Well, UFC 71 has come and gone. Keeping with the last few pay-per-views, there were some startling surprises. Most striking was newcomer Housten Alexander’s complete domination of veteran Keith Jardine. Jardine looked less like “The Dean of Mean”—his UFC moniker—and more like “The Dean of Mildly Upset” as Alexander rained down a series of unanswered blows less than a minute into the first. Jardine entered the fight a heavy favorite and drew Alexander’s ire when he stated in pre-fight interviews that he needed to fight quality opponents. Alexander made a bold statement in his debut and has gone from unknown newcomer to contender overnight.
My thoughts:
Keith Jardine has to feel like a real doofus right now. He failed to give a dangerous opponent any respect before the fight and was then brutally KO'd-- and that in less than a minute!--by a man who, by his own determination, didn't possess the credentials to fight him. A loss to Alexander under any circumstance would have been detrimental to his career, but now his beatdown is stigmatized by poor sportsmanship and refusal to respect his opponent. He didn't only lose badly; he looked like a total fool in the process.
Challenger Quinton “Rampage” Jackson stunned all those in attendance with his first-round knockout of long-time champion Chuck Liddell. About three minutes into the fight Liddell attempted a shot to the body, but Jackson countered with a looping right hook that dropped the champion. Jackson followed up with a series a strikes to the head before the referee had to step in and stop the fight. In the post-fight interview, Pride star Dan Henderson, who currently holds both Pride’s welterweight and middleweight belts, stepped into the octagon to challenge Jackson. Given Liddell’s two losses to Jackson and his lack of competitiveness in both fights, it seems that Liddell will not get a rematch anytime soon, or at least as long as Jackson has the belt.
My thoughts:
What's got to be going though Chuck Liddell's head right now? He enters the fight with one of the most impressive strings of victories in the history of the sport. He has been dominating some of the fiercest fighters in the business. He has shown no signs of mortality. Then after a quick right hook and some follow-up shots, his title run has come to an end. Given Chuck's ego and his confidence in his own abilities, it's going to be interesting to see how he recovers from this. The early rumor is that his comeback fight will be against long-time nemesis Wanderlei Silva, but we've been promised that fight before.
Final Thoughts:
I got to say that I was a little disappointed with Liddell-Jackson fight. MMA fans like me have been anticipating this fight for the better part of three years, and the whole fight barely three minutes! What’s worse, both fighters spent the first two minutes barely throwing a punch. The first fight was a war—even at first but with Jackson gaining momentum as the bout progressed. Most of us expected the same in the rematch, but instead we saw two and a half minutes of hesitancy followed by five seconds of action. I would’ve like to have seen a couple rounds of action—that at the very least.
But what’s done is done, and Quinton “Rampage” now sips atop the light-heavyweight hill.
Fighting Pundit
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
***Breaking News***
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2887316
It's gone from bad to worse for the St. Louis Cardinals. ESPN.com reports Yadier Molina will miss 4-6 weeks with a factured wrist. I may be going out on a limb here but I think this injury is more devastating than the Carpenter injury. Molina is the glue that holds that make-shift rotation together. Without him guys like Looper and Thompson wouldn't be near what they are. Throw in the fact that he had been hitting .273 and you have a potential nail in the coffin for the 2007 St. Louis Cardinals.
It's gone from bad to worse for the St. Louis Cardinals. ESPN.com reports Yadier Molina will miss 4-6 weeks with a factured wrist. I may be going out on a limb here but I think this injury is more devastating than the Carpenter injury. Molina is the glue that holds that make-shift rotation together. Without him guys like Looper and Thompson wouldn't be near what they are. Throw in the fact that he had been hitting .273 and you have a potential nail in the coffin for the 2007 St. Louis Cardinals.
Blurbs
I mentioned in my Welcome column that I would be posting random thoughts and rants regarding breaking sports news. Well, here we go. Look for the post title "Blurbs" on a semi-regular basis for these incoherent ramblings. Also, feel free to leave a comment or email me at antploza1908@yahoo.com if you have more to say than the comment section will allow. And, we're off....
• The Cleveland Cavaliers tied its series with the Detroit Pistons at 2-2 last night with a 91-87 win at home. How many of you are actually watching the NBA? I don’t think it’s just me when I say it has become almost unwatchable the last few years. NBA analysts will say people aren’t interested this year because the teams involved don’t play exciting basketball. But, I say if the best 22 year old on the planet (LeBron James), the greatest power forward of all time (Tim Duncan), and a point guard that is quickly becoming one of the best young guards in the league (Deron Williams) doesn’t spark interest in this year’s playoffs, nothing will.
• One more quick NBA point. I don’t understand why college basketball fans aren’t tuning into the NBA more this year. College bball fans have always been quick to point out that college games are more exciting because the fans are more into it. They’ll also say college players show more passion and the fundamentals are great to watch. But all of those points describe this year’s NBA playoffs. The fans in the Utah-Golden State series alone could give any college game a run for its money. And we’re headed for a Pistons-Spurs Final that nobody will watch. But aren’t these two teams basically high-level college teams? Fundamentals? Check. Team defense? Check. Passion and intensity? Check. So why don’t more people watch the NBA? Do they resent the high-dollar athlete? If this is true, why do the NFL and MLB thrive? I would like to hear your thoughts on this….leave a comment or shoot me an email and tell me why you think more people don’t watch pro basketball.
• Roger Clemens will likely start on Monday against the White Sox for a Yankees team that is now 14.5 games out of first. Is it just me or does this have bad idea written all over it? I haven’t seen such bad judgment from a 40something since Sharon Stone decided to let it breathe in Basic Instinct 2.
• *BREAKING NEWS* The relationship between Kobe Bryant and Lakers’ brass has reached a climax. Today on ESPN radio, Bryant said his relationship with the Lakers is irreparable and he would like to be traded. Ok, maybe now I see why people hate the NBA. Kobe might just be the most selfish basketball player of our generation. Moving on…..
• Major League Baseball has announced its draft will now be televised. A quick show of hands here…how many of you can name 3 of the top 30 projected picks? Does anyone know what pick the Cardinals have? Does anyone care? Yeah, me neither. All I can say is if I start watching this, it had better make it longer than 6 Degrees or Reunion.
• http://www.tvhell.net/tvhellnews.html Let me get this straight…we’re losing The Sopranos and The Wire in the same year and now we’re stuck with a Grey's Anatomy spinoff? Which will last longer, the Grey’s spinoff or Joey (the Friends spinoff)? Just as long as Sportscenter airs 10 times daily….I’m good.
• https://auction01.charitybuzz.com/secure/viewItemDetail.do?auction_item_id=8834 Deadspin.com reports this beauty. So you’re telling me the estimated value of a coaching session with Knicks coach Isiah Thomas is $10,000? For those of you that don’t follow basketball, let me put this in perspective for you. It would be like taking acting lessons from Keanu Reeves. Or like having Leonard Little as your AA sponsor. Or like taking media training from Barry Bonds. Or like having Paris Hilton as your daughter’s mentor. Or like having Michael Jackson baby sit your kids. Or like having Michael Vick as your dog-sitter. Or like having Snoop Dogg as your Dare instructor. Or like me giving poker lessons. Or like Tyler Perry preaching moderation. Or like….you get the idea.
• http://deadspin.com/sports/cultural-oddsmaker/who-will-win-the-2007-scripps-national-spelling-bee-261487.php What are the odds that these kids get beat up in school? I’ll take the Indian kid for $20.
The People's Champ
• The Cleveland Cavaliers tied its series with the Detroit Pistons at 2-2 last night with a 91-87 win at home. How many of you are actually watching the NBA? I don’t think it’s just me when I say it has become almost unwatchable the last few years. NBA analysts will say people aren’t interested this year because the teams involved don’t play exciting basketball. But, I say if the best 22 year old on the planet (LeBron James), the greatest power forward of all time (Tim Duncan), and a point guard that is quickly becoming one of the best young guards in the league (Deron Williams) doesn’t spark interest in this year’s playoffs, nothing will.
• One more quick NBA point. I don’t understand why college basketball fans aren’t tuning into the NBA more this year. College bball fans have always been quick to point out that college games are more exciting because the fans are more into it. They’ll also say college players show more passion and the fundamentals are great to watch. But all of those points describe this year’s NBA playoffs. The fans in the Utah-Golden State series alone could give any college game a run for its money. And we’re headed for a Pistons-Spurs Final that nobody will watch. But aren’t these two teams basically high-level college teams? Fundamentals? Check. Team defense? Check. Passion and intensity? Check. So why don’t more people watch the NBA? Do they resent the high-dollar athlete? If this is true, why do the NFL and MLB thrive? I would like to hear your thoughts on this….leave a comment or shoot me an email and tell me why you think more people don’t watch pro basketball.
