking ... not fighting

God Bless him.

God Bless him.

Indeed.

Whoa… good luck Evan.

Fight in the UFC? How about make it to 08’?

Tanner was always an entertaining fighter, win or lose. I hope he gets everything together and does get back, but it sounds bleak.

Good luck with your addiction Tanner, we will be here waiting for your return.

Sounds like Evan needs to go to rehab and work on the drinking before he considers taking on anything else. Good luck to him, I hope he kicks it.

There really is nothing bad that you can say about Evan Tanner. I hope he is able to kick the addiction and make it back to the octagon. And if he does, he better come prepared to, because I do not want to see him take another beating like he did against The Crow, David Louisau.

Go to an A.A. meeting!!!

Thats weird because reports said that he was training. THey said he was living on that boat he fixed up and then was driving an hour into the city to train in CA. And someone at whatever gym he was training at confirmed it. I dont know what to believe now.

Thats weird because reports said that he was training. THey said he was living on that boat he fixed up and then was driving an hour into the city to train in CA. And someone at whatever gym he was training at confirmed it. I dont know what to believe now.

I read he was training also, but in the picture he had a beer in his hand. I wish him luck.

Tanner will always be 1 of the Biggest warriors in UFC history. Hope he gets his life together and it would be great to c him fight in the UFC again.

definately,

good luck Tanner ~ you gave us some of the best fights in UFC history. i really hope he can overcome this and start whoopin’ ass again ~ god knows the MW div. needs as much help as Evan does!

“There really is nothing bad that you can say about Evan Tanner.”

To hell with him. I’ve been a big Tanner fan, but the more I hear about him since his exit from the UFC, the more he sounds like some of my washed-up friends from high school. Aimless, lazy and reliant upon their charisma to get by on the charity of others. Buddy up to people in a time of “need,” get a couch to sleep on and some financial aid, wear out your welcome, find a new sucker to depend on, repeat ad nuseaum. Show just enough progress to gain someone’s sympathy (and their money, beer, weed, rides to the store, place to sleep, etc.) and then relapse due to “hard luck” or weakness. I’ve been on this ass-end of this routine from friends and family enough to recognize the signs. If this guy’s anything like some of the people I know, he’s not really an alcoholic – just someone who drinks no more than your average layabout but cites to alcoholism as an excuse to fail. If he is a true alcoholic, then it’s a tough chain to break but it’s done by motivated people every day. “But I want to fight again!” he says. We’ve been hearing that for a while now and it sounds eerily similar to the claims of “I’ll get a job next week” or “I’m going back to school next semester” or “I’m getting an apartment soon” you often hear from other losers that never follow through.

Fight or don’t fight. I don’t care anymore.

Evan, save the drinking to us fans. Get in shape and back into the octagon.

Hyde, don’t hold anything back now….Tell us how you really feel….I think its a little unfair for you to bash Tanner like that when you, in fact, do not know the man personally or what he is going through

“There really is nothing bad that you can say about Evan Tanner.”

To hell with him. I’ve been a big Tanner fan, but the more I hear about him since his exit from the UFC, the more he sounds like some of my washed-up friends from high school. Aimless, lazy and reliant upon their charisma to get by on the charity of others. Buddy up to people in a time of “need,” get a couch to sleep on and some financial aid, wear out your welcome, find a new sucker to depend on, repeat ad nuseaum. Show just enough progress to gain someone’s sympathy (and their money, beer, weed, rides to the store, place to sleep, etc.) and then relapse due to “hard luck” or weakness. I’ve been on this ass-end of this routine from friends and family enough to recognize the signs. If this guy’s anything like some of the people I know, he’s not really an alcoholic – just someone who drinks no more than your average layabout but cites to alcoholism as an excuse to fail. If he is a true alcoholic, then it’s a tough chain to break but it’s done by motivated people every day. “But I want to fight again!” he says. We’ve been hearing that for a while now and it sounds eerily similar to the claims of “I’ll get a job next week” or “I’m going back to school next semester” or “I’m getting an apartment soon” you often hear from other losers that never follow through.

Fight or don’t fight. I don’t care anymore.

“Alcoholism is the only disease you can get yelled at for having.”
- Mitch Hedberg

Hyde,….I think its a little unfair for you to bash Tanner like that when you, in fact, do not know the man personally or what he is going through

You’re absolutely right. I don’t know the guy, but he’s sounding more and more like people I do know and have no sympathy for. Of course, remember that this is a guy who advertises “what he is going through” on the Internet. www.evantanner.net. As someone who’s been a big fan, eventually you feel taken advantage of. He’s just not a guy that I can root for anymore. Seriously, fight or don’t fight. I’ve stopped caring.

