If They Weren’t Jocks: Safina and Cibulkova, Sumo Wrestlers
January 20, 2009
by
Dinara Safina and Dominika Cibulkova as Sumo Wrestlers
January 13, 2009
Tokyo, Japan
An incredible week of Sumo wrestling at the Toyota Fuji Mixed Sumo Wrestling Cup has ended with the Slovak Republic winning an amazing final over Russia to become three-time champions.
The win for the Slovak Republic was set up with world-ranked No 19. Dominika Cibulkova beating No. 3 Russian Dinara Safina for the first time ever.
Generously listed at five feet three and a half inches, Dominika played the role of David to Dinara’s six foot two inches tall Goliath. Almost a foot taller and 30 pounds heavier, the big Russian fell to the floor in defeat after almost two and a half sweat-drenched hours of fierce battle.
When asked about her strategy for success, Cibulkova shared a Zen lesson that has obviously rubbed off on her in all her years spent in Japan. “Yeah,” she stated, “I was thinking too much you know. I was thinking that I would beat her for first time and stuff like it. So I just stopped thinking … and that’s why I won.”
As a side note, alternative film director Roger Federer, known for his works “Clay Fiction” and “Wimbledon Dogs” is reported to be starting on an adaptation of this event to be called “Slovak Bastards.”
Aussie Open Round One Review: Gonzalez V Hewitt
January 20, 2009
In the end, Gonzo (Gonzalez) prevailed 5-7 6-2 6-2 3-6 6-3. There are many types of tennis fans, some fans cannot watch their favorite player play (they are afraid he/she will lose, hence they record it and watch the match later if they know that their player has won already), some fans must watch their player play, and some others cannot stand to watch them play (if they are losing), but still do because the pain of watching them lose is much lesser than not watching them at all. This is the psychology of a typical tennis fan.
Me, I belong to the third category. If I can live every point and go through the ups and downs with my favorite during the match…then I am OK with the end result. For some weird reason, the fact that I lived every point with him makes it OK even if he loses, for I do get the feeling that I was there for him (not that a professional former world number 1 needs a shoulder, for his chances of winning equals the chances of losing every time he steps on court and he knows that).
The problem with Hewitt is simple, and it gets worse every year. His game is predicated on something that deteriorates quicker with time, than other skill sets in a tennis players’ arsenal would. His game has always been predicated on ‘SPEED’, ‘Counter-Punching’ and ‘Court Coverage’. Counter-Punching is a on speed, which recedes quicker with age, than any other skill set such as power of serve or forehand.
As brutal as it sounds, Hewitt is a bloke fighting with his medieval weapons of lance and spear, in a futuristic world of star wars and light sabers. The game has moved on – and has left him behind. Its’ not his fault, its no one’s fault – its life.
As he grew older, he lost half a step, and the wolves began to circle around. As dogmatic and fiercely competitive he is, no amount of human mental toughness and human intervention (coach Roche is one of the best going around) can bridge that gap between him and others who play the game now.Today, he took the first set 7-5, by playing in vintage game, he hung around till 5-5, then threaded the needle with a return winner, and a brilliant passing shot to take the only set point he needed to win the first set. The second and third set was when Gonzo imposed his monstrous forehand on Hewitt, leaving Hewitt with bits and pieces to pick up … 6-2 6-2. Hewitt became too predictable by serving to much to Gonzo’s forehand.
But you always know you have to put Hewitt away, he isn’t going to hand you anything, Hewitt started out the fourth well and ran out to a 4-1 lead, ended up winning it 6-3 with a brilliantly constructed point again. Point construction is his forte indeed, if he is given time.
Hewitt’s serve was off, way off today with ten double faults. At one point I claimed ‘He is serving worse than my grand-mum’ and later … ‘he is serving worse than my grand-mum’. Later I just learned (interview) that his left leg was not holding up enough to get up for those serves, he is coming back from a hip operation.
