Why Brock Lesner and not Kimbo Slice?

We're approaching the first ever MMA show on a Major Television station (CBS). Elite XC is putting their show on. The main event features one of the most talked about rookies "Kimbo Slice".
At the same time, former WWE Wrestler Brock Lesner prepares for his 3rd only MMA fight with the UFC. For him, it's a complete love-fest towards the all-american collegiate wrestler.

Why? Why is one fighter hated, and the other fighter loved? Lets take a look:

Kimbo Slice is an internet sensation. he started beating people up on the streets and Backyard brawls. Lo and behold, someone decided to film him and put his videos on YouTube. Suddenly everyone wants to see this guy fight in a MMA event.
I think the reason why people hate on Kimbo Slice so much is the fact that he represents the what the Sport of MMA was and what they (espcially the UFC) is trying to get away from. UFC is trying to get away from the "Human cockfighting" image that they had many years ago. The image of people fighting in the underground, unregulated, and anything goes.

Brock Lesner is practically the exact opposite. He is a clean cut, all american midwest boy. He went to college, got a degree, got collegiate awards. He became a professional, and worked for a major entertainment company, WWE. He performed before live audiences and national television.

In the end the question is asked, is the Hype reasonable? The answer is no. You have 2 rookie fighters who have not proved anything. They do not deserve to be rushed right in to the spot like so quickly. But there is a simple thing that they can do. Go out and win. Prove that they belong here.

Introducing: Mr. Stanley Cup

Yes friends according to this article, there is a Stanley Joseph Cup (aka Stanley Cup). And he's a Penguins fan!

STANLEY CUP ROOTING FOR PENGUINS: This may come as a surprise to the Red Wings, who are two victories away from raising the Stanley Cup.

Stanley Cup is a major Penguins fan. And he’d like a couple of tickets to the two Cup games in Pittsburgh.

Stanley Joseph Cup, age 59, of Saltsburg, Indiana County, in the Pittsburgh region, has been a Penguins rooter for years. Several years back, he appeared in TV ads for Versus (then known as OLN) promoting the network’s Stanley Cup coverage.

A steelworker who routinely works 10-hour shifts, he has seeking Cup tickets.

Cup’s father, a coal miner named Steven Stanley Cup, wasn’t a hockey fan but gave his son the name Stanley because he liked the common nickname for Stanley of Stush, which is what Stanley Cup’s friends call him.

And, yes, Stanley Cup has pictures of himself with the other Stanley Cup.

LOL! I wonder if anyone has asked to have their name tattooed on to him. Then you'd have your name on Stanley Cup.

What Xbox 360 should do with HD-DVD

As we all know, HD-DVD lost the battle vs Blu-Ray as the next standard in DVD/Hi-Def DVD technology. Along the same lines, Xbox360 lost it's hi-def DVD player to Sony PS3's Blu-Ray. The Xbox360 did NOT have the HD-DVD built in like Sony's PS3 did. The HD-DVD was an add on attachment.
Immeadiately after the HD-DVD lost, Xbox360 ceased production and all of them were pulled off the shelf.

But here's what I think Microsoft / Xbox 360 should do:

• Give away all the HD-DVD players to any Xbox360 users. Why not? it's useless and the add-on will just sit in some dumpster somewhere. Why not give it away. Make the users pay for the Shipping.
• If it is USB (I don't know) then you could give it out to computer users and they can use it on their computers. Again, it's just landfill, give it away, let the users pay for shipping.
• Produce HD-DVD only content for the Xbox360. Start putting your games on them. Or putting multiple games on them, like a series. Imagine Halo, Halo 2, and Halo 3 on one disc.
  
• More HD-DVD Content. Xbox360 openings, conventions, forums, videos, behind the scenes, Making the Game, etc.
  

NOTE: It is not common knowledge, but the equipment to create an HD-DVD is simular to making a standard DVD (give or take a few pieces). Blu-Ray however, you need to replace the entire equipment to make the disk. So the equipment to make HD-DVD is more commonly available for Microsoft to reach and use.

When all is said and done, you've made use of a technology that we all thought was long and gone. You've taken control of a small nitch. You used the technology you based your equipment around. Remember the age of cartridges, they couldn't play on other systems. Same thing here. Microsoft can make it "their" format and they can expand their games onto it.

And if it doesn't work then you got rid of your stock and it's someone else's problem. But at least you maximized your system, rather than be stuck at a format that restricts your game size limit.

My Experience at Super-Con

Like Stepping out of a Psych Episode, I went to my first Comic Book Convention (aka. then "CON"). Actually I don't know if it is my first. I've been to a lot of Comic book Shows. I don't remember if any of them were Conventions. This one was a Convention. This is...

SUPER CON
(as opposed to Wonder-Con, Comic-Con, Decepti-Con, Stunti-Con, Insecti-Con)

I had a good time. Being at the San Jose Convention Center, I took Light Rail up. Of course half the stations were closed due to constrution. then Downtown was under construction too, so the Convention Center was the last stop, WHEW!

