Reaction to UFC 100

In what was called UFC's biggest show to date, Brock Lesnar demolished Frank Mir and solidified his spot as the UFC Heavyweight Champion. However, what happened afterwards wasn't exactly what Dana White had in mind. After his victory, Lesnar sprinted around the caged octagon saluting the fans with both middle fingers raised high into the air. And then he began to yell and scream at a disoriented Mir while he gained his bearings. It didn't just stop their either. In the post-fight interview, Lesnar repeatedly taunted Frank Mir and the fans, as they booed his WWE-like antics. He even went so far as to point at the Bud Light advertisement in the octagon, and claim "I’m drinking a cooler full of Coors Light, Coors Light because Bud Light won’t pay me anything." And he did all of this for what reason? Who really knows...all I can say is the UFC looked liked WWE Raw for a few moments last night. It really was a moment Vince McMahon would have been proud of. However, Dana White is a different breed of animal, and he has tried extremely hard to promote the UFC as a real sport, not a sports entertainment entity. He wants the UFC to be an organization based on respect, hard work, and dedication. I'm sure Brock Lesnar knows this as well, and if he doesn't White will surely tell him. For now though, Lesnar has created a rumble in the UFC. He is the classic villain...big, strong, loud, and overly obnoxious. He has created an image that most UFC fans will love to hate. However, who can step up and knock Lesnar off his perch? He's a beast, there's no doubt about that. Yet, somewhere....somehow...he'll meet his match. Stay tuned!

Erin Andrews Down but not Out!

In a horrifying incident that almost made me sick last night, ESPN's hottest sideline reporter was struck in the chin with a foul ball. Yes...I'm talking about Erin Andrews. I know...I almost had a stroke myself! Andrews was serving as a reporter in the Mets vs. Dodgers game, when Alex Cora fouled off a pitch in the 4th inning that struck her in the face. Andrews was taken to the hospital, but was diagnosed with a simple bruise to the chin. I know college football isn't in season at the moment, but please ESPN, put Erin somewhere that she can't get injured. Males everywhere will thank you if you do! She is a staple on the sidelines in college football and would sorely be missed if she was unable to perform those duties! For heaven sakes, let her go home and rest until August :)

Marion Dealt to the Mavs

Dallas, Toronto, Memphis and Orlando combined in a massive trade Thursday that included eight players, a draft pick and loads of cash. Without getting into too many details, basically this deal sent Shawn Marion to Dallas, Stackhouse to Memphis and helped seal the transaction that moved Hedo Turkoglu from Orlando to Toronto. After Orlando signed Vince Carter, Turkoglu opted out of his deal and became a free agent. The Raptors get Antoine Wright and Devean George in the trade as well. The Mavericks are also close to re-signing Jason Kidd, and likely to ink Gortat from Orlando as well. It's already been a frenzied free agent signing period, and it looks as if there are still a few more deals left in the works. We'll keep an eye on it and see what else goes down on the NBA.

UFC 100 on the Horizon

In the short life span of my blog, we've yet to touch on any MMA action. However, with UFC 100 on the horizon for July 11th, it's as good a time as any to start up the MMA talk. The 100th installment of the UFC will take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas with Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir battling for the Heavyweight title. Lesnar is relatively new to the sport and holds a 3-1 record. Most of you probably remember Brock Lesnar as a WWE superstar under Vince McMahon for a number of years. He's now stepped into the octagon to try and learn what real combat is all about. Undoubtedly though, Lesnar is a tremendous athlete and has adopted fairly quick to the MMA game. It'll be interesting to watch and see how this match and his MMA career goes. The rest of the UFC 100 card goes like this:

Georges St-Pierre vs. Thiago Alves (welterweight championship)
Jon Fitch vs. Paulo Thiago
Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Alan Belcher

It looks like it'll be an action-packed card, can't wait to see how everything shakes out!

