PdW2kX
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 8, 2007 23:34:52 GMT -5
Posts: 4,551
|
Post by PdW2kX on Mar 11, 2009 15:01:50 GMT -5
MMA Mania---------- Quoteworthy: “A bizarre car crash in Newport Beach involving two luxury cars early this morning left one person dead, a second injured, a third arrested for gross vehicular manslaughter and a fourth person was detained by police long enough to sober up. A Newport Beach Police Department officer allegedly witnessed the wreck and saw a red Ferrari and a white Porsche ’spinning out of control’ on Jamboree Road between Bison Avenue and East Bluff Drive at 12:57 a.m., Newport Beach Lt. Craig Fox said. The Ferrari “hit the curb and then collided with a pole.’ The Porsche came to a stop at the scene for a few seconds and then sped away, Fox said. ‘It was terrible. It was extensive damage to the vehicle,’ Fox said, adding that the Ferrari appeared to have split in half…. He said the investigation is ongoing but that police identified skid marks at the scene ‘consistent with excessive speeding.’” Mauro Ranallo — Fight Network Radio host — confirmed that the dead individual is indeed “Charles Lewis Jr. also known as Mask, the founder of multi-million dollar company, popular MMA clothing line and television show TapouT.” Rest in peace. ---------- Wow, this is an incredibly sad day for MMA. TapouT is one of the premier lines of MMA clothing, and the amount of fighters they have sponsored is just plain huge. I always enjoyed their show, too. While I felt that they were spazzes and goofs, i always felt that everybody had a deep love and respect for the MMA game, especially Mask. Mask was a colorful character, but he had a kind heart, a good eye for business, and his company has put food on the table for a lot of good fighters from the top of the food chain to the bottom of the barrel. RIP, man. I'm seriously going to miss your crazy ass. RIP.
|
|
|
|
Post by spawnsyxx9 on Mar 11, 2009 15:09:32 GMT -5
That is pretty sad. I always liked the guy.
|
|
DWright
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 7, 2005 18:30:58 GMT -5
Posts: 3,839
|
Post by DWright on Mar 11, 2009 15:19:26 GMT -5
So I was reading about this on Sherdog, and then realized why I hate that place with a passion. SO many disrespectful things being said. 98% of the people that post there know VERY little about MMA, they just go along with what others say (which you can also find here from time to time) but it's worse there, and there were tons of people posting about Masks death, just saying horrible things...proving furthermore, than Sherdog is full of scumbags.
Saying -- "Tapout ruined MMA" is one of the dumbest things I've ever read. To take it further and make fun of the man, is just downright awful. I wish their forums had real moderators that would actually take care of that craphole.
I met Mask once about 3 years ago. I didn't get a chance to talk to him long (2 mins max) but he was extremely polite to not only me, but everyone around him. He'll definitely be missed.
RIP
|
|
Bob Sapp
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jun 22, 2008 13:35:03 GMT -5
Posts: 3,059
|
Post by Bob Sapp on Mar 11, 2009 15:22:13 GMT -5
Does anyone even have a reason as to why they believe "Tapout ruined MMA"?
|
|
|
|
Post by johnnymalloy on Mar 11, 2009 15:32:28 GMT -5
I didn't like the tapout show on versus. and I thought those guys were pretty annoying to be honest. Doesn't mean I don't feel bad when one of them dies. Sucky news indeed.