As the fifth set came around the long game at 1-1, Gonzo would save two break points and hold on to his serve. Gonzo was starting to cramp at this point, but he would run up to a 3-1 lead, only for Hewitt to break back for 2-3. I did think Hewitt returned very well, Gonzo’s groundies were starting to get a ragged a bit at this point, after he lost the fourth.
This was when Gonzo’s irked me a touch, he did nothing wrong and beyond the rules, but a player of his caliber I would think would do well not to call a trainer BEFORE the opponents’ serve. I am not questioning the authenticity of his injury, it was very hot in Melbourne, but calling a trainer before an opponents’ serve would throw your opponents’ rhythm off.
I am not sure about that, Gonzo’s Beijing incident with Blake, and calling the trainer just before Hewitt has just broken back at 2-3 in the Aus Open…I’ll leave the rest to your conclusion. A player of his caliber may be should think more? (Anyone?)
Hewitt was broken, and Gonzo served the next game out to love (0), to take the fifth 6-3. I am torn right, one perspective apprises me that Hewitt is fighting with medieval weapons in Star Wars Age, hence his effort if anything must be commended more, the realistic part of me voices ‘what difference does it make … you lose – you just LOSE’
With another mediocre season, I don’t see Lleyton sticking around for much longer. I threw things at the television, swore very bad at the television, spoke to all of my lovely mates in tennis.com during the match (especially Bissy) … drank copious amounts of coffee, berated myself and Lleyton mercilessly for missing easy forehand mid court balls at 2-3 in the fifth … during the game.
Blakey, Blakey,Blakey What are we Going to do With You?
January 20, 2009
by Jack Porter…
Jason Blake, what are we going to do with you?
The pesky Toronto forward has been lighting it up the last few weeks and is beginning to beg the question, what do the Leafs do with Jason Blake?
1. The Leafs could keep the 35 year old winger until the end of the season and then buy him out, but that would leave the Leafs with nothing but a salary cap hit.
So it seems that they will have to trade him. Now, the speedy winger is only two goals away from surpassing last years total of 15, and yet is still a far cry from his 40 goals two seasons ago with the Islanders. So where exactly does his trade stock value sit?
Well there are a couple of factors that weigh into that. One, he is on pace for a 55 point season and two he has a salary of $4.5 million this year and $4 million next season.
What could GM Brian Burke possibly get for the 50+ point scorer?
Well last season there were a few trades involving goal scorers with point totals between 50-65 points.
The Tampa Bay Lightning traded forward Vaclav Prospal to Philadelphia for defense prospect Alex Picard and a conditional 2009 second or third round draft choice.
The Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators made a swap in which Ottawa acquired Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore for Patrick Eaves and Joe Corvo. Of course this trade included defenseman, but the Leafs could pull of a deal like this by including Jeff Finger or Ian White. The Canes got a young gun in Eaves and a solid defenseman with a few years left in him in Corvo.
The Blues even made a splash by trading away Doug Weight and seventh round pick to Anaheim for Andy McDonald. Weight was only a 25 point scorer too. Of course some of this had to do with salary cap issues but still a trade like this for the Leafs is still plausible.
So as you can see, Burke could pull off a trade involving the 35 year old if he can find a team willing to take the salary and it would not even be a salary dump, it will be a good trade for the future. So let’s all thank Jason for playing so well because every time his name gets written on the score sheet his trade stock rises and rises.
Kaka Move To Manchester City Is Off
January 20, 2009
It seems that Manchester City’s attempt to sign AC Milan star Kaka is no more.
Various reports coming from Milan tonight say that Kaka and AC Milan have turned down the deal while Manchester City claim it was them who called off negotiations.
City’s new owners had launched a world record bid to sign the Brazilian midfielder which was said to be anywhere between £100-175m depending on who you believed. What is known is that Milan and Kaka would have benefited greatly from this deal.
For days it seems as if a deal would be done. However, over a rumour-packed 48 hours, Kaka played for AC Milan with fans chanting his name throughout.
This evening as negotiations continued, numerous fans showed support to the player outside his home. In response, Kaka emerged from a window holding a Milan shirt and beat his chest three times to the delighted crowd below.
