Another week, another 1-2 performance.
Iowa St @ Texas A&M (-6)
Missouri (-3.5) @ Colorado
South Carolina @ Tennessee (-6)
Last Week: 1-2
Overall: 9-11-1
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
The Ultimate Fighter Episode Recap - "You Feeling Froggy? Jump."
This is certainly not the best (although perhaps it may be the worst) season of the Ultimate Fighter, but this weeks episode at least gave us some highlights. Tensions were starting to rise on Team Rampage after falling down 6-0 last week and this episode things started to boil over. After Team Rashad picked Matt Mitrione to fight Scott Junk, the trash talking started between the coaches. Rashad got in Rampage's face about quitting on his fighters and Rampage retaliated by saying that he wasn't a coach and that it was his fighters who quit. After Rashad threatens to break his shoe off up Rampages ass, they square off and Rampage utters my new favorite quote. You feeling froggy? Jump.
Following that there are more Mitrione meathead moments. He writes a note throwing his teammate Mike Wessell under the bus and the house continues to turn on him. He has words with Jon Madsen in the kitchen over orange juice, and after he leaves Madsen says he wants to slap him in the face. Of course that gets back to Mitrione who decides to go ape shit on Madsen during a sparring session. Rashad calls Mitrione into the locker room and tries to talk some sense to him, to no avail. They don't call him Meathead for nothing.
As for the fight, everyone on the show thought it was going to be an easy first win for Team Rampage. Junk has experience and seems to be slightly more mentally stable, while Mitrione seems to focus on everything other than the task at hand. But apparently he quieted the voices in his head, talked to his wife (in his head), and was ready to fight.
The fight starts off with Mitrione landing a few solid shots to the head and Junk appears very dazed. For someone as confident as Junk, I could believe he came out and looked like, well, junk. He took some shots to the face, weakly offered a few takedown attempts, and looked spent 2 minutes into the first round. On the other hand, Mitrione got very tired as well and started looking very sloppy when he had opportunities to win the fight. Junk finishes the round with a few decent shots, but overall he was knocked to the canvas 3 separate times and this was an easy round for Mitrione.
Round two starts and both fighters look like they just ran the NYC marathon. Flailing punches , hands dangling by their sides, these two are totally gassed. Junk manages to score a takedown nearly halfway through the round but isn't able to afflict enough damage while on top. They are stood up, they trade a little more and the bell rings. I scored it 20-18, although I wouldn't have been surprised at a 19-19 score. Two judges agree with me and Matt wins by decision. This is touted as a great fight and one of the best fights of the season, but that's more of an indictment on the previous fights than it is praise for this one. Team Rashad goes up 7-0, Rampage destroys a door, and with only 1 first round fight left Rampage is on the verge of embarrassment.
Following that there are more Mitrione meathead moments. He writes a note throwing his teammate Mike Wessell under the bus and the house continues to turn on him. He has words with Jon Madsen in the kitchen over orange juice, and after he leaves Madsen says he wants to slap him in the face. Of course that gets back to Mitrione who decides to go ape shit on Madsen during a sparring session. Rashad calls Mitrione into the locker room and tries to talk some sense to him, to no avail. They don't call him Meathead for nothing.As for the fight, everyone on the show thought it was going to be an easy first win for Team Rampage. Junk has experience and seems to be slightly more mentally stable, while Mitrione seems to focus on everything other than the task at hand. But apparently he quieted the voices in his head, talked to his wife (in his head), and was ready to fight.
The fight starts off with Mitrione landing a few solid shots to the head and Junk appears very dazed. For someone as confident as Junk, I could believe he came out and looked like, well, junk. He took some shots to the face, weakly offered a few takedown attempts, and looked spent 2 minutes into the first round. On the other hand, Mitrione got very tired as well and started looking very sloppy when he had opportunities to win the fight. Junk finishes the round with a few decent shots, but overall he was knocked to the canvas 3 separate times and this was an easy round for Mitrione.
