When it's about the game

I'm a 49ers fan.

This post has nothing to do with that.

Today, Alex Smith made a very uncommon decision for a professional athlete - one that wasn't driven by money. By restructuring his contract with the 49ers, Smith effectively forfeited a substantial sum of money to stay in San Francisco. With plenty of other teams still interested in the 24 year-old and willing to ante up with more green, Smith ultimately made his decision because of the fact that he "just wanted the chance to compete." It wasn't about the money. It wasn't about a hometown discount. It was about the sport.

Say what you will about his first four seasons or his future in the NFL. Say what you will about the 49ers and their upcoming QB controversy. But you've got to love to see an athlete bring his/her heart to a professional sport. It's what makes college sports engaging. It's what makes watching the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series exciting. The teams and athletes with the desire to prove that they can compete at the highest level remind us why their sport continue to captivate.

Kudos to Alex Smith for showing some maturity and some respect for the game. And Kudos to the 49ers for sticking with a guy that hasn't worked out in the past but is ready to fight for a job.

- KLB

A-rod = Amazing Player + Horrible Judgement

In 1996, Alex Rodriguez tossed up an unprecedented rookie season. His .358 batting average led the league while popping 36 homers and 123 RBI. He also led the league in runs (141), doubles (54), and total bases (379). Factor in some great defense and you could argue not only that he's never been better, but that this was the greatest season ever for a shortstop. How do you follow this up? Well you can't really, but you can go on to be the best player of your generation and such a natural talent even accusations from a (sadly) credible source in Jose Canseco were laughed off despite the fact that his books have been eerily accurate to this point. When A-Rod's home run totals spiked to near 60 in '01-'02, people credited it to his natural improvement and the bandbox nature of his home stadium. When he got noticeably bigger after his trade to the Yankees, it was attributed to getting older, or adjusting to his new position of third base. All these red flags and even the biggest A-Rod hater wouldn't think to pin performance enhancing drugs on him. 

What makes Rodriguez different from Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and other all-time greats who have recently fallen under the cloud of steroids? He represented the purity of the game. An immense talent with an unquenchable need to succeed, and a willingness to work as hard as was necessary. This was the ideal that would topple the manufactured stats of the steroid era. Sure all the records were tainted, but A-Rod would heroically raise the bar in a matter of years. Now, he'll still be breaking all the records in the next decade, but it will only perpetuate the stigma of cheating that rots the heart of America's Pastime like a cancer. We won't be seeing another player like Alex Rodriguez for a long, long time. What a shame that it will be good riddance. 

UFC 94 Preview/ Prediction

It's the biggest fight of the year and it's only January! The rematch everyone has been waiting for: B.J. Penn vs. Georges St. Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Title. 

Who is Georges St. Pierre?

He's the UFC Welterweight Champion and is universally considered the #1 ranked fighter in the world in the weight class and one of the top few pound for pound fighters ever. Except for a flukey loss to Matt Serra that he's since brutally avenged, GSP has completely cleaned out the very tough Welterweight division and is left with no real challengers, making this the perfect time for this superfight. 

Who is B.J. Penn?

Oh, he's only the UFC Lightweight (155 lbs.) champion, former Welterweight (170 lbs.) champ, and the greatest and most decorated jiu-jitsu practitioner that the United States has ever produced. He earned his black belt faster than any other American and won the 2000 World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. He's starred at Welterweight in the past but has since slimmed back down to Lightweight and he has ruled the division with an iron fist. He's got something to prove since his contraversial loss to St. Pierre in 2006 and has been waiting for a chance to move up in weight again for a shot at GSP's title. 

What's the case for St. Pierre?

No one can question BJ's talent, but his conditioning has always been a question mark. BJ gassed out in the first fight with St. Pierre, and though Penn dominated Round One, GSP's superior conditioning won him the last two rounds for a split decision. As a title fight, this one can go a maximum of five rounds and this plays directly into GSP's strategy. He can use his world class wrestling to try to control BJ and drag the fight into the later rounds. A tired BJ will be susceptible to St. Pierre's extensive arsenal of kicks and take downs. 

