Pictured above: the sports book at the Monte Carlo Casino in Las Vegas. At some point in the 30-odd hours I’ll be sauntering in there to lay some money down on either Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz (35-3, 17KO) or Juan “Dinamita” Marquez (50-5-1, 37KO). Which Juan should I pick? (Went for it…)
I recently enjoyed the privilege of informing the group of guys who I’m traveling to Vegas with this weekend for a bachelor party (my first time in Vegas in fact) that we’ll be out there for the fight of the year. Depending on how everyone does at craps table, perhaps some of my comrades will join me in laying down some winnings on the fight. I’m definitely betting on this fight, and I’m leaning towards Diaz at the moment – just because I want to root for him.
Boxing trainer and fight writer, Gordon Marino, breaks down Diaz-Marquez II over a Huffington Post. Check out a clip below of the their first meeting back in Feb ’09, ruled in Marquez’s favor in the ninth round.
On October 10, 72 teams from 18 states will travel to Las Vegas for the largest adult kickball tournament in the history of adult kickball. Probably, in the total history of all kickball (until Field Day Earth 2080, when the youth unite to take it back from old people).
This is the 12th annual World Championships of Kickball hosted by the World Adult Kickball Association, deemed the Founders Cup, which WAKA holds the registered trademark to despite there being at least a Canadian Lacrosse tournament, a U19 Girls Rugby tournament, and a boat shoe for women of the same name – good for them.
Las Vegas, NV August 26, 2009 — The stage is set for the ultimate adult kickball showdown. The World Adult Kickball Association® (WAKA), the world governing body of kickball, will host the 12th annual Founders Cup® World Kickball Championship® Tournament (Founders Cup) on Oct. 10, 2009 at Desert Breeze Park in Las Vegas.
Kickball once lived and died on the school playground, but in 1998, WAKA turned the kid’s game into a full-fledged sport by creating the first organized, widespread co-ed adult kickball league. Today, WAKA is the world’s largest adult kickball organization with thousands of teams across most major cities in the U.S., as well as internationally in London and Iraq.
“The Founders Cup showcases world-class kickball teams competing for the prestigious title of world kickball champion, while still enjoying the fun, social and all-inclusive experience WAKA is known for,” said David Lowry, co-founder of WAKA.
I’m trying to think through the progression of a 72-team bracket (Joe Lunardi sez, “go back to Russia, WAKA”), but I keep getting distracted by the team names (see: The Teams to Beat list). There’s those that range from fully uninspired to misogynistic-light (two teams named Balls Deep, and another named Balls Deeper). There are your pop culture plays on the word kick (Kick In A Box, Kickhopopotamus). And of course, booze references (Party Foul, Happy Hour, Menace to Sobriety). Here are the five teams I’m rooting for based on their cleverness alone:
The Royal Tennenballs (Santa Barbara, CA) The Savage Freds (Culver City, CA) Pitch Please! (Hollywood, CA) Bulletproof Tigers (New York, NY) Swift Kick in the Grass (Somerville, MA)
Hit the poll at the bottom to root for your favorite, and check out some video from last year’s Founder’s Cup… the first, an over-the-top promo (titled: Keep Dreamin’), the second, adult slip-n-slide.
What’s going on everybody? A fan named Matthew Gardner made a hot video of my summer league highlights that I had to post on here. Since I’m from Compton, you already know what song he used for the soundtrack…
I think I do know.
At least I thought it was going to be Straight Outta Compton. That’s actually N.W.A.’s 100 Miles and Runnin.’
Demar’s well tuned mid-range game is definitely on display in this highlight reel – check out the baseline fadeaway about 1:10 in, with MC Ren adding: So for now pack the gun and Hold it in the air.
As Eazy E might say, lend Demar Derozan your muf#kin’ eyes and check out his Rookie Chronicles blog. He’s got some typical growing into my millions footage up there – himself picking up his first Escalade, sans rims for the time being.
Even a cold O.G. like myself has to admit, this is adorable.
Meet Keith “I’m a hustler baby“ O’dell Jr., two-year old pool prodigy.
Junior may spend two, three hours a day honing his craft, but the keyword here is pedigree. The New York native, Keith was recently spotted at billiards halls around Las Vegas while attending the American Pool Associations annual tourney in which his Grandma and Grandpa were competing. Keith himself is the youngest member of the APA.
No word on any sort of potential diaper sponsorship deal with Olhausen, yet.
Ricky Hatton laid there on the mat for a good three minutes looking like he was in another world on Saturday. And anyone with even a cursory knowledge of boxing (and the effects of a Manny Pacquiao uncontested left hook) knows that could be it for the Hitman.
“Let’s not dilly-dally with this, let’s get him to the right guy. I’m getting him to the right man,” said [Eubank Sr.] the former middleweight and super-middleweight world champion. “I’m sending him out there. I’ve watched this man [Mayweather], I’ve watched him train him. Christopher is no good to him without heart, he’s got fight, so now, what Floyd will do is teach him the tools.”
Eubank Sr. versus Joe Calzaghe
19-year old Eubank initially broke into boxing against his father’s wishes when he started training in 2006 in Las Vegas. In a short period of time, he’s amassed six amateur victories and recently won the title of Nevada Golden Gloves Champion at the 165 lbs. According to the Guardian, Eubank is in no rush to go pro and has a strong desire to compete for the UK at the London 2012 Olympics.
On-court rivals Alonzo Mourning and Patrick Ewing will team up for Obama Rally in Broward County in the all-important state of Florida tomorrow (SunSentinel.com)
Natalie Gulbis Essay Contest
The finalist have been selected in the Natalie Gulbis “Who’s Behind Your Success” Essay Contest (sponsored by RSM McGladrey). Lot of worthy candidates for the prize of spending a day in Vegas with Natalie. (WorldGolf.com)
Low Brow Discussion Will Not Be Allowed at Sports Talk Radio Station
FM-Station WMVN (101.1) in St. Louis will soon be converting from dance-music to sports, and station chief John Kijowski says, “We will be absolutely a 100 percent sports-talk station,” he said. “Talk about bimbos, hookers on our air? No way. There’s no need to dumb it down. Just because you’re a guy doesn’t mean you have to talk about that stuff. We will take a local, regional and national approach to mature sports talk.” (STLToday.com)
Parent Banned From Youth Football Over Bad Play
Finally, a unique spin on an old fable. A parent in Amherst, OH barked at the coach of his son’s 9-and-10 year old football team, and demanded he call a specific play. (A sweep, resulting in loss yardarge. Police then arrested parent Eric Frambach, whose been charged with disorderly conduct and is banned from practices and games moving forward. (SeattleTimes.com)
“I was at a recent event with Charles in Palm Springs and we were at a casino. While he could have been tempted by the surroundings, he did not participate. I think once he makes up his mind not to do something, he sticks with it and will be alright.”
A couple years ago, Lali Outhoummountry, the captain of the San Francisco Bay Bombers, and her husband Patrick purchased the track that was used in the opening sequence of the film Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.
Last Wednesday, the 1,500 lb. track that was being kept in the Outhoummountry’s backyard was picked up by Tornado-like winds, and crushed to pieces.
According the Las Vegas Sun, Lali Outhoummountry said:
the boards started to writhe as the metal framework holding them together began to yield.
The track, which was being kept in the family’s backyard, was a vintage high-banked track reminiscent of the tracks used in the 1960s when roller derby was a Saturday Afternoon television favorite. Today, the most competitive and popular leagues use a flat track.
Lali Outhoummountry and her husband, who both work in casinos and invested $25,000 dollars in the track, say they intend to rebuild it.