TAPOUT didn't ruin MMA. They just have great marketing, and its the idiots that buy tapout shirts at walmart that don't know crap about mma that kill MMA.
|
|
DWright
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 7, 2005 18:30:58 GMT -5
Posts: 3,839
|
Post by DWright on Mar 11, 2009 16:05:36 GMT -5
I didn't like the tapout show on versus. and I thought those guys were pretty annoying to be honest. Doesn't mean I don't feel bad when one of them dies. Sucky news indeed. TAPOUT didn't ruin MMA. They just have great marketing, and its the idiots that buy tapout shirts at walmart that don't know **** about mma that kill MMA. How does THAT even kill MMA? Honestly. Sure, the majority of those people don't know much about MMA, but you're still kicking back money to a company that sponsors a lot of up and coming fighters. It's not like TapouT takes their money and pockets it all. They kick back to fighters, sponsor fighters, sponsor events. Any money that can HELP MMA, doesn't "kill" MMA. |
|
|
|
Post by Kliquid on Mar 11, 2009 16:27:27 GMT -5
Wow, that really sucks...
|
|
|
|
Post by Ian from 616Entertainment. on Mar 11, 2009 16:33:55 GMT -5
This  ing sucks. I read alot of people saying the TapouT guys were annoying, which they could be, but I thought they were just as funny as they were annoying. This really sucks. After all of his hard work to get his company on top, this is what happens. RIP Mask. |
|
|
|
Post by Patrick Bateman (original) on Mar 11, 2009 17:01:29 GMT -5
Tapout is one of my sponsors. And have known Charles (the man behind the Mask) for about 6 years. And have gone to his home several times. This is a horrible day to the entire MMA community. I just hope that the rest of the crew rebounds. As I know that Charles has made many of the designs for the shirts/hats/trunks/gloves/pads. I just feel really horrible about this. I am shaking really badly while writing this.
|
|
|
|
Post by Codesters on Mar 11, 2009 17:08:08 GMT -5
Horrible news...did anyone see the video MMAMANIA has on their site? God knows whats under the yellow tarp by the ferrari.
|
|
|
|
Post by NYdream™ on Mar 11, 2009 18:10:23 GMT -5
wow... This makes me really sad. Even though the show Tapout was not all that spectacular I liked it and Tapout has helped make alot of my favorite fighters.... He will deffinatly be missed.... RIP Mask.....  |
|
the hell demon
Main Eventer
i must possess all, or i possess nothing
Joined on: Nov 16, 2006 12:48:46 GMT -5
Posts: 3,592
|
Post by the hell demon on Mar 11, 2009 19:57:55 GMT -5
Earlier this morning I was thinking about when a new season of Tapout would happen. This man had a ton of heart and passion for the sport which came across on his show. Whether you liked his company or not, you have to respect his creativity and vision. It is a great loss to the MMA community. Found this when searching for Tapout episodes: www.tapout.com/index.cfm?TemplateMode=content&fa=c.template&template=Media-Movies.htmlMini Documentary, pretty good watch. |
|
Sandy
POSSIBLE BAD TRADER
Joined on: Dec 17, 2004 14:33:52 GMT -5
Posts: 5,868
|
Post by Sandy on Mar 11, 2009 20:07:38 GMT -5
whoa.
I was in shock when I read the title to this thread. I can't believe that. And on top of it all it happened so close to me. Wow, this is extremely saddening. I loved their show on Vs. and I found him to be the most likeable guy on the show. This is so sad. I don't know the guy but I hate to hear about anyone dying because of some stupid sh** like racing. He had a good heart and this is truly a sad day for MMA. He will never get to see the company he helped find and develop EXPLODE..because Tapout is big right now but it will be absolutely huge by next year if I had to guess..
R.I.P mask..
|
|
Johnny Lawrence - Cobra Kai
Main Eventer
Promotional consideration paid for by the following
Joined on: Jul 25, 2005 17:12:49 GMT -5
Posts: 3,209
|
Post by Johnny Lawrence - Cobra Kai on Mar 11, 2009 21:44:54 GMT -5
I think it's pretty clear that Tapout has done far more to advance MMA than it will ever get credit for. These guys have sponsored so many MMA fighters and allowed them to make enough of a living at their sport to be able to train and fulfill their potential. How many great MMA fighters might have been forced to quit and find "real work" if it weren't for awesome sponsors like Tapout?
I actually wore my only Tapout shirt today, for the first time in months. It wasn't until the end of the day that I learned the sad irony of that.
