It’s at times like this that I wonder, what exactly Conor McGregor pays Autie Attar to do. Can you think of any other major sports personality that announces their retirement with an incoherent tweet. No Press release. No line up of networks and associated press to mark the occasion. No highlight reel of his achievements. No management company involvement.
The more I think about Paradigm Sports management and Audie, the more I wonder what have they actually delivered for Brand McGregor. If you cast your mind back to the McGregor vs Mayweather fight they didn’t really manage to pull off any major sponsorship coup for him.
In fact it was Mayweather that won that particular battle, with Irish multinational Bookmaker Paddy Power paying him a 7 figure sum to wear their logo on his briefs at the official weigh in. McGregor’s two successful outside enterprises seem to be his whiskey and his link to David August and the August McGregor line of clothing. Both mainly his own creations.
Now don’t get me wrong – Mr McGregor is probably not the most straight-forward client to deal with but you would imagine that he would use them to co-ordinate a retirement announcement for maximum exposure and revenue potential.
I guess it is somewhat appropriate that the announcement itself comes above a tweet and photo of his Proper no 12 label. If you are a cynic, like myself you are probably wondering if this is indeed an ACTUAL retirement announcement or just another cryptic message from him to parties unknown.
I could point to the reference of ” Mixed Martial Art” instead of Mixed Martial Arts plural in his announcement. Or referencing MMA as the “sport formerly known as ” all highly opaque but sure isn’t that the point of it. Ambiguity.
If Conor McGregor has taken his last swing in a cage I will be highly surprised. Whether the next punch landed is in the UFC is a moot point though. If it is the end he’ll need to find a replacement activity Rapido, because the irony of Conor McGregor is that fighting was the one thing that was the most successful at keeping him out of trouble.
As for Audie – It might be time to give him his marching orders too – in a tweet.