We say Gooooooooo.......

Go AVS!!!!!!!!!!



Wahoo the hockey gods in their infinite wisdom have given me yet another heart attack as the Dallas Stars came back from a 3-0 deficit to take the lead on my precious Avs. As I watched 3 goals in a row bounce around "sloppy" goals and a 4th go off the skate of Mike Madano I thought Shirley my team was sunk. But just and fair are the hockey gods as Milan Hedjuk flipped a no look pass out in front of the goal where Brett Clark could chip it in to tie and send to OT. The Stars seemed to control the action and it almost ended with a laser beam shot that hit an Av post and bounced out, and people say Patrick Roy was crazy for talking to the goal posts????? He always smiled and said he'd take allthe help he could get, if it's good enough for Patrick, it's good enough for me. After the post shot Hedjuk again broke free, this time passing back tothe slot for John-Michael Liles who's slap shot was heading for Turco when Joey Sakic (pictured below), my hero, tipped in the puck becoming the National Hockey League's all time leader in playoff overtime goals passing the Rocket Richard.




The Avs now lead the Stars 2-0 and they will be heading home for the next 2.



I'd like to quickly apologize to my girlfriend for screaming at the TV until 11:15 at night, I'd also like to apologize to the Spring Hill Community because I'm sure they all heard me too!!!!

Quick note to say also, Go Preds!!!! They haven't looked to good and I think they are fortunate to have a split at this point going out to San Jose. Mason has played good D and they are hanging in there. Let's all hope they get back some emotion and momentum and get 1 back on this 2 game stretch.

UFC 59 ~ Reality Check

Due to my lack of time with summer rolling around let me quickly run through my predictions. I apologize I don't have the time to do as I normally do with the links and all but you can find about everything you need to know about the fighters on UFC or Sherdog . Obviously the UFC website will have all the most up to date info. I have found Sherdog to be one of the more informative when it comes to fighters records and information. Sherdog will also have a 'play by play' on the night of the event, including the undercard. Or you can swing by Spring Hill MMA (my casa) and watch, just bring me some beer!

THE UNDERCARD

Evan Tanner VS Justing Levens

I'd like to see Tanner get back on the winning side of things, I've always liked him as a fighter. He lost his championship to Rich Franklin a year ago, he was then winning the fight against David Loiseau when he took a couple of nasty elbows which opened a few ugly cuts (not to take anything away from Loiseau, he won the fight).

My Pick - Tanner


Thiago Alves VS Derrick Noble

I'm picking Alves in this one.


Jason Lambert VS Terry Martin

Terry Martin has some good skills. If you watch the UFC's Ultimate KO's 2 on SPIKE TV, he's the one that flying knee. If you saw it you remember it. I'd really like to see him cut to 185 though, I feel he's got some room to come down and be the big man in the class instead of the small man.

I'm taking Lambert in this one.



Karo Parysian VS Nick Thompson

I won $10 picking Nick Thompson the last time I was at the fights in Tunica, MS. He looked real good fighting 3 times in one night. He's gonna need to bring all that to fight Karo. Karo should be a little upset that he had a title shot and lost it due to an injury. He'll be looking to get back into the mix of that title contention.

I take Karo.


David Terrell VS Scott Smith

I don't know anything about Smith other than looking him up. Terrell got a shocking KO victory over Matt Lindland couple years back.

Just for giggles I'm going to pick the underdog, Smith.


THE MAIN CARD

Jeff Monson VS Marcio Cruz

I haven't been impressed with Cruz, he did beat Frank Mir (former HW champ) in his last fight. Monson is a strong guy who will bring the action.

I pick Monson.



Nick Diaz vs Sean Sherk

Diaz has lost a lot of fans with his attitude in the last couple fights. When he looses he always blames something else. Sherk lost his last outing to Georges St Pierre (no slouch).

I cannot route or pick Diaz. I take Sherk!