• Roger Clemens will likely start on Monday against the White Sox for a Yankees team that is now 14.5 games out of first. Is it just me or does this have bad idea written all over it? I haven’t seen such bad judgment from a 40something since Sharon Stone decided to let it breathe in Basic Instinct 2.
• *BREAKING NEWS* The relationship between Kobe Bryant and Lakers’ brass has reached a climax. Today on ESPN radio, Bryant said his relationship with the Lakers is irreparable and he would like to be traded. Ok, maybe now I see why people hate the NBA. Kobe might just be the most selfish basketball player of our generation. Moving on…..
• Major League Baseball has announced its draft will now be televised. A quick show of hands here…how many of you can name 3 of the top 30 projected picks? Does anyone know what pick the Cardinals have? Does anyone care? Yeah, me neither. All I can say is if I start watching this, it had better make it longer than 6 Degrees or Reunion.
• http://www.tvhell.net/tvhellnews.html Let me get this straight…we’re losing The Sopranos and The Wire in the same year and now we’re stuck with a Grey's Anatomy spinoff? Which will last longer, the Grey’s spinoff or Joey (the Friends spinoff)? Just as long as Sportscenter airs 10 times daily….I’m good.
• https://auction01.charitybuzz.com/secure/viewItemDetail.do?auction_item_id=8834 Deadspin.com reports this beauty. So you’re telling me the estimated value of a coaching session with Knicks coach Isiah Thomas is $10,000? For those of you that don’t follow basketball, let me put this in perspective for you. It would be like taking acting lessons from Keanu Reeves. Or like having Leonard Little as your AA sponsor. Or like taking media training from Barry Bonds. Or like having Paris Hilton as your daughter’s mentor. Or like having Michael Jackson baby sit your kids. Or like having Michael Vick as your dog-sitter. Or like having Snoop Dogg as your Dare instructor. Or like me giving poker lessons. Or like Tyler Perry preaching moderation. Or like….you get the idea.
• http://deadspin.com/sports/cultural-oddsmaker/who-will-win-the-2007-scripps-national-spelling-bee-261487.php What are the odds that these kids get beat up in school? I’ll take the Indian kid for $20.
The People's Champ
Friday, May 25, 2007
My UFC 71 Prediction
We are only one day away from the Chuck Liddell-Quinton Jackson rematch, and I can’t wait for the fight. If you’ve read my previous post, you’ll see that I don’t have much new to say. Liddell will certainly enter the Octagon the favorite, but I’m surprised to how close the betting lines are. Most websites have it about -180/+150 in Liddell’s favor. When you take into account that Liddell has shown very little weakness since his fourth round TKO over Horn, and that Jackson still has unavenged losses to Shogun and Wanderlei Silva, you’d think the betting deck would be stacked a lot higher against against Jackson. Regardless, this fight is way too close for me to call with any degree of confidence. But when I really think about—when I really examine each fighter’s motivation —my gut tells me that Jackson is going to take this fight.
Jackson has everything to gain by winning on Saturday. He’s been of the verge of MMA superstardom for several years now, but has yet to secure a title in one of the major organizations. He fought Wanderlei Silva for Pride’s middleweight championship, but lost that fight via brutal KO. He was subsequently maimed by Mauricio “Shogun” Hua and never saw another title shot. Come tomorrow night, however, Jackson will be fighting for the sport’s most coveted light-heavyweight title on the world’s largest stage.
When you really break it down, Jackson every reason to fight like his life depends on it. A second victory over Liddell will completely change Jackson’s life, and he knows that. He knows that the wealth and fanfare that accompany the title will replace the indigence and humility that marked his childhood. Pride, on the other hands, seems to be Liddell’s primary motivation for taking this fight. He is no doubt approaching the twilight of his career, and at this point he seems to want only to prove to himself that he is better than Jackson—that the first fight was a fluke. Both fighters will enter the octagon tomorrow night with bestial aggression, but only Jackson will be able to maintain it throughout the fight. I don’t think’s pride will not be enough to push him for five rounds. If Jackson makes it past the first three rounds, the UFC will have a new light-heavyweight champion
My reluctant pick: Rampage via referee stoppage
fighting pundit
Jackson has everything to gain by winning on Saturday. He’s been of the verge of MMA superstardom for several years now, but has yet to secure a title in one of the major organizations. He fought Wanderlei Silva for Pride’s middleweight championship, but lost that fight via brutal KO. He was subsequently maimed by Mauricio “Shogun” Hua and never saw another title shot. Come tomorrow night, however, Jackson will be fighting for the sport’s most coveted light-heavyweight title on the world’s largest stage.
When you really break it down, Jackson every reason to fight like his life depends on it. A second victory over Liddell will completely change Jackson’s life, and he knows that. He knows that the wealth and fanfare that accompany the title will replace the indigence and humility that marked his childhood. Pride, on the other hands, seems to be Liddell’s primary motivation for taking this fight. He is no doubt approaching the twilight of his career, and at this point he seems to want only to prove to himself that he is better than Jackson—that the first fight was a fluke. Both fighters will enter the octagon tomorrow night with bestial aggression, but only Jackson will be able to maintain it throughout the fight. I don’t think’s pride will not be enough to push him for five rounds. If Jackson makes it past the first three rounds, the UFC will have a new light-heavyweight champion
My reluctant pick: Rampage via referee stoppage
fighting pundit
The Price Is Right
Memorial Day weekend. Barbecues. Swimming pools open. Random baseball games on television. The unofficial beginning of summer for much of the country. Many people will head out of town this weekend, myself included. Since I live in Vegas, instead of my city being deserted as people take their vacations, it will be much more crowded. As my wife and I make the drive over the Nevada-California border, even in the middle of the day on a weekend, there is often bumper to bumper traffic through the desert heading towards Vegas on a weekend such as this. Thank God we're heading the other way! On to SoCal for a few days.
Is there a better weekend getaway than SoCal?? Perfect weather, beautiful women, the best beaches anywhere (have not yet been to South Beach), any entertainment you'd ever want. Deal me in. The focus of the trip actually has nothing to do with any of the above. Ever since I was 3, I've watched a certain daytime television show. I used to call it, "The Come on Down Show". The show debuted on September 4, 1972, 7 years before I was born. Bob Barker has made The Price Is Right an American legend ever since. Multiple generations are entertained by the show daily.
Think back to the last time you called in sick to work. Maybe a random "off" day during the week with no definite plans. Did you turn on the television? Was it turned to The Price is Right at one point? If you are like me, no matter how sick or bored you were...The Price Is Right was there to comfort and entertain you It puts your mind at ease and makes you forget about your crazy world for at least a few minutes.
On June 6, Bob's 35 year legacy comes to an end. Because of this, it is an emergency that I try to see a taping of the show. There are many others like me. Always wanted to go see the show, never got around to it, and now...it's almost too late. The best I could do was to score stand-by tickets. It seems a long shot to get into the studio. The taping: May 29. My birthday. Wake-up time: 5:00 AM. All of this to get to the studio when the gates open just to wait around until 9 AM to find out if there is any chance at all I'll get in. Because I'm a Cubs fan, faith is not a problem. I believe in spite of the long odds against me. I expect to get in. Is it worth all of this?
Of course it is. I've always dreamt of getting swept into the excitement of the show in person. Maybe even getting called on stage? What if that happened? I could spin the big wheel! Maybe even win a nice prize! Truly it would be 15 minutes of fame. But who cares? You've got to try and live your dreams out no matter how big or how small. And this dream may never happen, but I'm damn sure going to try to make it happen.
That's today's lesson. If you have a dream, pursue it. At least try to make it happen. So what if you don't succeed? In my short time on earth, I've met way too many people that played it "safe" most of their lives and carry those regrets to their grave. If you have a natural talent, develop it. Use it. Don't be scared of failure or rejection. Some of these may seem like cliches, but they are absolutely true.
So as I pursue my dream, a dream that may seem random to many, I realize things may not go as planned. I may never even make it into the studio. Yikes! What a disappointment, and on my birthday nonetheless! But wait, I'm in sunny Southern California still! Eureka! The beach is only a few minutes away! And I have Angels tickets too?! And maybe even Stanley Cup Finals tickets on the 30th?! (That is one ticket a St. Louis hockey fan NEVER had the chance of). In fact, I like to think of the St. Louis Blues as the Chicago Cubs of hockey...but that's for a different blog.
So this weekend, lighten up. Take a couple steps back. Turn the television off for once. Breathe in deep. Have fun. Insert another cliche here. Life is way too short to not do so. And pray for me to hear possibly the happiest words of my life: "Rich Kim, come on down!, you are the next contestant on The Price is Right."
