Alistair Overeem v. Brock Lesnar: Analysis & Prediction
December 30, 2011 - 2:39 pm by Kevin L. Johnston
UFC 141 is finally here! Tonight on Pay-Per-View, MMA fans finally get to watch (or if you’re too cheap to order the PPV you can follow the live blog we’re doing for FoxSports.com right here on R&R later this evening) two of the best heavyweights on the planet duke it out in this long-awaited clash between Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar. By some experts’ accounts this fight is a virtual pick ‘em, although the odds makers favor Overeem by a slight margin. Overeem is hovering around -150 at most books, while Lesnar is holding as a subtle dog in the +120 ballpark.
So how will this fight pan out stylistically? Overeem has a clear advantage in the up position given his superior striking skills. Lesnar will want to shoot in for takedowns over and over in order to keep the fight on the ground. Nobody envisions this fight going the distance, so whoever is able to execute their game plan quickly and efficiently will probably win via stoppage.
Overeem has 47 fights on his resume and is undefeated in his last 11, mostly against top level competition. Lesnar, owner of a 5-2 career record, has far less MMA experience. While Overeem has suffered 11 defeats in his career, nearly all of his losses were against elite fighters in their prime.
Plus, Overeem fits the bill of a late bloomer… a guy who took his lumps when he was young but really matured as a fighter and came into his own in his late 20′s. Now 31, the Demolition Man is more dangerous than ever and hungry to challenge Junior dos Santos, the top dog in the heavyweight division.
But first Overeem must get past Lesnar, who is far from a slouch himself. Lesnar had his career derailed by diverticulitis, a life-threatening digestive illness that almost ended his MMA career. He is a skilled wrestler and has one of the best ground-and-pound attacks in the business. He will have to keep the fight on the ground to be able to showcase these strengths.
LaDainian Tomlinson Says Sunday’s Game Could Be His Last
December 29, 2011 - 9:48 pm by Ryan Phillips
New York Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson acknowledged today that this weekend’s contest against the Miami Dolphins could be his final game in the NFL. The 32-year-old Tomlinson will be a free agent at the end of the season and considering his limited production over the past two seasons in New York it’s not out of the question to think he won’t be a hot commodity this offseason.
Tomlinson spent the first nine years of his career with the San Diego Chargers where he firmly established himself as one of the great running backs of all-time. Tomlinson broke records repeatedly while with the Chargers and annihilated previous marks for the youngest player to attain several milestones.
He was the NFL’s MVP in 2006 after a ridiculous season in which he rushed for 1,815 yards and an incredible 28 touchdowns. He also caught 56 passes for 508 yards and three more scores. That might be the best single season by a running back in NFL history and it will stand as a benchmark against which all other great years are measured.
The Revolution Has Been Televised!
December 29, 2011 - 2:46 am by Hickey
When I was a young lad, I always aspired to make it big in Boise. Or at least Pocatello. It looks like I’ve made it.
The Occupy The BCS movement, which we will claim to have started at Rumors and Rants because the evidence allows us to, has at least caught on with Boise State fans, who prominently displayed the cause at the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl last week while supporting the Broncos. (The above picture is displayed on the website of Boise TV station KTVB).
It is true that I called for a boycott of all bowl games in my original manifesto, but at least by showing up these guys got the movement more attention. I’m willing to compromise.
Of course, the downside is that those Boise State fans made their presence known at the Las Vegas Bowl, which means that pretty much no one outside of Idaho realizes this happened. But we do, and we’re going to promote the hell out of our brothers in arms.
FireKevinWilson.com Still Available
December 28, 2011 - 4:15 am by Hickey
Any chance of Indiana football becoming relevant in my lifetime went kaput on Tuesday when top quarterback recruit Gunner Kiel of Columbus, Ind. committed to LSU.
Kiel had originally given Hoosier fans their first glimmer of hope since the Anthony Thompson Era — or at least since the death of Terry Hoeppner — when he shocked the world by verbally committing to IU earlier this year. However, as Indiana struggled on the field under first-year dipshit coach Kevin Wilson, Kiel declared that he was “keeping his options open.”