Tito "The Huntington Beach Badboy" Ortiz VS Forrest Griffin

We will find out pretty quick in this one if Forrest is truly ready to be at this level. Tito has been there and done that so you know he'll be ready. Look for Forrest to want to keep it standing, if he can he's got a better chance in my opinion. Look for Tito to take him down and run with a little ground and pound.

As much as I hate picking him, I think Tito will win. (hope I'm wrong)


Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovsky VS Tim "The Maine-iac" Sylvia

This should be a great fight. These two have already fought once, Arlovsky the victor by submission. Sylvia should be a little better prepared this time but I think the outcome will be the same. I think Arlovsky is too quick, too strong and too good for Sylvia. Should be a closer fight though.

I take the pitbull!

Peace and Humptiness forever!

The Ultimate Fighter ~ Season 3 Meet the Fighters

As the fight fans may have noticed I've been extremely busy the past month. I haven't forgot about the fights, believe me. The Ultimate Fighter Season 3 is upon us, the 1st episode was last week and tomorrow night we'll get the second installment. If you are unfamiliar with the program it is a reality show for fighters. Much better than the contender! This show brings top quality guys, 1 of which has already attempted a shot for a title, not a successful shot unfortunately for him. During this reality show they show the workouts and training, ultimately they fight for the right to stay on the show. Let's meet the coaches and thier teams.....(all profiles copied from The Ultimate Fighter.com. (On a side note if you are interested in learning more about the sport or the show you can join thier forums, there's a lot of good information and it's completely free. Keep in mind that anyone can join so don't think everyone on their knows what they are talking about. The fighters, past, present and future do frequent the forums to speak with their fans. Most the big time fighters are also on myspace if you know where to find them. You can to most of them from my page if you have one. Bruceleeroy's Myspace )


TEAM ORTIZ




Tito Ortiz
Light Heavyweight
6'2, 205
Age: 31
From: Huntington Beach, CA

Tito Ortiz was the first ever UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. With a 13-4 MMA record, Ortiz holds victories over Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort, Vladimir Matyushenko, Evan Tanner, and his Season 3 coaching rival Ken Shamrock. Ortiz is best known in the fight game for his intense training regimen and strong work ethic.

“They’re gonna learn a lot, they’re gonna learn the Tito Ortiz style,” said Ortiz. “But they’re also gonna be training with me. I’m not just gonna be the coach showing them how to do it; I’m gonna be the coach doing it with them.”



Michael Bisping
Light Heavyweight
6'1, 205 lbs.
Age: 26
From: Liverpool, England

Team: Ortiz

If World War II had not occurred, Michael would probably be living as a Count in Poland, as his family ancestry traces back to royalty in his native land. Instead, the 26 year old is living the self-described “working class” life in England, but is aspiring to become an Ultimate Fighter. Born in Cyprus, Michael attended Blackburn College, majoring in Electrical Engineering, and has two children ages three and five. He began learning jiu-jitsu at eight years old and lists Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture as his favorite UFC fighters. When he’s not practicing mixed martial arts in Liverpool, he works as a DJ on the weekends. His nickname is “The Count.”




Matt Hamill
Light Heavyweight
6'2, 205 lbs
Age: 29
From: Loveland, Ohio

Team: Ortiz

Matt comes to The Ultimate Fighter 3 with an incredible athletic resume. The 2004 inductee in the Division III Wrestling Hall of Fame was the first U.S. wrestler to win gold medals in freestyle and Greco Roman competition in the 1997 World Games for the Deaf. The three-time NCAA National Champion attended the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester. Matt has been featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” and was featured on the cover of NCAA News as a junior at RIT. In 1997, he was named USA Deaf Sports Federation Athlete of the Year. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Matt is a graduate of Loveland High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals fan trains with The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 coach and UFC Middleweight champion, Rich Franklin.



