Sports Talk

With so much going on in this world, Our Pres bowing to Saudi Princes, Our Liberal Senate/Congress working together to end freedom of speech, Barry trying to give your hard earned money (those that make 250000+) to people who would rather wait in line for a welfare check (You may know it as Socialism which if I am not mistaken hasn’t worked in… …ever) you know all that great stuff going on I figured we should take some time to focus on other things like… …Soccer (Josh R. this ones for you).  I was watching the UEFA league of Champions Playoffs, and I must say it has been pretty exciting.  For instance, in the 3rd minute of stoppage time (or injury time) Barcelona scored a goal to tie Chealse and move on due to aggregate tie breaker to the finals against Manchester United.  Man U is impossibly good with Rooney and Ronaldo looking to be on top of their games and Park doing a phenomenal job of getting them the ball in space.  Ronaldo was striking penalty kicks with pin point accuracy.   Their Bench is strong, very strong with young guys like Rafael and grizzled veterans like Giggs and Teves able to come in and tighten the defense or provide other scoring chances.  But all that is not to discount the Barcelona team, they are not shabby by any stretch.  I do not have much more information on them but the fact that they came back a man down with virtually no time left, just simply amazing.

How about some fighting news?

Plenty to talk about, you have Anderson Silva coming off of two very boring, all be it technically sound, fights asking for a chance to fight Renowned and aging Boxer Roy Jones Jr.  And as if that is not enough, Dana White basically saying there is no way he would ever let that fight happen while Silva is under contract with Zuffa.  I can understand this from every ones point of view first lets look at the fighters, Roy Jones Jr (RJJ) wants to get his name back out there and is probably thinking that he would have a “punchers” chance, Anderson Silva (AS) is looking for a way to make things a little more exciting if he can beat up a guy with a good name in exciting and dominating fashion he can start to reclaim some of his stature as the pound for pound king.  On the other hand, I can understand Dana White not wanting to put this fight on, with RJJ fast becoming a name of the past and AS not really doing much (probably due to Boredom with a weight class that can no longer hang with him) he wants him to focus more on fighting in the 205 lbs division.  He owns the middle weights and I don’t believe he could cut enough weight to go down and fight GSP and still be the same AS, so Dana White (DW) is forcing him to focus on the next challenge, starting with Forest Griffen.  DW’s worst fear is for the UFC to become something of a spectacle (Elite XC type) where the fights are put together for money and not for great competition.  He prides himself and the Zuffa company on putting together great fights that are exciting for the high level of competition, not for the Zoo like crap that other productions have put together.  My one plea would be… …DW will you please sign Emelianenko so he can get his ass beat with the real fighters you have in the UFC and not the chumps -no offense Arlovski- that affliction has been throwing at him.  In other fighting news, former Marine Captain Brian Stann got submitted in about 75 sec. by a fantastic up and coming fighter Krzyszton Soszynski you should watch for him in UFC 98.

Finally, I was reading over some pound for pound lists and this one has to be the worse by far, Enjoy!

What a Night of Fights

I watched the most amazing fight I have ever seen tonight.  UFC 86’s title fight will go down as one of the greatest contests in history.  If you didn’t see it you need to youtube it if you can, or find some way to watch it because that is what the UFC is all about.  It is not about eeking out a decision win (although the fight did go to decision) it is about two fighters letting it all hang out, swinging for the fences, going after submissions, being cut and bruised, being knocked down and bouncing back to land some punches and submission attempts of your own.  What many people do not realize is that Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is not just about fighting, punching and submitting it is the ultimate chess match.  You are using your jabs and straight punches as pawns so you can maneuver your opponent so that your knights and bishops (Crosses, Elbows and knees) can assail him and push him farther into a trap so your queen and rooks (your submissions and knockouts) can finish him all the while protecting your King (you not being submitted or knocked out) so that he doesn’t do the same.  Some see the sport as brutish and barbaric and maybe it has some of those tendencies, but there is a beauty in all the blood and violence.  The looks of focus, determination, the heart and will to never succumb no matter how much the pain, no matter how little air is getting in you will not tap.  The inner struggle that you go through with your body saying tap, quit and give up you lost all ready, but your heart screaming, yelling and at times whispering, you still have a chance.  This is why I watch those fights, this is why I aspire to be near those that are willing,  for it is those with the courage to face any opponent better, bigger, stronger and faster and believe, train and will themselves to victory.  I saw it tonight during the Title fight of UFC 86.  What a brawl, what a fight, what chess match!  Both men went in, Rampage the Heavy favorite (as he should have been) forest the rocky balboa.  Both men laid it out in that Octagon and both were rewarded if not by the giant purse, by the sheer fact that they went and know a little more about themselves.  If you missed the fight, go find it, you must see it!

Couple quick notes

1.  Kimbo Slice is a joke.  Yes yes, he could woop my ass but only cause he weighs like 50 lbs more then me.  But if you watched his fight you learned two things, one he can’t really do anything on the ground if he were to fight a Randy Couture or a Jeremy Horn he would be submitted in no time, and second he has to be the ugliest person in MMA!!

2.  Rambo 4 was far better then I thought it would be, sure I am behind the times, but I saw it for the first time today and it is by far the best.  Granted that isn’t saying to incredibly much, but still give the 57 Sly a break.

3.  Gina Carano is pretty much a BAMF.  If anyone saw her tear apart Caitlin Young last night they would have to agree.  I mean hell her nickname is Crush on American gladiators (which is actually pretty damn good-okay good is not correct but it is entertaining). 

4.  Did anyone else see Dana White talking about the MMA world and more importantly did you see him rip, and I mean rip the Elite XC for putting up a “a poor display” of what MMA is all about.

5.  If you haven’t read A New Kind of Christian then you should pick it up, B, you were absolutely right, I am just over half way and it has brought tons of questions and some great answers

6.  I think I will enjoy this blogging thing

7.  You are probably tired of reading my numbered posts, I assure you there will be more, but not for a little while

8. Finally,  there are plenty of things I am passionate about, my beautiful Girlfriend, my wonderful family and Sports.  The sport I am most into right now is MMA (see numbers 1, 3 and 4).  Here is why I like it, first it isn’t as boring as boxing.  I can hear it now, “Heretic!!  How can you dog the sweet science.”  But come now first of all were are the real contenders? they don’t exist.  Since Tyson lost his mind, Lennox lost his heart and Holyfield lost his ability there have been no heavy weights.  Sure you say those ruscis are pretty BA fighters, but they haven’t done anything, and everytime some flash in the pan shows up they lose.  ‘But Floyd Mayweather is the savor of the sport.” Oh right, and I am the second coming of Rocky marciano!  Floyd Mayweather has beat the only legit contenders in his weight class.  Ricky Hatton and the 2000 year old golden boy.. ….what is his name Oscar de Lahoya.  Secondly.  the reason boxing sucks now is that they allow so much hugging, if I wanted to watch grown men hug I would go to the Tool Box on 5th ave in NYC!  they should lose points for all that hugging.  Here is why MMA is a better product (please note that I am referring to all of the groups signed under Zuffa). 1.  It is constant action, when there is a lull they are stood up and started again.  2.  there are more legit contenders with 100s more showing up ever day.  3.  It is a faster paced event which is exactly what we desire and crave in this generation.  4.  finally, and this is for all you mothers and safety queens, it is safer.  Sure it seems brutal but there have been no deaths and no serious injuries in MMA in the last 15 years.  Football has close to at least one paralysis a year and I believe badmittion is up to two eye losses a year.