What's the case for Penn?

Though a great striker in his own right, GSP will want no part of standing and trading with BJ as Penn has shown time and time again that his boxing is among the best in the world. In addition, BJ has an advantage on the ground over just about anyone on earth. BJ has made a commitment to conditioning in recent fights and the results have shown with his domination of the Lightweight ranks. If he's brought his new gas tank with him to the 170 lb. division, then he is capable of brutalizing GSP on the feet and submitting him on the ground. Questions have been raised about GSP's heart and that he is a quitter due to his tapout loss to Matt Serra. I don't know about that, but he'll BJ will definitely put those claims to the test.

Who will win?

The Suite Spot believes that BJ has trained hard and wants to cement his legendary status. Penn will win by submission in the 3rd round. That said, this is going to be a hell of a fight and even if BJ shows up ready and in shape, GSP is a phenomenal talent and has every chance to come out victorious. Do yourself a favor and don't miss this huge super fight that the UFC has put together for you this Saturday!

UFC 93 Preview/Prediction

Two of the best in the game lace 'em up for a match up that is years in the making as UFC mainstay Rich Franklin takes on former PRIDE stalwart Dan Henderson.

Who is Rich Franklin?

He's a mainstream fan favorite thanks to his clean cut good looks and background as a high school math teacher. Holding the UFC Middleweight Title for the better part of 2005-2006 doesn't hurt either. You may also know him as one of the coaches from Season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter reality show or as the guy who knocked Ken Shamrock out on the now famous Ultimate Fighter 1 finale show. He's taken two savage beatings at the hands (and knees) of #1 pound for pound fighter in the world Anderson Silva, but really, what's the shame in that? Since then, Franklin has bulked up back to his more natural Light Heavyweight status and showed he belongs with a brutal knockout of Matt Hamill by liver kick. 

Who is Dan Henderson?

He's the former PRIDE Welterweight and Middleweight champion. Along with Randy Couture, he started the Team Quest fight camp in Temecula, CA and produces many top fighters along with his signature Clinch Gear line of fight clothing. He's one of the best wrestlers in mma as evidenced by his participation in the '92 and '96 Olympics for team USA. Though he is only 1-2 since joining the UFC, his two losses came in holding his own against the aforementioned Anderson Silva, and in a close decision in a 5 round war with Rampage Jackson. Needless to say, at age 38 Hendo is still a factor in the elite tier of the fight game. 

Who has the better standup game?

Both fighters are well rounded and extremely dangerous on their feet, but they employ different styles. Franklin uses a measured standup style that mixed in effective punches, kicks, and strong knees from the clinch. He is a force from the outside as well as up close. Henderson, on the other hand, has one of the best right hands in the world and isn't afraid to use it. He focuses on throwing that brutal punch as often as he can even at the expense of taking some shots himself. It helps that he possesses arguably the toughest chin in the UFC, having never been knocked out. I give Franklin a slight edge here as I believe that he will be able to take advantage of Henderson's wild swings with a series of counter punches that could take their toll on Hendo. 

Who is better on the ground?

Dan Henderson is possibly the best wrestler in all of MMA. There are probably a handful of elite jiu-jitsu guys who might think they could get the better of Hendo on the ground but even they would have their hands full. Rich Franklin is also an excellent grappler with strong, but not quite elite jiu-jitsu ability. His real strengths on the mat are superior ground and pound and a knack for avoiding submissions (he's never been submitted though he's appeared to locked into submission on a number of occasions). In total, I give a slight edge to Hendo as his wrestling is just too good. 

Who will win?

So Henderson is amazing on the ground and just really good on his feet and Franklin is great on the feet and just really good on the ground. Either one of these guys would dispatch of 90% of anyone else with relative ease. It takes an elite guy to challenge these two. Both are among the smartest and most determined fighters out there. It's too close to call but since I promised a prediction it'll be Henderson by unanimous decision based solely on his superior chin and mat wrestling acumen. I figure he'll be able to absorb whatever Rich throws at him whilst standing up and will be able to impose his will when the fight goes to the mat. Enjoy the big fight this Saturday on Pay Per View!

