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.