UFC 123 Recap, Tweets to God and Cam Newton
Dec
1
Written by:
12/1/2010 1:15 AM
· I would like to say Thank You to Suck, Bang, Blow in Concord for showing UFC 123 with NO COVER CHARGE! The food there was very good and it was a very fun evening with friends. Now, regarding the fights. Rampage- Machida was the co-main event with Rampage winning by split decision. I obviously need to get a better understanding of how a fight is scored because I had Rampage winning 29-28 and everyone at the table agreed. I was under the impression that ring control and being the aggressor was how you scored. Machida seemed to be wanting to counter all evening and Rampage was clearly the aggressor to our group. The only thing I can say and I will still it from UFC President Dana White, don’t leave it in the judges hands. Rampage did this and it almost cost him dearly. After the match, both guys were willing to have a re-match and with as clouded as the 205 lb class is currently, they may not be a bad idea.
The co-main event and 3rd fight between Matt Hughes and BJ Penn took longer to get going than actual fight time. Penn clipped Hughes and the ref stops the fight 21 seconds into the first round. Penn may have found a new home at 170, while Hughes seemed at a loss as to where things from here with him.
· I am pretty liberal about guys speaking their minds, but Stevie Johnson crossed a line in his Twitter post to God Sunday. Johnson’s tweet: I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO... While I take sports and the results pretty seriously, this was above and beyond. Social media is a great way to reach out to people, but sometimes it is better to say or tweet nothing at all.
· James Harrison of the Pittsburg Steelers was fined another $25,000 this week for a shot on Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. That brings his season total to $125,000 and he is due to make a base salary of $755,000. Harrison, who has said he doesn’t want to change his style of play, may want to reconsider or he may end up paying the NFL for playing in 2010. This would not be something I would want to consider with a potential lockout looming for 2011.
· While I am not a Panthers fan, part of me felt sorry Sunday for the team and John Kasey with their missed FG at Cleveland. The other part of me thinks it is a bit fitting for a John Fox team. Many Panther fans I encounter have been very vocal in their displeasure in the past of Fox’s willingness to play for FG’s versus TD’s. While this was not the case here, you had to think this conservative mentality in today’s very offensive minded NFL would not pay off in the long-term.
· Look out for the San Diego Chargers. After their victory at Indianapolis this past Sunday evening, the Chargers are one game out of first and on a four game winning streak. Their next two games at home against division opponents Oakland and Kansas City should clear up the AFC West picture.
· How much different can two Monday’s be? This week we had two 3-7 teams in San Francisco at Arizona. Next week, two 9-2 teams battle when the Jets travel to Foxboro to take on the Patriots. I am already loving the smack talking going on this week and the Rex Ryan press conferences. There are still several days until the game and I am looking forward to a Monday Night game with some major importance.
· While working on things tonight, I watched the UNC-Illinois basketball game. After seeing the UNC team in person Sunday evening in Chapel Hill against the College of Charleston, there is one important thing missing from this team that I am able to see: LEADERSHIP. This team is so in need of a David Noel type player. These guys may have a lot of talent, but do not seem to have that vocal leader. Tyler Hansbrough may have been able to lead by example, but I have not seen anyone last season or this one that has been willing to step up. I believe the saying is leaders are not made, they are born. Well, if this is the case, the UNC basketball may need to add a player. This team needs the Jackie Manuel, David Noel type player that is willing to do any and everything to get this team a victory. If that is diving for loose balls, taking control of the huddle as they are going to the free throw line, but someone has to step up. This weekend Kentucky comes to town and hopefully someone, Drew, Zeller, Henson, Strickland, someone will step up and stand out.
· Cam Newton, with this entire NCAA investigation going on, is now apart of a webcam scandal. This webcam model was playing the players into thinking they were going to have their way with her, all while taping it for youtube. So the QB of the #1 Auburn football team, frontrunner for the Heisman, involved in a scandal already, is doing this? I usually side with the college kids on these matters, as we have all made some “questionable” decisions in college, but this one, in light of everything, is too much for even me to overlook. With all that Newton has going on, one would have to think SOMEONE would tell him to keep a lower profile and this is not how you do that.