The cable-free life

$93.16. That was the total of my last Comcast cable bill.  That was September.

Here I am three months later with NO interest in giving them my business again. 

If you are anything like my friends or family, you're probably wondering what prompted this shocking decision.  Why would a man that has had cable for 25 straight years and still enjoys solid TV programming turn away from this American household staple?

Here goes.

The immediate cause was 18 months of frustrating service with Comcast.  Overpriced PPV movies, channel package realignments, and continual rate increases all coupled with crappy customer service got my goat.  The only thing that kept me hanging on was the fact that neither DirectTv nor At&t U-verse were available at my residence.  They still aren't.

The next factor was the rapidly growing availability of legal, mainstream programming on the web.  Hulu, ABC.com, and other sites started streaming high-quality television episodes with limited commercial interruptions at no cost to viewers.  Oh, and did I mention that its being done with better picture quality than standard definition programming?

The tipping point (thanks Malcom) came when nbcsports.com streamed the Beijing Summer Olympics...live! This opened my eyes.  Why couldn't, and why shouldn't, all content be offered via this medium?!  

Give it another year.

Over the past three months I've consumed all of the content a television lover could ever ask for:  

• Live broadcasts of the presidential debates and the resulting SNL parodies
• Live college basketball games of my alma mater
• Live NFL games in their entirety and highlights of every almost sport
• Sitcoms, dramas, reality tv, music videos, cartoons, and late night talk shows
• News
• Films

Give it a chance and save yourself some money.  Pay off some of that credit card debt.  Put an extra gift in someone's stocking.  Here, i'll even help! I only ask that you help me find a way to watch my Yankees come September.

The Suite Spot's Guide to a Cable-Free World

• Hulu.com:  NBC, FOX, Comedy Central, FX, and now films.  Try The Office, House, Arrested Development, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
• ESPN360.com:  Live college basketball/fooball and NBA.  Stick with the college sports.  The NBA is garbage.
• NFL.com:  Thursday and Sunday Night Football
• ABC.com / CBS.com:  Most of their network shows.  Try Lost and Survivor.
• Netflix.com:  Films, TV Series.   Try The Shield, Weeds, Dexter, The Office
• Sprint Phones:  Discovery Channel, NFL Network, NFL Radio, ABC, Music Videos  

UFC 92 Preview/Prediction

It's the biggest card of the year and the UFC is not being shy about it. The Ultimate 2008 features not one, not two, but three Main Event fights on the card and the Suite Spot is here to break it all down for you:

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson 

vs. 

Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva

Who is Rampage Jackson?

He was the funny and likable star of The Ultimate Fighter reality show who laid out UFC poster boy Chuck Liddell and was on the precipice of major crossover fame before losing his title last spring and subsequently leading the LAPD on a chase through the streets (and sidewalks) of the city. He's facing 3 years of jail time if convicted. Still, his powerful strikes and devastating slams make him one of the most dangerous men in the world. 

Notable Wins: Chuck Liddell x2, Dan Henderson, Ricardo Arona

Notable Losses: Wanderlei Silva x2, Shogun Rua, Forrest Griffin, Sakuraba

Who is Wanderlei Silva?

They call him "The Axe Murderer". Do you need to know anything else? Wanderlei (pronounced Van-der-lay) is the former PRIDE Middleweight Champion and 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix tournament winner who basically went 6 years without losing a fight in his weight class. Though a darling of the online fight community, he hasn't quite been the same since Mirko Cro Cop practically kicked his head off in late 2006. His lighning fast knockout of Keith Jardine last spring quieted his critics. Another win against Rampage would put him in line for a title shot. 

