Month: April 2009 (Page 36 of 53)

      Anthony Kim records 11-birdie second round

      April 11, 2009 /

      Anthony KimIt’s hard for anything at the Masters (or any golf tournament, for that matter) to come close to matching the perennial “How is Tiger Woods doing?” story. Even Rocco Mediate’s amazing underdog bid in last year’s U.S. Open played second banana to Woods’ gut-it-out victory on a broken leg.

      A prime example of the immensity of Tiger’s shadow is the lack of buzz surrounding Anthony Kim. The guy is hardly an unknown to serious golf fans, but the 23-year old phenom has managed to fly largely under the national radar.

      Yesterday, Kim made Masters history by recording a single-round record 11 birdies. Naturally, it was overshadowed by Woods’ day, as everyone chose to talk about Tiger’s missed opportunities on the putting green.

      Kim has often been mentioned in the same breath as Woods: Is he the next Tiger?, critics ask. These questions are dismissed quickly — after all, Tiger will likely go down as the greatest to ever play the game. But how about this for a comparison: Can Kim become who Sergio Garcia was supposed to some 10 years ago? Can Kim be the talented gunner with both the skill and confidence to challenge Tiger as a young pro and eventually eclipse him as Tiger gets on in years? Will he be the one to finally give us a real Tiger rivalry?

      It’s clear Kim has the talent, and many accounts say that he’s also got the hubris to challenge Tiger’s (check out this feature Golf Magazine wrote about him).

      Only time will tell, but do yourself a favor and take a break from the Tiger watch this weekend to scope out Kim’s game (he heads into round 3 in a tie for sixth-place at -4, and tees off at 2:25 p.m.).

      Golf

      Should the Lions pass on No. 1 pick?

      April 10, 2009 /

      There’s a notion currently making its rounds on the net that the Lions should allow the time to expire on draft day and pass on the No. 1 pick, essentially relieving themselves of the financial burden that comes along with having the top overall selection.

      Given how ridiculous the rookie salaries are these days in the NFL and the fact that it’s a weak draft class, the idea makes sense. If the Lions allow the Rams, Chiefs or Seahawks to select before they do, then they’ll be on the hook financially for the No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 pick and not the top spot.

      But while in theory it makes sense, realistically Detroit could lose more than it gains in the end. First of all, the Lions have holes all over their roster and they need to address those needs by getting quality players. And if they do strike gold with those selections, whether they pay now or later, they’ll eventually have to pay. To be clearer, if they allow the clock to expire and take Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford at No. 3 instead of No. 1 and he becomes a Pro Bowler over the next couple years, his next contract is going to be hefty regardless of what he signed his rookie deal for. So again, whether they pay now or later, they’ll have to pay if they wind up getting a good player.

      Continue reading »

      NFL, NFL Draft

      HBO presents the Thrilla in Manilla

      April 10, 2009 /

      Tomorrow night (April 11 at 8 pm ET/10pm PT), HBO will premiere the Thrilla in Manilla, a documentary covering the third and final fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. The documentary “tells the story of two great fighters forever linked by three epic bouts, and looks at their final fight, considered the most brutal, from Frazier’s perspective for the first time.” Check out the trailer:


      Martin Johnson reviews the film.

      Thrilla in Manila tells the story with alarming detail and hilarious commentary. The film is much less observational than Leon Gast’s superb When We Were Kings which captured the scene in Kinshasa for the Ali-Foreman fight in 1974. Instead, Dower arrays a cast of talking heads between them so that a dialogue emerges from the commentary. Ali’s cornerman, Ferdie Pacheco, is almost as brash and outspoken as his fighter was. Imelda Marcos, former first lady of the Philippines, is a charming curiosity. Frazier’s son, Marvis, is calm and insightful. “I like to have a Robert Altmanesque ensemble,” said Dower of his motley crew of commentators.

      The film will rub hard-core fans of Ali the wrong way, but Dower says it wasn’t his intent to tear down the great heavyweight. “I came to this with no agenda about Muhammad Ali at all,” he said at a post-screening press conference in New York this week. “It’s just that in telling this story you keep butting into the myth of Ali.”

