By Rick Morris
I missed most of the EliteXC debut on CBS Saturday night (which was breathlessly stated repeatedly by the announcers to be the first MMA card on network prime time -- OK ,we get it already!), catching only bits and pieces prior to the main event because it was going head to head with Game Four of the Stanley Cup Finals. As someone who's only begun to follow mixed martial arts in the past few years, I was interested in the spectacle and really intrigued especially to see how the main event would unfold and I was glad that it came on after the hockey game was done.
Internet sensation Kimbo Slice, perhaps the most polarizing man in the sport, was the man around whom this broadcast was being built. Scoffed at by many UFC superstars and fight purists as an overhyped junkyard brawler, Slice was under the microscope like never before when he stepped in to the ring to face veteran James Thompson.
I would guess strongly that the fight unfolded in a manner that few expected. With confidence bolstered by his training with MMA legend Bas Rutten, Kimbo willingly got on the mat and mixed it up to fairly mediocre results. He almost got choked out at one point and he subsequently almost choked out Thompson, but could not. When on his feet, Slice had some good sequences with punches, but was not able to land a finisher through the first two rounds. To make a long story short, there were a lot of near-misses on both sides through the first two rounds in terms of ending the fight, so that did lead to a certain level of excitement. You could just feel the CBS executives soiling their underwear in fear as Kimbo neared the precipice a few times inasmuch as they staked so much of this venture on his perceived invincibility.
Early in Round Three, Kimbo came out firing and landed a few blows to Thompson's head. One of them ripped his cauliflower ear wide open, causing a gusher of blood. I've frankly never seen anything quite like that; the way that the ear almost seemed to explode with blood and some kind of freaky substance. Don't watch this clip on a full stomach.
Play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson strongly questioned the stoppage, and it may have been somewhat premature, but one wonders how much longer Thompson could have gone on with a freaking bloody alien popping out of the left side of his head.
On CBSSports.com, the event was panned as something of a disappointment in a tribute to the intellectual honesty of the network. Of course, this sets up a rematch scenario with Thompson, which works to their benefit. All in all, while the overall card did not live up to the hype based on all reports I've seen, by Kimbo surviving, EliteXC on CBS at least lives to fight another day. Everyone involved better hope that Rutten can continue to help him become a legitimate all-around fighter if this venture is to have any legs, though.
Showing posts with label MMA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MMA. Show all posts
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Sunday, February 3, 2008
PKW proves again they know MMA the best
By Rick Morris
During my stint as substitute co-host on Pro Wrestling Insider this past Tuesday night on SportsTalkNetwork.com, it was my pleasure to be part of a crossover segment with NAAFS Radio, the premier mixed martial arts authorities anywhere in the media. Head honcho Greg Kalikas and executive producer Jake Digman, who are also collectively the brains behind the unmatched MMA news/analysis site Pro Karate Weekly, appeared at the end of PWI for a discussion of former WWE Undisputed World Champion Brock Lesnar's first big UFC fight (not counting his squashing of a tomato can) against Frank Mir in Las Vegas last night.
While Jake and I were fairly measured in our assessment of Lesnar's chances (forget his "sports entertainment" background completely; he was a dominant NCAA wrestling champion), Greg went out on a big limb and said that he didn't think Lesnar has much of a chance. I asked Greg if Brock would be hurt by being almost completely a grappler and being devoid of any type of martial arts background with the exception of what he had been able to pick up in his recent training; Greg replied that he didn't see that as such a big factor in that wrestling is the important and indispensable foundation of MMA -- but that Brock was probably far too inexperienced at a high level to have a decent chance of victory.
Last night proved what I already knew, never bet against a Greg Kalikas prediction.
Now, Lesnar did look impressive in defeat, dominating the action with quick strikes and agile moves, but ended up submitting to a kneebar only 90 seconds into the action. In so doing, he accomplished what few thought he could: failing to win the fight against an on-the-downside-of-his-career Mir, but winning over skeptical UFC fans as the real deal and somebody poised to make noise in the future. The breakdown of the fight from Greg and Jake on Tuesday night at 9 PM EST on SportsTalkNetwork.com will be fascinating as always.