Makes me sad to think a guy like Mask, who took a chance on this sport and countless fighters in order to help it all grow, is now gone at a young age. MMA is better for Mask having been a part of it, and as MMA fans -- whether we watched the show on Vs., bought the shirts, or whatever -- we really do owe him a debt of gratitude.
|
|
|
|
Post by Patrick Bateman (original) on Mar 11, 2009 21:54:53 GMT -5
I'll tell you guys a little weird story about Charles.
It was about 4 or 5 years ago. And I was walking with Charles through San Jose. It was a cold night. And we saw a homeless man sitting their cold with a t shirt on and was shivering. Charles looked at the guy told me he'd be right back and ran to his car. Came back with a Tapout skull cap and Tapout hoodie. Gave it to the guy and also gave him 500 bucks. Called up a local hotel and put a room under his name and told the clerk to keep the account open and pay for the room and food to the room. The man stayed for 3 months. And Charles paid everything.
You know what happened to that man? That man ended up opening his own business and is a true success. And Charles wanted nothing from this man in return. He just wanted the man to get on his feet.
There is very few people in this world that would trust someone you don't even know. He did and it changed that man's life.
|
|
Sandy
POSSIBLE BAD TRADER
Joined on: Dec 17, 2004 14:33:52 GMT -5
Posts: 5,868
|
Post by Sandy on Mar 11, 2009 22:13:11 GMT -5
wow...that is such a touching story...
do you have any idea as to what the business that he opened up was?
|
|
|
|
Post by Patrick Bateman (original) on Mar 11, 2009 22:15:04 GMT -5
wow...that is such a touching story... do you have any idea as to what the business that he opened up was? Yes I do. He started as a banker at a bank. Then opened up his own lending firm. |
|
the hell demon
Main Eventer
i must possess all, or i possess nothing
Joined on: Nov 16, 2006 12:48:46 GMT -5
Posts: 3,592
|
Post by the hell demon on Mar 11, 2009 23:09:25 GMT -5
Awesome story man. That shows you right there the compassion and humanity he possessed.  |
|
ZT
Main Eventer
Joined on: Dec 1, 2008 20:50:05 GMT -5
Posts: 3,631
|
Post by ZT on Mar 12, 2009 6:36:11 GMT -5
Wow... such an unfortunate accident. If you liked him or if you didn't, Mask was a big part of the MMA community and he will be missed.
|
|
PdW2kX
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 8, 2007 23:34:52 GMT -5
Posts: 4,551
|
Post by PdW2kX on Mar 12, 2009 6:43:21 GMT -5
I'll tell you guys a little weird story about Charles. It was about 4 or 5 years ago. And I was walking with Charles through San Jose. It was a cold night. And we saw a homeless man sitting their cold with a t shirt on and was shivering. Charles looked at the guy told me he'd be right back and ran to his car. Came back with a Tapout skull cap and Tapout hoodie. Gave it to the guy and also gave him 500 bucks. Called up a local hotel and put a room under his name and told the clerk to keep the account open and pay for the room and food to the room. The man stayed for 3 months. And Charles paid everything. You know what happened to that man? That man ended up opening his own business and is a true success. And Charles wanted nothing from this man in return. He just wanted the man to get on his feet. There is very few people in this world that would trust someone you don't even know. He did and it changed that man's life. Wow, man, thanks for sharing that. Again, I'm sorry for your loss in particular: while we all lost a credit to the MMA community, you lost a friend, and that's something I'd never wish on anyone. Love them or hate them, as I said when I first posted this topic, TapouT put a lot of food on a lot of tables from the UFC on down. I mean, TapouT is sponsoring the next UFC event. No matter how crazy and goofy he came across as, Mask was a smart businessman that fought for what he believed in and built his brand up from nothing, literally selling them out of the trunk of his car, and making TapouT this huge company practically synonymous with MMA. While I'll always remember him as a loveable and goofy character, I'll also always admire the drive and passion he had in taking his brand to the very top. |
|
