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Shaquille O’Neal in Boston is a good fit

If there was a ever a 7 foot 1, Black man that could make it in Boston, it would have to be Shaq.

At 38 years of age, Shaq has made close to $300 million in salary alone, with endorsements, movies, albums, and whatever else, I’m sure that number is double…and yet he signed with the Celtics for a little over $1 million dollars. Obviously he is a shadow of the player he used to be. Regardless, perhaps the luck of the Irish will wink on this dark giant of a man.

I think the last time Shaq was in top shape was with Orlando. His lack of conditioning first became apparent in Los Angeles. Luckily, he had Phil Jackson and Kobe to compensate and win championships. Regardless, starting in Los Angeles, Shaq has played like an aged fighter; counting his punches, playing one side of the floor,as evident by his lackadaisical defense and rebounding which have always been suspect for a man of his size and athleticism.

Which brings us to his life on the bench due to injury, also indicative of a man who is not in proper conditioning. I cannot remember the last time I saw Shaq play a complete season.

That being said, he seems like a nice enough guy, and we here at Sin City Trifecta would like for Shaq to finish his career on top. If ever there was city that could embrace a player like Shaq, Boston would be it.

Good luck Boston and stay away from the fast food Diesel.

Photos: Shaq and Kobe - Phoenix-Fanster

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Comments { 0 } · Posted on August 20, 2010 in In the Ring

UFC 117 Recap

UFC 117 is in the books but I must admit that I am new a fan of Chael Sonnen.

Photo: Photo Bucket

Minus a foolish mistake in the fifth that allowed a beaten Anderson Silva to escape a 23 minute beating with a submission victory, Chael Sonnen would be the current UFC middle weight champ. Sonnen delivered on everything he said leading up to the fight. More impressively, he made Silva look every inch, a well worn, 35 year old. The fact that Silva is out of commission until next year proves how lucky and he was to escape with a victory. Is Chael Sonnen that good? No…and yes. I think he is probably the best middle weight in the division. I also like how Sonnen has conducted himself in defeat. That being said, this performance shows the UFC’s knack (like all big time sports promotions) for hype; even in victory, Anderson Silva looked very human, and not like the living legend that UFC has hyped him into. I had a similar feeling after watching Brock Lesnar get belted around by Shane Carwin. Fortunately, Carwin had about a minute and half of cardio conditioning in him, and was on fumes by the second round when Lesnar submitted him. I felt that even though Lesnar won, he looked very mortal and very defeatable.

I am anxious to see the rematch between Silva and Sonnen. I think it will do huge pay per view numbers for an MMA, non heavyweight fight…and will be worth the money.

Comments { 0 } · Posted on August 16, 2010 in In the Ring

Johnson-Cloud Preview

This Saturday, Glen “The Road Warrior” Johnson will be fighting Tavoris Cloud for a light heavy weight title. What makes this an interesting bout, is that Glen Johnson is 41 years old, and is a fighter who has made his living fighter any opponent, anytime, any place. At 41, Johnson is a former titlist whose best years are behind him. Regardless, like Bernard Hopkins; talent, clean living, and a good work ethic, has allowed Johnson to stay competitive, in spite of noted loses to Chad Dawson, Clinton Woods and Antonio Tarver. What has made Johnson endearing to fight fans is his eagerness to fight anyone, anywhere for theopportunity to win and prove himself as an elite fighter (again and again). Perhaps the coup d’état is Johnson’s class. Johnson has never been won to trash talk. While other, less talented and less disciplined fighters have made their careers hand picking opponents, and selling sizzle over substance, Glen Johnson insists on allowing the substance of his talent and training to dictate his reputation as a fighter.

If you have HBO, watch the fight this Saturday night. Even if you’re not an ardent fight fan, you will probably enjoy seeing a hell of a fighter, at the tail end of his career, fight a hell of fight. Like his opponent and current champ, Tavoris Cloud (28), Glen Johnson walks straight ahead into who ever he’s fighting. Styles make fights, and two fighters that like to bang, tend to make good fights. I am horrible at calling fights. I pick who I want to win, and not who usually wins. Regardless, I think Glen Johnson is going to win this fight via a late round stoppage.

Good Luck Champ!

Comments { 0 } · Posted on August 6, 2010 in In the Ring

The next big thing in UFC??

Up and coming light heavyweight Jon “Bones” Jones (23) defeated Vladimir Matyushenko (39) via 1^st round stoppage.

