I used to say that I was afraid to get married. But this was not for fear of a cheating or nagging wife or the thought of losing half of my money and belongings as the result of a nasty divorce. While all of these things ranked very high on my "I never want any of this crap to happen to me" list, my greater concern was that I could miss out on a huge boxing telecast.
A marquee boxing match can be put together in as little as a couple of months. Most weddings need to be planned a good year in advance, what with booking the church and reception hall and the egregious amount of time that it takes most brides-to-be to select the perfect invitations and flowers. Not to mention the most hideous bridesmaid dresses they can find. And of course weddings generally take place on Saturdays. So do boxing matches. This left open the serious possibility of my wedding causing me to miss a blockbuster fight.
But lately, I find myself reconsidering my position. And it's not because I've grown lonely or desperate. The issue is that there are almost no compelling boxers or intriguing potential match-ups left. Virtually all of the marquee fighters of recent years have either retired or are in the fading twilights of their careers. And there is a dearth of young talent entering the sport.
It has been said for many years now that the glory days of boxing are long gone. Going back as recently as five years, fighters such as Roy Jones Jr, Floyd Mayweather, Felix Trinidad, Lennox Lewis, James Toney, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Fernando Vargas, Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins and Arturo Gatti were still lacing up the gloves, at or near the top of their respective games. If boxing's better days were behind it as of when these fighters were active and in their primes, what does that say about its present state?
The heavyweight division, long considered the cornerstone of professional boxing, is devoid of major talent. The possible exception to this is Wladimir Klitschko, who has been knocked out a few times himself. Although loaded with technical skills, he seems vulnerable to crumbling to the canvas any time his opponent even feigns throwing a punch.
Britain's Joe Calzaghe, an undefeated champion at light-heavyweight has just one fight left before retirement - against 39 year-old, badly faded Roy Jones. Kelly Pavlik, the boxing sensation de jour at middleweight, has a reasonably interesting fight scheduled with 43 year-old Bernard Hopkins in October. Hopkins, although always competitive, seems beyond the point of being able to defeat the best of the younger fighters. And Manny Pacquiao, whom many consider to be boxing's best pound for pound fighter, is a current lightweight champ who is stepping up to welterweight for a December date with Oscar de la Hoya. This is likely the 35 year-old de la Hoya's farewell fight.
Beyond this, boxing is mostly a mishmash. Almost mega-superstar Miguel Cotto was recently vanquished by Antonio Margarito who had been vanquished a year prior by Paul Williams who was then vanquished in his very next fight by Carlos Quintana and then conquered his vanquisher in the rematch. Of course this was all subsequent to Cotto vanquishing Quintana.
Yes, there are a few others out there who are good fighters. There is Ricky Hatton, Paul Malignaggi and Arthur Abraham to name a few. Andre Berto and Chad Dawson are a couple of impressive looking young fighters. But I don't see any of these guys ending up as legends of the ring. While not quite ready for life-support, professional boxing is certainly gasping for air.
What all of this ultimately means to me is that my bachelor days are probably numbered. I'm out of excuses. So unless the NFL works out a deal with a network to begin hosting Saturday Night Football, I'm probably toast. So bring on the wife and let's get ready to rumble.
sobota, 22 listopad 2008
What's Next For Joe Calzaghe, Roy Jones Jr?
In a startlingly unsurprising fight, Joe Calzaghe completely dominated Roy Jones save for a well placed first-round Jones forearm to the face of Calzaghe.
Jones Jr. vs. Calzaghe is a fight that should have happened 5 to 7 years ago. Calzaghe is still in his prime and Jones is well past his. But is it Calzaghe's fault that Roy got old? Not really. The fight never took place back when it should have because Calzaghe was busy selling out arenas in the UK and couldn't see coming to the States to fight for less money. Jones didn't feel that he should have to make the multi-tectonic plate journey to Calzaghe's 'hood to fight him. But let's be realistic here. Roy was without question the king of the mountain in those days. And if you (aka Calzaghe) want to be the king of said mountain you need to go to the mountain. You can't expect the mountain to come to you.
So what's next for these two?
Joe Calzaghe seems to have slightly backed off of his promise that Jones would be his last fight, saying that he would think it over before making a final decision. But who is left for him to fight?
Some, including HBO's Max Kellerman are saying that his last bit of unfinished business is with Chad Dawson. Dawson, the young, fast handed and talented IBF light heavyweight champ is fresh off of a convincing win over the aged, "legend in his own mouth" Antonio Tarver.
But is there any clear and convincing reason why Calzaghe should give Dawson the opportunity? I don't think so. Dawson is anything but a household name. The public is certainly not clamoring to see it, which means it is not a huge money fight. And at 36 years of age and having been super middleweight champion for more than a decade, Calzaghe has earned the right to either retire or to fight only big names for big money at this point in his career.
There is still some chatter among boxing fans that Calzaghe has never beaten a truly mega-talented fighter in his prime. I disagree. I believe that Mikkel Kessler is the best super middleweight and possibly the best light heavyweight in the world behind Calzaghe. And Calzaghe schooled him.
