Stuff YOU probably don't want to hear: The Blog of Sim Lucien

Status Check-January

2012-01-31T14:30:00.000-08:00

Here's where I'm at with my goals:

Workouts Logged: 28. Goal: 300. That's my biggest workout month in almost a year and I'm still adjusting to my work schedule. Really good sign.

MMA Fights: 0. Goal: 3. I'm rebuilding my game. It's gonna be a long road, but I believe in myself and this will happen.

Learn to Surf: No.

Learn to Paint: No.

Learn to Play Chess: No.

Suit Up: Sadly no.

On Work/Life Balance: Didn't get to suit up and haven't been out all month. did get some training in, but not nearly as much as I'd like. Adjusting to the new job and how much work I have wasn't a surprise, but it's been a grind. Things are leveling off and I'm looking for big things in Feb.

Being Social: Haven't been out or really got to talk to my few friends out here with my work schedule. That and with the Ravens losing in the AFC title game, I don't have a reason to watch the Super Bowl. Hoping to find somewhere to go for UFC 143 on Saturday.

The Renovator

2012-01-29T20:59:00.000-08:00

In nature, certain animals are harbingers about bad fortunes. Maggots, flies, jackals, vultures, buzzards and hyenas are all signs that death has happened or is imminent.

In literature, there are several themes and images that are used as devices to signify trouble.

In life, I think I am 1 of those signs.

Since my first job when I started working in the fitness department of the sheriff's office, I've been charged with either overhauling operations or building them from scratch. I'm fungus on a dead tree, if your company hires me, it means decay has set in.

I'm like Michael Clayton, except I don't have to break laws to hide the laws you've already broken.

Many people would feel bad about this. Think about it, EVERY SINGLE JOB I've been hired for had some major and glaring problem that needed to be fixed. And every time within 1 year, I got put in charge of fixing it.

Before people started hiring me to fix their problems, it would seem that I got hired because the place kinda sucks.

Sure, after that, I started getting brought in to solve problems, but that's not much better. Now, the responsibility to undo the wrongs is mine. It only seems like I've been in the work force for a long time, but I'm not even 30 yet.

Let that sink in: I have under a decade of work experience, I'm 27 years old and I'm on company reconstruction job #4. My ENTIRE career has been overhauling gym businesses.

Where's my reality show on Spike Tv?

Oh, that's right, I got jerked around by their tattoo show...

Don't get me wrong, I'm honored that some many people have trusted me so much at a young age and with little experience to update and upgrade their operations. Maybe there's hope after all. Maybe it's not all about a DOB and how many pages your resume is. Maybe people can just tell if you're smart enough to know how to change things, have the courage to try and if you have the work ethic to see it through.

Fight Picks for UFC on Fox 2

2012-01-28T08:24:00.000-08:00

The 1st real card of the the Fox deal. We get 3 fight on the main card on Fox and all but 1 on Fuel TV, which sucks for Camozzi and Jacoby. Dana promises this is full-scale UFC. Looking at the line up, he's not messing around.

Quick picks: Beltran, Roller, Swanson, Einemo and Dunham. Lotta good, entertaining fights here!

Match Up: Demian Maia vs Chris Wiedman

Storyline: Maia was all set to tango with cardmate Michael Bisping until 11 days before the fight when Mark Munoz got injured and the card had to get shuffled. Now the Brazilian gets Weidman on short notice.

Breakdown: Wiedman has a good wrestling pedigree and some slick submissions, but Maia could be the best BJJ practitioner in the Zuffa family. Yes, that means you Werdum, Jacare, Penn, Mir, Palhares and Diazes. He's also joined Blackhouse and has shown improving striking.

Final Thoughts: I was looking forward to seeing Bisping getting choked, but Maia is a lot of fun to watch.

Pick: Maia 2nd rd sub.

CO-MAIN EVENT

Match Up: Michael Bisping vs Chael Sonnen

Storyline: "The undefeated, undisputed Middleweight champion of the world and the best damn middleweight to ever live" was set to squart off with friend Mark Munoz until a nasty elbow injury happened to the Filipino Wreckin Machine. Now the Oregonian is in a war of words and fists with the brash Brit. This is a fight we've all wanted for over a year. Winner gets the next shot at Anderson Silva for "the pretend belt."

Breakdown: Sick stat, Chael has never been out struck. That in mind, he's going to try to get Bisping to the ground and grind out a win and hope The Count screws up and give him an easy choke. Bisping, who has by far the better striking game of the 2 also has a career 65+% takedown defense.

Final Thoughts: Should be entertaining as hell and either way, the talking in the interview and presser will be GREAT. It would be nice to see both lose to just shut them up.

Pick: Tough call and could go either way. I really think Bisping could do it, but I'll give the nod to Chael in a split decision.

THE MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING

Match Up: Phil Davis vs Rashad Evans

Storyline: This was originally slated for UFC 133, the Mr Wonderful tore his ACL. Since the announcement, Suga has been talking more trash than normal (somehow). Adding to the interest, we have a MSU Spartan taking on a Penn State Nittany Lion, making this # 1 contender's bout also for the B1G wrestling title.

Breakdown: 2 great wrestlers are gonna fight. Davis has the better pedigee. We saw improved striking out of Evans last time out vs Tito Ortiz. Rashad also has great speed, good size and a lot of experience. Davis does possess a mutant physique. If his striking has improved in the the year he has been out, this could be a stand up war as I project the wrestling to cancel out.

Final Thoughts: Not sure what I'd rather see: Davis KO Evans to shut him up or Evans win and Jones TKO's him and shuts him up.

Pick: Everything points to Rashad winning this one close. Almost to the point I feel like we're underestimating Phil. I'd love to see him win and this is anyone's fight, so he could, but I think Rashad's experience give him a narrow decision win.

Rapid Fire Firday 1/27

2012-01-27T15:57:00.000-08:00

1. Happy Birthday!

Let me start off by wishing my former client and pretend ex-bodybuilder Cate a very Happy B Day!

2. Bells are ringing

Let me also wish my dear friend Lottie and her husband Thomas the most heart-felt congratulations!

3. 1st week in

Monday started my 1st week of instructing for NPTI-SD. Though, I've been sitting on classes all month and last week I began my full-scale overhaul of the program. Suffice it to say, it's been a massive undertaking.

By and large, my students are really good. There hasn't been nearly as much trouble transitioning from the last instructors to me, which is awesome. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I'm excite at the opportunity to help these people become damn good coaches and trainers and to make this program as good as it could be...

4. Rewards

...That being said, I have a new appreciating for all the teachers I've had. I've mentored and I've presented, but this is full scale educating on a class-wide level. I get why some of my teachers were worn down and grouchy all the time. The vast minority (unless it's a terrible school) of students are pains in the ass. And the extent to which they are problems more than everyone else combined (80-20 or even 90-10 rule).

On top of that, this overhaul is, well, an overhaul. Just word even sounds like a lot of work. What I'm doing is all new and while it sounds fun and exciting, once people fully grasp what it means, things can get dicey.

If I let all this get to me, I'll never get anything done, these students (the ones who want to learn) won't get better, the program as a whole will stagnate and I'll burn out and wash out. Not good. So my mental state is going to be extremely important. As I go, so goes my classes.

So how do I stay on my A game? Little things that make me happy!

Like sake, Sapporo and sushi at my fave neighborhood place!

The house sake is kinda whack, so I'll be some name stuff next time.

Mmm mmm, delicious.

5. The fall of Rome

Today is the final episode of Jim Rome is Burning on ESPN. I'm pretty shook up about this. Rome has been 1 of my favorite sport journalists since I was in hs and is a major reason I'm where I am today. I'm not sure how I can get The Jungle real radio with work and all. I don't now what happened at ESPN, but I'm pissed. I hope someone else picks up the show, but Rome NEEDS to be on tv.

Gravity of the Situation

2012-01-27T12:21:00.000-08:00

I saw an interesting link on the Internet the other day talking about helping people trying to get in shape (get smaller) hone on what they really want/need.

I've always said, everything has a certain perspective and if you understand where something came from, you can figure out it's perspective and relevance. I learned a couple cool new things and had a lot of what I already knew confirmed.

The article is pretty good and mostly spot on. Basing your perception of your health/fitness on the scale is pretty pointless. I didn't know that classic "Ideal Weight" chart came from the 1950s and was made by Met Life Insurance to give them an easy way to tell if a person would be a risky bet for them to insure. That means they don't care what your actual real health is and aren't even thinking about fitness levels. They needed a quick/easy and moderate objective way to figure out if you would cost them money or not.

We all know the fallacy of basing out health on only the scale: it doesn't consider your composition. The ideal weight says if you're 20% over the chart you're obese and 10% under, you're underweight, but it has no idea what your body fay % is.

So if you're 10% under your "ideal weight" for your height and 40% body fat, you need to gain weight. And if you're 6% body fat, but 20% over what the chart says, you need to lose weight.

That sounds dumb...

The article also blows up the BMI as a baseline for health because it's just a complicated ideal weight for your height chart. It's your weight in kilos divided by your height in meters squared, proving this is just European nerds playing a trick on America.

So, the better indication of your health is your body fat percentage. Now, this too, is a limiting stat. I've written before about the difference between health, fitness and what is safe before. Excess body fat isn't healthy, but it won't hurt you immediately and in some contexts can help you in a certain tasks.

It depends on EXACTLY what you need to accomplish. Specifics and details rule EVERYTHING.

The 1 problem I have with the article is the example they keep using of Fat Albert vs multi-time Mr Olympia, Jay Cutler. They cite both men's stats to show how a hyper-muscular, very lean athlete like Cutler shows the same health stats as the rotund fictional character. They even say this is an extreme example.

That's not my issue. The ideal weight chart and BMI are extreme measures, so an extreme example to refute them is fine, but don't tell me Cutler is healthy. His blood work is probably a nightmare. Also, let's just get this out the way, he uses steroids. Like, a lot of them and huuuuuge dosages. I'm not saying steroids are bad, in fact, I've written how they can be extremely beneficial for regular people just trying to live a normal, healthy life. But the amounts he and every other champion bodybuilder use are dangerous, even to them.

Also, just look at Cutler! You cannot tell me that is what health looks like. I guarantee if he had to run 1 city block to avoid a burning building, he'd tear a hamstring. Walking up a steep hill could induce a heart attack. If he was walking and saw his shoe was untied, he'd had to either get someone to tie it for him and just ignore it until he could sit down, because he ain't bending down to do it himself.

Having an oversized bodybuilder is a great way to bust the valitiy of the BMI, but don't sell me that as the healthy alternative. That sport is predicated by excess to the point of cartoonishness. Health went out the door way before they got on stage.

Rapid Fire Friday 1/20

2012-01-20T18:02:00.000-08:00

1. Scary Starts

Norm, I make breakfast, but I had a busy morning on Wed and had to hit up Jack in the Box.

Somehow, my day wasn't cursed and ended up bring nice and mundane.

Dodged a bullet there.

2. Chill Zone

Here's the light poles on Sunset Cliffs. Turns out, it's a major pigeon hang out.

Seagulls OWN the beach!

3. Style biters

Check out the Windows store in the Fashion Valley mall. Looks familiar, right? That's cuz it's a knock off of the Apple Store.

Seriously, guys, STOP IT!

4. Fight Picks

UFC Fight Night on FX is tonight and the Friday card has my week messed up. I'm late, so I don't have prelims, but I was pulling for Rivera.

Pat Barry breaks back in win column, Duane Ludwig keeps his heater going and The not so Young anymore Assassin brings down the house.

5. Grind Time

Monday is my first day of teaching the classes, so I have a lot of work to do this weekend gutting and redoing everything. I'm amped, but it's gonna be a LOOONG weekend.

CAN'T WAIT!

Conspiracy Theory: Anthony Johnson

2012-01-15T09:17:00.000-08:00

Last night, Anthony "Rumble" Johnson capped off a pretty bad week by getting submitted by Vitor Belfort at UFC Rio then released from the company.

The move was not a surprise at all.

Rumble had one of his notorious awful weight cuts (so bad, UFC doctors had to rehydrate him for his own safety) and weighed in at 197, 11 pound over the max for a middleweight bout. He then looked awful and tired in his first round loss to Belfort.

All sounds pretty reasonable for the UFC brass, right?

Let's really examine the last 72 hours. Yes, the "medical issue" hasn't been disclosed and with Rumble's past weight issues at welterweight and the fact that he walks around at 225, we can assume (key word) he was just having another bad cut. When Dana broke the news to Belfort that Rumble would be waaay overweight, he gave The Phenom the option to call the fight and get paid or keep it and get 20% of Rumble's purse. He took door #2.

Here's were it gets interesting.

Somehow, after this, a new stipulation from Belfort's camp/UFC president Dana White came out, Rumble would have to reweigh at noon of fight day and couldn't be over 205. I've touched on weight cuts and the rehydrating process before. Basically, the 24 hour weigh in is a water manipulation trick and the fighters can get back to normal by fight time.

Rumble would not get this opportunity. He was (supposedly) so dehydrated he had to get emergency rehydrated on weigh in day from 187.5 to 197 (still dehydrated, but functioning). The next day, he could only rehydrate to 205 (still 20lbs under his actual weight). Vitor, for making weight, did not have this stipulation and rehydrated to his natural weight of 205. By the time the first fight of the night started, Rumble was reported to weigh 211 (still 14lbs under his normal weight/dehydrated).

Anyone see a problem?

Let's look at the fight itself.

Yes, Vitor and Rumble are monster strikers, but they have ground games. Vitor is a BJJ black belt and Rumble is an accomplished collegiate wrestler. Rumble uses his wrestling to buy guys against the cage, take them down and control them on the ground. It's MMA (MIXED Martial Arts) and the rules allow this.

In fact, In the telecast, commentator Joe Rogan said no fewer than 10 times that "wrestling is the most important skill for MMA." He even said if MMA skills were a pyramid, wrestling is the base, the biggest, widest, most important skill.

*Side Note: Speaking of Rogan, earlier in the night, there was a controversial judgement by a ref leading to a TKO win becoming a DQ loss. Rogan attacked ref Mario Yamasaki for his error. Granted, we only saw the glaring mistake because of replay, something the refs don't get. However, during or even after the fight, Rogan said nothing about the breaks and stand ups.

Why is this important? Because early in the fight (before the full effects of 2 days of serious nutrient and water depletion could take full effect), Rumble successfully took down and controlled or clinched against the fence Vitor and ref Dan Mirgliatta would break them or stand them up.

This is a big deal because this typically and should only happen when this is used as a stall tactic. The breaks occurred after less than 10 seconds in the position.

Conversely, "Lay n Pray" specialist and wrestling juggernaut Jon Fitch is often allowed to dry hump for entire 15 minute fights.

Naturally, Rumble's legs give out, he rapidly fatigues and Vitor dominates him in front of his home crowd.

To recap: Rumble (for an unknown reason) is dehydrated and needs to be given fluids by medical staff and misses weight. He is then restricted from rehydrating further the next day. He is not allowed to use his wrestling advantage in a fight. He is defeated. Then gets fired.

Nothing fishy here...

Fight Picks for UFC 142

2012-01-14T13:05:00.000-08:00

The UFC is back in Rio because last time was too epic to not come right back. And, ya know, Dana's tying to get them Brazil dollars. I wasn't too jazzed about this card until 10 min ago when I really looked at the card. Really solid, though underhyped. Look for the Brazilian fighters to enjoy the greatest homefield advantage in MMA here. Again.

Quick Picks: Tavares/the fans, Gonzaga, Pyle.

Match up: Edson Barboza vs Terry Etim

Storyline: Both men had great showings when the UFC was in their home turf.

Breakdown: Barboza is a monster striker, Etim has some slick subs. We have no idea what kind of takedown D he has because no one has ever come close to opposing him. So it's a question of if Etim can get him down or not because a flying submission attempt will get him murdered.

Final Thoughts: Very intriguing match up. A big finish will put someone in the contender discussion.

Pick: Barboza by 2nd Rd TKO

Match up: Erick Silva vs Carlo Prato

Storyline: Prato makes his UFC debut, but has 39 fights in his career. Last time Silva was in Rio, he KO'd a guy in 40 seconds.

Breakdown: Jitters aside, Prato is tough and experienced, but Silva is just better.

Final Thoughts: Nice way to pad the card with locals, so the crowd will be amped.

Pick: Silva by 3rd Rd KO

Match up: Rousimar Palhares vs Mike Massenzio

Storyline: 2 grapplers enter, 1 leaves.

Breakdown: Massenzio may be the "Master of Disaster," but his grappling isn't in the same timezone as Palhares.

Final Thoughts: Not super interested in this fight, but could be entertaining.

Pick: Palhares by 2nd Rd Sub

CO MAIN EVENT

Match up: Anthony Johnson vs Vitor Belfort

Storyline: If I wrote this segment 3 days ago, I'd have to do a rewrite. Rumble is a former welterweight who often missed weight because he's 225lb. This is his 1st fight at 185. Something happened during his cut and the UFC doctors had to rehydrate him, so he weighted in at 197. The fight will only happen if he weights in at 205 today (he did).

Breakdown: The Phenom is an aggressive power puncher with great killer instrinct and a BJJ black belt. Rumble is a power striker with beast wrestling. Vitor has experience at heavyweight and LHW, while Johnson is the biggest welterweight EVER. We'll call that a wash.

Final Thoughts: Rumble will be dehydrated and not fighting for his job, Vitor is in a GREAT position here.

Pick: Rumble by 1 round KO.

THE MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!

Match up: Chad Mendes Vs Jose Aldo

Storyline: Mendes is 11-0 and trains with Team Alpha Male, who is known for top lighter weight fighters. Aldo is 20-1, the featherweight champ and a member of the Brazilian super team, Team Blackhose.

Breakdown: This is a prototype wrestler vs striker match up. Mendes' takedowns may be the most explosive in the UFC. Aldo is a BJJ black belt and is an elite striker. Aldo destroyed Mendes' teammate, Urijah Faber and he claims to know the keys to defeating Aldo.

Final Thoughts: Faber talks too much, as does most of Alpha Male. And it's hard to have great takedowns when your leg gets tenderized from low kicks.

Pick: Aldo by 2nd rd TKO

Rapid Fire Friday 1/13

2012-01-13T11:25:00.000-08:00

1. Happy Birthday Day!

Let me start off by wishing my long-time friend and 1 of my college bosses Alayna "Eazy A" Schmeider a very happy B Day!

2. Scary!

It's Friday the 13th! I had a dream that Freddie Kruger was chasing me. So I imagined the minigun from Predator and I blew him the f*uck away. That'll learn him to stay out my head!
How you like me NOW, Freddie?!

3. Rollin

My gym, World's Gym San Diego has some sweet rides in the parking lot. I've seen multiple H2s and 3s, Benzs and a beast Daytona edition Charger, but this week, I got a new treat.

Check this kitted out, rimmed up Expedition!

LIKE A BOSS!

4. Plate game

Keeping with my new obsession with custom plates, I snagged this gem in my hood.

Clearly this driver is not to be trusted.

I got another great one last night, but iPhone let me down on picture quality, but to the dude with the Benz and a plate asking "ROLLN8I" I'd just answer "BENTLEY".

5. Sycuan!

Last night, I scored free tickets to see a comedy show at the Sycuan Indian Casino and Resort. Talk about a ride... 29 miles and what felt like half through back woods and hillside. Still, it was a fun night. Kenny Kane, the headliner was ok. The real action was the casino buffet that was free with the ticket. INSANITY! Crab legs!!!!

I'm no stranger to casinos, but a few things were striking to me:

1. I never knew old people liked gambling THAT much. I'm not just talking slots and bingo, they were EVERYWHERE.
2. Smoking indoors is ok. That was a HUGE bug out.
3. I get why people get caught up in the whirl wind of it all. Bright, blinking lights, grandiose scale to things, people moving around, you can feel the excitement.

It was a wild scene. I can only imagine what it'll be like when I finally get to go to Vegas.

The Flaw of Brock Lesnar

2012-01-08T12:51:00.000-08:00

After his UFC 141 loss to Alistair Overeem, Brock Lesnar (allegedly) retired. If this is true, he will leave a legacy of a 5-3 record, being the Heavyweight Champ and defending his title and holding wins over Shane Carwin, Frank Mir and Randy Couture while battling diverticulitis.

As impressive as his resume is, especially given how little MMA experience he had, one can't help but feel like Brock had barely gotten started.