Noah Inhofer
Light Heavyweight
6'2, 205 lbs.
Age: 24
From: Yankton, SD

Team: Ortiz

At the last minute, Noah booked a flight and traveled all the way from his native Yankton, South Dakota to Boston to make the open tryouts for season three of The Ultimate Fighter. Even though he’s attending the University of South Dakota and studying to become a special education teacher, he thinks his wrestling background and two years of jiu-jitsu experience will earn him a shot at the six-figure, multi-year UFC contract. Noah is 24 years old, runs his own lawn mowing business, and holds an MMA record of 5-2.



Danny Abaddi
Middleweight
5'11, 185
Age: 22
From: Orlando, Florida

Team: Ortiz

Born in Amman, Jordan, Danny (real name Muntaser) of Jordanian and Egyptian descent, moved to Brooklyn, New York when he was two years old. His family moved around quite a bit and he ended up attending and graduating Olive Branch High School in Olive Branch, Mississippi where he played soccer. Danny began taking taekwondo in Brooklyn and was a black belt by the age of eight. The taekwondo child-prodigy began teaching the sport at age 12 and currently travels the country teaching. The 4-star black belt works and trains at Victory Martial Arts in Orlando, Florida where he currently he lives. The 28 year old currently holds a 2-1 MMA record and 14-1 Pro Kickboxing record. Among Danny’s other talents are break-dancing and kickboxing.



Kendall Grove
Middleweight
6'6, 185 lbs.
Age: 23
From: Maui, HI

Team: Ortiz

The 23 year-old nicknamed “Spider” was born and raised in Maui and attended Baldwin High School where he was an All State wrestler in the 170lb division and was a standout wide receiver on the football team. His brother Chad was an All-WAC wide receiver at the University of Utah and his cousin, Kaluka Maiava, is a freshman linebacker on the powerhouse USC Trojan football team. After high school, Kendall moved to Las Vegas to pursue his dream of being an Ultimate Fighter and currently has a 7-3 professional MMA record. The outdoor enthusiast surfs and plays paintball in his spare time.



Rory Singer
Middleweight
6'2, 185 lbs.
Age: 29
From: Athens, GA

Team: Ortiz

Born in Brooklyn, Rory grew up in Marlboro, New Jersey and was a star wrestler at Marlboro High School. Rory studied Biological Engineering at the University of Georgia and is currently attending the School of Nursing in Athens, Georgia. The 29 year-old began learning jiu jitsu six years ago and currently holds a professional MMA record of 9-5, including bouts in Japan and South Africa. The avid reader of such novels as “The Lord of the Rings trilogy” recently was roommates with Athens, Georgia’s most famous MMA fighter, The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 light-heavyweight champion, Forrest Griffin.



Mike Stine
Middleweight
6'0, 185 lbs.
Age: 27
From: Long Island, NY

Team: Ortiz

Born and raised in Hicksville, Long Island, Mike was a 2005 quarterfinalist in the prestigious boxing tournament, the New York Golden Gloves. He is a graduate of Hicksville High School where he was All-Long Island in ice hockey and attended Farmingdale College where he earned an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. He has been training in mixed martial arts for four years and currently holds a 3-0 professional MMA record. The 27 year-old Islanders fan and fishing enthusiast currently runs a Tiger Schulman gym in Great Neck, Long Island.

Status: Eliminated - Episode 1
Mike was defeated by Kalib Starnes by TKO in the first middleweight fight.

TEAM SHAMROCK



Ken Shamrock
Light Heavyweight
6'1", 205
Age: 42
From: San Diego, CA

If you’ve followed mixed martial arts for any length of time, you’ve heard the stories. You know about the legendary Lion’s Den tryouts - tests of strength, skill and will that have broken so many over the years with their sheer intensity. The orchestrator of these tryouts, UFC hall of famer Ken Shamrock, didn’t give any breaks to any aspiring fighter, because on his team, if you passed the test, you were truly serious about your craft.

And if you were serious, Ken molded you into a fighter. Guy Mezger, Tra Telligman, Vernon White, Pete Williams, Jerry Bohlander. All UFC veterans, all world class fighters.