Rich Kim
Is there a better weekend getaway than SoCal?? Perfect weather, beautiful women, the best beaches anywhere (have not yet been to South Beach), any entertainment you'd ever want. Deal me in. The focus of the trip actually has nothing to do with any of the above. Ever since I was 3, I've watched a certain daytime television show. I used to call it, "The Come on Down Show". The show debuted on September 4, 1972, 7 years before I was born. Bob Barker has made The Price Is Right an American legend ever since. Multiple generations are entertained by the show daily.
Think back to the last time you called in sick to work. Maybe a random "off" day during the week with no definite plans. Did you turn on the television? Was it turned to The Price is Right at one point? If you are like me, no matter how sick or bored you were...The Price Is Right was there to comfort and entertain you It puts your mind at ease and makes you forget about your crazy world for at least a few minutes.
On June 6, Bob's 35 year legacy comes to an end. Because of this, it is an emergency that I try to see a taping of the show. There are many others like me. Always wanted to go see the show, never got around to it, and now...it's almost too late. The best I could do was to score stand-by tickets. It seems a long shot to get into the studio. The taping: May 29. My birthday. Wake-up time: 5:00 AM. All of this to get to the studio when the gates open just to wait around until 9 AM to find out if there is any chance at all I'll get in. Because I'm a Cubs fan, faith is not a problem. I believe in spite of the long odds against me. I expect to get in. Is it worth all of this?
Of course it is. I've always dreamt of getting swept into the excitement of the show in person. Maybe even getting called on stage? What if that happened? I could spin the big wheel! Maybe even win a nice prize! Truly it would be 15 minutes of fame. But who cares? You've got to try and live your dreams out no matter how big or how small. And this dream may never happen, but I'm damn sure going to try to make it happen.
That's today's lesson. If you have a dream, pursue it. At least try to make it happen. So what if you don't succeed? In my short time on earth, I've met way too many people that played it "safe" most of their lives and carry those regrets to their grave. If you have a natural talent, develop it. Use it. Don't be scared of failure or rejection. Some of these may seem like cliches, but they are absolutely true.
So as I pursue my dream, a dream that may seem random to many, I realize things may not go as planned. I may never even make it into the studio. Yikes! What a disappointment, and on my birthday nonetheless! But wait, I'm in sunny Southern California still! Eureka! The beach is only a few minutes away! And I have Angels tickets too?! And maybe even Stanley Cup Finals tickets on the 30th?! (That is one ticket a St. Louis hockey fan NEVER had the chance of). In fact, I like to think of the St. Louis Blues as the Chicago Cubs of hockey...but that's for a different blog.
So this weekend, lighten up. Take a couple steps back. Turn the television off for once. Breathe in deep. Have fun. Insert another cliche here. Life is way too short to not do so. And pray for me to hear possibly the happiest words of my life: "Rich Kim, come on down!, you are the next contestant on The Price is Right."
Rich Kim
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Enough is Enough
I'm from the school of thought that says; if you've had too much to drink, don't drive. This may seem like common sense to most but the perception that "it isn't a big deal" is completely misguided and totally irresponsible. I never intended for this blog to turn into a cyber soapbox. Rather, I'd like to give people topics they'll enjoy reading. But with this latest development in the death of former St. Louis Cardinal Josh Hancock, I just couldn't help but chime in.
I’d be willing to bet that a great majority of people that consume alcohol (regularly or socially), at some point or another, have driven while over the legal limit. While I’ve been known to knock back a few brews, I’m not above that last statement. I know there have been times where I’ve driven when maybe I shouldn’t have and I’m not proud of it. To say our society has reached epidemic proportions with its lackadaisical attitude towards drinking and driving is not an exaggeration. Where does it end? How did we get to this point and how do we fix it?
I don’t pretend to have all the answers but the saying “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk” should actually mean something. Something other than, “I’m drunker than you, so you drive.” It’s always a tragedy when someone is killed in a drunk-driving accident but how many could have been prevented if we just took their keys. I understand it’s hard to tell an adult they can’t leave or drive their own vehicle home but, seriously, how hard is it to hide a set of keys from someone that’s completely bombed? If college folks can duct tape someone to a chair or shave a guy’s head when he’s trashed, taking a set a keys shouldn’t be that difficult. Until we all step up and take responsibility for ourselves and our loved ones, there is nothing positive to take from the death of a young man like Josh Hancock.
That brings us to today’s news that Josh Hancock’s father, Dean Hancock, has filed a lawsuit against Mike Shannon’s restaurant. Undoubtedly, there has to be some responsibility taken by Shannon’s, or any bar for that matter, that feeds people drinks with blatant disregard. Never once have I left a bar and been offered a cab. And how long does it take before someone is cut off for having too much to drink? When they’re so drunk they fall over or drop and bottle and break it? Is it just me or isn’t that just a little late?
So not only did Hancock’s father file suit against Shannon’s, but espn.com reports, “Other defendants include Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle in the early hours of April 29; tow truck driver Jacob Edward Hargrove; and Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Hargrove.” He is suing the people that were hit by a speeding driver that was allegedly text-messaging while driving with a BAC of nearly twice the legal limit?? This brings us back to our point of taking responsibility for our actions. Dean could have taken this tragedy and used it to make a positive impact. But, instead, he has decided to place blame on those who were actually victims in this case.
Look, I realize how hard it is to lose a loved one in this manner. My father was killed in a drunk-driving accident when I was 10. Please understand I never intended to dig this deep into my personal life, but I feel it’s prudent to admit my father was the one that was drunk…and he killed another man. Though I was old enough to understand what happened, I didn’t want to admit it was his fault.
It’s only human to want to lash out in the face of tragedy. We all want there to be a Mike Shannon’s to blame. We want to say this would have never happened if that stalled vehicle wasn’t there. The truth is, the responsibility lies with all of us. It's easy to say this is all Josh Hancock's fault, afterall nobody forced him to drink that much and he made the decision to drive. But when did it get to the point where it's every man for himself? What happened to common decency? How come when we see a man stumble out of a restaurant after hours of drinking, obviously too drunk to drive, we laugh at him instead of offering a ride? While I admit Hancock made his decision, I can't help but think.....society failed him. It's almost as if society views a DUI as a nuisance rather than a wake-up call.
Tragedies like this are senseless and can be prevented. So next time you’re in the position to make a potentially life-saving decision, take the keys. Offer the couch. Take responsibility for the situation. And if that doesn’t work, just duct tape them to a chair.
The People's Champ
I’d be willing to bet that a great majority of people that consume alcohol (regularly or socially), at some point or another, have driven while over the legal limit. While I’ve been known to knock back a few brews, I’m not above that last statement. I know there have been times where I’ve driven when maybe I shouldn’t have and I’m not proud of it. To say our society has reached epidemic proportions with its lackadaisical attitude towards drinking and driving is not an exaggeration. Where does it end? How did we get to this point and how do we fix it?
I don’t pretend to have all the answers but the saying “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk” should actually mean something. Something other than, “I’m drunker than you, so you drive.” It’s always a tragedy when someone is killed in a drunk-driving accident but how many could have been prevented if we just took their keys. I understand it’s hard to tell an adult they can’t leave or drive their own vehicle home but, seriously, how hard is it to hide a set of keys from someone that’s completely bombed? If college folks can duct tape someone to a chair or shave a guy’s head when he’s trashed, taking a set a keys shouldn’t be that difficult. Until we all step up and take responsibility for ourselves and our loved ones, there is nothing positive to take from the death of a young man like Josh Hancock.
That brings us to today’s news that Josh Hancock’s father, Dean Hancock, has filed a lawsuit against Mike Shannon’s restaurant. Undoubtedly, there has to be some responsibility taken by Shannon’s, or any bar for that matter, that feeds people drinks with blatant disregard. Never once have I left a bar and been offered a cab. And how long does it take before someone is cut off for having too much to drink? When they’re so drunk they fall over or drop and bottle and break it? Is it just me or isn’t that just a little late?
So not only did Hancock’s father file suit against Shannon’s, but espn.com reports, “Other defendants include Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle in the early hours of April 29; tow truck driver Jacob Edward Hargrove; and Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Hargrove.” He is suing the people that were hit by a speeding driver that was allegedly text-messaging while driving with a BAC of nearly twice the legal limit?? This brings us back to our point of taking responsibility for our actions. Dean could have taken this tragedy and used it to make a positive impact. But, instead, he has decided to place blame on those who were actually victims in this case.
Look, I realize how hard it is to lose a loved one in this manner. My father was killed in a drunk-driving accident when I was 10. Please understand I never intended to dig this deep into my personal life, but I feel it’s prudent to admit my father was the one that was drunk…and he killed another man. Though I was old enough to understand what happened, I didn’t want to admit it was his fault.
