Jul 22 2009
FINALLY, the proof. Joe Rogan only mentions that BJ Penn can put his leg behind his head without using his hands every single time BJ walks out to the octagon.
Also of interest is BJ Jumps out of the Pool.
I had a dream last night that he beat Kenny by decision.
Jul 08 2009
I was in Chicago for the 4th of July and had the pleasure of going to my first Cubs game. Needless to say, and especially being a history buff, I was in love with Wrigley Field before even going. The stadium met all expectations and is really a great place. Perhaps the thing I loved the most was the adorable scoreboard. I just love how it’s done by hand. Between innings you see somebody peer out of one of the empty letter holes, and then the score gets changed slowly. There’s just something so great about it. Not only that, but they have live scores of all the other games going on up there, also done in the same manner!
Of course my eyes lit up when I found this behind the scenes video of it on YouTube!! It doesn’t tour the whole thing, but it does reveal quite a bit of info. They talk about Fukudome in the middle, but they go back to the scoreboard after that:
Mar 10 2009
I was watching my first Lakers game of the season yesterday. They were playing the Portland Trailblazers. I only watched the first half, and almost all of the time I was thinking “Man, the Lakers really suck!” and thinking that they must’ve fallen off or something. Checking their record indicates highly otherwise. Funny timing I guess.
The other thing I was thinking was what I must admit: I can’t love this Lakers team. I don’t even “really like” this Lakers team, I don’t even know if I like them at all. Just, something about the character of the team, the attitude of the players on the team while playing… some combination, they’re just not likable. I mean, you’ve got the old wolf Phil Jackson there, and perhaps a big part is that the top of the pyramid is Kobe, who I don’t like, and nearly everybody underneath him annoys me/pisses me off/or is obnoxious too often. So I’m watching this game, and I’m very quickly finding the Trailblazers to be much more likable on the court, and I catch myself cheering for them!
Not to say I won’t cheer the Lakers on during the playoffs and want them to win - but I feel like much of this feeling is unfounded city-identity/geographical allegiance, forced, fuck it, maybe I won’t! This type of blind devotion is dangerous. I’ve tried to like them but I haven’t been able to. It’s rough. That’s my Lakers team, but it’s not my Lakers team, it hurts! I don’t like them, yet I feel like I can’t turn my back on them. Ahhhh conflict!!! Oy vey, what is one to do when he wants his city to win the NBA championship, but doesn’t like the people on his team? I might be over them. I think I’m going to need to think about this some more. In the meantime, go Portland!
Feb 19 2009
Following UFC 94 (Penn vs. St. Pierre 2), controversy quickly arose regarding the improper wiping of vaseline on Georges St. Pierre’s body, making him slippery and this far less susceptible to jiu-jitsu holds. UFC President Dana White stated in the post-fight press conference that while he didn’t think it changed the outcome of the fight…
I saw the commission jump up there and flip out. They said one of the guys was rubbing Vaseline on Georges’ back in between rounds. It was one and two, I think. The guys from the athletic commission went up there and started screaming at them, knocked the Vaseline and kicked the Vaseline out of the Octagon.
Now I don’t believe that GSP (Georges St. Pierre) is a cheater, but his cornerman was giving him an advantage, intentionally or not. Matt Hughes and other GSP opponents have talked about having the same problem. Anyway, I raise this issue at this late date because I thought that this didn’t really affect the outcome of the fight, but now BJ Penn’s camp has released this video which is pretty compelling:
Honestly, I don’t know why they allow vaseline on the face at all in these fights. It should only be allowed on a cut, and nowhere else. I mean, they grease your face up before the fight starts. I was always like “wtf” in regards to that. They never allowed that shit in PRIDE:
The application of oil, ointment, spray, Vaseline, massaging cream, hair cream, or any other substances to any part of the fighter’s body before and during the fights is prohibited. The discovery of any of these substances will result in a disqualification.
This is one of the PRIDE rules that the UFC should adopt. I honestly don’t get what is up with the greasing. See all the problems it causes?
Dec 13 2008
Now I’ve watched myself a whole lotta UFC including the first 20 or so where there were almost no rules and this past Wednesday was the worst injury I’ve ever seen. Corey Hill, the tall skinny lightweight who you may remember from The Ultimate Fighter 5, kicked his opponent. His opponent blocked the kick, but just this caused Corey’s leg to break… completely… in half. This is gruesome and is guaranteed to make you shudder. Below the fold is a picture of it happening (which is NOT photoshopped but sure as hell looks like it is), and video of it happening, with slow-mo replay during the post-fight interview. I guess if you’re really skinny with long limbs, you probably shouldn’t be a fighter.