Round two starts and both fighters look like they just ran the NYC marathon. Flailing punches , hands dangling by their sides, these two are totally gassed. Junk manages to score a takedown nearly halfway through the round but isn't able to afflict enough damage while on top. They are stood up, they trade a little more and the bell rings. I scored it 20-18, although I wouldn't have been surprised at a 19-19 score. Two judges agree with me and Matt wins by decision. This is touted as a great fight and one of the best fights of the season, but that's more of an indictment on the previous fights than it is praise for this one. Team Rashad goes up 7-0, Rampage destroys a door, and with only 1 first round fight left Rampage is on the verge of embarrassment.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Watching the World Series...as a Mets fan
A Mets fan's nightmare happened when the Yankees and Phillies were the teams meeting in the World Series this year. How am I supposed to watch this series? Who am I supposed to root for?
The Phillies:
Like any good sports fan, my least favorite teams in sports are the ones in the same division as me. As a Mets fan I can't stand the Braves and Phillies. I hate Philly fans and I hate Jimmy Rollins. It bothered me that they won a World Series last year and it'll bother me if they win another one. That being said, do the Phillies winning a World Series affect my day to day life?
The Yankees:
The Yankees on the other hand do impact my day to day life. I listen to WFAN 90% of the time I'm in my car and right now it's unlistenable for me since it's 90% Yankees talk (deservedly so...but no less irritating). I hate the sight of the Yankee jersey, but on a player by player basis they really aren't that bad. I would kill for a Jeter sex or drug scandal in the near future but as for guys like Cano, Teixeira and Swisher...I could get behind guys like that in a different uniform. Win or lose though the Yankees are going to be in my face for the next few weeks.
New York Pride:
Screw it. That doesn't fly with me. In 2001 when I told people I was rooting for Arizona over the Yankees in the World Series you would have thought I told them I was hiding Bin Laden in my own basement. The Yankees aren't America...I rooted for the National League like I always try to do.
The Verdict:
I am not rooting for either team but my preference is that the Yankees win and here's why: it all roots in sports talk radio and newspapers. Most people will only call sports talk radio to complain. If the Yankees lose than callers will complain until Christmas. If they win and callers have nothing to complain about maybe they could die off as a topic by Thanksgiving. Let's Go Yankees?
The Phillies:
Like any good sports fan, my least favorite teams in sports are the ones in the same division as me. As a Mets fan I can't stand the Braves and Phillies. I hate Philly fans and I hate Jimmy Rollins. It bothered me that they won a World Series last year and it'll bother me if they win another one. That being said, do the Phillies winning a World Series affect my day to day life?
The Yankees:
The Yankees on the other hand do impact my day to day life. I listen to WFAN 90% of the time I'm in my car and right now it's unlistenable for me since it's 90% Yankees talk (deservedly so...but no less irritating). I hate the sight of the Yankee jersey, but on a player by player basis they really aren't that bad. I would kill for a Jeter sex or drug scandal in the near future but as for guys like Cano, Teixeira and Swisher...I could get behind guys like that in a different uniform. Win or lose though the Yankees are going to be in my face for the next few weeks.
New York Pride:
Screw it. That doesn't fly with me. In 2001 when I told people I was rooting for Arizona over the Yankees in the World Series you would have thought I told them I was hiding Bin Laden in my own basement. The Yankees aren't America...I rooted for the National League like I always try to do.
The Verdict:
I am not rooting for either team but my preference is that the Yankees win and here's why: it all roots in sports talk radio and newspapers. Most people will only call sports talk radio to complain. If the Yankees lose than callers will complain until Christmas. If they win and callers have nothing to complain about maybe they could die off as a topic by Thanksgiving. Let's Go Yankees?
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Bobs NFL Picks Week 7
I took some shots last week, but at 10-5, Im still on top of the world. Im taking 4 games this week, because I couldnt decide on the last one. I know they're all road teams, but last time I did that I went 3-0.
Chargers -5.5 @ KC Chiefs: Big let down game for the Chiefs against a tough Chargers team.
Indy Colts -14 @ St Louis: My new theory is bet against the worst teams in football. No one is as hopeless as the Rams.
Packers -9 @ Cleveland: See above.
NY Jets -6 @ Oakland: Oakland destroyed survivor pools everywhere last Sunday, and that may be the high mark of their season. I expect a bloodbath because the Jets have alot to prove.
Last Week: 1-2
Season: 10-5
Chargers -5.5 @ KC Chiefs: Big let down game for the Chiefs against a tough Chargers team.