It’s only human to want to lash out in the face of tragedy. We all want there to be a Mike Shannon’s to blame. We want to say this would have never happened if that stalled vehicle wasn’t there. The truth is, the responsibility lies with all of us. It's easy to say this is all Josh Hancock's fault, afterall nobody forced him to drink that much and he made the decision to drive. But when did it get to the point where it's every man for himself? What happened to common decency? How come when we see a man stumble out of a restaurant after hours of drinking, obviously too drunk to drive, we laugh at him instead of offering a ride? While I admit Hancock made his decision, I can't help but think.....society failed him. It's almost as if society views a DUI as a nuisance rather than a wake-up call.
Tragedies like this are senseless and can be prevented. So next time you’re in the position to make a potentially life-saving decision, take the keys. Offer the couch. Take responsibility for the situation. And if that doesn’t work, just duct tape them to a chair.
The People's Champ
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Response from Cardinal Nation
When Paul walked up to my cubicle and asked me to cover the MMA section of his fledgling sports blog, I had no idea how quickly it would devolve into a “why we love the cubbies” fan page. Although all three of us were born and raised in Saint Louis, it appears that I’m the only one of us that turned out right. I can only imagine my parents' reaction if I came out of the baseball closet and avowed my allegiance to the Cubs. I can already see mother beginning to cry and locking herself in the bathroom, my father cursing under his breath and storming out the house. There are few things that would hurt my family more than if I recanted my faith in the Cardinals.
I’ll end the satire here. After all, being a Cubs fan is nothing to joke about. It entails immeasurable amounts of commitment, sacrifice—oftentimes self-loathing---but above all, loyalty. I don’t agree with Cubs fans, nor do I like many of them, but I do respect anyone who can continue to support the team that they love after nearly a century of failure. I have little tolerance for those who sport the faux Cub paraphernalia that litters many Saint Louis area stores. Cubs stands for “Completely Useless By September,” taunts one popular tee-shirt. Cards and Cubs fans will always be at odds, I understand, but both sides should maintain a certain level of respect.
Now that you’ve heard about my fellow bloggers’ tragic paths to Cub-fandom, let me tell you 3 reasons why you should support the Cardinals.
3) A History of Greatness
While the Cubs have had some encounters with greatness—players like Ernie Banks, Ryan Sandberg, and pre-and-post-prime Greg Maddux, those names pale in comparison to those who have worn the Cardinals uniform. Bob Gibson, for example, will go down in the annals of big-league ball as one the top ten pitchers in history with over three thousand strikeouts and a career ERA of 2.91. In 1968 he was so dominant—his ERA was 1.12 that year—that Major League Baseball lowered the pitcher’s mound just to give hitters a chance—and Sports Illustrated recently ranking him as the most intimidating pitcher in the history of baseball. And Gibson is by no means the team’s greatest player. Beside him stand Stan Musial, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith—arguably the greatest defensive player ever—and now Albert Pujols. I’d go on, but I think you get it.
2) A Winning Legacy
Last year the Cardinals won their tenth World Championship, second in baseball only to the New York Yankees. Add that to over twenty National League Championships and myriad division titles, and you have the second most winning franchise in the sport. They have had their down years, but are by and large a successful franchise.
1) Heart Like No Other
The Cardinals have found a way to win even when the deck is stacked against them. In 2002 the redbirds suffered a devastating loss when a starter passed away mid-season. The team had every reason to fold, but rallied to win 97 games and win the division. The Cardinals finished the 2006 season with a disappointing 83 wins and just avoided the greatest end-of-season breakdown in baseball history. Even the most loyal Cardinal fans predicted a quick three-and-out in their opening series against the Padres. Not only did they win the series, but they also dispatched the heavily-favored Mets and Tigers en route to becoming the most unlikely World Series Champions in recent memory. The Cardinals were the Rocky Balboa of the 2006 season, and how can you not root for Rocky? Things look bleak again for the birds at this point in the season, but their track records shows that they can turn it around.
Needless to say, it’s hard for me to imagine how any human being—let alone those with roots in Saint Louis –can not be a Cardinals fan. I guess there are some things we're just not supposed to know.
I’ll end the satire here. After all, being a Cubs fan is nothing to joke about. It entails immeasurable amounts of commitment, sacrifice—oftentimes self-loathing---but above all, loyalty. I don’t agree with Cubs fans, nor do I like many of them, but I do respect anyone who can continue to support the team that they love after nearly a century of failure. I have little tolerance for those who sport the faux Cub paraphernalia that litters many Saint Louis area stores. Cubs stands for “Completely Useless By September,” taunts one popular tee-shirt. Cards and Cubs fans will always be at odds, I understand, but both sides should maintain a certain level of respect.
Now that you’ve heard about my fellow bloggers’ tragic paths to Cub-fandom, let me tell you 3 reasons why you should support the Cardinals.
3) A History of Greatness
While the Cubs have had some encounters with greatness—players like Ernie Banks, Ryan Sandberg, and pre-and-post-prime Greg Maddux, those names pale in comparison to those who have worn the Cardinals uniform. Bob Gibson, for example, will go down in the annals of big-league ball as one the top ten pitchers in history with over three thousand strikeouts and a career ERA of 2.91. In 1968 he was so dominant—his ERA was 1.12 that year—that Major League Baseball lowered the pitcher’s mound just to give hitters a chance—and Sports Illustrated recently ranking him as the most intimidating pitcher in the history of baseball. And Gibson is by no means the team’s greatest player. Beside him stand Stan Musial, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith—arguably the greatest defensive player ever—and now Albert Pujols. I’d go on, but I think you get it.
2) A Winning Legacy
Last year the Cardinals won their tenth World Championship, second in baseball only to the New York Yankees. Add that to over twenty National League Championships and myriad division titles, and you have the second most winning franchise in the sport. They have had their down years, but are by and large a successful franchise.
1) Heart Like No Other
The Cardinals have found a way to win even when the deck is stacked against them. In 2002 the redbirds suffered a devastating loss when a starter passed away mid-season. The team had every reason to fold, but rallied to win 97 games and win the division. The Cardinals finished the 2006 season with a disappointing 83 wins and just avoided the greatest end-of-season breakdown in baseball history. Even the most loyal Cardinal fans predicted a quick three-and-out in their opening series against the Padres. Not only did they win the series, but they also dispatched the heavily-favored Mets and Tigers en route to becoming the most unlikely World Series Champions in recent memory. The Cardinals were the Rocky Balboa of the 2006 season, and how can you not root for Rocky? Things look bleak again for the birds at this point in the season, but their track records shows that they can turn it around.
Needless to say, it’s hard for me to imagine how any human being—let alone those with roots in Saint Louis –can not be a Cardinals fan. I guess there are some things we're just not supposed to know.
Monday, May 21, 2007
NO APOLOGIES
The Preakness came and went. Having the race nearly perfectly handicapped, I felt confident as the race unfolded just as I expected. Street Sense then streaked by Curlin and company at the quarter pole....he's on his way.....WAIT. HANG ON! OH NO! The finish literally brought me to my knees. How could this happen? You don't ever see a horse get passed at the quarter pole and then out of nowhere come back and win. It just doesn't happen. This kind of luck is what I have become accustomed to in my fascination of poker, gambling, and the sports world. I can sum it up in the following statement: I'm a die-hard Cubs fan.
People who are not Cubs fans simply cannot know what it's like to be one. For those who truly want to have some idea, HBO did a 1 hour special called "Wait Til Next Year". Basically, it's a brief history of the Chicago Cubs and the fans that have seen it all. The documentary, like many Cubs games over the years, left me in tears.
The idea that the Cubs have not been to a World Series since 1945, and that they have not won a World Series since 1908, makes Cubs fans some of the best and most loyal fans in any sport. What other franchise has endured so many hardships over the years, yet not lost it's fan base? I can't name one. A team like the Boston Red Sox, perhaps, could stake a claim to this. However, Boston has now won a championship and tries every year to outspend the Yankees. As time goes on, they will no longer fit into this category. The Red Sox fans paid their dues, and good for them. But now, they are just like the Yanks...but more likable.
Growing up in St. Louis, my father tried to raise me right. He taught me about the Cardinals and how great they were to cheer for. I watched intensely as they blew the Series in 85 to the Royals and in 87 to the Twins. I was 6, and 8 years old respectively. How could it be that they lost? All the people I knew said they would win? All the kids at my school blamed the umpires, so I did too. It was the only thing that could make sense. After 1987, the Cardinals went through a slumbering period that lasted until the mid 1990s. Ugly, stale Busch Stadium, smaller crowds, and a mediocre team made baseball not that fun. During the same time period, I started to have a mind of my own. It was during this period of time I made a life altering decision. I was now a Cubs fan. Why?