Lance Armstrong on the Bike Again

Just when we thought Lance Armstrong had retired, and given up the bicycle for a margarita and the Texas lifestyle, he's back again. He's hopped back on his bike and sprinted within one second of the lead in the biggest cycling event in the world. And for all I know, it could be the only cycling event in the world. The Tour de France is now back in the limelight with Armstrong back in the mix. He has once again made this event, a legitimate sports discussion. Many allegations and questions always surround Armstrong, wherever he goes. However, it's hard to bet against a man that's already beat cancer, and won 7 Tour de France titles. I'd love nothing more than to watch him come back and win an 8th, and hopefully put those doping allegations to bed. He has to be considered one of the great athletes of our generation, and if he had won this many championships in any other sport he already would be considered one of the greatest. Let's sit back and enjoy this ride with him, and see if he can't make history once again.

Revisiting the McNair Tragedy

As the investigation into the death of Steve McNair continues, more and more facts about the last few months of his life are being brought into the public light. His death, as tragic as it was, has become the talk of sports radio. Everyone has their own opinion about what was going on, and why this happened, and why that happened. Quite frankly, we may never know exactly why things ended the way that they did on that fateful July 4th night. However, it's looking more and more like the facts are pointing towards a homicide and suicide. Just today, police confirmed that Kazemi actually bought the gun on Thursday from a private seller. We have learned that McNair and Kazemi were "dating" for the last few months and had even spent time together on vacation. All information indicates that their short love affair somehow took a tragic twist. Somewhere, something, went horribly wrong. Many people have told stories about how McNair was a caring, loving husband, about how he was a great father, and a superb member of the Nashville community. They reminisce about his work in the community and his incredible play on the field. And from everything that I have read and seen on television, McNair was all of those things and much much more. However, the lives of our sports heroes are not ultimately lived through the television screen or through the newspaper. They are lived just like everyone else's. As much as we want these heroes to be perfect, they rarely are. Just when we think we understand the character of man's heart, we are let down again and again. Unfortunately, all of McNair's good deeds will now be supplanted the mysterious end of his life. People will question his ability as a husband, a father, and a role model, and perhaps rightly so. A person with his fortune, fame, and power, could have written a much better ending to his final story. Yet, he chose to put himself in a situation that cost him his life. So let his life be a reminder to us all, that none of us are perfect and that we are all human. We will make mistakes, and we will ultimately deal with our consequences. No matter how green the grass is on the other side of the road, no matter how pretty the rose is just out of our reach, there is always a price to be paid for the shortcomings of our lives. It is not my place, nor anyone else's, to judge the life of a man. His judgement will come, and so will ours, all in due time.

Federer Now The Greatest Ever?

In a classic tennis match at the All England Club in London, Roger Federer once again proved why he is the greatest to ever play the sport. In a match dominated by Andy Roddick, Federer still found a way to win and that's what the great ones always do. Roddick came out of the gate quick and grabbed the first set 7-5. In the second set, Roddick was up 6-2 in the tiebreaker when Federer reeled off 6 straight points to take the set. Federer would go on and also win the 3rd set in a tiebreaker. Roddick would fight back and regain control of the match by winning the 4th set 6-3. Then in a classic ending to a brilliant match, Federer would break Roddick's serve for the first time all day and win the 5th set 16-14. Andy Roddick played the most complete match, I've ever seen him play today and yet it still wasn't good enough to beat Federer. With tennis royalty on hand, Federer pulled out the victory and received a thumbs-up from Pete Sampras. This was the first time Sampras had visited the All England Club since he last played there, and wanted to be there in person to pass the torch to Federer. Federer broke Sampras' record of 14 major title victories, by winning Wimbledon and capturing his 15th career slam win today.

McNair Shot and Killed

At a time when most Americans are celebrating Independence Day, at least one sports family is grieving the tragic loss of a relative. Former NFL quarterback, Steve McNair, was found shot to death at a home in Nashville. McNair led the Tennessee Titans to their only Super Bowl appearance. Also found dead, was a woman who's name has yet to be released. The police have yet to determine the reasoning behind the shootings, and no real information regarding what happened has been released. The condominium where the bodies were found is one that McNair was seen at frequently in the upscale Rutledge Hill neighborhood.