Photo: Yahoo Sports

The beauty about sports is that it’s promoted by, marketed by, and covered by fans. From promoters, to journalists, to commentators, and even fellow athletes; everyone involved is a fan. Such a phenomenon causes a propensity for group thought and hype, such group cheerleading blurs the line between fact and fiction.

The NBA and its reporters, agents, announcers, and even athletes are always hyping the next Air Apparent to Michael Jordan; none have actually come to fruition.

The NFL machine is still looking for the next Jerry Rice.

Major League Baseball…between a live ball, smaller parks, more teams (less pitching), and steroids; do records mean as much today as in the golden era?

The UFC much like any other big time sports promotion is great at hype, weak on facts.

Jon Jones beat a 39-year old fighter with a spotty record. Vladimir Matyushenko is a journey man, a veteran that a young, up and coming fighter needs to get by before being considered a contender; Jon Jones did that, convincingly. That being said, let’s not get carried away.

Jones has fought some relevant names, but no contenders, and he has done so in one of the weaker divisions in the UFC; light heavyweight.

Does Jon “Bones” Jones show promise; Hell Yeah! If the kid is half as good as he appears to be, he will be to the 205 lbs division what Georges St. Pierre is to the Welterweight Division; the next progression with in MMA.

I am rooting for the guy; he’s young, athletic, and witty, carries himself well and has the makings of the next UFC superstar.

Will the hype match the talent? Time will tell.

Jones needs to fight contenders, Jones needs to be tested, battered and bruised before we can declare him the next big thing.

Keep swinging kid; SCT is rooting for you!

Comments { 0 } · Posted on August 2, 2010 in In the Ring

UFC 121 – Viva Mexico!

I read an article about the upcoming Lesnar-Valesquez at UFC 121 in September (I believe). The card is scheduled for LA, as Valesquez is Latino, and the UFC would love to draw some Latino fight fans away from the boxing world and into MMA and the UFC (makes sense; especially as Latino fight fans are loyal and often contribute to high gates and PPV numbers). On a related note, the WEC, UFC’s sister promotion is where UFC fighters go to die. However, the WEC also is home to bantam and featherweight divisions, absent from the UFC. The WEC is stuffed with tough Latino fighters; why not absorb the WEC into the UFC? The promising WEC fighters that are 155 lbs and up, can be signed to short one or two fight contracts with the UFC. More importantly, such a merger would allow the UFC to attract more Latino fight fans by absorbing smaller weight classes that are filled with Latino fighters, and provide more robust fight cards that include lighter weight classes like bantam and featherweights.

Photos: MMAJunkie.com

Comments { 3 } · Posted on July 17, 2010 in In the Ring

UFC 116 Post Mordem

Pessimist, optimist, or Realist?

UFC 116 is in the books, and after the first minute of the Brock Lesnar-Shane Carwin fight, I thought my prediction of a Carwin victory was well on its way to fruition. As usual, I was wrong and not too impressed by the skill set of either fighter. I did however enjoy the way these two athletes carried themselves. Lesnar showed some humility, wit, and class after the fight, as did Carwin.

Photo: Eric Jamsion/AP

Regardless, seeing how quickly Shane Carwin faded and consequently tightened up, as well as how awkward Brock Lesnar looked on his heals; I was reminded how far this sport has yet to go.

Am I hating on MMA? Absolutely NOT!

Let your heart not be troubled. Look where professional boxing was 15 years into its infancy (100 years ago when two men stood in front of each other, bear-knuckled, for 50-100 rounds). In comparison, look at the how far MMA has evolved in the last 15 years. My favorite MMA athlete is Georges St Pierre because in him I see the next step, or ascension of MMA. GSP is a true Mixed Martial Artists. While some other MMA fighters in lighter divisions are already exhibiting similar skill sets, the heavier weight classes have yet to show such talent (consistently). I believe that with time, MMA will see 185, 205, and 220 pounders with similar skill sets as GSP. When a 220 pound man can strike, wrestle, submit, dirty box, defend and pressure for 5-5 minute rounds, then athletes and champions like Brock Lesnar will become to the heavyweight division what Matt Hughes became to the welterweight division when GSP ascended to the title.

Happy Fourth of July and God Bless our Troops

Comments { 0 } · Posted on July 4, 2010 in In the Ring

Happy Birthday to Mike Tyson

Well, it’s “Iron” Mike Tyson’s 44th Birthday. Happy Birthday Mike!

We here at Sin City Trifecta want to honor Mike with a compilation of some of his best knockouts and some of his best sound bites.