So there’s got to be mixed feelings among the hopefuls who will eventually share a house with Shamrock when he coaches Season Three of the Spike TV reality series ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’ On one hand, they’ll get instruction from one of the sport’s legends; on the other, they may have to go through hell to get there.



Tait Fletcher
Light Heavyweight
6'3, 205 lbs.
Age: 34
From: Los Angeles, CA

Team: Shamrock

Joe Rogan’s (“Fear Factor”) personal bodyguard has worked in security for such celebrities as Adam Sandler on the set of “The Longest Yard.” The 34-year old and current resident of Los Angeles has appeared in commercials for both Nissan and Coke. A graduate of Alpena High School in Alpena, Michigan, Tait moved to New Mexico to attend St. John’s College in Santa Fe to study Classical Literature. He began training in jiu jitsu in New Mexico and currently has a professional MMA record of 3-1.

http://www.theultimatefighter.tv/fighter_photos/JesseForbes.jpg

Jesse Forbes
Light Heavyweight
6'2, 205 lbs.
Age: 21
From: Tempe, AZ

Team: Shamrock

Only 21 years old, his parents would rather see him attending college than training in mixed martial arts, but Jesse has decided he wants to be a fighter -- and an ultimate fighter at that. Jesse was a two-time All State wrestler Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, Arizona and went on to wrestle two more years in community college. He has an excellent ground game, and is learning to become a good striker training with Drew Fickett. Jesse is a south paw, holds a MMA record of 2-0 and wants to become as successful as Rich Franklin in the Octagon.



Josh Haynes
Light Heavyweight
5'9, 205 lbs.
Age: 28
From: Medford, OR

Team: Ortiz

No stranger to the world of MMA, this 28 year Medford, Oregon native trains with Team Quest and UFC fighters Nate Quarry and Randy Couture. Josh is a graduate of Grant’s Pass High School in Medford and studied Computer Science at the University of Southern Oregon. Josh also spent six years in the Army and was stationed in Ft. Benning, Georgia. Over the years, he has built an impressive MMA record of 9-4 with 1 KO. At the same time, he has also built an excellent professional career, applying his computer science degree as a hospital network engineer. But Josh decided it was finally time to pursue his dream of becoming an ultimate fighter, and quit his job to train full-time. He started fighting at 330 pounds, and has dropped over 100 pounds to fight at 215. His oldest son was diagnosed with brain cancer at birth, and having watched his boy endure multiple surgeries already, Josh stays completed focused and driven to do whatever is necessary to become a success and take care of his family.



Mike Nickels
Light Heavyweight
6'4, 205 lbs.
Age: 34
From: Denver, CO

Team: Shamrock

This 34 year-old tattoo artist from Denver is a 2005 gold medalist in jiu-jitsu at the 2005 Pan Am Games. Mike excelled at football as both a tight end and defensive end at East High School in Denver. Following high school, he traveled the country training elephants and prides himself as being an amateur animal activist. Mike is married with two kids and currently has a professional MMA record of 3-1. He owns a tattoo studio in Denver, “Twisted Sol,” for more than 10 years, which he’s grown into quite a successful business with 14 employees.



Kristian Rothaermel
Light Heavyweight
6'0, 205 lbs.
Age: 33
From: Metairie, LA

Team: Shamrock

Hurricane Katrina was a nightmare for New Orleans resident, Kristian. His father died in the catastrophic storm and most of Kristian’s possessions were destroyed. The 33 year-old stayed in the ravaged Gulf Region to help rebuild homes. Now he is looking to start a new life by joining The Ultimate Fighter 3. Kristian studied English Education at The University of New Orleans. The former high school teacher describes himself as a hunter, thinker, and fisherman. He is an avid reader of everything from Chinese poetry to the classics and received a scholarship in college to study poetry in Prague. At 21 he began learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and currently holds a 40-3 professional MMA record. His nickname is “The Weather Underground.”