Notable Wins: Sakuraba x3, Rampage Jackson x2, Hidehiko Yoshida x2, Dan Henderson

Notable Losses: Tito Ortiz, Mirko Cro Cop, Dan Henderson, Chuck Liddell

Breakdown:

Both fighters feature a brutal, aggressive style that begs for a highlight reel knockout. As such, this is probably the most hotly anticipated fight on the card despite not being for a title. Both fighters have something to prove and they'll come out throwing. That said, Wandy holds 2 brutal KO victories over Rampage and that's got to give Jackson pause. Wandy will jump all over any hesitation. 

Silva by knockout in Round 2 

Frank Mir 

vs. 

Antonio Rodrigio "Minotauro" Noguiera

for the Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship

Who is Frank Mir?

He's the former UFC Heavyweight Champion who is back from serious injuries due to a car crash in 2004. He's had trouble getting back into shape but finally looks to be back to the form that snapped Tim Sylvia's arm. He is enjoying increased fame due to his recent win over Brock Lesner and his coaching stint on the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter. He is one of the worlds great submission fighters, especially for a big man. 

Notable Wins: Tim Sylvia, Brock Lesnar, Tank Abbott

Notable Losses: Brandon Vera

Who is Minotauo Noguiera?

The Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion is probably the greatest fighter in the history of MMA this side of Fedor. "Big Nog" has fought and defeated a who's who of MMA and shows no sign of stopping. He showed his coaching chops and gregarious personality on The Ultimate Fighter so his popularity is at an all time high. There is no one tougher in the cage or more dangerous on the ground. 

Notable Wins: Heath Herring x2, Mirko Cro Cop, Josh Barnett, Dan Henderson, Tim Sylvia, Ricco Rodriguez, Mark Coleman, Bob Sapp

Notable Losses: Fedor Emelianenko x2, Josh Barnett, Dan Henderson

Breakdown: 

The winner of this fight will battle Brock Lesner later this year to unify the Heavyweight belt. Both men would relish that chance. These are the two best submission artists in the Heavyweight division, so this one should probably end up as a battle on the ground. Both guys can submit anyone at anytime so it could be over quickly. The Suite Spot believes; however, that this bout will stretch into the later rounds and Mir's conditioning (though much improved) won't hold up to Nog's legendary motor. 

Noguiera retains UFC Interim Heavyweight Title by submission in Round 4. 

"Sugar" Rashad Evans

vs.

Forrest Griffin

for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

Who is Rashad Evans?

He won season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter and is undefeated in 13 fights. A standout wrestler in college, he knocked Chuck Liddell out cold last spring and is also a PC. 

Notable Wins: Chuck Liddell, Michael Bisping, Stephan Bonnar

Notable Losses: none, but controversially drew with Tito Ortiz (many say Tito should have won)

Who is Forrest Griffin?

He is the winner of the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter, thrusting the UFC into the mainstream with his legendary brawl with Stephan Bonner in the finale. He parlayed that notoriety into two straight bouts against the consensus #1 Light Heavyweight fighters in the world (Shogun Rua and Rampage Jackson). Forrest emerged victorious in both meetings, snatching the title in the process. His wry sense of humor and relentless fighting style make among the the most popular fighters in the UFC. 

Notable Wins: Rampage Jackson, Shogun Rua, Stephan Bonnar

Notable Losses: Tito Ortiz, Keith Jardine, Dan Severn

Breakdown:

This is just an amazingly even matchup. Evans possesses superior striking power and wrestling while Forrest has the edge in jiu jitsu and stamina. Both are cabable of formulating great gameplans, but I believe that Griffin's trainer Randy Couture's knowledge of wrestling will negate Rashad's greatest advantage. 

Griffin retains UFC Light Heavyweight Title by split decision. 

It all goes down on December 27th from Las Vegas. Enjoy!

C.C. Sabathia Run, Run Sabathia Run!

C.C. Sabathia is a hell of a pitcher. The Yankees are in dire need of help at the top of their rotation. As such, they have rewarded C.C. with the largest contract in the history of pitchers, $161 million over 7 years. 