Re: Hyde

Harsh but true

You’re absolutely right. I don’t know the guy, but he’s sounding more and more like people I do know and have no sympathy for. Of course, remember that this is a guy who advertises “what he is going through” on the Internet. www.evantanner.net. As someone who’s been a big fan, eventually you feel taken advantage of. He’s just not a guy that I can root for anymore. Seriously, fight or don’t fight. I’ve stopped caring.

He is acting like people you know? I’m sorry you have friends like that but it’s till completely unfair for you to say that about him. And about him going public with his problem, what is wrong with that? Could it be a man calling for help perhaps when his friends obviously aren’t helping, instead they are helping him down his road to alcoholism. It’s not like it’s completely unheard of for a person with fame to talk about their alcohol addiction in public because that happens every other day. I’m not taking any sides with this argument, I’m just saying that it is quite unfair for you to bash this man that you don’t know at all.

damn :(

right now, he shouldnt care about making a return to the octagon. he needs to get his act straighten out. i wish him the best and im still hoping to see him make a return. God Bless Tanner!

He is acting like people you know? I’m sorry you have friends like that but it’s till completely unfair for you to say that about him. And about him going public with his problem, what is wrong with that? Could it be a man calling for help perhaps when his friends obviously aren’t helping, instead they are helping him down his road to alcoholism. It’s not like it’s completely unheard of for a person with fame to talk about their alcohol addiction in public because that happens every other day. I’m not taking any sides with this argument, I’m just saying that it is quite unfair for you to bash this man that you don’t know at all.

I cant agree with you more. it takes more courage to admit something like alcoholism than to step into the cage. he’s taken the first big step into his recovery, and that is to admit his problem. i really hope he finds the help he needs before its too late. those so called ‘friends’ are nothing but distractions and trouble. i hope that he lets those people go and seeks and allows more positive people in his life and im sure he will. well, again God Bless ya man!

What a shame. I don’t think we’ll ever see this guy back in the UFC.

If this guy’s anything like some of the people I know, he’s not really an alcoholic – just someone who drinks no more than your average layabout but cites to alcoholism as an excuse to fail. If he is a true alcoholic, then it’s a tough chain to break but it’s done by motivated people every day. “But I want to fight again!” he says. We’ve been hearing that for a while now and it sounds eerily similar to the claims of “I’ll get a job next week” or “I’m going back to school next semester” or “I’m getting an apartment soon” you often hear from other losers that never follow through.

Well said Hyde, and I agree.

wow i really enjoyed his fights. Too bad I hope he gets better nothing like an achohol addiction to battle. Legalize MJ so we don’t have these problems.

Hyde, don’t hold anything back now….Tell us how you really feel….I think its a little unfair for you to bash Tanner like that when you, in fact, do not know the man personally or what he is going through

I took Hyde’s comment to mean:

If he truely is an alcholic, than get help

But

If he’s just using alcohol as an excuse to why his life is failing than he really needs to get over the fact that his life currently sucks, and he needs to stop drinking, stop making excuses, and get back into the gym and train to try and revitalize his UFC career. Because there are obviously people that still care about Evan in the world of mma.

“Could it be a man calling for help perhaps when his friends obviously aren’t helping, instead they are helping him down his road to alcoholism. It’s not like it’s completely unheard of for a person with fame to talk about their alcohol addiction in public because that happens every other day. I’m not taking any sides with this argument, I’m just saying that it is quite unfair for you to bash this man that you don’t know at all.”

You sound like you know him pretty personally, such as the company he keeps and what’s going through his mind. It’s not like I’m hoping that the guy dies of ghonneria, only that he’s no longer an athlete that I want to see do well. Sports fans do this constantly with athletes. We stop rooting for the guy busted for steroids, arrested for beating his wife, caught doing 120 mph in their Porsche with a hooker and a gun under the seat, or even athletes that are just too mouthy, spoiled and flamboyant. Nobody showed much interest in what was going through Sean Sherk’s life when he was popped for steroids or voiced concerns about his health, but he lost a ton of fans. We did not need to get to know him any better.

We root for athletes who display personal traits we admire, such as sportsmanship, heart or overcoming long odds. And we do this without personally knowing them either. Not Lance Armstrong, Rulon Gardner or Randy Couture. For my tastes, Tanner stopped exhibiting the traits of someone I can pull for and I neither have high hopes for him fighting again in the UFC or care to follow his travails any longer. If you continue to see Tanner as a hard luck case worthy of your support, that’s fine. People love the potential for redemption.

