You know Ariel Helwani as a decorated and well respected journalist covering mixed martial arts.

In this episode of the DiploSport Podcast, we turn things around and interview Ariel about his multi-lingual childhood in Montreal, his desire to become a sports journalist, the universal appeal of fighting, and his bold prediction that MMA would become mainstream...before he talks about his admiration for Kristaps Porzingis and the New York Knicks.

Ariel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arielhelwaniAriel's MMA Hour Podcast: http://www.mmafighting.com/mma-hour

Katie Nolan's Garbage Time Podcast Interview with Ariel:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_ZklvWyjfU

HOUSEKEEPING:Subscribe to the DiploSport Podcast on:iTunes: apple.co/2bnO1roSoundCloud: @diplosportGoogle Play: bit.ly/DiploSportGooglePlayStitcher: bit.ly/DiploSportStitcher

Transcript Here: morganobrien.com/Ariel.pdf

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are my own and not necessarily those of the U.S. Government. (See 3 FAM 4176.1 for more)

Intro Music: High School Snaps, Broke for Free (bit.ly/2b88QLk)Outro Music: Lee Rosevere, Late Night Tales (bit.ly/2b8KeRk)

Friends of the show:

The DiploSport Podcast is not compensated for these endorsements...they're just things I think are interesting or cool, which is all the more reason to check them out.

First, Jason Bryant and the team over at Mat Talk Online. For those of you who enjoyed our Gregor Gillespie podcast series last week and like in-depth wrestling coverage, I can't speak more highly of the Short Time wrestling podcast. You can check them out at mattalkonline.com. and Jason's at @JasonMBryant on Twitter.

www.mattalkonline.com/Twitter: twitter.com/JasonMBryant

Second, our friends at Mister Tallboy, makers of fine quality t-shirts. Right now, they're running the Long Island Commuter Series, which really needs no explanation for those of us who were born and/or bred on Long Island and rode the majestic railroad of the same name. When I first saw these shirts, it took like half a second for me to buy one...check them out at Mistertallboy.com (mister tallboy is all spelled out).

www.mistertallboy.com

Finally, MilSOBox is a monthly subscription gift box that is specifically for MilSO or Significant Others. Most months it is customized to each of the branches, and it is free shipping to all over the world (DPO/ FPO/ APO). Milsobox.cratejoy.com and if you are into unboxing, go to @JulieJigsaw on YouTube to see what the boxes look like.

milsobox.cratejoy.com/www.youtube.com/juliejigsaw