So walk away Joe. And take your 0 with you.
On to Roy Jones. Is there any doubt that he is but a shadow of what he once was? His hand speed is still excellent, although not what it used to be. The issue with Roy is his legs. He used to use them to leap in, throw power shots and then get the hell out of the way before his opponents could retaliate. He is no longer able to do that.
There is near unanimous consent among fans and insiders that Roy is long overdue to bronze his jockstrap and focus on his beloved cockfighting, but I think there is one more fight out there for him. And I expect to be met with a cacophony of jeers when I say that Bernard Hopkins is his next and last logical opponent.
I can hear you all screaming WHAT??? Well, allow me to make my case. For one thing, this is a rematch that is more than 15 years in the making. Roy is the only fighter to have soundly and convincingly beaten Hopkins. Granted, that was when Roy still moved like an electron circling a nucleus. But stylistically, I see this as a good matchup even today.
Roy still has the hand speed to contend with Hopkins. And Roy really doesn't need the legs of Seabiscuit to deal with Bernard. Although Hopkins uses his legs, he won't be confused with Big Brown at the Preakness. He tends to move "smart" rather than swift. Roy still has enough left to make this an interesting fight.
Roy has been clamoring to restore his image since his first loss to Tarver. With Hopkins coming off a schooling of Kelly Pavlik, this is his best chance. Hopkins would be favored and rightfully so, but if I'm Roy, this is the fight I would try to make.
Jones Jr. vs. Calzaghe is a fight that should have happened 5 to 7 years ago. Calzaghe is still in his prime and Jones is well past his. But is it Calzaghe's fault that Roy got old? Not really. The fight never took place back when it should have because Calzaghe was busy selling out arenas in the UK and couldn't see coming to the States to fight for less money. Jones didn't feel that he should have to make the multi-tectonic plate journey to Calzaghe's 'hood to fight him. But let's be realistic here. Roy was without question the king of the mountain in those days. And if you (aka Calzaghe) want to be the king of said mountain you need to go to the mountain. You can't expect the mountain to come to you.
So what's next for these two?
Joe Calzaghe seems to have slightly backed off of his promise that Jones would be his last fight, saying that he would think it over before making a final decision. But who is left for him to fight?
Some, including HBO's Max Kellerman are saying that his last bit of unfinished business is with Chad Dawson. Dawson, the young, fast handed and talented IBF light heavyweight champ is fresh off of a convincing win over the aged, "legend in his own mouth" Antonio Tarver.
But is there any clear and convincing reason why Calzaghe should give Dawson the opportunity? I don't think so. Dawson is anything but a household name. The public is certainly not clamoring to see it, which means it is not a huge money fight. And at 36 years of age and having been super middleweight champion for more than a decade, Calzaghe has earned the right to either retire or to fight only big names for big money at this point in his career.
There is still some chatter among boxing fans that Calzaghe has never beaten a truly mega-talented fighter in his prime. I disagree. I believe that Mikkel Kessler is the best super middleweight and possibly the best light heavyweight in the world behind Calzaghe. And Calzaghe schooled him.
So walk away Joe. And take your 0 with you.
On to Roy Jones. Is there any doubt that he is but a shadow of what he once was? His hand speed is still excellent, although not what it used to be. The issue with Roy is his legs. He used to use them to leap in, throw power shots and then get the hell out of the way before his opponents could retaliate. He is no longer able to do that.
There is near unanimous consent among fans and insiders that Roy is long overdue to bronze his jockstrap and focus on his beloved cockfighting, but I think there is one more fight out there for him. And I expect to be met with a cacophony of jeers when I say that Bernard Hopkins is his next and last logical opponent.
I can hear you all screaming WHAT??? Well, allow me to make my case. For one thing, this is a rematch that is more than 15 years in the making. Roy is the only fighter to have soundly and convincingly beaten Hopkins. Granted, that was when Roy still moved like an electron circling a nucleus. But stylistically, I see this as a good matchup even today.
Roy still has the hand speed to contend with Hopkins. And Roy really doesn't need the legs of Seabiscuit to deal with Bernard. Although Hopkins uses his legs, he won't be confused with Big Brown at the Preakness. He tends to move "smart" rather than swift. Roy still has enough left to make this an interesting fight.
Roy has been clamoring to restore his image since his first loss to Tarver. With Hopkins coming off a schooling of Kelly Pavlik, this is his best chance. Hopkins would be favored and rightfully so, but if I'm Roy, this is the fight I would try to make.
Formula 1 - Drivers Title Vs Constructors Championship
Formula 1 last race of the season was the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo this past weekend and as last year, the battle scene for the two titles was at play: the driver's title and constructor's championship.
In the 2007 season, McLaren Mercedes Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen were on a constant encounter throughout the season. This 2008, Lewis Hamilton was still the man aiming for victory, but Ferraris new superstar Felipe Massa wanted to make history and take sovereignty over both titles. Hamilton had a seven point lead on the table on his favor over Massa and the stats certainly give him the title at first hand. A fifth position or better was the goal for the McLaren team, leaving aside how well Massa could do.