So what do we make of a man who got a late start in the game, soared to it's heights and feel back to Earth like Icarus? Brock, despite illnesses, had every tool and resource at his disposal to be an all-time great, but instead may end his career regarded as a flash in the pan?

What was the problem?

First off, I can't overstress the severity of diverticulitis. The fact that Brock came back after a first bout is unheard of. Then he defeated Carwin. Then he came back a second time. That is down right unimaginable.

But examining Brock's athletic career as a whole, if any man were to come back from a physical ailment like that, he would be that man. He's a physical specimen, so much so, that his body gave him capabilities that made up for his specific skill deficit on several occasions.

So it was his skills, then?

Sure, Brock's fighting arsenal left much to be desired. He had 2 and a half punches (straight right and left and an ugly right uppercut) a cute leg kick and a half-hearted knee. His striking defense consisted on blocking with his face and often back pedaling like a cornerback if he gt hit hard (and he did, fairly often).

That's not even the problem because those straights and that upper cut were more than enough to put most guys on the mat. Brock also had 1 technical skill that, when combined with his physical superiority, made him damn near unstoppable. Brock is D I All-American and National Championship wrestler. His double leg takedown can not be stopped. Period. Fellow D I All-American and National Champion wrestler and former UFC Heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez couldn't even stop it.

Once Brock got you down and got his half guard/side control top position he loved so much, he broke out 1 more strike, the rapid-fire, 5 inch hammer fist and suffocated you with it til the ref pulled him off you.

So what was The Brock Ness Monster's fatal flaw if it wasn't his lack of skills?

His game planning.

Brock made his own camp, Death Clutch, and brought in the best training partners and coaches money could buy. So it's baffling how his game plans were so poorly constructed. You would think that a guy who with Lesnar's wrestling pedigree being coached by Erik Paulson and Marty Morgan would have a game plan that not only utilized his best skills and abilities, but was based around them.

WRONG.

Let's look at his MMA career, Brock's game plans de-evolve over time and he refuses to learn lesson from his failures.

His first fight in the UFC was a loss to Frank Mir via 1st round knee bar. No shame there, he was grossly outmatched on experience as this was his second fight ever. Brock won his next 3 fights because he's a better athlete than Heath Herring, MUCH bigger/stronger than Couture and got back to his takedown then ground n pound roots in the Mir rematch.

Then things got silly. Vs Carwin, a DII All-American wrestler who fights like a mediocre boxer, and guy Bock joked about his wrestling prestige, Brock not only doesn't try to double leg (Brock's strength), he tries to stand and box (Brock's greatest weakness). If not for Carwin gassing out from punching Brock's face in for a round, Lesnar loses.

At this point, one would think Brock would work his striking and get back to doing what he does best, taking guys down and stop trying to box with guys who are MUCH better than him.

Nope.

He lost to Velasquez in his next fight due to TKO because 1, Brock attempted 2 take downs, 2 he tried to stand with the best kick boxer in the heavyweight division (pre Overeem) and 3 Cain's cardio is (somehow) even better the Brock's, so he won't tire out while beating you senseless.

OK, so Brock get's matched up with Overeem. This would be the 3rd fight in a row vs a better striker, inferior wrestler and smaller guy. Overeem is probably the best striking heavyweight on Earth. Brock saw what happened when he went toe-to-toe with Velasquez. He saw what happened with Velasquez didn't use his super size and wrestling and chose to box with Junior Dos Santos, the best boxer in the heavyweight division.

That's 3 fights by 2 guys for Brock to learn from. Does he take the hint?

NOPE!

He decides to stand with Overeem. Brock goes for 2 half-hearted single leg takedowns then gets liver kicked and calls it a career.

Now, imagine for 1 second that Brock Lesnar actually learned his lesson vs Carwin or even Velasquez. Just as Brock will never have Overeem's striking, who on Earth will ever be able to match Lesnar's double leg and top control/attack? Who could actually have a chance at stopping it? Sure, Brock wouldn't win any stand up exchanges and his game would be pretty one-dimensional, but who could stop that dimension? In theory, it would be easy to plan for, but how could anyone simulate it?

Had Brock Lesnar learned how to game plan to maximize his strengths better, who knows how much different his career would have gone.

MMA Quick hits

2012-01-07T21:14:00.000-08:00

-Why was Strikeforce almost wiped out and why is it struggling?
A. Idiotic match ups.
B. Terrible production quality.
C. Thin divisions, refusing to address it and swearing they're big time.
D. All of the above

The camera work and overall quality of the production is awful. The only think cool they do are interviews with noncompeting fights in between bouts. The divisions are very thin. So much so, that they've basically killed off the women's 145lb and men's heavyweight divisions. To make matters worse, they shipped off top talent to the UFC. So after making the thin divisions thinner, they've also made a situation when every fighter just whines about not being in the UFC or wanting UFC guys to come to Strikeforce. Despite this, Strikeforce still claims they have many world class fighters. Lastly, their match making is horrendous. The only they they're doing right is the Challengers Series. So, naturally, they mess that up but take taking good fighters from that show and throwing them into fights with former champs. That's a great way to stunt the development of up and comers.

-Women's MMA has a chance to develop faster than Men's did.

Realistically, the only reason women's sports in general are not bigger is no one watches them. Without viewer, there's no hype. No hype, no one takes it seriously. MMA has the best hype train of any sport on Earth right now and everything is blowing up. It's like the western expansion during the gold rush era.Except all over the globe.

From a skill perspective, woman can learn just as much as fast and men. Women typically tend to be more technical, so kickboxing and BJJ should be similar. The best thing helping women is that they will always have quality training partners. A big problem for many sport's development is the athletes run out of good people to train with with. Just on the strength differential even at the same weight, women can't have this problem because every gym has far more men than women. The fact that few women wrestle means that the ones who are at gyms with strong wrestling pedigrees will have a HUGE advantage.

-Little guys have more depth than we think.

People try to cite the men's smaller classes, 145lbs and under, as being very thin. Realistically, they're actually pretty deep. A lot of guys are out of place at 155 and can/should drop to 145. The next major argument is that Urijah Faber gets so many title shots because 135 is so thin. No, he gets a lot of shots because he's a big name guy. The small classes have decent depth, it's just that the guys are unknown because unless you were a die hard of the WEC or all over Tachi Palace Fights, you'd never see these guys. The UFC just added 135 and 145 mid 2011 and will have ther 1st 125lb bouts this year. There are a lot of little know good small guys out there, they just need some hype.

-Heavyweight is deceptively shallow.

For some reason, people think 265 is deep. In the context of just the UFC, it's deep enough, but as a class, heavyweight is shallow. Hell, Strikeforce is purging it's heavyweights due to lack of bodies. The UFC will cherry-pick the best to bolster it's roster. Granted, the UFC only have a hand full of legit contenders.

Think about it: Cain, JDS, Mir, Brock and Cro Cop just retired, Overeem just got brought it, Big Nog is on his way out, Mitrione, Shaub and Kongo didn't step up big when they needed to, Pat Barry, Joey Beltran, Morecraft and Struve clearly aren't ready. Do we really trust Big Country, Travis Browne and Ben Rothwell THAT much? So add the Strikeforce guys: Werdum, Bigfoot and Barnett. No contenders there. Daniel Cormier is the best hope.

Now leave Zuffa... Dead zone. Heavyweight is thin because if you're an American athlete who is 6'2"+ 235lbs+ at any point in high school, you're have more lucrative sport options than MMA or wrestling (MMA's main sport substrate) to go to. Its so hard for heavyweights to train against top level guys because they don't exist, they're all in the NFL or NBA.

-Say it ain't so, Cyborg.

Yesterday, it was announced that Cris Cyborg tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol after her recent title defense. She has been stripped of her title, the win is now a no contest and she has a 1 year suspension. If you've ever seen her, steroid use doesn't shock you. She's HUGE. If you've ever seen her fight, it really doesn't surprise you because she ripped people apart. Hell, she power bombed Tito Ortiz and his big head in training.

I'm not here to condemn. I get it. In the world of athletics, EVERY major person is using something. What I hate, even more than everyone coming out the wood works to start hating and calling everything the athlete has ever done into question, is when the athlete releases a statement and give some complete BS explanation.

The things they say are so ridiculous, a normal person should just start laughing. And if you know anything about chemistry, drug use, science or medicine, you should just be pissed. Cyborg saying it was because of a diet supplement to help cut weight and that she didn't check to make sure nothing was banned is just insulting people's intelligence.

I know if you want to have a career going forward, you have to make up something because saying "I took X because of Y, I was wrong and I'm sorry" will get you buried, but can we at least TRY to make it sound believable?

Rapid Fire Friday 1/6

2012-01-06T14:50:00.000-08:00

1. Christmas recap

Since I was busy and could get last week's RFF, let me start off by showing you what you missed:

El Diesel Clause

Santa getting his drink on at OB's Arizona Lounge

and, my favorite, bathroom graffiti at same bar.

Gonna be a good year, folks!

2. Shot of the Year!

While I was MIA last week, I got to go to the La Jolla Cove and watch the seals be lazy, err, leisurely. I also got to stand on a the edge of a cliff as the waves crashed in.

Yes, everything in San Diego looks like a post card. Wish you were here.

3. Meathead central

This is my new gym, World Gym San Diego. Giant place with tons of powerlifting gear and giant bodybuilders roaming like mastodons.

Feels like home...

Supplement companies have ads up everywhere and there are even old school Arnold pics.

I feel more motivated already!

4. A sign from above.

This is inside one a cute little cafe in my hood and it too awesome of a rule to not share!

You just got diner PWNED!

5. Plate Watch

I'm becoming a HUGE fan of Cali plates because they range from awesome...

..to awful.

You stay classy, San Diego!

The 2011 Brawlic Board Championship

2012-01-04T15:55:00.000-08:00

Here's my boys Greg "Beast" Gurenlian of Brawlic Strength in NYC and his clients dominating before the holidays.

Love is...

2012-01-02T09:50:00.000-08:00

Love is...

Having a million reasons to not being able to stand being around someone, but not being able to stand the thought of being without them.

Doing things you know make no sense just because they will bring someone else a smile.

Caring more about someone else's happiness than your own.

Truly accepting ALL of someone, the good and bad.

Never compromising yourself, but always becoming more.

Status Check-2011

2011-12-31T08:07:00.000-08:00

I stand before you stronger and more confident than ever. 2009 was awful. 2010 was miserable. 2011 was a living nightmare. I saw far I could fall before I could rise. This was the year I proved that when things got hard, I would never back down and never give up. The SEALs say, "Not dead, can't quit." I say, "Not dead, WON'T quit." The difference is, they aren't allowed to, so they don't, I will not allow myself. It's an attitude thing. There's could be seen as, if they could, they would. I will NEVER stop. In death, my ghost will roam the Earth to complete my objective.

How do you fight that?

This was the year I proved to myself and the world that I will do whatever it takes to make it to the top. I faced my fears and insecurities and I won. When things looked their darkest and everything was on the line, I clutched up and came up big.

2011 has been a story of failure and redemption. I started the year outlining rules for combat. 1 of the main points was the 1st chance to end it, do it. Be a killer. I said if you don't, your enemy will only escape, grow angrier and more resolved to end you. Life had it's foot on my throat and gun pointed at my head and chose to toy with me rather than finish me off. I escaped.

I escaped a city, job and life that I had grown to hate. I bided my time, kept fighting and finally got a break in my favor. Now, I am poised to do more than I ever could have dreamed. Years ago, I echoed Obi Wan Kenobi's words, "Strike me down and I shall become more powerful than you can imagine." My old life was struck down and I am now far more powerful than anyone, myself included, could ever have imagined.

The Good:

SMASHED my book goal of 18 with 19. The value they have added to my life can't be measured, and I know am a much better than this time last year because of them. This is also with me not reading for chucks of time in NYC and most of the time I've been in San Diego. So I could have done MORE! The biggest hitch moving forward is the massive book order I got is in storage and not here.

I finally had a full week off work! In fact, I had about 4 months off. I got to unwind and I probably added years to my life from it. My sleeping is like a normal human being for the first time in a decade. I physically and mentally feel like a new man.

I got back to my roots and back to coaching. I just got hired by NPTI as an instructor. You could say it's the ultimate irony or the perfect assignment for me. The guy who has dedicated most of this very blog to pointing out the mass failures of the fitness industry and personal training as a whole is now their teacher. Sure, it didn't happen in the timeline I wanted, but look, I kept at it anyway. I could have quit and didn't.

I escaped NYC!!!! And of all places to end up, San Diego, California! I never saw myself as a westcoast guy, but I never saw myself as a New York guy and I went and stayed for 6 years. San Diego feels right and not just because the weather feels perfect. I like the pace and vibe out here. It's a major reason I'm calming down so much.

The return of Yes Man Rules was the device I needed to remind me that I am in my 20s! I've spent my whole life having to be older than I am. Everything about what I'm doing screams what you should do in your 20s. I have 2.5 more years of this decade and I'm going to keep that in mind. Never take yourself too seriously and always keep your eyes and heart open.

The Bad:

Sanctioned MMA Fight didn't even come close to happening. Just when I was over my early year health issues, NYJJ ended the MMA program. Then I moved cross country to an even better team. I haven't trained much since I got here, but I'm in a much better position.

Blogs Posted: 176. Goal: 180. Yes, I did set a new record. I could have hit this goal, but I literally spent half the year thinking 180 would be a great goal (I should make a blog goal). I didn't post this up every month. Also, Blogger went down and didn't save 2 blogs I posted, so I could have hit. Also, after I write, I forget. Which is great for getting things off my mind, but bad if I have to rewrite. What I did learn is that I need to be easier on myself on my blogs. It's a fact: I don't put out crap. Even the stuff I think is less than awesome, has turned out to be some pretty damn good stuff. I've also learned when I'm inspired, I need to go with it. Like right then and there.

Workouts Logged: 192. Goal: 360. Another rough year for me physically. Upper respiratory infection, a cold and being too poor to eat right most of the year hurt me. Factor in August-now (minus October) and we're looking at almost 4 months without a gym. Between job searching and getting my new life settled, I only got 1 month of MMA in SD. Now, I have the job set, I have a free gym and have to workout as part of work, I'm getting my MMA schedule locked in. I'm looking for a HUGE rebound about to happen.

Final Grade: B-

2012: The Rise of DARKSIDE

I tried so hard to be something I'm not. I am cold and methodical, but I'm not a machine. I feel, I fear, I love and I hurt. I have learned to embrace all of myself and not to reject my nature as a weakness. My fears fuel me. My suffering is my strength. My pain is my passion. My misery motivates me. By getting in touch with and understanding myself, I have been able to be more than I ever have been before.

The very darkness inside me is the key to my strengths. My burning desire to be great and my overwhelming drive to get revenge are the fire that purifies the steel that I am made of. This shall be my greatest year to date. This shall be my Rise.

I am on the precipice of a new era. I have turned the page on my past life, but I will never forget all the lessons I have learned. This is a new chapter of my story, one I shall write as I, not life, dictates. I am finally in a place to live the life that I want, that I deserve. Life is what we make it, I shall make mine worth it.

2012 Goals and Expectations
This year I will:
-Have 3 sanctioned MMA fights
-Post 300 workouts (S&C, conditioning and MMA)
-Learn how to surf
-Learn how to play chess
-Learn how to paint
-Maintain a healthy work balance (That means not working everyday, taking time off and seeing new laces)
-Once a month, I will "Suit up" Barney Stinson Style
-Be a socially engaged and engaging person

Fight Picks for UFC 141

2011-12-28T07:42:00.000-08:00

The UFC loves to end/begin the year with a bang, so their annual NYE show is always a spectacle. This one shouldn't disappoint!

Quick Picks: Pearson, Njokuani, and Nunes (1st fight and on the Facebook card, how the mighty have fallen...)

Match up: Nam Phan vs Jimy Hettes
Storyline: It's the non killer vs Hettes.
Breakdown: Nam finds a way to stay in fights. He's a tough did who is likely to be under or overrated at any moment. I don't know much about Hettes besides he's younger, has good cardio and dangerous submission game.
Final Thoughts: Don't particular care about this fight really.
Pick: Nam by split decision.

Match up: Vladimir Matyushenko vs Alexander Gustafsson
Storyline: The grizzled vet vs the next anointed young lion of 205.
Breakdown: Vlad the Janitor is in possession of a sweet nickname and a lot of experience. He is 1 tough SOB and is to NEVER be taken lightly. Gustafsson has height, reach, speed and youth on his side. A lot of people want to say he's the guy to rival Jon Jones and this could be the fight to take him from prospect to contender.
Final Thoughts: I'm really psyched for this fight and think it could be a war.
Pick: I'll go upset, Vlad makes a mess of the Mauler's face and cleans the Octagon with him in 2nd round KO.

Match up: Jon Fitch vs Johny Hendricks
Storyline: Fitch is trying to get out of UFC purgatory and Hendricks is trying to move up the ranks vs a former #1 contender.
Breakdown: Fitch is a very god fighter. His wrestling allows him to smother damn near any man on Earth at 170. The problem is, he is about as entertaining are drying paint. Hendricks is another high level wrestler who will let his hands go.
Final Thoughts: This fight could be 15 minutes of spooning. Seriously.
Pick: Fitch dry humps his way to a decision win.

Co Main Event

Match up: Nate Diaz vs Donald Cerrone
Storyline: Cowboy is trying to got 5-0 in 2011, win ever post fight award the UFC has to offer in 1 year and get a title shot in 2012. Nate Diaz is trying to continue his resurgence and get himself in the title picture.
Breakdown: The Diazes and Caesar Gracie's camp as a whole have great boxing (except Jake Shields) and sick jiu jitsu. Cerrone has a merciless kick boxing attack and a submission game that could be the most dangerous in the 155 division.
Final Thoughts: 2 brash guys who can bang and attack on the ground. If this lasts til at least mid 2nd round, this should be fight of the night.
Pick: Cerrone by 2nd round TKO.

THE MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING

Match up: Brock Lesnar vs Alistair Overeem
Storyline: Brock is back from a sencond bout with diverticulitis. Overeem is finally in the UFC. We have 2 big strong men squaring off and I hope the Octagon can hold all the action.
Breakdown: Lesnar can take anyone down and one he's on top you, it's not good. Alistair might be the best striker (def the most decorated) in the Heavyweight division.
Final Thoughts: If Brock learned from the Velasquez fight and from Cain's recent loss to Junior Dos Santos, he'll rush it, take Overeem down and hammer fist his face into a Dutch ooze. If he tries to make a statement about his striking and chin, The Demolition man will knock him out.
Pick:I'm gonna go with the Brock Ness Monster with the 2nd round TKO.

2011 Impact People

2011-12-27T08:05:00.000-08:00

2011 has been a year of soul crushing lows and dizzying highs. That's it. No middle ground whatsoever. Like the great philosopher and sports journalist Jim Rome always says, "Give me and A or Give me an F." This year was both. These are the people who had the biggest influence on me.

1. Anderson Silva

I had the great fortune to meet and train with the UFC Middleweight kingpin in April. I learned a ton from that workout and really got to see how a world class fighter approaches the game. What earns The Spider a spot on this list is this was the event that put San Diego in my cross hairs. I spent much of the time before I moved here dedicated to training at Team Blackhouse, so that once I go pro, I have built in access to the main camp in Rio de Janeiro. Had this workout not happened, i wouldn't have been as amped to see his Documentary, Like Water, and I'm probably not in San Diego right now.

2. My mother and father, Shanna Lucien-White and Ray White

Often, I cite a lot of my drive being attributed to my mother, but not for particularly good reasons. This year is completely different. If not for the support of my parents, I am definitely not here right now. They helped me move out of my apartment in NYC, helped me get on my feet in SD more than I can ever repay. Most of all, they let me just live.

3. The Twitterverse

I know Twitter isn't a person, it's possibly billions. I'm not saying everyone on this social medium has affected me. What I am saying is Twitter is why I am here. Twitter and this blog got me my first sponsor, MMAHQ.com. You can see their link in the top right of this page. Twitter and my disdain for the Apple geniuses got me linked up with Dirty Dying Breed and now they my official outfitters and damn good guys. Twitter also showed me the gym I train at in SD, The Arena and linked me with 1 of my training partners...