That said, Sabathia is not without question marks. He is pushing 300 pounds, making him among the heaviest players in the history of baseball. He's only 28 years old, but he has averaged nearly 210 innings per year since 2001. That's an ungodly workload and ensures that there's considerable wear and tear on his arm. He's pitched over 500 innings the last 2 years. That alone makes him virtually unsignable for many teams as even the most durable pitchers (Kevin Brown, Pedro Martinez, etc.) break down after that kind of abuse. In addition, he has a lifetime 7.92 ERA in the postseason, and a history of poor performance against the Yankees chief rivals: the Boston Red Sox. 

Nonetheless, the Yankees were under a ton of pressure to get this deal done. They are still smarting from losing Johan Santana (still the absolute best pitcher in the game) to the crosstown Mets. They suffered through a poor year in 2008 due to an aging lineup and lack of depth on the pitching staff, finishing far behind both Boston and Tampa Bay. They absolutely must contend in their first year in the New Yankee Stadium. 

Quite frankly, C.C. Sabathia is a big risk to be rewarded with such a large contract; however, for the Yankees he is a necessary addition. He is likely to be placed on a fitness and conditioning program immediately and his workload will be drastically reduced to protect the huge investment. I am confident that the Yankees will come to rue this monster deal as it winds down, but in 2008 they simply had to pull the trigger. 

Still, the Yankees might not even be the best team in their own city as the acquisition of elite relief pitchers J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez will make the Mets extremely dangerous. Look out for the Mets in 2009! And if Boston locks up Mark Teixeira? Yikes!

UFC 91 Preview/Prediction

Huge fight Saturday night at UFC 91 as Heavyweight Champion Randy "The Natural" Couture takes on Brock Lesner. This is a pick'em fight according to odds makers, but the Suite Spot will take a stab at predicting the winner.

Who is Randy Couture?
He's the most beloved and decorated champion in the history of the sport. He retired briefly after being finished by Chuck Liddell 2 years ago but then returned to the Heavyweight ranks to snag the title from a heavily favored Tim Sylvia. He then beat down another heavily favored opponent in Gabriel Gonzaga in his first title defense. Legal issues with the UFC kept Randy out of action for over a year but that's all in the past now. At a remarkable 45 years of age, "The Natural" looks to be in great shape and is ready for a new challenger to his throne.

Who is Brock Lesner?
He's the former WWF Champion whose pedigree includes the 2000 NCAA wrestling title. He left the pro-wrestling biz a few years back to try to tackle the NFL. Though he wowed scouts at the combine, he was eventually cut by the Minnesota Vikings. Since then, Brock has turned his attention to mixed martial arts. His UFC debut was an impressive though ultimately unsuccessful bout with former champion Frank Mir. This was followed closely by an utter domination of PRIDE FC veteran Heath Herring. This win silenced many critics who touted Brock's lack of skill and reliance on brute strength. Still Brock has something to prove and will have to take on all comers, starting with Couture.

How can Randy win?
Randy has more experience in big fights than anyone in the game and his gas tank has yet to be emptied. If he's in any kind of shape resembline his last outing, he'll be able to set a blistering pace that would exhaust Brock after a couple of rounds. Randy is no stranger to 5 round title fights, so one would think that the longer the fight goes the more conditioning will come into play. Randy is also renowned for his ability to formulate and stick to an effective gameplan over the course of his fights. One of his trademarks is imposing his will on his opponents with a combination of clinching up against the fence and brutal wrestling takedowns. That could be easier said then done against the massive Lesner, so look for Randy the change up his game a bit with a stick and move boxing style and judicious use of submissions when the fight inevitably goes to the ground.

How can Brock win?
Lenser is a giant! He will enter the Octagon at well over the 265 weight limit while Couture is a relatively small 220 pounds. In addition to this superior size and strength, Brock is also much faster and more athletic than the elder champion. Brock was able to land a devastating right hand in the opening moments of the Herring bout from which Heath was never able to recover. If he can pull a similar moe against Randy, than it could be much the same story on Saturday night. Look for Lesner to try to smother Couture with mat wrestling as he did against Herring. He'll try to lay on top of Couture in an effort to prematurely exhaust him. If Randy has lost any kind of edge in the past year, this strategy may prove successful.

