The Yankees put together an amazing endeavor that concludes tonight called HOPE Week, (Helping Others Persevere & Excel), a community program that will bring to light five remarkable stories intended to inspire individuals into action in their own communities.
I worked Wednesday's game and participated in the event that took place in the Billy Martin suite before first pitch: The powerful, compelling and tear-jerking story of George Murray, a former Army paratrooper terminally-ill with Lou Gehrig's disease. What started as an invite from Mark Teixeira to watch batting practice turned into a big surprise from the team, a day George, his wife Kim and son Trason will never forget.
The following night, my colleague and friend, Jerome Priesler, attended a postgame carnival on Yankee Stadium's field for the children of Camp Sundown, a haven to these courageous kids living with a rare skin disorder called Xeroderma Pigmentosum that prevents them from being in the sunlight. The Yankees have always been at the forefront of community events and helping charitable organizations. In a word, HOPE Week was fantastic and the organization deserves a tremendous amount of credit.
On the side, the first-place Yankees are winners of seven straight entering tonight against the A's. Their philosophy is simple. A big piece of the puzzle has been Phil Hughes.
Because Josh Barnett failed a drug test, Affliction: Trilogy was canceled. Not only is Barnett selfish, he's stupid. Barnett was in the show's main event against Fedor Emelianenko.
I can only divulge so much, but a fight date for Brock Larson is almost set.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Knee injury forces Hamill out of UFC 102
Matt Hamill was poised for his biggest test since his humbling defeat against Rich Franklin, but a knee injury has forced him out of his UFC 102 bout with Brandon Vera.
Sherdog.com was the first to report the injury, which his trainer Duff Holmes confirmed to me as a meniscus tear that will keep him out three-four weeks. MMAJunkie has the latest on Sherdog's initial report, which also listed Krzysztof Soszynski as taking "The Hammer's" place. It's a tough break for Hamill, but also the smart decision. It was affecting his ability to go to the ground and giving out on him.
Meanwhile, this is a great opportunity for Soszynski, who has won his last three fights since losing in the semifinals of The Ultimate Fighter, Season 8. He and eventual winner Ryan Bader showed the most promise in the show's light-heavyweight division. No disrespect to Vinny Magalhaes, but Soszynski was Frank Mir's finest student. A win over "The Truth," who has rededicated himself to conditioning and nutrition, rockets him up the latter, and perhaps a match with Hamill.
Sherdog.com was the first to report the injury, which his trainer Duff Holmes confirmed to me as a meniscus tear that will keep him out three-four weeks. MMAJunkie has the latest on Sherdog's initial report, which also listed Krzysztof Soszynski as taking "The Hammer's" place. It's a tough break for Hamill, but also the smart decision. It was affecting his ability to go to the ground and giving out on him.
Meanwhile, this is a great opportunity for Soszynski, who has won his last three fights since losing in the semifinals of The Ultimate Fighter, Season 8. He and eventual winner Ryan Bader showed the most promise in the show's light-heavyweight division. No disrespect to Vinny Magalhaes, but Soszynski was Frank Mir's finest student. A win over "The Truth," who has rededicated himself to conditioning and nutrition, rockets him up the latter, and perhaps a match with Hamill.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Fun in the Bronx, while Larson still waits
Old Timer's Day this afternoon at Yankee Stadium was its usual fun. It was a day spent appreciating the past while enjoying the present and feeling optimistic about the future. For those who think this is typical Yankee pandering, get over it. OT Day is wholly enjoyable for all and the Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Tigers to pull within one game of first place. In the win, Joba Chamberlain showed how good he can be as a starting pitcher. Now he has to put a string of consistency together, and impatient people need to realize he's only 23 years old.
The best part about my day was interviewing Diana Munson and a few of Thurman Munson's former teammates. This week I'll be penning a special tribute to No. 15, 30 years after his tragic death, and compiling a few special projects and surprises. I discuss Munson and my experiences here.
I've been focused on Yankees the past couple of weeks, while still working hard on my feature for FIGHT! on Brock Larson. This will happen - for real. All Larson needs is an opponent. We spoke on the phone the middle of last week and mentioned that two potential opponents, Carlos Condit (Chris Lytle @ UFC Fight Night 19) and Martin Kampmann (Mike Swick @ UFC 103, with the winner Georges St. Pierre's next challenge) - the only two to defeat Larson to date - were signed to fight other opponents. Larson admitted he too was keeping a checklist, begrudgingly crossing off the names while playing the waiting game.