4. Maurice Scott

Mo Phenomenal is one of the first people I met in SD, but we met on Twitter before I got here. Sure, Blackhouse is significantly farther from my house than The Arena, but going into a new place knowing someone makes any and every transition a lot better. If not for Mo, there is a very good chance I'm not at The Arena. So the chain of events going forward is partially credited to him.

The 3rd Annual Simmy Awards

2011-12-26T07:57:00.000-08:00

Athlete of the Year: Jon "Bones" Jones

The UFC Light Heavyweight champ only had the best year in MMA history. He fought 4 times in 2011, which is impressive in itself and earned the title. And even picking nits (Ryan Bader is grossly overrated, Shogun was rusty and still injured, Rampage is too one-dimensional t pose any real threat), in totality and in 1 calendar year, his streak was epic. He choked out Bader in the 2nd round in Feb, TKO'd Shogun Rua in the 3rd round March for the title, choked out Rampage Jackson in the 4th round in September to defend his title, then choked Lyoto Machida unconscious in the 2nd round in December to defend it again. No UFC LHW champ since Chuck Liddell has successfully defended the belt more than once and Machida really lost to Shogun in their first fight.

Runner Up: Tim Tebow

He's 7-3 as a starter this season which is more impressive than it sounds given this is his 2nd year in the league, he only started 3 garbage time games at the end of last season, got no play until the end of week 5 this season and there was a lockout, so he couldn't meet with his coaches all offseason. Speaking of his coaches, he had an all new staff and front office to win over. His passing has left much to be desired, but his running with the new spread option attack has made the Broncos the best rushing team in the NFL.

Movie of the Year: Fast 5

"Fast cars, bad b*tches, The Rock!" Maybe 1 of the greatest movies of my generation. Well, that and Predator. Reuniting the whole crew and a twist ending, c'mon man?!

Runner Up: Like Water

This amazing documentary about UFC Middleweight champ Anderson "The Spider" Silva chronicles he and his family behind the scenes from the Demien Maia fight through the Chael Sonnen bout. It shows the champ in a different light than most would every expect.

Show of the Year: Epic Meal Time

Back to the Internet. These crazy Canadians keep me glued to my computer ever Tuesday. They had such an impact on me, they inspired me to step my cooking game up and make my cooking show.

Runner Up: Trolls News

More YouTube love! Every Wednesday and Saturday, I wake up and rush to my Mac to see the new hottness. Great show that has taught me about the world of Internet trolling aka cyber bullying. Seriously, cyber bullying is lamer and funnier than I imagined and if you whine about it, you're an idiot and a cry baby.

Book of the Year: 59 Seconds by Richard Wiseman

If you want to turn your life around, this is your blue print. It's not a ton of self help, feel good crap, it's real world how to change things, what EXACT steps to take and what it all means.

Runner Up: The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

This was one of the most compelling stories I have ever read. And now the story is being adapted for a movie to be released in 2012. At the time, I finished this book in record time (2 days). Yes, I went on to read another book in a matter of hours, I read all 3 books in this series in under 1 week.

Song of the Year: Alistair Overeem Cycles Horse Meat-The GARV

Runner Up: Head of the State-Baracka Flacka Flame

Phrase of the Year: Not with THAT attitude!

Say ANYTHING around round that isn't in the affirmative and this is my automatic response.

Runener Up:#WINNING!

The genius of Charlie Sheen outside of his show gave us this gem and yes, I even say "hashtag" before I shout WINNING!

Still #WINNING!

Purchase of the Year: 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix

Overall, a pretty solid ride. She's had 5 owners and is a decade old, so yes, there are a few issues (143K miles, wear n tear, faulty transmission and years of back fines for registration), but there's a lot of upside (pimp rims, engine mods, beast dual exhaust, bumpin sound system and sweet red light inside.)

The best part, this makes me a car owner. That's just a cool feeling.

Runner Up: iPhone 4s

I finally parted with Blackberry after a 6 year partnership and moved completely to the Mac side of of the Force. A pity that Steve Jobs couldn't see the day that Sprint got a phone worth having in time for me to buy it.

Santa Sim

2011-12-25T09:25:00.000-08:00

In the grand spirit of peace on Earth and goodwill to mankind, I'm gonna be even more awesome than usual. There are a few people who I see and I just want to help. So, I have some gifts to give just to make things a little better for them.

Jon "Bones" Jones and "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey

I know what you're thinking, "Bones has everything" and "Ronda is the hottest thing in MMA" for like 5 different reasons, "What the hell do they NOT have?"

Good question. Yes, it's awesome to be these 2, but there is 1 very important thing that they don't have: The Humility of a Warrior. Its a fact: if you tell people how humble you are, you're not at all (Jones). And yes, you have an Olympic medal in Judo, but these ain't the Olympics and this ain't Judo (Rousey). They're 2 sick athletes who will be amazing fighters. They're also young and know they're good, which is the problem.

They need to be taken down a peg. A close call won't do it. In fact, just a loss won't do it. These 2 need to be utterly DESTROYED in a fight. So my gift to you each is a total beatdown.

Just like when Tim Tebow rededicated himself and all of UF after their 1 loss and went on to dominate everyone en route to the 2009 BCS Championship, a brutal defeat will teach these 2 to shut up and be as good as they are capable of.

Speaking of Gainsville's favorite son...

Tim Tebow

He's the most talked about man in the NFL. NO ONE has caused so many heated debates in sports history. He has a pose-inspired website and a several songs dedicated to him, including a sports remix that has as many fans as haters. He has a drive and a will to win that is unmatched. He may supplant Ray Lewis is a greatest leader in NFL history.

For Tim, I give you a better bandwagon.

Honestly, most people talk about Tebow's faith than he does. And most of the reason people don't like him is because his fanboys are loud and obnoxious. Tim goes about his business being a good teammate and good personal, EVERYONE ELSE draws so much attention to him and that brings the haters out just to shut them up. With less annoying supporters, Tebow would probably be a Pro Bowler this year.

President Barack Obama

He took down Osama bin Laden, was the head of the administration that also saw the deaths of Quadaffi and Kim Jong Il and took on the presidency with America in the worst financial situation since The great Depression.

And as a nation, we've whined the entire time. Seriously, people?

My gift you, Barack are 4 more years as Commander in Chief from a grateful country.

Last, by certainly not least...

Chael Sonnen

Chael, many people would put you on the naughty list for saying horrible things about the country of Brazil, ALL of Team Blackhouse, Anderson Silva's wife, Wanderlei Silva, Georges St. Pierre and, overall, just being a trash talker. I see that you're just taking self promotion in sports to the next levels and trying to provide for your family. And being utterly hilarious.

The problem is, you have to do all the mouth work and that makes you look bad. You trash the Brazilians, you look kinda racist; you trash Brian Stann and you'd look like the biggest anti-American since Osama. In promotion, there has to be give and take and it takes two to verbally tango.

So my gift to you is an opponent who will talk.

If you prefer a foreigner with an accent that is easy to ridicule, I have the perfect person for you!

A Very SoCal Christmas

2011-12-24T14:31:00.000-08:00

Twas the day before Christmas, and I'm at the beach
with OB hippies who look like Chong and Cheech.
The weather is perfect, the Ocean has a breeze.
I'm sippin on Dos XX under palm trees!
Chips and salsa on my menu so are margaritas.
San Diegons get fish tacos, in NYC, ya'll all need heatas.
Sunshine's a gift that doesn't need wrapping.
I'm alone for the holiday and I'm so f*cking happy!
I'll have some Patron and maybe sushi.
The final verdict: SD > NYC.
I miss all my friends, really, I do.
But like Daniel Tosh said, "NOBODY CAN BE SAD ON A SEA DOO!"
My family is great, ya'll are certainly #1,
I'd love to come home, but here is too much fun!
Christmas is for giving, not receiving, it's true,
helping me move here was the gift of this great ocean view.
As I rent this surf board, wet suit and gear,
I can't wait to see the promise of the new year.
This place is so magical, my life is on the rise.
I want to say thank you! I love all of you guys!
I've weathered the storm and fought my way out.
Thanks for believing in me and never having a doubt.
I wish you all love, peace and holiday cheer,
now I'm off to go get drunk off Mexican beer!

Merry Christmas to my family, friends, coaches, training partners, housemates, fans, followers and any person who has stumbled on my blog and liked what they saw!

Rapid Fire Friday 12/23

2011-12-23T17:10:00.000-08:00

1. Ridin Derrty

Cali is big on the custom gear for the ride. I've shown some great custom plates and a few tricked out rides. Today, I got both!

Yeah Shark!

Not sure what sport this dude played, but let's get 1 thing straight, I AM THE REAL 55!

2. Ultimate Extreme Happy Hour

I've said Pacific Beach is the Hoboken of San Diego. They OWN the happy hour. So how do you top Epic?

With Legendary!

After regular happy hour, PB Bar and Grill drops a $1 holla on you with a power hour!

BOOYA!

3. Sasquatch

As I've noted on various social media outlets, The Jack Links Sasquatch has committed like 30 homicides of the idiots messin with him in those commercials.

But the big guy doesn't just get revenge, he gets a reward!

The extra jumbo Beef Stick!

Man's game Sasquatch!

4. Homie invasion

My boy came out here to hang and see the Ravens-Chargers game. Sadly, our beloved Ray-Rays lost, bad, but we had a great weekend. Here's a few highlights!

Los Dos Homies!

The charges have a GREAT tailgate, suck it Jets/Giants!

Charger Girls, SoCal's finest!

CP aka Bobby Digital

Red Bull Vodka slushy at Pacific Shore Club. Does not go down easy...

Pina Colada Tilt (knock off FourLoko) and sugar free Red Bull, The official pregame drinks of Ravens games that we just made up! Tastes like Mexican gasoline and spray tan.

The Ravens Predator, dude is like 6'10"!!!!

The best Tebowing EVER. Zoom in to see the sign to make it epic.

Errol, the only good bartender at Bootleggers, he's cool, but the whole staff sucks. Also, DO NOT have hot chicks in line, they will not get let it. On the flip side, watching hot chicks getting pissed about not getting in a bar is HILARIOUS.

5. Holidaze

I'll be enjoying the end festival of gift giving home alone, so I'll prob it the beach and rage on a fish taco stand with so Dos XX. Don't feel sad (this is pretty awesome) and Christmas is coming a day later because I get another visitor. Couldn't be happier!

Anyway, Merry/Happy ChanuChristKawanzaDon for the Rest of us!

That's every denomination's holiday, right? Good cuz I don't want anyone hating in the comments section!

Now I'm gonna get blitzed off egg nog like grandma taught me, grab some mistletoe and see if I can find someone to light my yule log and jingle my bells. Ho Ho Ho!

Who's YOUR Alter Ego?

2011-12-22T19:55:00.000-08:00

Get up. Go to a mirror, preferably a full body one. Look at yourself.

Just stand there and look.

This is you. The realest you that anyone could ever know or experience.

The thing is, unless you're a boring, simplistic person, there's more than 1 side to you. So the real question right now is which one of you is the alter ego.

Everyone has an alter ego.

The Monk has the Warrior, the Executive has the Artist, the Nerd has the Jock and the Sinner has the Saint.

I'd say you are the real you and the other isn't, but that's false. Your alter ego is every bit as real as your own flesh a blood. Their duality co-constitutes you. Sure, one is more visible and has existed longer, but they are your truest self.

Who do you want to be?

2011-12-19T05:21:00.000-08:00

Being perfectly honest, the vast majority of my existence is is the pursuit of sex. Ya know what, damn near all of my life can be boiled down to my trying to get laid.

I'm a classic overachiever, not because I want to be the best to be the best, but because I know chicks dig guys who have their sh*t together.

And before people start hating hating, this is how man (both our species as a whole and males of our species) are hard wired. It is this drive that has kept us alive and brought us to the top of the food chain.

In my research, 1 overarching concept keeps appearing: the best way to attract women is to be the man they want. Every guy wants hot chicks, period. To get them, you have to be what they want.

Attractive women want exciting men. They want men who live full lives. They want men who are doing things.

So, if you want these women, you must become these things.

The paradox, for lack of a better term, becomes the men who live those lives and do those things don't do it to get women. They do it because they want that life for themselves.

So who do you really want to be?

If you want a certain life, go out and do it for you. If you want to be cultured, see them plays, ready some books, travel, learn new languages and customs. If you want to be a mover and shaker, learn the happenings of your city, learn the major players and places then meet them and go there.

YOU have to become the you that you want to be to get what you want out of life.

Once that happens, everything will fall into place. But if you aren't even a you that you want, who else will want you?

Rapid Fire Friday 12/16!!!!!!

2011-12-16T15:56:00.000-08:00

1. Rollin

I've been doing a lil driving recently (more on that later). Traffic sucks. Sure, I got my iPod runnin because most Cali radio station suck, but you need to make your own fun sometimes. Thankfully, people's license plates do it for me!

Not sure if this is offensive.

Somehow more obnoxious than those stupid "Baby On Board" signs.

2. Home Improvement

I got some cool upgrades to my bathroom. Now I have an extra hanging storage thing and a cool stand. Now I can put a sound system for my shower in here!!

iPod dock goes here!

3. Vacation is over

I got a job this week! Starting Monday, I'll be teaching at the NPTI's San Diego branch. Finally, I can give back to the training game and wipe out crappy trainers in 1 shot!

4. Ridin' Dirty

This lady WORKS at the Wal-Mart I was at. She almost hit me with her scooter!

5. CRUNK!!!!

Shout out to the best booze pics of the week!

Crazy Mexican which is tequila, vodka and guarana, KGB which is, I don't know, but the Gov hates on it!

Big Lots' ultra cheap beer. Makes me wistful for Milwaukee's Best..

6. Cheap laugh

Entrance in rear for public sessions. HERE WE GO!!!!

7. You give that to kids????

More photo fun at Big Lots!

Krazy Kat and Fizz Ed? Carbonated sugar water with caffeine...

This blew me away that they still make!

Mondo!!!!!!

8. Lazy as f*ck

Heinz and Lays, you suck

9. Wisdom

My last fortune cookie before I got hired.

10. Fight Picks

Tomorrow night, StrikeForce is live here in San Diego. So, quit hits. Cyborg dominates, OSP takes a big step forward and Gilbert Melendez wins by TKO in the 3rd, but does get brought to UFC until last 2012.

Fight Picks for UFC 140

2011-12-10T09:03:00.000-08:00

The UFC returns to Toronto in a somewhat lackluster event (at least when compared to the mega show they had for UFC 129). Fights start in 5 hours and there may still be tickets, mostly because the card lacks Canadian fighters. Still, we have a solid show. Spike is officially out and what used to be the Spike prelims are on Ion Tv and expanded to 2 hours, so that means less Facebook card.

We'll call that a win.

Quick hits: Bocek, Jabouin, Makdessi, Philippou and The Polish Experiment.

Match Up: Mark Hominick vs Chan Sung Jung

Storyline: The Machine returns home (the place where he lost an epic 5 round war against Featherweight champ Jose Aldo to take on The Korean Zombie who last time out locked in the submission of the year.

Breakdown: Hominick has a big edge in striking with his boxing and decent wrestling/top control. Jung has damn near legendary jiu jitsu and good movement. Both are tough as nails.

Final Thoughts: Probably fight of the night

Pick: The hometown boy gets a clear decision win and the Korean Zombie may get a lump on his forehead like Hominick had last fight.

Match Up: Claude Patrick vs Brian Ebersole

Storyline: Patrick has been in the UFC for 1 year and is 3-0. Ebersole is a grizzled 11-year vet.

Breakdown: Patrick has clear speed and striking edges, but Ebersole has the height, reach and threat of a ground game to bridge that gap.

Final Thoughts: Patrick will either explode quickly and stamp out Ebersole or this is gonna be a fight.

Pick: Ebersole by split decision

Match Up: Tito Ortiz vs Antonio Rogerio Nogueria

Storyline: Tito has a new positive outlook on life and has shred his long time name, "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" and is looking to continue his preretirement "resurgence" with a good showing vs Little Nog. Nogueria is back in The Octagon after several injuries and surgeries and gets to fight on the same had as his twin brother. Nogueria is also fighting to stave off retirement.

Breakdown: Tito is not very good anymore. Period. He hadn't won since 2006 until he got a guillotine choke to beat the overhyped Ryan Bader earlier this year. He then followed that up by stepping up to fight Rashad Evans on short notices only to get get brutally TKO'd in the 2nd round. Somehow, that beating got him Fight of the Night and now he wants to KO a very good boxer in Nogueria to complete the UFC Bonus Triple Crown. Nogueria is the better striker but has shown a weakness vs wrestlers. His take down defense was decent against the great wrestler Phil Davis in his last fight. He has a huge jiu jitsu edge as well.

Final Thoughts: Besides the fact that I like Nogueria and wish Tito would just retire already, this is a fairly easy pick for me.

Pick: 3rd round submission win for Nogueria

Co-Main Event

Match Up: Frank Mir vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria 2

Storyline: They 1st fought following a coaching stint on TUF. Mir had the day of his life and Minotauro allegedly had a staph infection the week before. Mir is unhappy that his win has been tarnished.

Breakdown: Mir is younger, more athletic, bigger and stronger. Both have great jiu jitsu and solid stand up, thought Mir has an egde their as well. While Nogueria looked great vs Brendan Schaub at UFC Brazil (especially after multiple surgeries), Mir has looked good as well in multiple fights this year.

Final Thoughts:Mir is a tool. Despite that, I won't be what Skip Bayless calls a "prisoner of the moment" after UFC Rio.

Pick: 2nd Rd TKO for Mir

THE MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING

Match Up: Jon Jones vs Lyoto Mahcida

Storyline: The return of martial arts. Light Heavyweight Champ Johnny Bones looks to wrap up the best year in MMA history with his 4th win of 2011 by defeating former champ Machida. The Dragon wants to follow up his crane kick to the face KO that retired Randy Couture by reclaiming his belt.

Breakdown: Machida's karate style has come under fire for not engaging enough and his mystique has faded a little due to Shogun Rua's beatings and a questionable loss to Rampage Jackson. Still, he's hard to get a read on, moves very well, has KO power, great ground game and underrated wrestling. Jones is the phenom. He's 24, bigger than every LHW, an amazing athlete, has stellar wrestling, slick submissions, the longest reach in UFC history and another unorthodox style.

Final Thoughts: This isn't the cake walk people want to make it out to be for Jones. The more I think about it, this should be the toughest opponent Jones has faced in a while. Sure, Rashad knows him well and can wrestler, but Machida is really hard to hit, has another tricky style, has better submissions and can end a night in 1 punch.I picked Rampage over Jones because I let my fan crowd my judgment. And Jones is pretty obnoxious. I wan to see Machida win badly because he's a great fighter and a good guy.

Pick: 3rd Rd TKO for Jones.

Rapid Fire Friday 12/9

2011-12-09T13:45:00.000-08:00

1 Happy B Day

Let me send a shout out to my Big Dawg, Jay Sailor!

2. Epic Meals

I got to enjoy food San Diego style this week!

Sushi

with some kind of green milk tea

and the best thing ever, FISH TACOS AND DOS XX!!!

Loves my Tapatio sauce!!!

3. Unfortunate Logo of the Week

Tosh.0 has a great segment called, "The unfortunate domain name of the week." This is the closest I could manage. This is West Coast BJJ and MMA.

Damn guys...

4. Hooray for self-destruction

We all knew it was only a matter of time before I hit that 4Loko. The aftermath wasn't pretty, but there's was comedy to be had

Lotta big cans of malt madness!

2, just enough to cause damage, but not enough to get stupid. This time...

No they don't!

5. This is why you're fat

This is what I saw at the cereal aisle of my grocery store

6. OB Celebration!

Last Saturday was the Ocean Beach Christmas parade. Yeah, this lil chill region of San Diego had a parade. It was kinda cool. Ya know, while I was passing to get to a bar...

7. Days left

This time next week, I'm getting my 1st non parent visitor out here in SD. My best friend, Senor Greg Beast will joining me for a weekend of homie fiestas and watching the Baltimore Ravens lock up that top seed in the playoffs over the Chargers!

CAN'T WAIT!

8. Grind Time

Well I finally figured out how to get to the fields I drive by every time I get on the high way, so it was officially time to start sprint work

High socks and cleats in shorts in December, yeah, you wish you were me!

9. Boom goes the Dynamite!

I've said numerous times I live near Sea World. For the holidays, they light up this iant tower thingy like a Christmas tree. Many nights around 10p, they have a great fire works show. I got to see it last night.