The Suite Spot believes that Randy Couture will retain his title with a submission in the 4th round. Randy's skill and superior conditioning will prove to be too much for Lesner, but Brock will lay quite the beating on Couture in the meantime. So much so, that Randy may never be quite the same after the fight. Meanwhile, Brock will learn from his war with Couture the things he needs to dominate the UFC's Heaveyweight division for years to come. Enjoy the fight!

World Series Post

So it all comes down to this, the Fightin' Phils and the Devil-less Rays. Put your chips on the table, its time to go all in!! Here at the Suite Spot we think a few things, the AL is a better league top to bottom, than the NL, look at interleague play where the AL smoked the NL again, as they do every year. All-Star game, no matter how much credit you give this game, the AL is dominant in the mid-season meeting of stars.

The Phillies- bring more experience, a proven lineup with two MVP's in Howard and Rollins, and Utley who is a top 5 MVP candidate every year when healthy. You have x-factors on this team, Victorino, who gets a big hit only when I watch him, bats .175 when I don't, J. Werth is a scrappy player who plays with heart is a good on defense and has a kid's winning mentality. You have Pat "the babe" Burrell, he will have one clutch hit this series I'm calling it now. The rotation- Hamels and Myers, Hamels an outright ace, and Myers has ace stuff when he keeps his head on straight. Behind them you have Blanton and Moyers, will give up some runs but keep you in the game. If the Phils can get 6-7 innings out of their starters, kiss the rays goodbye. Madson and Lidge are dominant, Lidge hasn't blown a save opportunity this year and I don't see it happening anytime soon especially not in this series, he's locked in and ready to dominate.

The Rays- youth drives this team, and also brings it success. B.J Upton has been powerfully stellar and could is one HR away from tying Carlos Beltran's 8 HR's in a postseason. Evan Longoria is a shoe in for AL rookie of the year (yes I had him on my fantasy team even though he wasn't in the majors until a month into the season) Don't get me wrong they do have some veteran leadership as well, Carl Crawford, a healthy Rocco Baldelli, Carlos Pena. This team is quick and can beat you with small ball or the power shot, a loaded young team. Their rotation is filled with great young talent, Kazmir, Shields, Sonnanstine,and ALCS MVP Matt Garza. Lefty David Price was also lights out in the bullpen and has dominate stuff, 96-98 mph on his heater, and a slider that will have the phillies guessing.

This is going to be a fun series, with Lefties Kazmir, Sonnanstine, and price giving problems to a Phillies lineup that holds power from the left side of the plate, Utley, Howard, both bat from the left side and will have to combat that. In the end the Phillies depth and experience will prove to much for the Rays in what will be a lowly rated, but very exciting World Series

The Suite Spot says----- Phillies in 7, The wait for a title for the last 25 years will finally come to an end!

Let us know your thoughts!!!

Big Blue Makes Due

There are some who claim that the so-called best team in the NFL is the team with the best record. Others would say that it's the team who is playing the best football right now. Still others would insist that until the defending Super Bowl champion loses a game, then they are the team to beat. Luckily, one team has cleared up this debate. Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 New York Giants are, for the first time in the Super Bowl era, the clear-cut best team in the NFL. Breathe that in. Now hold it. Hold it. Now let it out. Feels good. 

Keep in mind the Giants' ridiculous 44-6 romp over Seattle came without perhaps the team's best player, mercurial wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who was suspended for breaking team rules. Nonetheless, the Giants attack was a varied and dominant as it's ever been. Now, this string of success and good fortune is bound to run out, but on this day, the entire NFL looks up at Big Blue. Carl from Aqua Teen Hunger Force always says that the Giants are #1. At this moment, he is right. 