If there was one fight he truly wanted, it was Condit. Until if and when he gets his rematch, Larson's first-round submission loss at WEC 29 in August 2007 still burns deep inside him, yet it was also a night when he was taught a valuable lesson. Since that night in Las Vegas, Larson has won five in a row - all in the first round. In the first of our exclusive discussions, he explained how and why.
Also for the story I interviewed Jared Feierabend, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu who's known Larson since third grade. Among the anecdotes he shared was the time kids stirred up enough trouble that a playground fight between the two was scheduled immediately after school. Whether the two came to blows, you'll find out, but way back as a child, Feierabend learned something about Larson and his respect for him grew over the years.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A quick take on Brock Lesnar
I meant to share this earlier, but Brock Lesnar came across like an idiot Saturday night. It's one thing to generate hype for a fight and the UFC will thrive even more by building around a villain. That's fine, because almost every fighter talks trash and Brock comes from a world where he had to sell himself and a story along with a match. But refusing to touch gloves with Frank Mir, getting in his face after winning the bout - referee Herb Dean, despite fan objections, was correct in not standing them up; Lesnar was working - flipping off fans and dissing a sponsor made him come off as completely unlikeable.
Now here's where I defend Lesnar. First, he apologized after a good tounge-lashing from Dana White. Say what you want about it, but he did. Second, it is incredible how far he's come in only five MMA bouts (four in the UFC). Not another heavyweight comes close to his level, neither Shane Carwin nor Cain Velasquez (yet). And third, it is totally ridiculous how some people still refer him as a fake wrestler and hold his sports entertainment background against him. Lesnar's WWE days are over, he's a full-fledged Ultimate Fighter and the UFC heavyweight champion. Love him or hate him, he's a deserving champion.
Jesse Ventura said it best when he became Governor of Minnesota, citing a world where as "The Body," before he was able to win, he had to learn how to lose. The matches themselves are scripted, but what goes on behind closed doors, and the physical and emotional toll that comes from being wrestler, is more real than the ignorant can possibly imagine. If you need convincing, study the story of Chris Benoit.
Now here's where I defend Lesnar. First, he apologized after a good tounge-lashing from Dana White. Say what you want about it, but he did. Second, it is incredible how far he's come in only five MMA bouts (four in the UFC). Not another heavyweight comes close to his level, neither Shane Carwin nor Cain Velasquez (yet). And third, it is totally ridiculous how some people still refer him as a fake wrestler and hold his sports entertainment background against him. Lesnar's WWE days are over, he's a full-fledged Ultimate Fighter and the UFC heavyweight champion. Love him or hate him, he's a deserving champion.
Jesse Ventura said it best when he became Governor of Minnesota, citing a world where as "The Body," before he was able to win, he had to learn how to lose. The matches themselves are scripted, but what goes on behind closed doors, and the physical and emotional toll that comes from being wrestler, is more real than the ignorant can possibly imagine. If you need convincing, study the story of Chris Benoit.
Random mid-summer musings
Some quick hits to play catch-up:
Yankees.com posted my feature on a new book by Marty Appel looking back at the life and career of the great Thurman Munson. It's another of a few Munson-related projects I've done or are in the works. Sunday I'll be at Yankees Old Timer's Day - always a fun afternoon - where many of Munson's former teammates will be on hand, along with his widow, the forever-classy Diana.
Will Roy Halladay become a Yankee? Probably not. Do the Yankees have to have him? No, but they must explore every angle on what it'll take to get him. A memo to the daydreamers: It's going to take at least a package of Phil Hughes and/or Jesus Montero to acquire the six-time All-Star and 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner. Once an idea entered my mind, I took a shot at playing virtual GM. Joba Chamberlain, Austin Jackson and Montero for Doc. Media types are strongly in favor of getting Halladay, while most fans are vehemently opposed to busting up a farm system recently rebuilt. I've always been in favor of building a program, but sometimes an elite pitcher still in his prime is worth the risk. Do you bank on potential or a starting rotation with a front three of Halladay, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett?
UFC 100 was a fun event - and a fun night at my local Hooters. And I was actually 5-2 on my won-loss predictions. We now look ahead to UFC 101 next month in Philadelphia, but also on my radar is UFC 104 October 24 in Los Angeles. It's the return of Ryan Bader, Lyoto Machida's first light-heavyweight title defense against Mauricio Rua and a highly-intriguing heavyweight bout between Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez. Somebody's '0' will go and the winner gets a shot at Brock Lesnar. But Carwin decided to trash Lesnar for his unprofessional post-fight antics after defeating Frank Mir. Tough talk by the Colossus from Colorado, but perhaps misguided. He has to get past a freight train about as focused and intense of anyone I've covered in MMA.