Ed Herman
Middleweight
6'2, 185 lbs.
Age: 25
From: Portland, OR

Team: Shamrock

The 25 year-old member of the legendary MMA squad, Team Quest, out of Portland, Oregon, trains with UFC legend Randy Couture and The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 participant and rising star Chris “The Crippler” Leben. He also trains local police in Portland on the latest and most effective mixed martial arts moves. Born in Vancouver, Washington, Ed graduated from Columbia River High School and was an all-state wrestler in the 168lb. division and a standout defensive lineman on the football team. He currently holds an impressive 14-2 professional record. When he’s not training, Ed teaches kids mixed martial arts at the Team Quest gym in Portland and bartends in the evenings. He currently lives with his girlfriend.



Solomon Hutcherson
Middleweight
5'11, 185 lbs.
Age: 33
From: Racine, Wisconsin

Team: Shamrock

The pride of Racine, Wisconsin, Soloman was a superstar athlete at Racine Park High School where he was an all-state linebacker in football and a feared wrestler in the 171lb division. The youngest of seven children, he attended Triton Junior College in Illinois and studied Fire Science. He has been competing in mixed martial arts for four years and currently holds a 10-2 professional MMA record. Soloman has three kids and works laying cement for a concrete company in Racine. A big sports fan, Soloman roots for the Raiders and his hometown Brewers and Bucks.



Ross Pointon
Middleweight
5'8, 185 lbs.
Age: 28
From: Stokeontrent, England

Team: Shamrock

Known as “The Gladiator,” the 28 year-old from Stokeontrent, England near Manchester, took up mixed martial arts seven years ago. The graduate of Trentham High School is a black belt in karate and currently owns The Gladiator Gym, where he teaches kick boxing and mixed martial arts. Ross made it on the “The Ultimate Fighter 3” after impressing UFC President Dana White and other UFC top brass at an open-casting call in London. He currently holds a 4-6 professional MMA record. The hard-kicking Brit is single and has a young daughter.



Kalib Starnes
Middleweight
6'3, 185 lbs.
Age: 31
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Team: Shamrock

The current #2 ranked middleweight in Canada has an impressive professional MMA record of 8-0-1. Kalib currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia and is part of the renowned Revolution Fight Team. When he is not competing in mixed martial arts, Kalib is participating in spoken-word competitions and is an avid reader of poetry and linguistics. He lists Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn among his favorite authors. Kalib grew up in Surrey, British Columbia and attended Nakusp Secondary School where he played soccer. He began his fighting career when he took up Brazilian jiu jitsu in his late teens.

OK, I nailed season 1 picking both champs, my predictions from last season were horrible. I will say that I'm becoming a big fan of Mark Hammill, you have to love this story. A deaf mixed martial arts fighter. Let me just say that if you watch the fights you probably here the yelling and screaming coming from the corner. That is, believe it or not, a big deal. Your coach knows you and has studied your opponent. When Mark steps into the ring he has one extra hurdle to overcome. You also have to like his work ethic, he seems like a very dedicated guy. You know I have to route for my Team Quest representative, Ed Herman. The Team Quest guys, along with a couple other fight teams, know how to bring it. You have to have something training with all those guys from time to time. I know Tait from myspace, he's pretty active on there so I'll be keeping an eye out for him. Kalib is probably the favorite of most in the middleweight division, he's pretty polished. No one Lightheavyweight really stands out to me, Kristian has tons of ring experience but may lack the heart needed to be at this level. It all remains to be seen.

For my predictions....

Lightheavyweight - Josh Haynes.

Hey, he's another Medford boy like me. They grow them a little tougher in Southern Oregon, I know! This is the second season in a row to feature a fighter from my veryown Rouge Valley area. I'm picking him cuz he's from my area. My best friend back home worked with Josh for a little while as well. Good luck Josh.

Middleweight - Rory Singer
I'm picking Rory because I like his style. If he's half as tough as his former roommate, Forrest Griffin, watch out for him!

Thunderstorms in April, Nashvegas

As the locals know we here in Nashvegas have been getting hammered by thunderstorms that have brought us hail and tornados. I have been fortunate enough not to come face to face with a tornado down here in Spring Hill, but I have felt the fury of about 5 hail storms in the past week. I wish all that are also feeling the impact of these storms good luck in staying safe and resolving these difficult issues.

