Current Sports / Entertainment

I haven't talked about this in a while. so here I am.

Sharks: It's hockey Season! They're coming home after a 2-1-1 trip, and that's not too bad.
On a side note, I wanted to say something to Scott Neidermyer and Teemu Selanne. I think it is a bad choice not to decide if you are going to retire or not. You strung out your team and your fans. It's one thing to hold out during the off-season, but once preseason starts, and regular season starts, it's time to make a decision and give your team the full commitment. Stop dangling your status over them.

49ers: They are really feeling the effects of losing Offensive Coordinator, Norv Turner, The Offense is Offensive. Last year they started to show signs of improvement. Then Turner turned his back on us and left to be Head Coach of San Diego. Jim Hostler comes in, but he has done a horrible job getting this team going. It is a step backwards. The Offense is once again the worst in the league BY FAR. Turner hasn't done much either. Head Coach of one of the best teams, he is already under .500 winning percentage.

Giants: Say goodbye to Barry Bonds. The team needs a new image and new look. I think the first guy they will go after is Alex Rodrigez, who would be stupid if he doesn't get out of New York. New York has not treated Rodrigez with the best support for MLB's best player. He'd fit nicely being the face of the Giants for 5-10 years.

A's: Injuries Injuries, Injuries. Still more Injuries as Chavez has back surgury. If Chavez and Crosby do not come back strong, it won't matter. This team will still struggle to get back to the Playoffs. Same with Harden. It might be time for Beane to shop these players around and replace them with pieces that will produce. I hate saying it. I like these players. But there comes a time when they don't produce, they need to get out and change the scenary.

UFC: BIG BIG BIG NEWS as Randy Couture quits UFC. I was surprised. I thought all was well with him. Randy wanted Fedor. Anyone else would be below his talent. And since Fedor didn't come to UFC, Randy Quit. In addition, Randy claims UFC told him he was #2 paid fighter, which was a lie since others are being paid more. My Advice: Leave it at "No one else to fight" otherwise you sound greedy. Randy has done well and become the best and no one will think of him less. No one thought of him less when he retired. He is still great.

Finally TNA Wrestling: PacMan Jones (the suspended football player) becomes TNA Tag Team Champion. I can only think of one thing: David Arquette, the WCW Heavyweight Champion. I hope this isn't the beginning of the end of TNA (like it was for WCW). There's a line drawn when putting non-experienced celeberties into the ring and give them a belt. Don't ever cross that line. Or you'll end up looking foolish. TNA YOU LOOK FOOLISH.

UFC 74: Respect - Babalu's actions

Thanks to Jack's Bar in San Jose, I was able to watch UFC 74: Respect. It worked out really well. I enjoyed being able to watch the show w/o spending PPV prices!

But the one thing we did not get to see was the Prelim fight between Reneto "Babalu" Sobral vs David Heath. Babalu had Heath in a rear-naked Choke, and Heath tapped out (gave up, submitted). But Babalu kept the choke in, ignoring the referee, and Heath passed out. Babalu's explanation: "Heath cursed me (at weigh-ins) and I wanted to teach him respect" admitting he purposely kept the choke in place. The crowd went from cheers to boos. Even his fellow fighters in the crowd showed. Afterwards Nevada State Athletics Commission decided to hold back 1/2 of his pay (~$25,000) and begin an investigation.

But lets also think of this in a different light. What if Babalu choked him and killed him? He didn't realize how long he had it, and Heath dies from being choked? Can you imagine? As Dana White said, on Ultimate Fighter, "they were feeding into the 'stereotype' that I have busted my ass over the years from which I have tried to distance the organization and ultimately the sport." A Death in the octagon would have done just that. Babalu could have single-handedly sunk MMA back 10 years, where they couldn't get PPV, or TV time or sanctions. Babalu would have been a murderer, premeditated to choke his opponent out. Comparisons to Chris Benoit's choking his son to death would have appeared. Things could become severely different.

I hope UFC doesn't bring him back. He hasn't been that good anyways. It will take along time for people to forget this. And hopefully Nevada will take some action as well, more than just his money: a suspension. Take away his livelihood.

It should be noted that the crowd that was there knows what this sport is about. They realize that babalu crossed the line in his choke hold. And they showed it by turning on a once-crowd-favorite. The education of the common fan is coming along, and hopefully they can avoid another incident like this.

UPDATE: At UFC75 Press Conference, Dana White announced that babalu has been dropped from his contract. Dana's no dummy. He's not afraid to drop the hammer on people who are stupid. (ala Ultimate Fighter Noah and Marlon)

"Quick" vs "Crippler" A fight I wish we could see...

The Ultimate Fighter (season) 1 fighters Mike "Quick" Swick vs Chris "the Crippler" Leban. Swick's first loss was from Leban. And during TUF1, Leban made sure Swick remembered the loss.

"Any Time Any Place"

So the Ultimate Fight Night is coming up. and the major rumor was Swick vs Leban. Its the fight everyone wants to see. It's been brewing since the loss and intensified in TUF1. UFC was ready for it. Swick is ready to avenge his loss. Leban... obviously wasn't ready. he didn't sign, and fans all over are disappointed.
I wanted to see this fight. I think avenge bouts are great. and Leban talked alot of trash, but backing out means he talks the talk, but don't walk the walk.

Swick moves on to fight someone else Goullet, on the card. Then, to put on the insult, Leban decides he's going to fight on the card too.
Well, I sure hope you put these 2 on opposite sides of the arena. I'm sure a whole lot of trash talking will be done between them if they are in the same room. We could have Ultimate fight Locker rooms.

I'm afraid Swick is going to have to move on and realize that he won't be able to avenge his loss, but also know that he's going up, while Leban is going down, and if he loses again, out of UFC.