It'll be Martin Kampmann and Mike Swick at September's UFC 103 in Dallas for the right to challenge welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, who has cleaned out the division. My question is about Brock Larson's immediate future. I figured he'd get a rematch with Carlos Condit, but Condit is rumored to be fighting Chris Lytle at UFC Fight Night 19. I have a call placed into Larson to see if he's heard anything new. Once his next opponent is announced, I can work up a feature article on the up-and-comer from Minnesota for FIGHT! Magazine.
Yankees.com posted my feature on a new book by Marty Appel looking back at the life and career of the great Thurman Munson. It's another of a few Munson-related projects I've done or are in the works. Sunday I'll be at Yankees Old Timer's Day - always a fun afternoon - where many of Munson's former teammates will be on hand, along with his widow, the forever-classy Diana.
Will Roy Halladay become a Yankee? Probably not. Do the Yankees have to have him? No, but they must explore every angle on what it'll take to get him. A memo to the daydreamers: It's going to take at least a package of Phil Hughes and/or Jesus Montero to acquire the six-time All-Star and 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner. Once an idea entered my mind, I took a shot at playing virtual GM. Joba Chamberlain, Austin Jackson and Montero for Doc. Media types are strongly in favor of getting Halladay, while most fans are vehemently opposed to busting up a farm system recently rebuilt. I've always been in favor of building a program, but sometimes an elite pitcher still in his prime is worth the risk. Do you bank on potential or a starting rotation with a front three of Halladay, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett?
UFC 100 was a fun event - and a fun night at my local Hooters. And I was actually 5-2 on my won-loss predictions. We now look ahead to UFC 101 next month in Philadelphia, but also on my radar is UFC 104 October 24 in Los Angeles. It's the return of Ryan Bader, Lyoto Machida's first light-heavyweight title defense against Mauricio Rua and a highly-intriguing heavyweight bout between Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez. Somebody's '0' will go and the winner gets a shot at Brock Lesnar. But Carwin decided to trash Lesnar for his unprofessional post-fight antics after defeating Frank Mir. Tough talk by the Colossus from Colorado, but perhaps misguided. He has to get past a freight train about as focused and intense of anyone I've covered in MMA.
It'll be Martin Kampmann and Mike Swick at September's UFC 103 in Dallas for the right to challenge welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, who has cleaned out the division. My question is about Brock Larson's immediate future. I figured he'd get a rematch with Carlos Condit, but Condit is rumored to be fighting Chris Lytle at UFC Fight Night 19. I have a call placed into Larson to see if he's heard anything new. Once his next opponent is announced, I can work up a feature article on the up-and-comer from Minnesota for FIGHT! Magazine.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
UFC 100 predictions
The last time I tried this (UFC 98) it didn't turn out too well. For example, I had Rashad Evans over Lyoto Machida, but no regrets. And it's the big one, so what the heck.
Frank Mir vs. Brock Lesnar
Lesnar is better than the fighter whose rookie mistake doomed him in the first fight. Mir is better than the fighter who took the next big step on his comeback trail when he forced Lesnar to tap. Lesnar is motivated to extract revenge, but I sense he won't channel his negative energy properly. Mir knows he's the underdog and proved mind over muscle the first time. This won't end in Round 1, but Mir - the cerebral assassin - will find another way. Mir submission Round 3.
Georges St. Pierre vs. Thiago Alves
The Pitbull has promised not a win, but a knockout. He owns wins - and dominant ones - over Karo Parisyan, Chris Lytle, Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck. But he's never faced anyone at GSP's level. In fact, nobody today is at GSP's level. St. Pierre is battle-tested in the championship rounds. If Alves can't finish him early, he loses his best shot. He'll be great someday, but GSP remains at his peak. St. Pierre TKO Round 4.
Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson
Bisping is 17-1. He's acting like he's 30-0. Henderson has been there, done that, and a volcano set to erupt. Bisping has gotten a kick out of talking smack. He hasn't faced anyone with Henderson's pure, brute strength. The closest fighter too it, Matt Hamill, was robbed on Bisping's home turf. Henderson KO Round 1.
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Alan Belcher
"Sexyama" makes his UFC debut against the Talent. I'm intrigued to watch him and believe he'll unveil a few tricks that will take Belcher off his game. Akiyama unanimous decision.
Jon Fitch vs. Paulo Thiago
Fitch's lone loss is nothing to be ashamed about: St. Pierre. A prodigy of the Dave Camerillo camp, Fitch responded with a gritty win over Akihiro Gono at UFC 94. I've been learning about the Camerillo principals while working on my Brock Larson feature for FIGHT! Thiago is at his best when taking advantage of opponents' mistakes. Fitch won't let it come to that. Fitch TKO Round 2.