EliteXC's Kimboner

Ding dong the myth is dead. The unbeatable brawler is exposed as being nothing more than a street thug with a glass chin thanks to unheralded and undersized Seth Petruzelli. The truth is that most anyone in the know already had written off Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson some time ago. Be it with his uninspired and controversial win over James Thompson on CBS in May or even 5 or so years ago from his street fight loss to Boston police officer Sean Gannon, who subsequently got his shot in the UFC but couldn't hang with even the weakest of competition. Nonetheless, Kimbo had MMA legend Bas Rutten in his corner and made a bunch of entertaing bare-knuckle brawl videos on YouTube, so he was an intriguing wildcard who suddenly had main event status due in no part to his fight record. That was all over with the minute luckless faded star (and former WWF Intercontinental Champ) Ken Shamrock pulled out of the scheduled main event with an unfortunate cut from last minute training. This forced EliteXC (with a Kimbo no-show meaning a probable end to the entire company) to push the untested but talented K-1 and Ultimate Fighter reality show veteran Petruzelli into the spotlight. If Kimbo had won, it would have been a testament to his toughness and courage to take on and defeat an opponent that he was unable to prepare for. As it stands, Kimbo seems to be a victim of his own marketing. He looks like a badass, he's an inspirational story, and maybe he can regroup and cobble together a fight career yet, but the Kimbo we thought we knew is no more.  It's too bad, since the rest of the televised fight card was pretty excellent, but the only thing people will take away from the night was that Kimbo bit the dust in a big way. 

NFL Brief- Week 1

Well the first week of the NFL season couldn't have been much better... especially if you are a fan of any other team other than the Patriots. Crushing news to a team that won 18 games and lost one big one as their leader, Tom Brady, suffered a season ending knee injury. Career backup Matt Cassel, who has been a backup ever since leaving high school stepped in and helped the defending AFC champions to a 17-10 victory over the Cheifs.

Brett who?-- while the Jets welcomed Brett Favre en route to a one touchdown victory over the Dolphins, Aaron Rodgers started his tenure as the Packer's QB with a primetime performance. A very economical 18-22 passing , 2 TD's and one Lambaeu Leap helped the Pack beat the division rival Vikings in our first monday nighter of the season. Green Bay faithful can start buying #12 jerseys with some confidence now. The second MNF football game proved to be Royal coming out party, Eddie Royal. The rookie from VA tech hooked up with Jay "chicken" Cutler for 146 yds and a TD as the Broncos decorated the Rrrrraiders 41-14.

NFL Brief- Week 2

Week 2 brought us some suprises and some great matchups...

Game of the week- Eagles Vs. Cowboys This game was on the menu but should have been treated as monday's special. This entree showed a whole lot of offense, akick return for a TD, lack of Defense, and a rookie mistake of near epic proportions. Terrell Owens stole the show with 3 catches for 89 yards, 2 scores, and a 2 bird flapping endzone taunts as the Cowboys bested the Birds, 41-37. Eagle rookie Desaean Jackson, WR out of Cal showed his age and young arrogance on what looked to be 60 yard TD catch until a Wade Philips red flag showed that the young buc threw the ball out of his hands in celebration before crossing the goal line. Though they scored on the ensuing play, fate was sealed and Dallas became one of only 10 undefeated teams only two games into the season.

Elsewhere- A few upsets this weekend as the Niners beat the Seahawks 33-30 on an overtime field goal. J.T. O'Sullivan looked impressive (yes that wasn't a typo) with an accurate 20-32 day for 321yds and a score. The Reskins upset the saints at home, and the Broncos looked impressive taking down San Diego on a late 2 pt conversion to win 39-38 over a team that in the preseason was looked to win the division if not more.

Week 3 matchups of note-- Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, Jacksonville at Indi, and NFC powers Green Bay head to Cowboy stadium to take on Dallas...

NFL Brief- Week 3

Extra, Extra, Read all about it... 2008- The year the NFL passed on the torch. With three weeks complete in the NFL season nobody is talking about Tom Brady (injured), Peyton Manning (winless at home), or Brett Favre (washed-up). The new crop of young QB's has finally come to harvest. Philip Rivers (#1 passer rating), Eli Manning (3-0), Tony Romo (3-0), Aaron Rodgers (Brett who?), and Jay Cutler (3-0) lead a new crop of young NFL players taking this league to another level.