From my REAR deck!

10. B Ballin

Realistically, I found this pic while looking for pics for a past blog post and I thought it was too awesome to not use somehow. But in the wake of The NBA killing a trade that would send All-Star PG Chris Paul to team up with Kobe.

When CP3 gets there, he's gonna need a sweet pic too...

Motivation

2011-12-03T10:40:00.000-08:00

"Its sad that a professional athlete needs that motivation to play well." ESPN analyst Rob Parker on Miami Heat player Chris Bosh saying fellow ESPN analyst Skip Bayless' anti Bosh comments, including ridiculing Bosh's play by repeatedly calling him "Bosh Spice" motivates him.

Cuz "Bosh Pit" is so cool...

Motivation is the biggest X factor in sports. Not physical ability, coaching, strategy, skill or toughness.

Whoever wants it more is going to have it.

Really, that extends into every part of life. If you are determined to get something enough, you will stop at nothing to make it happen. Or die trying.

The thing about motivation is that for everyone person on Earth and for every goal they want to accomplish, there is a different way to motivate them and a different thing to motivate them.

Some people are positively motivated. The thought of how much they want something or how good it will feel to achieve something or how it will make their life better is what drives people to achieve things. Joy, accomplishment, love and tranquility become fuel for these people.

Some people are negatively motivated. Thinking how bad things are, how much worse they will be if they do not succeed or how not achieving their goal makes them feel propels some people forward. Anger, fear, misery and hatred are the power source of choice for this camp.

The really fascinating part about all this is how people look at motivation.

We live in a society in which anything that isn't rainbows and kittens is looked down upon. No one wants to acknowledge the (potential) bad side of things. If and when they do, they're labeled "depressing" by others. However, in my research and experience, many of the most successful people, especially athletes, are negatively motivated.

They HATE to lose even more than they love to win. Most of them are jealous, angry, embittered, arrogant people who have a combination of snake venom and ice water coursing through their veins.

In competition.

In everyday life, they're regular folks who like sunshine, pretty flowers, fluffy bunny rabbits and sparkles.

Let's look at Michael Jordan, the best basketball player to ever live and one of the top 5 best athletes in sports history.

MJ was a cold-blooded killer on the court. He wasn't out to be loved. He wanted to be feared. He lived to crush the hopes and dreams of entire cities with 3-point daggers in the clutch. The more you booed, the more he wanted to bury you alive.

Sure, "His Airness" is beloved throughout the NBA and by sports fans the world over for his greatness, is a global icon, had charities and did cute kids' movies, but underneath all that was a man who had a burning desire to not only silence his critics, but to stick it to them. Just watch his Hall of Fame induction speech. He's STILL bitter about getting cut on a JV team, who got Player of the Year as a kid, what team he was on in PRACTICE and countless events throughout his career!

Now let's look at Kobe Bryant. He may be even worse than MJ!

Kobe's life mission is to beat Jordan. His competitive fire smolders inside him to the point in which he refuses to have another major player on his team, just to show the world that he could out Jordan Jordan all by himself. The worst thing you can do is "hate on" Kobe, because he will move you to the top of his hit list. His war with former teammate Shaquille O'Neal STILL isn't over and Shaq has retired. Shaq spoke about Kobe and their fued in his new book and Kobe has gone silent. He's not doing it to be the bigger man or let it die, he refuses to acknowledge Shaq or his book because he doesn't want to give any publicity and subsequent advertisement to them.
I'm totally cool with advertising the book!

Kobe is a lock for a Hall of Fame speech when he decides to hang em up. Jordan's speech was almost 30 minutes, I guarantee Kobe's will be longer and more controversial.

Many athletes talk trash. Some do it to get under their opponents skin to take them off their game. Guys like legendary boxer Muhammad Ali did it to hype himself up. The man invented swagger. His constant proclamation that he was "The Greatest of All Time" wasn't some uplifting self-affirmation, it was his own arrogance fueling him to live up to that title. Essentially, his mouth was writing checks to force his fists to be able to cash them.

Rumor has it, Ali even trash talked in his sleep!

That's only the tip of the self-manufactured motivation iceberg. Anyone can take comments about them personally. The best can blow a slight out of proportion and hold a grudge for a few decades. The greats can pressure themselves into going above and beyond just to back their outlandish claims up. The truly elite can turn a compliment into a reason to become offended and take their anger out on their opponents.

Anderson Silva is the best mixed martial artist on the planet. Case closed. He is the reigning UFC Middle Weight champion, who has reset the record for longest win streak, most title defenses and most accurate striker.

The way sports with titles work is, to win to the title, you have to take on the champion and beat him/her. Its not, "this year's championship," it's THE championship. So to get the UFC MW belt, you have to go through Silva. He takes personal offense to anyone wanting to fight him!

To put it in perspective, that would be like if the guy at the drive through at McDonald's gets personally offended because I ask him for a McRib.

"I got ya Super Size right here!!!"

Silva sees the mere act of requesting a title shot as a personal insult. And if he knows you in real life, it's even worse to him. He feels personally betrayed. When that happens, he sets out on a mission to tear you apart.

This mindset upsets many people, mostly because they don't understand it. They can't, they're just not wired that way.

I get it. I'm the same guy who said "my suffering gives me strength."

On a good day, I can't take a compliment and at my most competitive, they are insulting to me. In high school, 1 opposing quarterback said of my defense in a local paper, "Their defensive ends are ferocious and a major concern for us."

At the time, both of starting DEs were on the All-Metro team watch list and 1 was the city D player of the week the week before. Our ends were a very strong point on our team. I spent the entire week ranting about how our linebackers were not getting the respect they deserved. It must also be noted that out linebacking corps had recently been shuffled due to injuries and we had some young players starting who nobody had heard of or knew would end up being really good. I must also note that I didn't even play DE or LB at the time, I was a defensive tackle.

In my mind and soon, the minds of my teammates, they were slighting the good young backers we had and indirectly, the oft-overlooked defensive tackles who's first priority was to keep our linebackers free.

I was livid. The defense had a stellar performance and posted a shut out that game.

In college, after a film session, one of the offensive coaches made a point to come to me and say I was "a great passrusher" and to "keep up the good work." For a normal person, these words would have made their day. To a person who seldom gets acknowledge for doing anything right for most of his life, that should have made my year. To a person who takes pride in being a passrusher, that should have been validation that his work was paying off and cause for a small celebration.

But when you're Sim "DARKSIDE" Lucien and you have a chip surgically implanted onto both shoulders, you take this almost as bad as being called the n-word. Especially when you had just had a very good practice against the run.

I live in Attack Mode

Sure, I smiled and politely said "Thanks coach," but inside I was seething. All I could think was how to make someone pay at the next practice. And I did. And coach said I played "like a man possessed." The only reason I didn't get angrier and more determined was I couldn't latch on to any (made up) slight.

Is one way better or worse? No, just different. What is wrong is forcing everyone to operate the same way.

Some people are just built differently.

Rapid Fire Friday 12/2

2011-12-02T20:00:00.001-08:00

1. Shoppin

So I roll up on Big Lots, which is like a mini low budget Wal-Mart to grab a few things and I stumble upon these lil guys.

An 8 pack of 8.4oz Sprites! I didn't get them, but I got a funny pic.

In then end, isn't that what really matters?

2. Elements of Comedy

I got this funny pictures app for my iPhone and it give me visions of hilarity all day. This one is a shout out to all my chemistry nerds!

Wish I woulda thought of that in high school.

3. Path to the Darkside

It pains me more that any of you can imagine that I have to further break my promise to myself and unretire. I can't get into details, but all I can say is I have sold my soul and I'm sickened with myself right now.

Desperation is an ugly beast and I am staring it in the face right now. The scariest part is that now, I really can't think of any boundaries I won't cross. My word to myself, moral convictions, right and wrong, all out the window. There was no other option and now, there will be consequences for this decision.

4. Fight Picks

Tomorrow night, we get what we've all been waiting for. We finally get Jason "Mayhem" Miller in The Octagon with Michael "The Count" Bisping for the TUF 14 Finale.

Not gonna lie, the card is mostly guys from this season and since they were featherweights and bantamweights, I don't care too much. On top of that, I think most of them are huge a-holes, i really don't care.

In fact, I'm only watching for Tony "El Cucuy" Ferguson vs Yves "Thug Jitsu" Edwards and the main event.

Picks: I'd love to see Ferguson and Miller win, but these are gonna be some tough fights. I think El Cucuy can get a 2nd round KO and Mayhem can get a 4th round submission.

As for the little guys, I want to see Bermudez win because he's a good fighter and nice dude, but Diego Brandao will smash him because he's a beast. Complete tool, but a beast.

In the bantamweight finale, I hope both guys get a double KO or test positive at the physicals. We have TJ "I'm the best fighter here draft dodger" Dillashaw vs John "the pygmy snitch" Dodson. I can't stand either and prob won't watch.

5. PSA

The fight between Mayhem and Bisping is really THIS important!

Thank you Ranger Up for getting the word out!

Status Check-November

2011-11-30T16:01:00.000-08:00

Here's where I'm at with my goals:

Books Read: 18. Goal: 18. Mission accomplished! On #19 now. The bad news is all the books I bought are in storage, so after I finish this, I'll need to find more.

Workouts Logged: 186. Goal: 360. Spent all month on the job hunt, hoping for some good news?

Sanctioned MMA Fight: Hoping for March.

Get back to Coaching: Not sure how to make this one happen.

7 days off work: Mission accomplished! Now, to make sure I can get a damn job so I can take time off from in future!

Act like I'm in my 20s: And I'm back where I was in NYC. Hard to live life when you're always pressed for cash. Need a job. The life lesson is that your 20s suck as a decade.

Yes Man Rules: There are no opportunities at home.

Blame the Parents

2011-11-29T02:10:00.000-08:00

"When the children are spoiled, blame the parents."

I'm not sure who said this, but it's one of the truest sentiment anyone can make about human behavior. We are creatures of habit and habits are learned.

Combat sports, especially MMA, are built on a certain image of bad assery. Let's be realistic, it's 2 people in a metal cage fighting, this ain't exactly high society.

"I say old chaps, what say after this rousing match we engage in modified fisticuffs? Tallyho!"

Most fighters are good people and great ambassadors of the sport. However, there is a growing population of degenerates who are gaining popularity and status for terrible reasons.

MMA fans are widely recognized as mostly being very knowledgeable and it's shocking that they are supporting these individuals and their bad behavior.

Let's look at the most classic example, Tito Ortiz.

He even calls himself "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy!" When he's not partying with porn stars, beefing with fighters are events and calling his boss, "My bitch," he's going on 4 YEAR losing streaks. Most UFC fighters get cut after 2-3 consecutive losses, Tito got to skate with 1 loss, 1 draw, then 3 consecutive losses. Luckily, he got fed an overhyped Ryan Bader who he beat, then lost again.

That's 1 win in 5 years for one of the highest paid (see: financial burden) fighters on the roster.

Why? He's a tool! He has a ton of fans who love nothing more than to watch Tito bicker with his employer, Dana White!

Then there's Josh Koscheck

From his stint on The Ultimate Fighter as a contestant to present day, Kos has been a constant thorn in UFC's side. He's done everything from be part of a lawsuit against the company to taunting fans.

He even shouted at a post fight interview, "Love me or hate me, I don't give a damn," and at the press conference for that high boasted that either way, people will pay to see him.

Koscheck has taken to Twitter to verbally beret fighters and pester his boss to get certain fighters because he "wanted to create public pressure on the other guy."

This pales in comparison to to the legendary problem child, Nick Diaz.

Things Diaz has done in his MMA career:
-Get in fight at a hospital after a bout
-Get busted for testing positive for marijuana multiple times
-Refuse to do media obligations
-Get in a brawl in the cage on live TV after a fight he wasn't even in
-Skip multiple press conferences
-Pout, complain and blame others when he got punished for his actions
-Publicly gripe about not making money and not having time to buy a house in a better neighborhood

From the second Diaz was removed from the UFC 137 title fight with George St. Pierre until the post fight interview of that same event, Diaz launched a verbal assault on GSP, insulting the champ about everything from him faking an injury to be a coward and "a lil bich."

GSP was so outraged by his disrespectful comments, he convinced his boss to scrap the title fight he had with another fighter in order to repromote Diaz to a title fight.

Diaz then quipped that "acting this way seems to be getting him what he wants."

And the granddaddy of the all, Chael Sonnen

Where to even begin?

Chael has brought insult forward a quantum leap. Generation from now, athletes will read entire chapters named after Sonnen in trash-talk manuals.

His insult-reel is like the best of Comedy centrals Celebrity Roast series. He has disparaged the entire country of Brazil and it's people, the manhood and sexual orientation of ALL of Team Blackhouse, said Anderson Silva's wife will make him a steak, then he'd pat her on the behind, mocked GSP, Rampage Jackson, Brock Lesnar, Andrei Arlovski, Tim Sylvia, Arianny Celeste Alistair Overeem and Wanderlei Silva.

After Anderson defeated Chael in a title fight, he was found to have elevated testosterone levels due to illegal TRT, suspended and found guilty of money laundering. He then proclaimed himself the "true/linear/people's middle weight champion of the world" and had a tear of interviews in which he basically wrecks havoc on tv shows.

In all of this, he claims he is using "fighting words" to goad Anderson Silva into giving him a rematch. When Anderson doesn't agree to Sonnen's demands, Sonnen and his segment of mans lash out even more against Anderson.

These are horrible actions. These fights are making asses of themselves and being rewarded for doing so. To make matters worse, most of them even know and brag that they are getting reward for doing these actions.

At first, I wanted to blame them, then I thought about our parenting lesson from earlier. These fighters are giving the fans what they want. As much as I'd like to think fight fans are smarter, better and more civilized than this, look at what we're watching. And sense when are we supposed to give the general public credit for IQ points? Hell, if they weren't morons, we would have any reality tv shows and definitely no programming based on any sort of "wives."

This growing cesspool in the sport can be blamed on the adult supervision that has guided the UFC from the days of not being allowed on tv, to getting a network deal. If we want people to behavior like fully-functioning society members, we need to look at Dana White.

Dana can cut fighters. Dana can fine fighters. Dana can put people in "time out" when they refuse to act right. Dana can book specific events, promote them and bonus individuals as a reward for doing the right thing. We've seen him do it.

I do not like the direction the sport is heading with these individuals behaving and being incentivized to continue doing so. I don't care what kind of example this sets for the kids. They aren't my problem. I care that Dana not dealing with this element will encourage more people to act out instead of doing their damn jobs to get what they want.

Soon, MMA could become as much of a side show as pro wrestling or Japanese freak show fights.

Then what will do?

The Tim Tebow Conundrum

2011-11-28T10:48:00.000-08:00

And we thought TO, Ocho Cinco, Vick and Favre were polarizing figures!

Timothy Richard Tebow, if you've heard his name, you have a stance on him. This post isn't about his religious views, what he says or his personality. This is about his ability to do is job: be an NFL QB.

If you talk to the "classic" QB camp, which, incidentally, is mentally entrenched in the Bill Walsh, Madden video game and current penalize the defense for playing defense eras, Tebow is a terrible QB. They argue against Tebow's throwing mechanics, accuracy and willingness to stay in the pocket.

If you talk to the college style and just win camps, Tebow is awesome. They argue that he is possibly the best leader in the NFL not named Ray Lewis, is a ferocious competitor who elevates everyone around him, owns the 4th quarter and is just a flat out winner.

"Yeah, Tebow's pretty cool!"

Being completely objective, Tebow does not fit the prototype of the modern NFL QB, but he is finding a way to win.

The real question is, can he or any team, win BIG this way?

Its a fact, Tebow's completion percentage is waaay under 50%. We don't even start talking about a "good" QB until he's over 65%. In 1 game, Tebow completed 2 of 8 passes. Tebow has attempted 21 or few passes in 4 of his 5 starts this season. Also, he won all 4 of those games.

This may come as a surprise to people who think football was invented by the 1980s San Francisco 49ers, but once upon a time, NFL offenses ran the ball. QBs didn't throw. The forward pass wasn't legalized in football until 1906. Quarterback was a runner, like the Fullback and Halfback. In the college game, the option reigned supreme.

Fun fact, football teams that rush 35 or more times and pass 20 or fewer times win 90% of their games.

Ask any coach (except Mike Martz and Mike Leech) and they'll say running the ball wins games. With Tebow on the field, the Broncos have run 60% of the time. With the option package Denver ha installed, Tebow has more rushing attempts than any QB in the NFL.

The Broncos dominate time of possession, there by keeping the other team's offense off the field and letting their defense rest. Their fresh defense can attack opposing offenses better (Rookie OLD/DE Von Miller already has 10 sacks while sharing the field with sack artist Elvis Dumervil).

Once playoff time rolls around, the most important things a team can have are a defense and a running game. The Broncos have both, confidence and a guy who dominates the final frame and overtime.

The real question is how long can this scheme work?

The main reason the option is rarily seen in the NFL is because defensive players are more athletic than in college. Combine that with unathletic QBs and poor offensive lines and you have a disaster. But Tebow is a big, strong, athletic QB who is used to running the option. Most defensive players are not used to defending the option and that can lead a lot of mistakes.

Tebow can physically hold up for this season with this system. Long term, Denver will have to fulling commit to this for it to work. More RBs will have to be brought in. So will better WRs so the offense has some threat to pass. Also a backup QB similar to Tebow will need to be found or else the whole thing will collapse.

The the proof is in the scoreboard and win column, Denver can win The Tebow Way.

The What If Machine: Fighter Names

2011-11-26T07:48:00.000-08:00

The What If Machine is top secret government technology I, um, "borrowed." Rather than letting them use it for whatever nonsense they had planned, I use it for the most important questions man has in life: SPORTS!

William Shakespeare expressed a profound thought via Juliet's soliloquy in Romeo and Juliet, pondering and postulating:

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Didn't know much about being or looking tough, but he knew how to string words together something fierce!

He's right, if we called roses turds, they'd still smell good, but would probably not be as liked by the ladies. Or would they...?

We in modern times know it is a scary fact that perception is reality. There are studies that show one's first name can set them up for success or failure from birth!

In the sporting world, if you are fortunate enough to get to compete at a high enough level, you're first name can get diminished in importance for many reasons. Last names tend to be a major identifier. Also, years around the same teammates becomes a breeding ground for nicknames.

In the fight world, nicknames take on a special significance. Fun fact: fighters are some of the only guys who are allowed under Man Law to make up their own nicknames. The logic being, if you want to call them something they don't like, they can actually kick your ass.

Yes, sir, Mr. Iceman!

But what if fighters really had to live their nicknames?

Thai fighters often get a name based on their style and try to emulate it. Usually, it's a small characteristic. There is one fighter called "The Wooden Man" because he takes hits and shows no pain, like he's made of wood.

In the western world, we're a little more hyperbolic.

What if Brock Lesnar really was "The Baddest Man on The Planet?" Does that mean he'd have to be an awful human being? If so, many fight fans feel he's pretty bad. Or are we saying bad like good ala Michael Jackson? Then, technically, he would have surrendered his moniker and heavyweight title when Cain Velasquez defeated him last year.

And what about Liddell? Would this mean he is literally made of ice? Or would it mean his occupation is to make and provide ice? He'd be the reason every party happens. And you thought he couldn't be more popular!

Obviously his name is borne of his tendency to knock his opponents out cold and leave their faces swollen to the point where ice is the only thing that can help them, man.

What if Alistair Overeem actually had to work in demolition? Fighting him would suck because he may just implode the arena with you inside it.

You just got Reemed!

Would it mean Matt Wiman is actually handsome? That would be cool for him until enough guys got sick of him having all the women and messed his face up. Would Alan Belcher actually have to have talent?

Would Tom Lawlor actually be filthy?

And would that make him Pig Pen's dad?

Would Lyoto Machida actually be a dragon? He's Japanese, so, under Mortal Kombat rules, it's plausible. Would Carlos Condit actually have to be a homicidal maniac? Would Wanderlei Silva actually be THAT GUY from every slasher flick? Actually, he's already 1 axe away from it already...

Would Michael Bisping actually be royalty? Well, this could also be true, because Counts are the lamest members of the royal family.

1, 2, 3 losers, oh oh oh!

Would it mean Mark Munoz is an actual machine from the Philipines that wrecks things and subsequently Overeem's business competitor OR that he's machine that only wrecks Filipinos? Would his teammate Jason Miller just go around causing mayhem and mischief? Ok, he's doing a good job of that.