NBA Trades and Wimbledon Finals

It's the middle of trading season in the NBA, and already there have been some blockbuster moves. It started with Shaq going to Cleveland to play alongside the King. Then Ben Gordon jumped ship and landed in Detroit. Now it appears that Ron Artest is going Hollywood to play next to Kobe Bryant. There are also reports swirling that Turkoglu will be joining Portland shortly, and Rasheed Wallace is in negotiations with the Celtics.

In tennis news, Andy Roddick won the battle of Andy's in England today. The home favorite, Andy Murray, just didn't have enough firepower to outlast the American. However, Roddick will now have his work cut-out for him as he advances to play Roger Federer. On the women's side, the Williams' sisters will face off tomorrow in the Grand Slam final to decide the best female tennis player in the world.

Have a Happy 4th of July!

All Williams Wimbledon

Dinara Safina was supposed to be the number 1 player in the world, and then she met Venus Williams. Venus Williams barely broke a sweat and cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 win versus Safina. In a semi-final match at Wimbledon, you would think there might be a little drama on Centre Court, but it wasn't meant to be. Venus was far and away the better player, and it showed mightily. Venus has now advanced on to the Wimbledon final, and will meet her younger sister, Serena. Serena struggled today, but in the end she was able to outlast Elena Dementieva and win 6-7, 7-5, 8-6. Unlike the matchup between Venus and Safina, this match contained plenty of drama and great tennis. Dementieva and Serena battled like two well-trained gladiators in a Centre Court match-up that will be remembered for some time to come. However, with Serena's victory, now comes the match between arguably the best two female tennis players in the world. Not arguably, it is the best two female tennis players in the world. They have proved it time and time again. In a game, where time is never on your side. In a game, where most players have a short shelf-life, these two women have been able to sustain excellence for over a decade. It's a testament to their greatness, indeed. Hopefully, there will be some great American fireworks this 4th of July in England, when these two square-off in a classic match up for the Wimbledon Title. However, if history is any indicator of the type of match they will play, then it's liable to be a disaster. Finals between these two never seem to be great, and often time they end up being one-sided. Let's hope and pray it's different this time. Let's hope we see the best of both women, and they create a memorable final that will leave a legacy for a long time.

Pistons Grab Gordon

With free agency starting up today, the Detroit Pistons wasted no time in going after superstar Ben Gordon. Multiple sources are now reporting that Gordon has agreed on a deal to leave the Bulls and head north to Detroit. It's being reported that his deal is for 5 years and over $50 million. Gordon had a great year, and was almost able to single-handedly defeat the Celtics in the 1st round of playoffs. However, Gordon and the Bulls came up short and lost to the Celtics in Game 7. Gordon averaged over 24pts a game in the playoffs. It's also being reported that Detroit has agreed in terms to a deal with Charlie Villanueva. His deal is 5 years and $35 million.

The BCS Being Reviewed by Congress

The Bowl Championship Series is coming under fire once again, and this time it's not just by fans and talking media heads. This time, it's being looked at by the United States Congress. The Senate will be holding hearings next week on the BCS and whether or not it violates anti-trust laws. Orrin Hatch (Senator from Utah) believes that the BCS is in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act which prohibits contracts, combinations or conspiracies designed to reduce competition. “I don’t think a more accurate description of what the BCS does exists,” Hatch wrote. He noted that six conferences get automatic bids to participate in the BCS, while others are specifically left out. Hatch said the system, “intentionally and explicitly favors certain participants.” It'll be interesting to see what comes of this, if anything at all. It doesn't look as if the NCAA is going to change the current format anytime soon, so this may be our last hope for a playoff system. We will keep our eyes open and see how this one shakes out!

Yao's Career Over?