Indy Colts -14 @ St Louis: My new theory is bet against the worst teams in football. No one is as hopeless as the Rams.
Packers -9 @ Cleveland: See above.
NY Jets -6 @ Oakland: Oakland destroyed survivor pools everywhere last Sunday, and that may be the high mark of their season. I expect a bloodbath because the Jets have alot to prove.
Last Week: 1-2
Season: 10-5
Friday, October 23, 2009
UFC 104 Fight Predictions
Since I am not going to be able to watch tomorrows event, I havent spent much time following it. But my predictions for the main PPV fights are below.
Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio Rua: Machida is clearly on a roll. After his destruction of Rashad Evans, people expect him to make quick work of Rua. Although I think he'll win, prior to his last 2 fights almost everything went to decision. I expect it to be closer than people expect and Machida to win by submission in the 4th Round.
Cain Velasquez vs Ben Rothwell: I dont know anything about Rothwell since he is an IFL guy, but his height and weight advantage scare me. However, Velasquez has beat some big dudes and I expect him to win in the 3rd round.
Gleison Tibau vs. Josh Neer: A tough fight to call. Both of these guys have lost 3 of their last 5 fights, and I was at Neer's last loss and it was embarrassing. They both usually go the distance, so I'll take Neer by decision.
Joe Stevenson vs. Spencer Fisher: Stevenson has lost 3 of his last 5 fights, but they were to BJ Penn, Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez. Arguably the 3 best guys in the weight class, worlds above Fishers class. Stevenson by stoppage in round 2.
Anthony "Rumble" Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida: I always like the guy with the crazy height advantage, and with Johnson's kicks, 3 inches is a big deal. Might be the shortest fight of the night. Rumble in round 1.
The Ultimate Fighter Episode 6 Recap
Evert Wednesday night at 10:00 I start to feel like I'm having Deja Vu. Rampage and Rashad go at each other for a minute. Kimbo growls about getting another chance to fight. A fighter from Team Rashad destroys a fighter from Team Rampage. Rampage gets furious. Repeat.
I wish I could say this episode was much different, but in fact, it was not. The episode starts with Team Rashad confronting one of its members, Darrill Schoonover, about his excessive drinking. He promises to slow down on the drinking to focus on fighting. Shortly after, Schoonover runs into Rampage, and that's when we'll start the Titty count. He refers to Schoonover as Titties several times (see total count below) and then for whatever reason, Darrill says that he'd cut wight to fight Rampage at 205. That's right. A guy nicknamed Titties says he could beat Rampage. This gets under Rampages skin, which makes no sense. That would be like me getting annoyed that an 8 year old kid said he could beat me in wiffleball. I know that could never happen. Because my rising fastball is nuts.
At the fight selection, Rashad chooses Schoonover to fight the much tormented Zak Jensen. Rampage insults Schoonover again and he responds with "F*ck you, motherf*cker." They start jawing, and Rashad separates them and tries to explain to Rampage why Schoonover is getting upset. Rampage proves once again he has the mentality of an infant.
Lost in the Titty commotion is the fact that Slice nicknames Zak Jensen Linderman. Thats funny to me. Everyone starts betting on when Zak is gonna lose his mind, and the poor kid just sits there and takes the abuse. Over and over and over again. First he is picked last. Then he gets the coach who doesn't coach. Then everyone takes it up on themselves to break him down mentally. Sounds like fun.
One of the coaches on Team Rampage gets a giant caricature made of Team Rashad and decides to hang it in the gym. Its actually pretty funny, but would be funnier if they weren't 0-5. Zak gets clipped in practice and his eye opens up. Kimbo jumps at the idea of fighting again, but Zak doesnt even consider backing out. I think that disappoints some people.
The fight starts and they both trade punches for a few seconds. Schoonover pins Zak against the cage and lands a knee. Zak pushes off the cage, lands a few knees himself. He then takes a vicious knee to the body and Schoonover starts teeing off on his face. Surprisingly, Zak is able to take Darrill down and lands a few punches. Then, in the most obvious and deliberate fashion ever, Schoonover gets Zak in a triangle and Zak does nothing to get out of it. Schoonover makes it tighter, and tighter, and tighter, until Zak passes out 2:33 into the round.