In that case, their other teammate Krzysztof Soszynski may really be walking experiment and he's definitely Polish...

Would Georges St. Pierre be in a hurry to get everywhere like a Canadian Sonic the Hedgehog? Would Rory MacDonald have to be Tails?

Anderson Silva and Kendall Grove are tall, long limbed guys who are very fast on the ground, so The Spider/Da Spyder is somewhat accurate.

Would Patrick Cote actually be The Predator?

"We need to have a discussion. Click click click click!"

Lastly would Ryan Bader really be a Sith Lord?

Because that means I'd have to orchestrate his death in order to rule the MMA galaxy.

Not that I have a problem with that or anything.

Rapid Fire Friday 11/25

2011-11-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

1. Happy Birthday!

Let me start off by sending some B Day love to the lovely and awesome Steph!

And former UFC Light Heavyweight Champ Mauricio "Shogun" Rua!

2. Now that the tryptophan coma has ended...

Hope everyone had a safe, happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

3. Check out

Literally, this was the most eye-grabbing thing I've ever seen and it was at the checkout counter at my grocery store Wednesday evening.

Ironically enough, the first item in my cart was 5lbs of chicken breasts.

I feel healthier already!

4.Gear up!

I'm toying with the idea of releasing a small limited edition line of shirt. Depending on interest, this could go live by February. Items include various catch phrases and graphics that have become fan favorites.

5. That time of year...

Like I said, now that we're all awake after the turkey coma its time for the worst day in America, Black Friday. This is the day that technically starts at 10p Thanksgiving night when the ladies of the house drag everyone into Mortal Kombat of "sales" at stores.

I'm convinced this is just the X chromosome holders having a group flashback to hunter-gatherer days.

The irony is, Black Friday became a major shopping day once the media started hyping websites making all the $.

Adding further irony to the mix, the web got pissed and made Cyber Monday to get in on the action they just had cut from them that they created.

Glad we're all about that whole time with loved ones or thanking whatever religious deity you believe in...

Sh*t I'm Thankful for

2011-11-24T10:59:00.000-08:00

On this day when we all reflect on the good things in our lives, I'm going to take a slightly different look at things. Anyone can be grateful for the positives around them, but it takes a truly appreciative individual to find the good in things that suck.

1. Twitter

Just when I thought the Internet was out of ways to waste my time or connect me to people from a distance, I get pulling into this nonsense.

But if not for Twitter, I probably wouldn't be in San Diego right now. I definitely would be training at The Arena or have the equipment or clothing sponsors I have.

*Shameless plug for MMAHQ.com, Dirty Dying Breed and Gladiator Fight Gear!

And with how my life was going down hill in NYC and how everything with MMA was crashing, Twitter has been my life line. On top of that, I've met some awesome people who I talk to daily.

2. Social Anxiety

Meeting and connecting with people has always been a challenge for me. I can range from chronic shyness to full-blown people phobia and it has made my entire life a lonely, isolated abyss.

Thankfully, my lack of social interaction has given me endless time for introspection and self-reflection. Because I haven't had people to give me other perspectives, I had to internally synthesize them. Because I've had to spend so much time by myself, I've grown to enjoy tranquility and not freak out.

My problem-solving ability is arguably my greatest strength. I owe it to my ability to look at a scenario from multiple and differing views. On top of that, I function even better in solitude than I do with people around. Most people have meltdowns if they're by themselves for 20 minutes. This is why solitary confinement is such a powerful torture method. Put me in solitary and I'll likely to figure out how to escape because I'm in my best mental state.

3. Little Caesar's

Is the pizza THAT good? Not really. Healthy? HA HA HELLLL NO!

There is no denying they may have the best deal in fast food. The "Hot-N-Ready" deals are epic. Sure, they haven't updated their recipes since I was teenager, but only Domino's has. Nostalgia matters and when we're talking living on a budget, a hot slice of one of the few (happy) memories of a blanked out childhood for cheap is a Godsend!

4. The crappy people I know

When you have an occasionally paralyzing fear to talk to people, you don't really don't get the pick of the litter as far as associates. Outside of a very small handful of cool people, most of the people who have entered my life range from useless to kind detrimental.

I have haters. I'm talking the population of a small town worth of Sim Haters. Next to those a-holes, I have an even bigger gang of idiots who can't do a damned thing on this Earth right. But because of them, I've learned self-reliance and the importance of not letting anyone else affect me.

Most people are cocky because they let everyone hype them and they believe it. Other people are depressed because they base their worth on what other tell them they are worth. When they don't get that validation, it crushes them. Being surrounded by so many awful people has taught me that only I can define me.

Honestly the haters are the best. They are the barometer of if I'd doing anything right or not. If they're talking sh*t about me, it means I'm doing something bigger than their little minds can fathom. If they're mad at me, I'm probably succeeding. If they're laughing at my failure, it's because they hope I'll give up and not do something that makes them look bad by comparison. The haters are by best motivators because if I fail, if I surrender, that means they're right about me. And I refuse to live in a world where haters are right.

5. Compartmentalization

Mixed in the pile of dead weight there have been some amazing people in my life. The problem is, I've probably driven many off because they wanted more of me than I could give. Every part of my life is quarantined from everything else to not cross contaminate. Even at the expense of people always feeling like I'm hiding something.

That psychological fragmentation is actually the key to my success. Growing up, everything was a back and white answer. Combine that with limited interaction with others and, over time, conflicts will arise. Like a computer running incompatible programs, the human mind can malfunction. But when a person malfunctions, they end up in a bell tower with a rifle and high powered scope, bad thing. For better or worse, my brain decided a different coping strategy should be used to reconcile all the conflicts it was encountering.

What it did was isolate every part of my personality. With my psyche split into separate components, I didn't have to worry about how I could be two different things at 1 time, because it couldn't happen. As such, my ability to be fully immersed in something sky rocked. If I'm studying, I can do for for hours. If I'm cracking jokes, I can fire them like a Gatling. If I'm caring, my entire heart is in it. If I'm competing, I will do whatever it take to win.

The splintering of my own mind also gave me another unique ability, I can break up complex problems into their simpler roots. One of my most often used problem-solving methods is to reverse engineer the present to find the origin and fix it. All a gift from my mental compartments.

6. My current employment difficulties

The economy is in the toilet. I'm in a new (expensive) place and have no one to turn to. Based on my education and previous work experience, I'm only qualified to do 1 job and I hate it with a passion. Oh and money, it turns out, does not grow on trees.

For starters, the great (probably obsessive) focus I have means I can easily work nonstop. Not for hours or days, but YEARS. On one's death bed, I'm positive no one in the history of mankind has ever said, "Gee, I wish I would have worked more." The nonstop grind, when combined with my social phobia meant I let myself miss out on countless opportunities to expand my life. And for what? A few extra dollars. Me not being able to just get a job and start the process all over again in a new city has forced me into a vacation. This has been the first break from work or work-related travel in 5 years.

I've seen sights, I've met people, hell, I moved to the other side of the country. I've learned to make myself operate at a difference pace. In 2010, I had an anomalous illness that left me bed ridden for months. I couldn't function and felt like death. Even doctors couldn't find out what it was. Maybe I had a disease, maybe I had finally worked too hard for too long. The point is now, that will never happen again.

In trying to find a job, it has made me grow as a person. Anxiety aside, I still need to make money. So my option are criminal behavior or get better. Making phone calls, handing in applications, doing interviews are all things that can stop me dead in my tracks. These are all things I have been able to bring myself to do. I'm a perfectionist by nature. Nothing else is good enough. I know I'm not being perfect at any of this and I'm ok with that. The biggest personal hang up I have is asking for help. It's not a pride or ego thing, it more of a not wanting to drag anyone into my problems thing. If talking to people in itself is hard, hoping they're be merciful and help is damn near out the question. Especially when most people I know suck. But in being able to reach out to the people who are good to me, it has shown me that I'm not alone anymore.

Toke Thanksgiving pic

In all fairness, I am extremely thankful all of the great people who I care about and who care about me. I'm thankful to live in this great country in which anyone can move to anywhere in the country and has a shot to do damn near whatever they want. I'm thankful for everything I've done because that has made me everything I am. Most of all, I'm thankful for all of you who take the time to read my ramblings and share your thoughts.

5 Reasons being a Parent Makes You Insane

2011-11-23T17:56:00.000-08:00

"You're parents are insane. But you did it to them!" -Sinbad

Parents all nuts. I've called KIDS "the 18 year STD," because they're expensive, ruin your sleeping habits, make puke appear all over your stuff, turn your hair white and you're stuck with them til you can legally kick them out of your house, at least. The real damage they cause isn't to your body or bank account, it's to you mind and starts the second you realize you're about to contract them.

1. You lose all perspective

For those without children, think of the best day of your life. Think of the coolest thing you've ever seen.

Images of wild nights outs, winning championships, going to great concerts, skydiving or finding $20 in some random place probably come to mind.

Makes every story awesome!

Once you have kids, everything involving the child becomes the most amazing thing EVER.

It threw up! WOW!
Rolls on its side! HOLY CRAP!
Babbled random sounds. Next level!

And when you run to share your excitement with people without children, no one gets what's the big freakin deal. However, if any of them talk about the cool thing they did, like an actually accomplishment that took a lot of time and energy dedicated to that endeavour, you get to shut it down by saying something to the effect of, "everything is just different when you have a child."

Yeah, you forget that everyone's life hasn't stopped.

2. You can only hang out with other parents

Building on my last point, at some point, everyone without children will grow tired of you condescending about how parenthood makes your existence so much fuller and important than the childless pee-ons who are clearly not even sentient beings with their pitiful little exercise records, career achievements and paltry drunken 5A VIP parties with Victoria's Secret models.

So... trivial...

So you do the most logical thing, hang out with other parents, people who understand and appreciate the grandeur of every murmur and stagger of a child.

The problem is, it has the same psychological effect of prison. You be institutionalized. Now, the only people you CAN hang out with are other parents. You simply lose the ability to communicate in terms of yourself outside of the the child.

The crib is the baby's prison, but the baby is YOUR prison.

Compounding the problem is all parents LOVE to brag about their kids. So every time you engage other parents, it turns into a "my child is the second coming of baby Jesus" pissing contest.

Theirs was potty-trained in 6 months, yours has its first words in 9.
Yours just got admitted to a fancy daycare, theirs already have a tutor for 6 languages.

The mothers get a very special claim to boast, Who delivered the biggest and was in labor the longest! (Men, when this topic comes up, just leave. Seriously, delivery/labor stories are to women what how big a dump we took after Thanksgiving dinner stories are to us. No one in the other gender wants to think about that stuff.)

Being trapped around other doomed people has a similar effect to when a group of girlfriends make their boyfriends have to become friends. Just a sad, sad existence for everyone. Except now, its both of you and the common thread are these kids.

Don't worry, once the children are old enough to start school, the real misery can begin. Playdates! Because the kids can't decide what other kids they like, you, the parents must figure it out for them. Have a fun 11 years!

3. You become a hypocrite

Think back, waaaaay back to a time long, long ago. You were a kid yourself and you wanted to do something or go somewhere and you parents wouldn't let you. At first, they just gave some half-hearted, nonsensical answer, but over the years, their frustration at you challenging their all-mighty decision-making abilities worn on them and the explanation became the dreaded, "Because I said so!"

Remember how much you HATED that phrase? Remember when you swore you'd never, EVER say that or give weak answers to your kids?

Lo and behold, you are right where you swore to yourself you'd never be.

Hell, many you saw other new parents around you and swore to yourself and your friends that you'd never become "one of those parents." And poof, like magic, you just woke up and found yourself at a 1st birthday party for some kid who you know is sleeping and won't remember this day anyway surrounded by only parents and you all share a look of, "wow, I'm not going to do anything cool again... EVER."

Wait, is dressing like a clown and doing a puppet show cool? Ohhhh! Spit up! Nope, not cool.

Sure, you can say, you're perspective and priorities have shifted now that you're responsible for anther human being. But that just means your sweet 2-seater sports coup isn't as functional as a family sedan with great safety features.

Everything you, the old, rational you, swore against has become your everyday. Mostly because now that you have KIDS, you've lost your mind and no longer have this urge to make sense.

4. You lose all personal accountability

So we've established that your child is the single most important thing on Earth. And because you can now only affiliate with other parents, ALL children are the most important beings to ever exist. So it's only logical that they be protected.

And everyone has to know it!

No one mobilizes for a cause like parents.

If there is any child-related cause, parents will move out en mass to make sure everyone with at least semi-function ears hears about it. They will make sure their problem (something could happen to their children) and make it EVERYONE'S problem. Usually, at the expense of common sense, existing procedures and rational thought.

Worst of all, they themselves take zero responsibility for their (lack) of direct actions.

Example: if a child gets hit by a car while playing in a street, the parents will unite and lobby to have the speed limit reduce, more stop lights put up in the neighborhood, probably demand more police presence and speed bumps. Heavy help us all if the driver is suspected of being intoxicated, because MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) will see that the scumbag is tried and convicted before he or she even sees a court room.

Will anyone wonder why the kid was in the street to get hit? Will anyone ask where were the parents when they should be watching the kids? Will anyone bring up that the parents should have done a better job of teaching their child to not run in the street?

Of course not.

5. Everything makes you panic

The world is a scary place. We have wars, crime, diseases, toxins, threat of injury and natural disasters. To borrow a line from the intro to one of my favorite tv shows, "The fact that we survive it all is a miracle because everyday, we face 1000 ways to die."

Monday nights on Spike Tv!

So, yes, I get it, the world is a dangerous place. And if healthy adults are in this much danger, frail bodied and mentally underdeveloped children are sitting ducks. And I also accept that the news media with its 24-hours news cycles thrives off of keeping us crapping our collective pants. But seriously, no one is more neurotic than parents.

Let 60 minutes talk about 1 grade school having 1 kid come down with the diseases of the week, and everyone wants to start home schooling. See 1 obscure news report of 1 group of kids (that often gets discovered was a made up story) doing some random dumb thing to get high, like burning duct tape, and mom's across America will demand that hardware stores high security to check IDs so their children don't get the dangerous items needed.

I completely made that up. No one burns duct tape to get high, please don't freak out.

But it all stems back to the hive mentality parents develop by clustering with only other parents. None parents become dangerous outsiders who don't get it. Now, you must all unite to keep your children safe from the fictitious threats your minds have conjured up. Because you think as a group, collectively, you get dumber.

Like Agent K in MIB said, "A person is smart, people are dumb, panicky and irrational."

Now that you know the warning signs and the horrific results, parents, get help. It's never too late. But the first step is admitting that you, in fact do have a problem and things aren't alright.

The Top 5 Most Iconic UFC Walkout Songs

2011-11-22T17:33:00.000-08:00

The walk out. That epic moment before all hell breaks loose in the Octagon. This is the 3-5 minutes when all eyes are on 1 fighter in all of his glory. This is when the crowd wells with the anticipation of seeing their favorite modern gladiator.

Most walk out song suck. A handful are amazing. Only a select few reach the status of iconic moment. These are the 5 most iconic walk out songs of the UFC today.

Honorable Mention:

Chris Lytle with Lights Out by POD

If you can get your nickname in a song and not be cheesy, you get mad props. Also, POD is pretty good at getting the crowd rowdy.

5. Forrest Griffin with I'm Shipping up to Boston by the Dropkick Murphys

What hurts this song's status is that Forrest has a strong connection with another song (Tubthumping by Chumbawamba) and there are UFC fighters far more Irish than him. None of that shakes the fact that when this song comes on, you think of Forrest Griffin.

4. Anderson Silva with Ain't No Sunshine by DMX

Yes, I've used this video before. Yes, This song is a remake and it's part of a movie soundtrack. And dispite those things competing for your mind's attention, when that first digitized guitar rift hits and DMX's gravelly voice comes out, you know The Spider is about to electric glide his way to the Octagon and probably another win. The clincher: the movie it's from is Exit Wounds in which Silva's "Sensei," Steven Segal co-stars.

3. Mirko Cro Cop with Wild Boys by Duran Durand

You know your music is a staple when Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg are perplexed when it ISN'T there.

Yeah, it's an awful song from the 80s, but when a Croatian Anti Terrorist police officer wants to hear, it just feels fight, no matter what decade we're in.

2. Wanderlei Silva with Enter the Rave by Darude and Rob Zombie

This song owes its popularity to 1 rave scene in Blade II. I can't stress how awful this song is, even by techno standards. That aside, there are few other songs ever made that can make ANYONE get rowdy like this. When you hear this at an MMA event, you know The Axe Murderer is about to stagger out from behind the curtain and give you a show. Adding to it's attention-grabbing ability is the overwhelming question of what's the deal with Brazilians and techno?

1. Matt Hughes with A Country Boy Can Survive

This song not only makes you instantly think Matt Hughes, it makes you think UFC. The only more iconic song for the organization is the TUF intro song. Boosting Hughes' case is his famous quote, "I don't want to be remembered as 'Matt Hughes the fighter,' I want to be remembered as 'Matt Hughes the farmer'." With this, it is almost guaranteed, Matt.

Fight Picks for UFC 139

2011-11-19T11:26:00.000-08:00

This is, perhaps, the best, most loaded card I have EVER seen. I'll actually watch the Facebook book fight because the line up is sick. GREAT JOB DANA!

Quick picks: Shamar Bailey wins, Bader gets cut after embarrassing loss #3, Lawlor looks like a clown.

Matchup: Stephan Bonnar vs Kyle Kingsbury

Storyline: Bonnar has been out injured for about a year, Kingsbury has been sitting a while too, but his striking has coming along way.

Breakdown: Kingsbu is the more complete striker and better athlete. Strength is a wash as both are big light heavyweights. Kingsbury looked a little small at weigh ins, but Bonnar looked enormous last week broadcasting at UFC on Fox, so the cut could affect him. The American Psycho has the clear edge in grappling, but football players do tend to have good scrambles and top control.

Final Thoughts: 2 big, strong guys who can brawl are gonna get locked in a cage. Highly lightly someone takes a nap and blood is almost guaranteed.

Pick: Bonnar by decision due to more submission attempts. Possible FON award.

Matchup: Martin Kampmann vs Rick Story

Storyline: Story is looking to rebound after the Brenneman disaster and Kampmann looks to keep moving up in the division.

Breakdown: Both can bang and ain't afraid to scrap. Story's wrestling is smothering, but Kampmann's submissions are nasty.

Final Thoughts: Everyone says this will be a close win for Kampmann and I was in the group until I saw Story gettin his thug on and Kampmann not having it at weight ins.

Pick: Kampmann by 2nd Rd TKO

Matchup: Urijah Faber vs Brian Bowles

Storyline: Winner probably gets next shot at Dominick Cruz's title.

Breakdown: 2 midget wrestlers who were WEC champs and want to smack Dominick Cruz. Can 2 guys look over a fight?

Final Thoughts: Faber is the more well-rounded and clearly the second best bantamweight in the world

Pick: Faber by decision.

Co Main Event

Matchup: Wanderlei Silva vs Cung Le

Storyline: Cung is fighting in his adopted hometown of San Jose and back in the UFC. Wandy has big SJ ties and is trying to avoid unemployment.

Breakdown: Wandy is still a guy who wants to brawl and have a great (but under used) submission game. Le has, arguably, the best kicks in MMA

Final Thoughts: Not gonna lie, I don't know that much about Le and have never seen him fight. I know he's at AKA, so he can def strike, but I haven't heard about a wrestling background, so he doesn't scare me. I may regret that statement.

Pick: Wandy by decision to save his job. Possible FON. I may regret this pick.

THE MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING

Matchup: Shogun Rua vs Dan Henderson

Storyline: Shogun after a rejuvenating win over Forrest Griffin is finally healthy, looks motivated and wants to get his belt back. Hendo is on a hot streak, back in the UFC and wants another shot at Anderson.

Breakdown: Hendo is a small light heavyweight because he's really a middleweight who hates cutting, except to fight Anderson. He's got Olympic wrestling, but hasn't used it much lately. His right hand can put almost any man alive on his back. Shogun could have the best Muay Thai in the UFC. Rua also has a great submission game and is hyper aggressive.

Final Thoughts: 5 rounds... HA. Get the smelling salts ready.

Pick: Shogun by 2Rd TKO.

