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Kimbo Slice V.S Roy Nelson: The Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights Throwin’ Down
Sunday, 27 September 2009 19:03    | Written by Trish Burnside    PDF Print E-mail
Trish Burnside

The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 has begun and this time it’s the big boys’ turn to battle it out for a six-figure contract and of course, earn TUF fame and notoriety.  Among these giants are several former NFL players, an experienced, title-holding ex- IFL fighter (Roy Nelson) and a “back-yard brawler” who gained international recognition through his raw, street-fighting ability (Kimbo Slice).  Only 3 weeks into TUF match-ups, Team Evan’s coach Rashad Evans has selected Nelson and Kimbo as the next elimination bout.  This match-up is as political as it is strategic—it entices viewers and pits Evan’s experienced Nelson against Team Rampage’s less experienced number one pick: Kimbo Slice.

You cannot deny the MMA advantage Roy Nelson holds over Kimbo Slice; Roy has competed at the prestigious Abhu Dahbi Grappling Championships, won and defended an IFL title 3 times and has trained with some of the world’s greatest fighters including Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Ken Shamrock and Ricco Rodgriguez. Roy is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiujisu under Renzo Gracie.

Kimbo Slice on the other hand is tough as steel and will fight with a pressing motivation to prove he has expanded his MMA skills beyond the backyard and can hold his own against some of the world’s most expertly trained mixed martial artists.

The burly street fighter is undeniably a force to be reckoned with and if the experienced Nelson underestimates Kimbo's strength, stamina and ability he could very well find himself KTFO! 

The fight will be aired Wednesday on Spike T.V at 10pm (pacific standard).

 

Roy Nelson and Kimbo Slice

 

 

 

 

Last Updated ( Sunday, 27 September 2009 23:04 )
 
CFB Blog- The Offseason: Life is Sublime
Tuesday, 12 January 2010 20:12    | Written by Michael Roarty    PDF Print E-mail
Michael Roarty

I was going to write a quick recap about the crazy offseason so far in college football. And then Kiffin and USC did this and made my head explode. My brain hurts so much. I am at a loss for words. Flee, flee for your lives

Last Updated ( Saturday, 16 January 2010 08:19 )
 
In the Best Interest of the “Perfect” Game?
Wednesday, 02 June 2010 18:32    | Written by Ryan Plecha    PDF Print E-mail
Ryan Plecha

 

By this time even the most casual baseball fan have seen or heard of the debacle on the diamond that was far from perfect, in which umpire, Jim Joyce, admittedly blew a call costing Tigers’ pitcher Armando Galaraga a perfect game, in the 9th inning with 2 outs. To rub salt in the wound, Galaraga retired the next Indian and, therefore, in reality he retired 28 of 28 Cleveland Indians to step into the batter’s box.

 

So my question to you baseball and sports fans of the world: Should Commissioner Selig exercise the amorphous “best interest of baseball” and rectify the situation, at least on paper and give Galaraga the credit he earned?  Granted, that no asterisk or footnote in the annals of baseball history will be adequate to replace the anger and heartbreak of the night that should have been filled with triumph, celebration, and the inexplicable feeling of perfection, but should the commissioner step in and alter the inaccurate history we all saw unfold before our America’s eyes.

 

This very issue poses another interesting paradigm and issue in baseball, purists versus modern fans.  Is the human element of baseball endearing or does the mystical view of baseball history inhibit progress of the game and accuracy to ensure the games are decided properly.  I am sure this is an issue that will remain in some degree for generations to come.

 

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 June 2010 18:36 )
 
The rise of the hybrid athlete
Monday, 01 March 2010 16:58    | Written by Chris Humpherys    PDF Print E-mail
Chris Humpherys

At any given time, there are nine players on the baseball diamond, five on the basketball court and eleven on the football field.Each sport has designated positions for its players. In baseball, you have three outfielders, first through third base, a pitcher and a catcher. In basketball, you have your point and shooting guards, your small and power forwards and your center. In football, depending on your offense or defense and your respective coordinators, you also have certain players for set positions.

percy-harvin

 

That has changed lately as traditional lines have been blurred. We are officially in the era of the hybrid athlete. Expect that to continue to change.

 

These days, players are more athletic, more dynamic, yet it might just work to their detriment. I bring this up because after a spectacular rookie season, Percy Harvin was not voted onto the Pro Bowl roster. He only made it after DeSean Jackson was moved to wide receiver. Go ahead, call me a homer for defending a Florida Gator. I’ve been called worse. But Harvin was as vital to the Minnesota Vikings surge this year as any other offensive player including Brett Favre. That’s right, I said it.

 

As a rookie, Harvin caught a ball in every game this season. He tallied nearly 800 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Does that make him a wide receiver? Yes. He also averaged nine yards a carry (and no fumbles) on a team that featured the best running back in the game. Does that make him a running back? Sure. He also has 42 kick returns for 1156 yards and two touchdowns. Does that make him a special teams threat? Damn right. So, other than a freak of nature, what is he?

 

STF

For that matter, what is Reggie Bush? At USC, Bush was one of the most dangerous, multi-purpose weapons college football had ever seen. As a pro, New Orleans used him in Harvin-like fashion all the way to the Super Bowl. Backfield, wide out, special teams, these guys can do whatever is asked of them… and do it well.