But a small life lesson (on a completely non-sports-related tangent): read his site and take note of the number of people he’s used to stay afloat (figuratively and literally); the number of times he’s voiced resolve to get his life back together and the number of times he’s wallowed in his failure to do so. You’ll never meet Evan Tanner, but be wary of people you do meet who behave like this. They take advantage of others and can be incredibly frustrating and miserable people, especially since they often come as friends and family.

It sure sounds like Hyde has been to an AA or NA meeting before…

LOL, I’m just playin Hyde! Great posts. You are really schoolin some people today.

Times like this, a man truly knows if he has a friend in the world. Dude needs a higher power, good luck Mr Tanner

If this was fightlinker people wouldn’t be so respectful…. :)

Hard Knocks are the school of life. Some people learn early and some never learn.

I have always liked Evan as a fighter. I can appreciate that he recognizes the problem he has. Many people don’t even get that far. Now just fix it.

Hope to see you back, Evan!

Hyde:

Alcoholism does strange things to people. Turns genuinely good people into theives and liars. But not always. Sometimes it takes more than one try to for an alcoholic to change their life. Im sure no one on this earth WANTS to be an alcoholic. I think him going public was a good thing, maybe the support of his “still loyal” fans will help him cope and heal. I think you should stop using personal expeirence on a subject you truely have no understanding for.. No offense.

Well see him back, and if not my heart and prays are with you Tanner.

That is one depressing quote.

I don’t like how some people judge Evan Tanner right away. Unless you actually lived his life, you are in no position to judge a person.

Anyway, I’d rather remember him for some great fights and also all the charity work he did.

I agree wtih Hyde…I find it odd hes “on the road” so much, but still has time to update his website/myspace to tell us all how crappy his life is. Tanner, pull your head out of your ass and stop drinking and start training.

C’mon back Tanner…kick the habit and then kick some A$$!!!

“….but the more I hear about him since his exit from the UFC, the more he sounds like some of my washed-up friends from high school. Aimless, lazy and reliant upon their charisma to get by on the charity of others. Buddy up to people in a time of “need,” get a couch to sleep on and some financial aid, wear out your welcome, find a new sucker to depend on, repeat ad nuseaum. Show just enough progress to gain someone’s sympathy (and their money, beer, weed, rides to the store, place to sleep, etc.) and then relapse due to “hard luck” or weakness. I’ve been on this ass-end of this routine from friends and family enough to recognize the signs…."

Man, this was funny and true at the same time. We HAD a friend just like that who burned my family.

Mo’Fo’s dead to me now.

Hyde,
I do not know the man, nor have I claimed to know the man. In fact, I said that I’m not even taking his side…All I’m saying is that is it not fair to pass judgment on a man you don’t know

As I said before I have no idea what is really going on with Tanner, but I just feel it is wrong to pass judgment on someone when you don’t know the whole story.

I completely understand if you don’t want to be a fan of his, that is your right. All I’m saying is that it is unfair to label him something when you don’t know the man.

To all those who continue to root for Tanner:

You certainly have some big hearts and I can only presume that you exercise such forgiveness and understanding with those you know personally. Fortunately, many of you may not have had experiences with people that have caused you to reconsider whether acting with a big heart is always for the best. Like all others, I’d be happy to hear one day that Tanner’s life is back on track and he’ll be returning to the Octagon soon (or that he’s digging ditches for a living, but happy doing it). I’m just not as optimistic.

I hear you Hyde….I had family with some similar probs and it’s a delicate balance to walk with them between help/support and full on letting them use you. I just root for him like I have done for others in the past, especially because MW div UFC needs the talent!

This is the year 2007. If you don’t know someone with a similar problem as Evan Tanner, you need to try crawling out of your basement and getting outside some more.

To all those who continue to root for Tanner:

You certainly have some big hearts and I can only presume that you exercise such forgiveness and understanding with those you know personally. Fortunately, many of you may not have had experiences with people that have caused you to reconsider whether acting with a big heart is always for the best. Like all others, I’d be happy to hear one day that Tanner’s life is back on track and he’ll be returning to the Octagon soon (or that he’s digging ditches for a living, but happy doing it). I’m just not as optimistic.