Oh, and one last note. If I were Bobby Lashley, aiming to follow in Brock's footsteps, I'd be thinking very carefully about how hard that road is going to be after what we saw last night.
During my stint as substitute co-host on Pro Wrestling Insider this past Tuesday night on SportsTalkNetwork.com, it was my pleasure to be part of a crossover segment with NAAFS Radio, the premier mixed martial arts authorities anywhere in the media. Head honcho Greg Kalikas and executive producer Jake Digman, who are also collectively the brains behind the unmatched MMA news/analysis site Pro Karate Weekly, appeared at the end of PWI for a discussion of former WWE Undisputed World Champion Brock Lesnar's first big UFC fight (not counting his squashing of a tomato can) against Frank Mir in Las Vegas last night.
While Jake and I were fairly measured in our assessment of Lesnar's chances (forget his "sports entertainment" background completely; he was a dominant NCAA wrestling champion), Greg went out on a big limb and said that he didn't think Lesnar has much of a chance. I asked Greg if Brock would be hurt by being almost completely a grappler and being devoid of any type of martial arts background with the exception of what he had been able to pick up in his recent training; Greg replied that he didn't see that as such a big factor in that wrestling is the important and indispensable foundation of MMA -- but that Brock was probably far too inexperienced at a high level to have a decent chance of victory.
Last night proved what I already knew, never bet against a Greg Kalikas prediction.
Now, Lesnar did look impressive in defeat, dominating the action with quick strikes and agile moves, but ended up submitting to a kneebar only 90 seconds into the action. In so doing, he accomplished what few thought he could: failing to win the fight against an on-the-downside-of-his-career Mir, but winning over skeptical UFC fans as the real deal and somebody poised to make noise in the future. The breakdown of the fight from Greg and Jake on Tuesday night at 9 PM EST on SportsTalkNetwork.com will be fascinating as always.
Oh, and one last note. If I were Bobby Lashley, aiming to follow in Brock's footsteps, I'd be thinking very carefully about how hard that road is going to be after what we saw last night.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
FDH Lounge Show #23: January 13, 2008
By Rick Morris
It's THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION of THE FDH LOUNGE on SportsTalkNetwork.com this Sunday night from 8-11 PM EST! As you would expect from the program where "nothing is off-topic," we have a multiplicity of topics that The Dignitaries of The FDH Lounge will be addressing.
In Hour One, after the Opening Statements, we'll be hearing from our good friend Jake Digman, the right-hand man over at the North American Allied Fight Series and Pro Karate Weekly. He'll be discussing several matters with us, including the new NAAFS program coming to STN this Tuesday at 9 PM EST, the rise of MMA as a whole into a huge force in the sports business and what it is like to work with a promotion showcasing some of the hottest up-and-coming amateur and pro fighters. Next, we'll revisit the shocking ups and downs in presidential politics since our last program on December 30 and that will take us well into the second hour.
Then it's time to look back at a year of great FDH Lounge programming. Nobody's ever tried to put on a show as ambitious in scope as this one and we'll revisit topics we covered, as well as overall events between January 14, 2007 and now. This should be another one of our now-legendary free-for-all segments that could verge anywhere and everywhere.
Once we move past that, shortly into Hour Three, we'll be joined by one of our regular guests in The Lounge, dare we say someone verging on Honorary Dignitary status in Russ Cohen. He's the proprietor of Sportsology, a great website dedicated to the vast sports landscape, and he was in Buffalo for the great Winter Classic NHL outdoor game on New Year's Day. He'll tell us exactly what it was like to be there, how it compared to the first NHL outdoor game in Edmonton (which he also attended) a few years ago, what he hears about the future of such events, and much, much more.
We'll wrap up our three hours with The FDH Lounge Pigskin Report, as we take a final look back at the college bowl season, an early glance ahead to the NFL Draft and an examination of the ongoing NFL playoffs and the first Championship Sunday preview you'll find anywhere.