Here is a great YouTube video of some of his knockouts(NSFW – Due to some language)

His knockouts were great! Some of the absolute best, but I think his interview skills matched his in-ring skills, if not, topped his in-ring skills(NSFW – Due to some language)

Comments { 0 } · Posted on June 30, 2010 in In the Ring

UFC 116 Lesnar – Carwin; It will sell but it may not be pretty

So this Saturday, UFC Heavyweight Champ Brock Lesnar is fighting Shane Carwin. Because this is the UFC, and the heavyweight division; anyone (especially big menwearing 4 ounce gloves) has a punchers chance. I would put my money on the under dog Shane Carwin. Not that I am overly impressed by either fighter. Lesnar has fought all of 4 times in the UFC, has not fought in almost a year, and his biggest win was over a 45 year old, light heavyweight named Randy Couture. His opponent, Shane Carwin has wonhis first 13 fights in the UFC. Unfortunately he has not gone past the first round, which is usually indicative of subpar competition. That being said, I think Carwin is big enough, strong enough, and has the skill set to pull off the upset.

Photo: MMAGearGuide.com

These guys are massive and will hopefully finish each other off early. If not, you may seetwo huge men leaning on each other and not throwing a lot of punches past the secondround. It will become and ugly fight that will exemplify how far this sport, especiallyheavyweights have to go.

To that end, while it’s great to see big men fight, I think as MMA progresses, so will the athleticism and skill set of the heavyweight division. 265 lbs former wrestlers will be made extinct by 210-230 pounders (natural heavyweights not like Couture) who are true mixed martial artist; think Georges St. Pierre but bigger.

We shall see.

Comments { 0 } · Posted on June 30, 2010 in In the Ring

The Last Emperor: Fedor Loses

So this past Saturday, Fedor Emelianenko lost to Fabricio Werdum in an under advertised Strikeforce-M1 co-promotion, aired on Showtime (I know, I heard about it Monday). Fedor has not fought a big time MMA heavyweight in years. At 33 years of age, with 30 pro fights behind him and money in the bank, not to mention a six figure paycheck every time he fights some bum; can you blame him? In losing (in the first round) to under dog Fabricio Werdum, one begins to question Fedor’s commitment to MMA, especially after turning down greater paydays with UFC in return for fighting higher caliber fighters.

Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

After his last victory, Heavyweight Mirko Cro Cop, was very candid about his future. To paraphrase he spoke of the Spartan training and desire to win and endure pain and injury required to be a world class MMA fighter. He confessed that he does not have that hunger anymore. In his more candid moments, former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson said something very similar. We shall see what the Gods of War and entertainment have in store for Fedor. I’d love to see Fedor get in top shape and fight, once more…for the UFC heavyweight title.

Comments { 0 } · Posted on June 28, 2010 in In the Ring

All sizzle no substance; UFC 118

Couture vs. Toney confirmed for UFC 118 in Boston

I remember when James Toney started his career many years ago as Middle weight; perhaps the most feared Middle weight (160 lbs) in boxing during the late Eighties and early Nineties. Then Toney stopped making weight and moved up to Light heavyweight (175 lbs) by the late Nineties he was fighting at cruiser weight (200 lbs), and embraced the new Millennium as a heavyweight. Fighters will grow a bit with age; not 4 weight classes. Such an expanding waste line is symptomatic of poor training, diet, discipline, and drive. Today, James Toney is 72-6-3, and 41 years of age (He turned pro in 1988).

As tough as James Toney is, he epitomizes what is wrong with boxing. Overstuffed, out of weight fighters should be put out to pasture and not marketed as contenders. That is what boxing has done for years; sizzle not substance. Fact of the matter is that Toney has not been in proper shape in well over a decade.

Now, thanks to Dana White of the UFC, Toney, the 41 year old former champion is going to fight Randy Couture (47 years old, 18-10) in UFC 118.

As a boxing fan and as a UFC fan; I hate this fight.

Having two forty plus year olds fight each other does nothing for either sport. The UFC may get a ratings boost from the fight. Regardless, if Couture wins; congratulations, you beat a 41 year old, former middle weight champ, who’s last notable victory came in 2003, against an over the hill (40) Evander Holyfield…and you beat him in a sport he knows nothing about…go UFC.

If Toney beats Couture; congratulations, you beat a 47 year old man.

Fights like these are nothing more than a pay day for UFC execs.

James Toney photo courtesy of: MMABay.com

Randy Couture photo courtesy of: CamelClutchBlog.com

Comments { 0 } · Posted on June 20, 2010 in In the Ring