Lewis Hamilton started the Brazilian Grand Prix focusing on a two aspects; avoiding mistakes and staying on the top 5 the entire race. Nature once again played an important role on the contest, the 50% chance of rain left no doubt this title was going to be for the best driver under extreme conditions. Hamilton proved on the last lap he is not only the youngest champion in Formula One history, but his driving skills under a track with poor visibility, proved he has what it takes to overcome adversities.
Felipe Massa did exactly what he predicted before the chase and focused to stay on the lead the entire race. The Brazilian driver left tears on the 70 thousand fans that supported him non-stop the entire competition, but unfortunately even thou he won; the point difference paid the bill on Hamilton's favor.
The driver's title is given to the best pilot with superlative driving skills; this means a driver must finish the race avoiding errors such as accidents, being able to stay in position while the pace car is on the track, willing to sacrifice ego and most of all become pressures best friend. Lewis Hamilton put all of these conditions in order and was able to complete the toughest race of his life.
Aside from the driver's title, the controversy stirred up after the race as many stated the constructor's championship was what really counted at the end. Now, engine combinations are considered to be the constructors' purposes of the Championship, so basically they are calculated by totaling points scored in each race by any driver for that manufacturer. This statement put's an end to the debate, as it is the driver and his skills the ones who set the constructors on the map.
Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa have undergone a very long voyage full with personal sacrifices. Both drivers seemed to be blessed with great driving control, decision and fortune. Bottom line here is both pilots are awesome drivers and their teams have built the ultimate racing jets, so there is no debate if one won the drivers title and the other one the constructors championship; they can wake up tomorrow knowing they left a glorious print in one of the worlds most extreme sports, The Formula One.
Cindy Ferguson is a high-ranking sports writer, currently writing reviews on Formula One for the sports betting industry. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content
In the 2007 season, McLaren Mercedes Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen were on a constant encounter throughout the season. This 2008, Lewis Hamilton was still the man aiming for victory, but Ferraris new superstar Felipe Massa wanted to make history and take sovereignty over both titles. Hamilton had a seven point lead on the table on his favor over Massa and the stats certainly give him the title at first hand. A fifth position or better was the goal for the McLaren team, leaving aside how well Massa could do.
Lewis Hamilton started the Brazilian Grand Prix focusing on a two aspects; avoiding mistakes and staying on the top 5 the entire race. Nature once again played an important role on the contest, the 50% chance of rain left no doubt this title was going to be for the best driver under extreme conditions. Hamilton proved on the last lap he is not only the youngest champion in Formula One history, but his driving skills under a track with poor visibility, proved he has what it takes to overcome adversities.
Felipe Massa did exactly what he predicted before the chase and focused to stay on the lead the entire race. The Brazilian driver left tears on the 70 thousand fans that supported him non-stop the entire competition, but unfortunately even thou he won; the point difference paid the bill on Hamilton's favor.
The driver's title is given to the best pilot with superlative driving skills; this means a driver must finish the race avoiding errors such as accidents, being able to stay in position while the pace car is on the track, willing to sacrifice ego and most of all become pressures best friend. Lewis Hamilton put all of these conditions in order and was able to complete the toughest race of his life.
Aside from the driver's title, the controversy stirred up after the race as many stated the constructor's championship was what really counted at the end. Now, engine combinations are considered to be the constructors' purposes of the Championship, so basically they are calculated by totaling points scored in each race by any driver for that manufacturer. This statement put's an end to the debate, as it is the driver and his skills the ones who set the constructors on the map.
Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa have undergone a very long voyage full with personal sacrifices. Both drivers seemed to be blessed with great driving control, decision and fortune. Bottom line here is both pilots are awesome drivers and their teams have built the ultimate racing jets, so there is no debate if one won the drivers title and the other one the constructors championship; they can wake up tomorrow knowing they left a glorious print in one of the worlds most extreme sports, The Formula One.
Cindy Ferguson is a high-ranking sports writer, currently writing reviews on Formula One for the sports betting industry. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content
sobota, 27 wrzesień 2008
W. Soccer: No. 9 Texas ready for No. 7 Aggies
Texas players celebrated on the San Antonio turf as the Aggies stood by, conquered. For the second year in a row, the Big 12 championship was coming back to Austin.
Six days later, Texas overcame the College Station crowd for the first time in its history to knock A&M out of the NCAA Tournament. A series dominated by A&M for over a decade finally became a rivalry.
Now, after three grueling encounters last season that determined the fate of the Big 12 and both sides’ national title aspirations, No. 9 Texas (7-0-1) plays host to its historic rival Friday night at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
“People get more pumped up for this more than any other game,” senior defender Kasey Moore said. “It’s a rivalry game; there is no other way to describe it.”
The enthusiasm is expected to generate a record — or near-record — crowd at Myers, whose highest-ever attendance stands at 5,440 for an early season game against No. 1 North Carolina in 2000.
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