It's been an outstanding first year on The FDH Lounge as we established an ambitious mandate for ourselves creatively and took large steps towards fulfilling it. With this program, we'll celebrate what we've done and continue to demonstrate to you that we're your ultimate source for discussion on anything and everything going on today.
It's THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION of THE FDH LOUNGE on SportsTalkNetwork.com this Sunday night from 8-11 PM EST! As you would expect from the program where "nothing is off-topic," we have a multiplicity of topics that The Dignitaries of The FDH Lounge will be addressing.
In Hour One, after the Opening Statements, we'll be hearing from our good friend Jake Digman, the right-hand man over at the North American Allied Fight Series and Pro Karate Weekly. He'll be discussing several matters with us, including the new NAAFS program coming to STN this Tuesday at 9 PM EST, the rise of MMA as a whole into a huge force in the sports business and what it is like to work with a promotion showcasing some of the hottest up-and-coming amateur and pro fighters. Next, we'll revisit the shocking ups and downs in presidential politics since our last program on December 30 and that will take us well into the second hour.
Then it's time to look back at a year of great FDH Lounge programming. Nobody's ever tried to put on a show as ambitious in scope as this one and we'll revisit topics we covered, as well as overall events between January 14, 2007 and now. This should be another one of our now-legendary free-for-all segments that could verge anywhere and everywhere.
Once we move past that, shortly into Hour Three, we'll be joined by one of our regular guests in The Lounge, dare we say someone verging on Honorary Dignitary status in Russ Cohen. He's the proprietor of Sportsology, a great website dedicated to the vast sports landscape, and he was in Buffalo for the great Winter Classic NHL outdoor game on New Year's Day. He'll tell us exactly what it was like to be there, how it compared to the first NHL outdoor game in Edmonton (which he also attended) a few years ago, what he hears about the future of such events, and much, much more.
We'll wrap up our three hours with The FDH Lounge Pigskin Report, as we take a final look back at the college bowl season, an early glance ahead to the NFL Draft and an examination of the ongoing NFL playoffs and the first Championship Sunday preview you'll find anywhere.
It's been an outstanding first year on The FDH Lounge as we established an ambitious mandate for ourselves creatively and took large steps towards fulfilling it. With this program, we'll celebrate what we've done and continue to demonstrate to you that we're your ultimate source for discussion on anything and everything going on today.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Decade's most influential people in sports
By Rick Morris
As mentioned there, my companion post about the most influential people in the world during the decade to date was actually inspired by a question I posed to myself about the most influential in sports this decade. I knew who I would slot #1, and it's a name most would never associate with this list in any capacity, but I frankly don't think people can question my logic.
As with the other list, what is most important is impact for today and the future on the sports world. Honorable mention goes to Bill Belichick (most successful coach/personnel figure of the decade), Peyton Manning (king of endorsements), Barry Bonds (most divisive and thought-provoking person of the decade). With the exception of Bonds (who is one of the figures causing such a public backlash to steroids and HGH that baseball might be forced to clean itself), however, none of them have caused significant, long-term changes to the sports landscape.
Working our way up the list ...
5. Dana White. The UFC president has been on an incredible roll of late, acquiring the assets of his main rival Pride in a deal he compared, only half-ridiculously, to the AFL-NFL merger. Also, in 2006, his organization hired away Marc Ratner, the well-respected executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. This was seen, correctly, as a body blow to what has remained of the credibility of boxing. Almost all of the ills of boxing -- from the lack of a consistent TV presence to the diminishing ability to deliver "dream fights" to the proliferation of too many meaningless titles -- have been eliminated by the kingpin of MMA. He has also cleaned up the sport, instituting needed safety rules and bringing thus bringing needed respectability. In terms of entertainment impact, the UFC has supplanted Vince McMahon's tired empire as the top buyrate engine for pay-per-views. While White has much to do to advance MMA to the top tier of American sports, just the fact that he could plausibly do so in the next few years is breathtaking. Plus, with MMA having great success at the expense of boxing, it has played an important historical role in the sports world, because boxing has traditionally been such a huge part of the landscape in America.
4. Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Death transforms superstars into icons: from Elvis to Knute Rockne to James Dean, the immortality of a constant presence in the culture awaits the gifted who perish before their time. Such is the case for "Big E," whose combination of accomplishment and popularity was unrivaled in his sport. With NASCAR benefiting from the asinine circuit split in the American open-wheel universe, a large and unprecedented national TV contract and huge media attention loomed for the 2001 season even before the tragic, season-starting accident at Daytona. But the tragedy in the final turn took everything to a whole new level and was the final impetus in carrying NASCAR to the top tier of American pro sports.
3. Lebron James. LBJ represented the apex of the high school-to-NBA era, which the Association ended in 2006. But that development didn't change his level of influence at all. He was the first hoops star to be documented so heavily at such a young age; to a certain extent Greg Oden and O.J. Mayo followed in his footsteps by having large media attention so long before college. Others will assuredly follow. But recent comments from Mayo and new crosstown rival Kevin Love about emulating James' media strategies have confirmed what has long been suspected: while Lebron grew up wanting to "Be Like Mike," and admittedly hasn't yet got the titles to match "That #23," stars of these generation are embracing as a model "This #23."
2. Tiger Woods. Doubtless most will find it shocking that this global icon is not tops on the list. He certainly is the most dominant athlete of the decade along with his friend Roger Federer in tennis and has public credibility and advertising dollars out the ying-yang. And although his emergence as one of the top two golfers of all time has helped the PGA to reach a new strata financially, he hasn't had the impact across multiple sports that our top person in sports did, albeit unintentionally.
1. Matt Kenseth. This NASCAR driver won the 2003 Winston Cup championship and is a perennial title threat. But he has a relatively low public profile compared to some other drivers on his talent level. How did he earn our top spot? He did so without trying, actually. His dull 2003 slog to the title in a season in which he won only one race but accrued points in a relentless but uninspiring style was the final straw that pushed NASCAR to institute its current Chase for the Championship playoff format. From 2004 on, the final 10 races of the season have served as a playoff for the drivers who qualify in the first 26 events. This has revitalized late-season fan interest, ratings and media attention as desired and led to the adoption of a playoff format by the PGA and NHRA, both in 2007. It is entirely possible that other circuits may adopt some form of a playoff system at some point, perhaps the ATP, WTA or PBA. Speaking of other circuits, the increased success of NASCAR made possible by the Chase has led to significant defections from both major open-wheel circuits in this country and probably sealed the doom of that form of competition as a major force in motorsports. At any rate, the effects of Kenseth's much-derided coast to the championship in 2003 forever changed NASCAR, solidified it as one of the predominant forces on the American sporting landscape, provided one more body-blow to open-wheel racing, and caused other sports to mimic the revolutionary changes in his own. As such, Matt Kenseth is deservedly the most influential figure in American sports thus far this decade.
As mentioned there, my companion post about the most influential people in the world during the decade to date was actually inspired by a question I posed to myself about the most influential in sports this decade. I knew who I would slot #1, and it's a name most would never associate with this list in any capacity, but I frankly don't think people can question my logic.
As with the other list, what is most important is impact for today and the future on the sports world. Honorable mention goes to Bill Belichick (most successful coach/personnel figure of the decade), Peyton Manning (king of endorsements), Barry Bonds (most divisive and thought-provoking person of the decade). With the exception of Bonds (who is one of the figures causing such a public backlash to steroids and HGH that baseball might be forced to clean itself), however, none of them have caused significant, long-term changes to the sports landscape.
Working our way up the list ...
5. Dana White. The UFC president has been on an incredible roll of late, acquiring the assets of his main rival Pride in a deal he compared, only half-ridiculously, to the AFL-NFL merger. Also, in 2006, his organization hired away Marc Ratner, the well-respected executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. This was seen, correctly, as a body blow to what has remained of the credibility of boxing. Almost all of the ills of boxing -- from the lack of a consistent TV presence to the diminishing ability to deliver "dream fights" to the proliferation of too many meaningless titles -- have been eliminated by the kingpin of MMA. He has also cleaned up the sport, instituting needed safety rules and bringing thus bringing needed respectability. In terms of entertainment impact, the UFC has supplanted Vince McMahon's tired empire as the top buyrate engine for pay-per-views. While White has much to do to advance MMA to the top tier of American sports, just the fact that he could plausibly do so in the next few years is breathtaking. Plus, with MMA having great success at the expense of boxing, it has played an important historical role in the sports world, because boxing has traditionally been such a huge part of the landscape in America.
4. Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Death transforms superstars into icons: from Elvis to Knute Rockne to James Dean, the immortality of a constant presence in the culture awaits the gifted who perish before their time. Such is the case for "Big E," whose combination of accomplishment and popularity was unrivaled in his sport. With NASCAR benefiting from the asinine circuit split in the American open-wheel universe, a large and unprecedented national TV contract and huge media attention loomed for the 2001 season even before the tragic, season-starting accident at Daytona. But the tragedy in the final turn took everything to a whole new level and was the final impetus in carrying NASCAR to the top tier of American pro sports.
3. Lebron James. LBJ represented the apex of the high school-to-NBA era, which the Association ended in 2006. But that development didn't change his level of influence at all. He was the first hoops star to be documented so heavily at such a young age; to a certain extent Greg Oden and O.J. Mayo followed in his footsteps by having large media attention so long before college. Others will assuredly follow. But recent comments from Mayo and new crosstown rival Kevin Love about emulating James' media strategies have confirmed what has long been suspected: while Lebron grew up wanting to "Be Like Mike," and admittedly hasn't yet got the titles to match "That #23," stars of these generation are embracing as a model "This #23."
2. Tiger Woods. Doubtless most will find it shocking that this global icon is not tops on the list. He certainly is the most dominant athlete of the decade along with his friend Roger Federer in tennis and has public credibility and advertising dollars out the ying-yang. And although his emergence as one of the top two golfers of all time has helped the PGA to reach a new strata financially, he hasn't had the impact across multiple sports that our top person in sports did, albeit unintentionally.
1. Matt Kenseth. This NASCAR driver won the 2003 Winston Cup championship and is a perennial title threat. But he has a relatively low public profile compared to some other drivers on his talent level. How did he earn our top spot? He did so without trying, actually. His dull 2003 slog to the title in a season in which he won only one race but accrued points in a relentless but uninspiring style was the final straw that pushed NASCAR to institute its current Chase for the Championship playoff format. From 2004 on, the final 10 races of the season have served as a playoff for the drivers who qualify in the first 26 events. This has revitalized late-season fan interest, ratings and media attention as desired and led to the adoption of a playoff format by the PGA and NHRA, both in 2007. It is entirely possible that other circuits may adopt some form of a playoff system at some point, perhaps the ATP, WTA or PBA. Speaking of other circuits, the increased success of NASCAR made possible by the Chase has led to significant defections from both major open-wheel circuits in this country and probably sealed the doom of that form of competition as a major force in motorsports. At any rate, the effects of Kenseth's much-derided coast to the championship in 2003 forever changed NASCAR, solidified it as one of the predominant forces on the American sporting landscape, provided one more body-blow to open-wheel racing, and caused other sports to mimic the revolutionary changes in his own. As such, Matt Kenseth is deservedly the most influential figure in American sports thus far this decade.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Welcome to The FDH Lounge blog!
By Rick Morris
It is my pleasure to welcome all of you to the newest addition to the FantasyDrafthelp.com media family, an accompaniment to our revolutionary Internet TV program The FDH Lounge. This is The FDH Lounge blog, where the Dignitaries of The FDH Lounge can pontificate on any subject under the sun.
So now, having established what The FDH Lounge brand is all about, it’s time to bring our product to the blogosphere. We certainly have an urge to pontificate more often than once every 14 days, and many of our Dignitaries will be taking advantage of this platform to deliver any cogent rants and analysis on any subject that we deem necessary to share. I would certainly anticipate that we may be introducing some new Dignitaries to you through these means as well. Whether you’re an established FDH Lounge listener or somebody who’s discovering us for the very first time, I urge you to check out our content, to comment on our writing and programming either on the blog or on our program’s message board and to give us the chance to entertain you as only we can.
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