The word on the street isn't good. Yao's injury is bad, and well frankly it has worsened. Rockets team physician, Tom Clanton, said that the injury could be season-ending and even career-threatening. Right now, the Rockets have no idea exactly how long Yao will be out. Most of it will depend on the course of treatment that Yao chooses, and how his foot responds to that treatment. Clanton said that a CT scan revealed that Yao's foot failed to heal as expected, and he now may have to go into surgery. Yao was suppose to be the centerpiece of the Rockets franchise for years to come, yet now all of that is in jeopardy. The NBA free agent season is set to open tonight, and it's possible now that the Rockets will have to go looking for a replacement. It'll be interesting to see what the Rockets do, and if they try to replace Yao, if only for a season.

Roddick Advances at Wimbledon

American hopeful, Andy Roddick, has advanced to the Round of 16 at Wimbledon once again. Roddick has never won the Wimbledon title, yet he does have two second place finishes at the All England Club. Roddick was able to hold on and beat Jurgen Melzer in a 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 6-3 win. Behind his electric serve, he was able to outlast Melzer and win two sets by tiebreaker points. Roddick finished the match with 33 aces. Roddick will now have to face Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic. If he can defeat Berdych he will advance to the quarterfinals. In other Wimbledon news, Murray, Haas, and Hewitt, also advanced to the Round of 16 on the men's side.

Oudin Ousts Jankovic

Once again an American woman is dominating the headlines at Wimbledon. However, this time it's not one of the Williams' sisters that's making the news. It's 17 year old Melanie Oudin from Marietta, Georgia. Oudin has fought her way into the Round of 16, at the biggest grass tournament in the world. She ousted former number one ranked Jelena Jankovic today in the third round, pulling off one of the greatest upsets in tournament history. Ranked No. 124 in the world, Oudin had to win three qualifying matches just to get into the Grand Slam event. However, this isn't her first rodeo. She's played in two other Grand Slam tournaments as well, but has never made it out of the first round. She's still very young, and has a ton of upside. I seriously doubt that she advances on to the next round, but nonetheless she has made her mark and will continue to get better. Oudin will definitely be a contender in the coming years.

Lebron, Shaq, and the Cavs

As most everyone knows at this point, the Phoenix Suns traded Shaq to the Cavaliers for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, a second-round pick in next year’s draft and $500,000. And just as soon as it happened, all of the talking heads in the media claimed how great a fit it would be to have Lebron and Shaq in the same lineup. All the while, I was thinking....what in the hell are they doing!? Shaq is a 37 year old guy that has put his best years behind him. He's no longer a spring chicken, by any means. Lebron doesn't need another big guy to clog the lane for him. Lebron has Ilgauskas to do that for him. He needs a wing player that can stand outside the arc and knock down 3's, a guy that can grab 10 or 12 rebounds a game, and be a defensive stopper. He needs a Scottie Pippen or a Robert Horry, or maybe a Bruce Bowen, but not a 300lb man that can't run the floor. Lebron is at his best when he's in transition, or driving the lane. It's hard to push the ball with a center that can barely make it past half court. They've tried this already with Ilgauskas, it doesn't work. We've seen this movie before, and it never ends well. I hope for Lebron that it does, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Blake Griffin, The Excitement, and The Curse

As most everyone knows by now, Blake Griffin was selected as the #1 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Griffin had an outstanding career with Oklahoma, and he's a phenomenal physical specimen. He's a great rebounder, and a superb finisher around the rim. He does lack a solid post-up game, but that will come with time and practice. Griffin has brought an air of excitement to the Clippers, and they are hoping he can turn the fortunes of a struggling franchise. "He can be great," USC's Demar DeRozan said. "You really don't see big men as athletic as Blake Griffin was. I had the chance to play against him this year. Just to see how talented he is and how big and strong he is, is amazing." However, Griffin will not just be battling the fact that he's playing with a horrible franchise, he'll also be fighting against the curse of the LA Clippers. It's bad enough having to share the same city with the storied Lakers, and Kobe Bryant, but it's even worse trying to pull the team up out of mediocrity. The Clippers have been so bad for so long, that it's moved from a trend to a curse. It's not quite as bad as the Cubs, but give it time.