To the game of the week... Jacksonville at Indi. Peyton Manning looked better, but still showed signs of rust and Josh Scobee Dooby Doo hit two late field goals to help the Jags pass the Colts 23-21. The Colts may be homesick, they are winless at their brand new Lucas Oil Stadium (including preseason). RCA dome where have you gone??? With injuries clearly still plauging the Colts defense, Maurice-Jones Drew and Fred Taylor lit up the Colts defense as both rushed over 100 yards and MJD tallied a TD. The Colts get a much needed bye next week while the Jags return home to play the Texans.

Elsewhere-- The Super Bowl Champion GGGGGG- Men (sitll pains me to say that) took Overtime to beat the Lowly Bengals and remain undefeated. Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson should worry less about his name and more about not dropping passes. A dropped catch near the goal line in the 4th quarter made the Bengals kick for 3 and the tie 23-23 instead of going up 4 on the New York Football Giants. That kick forced overtime, where the Giants won with a 22 yard pooch of the boot of John "Circus Folk" Carney.

Undefeated teams through week 3-
NFC- Dallas, G-Men
AFC- Buffalo (not a typo), Baltimore, Teneessee, Denver

NFL Brief- Week 4

Pretty sure Brett Favre read last weeks recap every night before bed, and used it as motivation for Sundays career high 6 TD performance. Last week I wrote, "With three weeks complete in the NFL season nobody is talking about Tom Brady (injured), Peyton Manning (winless at home), or Brett Favre (washed-up)." Rumor has it in the post game press conference, Favre was quoted as saying, "This game is dedicated to Mark Hebert who recently called me washed up!" Brett, I take it back, for this week at least. This game that showed an extreme lack of defense, gun-slinging throws, and TD after TD, only to have late in the fourth quarter, one of my favorite players, WR Anquan Boldin getting knocked unconcious on a hit that has caused Jet Safety Eric Smith a 1 game suspension and a $50,000 fine. Boldin is home resting after being decorated in the end zone.

Elsewhere, in what I thought was the game of the week and aslo the worst coached game of the season.. DAAAAA Bears vs. the E-A-G-L-ES Eagles Sunday nighter from Solider field. The Eagles, without stud RB Brian Westbrook (Ankle), Starting TE L.J. Smith (back), and the Big Kid RG Sean Andrews (depression or some other physical ailment), failed to score on the goal line with 4 tries and the Bears hung on behind Kyle Orton to beat the birds 24-20. Coach Andy Reid should take a brunt of this loss, as a questionable first half touchdown by Greg Olsen should have been challenged as it appeared by the time he got possesion of the ball he only managed to get one foot in the endzone. His second mistake was running the ball on consecutive downs on the goal line without even one play action pass play to get the stingy Bears D to bite. Instead they rushed the ball up the gut on consecutive plays and got stuffed like a thankgsiving turkey on each try. Tough loss for the birds, big win for DAAA Bears.

Patriots were off this week-- so I was at peace going undefeated.

Undefeated teams--- GGGG- Men, Titans, and the Bills cause we all know, "No body circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills."

Big Games next week- Stellers at Jaguars and Washington at Illadelphia (not a typo, just get your thug on)

Absolutely Perfect!

The Life and Times of Mr. Perfect dvd was released last week by the fine folks of World Wrestling Entertainment. It is a fitting tribute to a man, Curt Hennig, who seems to have touched the lives of all he came into contact with. Blessed with the amazing wrestling persona of a man who believes he is completely perfect but had the technical wrestling skill and charisma to back up his claims, this was a true giant of the late 80's-early 90's wrestling scene. Though injuries and time robbed him of some of his ring acumen in his later years, he is fondly remembered for some of the best wrestling matches and feuds of his time. He was able to have legendary matches with some of his fellow greats such as Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, but most notably for me, was his ability to make even the poorest ring workers (Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, etc.) look great in the ring. Some may say that he oversold the moves of his opponents, but I say that everyone else didn't sell them enough. Mr. Perfect, thank you for the hard work. You truly are worthy of the name.