Rapid Fire Friday 11/18

2011-11-18T14:33:00.000-08:00

1. Apple cares

As many of you know, I've been desperately trying to get a job, meaning I've been filling out applications like crazy. At times, I thought I was losing my mind.

I had to film this and call a friend to confirm this really happened to me and I wasn't having a breakdown.

Yes, with a Mac Book Pro, Adobe not only reads pdfs, its SINGS them! It even sings dashes!

Now where can I get an auto tune app????

2. Speaking of apps

As many of you may also know, I've been with out a phone for about 2 weeks (thus the lack of homemade pics on this column). Well, as of Tuesday, all that changed. I ended my 6+ year relationship with Blackberry and joined the revolution and got the new iPhone 4s(im).

Featuring my digital assistant/new whipping person, Siri.

I can't tell you how much time I spend asking trivial questions, berating and sexually harassing Siri. To her credit, she gives some awesome smartass answers.

3. Sponsor plug

Should out to Gladiator Fight Wear for sending me some hot shirts they designed for my teammate, StrikeForce Women's 145lb champ Cris Cyborg!

Front

Back

Thanks guys!!!

4. Back in it

My assault on literacy has taken a major step back since I left NYC. But I'm resilient, focused and want to get better, so it was only a matter of time before I righted the ship. Wednesday, I completed book # 18 to hit my goal for the year!

While I'm not perfect at having serious/extremely important talks with everyone (yet), but I'm definitely better after reading this book.

5. Fight Picks!

Tonight is StrikeForce Challengers 20. Sadly I have to miss it because my house doesn't have showtime. I'm really upset, because there will be some great fights and I'll get to see several fighters I really like in action.

I'm gonna say my boy Derek Brunson goes to 9-0 with a submission win in the 2nd. In the co-main event, we have Ronda Rousey vs Julia Budd. This fight has more hype than the main event. This is a prototype Judoka vs striker match up. Budd will not want to go to the ground and Rousey has won her 3 fights by a COMBINED 100 seconds, all by tapout. Rousey keep her undefeated record perfect with another 1st round win via arm bar.

Humility

2011-11-16T10:35:00.000-08:00

Humility- The act of being humble. I hate when dictionaries do that too.

Using a word in it's definition, NOT COOL!

Humble- 1. Having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance. 2. Lower (someone) in dignity or importance {typically to} decisively defeat another team or competitor, typically one that was previously thought to be superior.

I consider myself to be a pretty good person. I know I say a lot of controversial things and do so with a very authoritarian voice. I try to be fair and honest in my dealings with everyone I encounter and every subject I deal with. If I believe I am capable of doing something, I say it. If I don't, I admit that too.

I also think I'm a pretty smart and well-education person. I know a lot of stuff, I understand how many things work and if I don't, I go and learn. I like to think I have a pretty good grasp of the English language. However, there has been 1 word that has become an overarching concept that neither, I nor anyone I've ever spoken to could have give a clear explanation.

Being "humble."

Consulting my Mac Book's dictionary, I can see why. WE can't even give a coherent definition! From "humility" spawns 8 other root words that can be used as a noun, verb, adjective or adverb, each with multiple definitions (often conflicting) and half of the uses were actually being ironic/sarcastic!

Its like hipsters invented this language!!!

I'm getting more off topic than usual. The word "humble" itself has 4 variable meanings. Not factoring for irony, figuring out how a person could be using the word in a context can be murky at best.

And that's if you have people who are linguistically inclined. Most Americans butcher our own bootlegged version of English!

If someone says you should be more humble in your words, by definition, they mean you should falsely downplay your ability. What they mean in reality is to not talk so much smack about yourself.

If someone says a major personal tragedy humbled them, by definition, they mean they were either crushingly defeated by or lowered in dignity or importance. What they mean in actuality is what happened to them gave them a reality check to show things can go very very wrong for them.

The city of New Orleans got humbled (pwned). Thanks for getting that joke.

Here's where it gets confusing. When GOOD things happen to people, they say that humbled them. When someone gets a major award recognizing their greatness or a powerful person requests their help (showing that person deferring to your superior expertise), they will often say THAT is a humbling experience. By the book, they mean it ironically or humorously and they are speaking in false modesty.

In reality, they're trying to not do an obnoxious victory dance and scream at the top of the their lungs how awesome they are.

Confused yet? Welcome to my world.

But wait, there's more. Back to that humbling (bad) experience. I've personally found there are 2 categories of this type of humbling moment. It comes down to the victim of the circumstance. If the person who the tragedy befell was highly exalted, (I'm talking about on top of the world, nothing ever goes wrong for them types), the taken down a peg meaning applies.

Last summer, then UFC Heavyweight champ, Brock Lesnar, returned to competition after suffering a major illness and surgery due to diverticulitis. In his first fight back, he defended his title against Shane Carwin, who almost finished him in the first round.

In the post fight interview, Brock considered himself humbled by everything that had happened. He was the man. He had a physicality and athleticism that no one had every seen before in MMA at that size. He was one of the most decorated collegiate wrestlers to ever join the sport. He also could have lost his life due to this illness. To survive that, then come back, almost get KO'd and rally to beat a previously undefeated opponent is humbling in two different meanings of the word.

He got dropped down several pegs in life, then got an award (kept his title), but had to grind to do so.

HOWEVER, if the victim of the negative moment is not highly regarded or even in a low or humble position them self, the further humbling of an event actually has the opposite effect.

When you take a person who is in a bad spot, then pile on them, it's not humbling, it just sucks. You can't make them any lower (more humble) and it's unlikely that person was acting in an arrogant fashion because they're the low man anyway. However, in surviving setback after setback while remaining in such an unassuming position, this person actually displays an ability or resiliency that makes them quite remarkable.

And as such, any humility from them would be purely sarcastic because you can't downplay how bad things are when you're at the bottom and not acknowledging what you accomplished is absurd to the point of mockery.

If anything, just by enduring these constant hardships, these individuals develop an almost arrogance of invincibility. If even when things are as bad as possible and MORE bad things happen, this person can't be finished, what does that say about them OR whatever is happening to them?

The Chinese warrior-philosopher Lao Tzu issued a warning to be be wary of the "snake with long memory." He was speaking of the lowly and down-trodden who are abused and eventually rise to power to exact their ultimate revenge.

Old, bald Chinese dudes with long beards who speak in metaphors know EVERYTHING!

I've been on the receiving end of a whole lot of "humbling" beatdowns from life, yet I'm still here and still pushing forward. While I am not foolish enough to tempt fate and declare that "I have survived the worst," "am ready for anything it can throw at me" or that "nothing can stop me," the fact remains that I have survived a lot.

I do believe I will continue to persevere. I also believe that one day I will not be in this lowly position. And when that day comes, my kitchen will be dishing out a whole lot of humble pie a la Sim.

Come hungry.

How Far Would YOU Go?

2011-11-15T17:11:00.000-08:00

Quick show of hands: Who as EVER said they would rather die than do some task they really really really really really didn't want to do?

"I'll take that offer."

Typically, it just means you are averse to something, but you're not serious.

If I am anything, I and a man of my word and mean what I say.

A long, long time ago, and I several witnesses, I said I would rather die than go "home." In fact, I specifically said I'd kill myself in various fashions ranging from diving in front of traffic, falling on sharp objects and be eaten alive by sharks.

Bring it on, Jaws!

Every day for me is a battle. I am at war with life itself. There is a certain path I want my life to take. There are basic standards of quality of life that I believe every human has the conditional right to. Among those standards are Freedom, Dignity and Self Actuation of Personal Fulfilment.

Meaning: I have the right to decide how I will live my life, I don't have to take any crap for it and I get to go out and work to make my dreams come true.

The condition is, if I have the personal power and control of myself make it happen.

Life ain't easy. Unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, a luck horseshoe up your ass and genetic markers to give you a leg up, you gotta grind. So there is no need to add road blocks to your journey.

There is a place that is constructed of nothing but my own personal road blocks to the life I want to lead and I refuse to ever return there.

To do so would be for me to willingly subject myself to torture, insults and worst of all, to give up on everything I have ever wanted for myself in life.

Death would be preferable.

There's another thing I promised myself I would never again do. In August when I left my old gym before I moved to San Diego, I told myself I would never step into another gym unless I was getting a workout in myself.

Today, I broke my word to myself and I almost broke down in tears. I applied to work for 2 gyms because I am growing desperate to find a job and the only place I am qualified to work "on paper" are health clubs.

Now, I'm not one for metal gymnastics. I'm even lower on hypocracy. However, as we can see, there is a conflict here.

Sport or how most people justify their own BS?

Since me committing ritualistic and honorable samurai suicide by drawing my short sword and plunging it in my chest isn't an option, (I don't have the sword, hilt or cool Japanese friends to perform the tea ceremony) I had to crawl back to the hell I thought I has escaped.

"I have shamed my honor!!!"

So this brings me to the great question: How far would you go to have the life you want? Would you do things you hated? Would you suffer? Would you break your own promises to yourself? Would you stare are the abyss until one of you blinks? Would you tear yourself and everyone around you pieces?

Would you seize the tiny glimmer of opportunity the instant you saw it and hold on for dear life?

I would.

Timeline

2011-11-14T14:03:00.000-08:00

The revolutionary of our day, the deceased Steve Jobs, said in his famous commencement speech at Stanford a few years ago that in life, "you can't connect the dots going forward, you can only do so in reverse."

Changed the game more in the 21st century than most could do in 21 lifetimes.

Earlier this year, we had another end of the word scare that obviously was a false alarm. Someone whose name I don't have had a great quote for this phenomena. Everyone always thinks some great event will happen in their lifetime and they're wrong and just arrogant.

Combining the two ideas and looking at the life I've seen for 27+ years, I think I may just have it. If you are looking at a moment, an event as it happens and you deem it "historic," if it's not some sort of natural disaster or great tragedy, you're wrong.

Obvious historic event.

We are so accelerated in everything we do and so wrapped up in the need for significance of what it's supposed to mean that we leap to proclaim how impactful everything that we see is or should be.

There's a not so old saying, "Everything you are supposed to like sucks." Everything we are supposed to think is a big deal will probably only be a big let down.

And, YES, I, as a Black man, am including the Obama Election and Presidency.

What about him being a minority, specifically African American, has made his presidency any different from anyone else? Just because he isn't a White man, he's the first, fine, but what difference has it really made? A white president could have captured and executed Osama bin Laden. No events have or not happened to/in America because he's Black.

Side not over.

All the "little things" we think of as mundane and ordinary tend to be where the major life-altering moments come from.

It takes time, usually years or even decades, to fully see exactly what those moments meant, to "connect the dots" so to speak.

Every moment of our lives is important, we just can't see how or why right now. That's why we have to actually pay attention, to be present in the now because it will have an impact.

Maybe not today, maybe not next year, but it will be a key dot that leads to something big.

Rapid Fire Friday 11/11

2011-11-11T17:36:00.000-08:00

1. Who gives a F*CK?!

Let me start off by nuking 1 giant WTF moment. Today is 11/11/11 and people are running around like idiots.

Yes, it looks cool, but besides it being Veterans' Day, there is NOTHING special about today.

So, in short, all of you need to collectively shut the hell up!

2. Honoring

Now, today IS a special day because it's Veterans' Day. I want to take a special moment to thank all of of the active, off-duty, reserve and retired servicemen and women home and aboard.

You all do great things for us and the entire world. We appreciate your hard work and sacrifices.

Come home safe.

3. Distribution FAIL

For the past 2 weeks, my phone's screen has been shattered. Basically, all I can do is make and receive calls. So if I haven't texted you back, I'm not ignoring you, I can't even see them.

The good news is, I'm due for an upgrade. I've decided on the iPhone 4S because this is by far and without question the best phone Sprint-Nextel has EVER gotten.

The problem is, NO ONE HAS IT. 2 Sprint stores, the company website and even the Apple site have yielded 1 white 32G model.

1. That's WAY out of the range I'm willing to pay for a phone.
2. What the hell and I gonna do with a 32G phone?
3. Even when I get the full protecting case I want, a gleaming white phone would be hideous!
4. The stores aren't saying when they'll get a new shipment in San Diego and the websites all say 2 weeks before it even ships. Factor in the 3 business days to get to me, then going in to activate the thing, I'm looking at another 3 weeks MINIMUM before I have full usage of a smart phone.

CRAP!

4. UFC on FOX

Tomorrow is the historic first time the UFC will be on Network tv. They're leading off the Fox deal with, airing for free, the heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos.

Not gonna lie, I'm not really interested in most of this card. The title fight is HUGE. The co-main event is always awesome, a light weight tilt between Ben "Smooth" Henderson and Clay "The Carpenter" Guida. Outside of that, there's a few fights that I am marginally interested in.

I'll prob watch several of the fights online and def the title fight. So here's my picks:

Cain to win by 3rd round TKO, close at first, but Cain's pace gets to JDS, then he rocks him standing, finishes off with great takedowns and GnP.
Henderson by decision in a barn burner.
Harvison, Swanson and Kid Yamamoto come up big.
"Bruce Leeroy" gets his walking papers on Monday, but acts like a tool in/after defeat.

5. Penn State

As this and this blog post and my Youtube page have shown, my alma mater, Penn State has been embroiled in a tragic and horrific scandal centering around former and current members of the athletic department, university police and top administration.

I, first and foremost, pray for the victims and give them my deepest sympathy.

This is has been a series of events no one could have ever imagined, everything from the alleged disgusting acts of Jerry Sandusky, to the full cover up for all these years, to the cowardice and/or ineptitude of members of the coaching staff, officials president and board of trustees.

I can only hope the victims get the care they need, justice is served, the guilty are punished to the fullest extent possible, those who are having their names, reputations and legacies tainted are cleared and the entire Penn State family can stay together, heal and show everyone what it truly means to be a Nittany Lion.

The Switch

2011-11-10T18:36:00.000-08:00

You're a fake.

You're a liar.

This isn't the REAL you.

Take a look in the mirror when you get up tomorrow. Make sure it's in your bathroom so your alone. This is probably the only time you or anyone is going to see you. Obviously people are going to see you, unless you have a cloaking device or magic ring.

No, I mean this is the only time anyone, yourself included, will see you, all you and nothing but YOU.

No BS, no fronts, not your representative, not 1 side of you, the realest you that you can be.

The second you get around someone else, no matter how long they've known you or how close you are, it's only a version of you, a shade of you. The change happens instantaneously. You change yourself to fit the situation, to reconcile yourself with the expectations of those around you.

You "flip the switch."

It can be subtle or it can be dramatic, but its a different you.

My high school defensive line coach, Mark Benedetto, would tell us to flip the switch all the time. From class to practice, from practice to game day, from during the play to after the whistle.

That was a big shift. He wanted us to go from being the upstanding gentlemen and scholars of a top preparatory and Catholic high school, to savage attackers. From refined training perfection-seekers, to programed brutality specialists. From merciless killers to calm, cool and collected soldiers awaiting their next assignment.

When I was a personal trainer in NYC, I'd have to switch every hour. I was still training, but one hour I had to be lighter and more joking, the next more serious, the one after that, scientific and explaining the exact methodology of everything we did and after that, minimal talking, even instructions.

Some people wanted me hyped and rowdy like I was back in my college weightroom, yelling, cursing and doing flying back bumps after every set. Others needed be to be calm and quiet like I was tending to timid lambs.

I am both. I am neither.

When I'm with my friend watching college football and UFC fights at a bar, I'm loud, joking, sometimes insulting and probably vulgar. I leave our table and walk to the bar and start talking to an attractive woman, I'm toned down, I'm confident, polite and intelligent. My parents are at the same bar watching the same game, and I'm poignant in my analysis, sharp, deswaggered and not cursing.

3 very different mes in the same afternoon.

So which is the real me?

We have to switch. We are complex, multi-faceted people living in an intertwined world. "Right" and "wrong" blur and become more like "right now" or "wrong with them."

The great difficulty is finding one's true self. We have to be different to be with others just to coexist and fit in. It can be easy to lose who we are while trying to find how and where we belong in this wide weird world we live in.

I guess this is the upside to spending a lot of time alone, you really get to figure yourself out. And you better. Otherwise you be just another person drifting through life chameleoning from person to person, group to group never really knowing who are exactly what you are.

The Price of a Name

2011-11-09T14:48:00.000-08:00

The most prestigious program in the country lays in ruin.

At least 8 young lives have been turned into rubble.

3 arrests have been made.

4 top administrators and figureheads has stepped down.

An entire coaching staff will be cleaned out.

And 8-1 start to a potential conference championship season is all but nullified.

All because of a name and the reputation associated with it.

Yesterday, I spoke of the true meaning of The Penn State Way. The Honor, Integrity, Commitment and Pride we all share as members of that Family. Today, it seems, those very noble qualities that bond us are the very cause of out undoing.

What former coach Jerry Sandusky did is despicable and unforgivable, but that is not what brought this scourge upon is.

The callous words from soon to be former university President, Graham Spanier and mandated silence to the the media now by all officials involved didn't do it either.

The passing along of an incident, regardless of amount of information, up the chain of command and not to legal authorities isn't even what tainted our home.

The very arrogance and attitude that we do things the right way, without hesitation, always did.

Head football coach of 46 years, Joe Paterno's, "Grand Experiment" and his entire tenure backed everyone into a corner they could never escape. Penn State prides itself on it's moral high ground. One of the school's most famous statistics is that only it and Standford are the only major programs to never have an NCAA investigation.

We're clean. Too clean. In an era where college sports, especially football, has become synonymous with bending the rules, scandals and turning the game into big business, even at the expense of the student-athletes involved and their education, Penn State was above all that.

The problem is, when you build your reputation as being the good guys, you never get an err.

In Spiderman, there is a great quote, "Either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain."

In an instant, Penn State and Joe Paterno are living that reality. The irony is that, many suspect the coach's lack of action was to preserve his spotless legacy.

No matter what, as soon as Sandusky's first incident was reported, it was all over. That sort of thing doesn't happen. Not here. There were only 3 possible courses of action that could have occurred in 1998:

1. All facts be made known, Penn State's legacy is ruined, public outrage ensures, 5-10 years later, at best, normalcy is restored.
2. The university covers everything up and makes Sandusky disappear and hopes no one ever finds his remains, when they do, there is a child abuse, murder and cover up to address,
Penn State's legacy is ruined, public outrage ensures, 5-10 years later, at best, normalcy is restored.
3. Sandusky is reprimanded, severely, all knowledge is hidden near a former atomic weapons testing facility, Sandusky never does anything like this EVER again and hopefully no one ever finds out, they eventually do, Penn State's legacy is ruined, public outrage ensures, 5-10 years later, at best, normalcy is restored.

From a moralistic perspective, Option 1 is the clearly correct answer. However, morality is easy when the decision isn't yours. This institution had too much to lose to ever let this information see the light of day and they did what they had to do to protect the image it had created.

In the bigger picture, no answer was truly, "the right answer." There would be serious repercussions for what happened no matter who spoke up or when they did it. Mass firings/resignations would occur and the spotless reputation of a proud community would be forever ruined.

I, without condemning or condoning, understand.

As a proud member of the Penn State family, I am sad. Sad for the victims and their families. Sad for the suffering that has and will continue to be. Sad for the good people who were caught in this web of chaos who are now being vilified before all the information has been made known. Sad for the players on both teams who just want to go about their Novembers, seasons and get a break with their families at Thanksgiving. And lastly, sad for all who bleed Blue and White and the loss of our collective innocence.

We now now, we are just as fallible as everyone else.

WE are Penn State

2011-11-08T12:26:00.000-08:00

"We are!"

"Penn State!"

It's the most famous call and response and motto in college sports.

Its origins can be traced to decades ago when the Penn State football team attended the Cotton Bowl in 1948. The hotels in Dallas, Tx would not allow the team's black players to stay. One of the team members said in response to the request, "We are Penn State and we stand together."

Its fitting that the motto and a great deal of the entire school's attitude and culture can be traced to the the football program in the wake of a scandal also stemming from within the Lasch Football Building.

I'm not here to point fingers or defend anyone. I already did that here.

What I am here to do is discuss the aftermath and fallout.

One man, and I use the word extremely loosely, allegedly, did an unforgivable act. A chain of other men (and our laxity of the word is still implied) witnessed, heard, passed out information and rendered decisions without notifying every authority possible.

These are the darkest of days imaginable for a place called, "Happy Valley." Penn Staters the world over are shocked and disgusted and we should be.