Blake, I know you're a great kid and a great basketball player. However, I'm not sure you're even good enough to break the curse of the Clippers! Good luck!

Augie Garrido and His Crazy Year

Tonight, the Texas Longhorns will face the LSU Tigers in the championship game of the College World Series. Once again, Augie Garrido has his Longhorns in a position to win another national championship, yet many consider him lucky to still have a job. Garrido, who has already won five national titles with two different schools, was arrested earlier this year while driving drunk. Texas decided to suspend him for four games at the beginning of the year. The 70-year-old Garrido, who pleaded guilty to DUI and will be sentenced after the season, said he used the incident as a teaching opportunity for himself and his team. The players said that their coach’s arrest, and its fallout, only made them stronger and closer.

Garrido had met some old friends for dinner on a Friday night at a restaurant in Austin. While eating, he also had a few glasses of win. On his way home, he then stopped at a bar to see a friend. Police pulled him over just a few blocks from his condo because he had forgotten to turn on his car lights. He ended up having to spend a night in jail. Garrido said that he had drunk five glasses of wine that night.

Garrido admitted that he feared for his job. He said that he had failed to adhere to his own creed, which was to "do what's right." Garrido said, “I did not do what was right. What we lose in that situation is freedom, control, respect and trust,” he said. “Those four things went out the window.” Garrido stood up and admitted his mistake, and took full responsibility for his actions. His players had already respected him as a coach, but now they had even more respect for him as a man. “He showed us that he’s a leader by taking responsibility for it and making an example of himself,” said Longhorn's pitcher Chance Ruffin.

Tonight, Garrido will go for his 6th national championship and his third in the last seven years.

La Pistola and the NBA

In a seaside village, just miles outside of Barcelona lives one of the best point guards that no American has ever heard of...well for now. His name is Ricky Rubio, yet the people of Spain call him La Pistola, Spain's version of Pistol Pete Maravich. However, he will most likely become the 2nd overall pick in this years NBA Draft behind Blake Griffin. Why do we know so little about him...why haven't we heard more? Mostly because the kid never spoke much, or granted any interviews. His parents and his club team wouldn't allow it. For the most part, he's been kept in a bubble and hardwired for basketball since a very young age. Marc Calderon, his U14 coach, said "He reads basketball at a velocity very few can achieve." He reads the court like a veteran, yet distributes the ball with the flair and elegance of a youthful Magic Johnson. An Eastern exec said "He's the European LeBron James. He's not so crazy strong, but he does other things: the creativity, the Maravich-type stuff. He brings people out of their chairs, and he'll put them in your stands. He's a top-three pick." A couple of big-market European teams have already offered him NBA-type money, up to 2.5 million euros (nearly $4 million) to play for them. Yet, Rubio is too competitive to pass up the chance to play night after night against the world's best. He's coming to the NBA in 2009, let's see if he can live up to the hype.

It's been a long journey back!

Welcome back David Duval! It's been a long time coming. Once the #1 player in the world and the 2001 British Open Champion, yet since 2002 he's been missing in action. He has courageously battled depression, a back injury, a break-up with his fiancee, and vertigo. He is winless in his last eight years of golf...yes I said eight! He had plummeted from #1 to #882 in the rankings coming into the US Open this weekend. No one gave him a chance to even make the cut at Bethpage Black, unless win the thing. Yet, on Monday he was tied for the lead after sinking three straight birdies on the back nine. However, his fairy tale ended with a 5-foot par putt on the 17th that spun 180 degrees out of the cup. Nevertheless, it was good to see him back at top form, battling the PGA's best players like he once did. Few men have faced the amount of turmoil in a lifetime as he has, and if anyone deserves a break then it is Duval. As much as I was pulling for my fellow Tiger, Lucas Glover, I was also cheering just as loudly for David Duval. It only seems right to cheer for someone like him, for someone who has survived so much, and never stopped fighting. It's only right to cheer for a man that has given so much to the game he loves. For that, I will always stand up and applaud him.