Because, rooting for a fighter is so much work. I Dont care about the points that you are marking. Tanner has nothing to do with any of us other then the fact that we have watched him fight. Hoping he does well and saying so on the internet doesnt take a whole lot of effort, or caring… its kind words which might make a differnce to him or might not. Now if he is leeching off his fans/friends doing all the crap you just spewed out, thats another thing. But what you’re talking about has 100% nothing to do with this situation. He is an ex-fighter, that is proclaiming that he has drinking problems, how is all of that leeching. And please explain to me why no one should care or root for him, because it takes so much effort.

Reading his statement and comparing him to someone you know in a simular situation is natural but at the same time mis-guided. None of us have enough info to know wether this is a genuine case of a man being at a low point in his life trying to make it back or a guy blaming everything (alcohol) for his problems apart from himself.

Either way though I think we can all agree either situation is not one we would like to see anyone in, but if we had to choose it would not be the 2nd of the two.

People for many years have turned to boxing to overcome their demons, this will undoubtedly transfer to MMA. Lets hope he once again finds purpose using whatever tool he needs for motivation (i.e. stepping back into the octagon).

maybe he should just go with it and jump in the ring, look at nick diaz, his substance abuse problem won him the biggest fight of his life

To Luppers:

“And please explain to me why no one should care or root for him, because it takes so much effort.”

Because it’s a debate about sports. Whether the question is why some people loathe Barry Bonds or whether NASCAR’s Car of Tomorrow is bad for racing, sports debates never center on whether the debate itself involves time, money, effort or some other fungible commodity. While 9 out of 10 times sports debates are a shameless distraction from real life (I should be working right now), this one does have some merit.

This all started from a statement that, “There really is nothing bad that you can say about Evan Tanner.” This evolved into a debate (at least to me) over why fans root for certain athletes and why. It’s a subject that my father has mulled for years, being that he grew up at a time when professional athletes lived in the same neighborhoods as the fans and often had to take part-time jobs, like selling insurance. Today, he continues to watch sports but barely feels any connection with the multi-million dollar jerks playing now, which has made his loyalties waiver considerably. He’s largely concluded that the athletes now have less in common with their fans and rarely display the admirable qualities that historically attracted us to sports. Have you never wondered why we dump billions of dollars into the largely inconsequential misadventure that is professional and collegiate athletics? Partially because they are an exploration of the values we find good or bad in our culture.

I like the UFC, in part, because many of the fighters are closer to us than other pro athletes. Many have college degrees (or are at least literate), still have to work a “real” job and struggle to pay the bills. They are largely respectful to their opponents and the fans, refrain from NFL or NBA-style trash talk and don’t whine about their contracts. By watching people who are closer to our own personalities, or display personal characteristics that we aspire to possess, a tighter connection to the sport and athletes exists. But then again, most people probably just want to see blood, so what do I know?

To me, Tanner is no longer someone I can root for in the way we collectively admire athletes. In short, he no longer seems like a good guy. He does not possess the characteristics that people do or should admire in athletes. We commonly evaluate athletes and other public figures as good guys or bad guys without having to walk a mile in their shoes or whatever cliche people like (Anybody ever run a Fortune 500 company? No? Now raise your hand if you think Ken Lay was a bad guy. See what I mean). But I think the debate can be valuable in determining what traits in society we collectively admire or reject. And I think I’ve largely lost the debate here. Until the next one, then.

maybe he should just go with it and jump in the ring, look at nick diaz, his substance abuse problem won him the biggest fight of his life

Smoking some weed here and there, even multiple times a day, is not comparable to alcoholism. You can’t compare the fact that Tanner has chosen to drink alcohol instead of better his life, and thus, turned into an alcoholic; therfore he hasn’t fought in about 2 years. On the other hand, you have Nick Diaz who was coming off of his biggest victory of his career, and he gets suspended for marijuana. Nick was still in the gym training durning those 6 months as well. Its not like if you get suspended for marijuana they lock you in a closet with a bong and a never ending pound of kind bud until your suspension is up.

You’re post is just wrong. I will be the first of many to tell you so. They are not even comparable, never mind one in the same.

Also, as a little side not, marijuana is not addictive.

Evan needs somebody or a bunch of people to help him out.

We need to get multiple fans, and storm his site, and e-mail him wishing him a comeback and things like that. This guy is reaching out for help with his drinking problem.

It sucks, Evan is one of my top fighters.

God Bless him.

Who else here agrees Hyde is an idiot? Man stop being a hater…..

Hey Tanner, If you snoop around on the web and get this message, move to Minnesota and go through the Minnesota Teen Challenge Rehab Program. They have an 80% success rate. Take Care Bro!

Who else here agrees Hyde is an idiot? Man stop being a hater…..