I met up with Dave CONners, Logan (Dave's Son) and Woody. Good thing too because if I went by myself I'd probably freak out. Nick's Sister was supposed to meet up, but she didn't show.

The atmosphere is different at the Con than a Comic Book Show. There's alot more activity. There are panels and Q&A and hella lot more artists.

I looked at alot of comics and toys and graphic novels. I think I spent to much on Graphic Novels but it was my first experience. I figured it out by the end of the day. Buy at the end because people want to get rid of the stock! They don't want to carry it back! hahaha.

There were some movie stars there too. Richard Kiel Happy Gilmore. The Actor from Battlestar Galactacus. And then the kid who played Bobo Fett in Star Wars 2 was there. And Wil "Wesley Crusher" Weaton was there. He was talking to fans. and was really down to earth. He didn't mind meeting people, and did not hold himself over people.

So the highlight of my day was meeting Greg Horn. I spent most of my day looking for the "Emma Frost" Trade Paperback. Well guess who draws the covers for the comic. Greg Horn. DUH I'm an idiot. Remember I didn't know what to expect. So here I am talking to Greg Horn. He was really down to earth and was sharing information about his life and his pictures. There were lots of great stuff. Anyways. Greg Horn draws the cover of Emma Frost, Electra, Ms. Marvel, Jenna Jameson's Shadow Hunter, among others. He's been doing the "Secret Invasion" promos too.

Greg Horn is the guy I wanted to aspire to be when I went through my "drawing" phase. How can I aspire to be someone who I just met? well simple. He draws what I wanted to draw. Really, REALLY hot women. I mean HOT. Women. beautiful. Lara Croft, Emma Frost (her again? YES), Jenna Jameson! Hello?!?!?

Anyways, I got Greg to sign a Comic and I bought a print of Emma Frost (/Drool). He handed out a flyer to his website and his forum and his myspace. So it was a good time.

Until we meet again. Keep drawing... really really hot HOT beautiful Women...

Ron Wilson Fired; The Search Begins

To the surprise of no one, Ron Wilson was relieved of his coaching duties. For those of you who don't know, that's the nice way of saying "You're fired."
This was not unexpected. You have one of the best teams in the NHL. And you can only get the team to the same spot for 3 straight years. Round 2, Game 6. Same Spot, 3 years in a row.

I want to say that I (and many other bloggers, posters, etc.) believe that Ron Wilson did not do a bad job at this. He did a VERY good job with this team: Two Division Titles, Franchise record in points. Franchise record in wins. But the problem is that the team did not improve. Hell, it didn't even get worse. Same spot every year. When you're stuck in Neutral, you need to change and this was the first of probably many changes.

So now the quest begins for the new coach. And remember you need someone that is "better" than Ron Wilson. And that's a hard task to do. "Better" is relative. You put anyone behind the bench and say "Big Joe, Patty, Cheech, Nabby, Go get em" and you'll make the playoffs next year. Better means: bring the team together. Synergy. Become one. and do it. So I found this:
http://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/

I would like a coach who has either WON the championship or WON a conference Title. Obviously the coach has to have coached in this decade. and of course has to be available to coach.

• Bob Hartley
  
• Pat Burns
• Larry Robinson
• Glen Sather

Slim pickings I think. There are others but those are some of the big names that are there. Interesting note about Pat Burns... between Daryl Sutter and Ron Wilson, I threw out Pat Burns 's name. That was my pick. Don't know why. Wouldn't it be interesting if he became the coach. ha.

We'll have to see who is going to be the man. I think it should be chosen by July.

Come on Scotty Bowman. Come back for one more. With this team you can get 2 more!

Sharks Season Ends (the real post)

Ok, time to push the commentator out of the way and really look at the Sharks postseason and offseason. Yes I am very disappointed the Sharks are out of it. This team is so much better than it's 2nd round exit. But the record skips record skips record skips like a broken record. And the Sharks are bounced again in the 6th game of the 2nd round.

Round 1: I knew the Sharks would have a tough time with Calgary. I would have preferred Minnesota or Colorado. For some reason I knew the Sharks would lose Game 1. But it would be a wakeup call for the rest of the series. I don't really think they woke up till Game 5 and Game 7. They played hard and ended up winning a very grueling battle.

Round 2: a change of pace since there was less hitting. I think that was a mistake. I thought the Sharks should have hit alot more and pressure the Defense. I mean this is the playoffs and it's time to step it up. The Sharks could have won this series. It was just unfortunate. Game 1 the Sharks hit 2 posts. Game 2, Lil' Joe slips leading to the Dallas tying goal. Game 3 had the quick whistle while the puck was still moving into the net. Granted, Game 5 had 2 goals called back on Dallas too.
Being down 3-0 is almost impossible. It takes so much out of you. You have to play at a desperate high intensity game for 4 straight games. Meanwhile Detroit, winner of the other series in 4-0 sweep, is sitting around in lawn chairs, drinking martinis, relaxed without being knocked around. So you see, even if the Sharks won, they probably wont win the next round. Dallas won't win the next round. They will be beat up and worn down by the Sharks.
What the Sharks did was show some heart (finally). They did not collapse like they did the last 2 years. This year, if they were going down, they went down swinging. It would have been easy for Sharks to give up being down 3-0. But they fought hard. Unfortuneately I think they figured out how to play the playoffs too little too late.