There are several reasons why it was more fun to cheer for the Cubbies, but I'll just name a few. For starters, majestic Wrigley Field. My family had friends in Chicago whom we would go visit on occasion. I believe it was 1991 when I made my first trip to Wrigley. It was a mid-May game and the Cubs were in last place. To my amazement, the people at Wrigley genuinely thought they were watching a team that was in 1st. It made no sense to my little mind. I was taught that the "Cubs suck". Most of the time, those people are probably right, but how could this many people be so drawn to a lousy team? I was intrigued. The game was a classic Cubs game. The wind blowing was out to right, and as normal, it was a high scoring game. The Cubs hit a couple of long balls and life was good. Then the pitching, and the dreaded Cubs bullpen came to the rescue. Whoever it is the Cubs played that day..Philly maybe? took the lead and held it for good. But wait! The Cubs had the tying and winning runs on base in the bottom of the ninth and only one out! We're going to win! Well, not exactly, but they made it exciting! And that is the classic Cubs game. I cannot begin to imagine how many I've seen over the years. Cubs fall behind, usually an error or a botched play involved, Cubs rally...and then fall short in the end. Like sadistic poetry.
After the trip to Wrigley, I found myself turning on WGN after school or on summer vacation to watch the Cubs out of sheer curiosity. It was perfect! Sit inside in the air conditioning on a hot, humid St. Louis summer day and watch the Cubs game or go sweat to death playing outside with my friends? I was not a dumb kid! As I watched a few games, I learned to appreciate Harry Caray's personality and the way he called a baseball game. He really did make the game more exciting! I'll give Harry his props in another blog posting, but essentially he was a fan with a microphone. He was not afraid to say what was on his mind. Sadly, in today's politically correct world, he is now an extinct breed. If a player made a great play, he was the first to congratulate him. Conversely, if a player made a bad play he would be the first to criticize. I miss Harry and in my opinion, there will never be an announcer of any sport that can make the game as exciting as he made it.
Not only did Harry make the games more exciting, but in the early 90's, the Cubs games were actually very entertaining. Sandberg, Grace, Dawson, Maddux. These players became my favorite athletes. During this time period, the Cubs were normally better than my hometown Cardinals and had much more allure. Several visits to Wrigley, reinforced my love for the Chicago Cubs. By the time the Cardinals became good again, I was already hooked onto the Cubbies. Once you are a Cubs fan, I don't think it's possible to ever change back. You are hooked. Cubs fans simply do not ever give up hope. If our team isn't good in the current year, then wait until next year!
So for those main reasons, I make no apologies for being a Cubs fan being born and raised in St. Louis. The Cards won a championship last year, and good for them. I'm happy for them and their fans. I won't go into the fact that at 83 wins, they are probably the worst ever World Champion...but still a World Champion nonetheless. All that I know is, when the Cardinals players and fans celebrated their championship last year, it will not be 1/10th of the celebration that Cubs players and fans are going to have WHEN we win it all. And perhaps maybe this year is next year! The collective hoping against hope will someday burst into utter jubilation and euphoria. Children will shout and grown men will cry. Soon thereafter, the world may come to an abrupt end. Sadistic poetry, but poetry nonetheless.
Rich Kim
People who are not Cubs fans simply cannot know what it's like to be one. For those who truly want to have some idea, HBO did a 1 hour special called "Wait Til Next Year". Basically, it's a brief history of the Chicago Cubs and the fans that have seen it all. The documentary, like many Cubs games over the years, left me in tears.
The idea that the Cubs have not been to a World Series since 1945, and that they have not won a World Series since 1908, makes Cubs fans some of the best and most loyal fans in any sport. What other franchise has endured so many hardships over the years, yet not lost it's fan base? I can't name one. A team like the Boston Red Sox, perhaps, could stake a claim to this. However, Boston has now won a championship and tries every year to outspend the Yankees. As time goes on, they will no longer fit into this category. The Red Sox fans paid their dues, and good for them. But now, they are just like the Yanks...but more likable.
Growing up in St. Louis, my father tried to raise me right. He taught me about the Cardinals and how great they were to cheer for. I watched intensely as they blew the Series in 85 to the Royals and in 87 to the Twins. I was 6, and 8 years old respectively. How could it be that they lost? All the people I knew said they would win? All the kids at my school blamed the umpires, so I did too. It was the only thing that could make sense. After 1987, the Cardinals went through a slumbering period that lasted until the mid 1990s. Ugly, stale Busch Stadium, smaller crowds, and a mediocre team made baseball not that fun. During the same time period, I started to have a mind of my own. It was during this period of time I made a life altering decision. I was now a Cubs fan. Why?
There are several reasons why it was more fun to cheer for the Cubbies, but I'll just name a few. For starters, majestic Wrigley Field. My family had friends in Chicago whom we would go visit on occasion. I believe it was 1991 when I made my first trip to Wrigley. It was a mid-May game and the Cubs were in last place. To my amazement, the people at Wrigley genuinely thought they were watching a team that was in 1st. It made no sense to my little mind. I was taught that the "Cubs suck". Most of the time, those people are probably right, but how could this many people be so drawn to a lousy team? I was intrigued. The game was a classic Cubs game. The wind blowing was out to right, and as normal, it was a high scoring game. The Cubs hit a couple of long balls and life was good. Then the pitching, and the dreaded Cubs bullpen came to the rescue. Whoever it is the Cubs played that day..Philly maybe? took the lead and held it for good. But wait! The Cubs had the tying and winning runs on base in the bottom of the ninth and only one out! We're going to win! Well, not exactly, but they made it exciting! And that is the classic Cubs game. I cannot begin to imagine how many I've seen over the years. Cubs fall behind, usually an error or a botched play involved, Cubs rally...and then fall short in the end. Like sadistic poetry.
After the trip to Wrigley, I found myself turning on WGN after school or on summer vacation to watch the Cubs out of sheer curiosity. It was perfect! Sit inside in the air conditioning on a hot, humid St. Louis summer day and watch the Cubs game or go sweat to death playing outside with my friends? I was not a dumb kid! As I watched a few games, I learned to appreciate Harry Caray's personality and the way he called a baseball game. He really did make the game more exciting! I'll give Harry his props in another blog posting, but essentially he was a fan with a microphone. He was not afraid to say what was on his mind. Sadly, in today's politically correct world, he is now an extinct breed. If a player made a great play, he was the first to congratulate him. Conversely, if a player made a bad play he would be the first to criticize. I miss Harry and in my opinion, there will never be an announcer of any sport that can make the game as exciting as he made it.
Not only did Harry make the games more exciting, but in the early 90's, the Cubs games were actually very entertaining. Sandberg, Grace, Dawson, Maddux. These players became my favorite athletes. During this time period, the Cubs were normally better than my hometown Cardinals and had much more allure. Several visits to Wrigley, reinforced my love for the Chicago Cubs. By the time the Cardinals became good again, I was already hooked onto the Cubbies. Once you are a Cubs fan, I don't think it's possible to ever change back. You are hooked. Cubs fans simply do not ever give up hope. If our team isn't good in the current year, then wait until next year!
So for those main reasons, I make no apologies for being a Cubs fan being born and raised in St. Louis. The Cards won a championship last year, and good for them. I'm happy for them and their fans. I won't go into the fact that at 83 wins, they are probably the worst ever World Champion...but still a World Champion nonetheless. All that I know is, when the Cardinals players and fans celebrated their championship last year, it will not be 1/10th of the celebration that Cubs players and fans are going to have WHEN we win it all. And perhaps maybe this year is next year! The collective hoping against hope will someday burst into utter jubilation and euphoria. Children will shout and grown men will cry. Soon thereafter, the world may come to an abrupt end. Sadistic poetry, but poetry nonetheless.
Rich Kim
Title Turmoil in the UFC's Welterweight Division
The UFC now has an unlikely welterweight champion. Divisional powerhouse Georges St. Pierre won the welterweight belt in a lopsided TKO victory over longtime champion Matt Hughes at UFC 65, and most predicted a long title reign for the Canadian. Matt Serra, however, had other plans. Serra, who earned a title shot by winning season four of the UFC’s popular Ultimate Fighter reality show, shocked the world at UFC 69 with a first-round TKO over the heavily-favored St. Pierre and, in doing so, turned the division on its head. St. Pierre’s all-but-certain victory over Serra would have set the stage for Hughes-St. Pierre 3, one of the more anticipated fights of 2007. Instead what we’re left with is a relatively uninspiring match between Serra and Hughes, where Hughes will most likely turn out another a boring decision victory (did anyone enjoy that Lytle fight?). What’s worse, UFC president Dana White announced recently that the two will coach competing teams in the next installment of the Ultimate Fighter, which will postpone their bout until the end of the year. White no doubt recognizes the bad blood that exists between the two and seeks to capitalize on it, but the problem is that by doing so, he essentially stagnates the entire division.