 

The same applies on the defensive end of the ball. There’s a Tennessee Volunteer about to be drafted that will likely be a Top 5 pick. But is Eric Berry a safety, linebacker or defensive back? He’s played all those positions. Whoever drafts him will likely narrow down his position to just one but he’s still a multi-talented, multi-purpose threat on the defensive end of the ball. He’s another hybrid.

 

The same has happened in basketball over the past few years. Sure, Magic Johnson played center for the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1980 Finals but Magic was a point guard first and foremost. These days we have a number of hybrids. Kevin Garnett was a seven foot small forward when he came into the league. Then he matured and now plays both power forward and center for the Celtics as needed. Is Dirk Nowitzki a small forward or a power forward? Is Tim Duncan a power forward or a center? Are Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and LeBron James shooting guards or small forwards? Was Allen Iverson a point guard or a shooting guard? The answer to all these questions is yes.

 

Alonzo Mourning was a center but played power forward at Georgetown when Dikembe Mutombo patrolled the paint. Jalen Rose was a small forward for Michigan but was as adept at bringing the ball up the floor as any of their point guards. Rajon Rondo wasn’t a full-time point guard at Kentucky but in the NBA, he’s one of the best point guards in the league.

 

Back in the day, there were position players. Not so much any more.

 

rick-ankiel-game-saving-catch

To a lesser extent, baseball has also seen players play multiple positions successfully. Craig Biggio is the first name that comes to mind. Biggio went from playing catcher to second base to outfield then back to second. The kid could play wherever his manager wanted. Rick Ankiel went from pitcher to outfielder, a move which left baseball purists scratching their heads. Unless your name is Babe Ruth, that simply does not happen.

 

The ability to play multiple positions often works to the benefit of the team at the expense of the player. Don’t kid yourself. Pro Bowl and All-Star game nominations mean more to players than you think. They like the recognition of being the best of the best. Not to mention bonus checks are often tied into All-Star Game and Pro Bowl appearances.

 

Back in the day, when we all collected baseball cards, the back of the card listed a player’s statistics. The front had his picture, team and position. I haven’t bought a sports card in years. I have no idea what position is says for Percy Harvin. Maybe it should simply say AP for All-Purpose.

 

Sport has become more exciting thanks to the hybrid athlete. They give their team considerable more opportunity to make things happen, both offensively and defensively.Let’s just hope their sports don’t hold it against them.

More at http://sportschump.net

Last Updated ( Monday, 01 March 2010 17:47 )
 
The NCAA is doing it and now it's baseball's turn too, time for the MLB's reconfiguration
Monday, 14 June 2010 20:55    | Written by Seamus Matlack    PDF Print E-mail
Seamus Matlack

 

These first two months of the baseball season have given us highlights, like two perfect games in May (ARE YOU KIDDING ME??), and low points, like the overall play of the Baltimore Orioles, who recently announced that the organization has named this a “rebuilding year”, something that could be potentially hard to do when your blue chip player is Ty Wiggington.  But this season has also made a once forsaken thought of mine finally resurface because it can no longer be pushed away – Reconfiguration.  The NCAA is doing it, and now it’s the MLB’s turn too.

Being a Red Sox fan, it drives me crazy to think that in the American League East, the Red Sox are in fourth place, but if they were in the absolute wasteland of baseball, the American League West, the Sox would be in first place. And there is only one reason for this - the MLB creates a completive atmosphere where anyone who wants to survive must keep up with their competition. This is fine as long as the competition is equal in every division; but it’s not.  For example, in the AL East, the Yankees started spending money and buying rings in the early 2000’s like some high school prospect who was good enough to be recruited by whichever team John Callepiri was coaching that year.  This made the Red Sox jealous. They got a smart new General Manager, Theo Epstein, and started putting up the cash as well. And after the Red Sox actually got competitive in 2003, and then were World Champions (don’t even get me started on that) in 2004 and 2007, Tampa Bay finally realized that it no longer could stay hidden in the swamp lands of Florida because they was getting smoked every year, and so they made the executive decision to actually try in 2008, which turned out to be a pretty swell choice with a run at the World Series (again please don’t get me started on that name). Finally, this past year, Toronto realized that if they got rid of Roy Holliday and finally had some money to spend, they too could compete with the big boys. And look what happened. As of right now out of the top five teams in the American League, four are from the AL East.

THE WAY I SEE IT- Reconfiguration is finally a necessity. And I don’t mean moving around teams from the East into a division way out in the West.  I don’t hate the Yankees that much to send them to that God forsaken place (fine, California you’re  cool because you have Arnold Schwarzenegger).  I mean real reconfiguration - dropping the divisions.  The top four teams in the American League advance and the top four in the National League advance into the playoffs. The MLB has the perfect amount of teams to achieve this as well. With 15 teams in each league, no one can possibly get to a point where their franchise is so bad it isn’t possible to get better. The reasons being that farm systems are far more important in baseball than any other sport, so you always have hundreds of new players to work on.  And players are tossed around like beach volleyballs in the bleachers at Fenway Park, meaning that if you save up for a few years you can always provide the funds to sign some new franchise face.

Unfortunately, I doubt that Bud Selig is reading this so reconfiguration is about as likely as South Korea winning the World Cup this year.  But you just wait and see when two of the top four teams in the American League don’t actually get to play baseball in October.

 

- Sorry guys, I tried to photoshop Baltimore out of this photo but after a half an hour I gave up...

http://www.realclearsports.com/blognetwork/200_miles_from_the_citi/AL_East.JPG

 

Last Updated ( Monday, 14 June 2010 21:26 )
 
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