This week’s announcement officially threw any sliver of a hair of possibility that IU might still be one of those options out the window. The fact that IU sucked this year wasn’t even the biggest reason for Kiel backing out — after all, the Hoosiers sucking at football is a given.
Colts Apparently Serious About Keeping Manning
December 23, 2011 - 2:35 am by Hickey
Prior to Thursday’s game, Colts owner Jim Irsay told the NFL Network that the only way Peyton Manning wouldn’t play for the Colts next year is if he does not recover from the neck injury that has kept him out all season.
Irsay’s Colts then showed he wasn’t joking with an unlikely come-from-behind 19-16 win over the Texans that seriously jeopardizes Indy’s chances of landing the top pick in the NFL Draft, which is universally expected to be Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.
Perhaps the only good news for the Colts is that they may now avoid the potentially awkward locker room situation that would be created with two alpha quarterbacks in the locker room. When the Packers were left with no choice but to shove Brett Favre out the door in the form of his “retirement” in favor of Aaron Rodgers, it didn’t work out well for anyone. Especially the public, which had to endure like four more Favre retirements.
Boston Red Sox Desperate For Starting Pitching
December 23, 2011 - 12:58 am by Ryan Phillips
The Boston Red Sox were in the chase for left-handed starter Gio Gonzalez until the last minute, but were beaten out by a better package from the Washington Nationals. The Nats sent an impressive group of prospects to the Oakland A’s in exchange for Gonzalez and now the Red Sox and new general manager Ben Cherington are said to be scrambling to add a starting pitcher.
Now that the market for pitching has been picked a bit bare by other teams, the remaining options for the Red Sox are not exactly appealing.
On the free agent market, the only guys left worth considering are right-handers Edwin Jackson and Roy Oswalt, and lefty Joe Saunders. The Sox made a play for righty Rich Harden at the trade deadline but couldn’t get a deal done in time, so there is a chance they could revisit something with him.
Norm Chow Finally Gets Head Coaching Gig
December 22, 2011 - 9:23 am by McD
Offensive guru Norm Chow is going to be Hawaii’s next football coach. That is, just as soon as he’s done getting the Utah Utes, in his role as offensive coordinator, ready for the Sun Bowl against Georgia Tech.
Chow was an assistant to LaVell Edwards for 27 years at BYU before moving on to offensive coordinator positions at NC State, USC, the Tennessee Titans, UCLA, and Utah.
Utah is actually his college alma mater, though he spent the bulk of his career at rival BYU. Not sure how that worked for the fan base, but since the guy’s something of a genius, I’m sure most people didn’t care.
That said, I’m not all-in on this hire.
T.J. McDonald Returning To USC
December 22, 2011 - 12:17 am by Ryan Phillips
While waiting for star quarterback Matt Barkley to decide whether or not he will make himself available for the 2012 NFL draft, the USC Trojans got good news about the status of the team’s other No. 7. All-American safety T.J. McDonald has announced his intention to return to USC for his senior season.
The 6’3,” 205-pound safety is listed as the top junior at his position by ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, and would have almost surely been a first-round pick had he decided to head to the next level.
McDonald’s father, Tim, was a two-time All-American at USC before spending 13 years in the NFL. The elder McDonald was a six-time Pro Bowler and was a member of the San Francisco 49ers when they won Super Bowl XXIX.
Cubs Out Of Prince Fielder Chase?
December 21, 2011 - 5:53 pm by Ryan Phillips
As recently as a few weeks ago many thought Milwaukee Brewers free agent first baseman Prince Fielder would be headed just a bit south to play for the Chicago Cubs. In fact, once Albert Pujols signed his monster deal with the Los Angeles Angels, it looked like the Cubs were set to make a big offer to Fielder.
Now apparently things have shifted and while at least six teams are in on Fielder, the Cubs appear to be on the outside looking in and don’t seem interested in being involved any further. Fielder is apparently looking for a 10-year deal similar to the contract the Angels gave Pujols, and while the Cubs like Fielder, they are not willing to give that much time or money to the 27-year-old All-Star.
The Seattle Mariners have already made an offer to Fielder and they are apparently the leaders for his services at the moment. Meanwhile the Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals are also said to be interested in the free agent market’s biggest remaining prize.