In the last few hours, Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi claimed on Italian television that Kaka is “not for sale at any price.”
Berlusconi said: “Kaka is staying with Milan. For Kaka, money isn’t everything.”
“Kaka is and remains with Milan,” Berlusconi added in a phone interview with the Processo di Biscardi show.
However, other reports state that Manchester City were never involved in negotiations with the player and thus could not turn down the offer from the Eastlands club.
It may be a case of both clubs saving face. AC Milan wanting people to believe that they have turned down the money while Manchester City wanting people to believe that they have ended the talks.
Either way it seems this transfer story is dead in the water.
However, today was successful for Manchester City as they have secured the services of Craig Bellamy from West Ham United and have had a bid accepted for Hamburg’s Nigel De Jong.
I sincerely doubt this is the last we have heard of Manchester City in this transfer window.
MMA Top Five Pound-for-Pound Rankings
January 20, 2009
Everywhere across the MMA world you will find the pound for pound rankings who have many fighters, most of them having Anderson Silva and Fedor Emelianenko topping the charts, but I’m here to bring you my p4p rankings and ill put a detailed explanation for each fighter and ranking.
1. Anderson Silva
Of course, I must put my first choice as the man above all men, he’s a striking genius, as Joe Rogan said, he is a different kind of striker. I believe that the only man that will be able to dethrone this champion is someone with world champion prowess submission skills, your not going to just go in, take him down and submit him, your gonna get on top, get a body triangle in, and he’s gonna beat your face in from the bottom. I think the only man who can truly dethrone the champion is Demian Maia. The man can take a hit and he’s truly evolving into a different fighter.
2. Georges St. Pierre
Truly, the most complete fighter in MMA, a man who came in with a karate background, to controlling who many considered some of the best wrestlers in the sport. You wont ever find a more complete fighter, and in a man who came up from nothing and completely rose up the rankings to be able to defy all the odds, a true athlete in many aspects. Boxing trainers say he can go pro with his skill, at one point he considered wrestling for his country, one of the only men, who i believe, who could take down the top p4p man.
3. Lyoto Machida
A lot of people disagree but this man is the true future of MMA. With crisp striking, top notch submission skills and the ability to throw his opponents off of their game plan. The true meaning of mixed martial arts is to use the best way possible to defeat your opponent, going in, throwing, and having the possibility to get knocked out is not the best way to win a fight, its to avoid getting hit, and using your own opponents mistakes against them, the man is truly the future of MMA, without a doubt.
4. Fedor Emelianenko
Truly, the top heavyweight in any organization. He will come in, and destroy you on your feet, if he takes you to the ground, you better be good otherwise your getting submitted, and you better be even better when your on top because he’ll fuck you up off his back. The man moves his hips like a lightweight. The man is certainly one of the best fighters in the world, and i foresee that when he retires, he’ll be unbeaten still.
5. BJ Penn
The current UFC lightweight champion. A man that, in his own, has risen the ranks and showed everyone that he is truly a force to be dealt with for anyone. Having faced two of the my picks for the top P4P fighters in the world, he has gone the distance with both and has only been stopped once in his entire career. His fight with “Rush” will truly change the P4P rankings from what you see now
Even though, many people may have their own choices n whatnot, no one can truly say who they believe are the top fighters in the world, everyone has their own opinions but these are my picks in who i believe are the best that this sport has to offer. A year from now these rankings will be different, and the new generation will take order, long live MMA.
Lyoto Machida And The Great Divide: Disrespected and Misunderstood
January 20, 2009
by …Anderson “the spider” Silva (23-4 with 14 KO’s) is a name that Mixed Martial Arts fans are more than well acquainted with. Anderson is the 185 pound UFC champion, and rated by many experts as-pound for pound-the greatest Mixed Martial Arts fighter on the planet.
Dis-respected and mis-understood by some, loved and much admired by others, Lyoto -the dragon-Machida is also a name that many fans are well acquainted with, and there exsists a great divide among fans, regarding the style of this extremely skilled Mixed Martial Arts fighter.