Our University, our Program, our Family, our Home is under attack. These individuals will face their day before the eyes of the law and they are already facing it in the court of morality. On another front, loyal members of the Penn State family are readying themselves to turn their back on a place that has given them far more than an education.

At Penn State, Integrity matters. At Penn State, doing things the Right way matters. Integrity means we do not turn against those for who we are loyal. The Right way is not forsaking everything we believe in because a handful betrayed the ideals we all hold so close to our hearts.

We speak of "Success with Honor." Well Lions, NOW is the time when we, as a community, find out how deep our beliefs run.

Penn State has done more for me than I can ever vocalize. And I will, with my last breath if necessary, stand up for the Values in which I believe.

I believe in Penn State.

What happened in that locker room, what is happening in the ivory towers and in the wavering of the non faithful is not Penn State.

The shock and outrage at these most egregious acts and the reaching out to begin the healing process IS Penn State.

The truth will be made known and both the legally and morally guilty will be punished. What is most important is that we do not lose our faith and that we rally together for the greater good, supporting the victims and their families.

While we are not facing racism, we are encountering the evils of a predator, cowards and dissenters. Now, more than ever, our motto and our Ideals must hold true.

We are Penn State and we stand together.

Rapid Fire Friday 11/4

2011-11-04T21:14:00.001-07:00

1. Good Luck!!!

Let me start off by wishing Althea White, my dear friend, surrogate big sister and 1000 other good things the best of luck in the ING NYC Marathon this Sunday!

While I think marathons are kinda completely and utterly idiotic, she loves running them and who am I to crap on her sunshine.

2. Oh no, MegaTron!

So I figured out why my car has caused me so much trouble since I got it. It turns out, it's a Deceptacon!

Look at the eerie design I discovered on the hood one night!

My car is an evil robot from space and kind of an a-hole!

3. Pic of the year!

This week has been kinda rough for me. While I was researching pics for a different blog, I stumbled upon a picture so awesome, I had to chuckle for like 10 minutes!

Geordi LaForge, b*tches!

4. Ay oh! Technology!

Last night, I discovered the Face Time feature on my Mac Book Pro! You HAVE to have wifi going tight whether you use a Mac or an iPhone, but it's still pretty sweet.

The future is NOW!

5. UFC 138

At some point tomorrow, UFC 138 is going on in Birmingham, England. Typical of a UK show, the card sucks. Seriously, even with all the injuries and bs of UFC 137, it was still a really good card. UFC 138 had 1 fight dropped due to a late injury which made a weak line up tragic. I'm not even gonna bother trying to watch it. Note, I scrambled to see a StrikeForce and UFC on VS card because I didn't have those net works!

So let me give some quick fight picks:

Let me send some love to my Arena MMA teammate Chris "C-Murder" Cope, Thiago Alves by decision and in the 1st ever 5-round non title main event, I have Mark Munoz by TKO in the 3rd over the living zombie, Chris Leben.

Payback's a B*TCH

2011-11-02T21:40:00.000-07:00

They say no man is an island. They say no one ever makes it alone.

I'm not sure if I should be happy because things will get better or sad that this is making it.

I have met every challenge of my life head on and I've beaten every obstacle to the ground. I've made it this far, not because I've had help, but in spite of people who have been more of a hindrance than they have been help.

What if every walk WASN'T a gauntlet?

I can only wonder: How far would I go without the extra pitfalls? How good would I be with just the normal problems?

Or, the really scary question: How far could I go I actually had help?

We got back up!

Things have been rough. Hell, things are STILL rough.

I've faced some dark days. Days that made me want to just pack it in. Right now, I'm facing the biggest challenge of my life, at the most important time of my life, with everything on the line. We talk about "must win" situations, well this is a must win situation in life.

I have to succeed and I have everything, especially time, working against me right now.

Good thing I'm clutch.

May not be pretty, but it works and it works when I need it most.

Now, the thing is, most people, when they finally get on the other side, they've grown some new perspective and become kinder, nicer people. All that punishment and battering weathers them and erodes them.

That ain't me.

No, it only pisses me off and motivates me MORE. See, I not only want to succeed to get out of the pit, but now I want to retaliate just to show you're best couldn't stop me and you made a HUGE mistake by not finishing me when you had the chance.

I WAR.

I war against my doubters. I war against my critics. I war against my opponents. I war against my own fears. I war against Life itself. I war with my last breath then I war from beyond the grave. My decomposing atoms will war on. If ghosts are real, then Ghost Sim will war until the mission is accomplished.

So bask in this moment right now, world. Because once I get past this rough patch, all the extra road blocks are gone. Then its just you and me 1 on 1. And that is a VERY bad match up for you.

And to my future opponents, before you go to bed every night and pray to whatever you believe in, pray that my struggles continue as long as possible. Because the second this BS has been dealt with and I can focus on my 1 objective, I will END you ALL.

I will hunt you down and eliminate you 1 by 1 without mercy.

Status check: October

2011-10-31T20:54:00.000-07:00

Here's how my goals are standing:

Books Read: 17. Goal: 18. Still getting around the that book. Need a new strategy to finish strong.

Workouts Logged: 186. Goal: 360. I'm back in the gym and in the game! 26 workouts, good rebound. Once I find a job and get some $ coming in, I can join a gym and get back in the weightroom.

Sanctioned MMA Fight: Not looking good for this year, but looks great in the near future. This would be 1 of the rare times that a step back actually leads to a big jump forward.

Get back to Coaching: I sent in 2 apps for positions as a sports instructor for the YMCA. Hope that goes well.

7 days off work: Mission accomplished! Now, to make sure I always make downtime in my life and career moving forward is the next objective.

Act like I'm in my 20s: Now that the move and life shuffling is leveling off, time to look at some consistency. I know my strengths and I know my weaknesses. I need to be better at being outgoing, so I can build a crew and live life on a bigger scale.

Yes Man Rules: I feel like I'm not deciding to do this, I'm just living it. Took 1o months, but it's ingrained. Mission Accomplished! Now to KEEP living it.

Fight Picks for UFC 137

2011-10-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

Between injuries and stupidity, this is one of the most affected cards of the year. Mad props on the UFC still putting a quality card out (at least on paper). Great prefight built up and the weigh ins were awesome! My 1 question is why the hell is Cowboy-Siver on the Spike card, but Hioki-Roop or Jorgensen-Curran on the main card?

Quick hits: Cowboy in spectacular finish (and not sent to prelims again-until next loss, gonna be a while), Brandon Vera by decision to stay employed a lil longer and Palaszewski with upset win over the overweight Tyson Griffin.

And Ramsey still sucks.

Match up: Hatsu Hioki vs George Roop

Storyline: Hioki in his Octagon debut vs a solid UFC vet in Roop. Hioki was a world beater in Japan, so I can only assume he's got more hype than reality.

Breakdown: Not gonna lie, I don't know much about these guys as they are featherweights and I normally don't care. I do know Roop has solid submissions and Hioki has great hand speed and reach.

Final Thoughts: Really pissed this is on the main card and not Cowboy-Siver!

Pick: Roop by lop-sided decision

Match up: Scott Jorgensen vs Jeff Curran

Storyline: Two bad ass, high octane bantam weights are gonna scrap (thanks to Penn and Diaz, I'll prob say that a lot today.)

Breakdown: Jorgensen is a killer and Curran has been an old school mainstay for the lighter weight divisions for years, but he's gettin up in age (34) and has hand a long career (13 years and count). You gotta wonder how much tread is left on the tires.

Final Thoughts: Jorgensen is 1 scary lookin dude. Despite the colored mohawk, he has this intense stare, tatted out and I think several 3rd degree burns, which only makes hi look scarier with the tats!

Pick: Jorgensen wins easy due to superior athleticism and youth.

Match up: Mirco "Cro Cop" vs Roy "Big Country" Nelson

Storyline: Cro Cop's last fight on his contract, has lost his last 2 and been KO'd a lot lately and never really lived up to his Pride and legendary status. Big Country has been a fat dude with a lot of a talent, an underachiever since winning TUF 10, been called out of shape, lost his last 2 fights and looked awful in his last fight vs Frank Mir (ut he did have walking pneumonia). 1 or both of these guys may not be employed by the UFC on Monday.

Breakdown: Cro Cop at 37 is still in great shape and dangerous. Right now, he's fighting for his legacy. He may retire after this fight either way. He's embarrassed in himself for not succeeding more in the UFC and calls a lost to Nelson a "disaster" and "inexcusable." Nelson took Dana White's criticism to heart and has dropped a ton of weight. How much? We don't know. He showed up in a fat suit to the weight in, but was 252, down from his normal 263. We'll find out what his real size it tonight in the cage.

Final Thoughts: Cro Cop is motivated, but so is Nelson. Big Country has KO power on par with the elite heavyweights and Cro Cop is is susceptible to KOs. Roy should win, but if losing all that bulk hasn't hurt his power, a KO is likely.

Pick: Nelson keeps his job another day, Cro Cop retires with dignity after a really good fight.

Co Main event

Match up: Cheick Kongo vs Matt Mitrione

Storyline: Kongo wants to prove he really was ok after the Pat Barry fight and move into the Top 10 of the HW division. Meathead wants to show he's not all hype and ready to make a move up in competition and take a step forward to contender status. Oh and get some payback for Kongo stilling his KO bonus by beating up his homie.

Breakdown: 2 big, strong, athletic heavyweights are gonna scrap (see?!) Mitrione has joined up with legendary nutritionist Mike Dolce of The Dolce Diet and he's leaner and more in shape than ever. These guys like to stand and bang, but Kongo has become a fan of roughing up guys against the fence then taking them down and bring brutal ground and pound. We've never really seen Mitrione on the ground, but I'd assume his GnP is pretty good too.

Final Thoughts: Someone.Is.Going.To.Sleep.

Pick: Really tough call. Mitrione picks up where Pat Barry left off (before the most miraculous comeback in MMA history), gets his 6th win and collects a nice KO bonus, probably in the 2nd round, maybe 1st.

Than Main event of the EVENING!

Match up: BJ Penn vs Nick Diaz

Storyline: 1st it was Diaz-GSP and Penn-Condit, then Diaz went Diaz and skipped pressers. Condit got promoted to headliners, Diaz (strangely) got sent to Penn. Then GSP got hurt, so that fight got pulled and here we are. These 2 are friends or whatever the Diaz equivalent is and have trained together. Despite that level of mutual respect, Diaz STILL went Diaz and tried to fight BJ at the weigh in. Apparent Nick Diaz's blood type is bad.

Breakdown: Both have sick boxing and bjj. Two tough dudes who love to scrap (just gettin warmed up!). Diaz has sick cardio and a motivated BJ Penn is a gamer. Also, both dudes are nuts.

Final Thoughts: The Prodigy clearly is ready to fight, but Diaz is legit. I'd love to see BJ win just to shut up all the idiot Diaz fans. Honestly, I don't think his fans even like him as a fighter! They're all the chicks who think he's hot/like bad boys (see idiots) and thugged out white dudes (see posers). Diaz's camp ran some smack this week to make it a 5 rounder, but it's still 3, so that will make a difference.

Pick: Another tough call. I want Penn to win this. I like him, I don't hate his fans and I think he's a better fighter. I think Diaz wins by close decision because he's bigger, longer, wilder and more insane.

Either way, the post fight interview with Diaz will be Sonnen-esque!

Rapid Fire Friday 10/28!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-10-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

1. Trending

I just saw the next pose-based trend and I gotta say, I LOVE IT.

#Tebowing CRUSHES #plankin! See here for the official explanation and best ofs.

MMA Tebowing

2. Size matters

Early this week, I had "a spirited discussion" about the importance of physicality in MMA. I'm by no means saying that being bigger and stronger than one's opponent is all that matters. What I am saying is ignoring (huge) advantages there is a glaring mistake. Furthermore, the other party tried to make the argument (I think) that superior skill = win.

On the right path, but if the other person is so much bigger and stronger, you have to hope they do something REALLY stupid if you think you'll win. More often than not, the real determining factor is total athleticism.

Case in point: me. When I first started training, I was at a HUGE skill deficit. Everyone else had better striking, much better jiu jitsu and infinitely better wrestling. So how did I not get destroyed on a daily basis? Most times, I was bigger. I either took up more space or just weighted more. Also, I had a FREAKISH strength edge. Once I was matched up with guy my height and weight, the size edge went away, but I had a good strength advantage. In fact, my past life as a football player meant few people would be stronger than me because we were conditioned to love the weightroom. All that S&C when combined with years of drills, practices and games meant I was also a better athlete.

Sure, I'm still often at a skill disadvantage, but few people I've faced can match my athletic ability, strength and size.

That's why on the new Deadliest Warrior simulation, they have an X factor for physicality. It makes a HUGE difference.

Let me give another advantage: "Big Country" Roy Nelson.

He won TUF 10 and has a fight tomorrow at UFC 137 vs Mirco "Cro Cop." Nelson has been heavily criticised for his physique. The former pro boxer has great punching power, a good chin, black belt jiu jitsu, great top control and a pretty good gas tank. However, he has a bot belly, so most people sleep on his athleticism and conditioning.

Well, he's dropped a ton of weight for this fight. We'll see how much at the weight ins this afternoon.

I know Forrest Griffin in heavyweight sized, but seriously, this is creepy!

If Big Country struggles in his fight, I'm blaming the massive weight loss. Cro Cop has been KO'd in his last 2 fights and Nelson is a KO threat vs anyone. If his power has suffered, its because his belly is gone.

There's a reason heavyweight lifters ALL have giant guts. It help with force production. Let's just hope Roy Nelson doesn't lose his best asset.

3. D*ck move?

So I'm killing time waiting for my new tired to get installed (yeah, I know, another car issue) and I see this in the parking lot.

Waaaaaay off in the corner in a mostly empty lot is the jack up pick up double parked. This person clearly went out of the way to avoid being near anyone, JUST SO THEY COULD DOUBLE PARK.

Cheers for being considerate of others, but Jeers for going to such great length for the express purpose of being a tool.

4. BS of the Month

I saw this article online and I gotta say, this is special edition obnoxious.

I'm really happy and excited that women will get to box in the 2012 Olympics. I train striking with Strikeforce Women's 145lb Champ Cris Cyborg and she's a great athlete who hit really hard. So I can only imagine women who only train in throwing punches hit even harder.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for these women. Honestly, when I'm in the gym, I don't see Cris as a different gender, I see her as a fighter who can and will do her best to punch my face in. For these federate a-holes to try to mandate these athletes to wear skirts "to distinguish them from the men" is ridiculous and insulting. 1 You can easily tell who is and is not a male boxer. 2 The point is to NOT differentiate between the 2 genders. This is about equality.

The reporter makes a great point about the uniforms. I every other sport, the uniform is part of the sports tradition. Tennis and field hockey have always had skirts. Golf is always pants. Soccer and volleyball are always shorts. In fight sports, the uniform is a tradition. Old school martial arts have different gis, Muay Thai has its shorts, wrestling has singlets and fencing has the kit (didn't know the name before this article!) The kit is about as unisex and androgynous as humanly possible and no one gets the men and women mixed up!

Honestly, boxing and MMA are the other fight sports that allow the athlete to have real freedom in choosing their fight wear. Pro boxers come out in the some elaborate and sometimes weird trunks. I've seen guys rock what looks like strips of fabric designed to look like Roman battle attire and compression shorts underneath.

In short, women are finally getting a big push here, AIBA, don't f*ck this up for everyone.

5. Regulate

These are the San Diego municipal (see city LAW) rules for the field where my coed football team plays. Mind you, this is not just a regular field. This is a sports field that is part of Crown Heights Elementary school.

No Golf? Was there a time when rogue golfers were just running amok here? Are they fearful of rival gangs of plaid and argyle upper middle classers beefing so close to children? Is this just a way to keep Tiger Woods away from the hot teachers?

We may never know.

Happy Halloween everyone!

4 Reasons Why Peyton Manning is the Most Valuable Player to His Team (Maybe Ever)

2011-10-26T20:51:00.000-07:00

There's no sugar-coating this, The Indianapolis Colts suck. Case closed.

The 62-7 demolition courtesy of the New Orleans Saints Sunday night dropped them to a woeful 0-7 and may have made them a front runner in the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes.

Suck for Luck!

Realistically, the Colts as a team and coaching the staff are basically the same now as they were in 2010 when they went 10-6, won the tough AFC South division and lost to the NY Jets in the 1st round of the playoffs on a last second field goal.

In fact, the 2010 Colts were one of the most beat up teams in the NFL. Joseph Addai, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, Dallas Clark, Bob Sanders, Mike Hart, Anthony Gonzalez, Melvin Bullitt, Clint Session, Gary Brackett and other key players all missed time.

So what's the difference maker? Peyton Manning.

#18 is the heart and soul of that team. As he goes, they go. Manning is likely to miss this entire season due to offseason neck surgeries and his absence is being made more apparent with every defeat.

If that isn't value to a team, I don't know what is. No player in the NFL means more to his team than Manning. He could possibly be the most valuable player to his team in NFL history. Here's 4 reasons why:

1. The offense was built around him.

Peyton Manning is the best QB in the game today (well, last year). He may be the best QB to ever play. His mind is like a super computer. He's big (240lbs), tall (6'5") and has a "laser-rocket arm." He can make every throw and has just enough mobility to stay out of trouble.

As such, the entire offense was built around what he does best. The Colts have a stable of receivers that would make anyone jealous. The tight ends are even built to catch passes. The running game is there solely to milk the clock when they have game locked up. The offensive line is among the NFL's best at pass protecting.

2. The offense was built BY him.

Manning is often called a coach on the field. At this point, I don't even know why the Colts pay an offensive coordinator or QB coach. All those guys do is ask Peyton what play he wants to the run and take notes on how to explain what Peyton just did to the rookies. Manning basically designed the Colts' scheme. He leads practices and offseason workouts. He calls the plays himself (both at the line and in the huddle the few times they even use one).

What do you think, defensive masterminds Tony Dungy and Jim Caldwell came up with this?

3. The DEFENSE was built for him.

The Colts are a passing team. They score a lot of points and do so very quickly. That means there's 11 other guys on the Colts who have to take the field. They're called the defense. Yes, I know, I thought defensive players were either extinct or legislated out of the NFL, but they're still around trying to stop offenses from putting up arcade numbers every week.

The Colts defense was designed to compliment their offense. When you pass, you score and do so quickly. Therefore, you put up a lot of points in a game. Running the ball typically takes more time to get down the field than passing. Other teams are forced to pass to match you pace or get blown out. The Colt's D is designed to shut down the pass. Their defensive line is lighter and faster to passrush better. The D Line will even use the "wide 9" alignment to give them better passrushing lanes to get to opposing QBs. The linebackers are smaller and quicker to blitz and cover better. The MLB is very undersized by most NFL standards because the "Tampa 2" defense is an anti pass scheme in which the middle linebacker zone drops down the middle of the field. Even the secondary is built to stop the pass. The safeties are taller and faster to cover deep (being team will have to throw long passes to keep pace) and the corner backs are smaller and stouter to lock up underneath coverage better.

Check the stats: DEs Dwight Freeney and Kevin Mathis are Pro Bowlers for piling up sacks, but the DTs and LBs are often left off because they don't get many total tackles or tackles for loss. Why don't they get their numbers? They're too small to be run-stoppers.

4. Who else has tanked when the QB went down?

Let's look at the New England Patriots. Tom Brady just walked into Charlie Weis' system and tweaked it over time. Also, he had Bill Bellichick's defensive scheme already in place. Oh and he missed the whole 2008 season and Matt Cassell still took them to the playoffs.

The Eagles dumped Donovan McNabb, lost Kevin Kolb in Week 1 and then back up Michael Vick took them to the playoff in 2010.

The Green Bay Packers finally dealt Brett Favre in 2008 and that team was OK. Mind you, they were a middle of the road team with him and were a few parts away from major playoff runs 2 years later and a Super Bowl win in 2010.

Speaking of Favre, the Minnesota Viking set the world on fire with him in 2009, but his injuries kept him out of big chunks of 2010. It must also be noted that the 09 team greatly overachieved, the 2010 squad lacked WRs Percy Harvin (migraines) and Sidney Rice (hip surgery), the offensive line was terrible and both the Bears and Packers were loaded.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were without QB Ben Roethlisberger for the first 4 games in 2010 and went 3-1. Then again, Big Ben is tied with Tom Brady for the most over-valued member of a team in NFL history award.