I’m not one known for taking for taking a lot of strong positions, but I feel obliged to say that the UFC brass is making a big mistake here. The division is replete with championchip-caliber fighters, but now guys like Karo Parisiyan and Josh Koschek must wait in the wings while Hughes and Serra try to one-up each other on national television. Not only do I think that this is a terrible business decision, but it’s also horribly unfair to those in title contention. Josh Koschek, for example, is 7-1 in the UFC and has won five consecutive fights. Moreover, his one loss came due to a fluke knee landed late in the third round by Drew Fickett. Koschek was dominating that fight. But even with his five consecutive wins and recent decision victory over rising star Diego Sanchez, he finds himself in a precarious position. Next for Koschek is a fight with the deposed champion St. Pierre, but even a victory there will most likely not gain him a shot at the belt. Since the Hughes-Serra fight is so far off, he will likely fight again before his time comes.
Karo Parisiyan is another example. He’s 6-2 in the UFC and his only recent loss came to Diego Sanchez. He was awarded a title shot at UFC 56 but had to pull out due to injury. He hasn’t seen a shot since, and he probably won’t for some time.
Why Dana White would choose to halt the UFC’s most dynamic division just to spice up the next season of the ultimate fighter is beyond anything I understand. And it’s certainly not fair to the rest of the division. I recognize that future of the UFC rests in its ability to make the sport entertaining, but it must not do so at the expense of its athletes.
fighting pundit
I’m not one known for taking for taking a lot of strong positions, but I feel obliged to say that the UFC brass is making a big mistake here. The division is replete with championchip-caliber fighters, but now guys like Karo Parisiyan and Josh Koschek must wait in the wings while Hughes and Serra try to one-up each other on national television. Not only do I think that this is a terrible business decision, but it’s also horribly unfair to those in title contention. Josh Koschek, for example, is 7-1 in the UFC and has won five consecutive fights. Moreover, his one loss came due to a fluke knee landed late in the third round by Drew Fickett. Koschek was dominating that fight. But even with his five consecutive wins and recent decision victory over rising star Diego Sanchez, he finds himself in a precarious position. Next for Koschek is a fight with the deposed champion St. Pierre, but even a victory there will most likely not gain him a shot at the belt. Since the Hughes-Serra fight is so far off, he will likely fight again before his time comes.
Karo Parisiyan is another example. He’s 6-2 in the UFC and his only recent loss came to Diego Sanchez. He was awarded a title shot at UFC 56 but had to pull out due to injury. He hasn’t seen a shot since, and he probably won’t for some time.
Why Dana White would choose to halt the UFC’s most dynamic division just to spice up the next season of the ultimate fighter is beyond anything I understand. And it’s certainly not fair to the rest of the division. I recognize that future of the UFC rests in its ability to make the sport entertaining, but it must not do so at the expense of its athletes.
fighting pundit
Open Letter to Cardinal Nation
For any relationship to be successful, it has to be built on trust. All parties involved have to be open and honest. (I'm not getting all Dr. Phil on you, there's a point here somewhere). Besides, everyone knows guys are terrible liars, so why even risk it? Why hide the truth when it's only a matter of time before you get caught?
Now that we've established an open line of communication, let's just get this doozy out of the way. It's true, I'm a Cub's fan...always have been, always will be. I realize some of you already know this, and some of you really don't care, but as Scott "The MMA Pundit" so eloquently put it, it's a Cardinal sin to be a Cub's fan in St. Louis. It makes it even tougher when you come to work on Cardinal Day with a Mark Prior jersey on (In case you were wondering, no, I did not throw out my arm while putting the jersey on). I blame my grandfather for turning me into a Cub's fan when I was too young to understand the implications. That's right I said blame. He's the reason I'm stuck with thiscurse. ....unfortunate allegiance. He used to send me Cub's gear when I was young and impressionable, and growing up in Tennessee there were no professional teams to root for. Had I known I could possibly go my entire life without ever seeing them win a World Series (or even play in one), I might have started following hockey and been a Blues fan instead....wait....that wouldn't have worked either....
So here we are....a Cubs fan writing for an audience of Cardinals fans (nothing good can come from this).
This has obviously been a tough start for the 07 Cardinals and it just keeps getting worse. Now the fans are throwing in the towel. I haven’t seen this many people jump ship since this season of “Lost” came back from its three-month hiatus. Just like “Lost”, the decline of the defending World Series champs can be attributed to a few key factors.
1. Fans of “Lost” have complained that this season’s episodes have not lived up to the hype. This sounds very familiar, doesn’t it? This season’s Cardinals were picked to easily repeat as NL Central winners even though they only won 83 games last year and lost 3/5ths of its starting rotation. A starting rotation that wasn’t even that good to begin with. The combined ERA of the seven pitchers that started 14 games or more last year was an unsightly 5.12, with only Carpenter coming in under 4.00. So, gone this year are Suppan, Weaver, and Marquis and the key signing for the rotation was Kip Wells (career stats: 58-82, 4.57era). What did management expect out of this motley crew of hurlers?
2. The first half of the current season of “Lost” was criticized for not maintaining the same quality of prior seasons. Again, sounds familiar. Let’s face it, the Cardinals aren’t getting any younger and the play on the field has regressed with each passing year. Since getting back to the playoffs in 2004, the winning percentage for the Cards has dropped each year (04-.648, 05-.617, 06-.516, and 07-.390).
3. “Lost” has also been prone to wild, inexplicable plot twists that seem to come out of left field (in fact, that pretty much sums up my writing skills). While the decline of this Cardinals’ team has been in motion for the past few years, no team can prepare themselves for the loss of a teammate, especially under the circumstances that surrounded the Josh Hancock accident. Couple that with the loss of Chris Carpenter until mid-August and you have a full season of plot twists in the first two months. What’s next….we hear there’s more to Scott Rolen’s shoulder injury and that he’ll never be the same?
4. While no team can fully prepare itself for accidents and injuries, management must be able to make the necessary adjustments to stay competitive. The producers of “Lost” recognized the rough start to their season and did just that. So far, Cardinal Brass hasn’t made a move to get a starter or an outfielder, even though there could be some intriguing names available…..Mark Buerhle, Rich Harden, Carlos Zambrano (NO!!!), Torii Hunter, Alex Rios, Reggie Sanders, Jermaine Dye, Ken Griffey Jr.
The Cardinals are at the crossroads of their 2007 season. They’re currently 16-25 and mired in a five game losing streak. The patchwork rotation of Looper, Reyes, Thompson, Wainwright, and Wells is 11-21 but they’ll have to hold down the fort until Mulder and Carpenter return. The good news is the next 28 games are against teams that are a combined 48 games under .500. This is the best chance the Cardinals have of salvaging their season. If they can go 19-9 during this stretch (which is definitely possible) they’ll be one game over .500 and should have Mulder back within a week or so.
So, Cardinal fans, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. If the Cardinals don’t return to the playoffs this year at least you have your championship to get you through the night. And, it could always be worse…you could be a Cub’s fan.
The People's Champ
Now that we've established an open line of communication, let's just get this doozy out of the way. It's true, I'm a Cub's fan...always have been, always will be. I realize some of you already know this, and some of you really don't care, but as Scott "The MMA Pundit" so eloquently put it, it's a Cardinal sin to be a Cub's fan in St. Louis. It makes it even tougher when you come to work on Cardinal Day with a Mark Prior jersey on (In case you were wondering, no, I did not throw out my arm while putting the jersey on). I blame my grandfather for turning me into a Cub's fan when I was too young to understand the implications. That's right I said blame. He's the reason I'm stuck with this
So here we are....a Cubs fan writing for an audience of Cardinals fans (nothing good can come from this).
This has obviously been a tough start for the 07 Cardinals and it just keeps getting worse. Now the fans are throwing in the towel. I haven’t seen this many people jump ship since this season of “Lost” came back from its three-month hiatus. Just like “Lost”, the decline of the defending World Series champs can be attributed to a few key factors.
1. Fans of “Lost” have complained that this season’s episodes have not lived up to the hype. This sounds very familiar, doesn’t it? This season’s Cardinals were picked to easily repeat as NL Central winners even though they only won 83 games last year and lost 3/5ths of its starting rotation. A starting rotation that wasn’t even that good to begin with. The combined ERA of the seven pitchers that started 14 games or more last year was an unsightly 5.12, with only Carpenter coming in under 4.00. So, gone this year are Suppan, Weaver, and Marquis and the key signing for the rotation was Kip Wells (career stats: 58-82, 4.57era). What did management expect out of this motley crew of hurlers?
2. The first half of the current season of “Lost” was criticized for not maintaining the same quality of prior seasons. Again, sounds familiar. Let’s face it, the Cardinals aren’t getting any younger and the play on the field has regressed with each passing year. Since getting back to the playoffs in 2004, the winning percentage for the Cards has dropped each year (04-.648, 05-.617, 06-.516, and 07-.390).
