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"TapouT" Doesn't Care
Before you read any further, know that I understand G&E is not the place for rants, raves, and disgruntled feelings. Regardless, the following complaint is G&E related. I also consider G&E my favorite forum on Sherdog. Now, onto my anger and disappointment.
I've been working very diligently over the last week to help put together a charity auction in conjunction to a charity golf scramble for a very sick little boy living in Michigan. Whenever I've been able to directly speak to any organization I hope could help, the results have been largely positive. Emails sent to organizations without an openly listed phone number have not yielded any response so far but there's nothing more I can do about them.
The Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Michigan State University, The Player Foundation (created by PGA star Gary Player), WWE, and Triumph United have all said they'll contribute to help raise money. The University of Michigan, Zinkin Entertainment (the fight managers of Chuck Liddell and Forest Griffin), and Rashad Evan's manager have all said they'll see if there's anything they can do. I haven't actually received any pledged auction items yet, but I'm not worried. It's only been a week and the charity auction isn't until June 7th.
Enter TapouT. I called their headquarters directly yesterday. When I asked if they had a media or public relations office, the nameless voice on the other side of the phone said they did but wanted to know why I was calling. I told her I was trying to organize a charity auction for a very sick five-year-old boy and would like to discuss the details with someone. The woman then refused to transfer my call. She instead suggested I send my information to TapouT's generic customer service email. When I asked who I should address my email to, to make sure it reached the right person, the woman hurriedly told me once again to just use the generic customer service address.
I didn't bother to send that email. The TapouT representative's attitude showed me the company doesn't care about helping dying children. I was never even given the chance to explain how big a difference TapouT could have made in five-year-old Evan McGee's life. How doctors doubted Evan would live past two. Why his father's coworkers established the charity golf scramble to pay for Evan's therapy. Why every cent raised from the scramble goes to Evan's therapy, despite the fact his dad has recurring cancer and his mother suffers from the degenerative disease Fibromyalgia. TapouT doesn't want to know.
If TapouT had simply said they weren't interested in a charity auction, I would respect their decision. I'm bothered by the fact the woman who answered the phone tried to blow me off.
On a very personal note, I'm actually very satisfied knowing I've never given TapouT my financial support. I've never owned anything made by TapouT and I certainly don't plan on changing that. TapouT isn't just "Bad For The Sport," they're also bad people.
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