Stephan Bonnar vs. Mark Coleman
Coleman is a deserving Hall of Famer, but one past his finest days. He lost a war to Shogun Rua at UFC 93. Shogun earned a shot at Machida, Coleman is trying to hang on. Bonner was knocked around by Jon Jones in his last night and knows he must quickly get his career back on track. Bonnar unanimous decision.
Jon Jones vs. Jake O'Brien
I wish this fight was on the main card and hope there's enough time for it to be aired. O'Brien has a future, but "Bones" is already being touted as a future champion and is way ahead of the learning curve. Jones unanimous decision.
Frank Mir vs. Brock Lesnar
Lesnar is better than the fighter whose rookie mistake doomed him in the first fight. Mir is better than the fighter who took the next big step on his comeback trail when he forced Lesnar to tap. Lesnar is motivated to extract revenge, but I sense he won't channel his negative energy properly. Mir knows he's the underdog and proved mind over muscle the first time. This won't end in Round 1, but Mir - the cerebral assassin - will find another way. Mir submission Round 3.
Georges St. Pierre vs. Thiago Alves
The Pitbull has promised not a win, but a knockout. He owns wins - and dominant ones - over Karo Parisyan, Chris Lytle, Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck. But he's never faced anyone at GSP's level. In fact, nobody today is at GSP's level. St. Pierre is battle-tested in the championship rounds. If Alves can't finish him early, he loses his best shot. He'll be great someday, but GSP remains at his peak. St. Pierre TKO Round 4.
Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson
Bisping is 17-1. He's acting like he's 30-0. Henderson has been there, done that, and a volcano set to erupt. Bisping has gotten a kick out of talking smack. He hasn't faced anyone with Henderson's pure, brute strength. The closest fighter too it, Matt Hamill, was robbed on Bisping's home turf. Henderson KO Round 1.
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Alan Belcher
"Sexyama" makes his UFC debut against the Talent. I'm intrigued to watch him and believe he'll unveil a few tricks that will take Belcher off his game. Akiyama unanimous decision.
Jon Fitch vs. Paulo Thiago
Fitch's lone loss is nothing to be ashamed about: St. Pierre. A prodigy of the Dave Camerillo camp, Fitch responded with a gritty win over Akihiro Gono at UFC 94. I've been learning about the Camerillo principals while working on my Brock Larson feature for FIGHT! Thiago is at his best when taking advantage of opponents' mistakes. Fitch won't let it come to that. Fitch TKO Round 2.
Stephan Bonnar vs. Mark Coleman
Coleman is a deserving Hall of Famer, but one past his finest days. He lost a war to Shogun Rua at UFC 93. Shogun earned a shot at Machida, Coleman is trying to hang on. Bonner was knocked around by Jon Jones in his last night and knows he must quickly get his career back on track. Bonnar unanimous decision.
Jon Jones vs. Jake O'Brien
I wish this fight was on the main card and hope there's enough time for it to be aired. O'Brien has a future, but "Bones" is already being touted as a future champion and is way ahead of the learning curve. Jones unanimous decision.
Howard Davis Drive
A great early evening in Glen Cove, N.Y., capped a week when MMA Junkie was in UFC 100 lockdown and I spent it focused on baseball. I made my first trip to Citi Field on Wednesday for a feature on a Dodgers team with many similarities to the Yankees of the mid-1990s that grew into a dynasty. Joe Torre also discussed Hideki Matsui, the old Yankee Stadium and more, and I caught up with another former Yankee, Jeff Weaver.
Friday night I was invited to a ceremony where Mason Drive in Glen Cove was renamed Howard Davis Drive in honor of the 1976 Gold Medalist in boxing and his late father. The backdrop was the Glen Cove Housing Authority in Davis' old neighborhood, where many people who watched him grow up and run three miles up Robinson "Agony" Hill still reside today. He told the story about the day Howard Sr. took him to see a biography on Muhammad Ali when he was 15 years old. The next morning he woke up at 4:30 - on his own - and ran up and down Robinson. When he was asked what he was doing, Howard told his dad how the movie inspired him to want to become a fighter.
The rest, as they say, is history. Instead of being a phase, Howard Davis Jr. has lived boxing since that night as a 15-year-old. He neither chased women nor drank alcohol and today has evolved into a MMA trainer working at American Top Team and is promoting his first show set to debut in December.
"I was willing to die for it," Davis said on his goal of winning the gold. "It was kill or be killed."
Davis helped train Thiago Alves for his fight against Georges St. Pierre tonight at UFC 100. He asked me who I have winning. I had to be honest, so I told him GSP. Of course he's behind his student - with conviction. "He's a beast," he said. "He's going to steamroll through him."