3. “Lost” has also been prone to wild, inexplicable plot twists that seem to come out of left field (in fact, that pretty much sums up my writing skills). While the decline of this Cardinals’ team has been in motion for the past few years, no team can prepare themselves for the loss of a teammate, especially under the circumstances that surrounded the Josh Hancock accident. Couple that with the loss of Chris Carpenter until mid-August and you have a full season of plot twists in the first two months. What’s next….we hear there’s more to Scott Rolen’s shoulder injury and that he’ll never be the same?
4. While no team can fully prepare itself for accidents and injuries, management must be able to make the necessary adjustments to stay competitive. The producers of “Lost” recognized the rough start to their season and did just that. So far, Cardinal Brass hasn’t made a move to get a starter or an outfielder, even though there could be some intriguing names available…..Mark Buerhle, Rich Harden, Carlos Zambrano (NO!!!), Torii Hunter, Alex Rios, Reggie Sanders, Jermaine Dye, Ken Griffey Jr.
The Cardinals are at the crossroads of their 2007 season. They’re currently 16-25 and mired in a five game losing streak. The patchwork rotation of Looper, Reyes, Thompson, Wainwright, and Wells is 11-21 but they’ll have to hold down the fort until Mulder and Carpenter return. The good news is the next 28 games are against teams that are a combined 48 games under .500. This is the best chance the Cardinals have of salvaging their season. If they can go 19-9 during this stretch (which is definitely possible) they’ll be one game over .500 and should have Mulder back within a week or so.
So, Cardinal fans, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. If the Cardinals don’t return to the playoffs this year at least you have your championship to get you through the night. And, it could always be worse…you could be a Cub’s fan.
The People's Champ
Friday, May 18, 2007
Mixed Martial Arts
Hey All,
My name is Scott Menner and I’m just another buddy of Paul’s. We work in the same office—about three cubicles apart, in case you were wondering. Paul’s notorious in our building for his Cardinal bashing and his pro-Cub rhetoric, which is a cardinal sin (pun very much intended) when you work in Saint Louis. He even walked in the office during our Cardinals opening day celebration proudly donning a Mark Prior jersey. Think what you may, but the guy’s got guts!
Paul has recruited me to be this site’s resident MMA expert, but I would say that calling me an MMA expert is about as accurate as calling Spike Lee a casual Knicks fan. I don’t train in any martial arts, nor have I ever even been in a real fist fight. I can, however, offer a layman’s insight into a sport that I love. My knowledge isn’t extensive, but it’s ever increasing.
Introduction to Mixed Martial Arts
For those of you who are new to Mixed Martial Arts, referred to hereafter as MMA, it is an amalgam of your more traditional martial arts--including Brazilian Ju Jitsu, Judo, Sambo—and other combat sports like boxing and Greco-Roman wrestling. What events boil down to is essentially two unarmed combatants in a ring or cage. The sport, once branded as “human cockfighting” by Senator John McCain, has undergone a metamorphosis in recent years.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, or the UFC, hails as the world’s largest MMA organization and the sport’s premier venue. Whereas in the past the UFC allowed your more brutal maneuvers like hairpulling and groin shots and allowed bouts with large weight disparities, recent political scrutiny as well as efforts to maintstream the sport have tempered it a bit. The UFC has instituted five weight classes and has prohibited many of the controversial facets from its past. What we’re left with is an event where opponents combat using a combination strikes (punches, kicks, knees, etc) and submission techniques. Bouts consist of three five minute rounds for non-title matches, and title bouts may last up to five five-minute rounds. Matches are won knocking out your opponent or forcing them to submit.
Hope you enjoy MMA as much as I do.
MMA Pundit
05/17/2007
Well we’re about a week away from one of the most anticipated bouts in MMA history. Reigning light heavyweight champion Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell will be taking on brawny number one contender Quintion “Rampage” Jackson. This will be a rematch of their 2003 bout, which Jackson won after Liddell’s corner threw in the towel. What was surprising about their first match was that Jackson not only beat the heavily favored Liddell, but that he outstruck him in the process. The loss may be blamed in part to the fact that Liddell was venturing out from the UFC’s familiar confines in Vegas to fight halfway across the world in the Japanese-based PRIDE organization
The rematch, however, will unfold differently. The two will be fighting in the UFC, that is, on Liddell’s home turf. After suffering losses to several of his recent big-name opponents, Jackson has rebounded with consecutive victories over middleweight standout Matt Lindland and rival Marvin Eastman, to whom Jackson suffered his first professional loss. Chuck Liddell, on the other hand, has been unstoppable since his loss to Jackson, posting wins over many of the biggest names in the sport, including Tito Ortiz, Vernan White, Randy Couture, Renato Sobral, and Jeremy Horn. Moreover, all of Lidell’s recent victories have come by way of knockout, and only Jeremy Horn has made it past the third round.
Unlike Liddell’s last few fights, this match is difficult to pick. Once again I would have to say that the smart money is on Lidell, but Jackson poses a much bigger threat than Liddell’s last few opponents. Tito Ortiz had a shot at UFC 66, and Jackson arguably has better striking and wrestling than Tito and a significant strength advantage over Liddell. The problem for Rampage is that he must take Liddell to the ground and pound him out, and to do so he’ll have to take a few shots from the heaviest hands in the business. All Chuck needs, though, are a few solid shots to put Rampage away. Jackson definitely has the best chance of any of Liddell’s opponents since Randy Couture, but he will enter the octagon that night as a solid underdog.
My name is Scott Menner and I’m just another buddy of Paul’s. We work in the same office—about three cubicles apart, in case you were wondering. Paul’s notorious in our building for his Cardinal bashing and his pro-Cub rhetoric, which is a cardinal sin (pun very much intended) when you work in Saint Louis. He even walked in the office during our Cardinals opening day celebration proudly donning a Mark Prior jersey. Think what you may, but the guy’s got guts!
Paul has recruited me to be this site’s resident MMA expert, but I would say that calling me an MMA expert is about as accurate as calling Spike Lee a casual Knicks fan. I don’t train in any martial arts, nor have I ever even been in a real fist fight. I can, however, offer a layman’s insight into a sport that I love. My knowledge isn’t extensive, but it’s ever increasing.
Introduction to Mixed Martial Arts
For those of you who are new to Mixed Martial Arts, referred to hereafter as MMA, it is an amalgam of your more traditional martial arts--including Brazilian Ju Jitsu, Judo, Sambo—and other combat sports like boxing and Greco-Roman wrestling. What events boil down to is essentially two unarmed combatants in a ring or cage. The sport, once branded as “human cockfighting” by Senator John McCain, has undergone a metamorphosis in recent years.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, or the UFC, hails as the world’s largest MMA organization and the sport’s premier venue. Whereas in the past the UFC allowed your more brutal maneuvers like hairpulling and groin shots and allowed bouts with large weight disparities, recent political scrutiny as well as efforts to maintstream the sport have tempered it a bit. The UFC has instituted five weight classes and has prohibited many of the controversial facets from its past. What we’re left with is an event where opponents combat using a combination strikes (punches, kicks, knees, etc) and submission techniques. Bouts consist of three five minute rounds for non-title matches, and title bouts may last up to five five-minute rounds. Matches are won knocking out your opponent or forcing them to submit.
Hope you enjoy MMA as much as I do.
MMA Pundit
05/17/2007
Well we’re about a week away from one of the most anticipated bouts in MMA history. Reigning light heavyweight champion Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell will be taking on brawny number one contender Quintion “Rampage” Jackson. This will be a rematch of their 2003 bout, which Jackson won after Liddell’s corner threw in the towel. What was surprising about their first match was that Jackson not only beat the heavily favored Liddell, but that he outstruck him in the process. The loss may be blamed in part to the fact that Liddell was venturing out from the UFC’s familiar confines in Vegas to fight halfway across the world in the Japanese-based PRIDE organization
The rematch, however, will unfold differently. The two will be fighting in the UFC, that is, on Liddell’s home turf. After suffering losses to several of his recent big-name opponents, Jackson has rebounded with consecutive victories over middleweight standout Matt Lindland and rival Marvin Eastman, to whom Jackson suffered his first professional loss. Chuck Liddell, on the other hand, has been unstoppable since his loss to Jackson, posting wins over many of the biggest names in the sport, including Tito Ortiz, Vernan White, Randy Couture, Renato Sobral, and Jeremy Horn. Moreover, all of Lidell’s recent victories have come by way of knockout, and only Jeremy Horn has made it past the third round.