      Ali takes a few on the chin, but he has only himself to blame for some of it. Dower and his crew unearthed footage of Ali boasting about his agreements with the Ku Klux Klan on camera from the early ‘70s. And during his stay in Manila, he is caught womanizing.

      However, Thrilla in Manila is far more effective as a portrait than a rebuttal or a diatribe. Frazier is the quiet focus of the film. He is shown in his gym, and he’s coaxed into watching the third fight for the first time. “I lost the fight. What would I have learned from watching it again?” he asked without the slightest hint of wistfulness.

      Frazier, both in the movie and in person, seems like a man stuck in the wrong era. His humility and background were easily confused in the ‘70s for subservience, a time when outspokenness was the norm. He wasn’t media savvy in a moment when his opponent was charismatic and savagely sarcastic.

      If you like boxing films and documentaries, this one is definitely worth checking out. Boxing isn’t as big now as it was in the glory days of the 20th century, but it’s still big business, particularly with sports betting becoming accepted in more states. Now you can at least find a no deposit bonus opportunity and enjoy betting on fights.

      Boxing

      Friday MMA Review 4/10

      April 10, 2009 /

      Here’s a weekly rundown of MMA content from Ben Goldstein of CagePotato.com:

      – Last weekend’s action was highlighted by Hayato Sakurai crushing Shinya Aoki at DREAM 8 and Miguel Torres putting in yet another legendary performance at WEC 40.

      – Despite some fainting and a nasty herpes outbreak, the Team USA elimination round went down on The Ultimate Fighter. Lightweight castmember Santino Defranco gave us some insight on Dana White’s intimidating presence as well as his back-from-the-grave victory over Waylon Lowe.

      – We gawked at sexy ring girls Laura Celeste and Maysa Quy.

      – Brett Rogers is still kinda pissed off at Kimbo Slice, while Frank Shamrock thinks Nick Diaz has “social and emotional issues” and “a frayed mind.”

      – Nick Diaz may not have been the best student in school, but at least he’s smart enough to cheat a drug test.

      – For the first time in history, Brazilian dance-fighting worked in a real MMA match.

      – July’s UFC 100 card is looking historically stacked.

      – Japanese featherweight wrecking machine Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto will finally return to competition at DREAM’s next event.

      – Head over to CagePotato.com tomorrow night as we liveblog the Showtime broadcast of “Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz,” beginning at 10 p.m. ET. If you plan on throwing some money on the fights, read this first, and submit your final predictions for the main card in our pick ’em contest to win a bunch of crap from No Fear!

      Mixed Martial Arts

      Couch Potato Alert: 4/10

      April 10, 2009 /

      Comedian Robin Williams once joked that spring was nature’s way of saying “let’s party,” and this weekend, the party will be in front of your TV. The NBA and NHL are winding down their regular seasons, while baseball is concluding its first week. And don’t forget the yearly chase for the elusive green jacket at Augusta. Too many options…not enough time to watch them all. Thank God for DVR technology. Enjoy!

      All times ET…

      NBA
      Fri, 8 PM: New York Knicks @ Orlando Magic (ESPN2)
      Sat, 7 PM: Detroit Pistons @ Indiana Pacers (NBA TV)
      Sun, 1 PM: Dallas Mavericks @ New Orleans Hornets (ABC)
      Sun, 3:30 PM: Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers (ABC)
      Sun, 6 PM: Philadelphia 76ers @ Toronto Raptors (NBA TV)

      NHL
      Sat, 7 PM: Ottawa Senators @ Toronto Maple Leafs (CBC)
      Sat, 10 PM: Edmonton Oilers @ Calgary Flames (CBC)
      Sun, 2 PM: Detroit Red Wings @ Chicago Blackhawks (NBC)

      MLB
      Sat, 4 PM: Boston Red Sox @ Los Angeles Angels (Fox)
      Sun, 1 PM: New York Mets @ Florida Marlins (TBS)
      Sun, 8 PM: Chicago Cubs @ Milwaukee Brewers (ESPN)

      PGA
      Fri-Sun, check your local listing for times: The Masters @ The Augusta National Golf Club (ESPN/CBS)

      Couch Potato Alert, Golf, MLB, NBA, NHL, Television

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