I completely disagree. Why would you want to continue to support a fighter who has done nothing over the last several years except waste his talent and then complain about it? There are dozens of fighters in the UFC alone, not to mention smaller promotions, who in addition to having exceptional skill and working to hone their craft, do things that actually make the world better. Rich Franklin and the Veres kid who is fighting Maynard tomorrow night are or were teachers. Cro Cop trains anit-terror officers in Croatia. Countless other fighters have college degrees, and even advanced degrees, and are using them when they aren’t training. Tanner chose to drink himself stupid instead of ply his trade as a fighter. There is nothing admirable about that.

Alcohol KILLS people. Lots Of People every year.

 Alcohol Took My Mothers Life at the age of 47 . She did nothing but sit around the house drinking rum Morning till Night. I got out of the shower one day and found my mom dead .. I always told her she youd be dead within a few years .

I dont Drink Period .. I Smoke Chronic Instead.
I ASK MY SELF ALL THE TIM -> HOW IS ALCOHOL LEGAL .. But WEED IS ILLEGAL????

Just Like Cigarettes There should be stricter laws towards alcohol . Warning labels … Bars and night clubs should be more aware when serving drinks to drunks.

I say Let him drink his life away .. HES OLD ENOUGH TO NO BETTER.

ALCOHOL IS NOT A DISEASE its an ADDICTION

Hyde, you articulated it perfectly. Professional athletes signed up to be in the spotlight the moment they signed a professional contract. With the money,fame and fans it also entitles them to scutiny, judgement, bias and critical questionning. And for all the posts labeling you a “hater”, it would be fun to know just how many of them were bashing some other fighter on this same web site. If you want to support Tanner because he was a phenomenal fighter, great, but that opinion is no more valid than someone who does not want to support a fighter who has squandered his opportunities

If weed was legal, people wouldn’t have as many of these kinds of issues. When I was in the Air Force and couldn’t smoke (random drug tests) I got in a ton of trouble due to getting drunk. It would take too long to get into here, but the worst thing I’ve done while high is play Mario Strikers all day with a friend.

And I agree with Hyde. He might be a tad harsh, but he speaks the truth. And why should I personally feel bad for Tanner? I’ve gotten myself in plenty of bad situations in my life, and I never went around whining about how I need help. And for alcoholism? Unless he has gone to friends for help, entered rehab, gone to meetings, and tried hard to get his life together I don’t have any sympothy. I can quit my job and go party for 4 months until I’m flat broke, then claim I need help. Doesn’t mean I can’t be bashed for pissing those months away without even trying

All I have to say about this is…DAMN IT!

Very sad to hear. I thought he was back

Damn, this has stirred up a lot of hostility! Something usually happens to turn someone into that kind of an addict. If he could deal with whatever the issue is, he’d have a much better chance to kick the habit.
  One thing that I know is that you can’t kick alcoholism because someone tells you to… you have to want to for yourself. Not for the fans, not for your family, not for the courts, only for yourself.
Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one & when it comes to alcohol it seems that everyone wants to share theirs. I don’t think that anyone is really in enough understanding of all of Tanner’s situation to pass judgement.
Did Tanner take advantage of you? No. Did someone else take advantage of you? Yes. then F**k them. But I don’t see labeling everyone with an alcohol problem as complete losers is justified.
Tanner is HUMAN! I know that it is unusual to look at our respected “role models” as human, but they are. I think that we should all appreciate the fact that he’s open & honest about his weaknesses. If more athletes would admit to their faults, I’d respect alot more athletes. But most people put them on a pedestal & accept no faults. No, I don’t respect him for being an alcoholic, but I do respect his honesty & an attempt to reach out for help.

Who else here agrees Hyde is an idiot? Man stop being a hater…..

Great name callin dude, with absolutly no point or arguement whatsoever. Is that even a post?

“There really is nothing bad that you can say about Evan Tanner.”

To hell with him. I’ve been a big Tanner fan, but the more I hear about him since his exit from the UFC, the more he sounds like some of my washed-up friends from high school. Aimless, lazy and reliant upon their charisma to get by on the charity of others. Buddy up to people in a time of “need,” get a couch to sleep on and some financial aid, wear out your welcome, find a new sucker to depend on, repeat ad nuseaum. Show just enough progress to gain someone’s sympathy (and their money, beer, weed, rides to the store, place to sleep, etc.) and then relapse due to “hard luck” or weakness. I’ve been on this ass-end of this routine from friends and family enough to recognize the signs. If this guy’s anything like some of the people I know, he’s not really an alcoholic – just someone who drinks no more than your average layabout but cites to alcoholism as an excuse to fail. If he is a true alcoholic, then it’s a tough chain to break but it’s done by motivated people every day. “But I want to fight again!” he says. We’ve been hearing that for a while now and it sounds eerily similar to the claims of “I’ll get a job next week” or “I’m going back to school next semester” or “I’m getting an apartment soon” you often hear from other losers that never follow through.