Mainly, due to his-cautious defensive style- Lyota Machida is often overlooked as a pound for pound successor to the great Anderson Silva, but with all the right-fights and the right-wins in this new-year, 2009 or early next year can potentially and officially change the opinions of all his closed minded detractors.
This young MMA superstar and undefeated fighter (13-0-3 by ko) is no beginner, he started training Shotokan Karate at age three; later at age 12, the young Machida began training and developing his strength in the art of Sumo Wrestling, although he didnt know it at the time, he was already learning the basics of MMA.
A Karate Black-Belt at age 13 and definitely on his way, at the tender age of 15 a young Lyoto Machida witnessed the great BJJ skills of legendary Mixed Martial Arts pioneer Royce Gracie on a video of UFC-1, he was immediately hooked, he then started training diligently in Brazillian jui jitsu.
As a snot-nosed teenager, Lyoto Machida already had a clear blueprint and a rock solid foundation for the sturdy-well-rounded-MMA fighter that we know and admire today. Still, there exists critics, because to the average fan, or to the untrained eye, Machida appears to be running, or being lethargic.
Personally, I love to watch Machida’s fights; to me its similar to holding onto a beautiful, loaded, Smith/Wesson 44 calibre revolver, the gun has the potential to create devastatingly violent circumstances, ironically, that wont happen unless the trigger is pulled. So you see, Machida isn’t boring to me because I respect the showstopping violence that he is capable of producing.
In his last few fights Lyoto has been called “boring” for employing his-Shotokan karate as a defensive tool; Machida circled the Octagon taking advantage of his opponents by counter-punching off their careless mistake.
As Machida’s opponents tried repeatedly in vain to gain access to striking range, they would unknowingly leave themselves wide-open, this ” luring in ” tactic also used by Anderson Silva.
Lyoto has been a Black Belt in Shotokan since age 13, however Karate techniques are very rarely used by Machida. Frank Trigg has been a victim of machida’s kicks in sparring sessions, and has spoken highly of them, he also used a Karate leg sweep on B.J. Penn in the second round of their fight.
Lyoto has also used a variety of back kicks in the dominant beat-downs of Tito Ortiz, Rich Franklin, and Stephan Bonnar.
Machida’s first two fights in the UFC were against Sam “the Alaskan Assassin” Hoger at UFC-67 and David Heath at UFC-70, both were victories by unanimous decision.
At UFC-79 he easily spoiled the coming-out party of-Pride FC up and comer-Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in the second round using a powerful strangling move called an Arm Triangle Choke.
Machida’s detractors view his defensive approach as boring, which diminishes from the entertaining aspect of the sport, but I’m speaking here as a supporter and fan of his style.
Watching Machida in action is an acquired taste, a delicacy similar to caviar; the people who like it will pay top dollar to eat the best, but the other folks who cant stomach it see it as the eggs of a dead fish.
Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration.”
-Thomas Edison
Leafs Play Well: But Come Up Short Against Cane’s Hot Goalie
January 20, 2009
by ...Toronto Maple Leafs came up with probably their best team effort of the season, in the 2-0 loss but could not put the puck behind The Cane’s goalie Cam Ward.
Leafs controlled most of the play during the game and each line played very solid hockey.
The M Line of May, Mitchell and Mayers, played very strong and kept pressure on the Cane’s defence on each shift with their solid fore-checking.
Toskala came up with a very solid effort in quite some time and could not be faulted for the two goals that got behind him.
The delay of game call by the official on Kaberle was very marginal at best.
His two minutes resulted in the first Cane’s goal- a shot from the blue line.
The Cane’s second goal came with only seconds left in the second period leaving the Leafs to try and over come a 2-0 deficit going into the third period.
With the exception of two or three hic’cups and a failed tripping call on Antropov by the officials Leafs could have won this one.
Ron Wilson should be happy with his team effort, if not the outcome: I do believe Wilson’s big problems are lack of break-out patterns as well as PP-PK.
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