Below I have posted some pics, down here last Friday seemed to be the worse for me damage wise. An estimated $4600 damage to my now dimpled truck, haven't got the house estimate back yet. Over $3k to Krista's (my old lady, ball and chain, portable dungeon) car. My car was also dimpled but it's just a to and from work car so I don't care so much about that. Many people in my neighborhood have also recieved broken windows, roof damage (which I don't think I have at this point) and fallen trees. Which I know is nothing compared to some of the leveled houses we have seen from North Nashville and West TN over the past week.

Stay safe....

Peace and humptiness forever!

Here are my dogs chillin in front of the fire trying to dry off from the thunderstorm. 

This is my hand, or mitt as some people like to call it. In my hand are 3 of the yard full of golf ball sized hail balls that March 31st's storm in Spring Hill left me. 

Those little (and by little I mean golf ball size ice balls hurling at 100 mph toward my truck/house and head) hail droplets sure caused a lot of trouble, here's some crack they left. 

and here is another present in my siding that our little friend Mr Thunderstorm left me. These are also located all over my house. 

Last but definately not least is the April 7th storm dropping not large golf ball size hail but piles and piles (almost a foot deep) on my Hizzouse! Fo shizzle. 

The official Joe Rogan drinking game.

For those of you that don't know Joe Rogan (Stand Up Comedian, Fear Factor Host) is one of the commentators for the UFC. While Joe is an accomplished Brazilian Jiu Jitsu grappler (don't know for sure but I think he is either a purple or brown belt) and a huge fight fan he gets a little crazy with his comments from time to time. It's one of the reasons that watching MMA is funner than other sports, sometimes it's just good to listen to someone who is enjoying the action and has a true love for the game. So enjoy your drinks and have a designated driver if you are playing the Joe Rogan drinking game cuz you will get a little drunk.

You can see Joe show some of his skills HERE . In this clip someone on myspace has challenged Joe to a match, Joe accepted and ultimately taps the guy 3 times in about 1 minute.

Rule #1
Rocked - 1 drink
Anytime Joe says any form of 'rocked' you gotta tip your glass (see rule #4 for an exception). Examples - "Wow, that guy is rocked!" "Oh my god he's rocked again!" "I can't believe he is still rocked!"

Exception to rule #1 - While "not rocked" is a form of "rocked", it is the rarest of Joe Rogan comments and therefore worth 2 drinks. "He got hit with a huge right and he is not rocked!"

Rule #2
Kimura - 2 drinks
The Kimura is a popular move in mixed martial arts, it ends a high percentage of all fights so it does come up quite often. Although Joe is extremely familiar with MMA and submission grappling he does get a little over excited when it comes to the Kimura, it would seem as though anytime someone touches someone elses arm Joe calls for the Kimura.

Rule #3
Plata - 3 drinks
There are a couple of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu moves that incorporate the word 'plata'. While they are rare to MMA fights compared to arm bars, kimura's and certain chokes Joe will say the fighters are going for them from time to time.

Rule #4
Just walk me through it. - Finish your drink.
At the end of a fight Joe will often head to the ring for a post fight interview. As a feature of the interview we are blessed with hearing the fighter recap a clip, usually the finish, of the fight they have just won. Example - The video clip will show the fighter throw a right hook and knock out his opponent. Joe will ask them "Will you walk us through what happend. The fighter will then say, as he's watching the clip, "Well, I threw that right hook and I knocked him out." I know that fighters, some of them, are a lot smarter than they get credit for. This recap almost always comes off bad. Awesomely bad as it usually brings a chuckle to my UFC party goers.


Rule #5
Exception to rule #1 - While "not rocked" is a form of "rocked", it is the rarest of Joe Rogan comments and therefore worth 5 drinks. "He got hit with a huge right and he is not rocked!"

Happy UFC'ing!