Offseason: This will be an off-season of change. Someone will be going. I love Ron Wilson. He is a great coach. But look at where the Sharks season has ended. Round 2 Game 6. For 3 straight years the SAME SPOT. 3 years, we have not improved to the next round. So if you asked the question, "Did we improve from last year?" the answer is NO, we haven't. I think it is time to bring in a new Head Coach.
You have to bring in the RIGHT head coach. Someone who has a similar system. And the coach has to be better than Ron Wilson. If the new coach isn't better, or a system drastically different, it would be starting over. I don't think this team needs to start over.
If the RIGHT head coach isn't available, then I would keep Ron Wilson. If Ron Wilson stays, someone has to go. It might be one or both of his coaches, Tim Hunter or Rob Zettler.
If not the coaches, which players are going to go? Rumors are back to Marleau since his no-trade clause kicks in after the playoffs complete.
Unrestricted Free Agents, by Priority/Importance

• Brian Campbell - The guy we covet. But where were you in the playoffs???
  
• Jeremy Roenick - Why not another year with the Sharks? We love you, you love us!
  
• Tomas Plihal - Stepped up in the playoffs to give an extra push. Like to see you next year!
  
• Patrick Rissmiller - In and out of the lineup. Good on the PK, but Marleau and Pavelski might be taking over next year.
  
• Curtis Brown - Youth movement coming in. Sorry C Brown. You're a good role player but I don't see you fitting into the team.
  
• Dmitri Patzold - 3A (or 3B) in goalies. Don't think you will make it because the Sharks have some good goalies in the system, Griess being one of them.
  
• Alexei Semenov - Slow and old; some toughness. But there are guys waiting in the Minors (Wishart)
  
• Sandis Ozolinsh - Old and Slow; really fell out of favor for lack of defense.

Restricted Free Agents. NOTE: Avoid the Dustin Penner situation, where Penner was given a HUGE contract that priced him out of Anaheim's salary cap.:

• Ryane Clowe / Joe Pavelski - Without you guys giving the Sharks 2ndary scoring, where would this team be???
• Christian Ehrhoff - Finally maturing into a good Defenseman. your Shot misses the net too much though.
• Marcel Goc - Where are you Marcel??? You were so strong last year. Then you disappeared this year. You're gonna come back, but you're going to need to step up to beat out the young guys next year.

The Minors. These guys should push into the lineup next year.

• Forwards: Tom Cavanagh, Lukas Kaspar, Logan Couture
  
• Defense: Darek Joslin, Ty Wishart
• Goalies: Thomas Griess, Taylor Dakers

The window of opportunity is down to 3 years. Thornton, Cheechoo, Marleau, Mihalek, Nabokov are all one more year older. It will be another difficult offseason for Doug Wilson. Oh and by the way D-Wilson, in 3 years, your time will be coming up too...

End for the Sharks; People scatter from the "Commentator"

In a previous post I stated I would not post another "Sharks are rolling" post since they lost immediately after the post. Turns out I may not have been the cause.

Near the end of the season the Sharks went on a 20 game point streak. The day the kid (now referred as "the commentator" by people around us) The Sharks lost. They ended up losing 3 games in a row.

I wish I had thought of it earlier. I wish I could have recorded everything that came out of the commentator's mouth. They would have been great sound bytes:

• That was the worst ___... EV-ver; Pass, shot, goal, block, etc. you name it, he said it.
• ____ (team) stinks, the goalie stole it for them. the goalie stole it for them. the goalie stole it for them. the goalie stole it for them. the goalie stole it for them.
• Seriously... I'm not kidding.
  
• These referees are from Canada; or Go back to Canada, referee!
  
• How much did _____ (team) pay you off?
• I'm not Joking.
• Aw Joe (Thornton), Where are you passing that Joe? Way to go Joe.
  
• Joe you suck.
• Way to go Error (Erhoff)
• ____ is so un-classy; These guys are all un-classy.
  

All year, all the commentator did was whine and complain about the Sharks. Ironically when the the Sharks were the best, he wasn't around.

By the time the playoffs came, everyone was looking back at him. He was annoying everyone. And because the playoffs are more intense, his whining became more intense. More than enough people have tried to get him to calm down, but he wouldn't. And so everyone is going to move away from him.

People come to enjoy the game, but this commentator had the special ability to suck the fun out of watching a sports game.

We will be one of the people to move away from this class-less kid. If there is any positive out of the early Sharks exit, it will be this.