Final Titty Count: 33
I wish I could say this episode was much different, but in fact, it was not. The episode starts with Team Rashad confronting one of its members, Darrill Schoonover, about his excessive drinking. He promises to slow down on the drinking to focus on fighting. Shortly after, Schoonover runs into Rampage, and that's when we'll start the Titty count. He refers to Schoonover as Titties several times (see total count below) and then for whatever reason, Darrill says that he'd cut wight to fight Rampage at 205. That's right. A guy nicknamed Titties says he could beat Rampage. This gets under Rampages skin, which makes no sense. That would be like me getting annoyed that an 8 year old kid said he could beat me in wiffleball. I know that could never happen. Because my rising fastball is nuts.
At the fight selection, Rashad chooses Schoonover to fight the much tormented Zak Jensen. Rampage insults Schoonover again and he responds with "F*ck you, motherf*cker." They start jawing, and Rashad separates them and tries to explain to Rampage why Schoonover is getting upset. Rampage proves once again he has the mentality of an infant.
Lost in the Titty commotion is the fact that Slice nicknames Zak Jensen Linderman. Thats funny to me. Everyone starts betting on when Zak is gonna lose his mind, and the poor kid just sits there and takes the abuse. Over and over and over again. First he is picked last. Then he gets the coach who doesn't coach. Then everyone takes it up on themselves to break him down mentally. Sounds like fun.
One of the coaches on Team Rampage gets a giant caricature made of Team Rashad and decides to hang it in the gym. Its actually pretty funny, but would be funnier if they weren't 0-5. Zak gets clipped in practice and his eye opens up. Kimbo jumps at the idea of fighting again, but Zak doesnt even consider backing out. I think that disappoints some people.
The fight starts and they both trade punches for a few seconds. Schoonover pins Zak against the cage and lands a knee. Zak pushes off the cage, lands a few knees himself. He then takes a vicious knee to the body and Schoonover starts teeing off on his face. Surprisingly, Zak is able to take Darrill down and lands a few punches. Then, in the most obvious and deliberate fashion ever, Schoonover gets Zak in a triangle and Zak does nothing to get out of it. Schoonover makes it tighter, and tighter, and tighter, until Zak passes out 2:33 into the round.
Final Titty Count: 33
Raleigh's Bets NFL Week 7
I've stopped my "What I learned" blog posts and removed the word "Best" from the Blog title this week for the time being since I apparently haven't learned anything and there is nothing "best" about my picks recently. Here they are anyway...
Minnesota @ Pittsburgh (-5.5)
I initially wanted to go with Minnesota because even if they lose their first game, it will be close. But being that I've been doing so poorly I switched it. So far Minnesota is 3-0 on the road but they've only beaten Cleveland, Detroit and St. Louis in doing so. I think it's a trap.
Atlanta (+4) @ Dallas
Atlanta caused 6 turnovers in their last two games (granted they gave away 4 also but I'm choosing not to look at that for the purpose of this pick). Tony Romo is a turnover machine. I think this game is a field goal game in either direction.
Philadephia (-7) @ Washington
There is a game or two every year during the NFL season that clears out half a Survivor Pool. Unfortunately for Philly, they happened to be in the one last week losing to Oakland. I still think they are the 2nd best team in the NFC East and Washington is beyond hope.
Last Week : 0-3
Overall: 8-10
Minnesota @ Pittsburgh (-5.5)
I initially wanted to go with Minnesota because even if they lose their first game, it will be close. But being that I've been doing so poorly I switched it. So far Minnesota is 3-0 on the road but they've only beaten Cleveland, Detroit and St. Louis in doing so. I think it's a trap.
Atlanta (+4) @ Dallas
Atlanta caused 6 turnovers in their last two games (granted they gave away 4 also but I'm choosing not to look at that for the purpose of this pick). Tony Romo is a turnover machine. I think this game is a field goal game in either direction.
Philadephia (-7) @ Washington
There is a game or two every year during the NFL season that clears out half a Survivor Pool. Unfortunately for Philly, they happened to be in the one last week losing to Oakland. I still think they are the 2nd best team in the NFC East and Washington is beyond hope.
Last Week : 0-3
Overall: 8-10
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