Yes, the 2010 Dallas Cowboys lost Tony Romo for over half the season, but no one thought they were making the playoffs anyone. Well, besides delusional Cowboys fans and Jerry Jones...

The REAL Reason I Fight

2011-10-23T15:11:00.000-07:00

MMA is a very complex, difficult and dangerous endeavour. Not by sports standards, but human activity standards. It's 2 men (or women) in an organized fist fight for the entertainment of spectators, pride, glory and potentially (lots of) money and championships.

The thrill of victory.

Take a look at any retired boxer, even if you win, your body and your life will pay a price. Hell, this year, the UFC had several events disrupted because of injuries to fighters IN PRACTICE.

Even Champions fall in the end.

When you add up the risks and rewards and apply even just a little rational thought, no one in his or her right mind would willing participate in any of these sports.

Take the danger of street fighting, add the pressure of it being your livelihood, put millions of dollars on the line and potentially thousands of people watching your every move, so the stakes are high and people will do ANYTHING to win. THAT is every time you step in the ring or cage.

Oh and the almost certainty that when you're done with the game or the game is done with you, you're body, mind and life as a whole will be at least somewhat battered.

Oh yeah and you can get beat up in public. Did I mention that already?

I've said numerous time that human beings are racing to our own extinction. We poison our habitat. Kill off everything we need to survive. We do lazy things intentionally that hurt us. We invented a bunch of moronic "extreme" activities that don't contribute of life or society and claim lives everyday.

Then there's the stuff DESIGNED to kill us.

We've dedicated millennia to the art of war. Killing devices and fighting systems of increasing complexity and efficiency keep being developed and upgraded since the 1st time we stood on two legs and we're only getting worse.

Not even our crowning achievement in ending human life...

So besides the fact that we're a species that lives or conflict with itself and is programmed for geno-suicide, why do we fight?

Well, I don't know.

Well, let me clarify. I don't know why anyone else does it.

I've been an athlete my whole life. I've done so at a pretty high level. I've heard a billion answers: Money, to prove something, fame, women, either that or jail, titles, don't want to get a real job, status, to test themselves, camaraderie, it's all they know or that its the only thing that makes sense to them.

But most of it is bs. Except for the money, chicks and fame, that's normally true.

Only he knows what's really in his mind right now.

What I do know is what in my mind and my heart.

I'm not going to lie, the thought of being able to make good money is very appealing to me. I've never had real money. I've never had pretend money. Working my ass off and being the best in my company as only netted me like $50K in 1 year. Based on my education and experience, pretty much, I'm only qualified to be a personal trainer and I'd rather be eaten by a shark than go back to that.

Cash Rules Everything Around Me!

Fame would be pretty cool, but camaraderie would mean even more to me. I'm not sure if I'm a loner or an outcast, but there's never really been many people around me. Even fewer, I would consider "close," "friends" or even "our lives matter that much to each other."

What I miss most about football.

I don't do anything of importance "for fun." Winning is fun. Calling me "competitive" is like calling nuclear waste "toxic." Combine that a tough upbringing, challenging schools the previously mentioned lifetime of sports and you'd expect proving something to be at the top of my list of why I do something this ridiculous.

"I'm better than you!!!!"

But you'd be wrong.

So then why do I fight?

I wouldn't be "DARKSIDE" if it was any of those positive reasons.

The REAL reason I fight, the driving force behind all the sacrifice, work, hardships and potential risks to my own life is revenge.

Not even #ThatAwkwardMoment when all the people who never gave me a chance see me with 12 pounds of gold around my waist, endorsements, fast cars, hot chicks and a sick house at the beach.

The best thing I can say about fighting is, it's fair. If I step in the ring/cage and get my ass beat, well, I had it coming. I know the risks, I trained and I prepared. If I know the other guy is out of my league, I and my handlers should have taken the fight.

What's that have to do with revenge? EVERYTHING.

I've spent the majority of my life being a pretty good person. I studied hard, went to school, got good grades, went to church, lead youth groups, done volunteer work, been nice to people, worked hard. Hell, I help old/crippled people cross the street and open doors for people I'm in front of just because I believe it's the right thing to do!

Despite this, I've spent my entire life being verbally and occasionally physically abused. Pretty much, it's been a lifetime of everyone "over" me raining bs on me. Not only am I'm sick of it, I'm pretty pissed off at it.

Like violently enraged, "pretty pissed off."

The 1st reason I got into football was because it was kinda cool, but my parents LOVED it. After a few years, them never seeing me play and me growing 8 inches and 60 pounds, I figured out something: I got REWARDED for hitting people.

I'm used to getting in trouble even when I do GOOD things, now, I get to hit people as hard as I can and I could get cool helmet stickers, my teammates will like me more and possibly free college education. HELL YEAH!

Even tiny and pointless rewards were awesome to me.

Well since I'm not in the NFL and I still get crap and there's nothing I can do to stop it, I have 2 options:

1. I turn the other cheek, ignore, accept that this is just how it is and go about my business.

OR

2. I train hard and take part in a sport that has unlimited opportunities and encourages me to beat up, knock out, choke out, cut up and/or try to wreck peoples' joints.

Yep, gonna go with option 2.

Its like football with fewer rules! I don't even have to act like it's not violent here. Just no nut shots, eye pokes, kicks/knees to the head of a guy on the ground or strikes to the back or top of the head.

That's fair.

In exchange for the possibly someone can do bad things to me, I am instructed to assault and batter a person, consequence free. To a person who has taken abuse his entire life and not been able to do a thing about it, this is the most egalitarian thing I've EVER heard of. Even if someone is beating me down, I not only get to defend myself, I HAVE to per the rules of the sport.

A lifetime of torment, vilification and belittlement can finally be avenged.

I've accepted that none of my past will ever be erased. I've come to terms with that fact that I have a life sentence of solitary confinement. I don't even care about being that rich. Having enough to live a stoic life is plenty for me. Even knowing and finally having proof that all my doubters were dead wrong isn't that big a deal to me, but I'll take it.

The fact that I, at long last, get to make someone else suffer and there's little that can be done to stop me is the only reason I get out of bed everyday. All that other stuff is just a bonus.

Rapid Fire Friday 10/21

2011-10-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

1. Living space

After my parents visited to see how I'm liking San Diego, I made a major upgrade to my room. I adding an awesome desk, a chair and can set my work station up proper.

Sharp.

2. CRUUUUUUUUUUUNK!

Shout out to my new dive bar, Shakedown, which specializes in "tall boys" 24oz beers including Mickey's, PBR and Schlitz, the office beer of dudes night out!

It's DUDE'S NIGHT OUT!!!

3. Creep factor

I don't even remember where I was, but it wasn't a hardware store's garden section, when I saw this...

That damn Gnome is EVERYWHERE!

4. Tequila!

Ya'll all know I love that agave ish because it's great liquor AND has sick bottles. Well, they changed the drinkin game AGAIN with this bottle!

A tequila rifle!!!! WHAT??? Blows away the pistols I saw in March!

5. FRESH Gear

MASSIVE shout outs to Jason and Josh of Dirty Dying Breed Fight Co. 2 great dudes who make sick gear and will put the whole fight game on lock down!

Black n Gold New Orleans Saints style! AND this is the rushed one they're not even happy with!!! Just wait til they they do the custom edition Sim "DARKSIDE" Lucien walk out shirt!!!

CAN'T WAIT!

Appreciation

2011-10-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

2 steps forward, 1 step back.

Its like I'm doing the lamest dance on Earth possible with my life.

The Dougie or Soulja Boy would even be an upgrade...

Every time things look finally look like they're on their way up, so new BS appears.

And don't give me that "fear of success," "negative attitude" or "I'm creating/finding/focusing only on my own obstacles" psuedo-psychological crap.

Let's look at what's gone down:
I find a great place to live (mostly cuz its cheap), but there's not much going on in the area.
Its easy to avoid trouble here, but people are kinda antisocial, so meeting people is hard.
I found a solid car for a good price, but got screwed over by the seller over registration.
I take care of the minor issues with the car as a whole, but they create bigger ones.
I find a great team to train with near me, but it's out of walking distance and SD's mass transit system sucks.
I join a flag football team to have some fun and meet people, but I'm on the worst team in the league and everyone is cliquey or antisocial.
Bars are really cheap, but I have to drive everywhere when my car is actually usable.

Just when I start to think that everything REALLY is gonna be the hard way only for me, I have a realization.

Maybe its the laid back ("lazy") west coast lifestyle here. Maybe it's the actually having scenery to look at. Maybe it's smelling the ocean breeze that clears the mind or offers a difference look on things.

This afternoon, after a busy day of watching ESPN and Joe Rogan YouTube videos, doing some dishes and dropping a new vlawg, I got hungry and felt like some Mexican.

So I took a stroll toward the beach and stepped in Ocean Beach's Bravo's Mexican Bistro. I discovered Tuesdays and Thursdays are $2 days. Meaning shots, drafts and fish tacos are $2 each!

So as I sip on my second Dos XX and gobble up fish taco #3, I pause and look out the open window and think for a few seconds.

As bad as things have been for me. As much as things right now are annoying and kinda sucky, seriously, this moment right here is freaking great.

Let's recap: My car's transmission is shot to hell and costing as much to fix as I spent on the car. Because of this, I'm missing valuable training time and still can't get a job. My bank account is getting sketchy and all of this is kinda weighing on me.

But......

I've been on (for all intents and purposes) a 3 month vacation, I live in a great city, there was NOTHING that I HAD to do and I was casually drinking beer and eating fish tacos for cheap as hell.

All in all, pretty good.

The reason we can't just "live in the moment" all the time is that we live so damn long. If everything was gonna come to an end in a month, screw the car! I'd just walk everywhere, take a fight, do whatever, then throw a giant post party, get belligerently drunk and hit on every single girl I could see. However, because I'm reasonably certain I'm not going to die in the near future, these issues I'm having can have long term ramifications and I have to take them seriously.

Like I always say, the middle sucks. Short term means nothing is important, just go wild. Long term means you have to manage things and see the big picture. In the middle, we have the stuff I'm dealing with. Its a perspective thing.

I know I will get a job and be able to afford to stay and live my life. I know I am going to make it as a pro fighter. I know I will have enough money to get a much better car and before that, this car will stop being a pain in the ass. I know I will have the right and right kind of people around me. I know I will get to the top.

I just need to remember to enjoy the best of what I have in front of me.

Rapid Fire Friday 10/14

2011-10-14T22:38:00.000-07:00

1. Happy Birthday!!!

Let me stat off by wishing Agent 0 a very happy Baton Rogue B Day!

2. The DeciSim

I've made my official decision for my new MMA team. I'm happy to join Mo Phenomenal, Chris Cope and the Cyborgs at The Arena MMA!

Happy to be a part of this team!

3. Speaking of the Cyborgs...

Check out the new shirts reppin their team and the Chute Boxe style they bring!

Shout out to Cradle to Cage fight wear!

4. Media Day

Yesterday, Strikeforce had a press conference to announce a card they're ptting out at the sports arena in San Diego (1 block from The Arena MMA) December 17th. Lightweight Champ Gilbert Melendez of the Caesar Gracie Skrap Pack puts his title on the line vs Jorge Masvidal, Cris Cyborg will be beating up a 12-1 Japanese fighter AND we get to see OSP in the big show. I'm GEEKED!

Cris on the far left and KJ Noons in the green

5. Cali Style

So while I look for a job, I have A LOT of downtime. I get up, catch some 1st and 10, then go train. After that, time for lunch.

Ramune, Japanese soda with sushi!

But it wouldn't be San Diego if I didn't hit the beach too.

The seagulls are HUUUUGE!

But you can't go to the beach in any old shoes, you gotta go SoCaled.

At under $20, these were a bargain...

Then, to cap the the game off, why not hit up the dive bar for some Mickey's tall boys?

This REALLY is how we live...

Fight Picks for UFC 136

2011-10-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

This is the most stacked card of the year. Granted, I generally don't care about anyone under 170, but there should be some great fights. Also, this whole card has like 4 or 5 middle weight fights, which is really cool.

Quick hits: Demian Maia with a sub, Showtime Pettis also by sub and Joey Beltran by decision in a war.

Match up: Leonard Garcia vs Nam Pham

Storyline: After a very controversial decision win for Garcia in December, this fight is going to a rematch.

Breakdown: Garcia has 1 settling: kill. He's like a honey badger, zero self preservation. His fights are fun to watch, but he's predictable. Pham was one of my least favorite members of TUF 12, but he's a solid and well-rounded fighter.

Final Thoughts: Pham's ground game should be the X Factor.

Pick: Pham by decision and we never have to see this fight again.

Match up: Melvin Guillard vs Joe Lauzon

Storyline: The Young Assassin is trying to get a title shot, JLo (awful name), who's no slouch is trying to continue his career as the spoiler.

Breakdown: Lauzon has great jiu jitsu, deceptive striking and is a gamer. Guillard is the scariest dude at 155 on Earth. He's a great wrestler, over sized and subsequently super strong. Guillard also has more speed than anyone in the UFC and loves to rush in and attack without mercy.

Final Thoughts: Since moving to Greg Jackson's camp, he's improved his submission defense greatly and has a 5 fight win streak with a lot of (T)KOs, 2 in the 1st round. He's starting to call himself "The Jiu Jitsu Killer."

Pick: Guillard by 1st round KO.

Match up: Chael Sonnen vs Brian Stann

Storyline: Chael is off suspensions and federal issues after 14 months off and wants another crack at Anderson. Stann has been plowing thru guys since he dropped to 185.

Breakdown: Chael even admits ring rush will be a factor. He has some of the best wrestling for MMA in the game. He also says he's improved his Muay Thai in the time off. Stann's only weakness is wrestling. He's got nasty submissions (Greg Jackson camp) and his kick boxing is ferocious. He TKO'd Jorge Santiago and KO'd the living zombie, Chris Leben.

Final Thoughts: This is the fight I'm most interested in. What suck is, these 2 are friends and wanted to train together, then found out they had to fight. That's annoying for them. For me, I'm pissed I don't get any classic Chael chatter!

Pick: I'm not picking against the Marine again, I learned my lesson. The All-American by 3rd round TKO.

Match up: Jose Aldo vs Kenny Florian

Storyline: KenFlo's last stand for a title. Jose is feeling good this time after a brutal weight cut in Toronto.

Breakdown: Florian is veteran, has pretty good kicks and a legit ground game. Aldo is bigger, stronger, faster, a better striker and a BJJ black belt.

Final Thoughts: Aldo's kicks are Pat Barry-esque. I'd love to see him get a TKO by leg kick (he's done it before), but I doubt it.

Pick: 3rd round (T)KO win AND STILLLLLLL FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WOOOOOORLD, Jose Aldo Jr!!!!!

The MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!

Match up: Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard

Storyline: Maynard won the first fist easily. They had a semi controversial draw in the rematch for the title on New Year's Day.

Breakdown: Edgar is little and shifty. Really, he's a featherweight fighting lightweight. Maynard is a pretty big lightweight who hits hard, has good boxing and a solid wrestling pedigree.

Final Thoughts: If you saw the UFC's Countdown show, you saw how pissed Maynard is about the 2nd fight and the fact they he has to do it again. Edgar was getting his Jersey on and having a good old time. I think that is out difference maker.

Pick: 4th round (T)KO win for the challenger and NEWWWWW UFC LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WOOOOOORLD! Gray Maynard.

Rapid Fire Friday 10/7!!!!!!!

2011-10-07T14:50:00.001-07:00

1. Wag of the finger

Ok, San Diego has been unilaterally awesome and a great idea, but this place isn't perfect. Every area has a CrossFit gym!

But it has a few things so odd, I just have to scratch my head and ask "WHY???"

What wanna be Jersey bro needs to tan here???

2. Food for though

After MMA class yesterday, I had to get something in my system, so I hit up a place that has brought a smile to my face since the day I got to PSU's campus. Panda Express! As we all know, the best part about Chinese food is the fortune cookie.

So tasty and so wise!

The perfect message for my to read in the adverse time of transition that is right now.

3. Grind Time

Well now that my car issues (knock on wood) are settled, it means my vacation is over. Time to do what I make to SD to do, become a world champion MMA fighter. I've had some awesome training with some great coaches, partners and teams at 2 of SD's finest:
The Arena

and Blackhouse Team Nogueria

I even picked up a nice, um, "facial accessory" in a no gi class. More on that later. Its been great to get back to training, but I'm rusty as all hell.

4. New record

I'd like to point out I trained in MMA at my gym in NYC for like 4 months before I got a black eye. I don't make it 1 class, in a non striking component here!

The funniest thing is that a girl training the next day said it brought the colors of my eyes out well. But let's just face the facts, I just don't look quite right unless some part of my face is purple and/or puffy.

5. Drink time

1 thing I have to admit, Cali has some great beers. Everyone thinks Eastcoast for brewing good stuff and micros, but California has the game on SMASH!

Check this awesome coaster for a pretty good brew.

Not to abandon my liquor roots, I had to break out a pick of a former Sim-O-vation drink in honor of the great Charlie Sheen the #WINNING!

Bourbon with a Goldschalger float.

DUH!

Fear

2011-10-04T15:22:00.000-07:00

So here we are. Me toe to toe with my old foe, Fear.

I traveled across the country and started a new life with new people and, yet, look who's still standing in front of me.

Its time.

Time to do what I came all the way to San Diego to do. Time to finally start living the life that I want.

Tomorrow, I get back in the gym, back to training. What was once such a simple decision now feels like the last question Regis would ask before a person found out if they just won or lost a million dollars on live tv.

Is that your final answer?!

I'm not nervous, I'm scared and I'll admit it. So much so that my chest and throat are starting to tighten up like I'm catching a cold. I know it's just my mind playing tricks on me, but this is real.

Part of it is the same jitters I've gotten everyday before getting back to serious training since I was kid. From the night before football practice to the day of starting a new lifting phase to MMA training.

Part of it is knowing I'm horrendously out of shape (don't even wanna know what I weight), haven't worked out in almost 2 months and eaten pure garbage the whole time.

Part of it is this is FIGHTING. I'm getting into camp. I will get bruised up. I will slammed on my ass. I will get punched, kicked and probably take a few knees and elbows. I expect to come home with a black eye tomorrow. I'm gonna get chocked, have my joints torqued and the only thing worse than how I'll feel after training is how bad I'll feel when I wake up the day after.

Part of it is my overwhelming social phobia. Am I going to be accepted into the group or will be be an outsider like I am everywhere else? Will they think I'm good enough to represent their team? Did I do all of this for nothing? Am I even making the right decision on a camp? If I chose one will the other hold a grudge in this small community? How long before it'll be time for them to call my name, play me music and I take that walk?

And on top of all this, I have the same problem I had in NYC: I'm not qualified get a job worth having and have no money coming in. How will I afford all of this? How will I live? How am I going to make it in this place that is actually making me happy to be alive?

What am I going to do?

And I'm sure a lot of people will tell me nice words of encouragement or some bs to make me feel better. The generic crap everyone always spouts because they think it's the right thing to do, but being told I'll be "fine" or "everything will work out" is like tell a guy drowning in a river to swim better.

And I'm sure there will be people who will see thing and look down at me, think I'm weak or a coward, though they themselves have done nothing with their lives and have even less to show for it.

I don't have all the answers. Hell, I don't have ANY of the answers. I see all the stories of people just like me who made t through their adversity and always believed they'd make it and it doesn't help. It was a different scenario. I want to believe things will finally go right for me, but all I can see is yet another mountain I have to climb. Ill-equipped and alone. As always.

I'm not scared of getting a fight and losing. I'm not even scared of the KO. I'm not afraid of getting hurt either. I'm most afraid that this will be another opportunity I never get, that everything will stack up against me and it'll all be over before it even starts.

I'm alone. I'm scared. I have no where to go. I have no one to turn to. I have no idea what the hell I'm doing. I am in further over my head than any time before and I know it. And I knew this is exactly how it was going to be the whole time. I'm still gonna go for it.

Give me an A or give me an F. I'm gonna swing for the hills and hope I'm the one still standing when it's all said and done.

Chael Sonnen has a great outlook on the fights he takes. He says he believes he CAN win any fight he takes, but he doesn't KNOW that he will. He says only a bully takes only fights he knows he'll win.

I know I can make it. And I definitely don't know for sure that I will make it. What I do know is that now it's finally time for me to face the music and I'm going to do my damnedest to come out on top.