Friday night I was invited to a ceremony where Mason Drive in Glen Cove was renamed Howard Davis Drive in honor of the 1976 Gold Medalist in boxing and his late father. The backdrop was the Glen Cove Housing Authority in Davis' old neighborhood, where many people who watched him grow up and run three miles up Robinson "Agony" Hill still reside today. He told the story about the day Howard Sr. took him to see a biography on Muhammad Ali when he was 15 years old. The next morning he woke up at 4:30 - on his own - and ran up and down Robinson. When he was asked what he was doing, Howard told his dad how the movie inspired him to want to become a fighter.
The rest, as they say, is history. Instead of being a phase, Howard Davis Jr. has lived boxing since that night as a 15-year-old. He neither chased women nor drank alcohol and today has evolved into a MMA trainer working at American Top Team and is promoting his first show set to debut in December.
"I was willing to die for it," Davis said on his goal of winning the gold. "It was kill or be killed."
Davis helped train Thiago Alves for his fight against Georges St. Pierre tonight at UFC 100. He asked me who I have winning. I had to be honest, so I told him GSP. Of course he's behind his student - with conviction. "He's a beast," he said. "He's going to steamroll through him."
Thursday, July 2, 2009
My encounter with the classy Arguello
I meant to bring this up yesterday but I was shocked to learn of the death of Alexis Arguello, the sixth boxer to win championships in three weight classes. The first time I saw him fight was against my favorite growing up, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini. It was October 3, 1981 when Mancini challenged Arguello for the WBC Lightweight Title. I didn't know anything about Arguello, all I knew was I was rooting hard for Mancini until Arguello knocked him out in Round 14 to hand "Boom Boom" the first loss of his career. After the bout was when I learned something about Arguello. He had the heart and the class of a true champion. He embraced a young and hurt Mancini, thanking him for the fight and telling him better days were ahead.
A year later Arguello met Aaron Pryor for the first time, losing a 14-round war dubbed the "Battle of the Champions" and one of the greatest I've ever seen. A couple of years after that I met Arguello at a Superstars competition in Key Biscayne, Fla. He was the absolute nicest guy who signed an autograph that read, "To Jon. From a friend. The Three Time World Champion."
Arguello was found with a gunshot wound to the chest. Initial reports have it as a suicide, but that remains under investigation. A terrible loss under terrible circumstances.
Today I share a mutual friend with Arguello, Howard Davis Jr., and he'll be honored next Friday in Glen Cove, N.Y., when the town will name a street after him. His father - Howard Davis Sr. - will also be honored for his services as the “Father of the Community” in Glen Cove. Before it became the Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club, Davis Sr. served as Director of what was called the Lincoln House in the 1960’s. Davis Sr. passed away earlier this year and was in his son’s corner as boxing trainer for nearly his entire career.
Today, Davis Jr. is President of Fight Time Promotions LLC, a Florida-based Sports Entertainment Company and his working on USA VS Brazil., his first MMA show as promoter to take place in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla, later this year. He's also Boxing Director for American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla., helping train the likes of WEC Featherweight Champion Mike Brown, UFC Welterweight contender Thiago Alves and many others.
A week from Saturday, Alves faces the biggest challenge of his life: a shot at champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 100.
A year later Arguello met Aaron Pryor for the first time, losing a 14-round war dubbed the "Battle of the Champions" and one of the greatest I've ever seen. A couple of years after that I met Arguello at a Superstars competition in Key Biscayne, Fla. He was the absolute nicest guy who signed an autograph that read, "To Jon. From a friend. The Three Time World Champion."
Arguello was found with a gunshot wound to the chest. Initial reports have it as a suicide, but that remains under investigation. A terrible loss under terrible circumstances.
Today I share a mutual friend with Arguello, Howard Davis Jr., and he'll be honored next Friday in Glen Cove, N.Y., when the town will name a street after him. His father - Howard Davis Sr. - will also be honored for his services as the “Father of the Community” in Glen Cove. Before it became the Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club, Davis Sr. served as Director of what was called the Lincoln House in the 1960’s. Davis Sr. passed away earlier this year and was in his son’s corner as boxing trainer for nearly his entire career.
Today, Davis Jr. is President of Fight Time Promotions LLC, a Florida-based Sports Entertainment Company and his working on USA VS Brazil., his first MMA show as promoter to take place in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla, later this year. He's also Boxing Director for American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla., helping train the likes of WEC Featherweight Champion Mike Brown, UFC Welterweight contender Thiago Alves and many others.
A week from Saturday, Alves faces the biggest challenge of his life: a shot at champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 100.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)