Fight or don’t fight. I don’t care anymore.

Wow Hyde….Judge much?

I think you guys are missing the point here…No one is saying that you have to support or condone what is going on with Tanner. I just think they are trying to say that you shouldn’t pass judgment on him if you do not know the full situation, which obviously no one on this board does since none of us know him personally.

And to FFL, I think you are a little off with your comparison to fighters bashing each other. Clearly they talk trash to get into an opponent’s head or to hype a fight. When it comes to a disease such as alcoholism, I highly doubt you will see a fighter come out in public and bash another fighter.

Do I feel bad for what has happened to Tanner? yes. Do I find him to blame for what has happened? To an extent, yes. What people need to understand is that with alcoholism, it is a disease that can spiral out of hand in a hurry. During the beginning stages of his battle, he and his friends probably didn’t think it was a problem and by the time they noticed, it was too late. This is why it is a disease. I will not bash a man when he is down. Especially when nobody on this board has any proof as to what he has been doing by trying to remedy the situation. Many people are saying that he hasn’t even tried to get sober and that is unfair to say since no one here knows him. He has been out of the spotlight for some time now, and nobody knows what has been going on behind the scenes

good luck evan!!!
was looking forward to him fighting he’s might be down but not out yet.
hell of a fighter, loved watching you fight baroni and terell.
i hope he comes back in 08
alcholism is a disease that can’t be cured over night,

Have a drink on me bud!!! Whooo hooo!!

Beer has carbs. You need that for exercise. And getting drunk helps cope with the punishment. Maybe he is smoking too. Smoking raises your white blood cell count so that helps you fight off disease. I think the dude will be ready to get in the cage pretty soon. Just get in there all liquored up. Take down your opponent via sloppy bum rush and once you’re in his guard just barf in his face. GOOOORRRRRRPPPPPP!!! You’re opponent should be tapping out rather quickly. Then the fight is over and pop a cold one man- you earned it! Evan Tanner you are onto something there.

BURRRRRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPP!!!

good luck bro u were one of the best

Alcohol KILLS people. Lots Of People every year.

Alcohol Took My Mothers Life at the age of 47 . She did nothing but sit around the house drinking rum Morning till Night. I got out of the shower one day and found my mom dead .. I always told her she youd be dead within a few years .

I dont Drink Period .. I Smoke Chronic Instead.
I ASK MY SELF ALL THE TIM -> HOW IS ALCOHOL LEGAL .. But WEED IS ILLEGAL????

Just Like Cigarettes There should be stricter laws towards alcohol . Warning labels … Bars and night clubs should be more aware when serving drinks to drunks.

I say Let him drink his life away .. HES OLD ENOUGH TO NO BETTER.

ALCOHOL IS NOT A DISEASE its an ADDICTION

Stop right here kid. I dont know how old or educated you are but please stop trying to use fact here. Please use opinion, because I do know alot about alcoholism but this isnt about tanner’s diagnosis, its about what we think bout his well being not what the deffinition of ALCOHOLISM is.

Get some new friends. Pray to Jesus.

Peace

Hope to see Tanner back in the cage!
HYDE is right in some ways, but seems to me he is venting anger? maybe he gets used alot or has been used before and learned from his mistakes? and now he is just warning everyone he comes in contact with about the fact that there is shady people out there???…look you bring up alot of good points about people that are drunks and steal from" and use their friends and family. but the fact is that this is a website for blogs about mma not how there are shady ppl on this planet.
But like i said you are right in some ways..commenting on him not fighting for so long,and some of those posts i agreed with but dont start comparing the guy to your “drunk uncle”
 {or whoever}
Like others have commented “don’t judge a man you don’t know”
judge his talent and fights..not his problems or personality..
ESPECIALLY cause you don’t know exactly whats going on with the man…

your an intelligent person HYDE, “dont waste your posts with warnings of shady people and/or how they act or behave.. i know that shit” i like your postings, just talk more MMA.

………….NO DISRESPECT…….honestly.

Tanner is washed up! His problem is not the booze he is consuming. The problem would come down to taking to much punishment in the octagon! MMA has evovled past tanner and he would get beat against any of the top ranked fighters in his weight class. Tanner if your smart, stay away cause you will get ktfo!!

Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one & when it comes to alcohol it seems that everyone wants to share theirs.

Who on here is offering to share their a**hole with anyone?

Alcohol KILLS people. Lots Of People every year.
Alcohol Took My Mothers Life at the age of 47 . She did nothing but sit around the house drinking rum Morning till Night. I got out of the shower one day and found my mom dead .. I always told her she youd be dead within a few years .
I dont Drink Period .. I Smoke Chronic Instead.
I ASK MY SELF ALL THE TIM -> HOW IS ALCOHOL LEGAL .. But WEED IS ILLEGAL????

I’m sorry to hear about you Mother Sour Diesel.

I wanted to let you know that I agree 110% on the weed/alcohol argrument.

Smoking some weed here and there, even multiple times a day, is not comparable to alcoholism. You can’t compare the fact that Tanner has chosen to drink alcohol instead of better his life, and thus, turned into an alcoholic; therfore he hasn’t fought in about 2 years. On the other hand, you have Nick Diaz who was coming off of his biggest victory of his career, and he gets suspended for marijuana. Nick was still in the gym training durning those 6 months as well. Its not like if you get suspended for marijuana they lock you in a closet with a bong and a never ending pound of kind bud until your suspension is up.

You’re post is just wrong. I will be the first of many to tell you so. They are not even comparable, never mind one in the same.

Also, as a little side not, marijuana is not addictive.

This is a fight blog but dont kid yourself – pot is addictive. There are different forms of addiction with different classifications. Some have a physical responses and some have psychological responses and some have both. This is an old argument with much supporting literature. Pot has proven to be psychologically addicting with possible detrimental effects to ones memory and recall.

true, true. I have an addictive personality, and all I do now is smoke trees. I quit ALL the other stuff about 3 and a half years ago. Becauase of that, in my head, I am pretty much addicted to weed.

BUT, every documentary I have seen on marijuana, it says that it is NOT addictive. I believe it too, I really think that my personality, and my past is the reason why I am the way I am.

Plus in an interview Nick said that he ain’t going to stop smoking, he’ll just stop smoking 2 weeks before the fight, and then go to the organic herbal store and get a detox tea. So in other words, he is still smoking weed and is physically and mentally capable at competing at the highest level of MMA.

But with Evan Tanner, because of his drinking, he can’t even make it to the gym to train to fight. Plus, even if he did stop drinking, trained, had a fight in the UFC, won, and then went out and celebrated by having some drinks, he would fall right back into the downward spiral of alcholism. However, I guarantee you that Nick Diaz smokes up after every fight.

true, true. I have an addictive personality, and all I do now is smoke trees. I quit ALL the other stuff about 3 and a half years ago. Becauase of that, in my head, I am pretty much addicted to weed.

BUT, every documentary I have seen on marijuana, it says that it is NOT addictive. I believe it too, I really think that my personality, and my past is the reason why I am the way I am.

VM – Pot is psychologically addicting – sounds like you had this type of addiction. It is not classified as a physiological addiction because when you stop using it it does not have the physical with/d symtoms that say herion would have. Again, addictions have different classifications and different responses. Dont be fooled – pot can be detrimental to mature development and can depleat certain chemicals in the brain. It seems harmless but it can be very dangerous to ones future.

VM – also, be careful what you watch on tv – it isnt all true. Remember Bisping v Hamill? LOL

BIG UPS TO ALL THE WEED SMOKERS FIRST.SECOND GOOD JOB HYDE.
AN NOW,JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ON THIS SITE KNOWS SOMEBODY OR KNEW SOMEONE LIKE TANER.ME I SMOKE HOLLA THATS WHAT I DO AN NO MATTER WHAT IT DOES FOR ME IN THE LONG RUN O WELL SH1T HAPPENS,EVERY DRUG HAS DIFFERENTS AFFECTS ON PPL AN BUT DRINKING ON THE OTHER HAND TO MUCH OF IT AN WE ALL ACT THE SAME WAY LET ME GET TO MY POINT,UNTIL TANNER REALLY WANTS TO FIX HIS PROBLEM ITS NOT GOING TO GET FIXED…..WE CAN ALL KNOW HIM SHOW HIM SUPPORT AN HE WILL STILL HAVE A DRINK IF HE WANTS A DRINK,SO SAYING THAT I HOPE HE GETS BETTER I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM AGAIN CAUSE HE IS A FIGHTER HE GETS ALOT OF RESPECT FROM ME CAUSE HIS PAST BUT HIS FUTURE LOOKS A LIL GRIM TO SAY THE LEAST

I think everyone should switch to Meth it is way better. Legalize METH!!! j/k

used gto train with evan at quest, cool guy in all but this lazy ass fukin lifestyle he’s living brings me no sympathy for him. Fuk him if he’s gonna be a couch surfing bum.

