COwboy
Hoelzer Reich and Mixed Martial Arts
Hoelzer Reich Clothing
I have been hearing some disdain for the clothing company Hoelzer Reich. They have been making Mixed Martial Arts fans furious with a brand of “Nazi Imagery.” Some say its really a bunch of Nazis hiding behind a thin veil of lies to make some t shirt money off of MMA fans; to fund some sort of race riot I suppose.
Gatorade has a lightening bolt just like the Nazis! Are you drinking the juice of the next race war? Hugo Boss designed the SS uniforms and some of the regalia for Hitler ( http://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/15/business/hugo-boss-acknowledges-link-to-nazi-regime.html ) Does that make you a Nazi for wearing a nice suit? Or that cologne? Do you own a Volkswagen? Guess who is a Nazi? YOU! They were part of the infrastructure of the Nazis and Volkswagen actually means Car for the people ( http://www.11points.com/News-Facts/11_Companies_That_Surprisingly_Collaborated_With_the_Nazis ). Don’t worry though, that doesn’t make you a Nazi.
I hate racists, and I hate skinheads. I was in punk bands in high school. Once I got jumped for telling a room full of skinheads to F@ck off (When you’re dumb you better be tough.) The police had to guard us while we were unloading and they followed us to the interstate to make sure we weren’t being tailed. Yeah I know, “Cool story bro.” The point is I have a history of telling hate mongers to go die since I was 14. I’m proud of that.
Lets face it people, the Nazis’ had the best uniforms in the history of uniforms. They were some snazzy dressers. They had a certain style. Subcultures since the 50′s have been embracing these styles because it went against the norm. It has a sleek nastiness to it. These guys were putting skulls on stuff 30 years before Slayer, and 40 years before TapouT.
Some of you are new to MMA and don’t realize MMA used to be a subculture. They didn’t used to cover it on ESPN. People were calling it cock fighting, but with people. People thought it was a fight till the death! Companies like TapouT came around and represented that subculture. More importantly TapouT was backing fighters financially. Hoelzer Reich is supporting fighters as well. Because they sell shirts that use fonts and skulls the same as the Nazis doesn’t make them racists any more then the bands Hanzel Und Gretyl or Slayer are racist (They aren’t.)
If you are going to call a company a bunch of Skinheads you better have more then some fonts and skulls on a t-shirt. We didn’t want MMA to be judged by “its cover,” but all of a sudden because we see some lightening bolts and iron crosses; Hoelzer Reich is really just a front for a new brand of racism? No.
I had the pleasure of meeting the Cowboy when the WEC was in town a few months ago. Not one of you would walk up to Donald Cerrone and call him a racist (Two reasons; you are smart, and DONALD CERRONE IS NOT A RACIST!) Hoelzer Reich supports MMA at a time when not many companies will. I know the numbers are on the way up, but on this alone we should support Hoelzer Reich. At the very least, you shouldn’t slander them because you don’t like THAT type of skull on YOUR MMA clothes. You prefer a skull used by a pirate. A much more reputable character than the Nazi.
Keep the hands up!
-John
PS I do not work for Hoelzer Reich or TapouT, but I am looking for a new gig so put in a good word for me. I am willing to relocate!