Unlike Liddell’s last few fights, this match is difficult to pick. Once again I would have to say that the smart money is on Lidell, but Jackson poses a much bigger threat than Liddell’s last few opponents. Tito Ortiz had a shot at UFC 66, and Jackson arguably has better striking and wrestling than Tito and a significant strength advantage over Liddell. The problem for Rampage is that he must take Liddell to the ground and pound him out, and to do so he’ll have to take a few shots from the heaviest hands in the business. All Chuck needs, though, are a few solid shots to put Rampage away. Jackson definitely has the best chance of any of Liddell’s opponents since Randy Couture, but he will enter the octagon that night as a solid underdog.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
west coast welcome
Hello everybody. Welcome to the bullpen catcher. I am the west coast edition.
A little bit about myself.
Name: Rich
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Occupation: Insurance Agent
Married: Yes. I will give you infinite reasons not to do so.
Hobbies: Poker, sports, cigars, and a good bottle of Crown Royal or Patron
Now that we have that over with, onto business. My good buddy Paul from St. Louis said he wanted me to post on this blog. I'm supposed to offer a gambling and/or west coast perspective on sports happenings. And oh yeah, "I am cool."
First blog topic: the Preakness
The setting is Pimlico. Maryland, my Maryland. I ask myself, how can it be that Street Sense gets such disrespect that his morning line is at 7-5? Worse, so far, it looks like you may get better odds than that. The ONLY Breeders Cup Juvenile winner in 23 years to win the Derby. 19th place to 1st in the Derby. Yet, he gets far better odds than Barbaro. 5 out of the last 6 Preakness winners were Derby winners...and most of them far worse than Street Sense. Curlin, Hard Spun and Xchanger are his main competitors. Strangely, Xchanger...which I consider to be this year's Bernardini has a morning line of 15-1 and as of today is 30-1 on some offshore wagering sites. If Xchanger does goes off at these long odds, he is defintely the best bet of the race. Otherwise, my bet in an 8/2-4-7/ALL trifecta. Cost $21. Risk is that either somehow Street Sense gets beat or Circular Quay gets 2nd. No way he gets 1st. (Please God don't let this horse ruin my credibiliy in my 1st blog posting). Amen.
Rich Kim
A little bit about myself.
Name: Rich
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Occupation: Insurance Agent
Married: Yes. I will give you infinite reasons not to do so.
Hobbies: Poker, sports, cigars, and a good bottle of Crown Royal or Patron
Now that we have that over with, onto business. My good buddy Paul from St. Louis said he wanted me to post on this blog. I'm supposed to offer a gambling and/or west coast perspective on sports happenings. And oh yeah, "I am cool."
First blog topic: the Preakness
The setting is Pimlico. Maryland, my Maryland. I ask myself, how can it be that Street Sense gets such disrespect that his morning line is at 7-5? Worse, so far, it looks like you may get better odds than that. The ONLY Breeders Cup Juvenile winner in 23 years to win the Derby. 19th place to 1st in the Derby. Yet, he gets far better odds than Barbaro. 5 out of the last 6 Preakness winners were Derby winners...and most of them far worse than Street Sense. Curlin, Hard Spun and Xchanger are his main competitors. Strangely, Xchanger...which I consider to be this year's Bernardini has a morning line of 15-1 and as of today is 30-1 on some offshore wagering sites. If Xchanger does goes off at these long odds, he is defintely the best bet of the race. Otherwise, my bet in an 8/2-4-7/ALL trifecta. Cost $21. Risk is that either somehow Street Sense gets beat or Circular Quay gets 2nd. No way he gets 1st. (Please God don't let this horse ruin my credibiliy in my 1st blog posting). Amen.
Rich Kim
Welcome
Well, I finally broke down and joined the wonderful world of blogs. I've been kicking around this idea for a while, but I never considered myself much of a writer so I just dismissed the idea all together. But, as I read more and more blogs, I realized you don't have to be a wordsmith to make an interesting point. I'm sure most of you already knew this but I've always been a little slow (example: I'm a Mexican who doesn't speak Spanish).
While I might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, I like to think I have a little common sense, and common sense sure does go a long way. Unfortunately, this is exactly what's wrong with the sports world today. They've taken common sense out of reporting and replaced it with a heaping helping of inflated stories and a side dish of outlandish viewpoints.
I mean, seriously, did we really need 8 months of hay-side vigil for Barbaro? No. Was it sad? Yes. Do I feel terrible for everyone involved? Of course. Do I need to know every detail of the ordeal for the better part of a year? No! As for the outlandish viewpoints, the incident that pushed me over the edge happened in mid 2005 when John Kruk, an analyst for ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" confidently predicted 30 wins that year for Randy Johnson. 30 wins!! That was the year Johnson was traded to the Yankees from the Diamondbacks and was still considered a top-notch starter, but, the most games Johnson had even started in a year was 35. The mere thought of a pitcher in today's game of baseball winning 30 of 35 games started, and that's not even factoring in the no-decisions, is completely and utterly ludicrous. Keep in mind this opinion came from a former Major League ball player. With that in mind, I pose the following questions.
1. Are you tired of the shows on a certain cable channel previously mentioned where the main goal is to scream louder than the other guy, to constantly interrupt everyone, and to make the same point over and over again....only louder each time?
2. What about local journalists that only seem to be interested in their personal relationships with area athletes and obviously lack the....well....testicular fortitude required for objective and impartial journalism?
3. Do you think St. Louis has possibly the worst sports radio hosts in the entire country (Carpeeeee Blooooowhard!)?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you might just enjoy our little blog. The main goal is to offer a unique and fresh perspective on everything that is sports. With the help of a few friends, we'll be posting columns on baseball, football, basketball, horse racing, mixed martial arts, fantasy sports, and whatever else comes to mind. To start, I'll be posting columns twice a week (probably on Monday and Thursday) and will chime in on a regular basis with thoughts on breaking stories. There will also be frequent articles posted by the aforementioned friends, without whom this blog wouldn't be possible. Expect an introduction from them in near future.
So, to the 3 or 4 of you reading this (Hi Mom and Shelly), if you don't mind a little ranting and a lot of grammatical errors, I think you'll have a good time. Please feel free to pass the address on to 100 of your closest friends and remember, all comments are welcome....good, bad, or indifferent. If you have any requests for columns just let me know or if you want to tell me how bad I suck or how cool I am, drop a line. Without further ado, I present to you.....Bullpen Catcher.
Paul Loza
aka The People's Champ
While I might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, I like to think I have a little common sense, and common sense sure does go a long way. Unfortunately, this is exactly what's wrong with the sports world today. They've taken common sense out of reporting and replaced it with a heaping helping of inflated stories and a side dish of outlandish viewpoints.
I mean, seriously, did we really need 8 months of hay-side vigil for Barbaro? No. Was it sad? Yes. Do I feel terrible for everyone involved? Of course. Do I need to know every detail of the ordeal for the better part of a year? No! As for the outlandish viewpoints, the incident that pushed me over the edge happened in mid 2005 when John Kruk, an analyst for ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" confidently predicted 30 wins that year for Randy Johnson. 30 wins!! That was the year Johnson was traded to the Yankees from the Diamondbacks and was still considered a top-notch starter, but, the most games Johnson had even started in a year was 35. The mere thought of a pitcher in today's game of baseball winning 30 of 35 games started, and that's not even factoring in the no-decisions, is completely and utterly ludicrous. Keep in mind this opinion came from a former Major League ball player. With that in mind, I pose the following questions.
1. Are you tired of the shows on a certain cable channel previously mentioned where the main goal is to scream louder than the other guy, to constantly interrupt everyone, and to make the same point over and over again....only louder each time?
2. What about local journalists that only seem to be interested in their personal relationships with area athletes and obviously lack the....well....testicular fortitude required for objective and impartial journalism?
3. Do you think St. Louis has possibly the worst sports radio hosts in the entire country (Carpeeeee Blooooowhard!)?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you might just enjoy our little blog. The main goal is to offer a unique and fresh perspective on everything that is sports. With the help of a few friends, we'll be posting columns on baseball, football, basketball, horse racing, mixed martial arts, fantasy sports, and whatever else comes to mind. To start, I'll be posting columns twice a week (probably on Monday and Thursday) and will chime in on a regular basis with thoughts on breaking stories. There will also be frequent articles posted by the aforementioned friends, without whom this blog wouldn't be possible. Expect an introduction from them in near future.
So, to the 3 or 4 of you reading this (Hi Mom and Shelly), if you don't mind a little ranting and a lot of grammatical errors, I think you'll have a good time. Please feel free to pass the address on to 100 of your closest friends and remember, all comments are welcome....good, bad, or indifferent. If you have any requests for columns just let me know or if you want to tell me how bad I suck or how cool I am, drop a line. Without further ado, I present to you.....Bullpen Catcher.
Paul Loza
aka The People's Champ
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)