I think everyone should switch to Meth it is way better. Legalize METH!!! j/k

Methadone is legal, but I have a feeling that that’s not the meth you are referring to.

used gto train with evan at quest, cool guy in all but this lazy ass fukin lifestyle he’s living brings me no sympathy for him. Fuk him if he’s gonna be a couch surfing bum.

yeah!!! You right— He is going to be your coach!!!!

Tanner is one of my faves and has been for a long time but apparently is still getting sober or at least so according to his MySpace bulletins.

He doesn’t like AA and from what I’ve seen I can’t blame him. “I am a victim and will always be a victim…” “I have no control over what I do and never will and must admit this somehow and this will make me magically better…”

get lost.

lets put his drinking problem to the side….how do you’s think he would of faired vs. the boogyman dean lister ha im pretty sure it would end in submission

“There really is nothing bad that you can say about Evan Tanner.”

To hell with him. I’ve been a big Tanner fan, but the more I hear about him since his exit from the UFC, the more he sounds like some of my washed-up friends from high school. Aimless, lazy and reliant upon their charisma to get by on the charity of others. Buddy up to people in a time of “need,” get a couch to sleep on and some financial aid, wear out your welcome, find a new sucker to depend on, repeat ad nuseaum. Show just enough progress to gain someone’s sympathy (and their money, beer, weed, rides to the store, place to sleep, etc.) and then relapse due to “hard luck” or weakness. I’ve been on this ass-end of this routine from friends and family enough to recognize the signs. If this guy’s anything like some of the people I know, he’s not really an alcoholic – just someone who drinks no more than your average layabout but cites to alcoholism as an excuse to fail. If he is a true alcoholic, then it’s a tough chain to break but it’s done by motivated people every day. “But I want to fight again!” he says. We’ve been hearing that for a while now and it sounds eerily similar to the claims of “I’ll get a job next week” or “I’m going back to school next semester” or “I’m getting an apartment soon” you often hear from other losers that never follow through.

Fight or don’t fight. I don’t care anymore.

Keep bitching and we shall see I’m all for Evan “Team Tanner”! He is back and training harder than ever. We shall see the new and improved Tanner UFC 82 in March.

Rest in peace brother…the termoil is finally over…Rest in peace!

You all should be ashamed (except for xxx)!

You people are talking about how you can’t wait to see him fight again, he’s one you your top favorite fighters and/or are pre-judging Evan about the life he led, seriously? Do you realize Hyde, ViolentMike, Taped up pair, etc… that you are posting on this man over a week after he PASSED AWAY?!?!?!?

Do some research before you start waxing pathetic.

Evan Tanner, you will truly be missed.
 God Bless you and rest in peace

Aloha,

Evan left a large impression on many people who never “knew” him..most professional “tv” people have horse handlers..and you never really know what to believe about them..With Evan, this was not the case..He had not “buffer”…I consider that, just my humble opinion, a rare luxury…Not saying we get to know all of him..but on this issue of drug and alcohol abuse..He was an honest person..He had a disease. An addiction.

He made a comment in an interview that I watched a few hours ago..and it sort of stuck in my head…all these years watching one of the most talented fighters..I must confess..I never really wanted to have any real information about a fighters “private” life…But then he died…and it was a odd death..in the desert..along..on a quest of sorts..So of course, I decided to google my information to facts..and I came across this interview…

in the interview..he is talking about some really fundamental good things..

1. he felt like his life had a purpose that fighting would prepare him to fulfill that purpose

2. he felt his purpose was to use the fighting championship as a “stage” so that he could be heard.

3. he felt that his voice, as a champion, on that “stage”, would allow his voice to be heard,

4. he felt the reasons why it was important that his voice be heard, was because he had a sense that he had something important to tell people.

He seemed to believe he was still in the process of making his plan fulfillment.

However, in the interview, he made two strong magical statements:

  Kindness for their fellow humans AND
  Understanding

“I would like to teach these things to my children”

“once they learn these things..the basic concepts…everything else is superficial”

“as long as I get the message out..that is the most important thing”

Evan Tanner..your message is clear and it is powerful…and your message is not out…and that IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!"

God Bless

rip Evan Tanner

Aloha
tm