Enter Blue Guy

Yeah that's a pretty cool story. We may not be making the playoffs, but we can still be dicks to those trying. I'm hoping the excitement from the last few games carries over tonight. Back to back home wins? Savor the small achievements. So for that to happen, tonight Luke Schenn scores. It's in the air.

Poor Craig Hartsburg, you short-changed his career! Maybe next time the Sens can ride a coach out for a whole season.

He fought Chris Neil. http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=iCeu99f9TD0

I'll echo the Blake love. Everything that needs to be said about his turn around this season, has above me. Luke Schenn. It almost seems to good to be true what's going on with this kid. Not only playing in the league at 19, but playing effectively, doing serious work in the corners and along the boards, fighting at the right times, throwing big hits on big stars, and his doing it all with the confidence of a seasoned vet. I think I've said that like three or four times word for word in this thread already. Whatever, Luke Schenn is exactly what the Maple Leafs need at the this time. A legit young star who is not only showing he could captain this team one day, he is playing brand of hockey that is going help make the philosophy shift of the team as smooth as it possible can. Burke and Ron have wet dreams about Schenn at least twice a week. Last night for sure.

Spoiler: Click here to view Vintage GSP. He even made it look easy against BJ. I dunno who beats this guy for the belt, but I guess if the unbeatable Welterweight defends his title against the unbeatable Lightweight, doesn't it only makes sense he challenges for the unbeatable Middleweight's title next? How many guys does GSP have to beat in this fashion until the UFC green lights Silva/GSP at 185? My guess is not many. I'll call Silva/GSP somtime by next January at the latest. Guida stole that fight from Nate. Most other fighters would have been stifled by Nate's reach and been hesitant to get in close quarters. Clay Guida is exactly what Joe Rogan said, glue, craziest of crazy glue. Guida survived whatever exchanges he had to and put on the best wrestling clinic anybody at 5'7 could against somebody as tall, lanky, and wiley as Nate. After eating all those shots in the third only to say "fuck you" and take back control of the fight. One of the hardest fought victories I've seen. Clay is an animal. Anybody who has anything ill to say about his guy is as nuts as Guida is in the cage. Beautiful win for Lyoto. Great finish. Leg trip, bomb through the guard, another for your trouble. Lyoto ends fights with his hands now, folks. I hope this trend continues. I can't wait to see the speed and strength of Evans vs. the ELUSIVENESS and counter genius of Machida. I missed the entire Bonnar/Jones fight. No comment. For some reason I keep on calling Jones, Jon Jonas. I have the Disney Channel on my mind apparently. The huge Judo showdown hardly caught my attention after the first. So Karo won by decision I assume? But seriously, I think Kim has some nice tools. Karo is a tough up in opponents for him. Title material? I dunno, but he should provide for some nice competition. I hope they keep him around for a bit longer, unless the whole point of having Kim in the UFC was to up Karo's credentials.

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=H1x86nGb68Y Greatness starting at around the 6:40 mark. THE Doug Gilmour highlight. Tonight should be amazing. Let's try not to lose. That would be pretty cool too.

Maybe it's television magic, but I think only GSP really knows that this is the biggest statement fight of his life. I see GSP slowly wearing out BJ, breaking him down, eventually finishing him. Two keys to victory for GSP; Don't like let BJ get too comfortable on his feet and make sure he is the one controlling the pace of the fight on both levels, ground and standing... by he, I mean GSP of course. Technically, obviously GSP is going to need to have the quicker hands and crisper combos, while proceeding with caution of course, BJ has got mean, powerful hands of his own to respond with. I'm thinking if GSP he can connect early and make BJ swing for the fences in return, it could start to wear BJ out mentally. Even if he can't take BJ totally out of the fight, he can definitely frustrate him, and if GSP can roll with that momentum, he can take clear control of the fight and wear BJ down physically as well... GSP by whatever he wants in the 4th round. EDIT: I know that was a pretty square breakdown of a GSP victory, but there aren't many flaws in BJ Penn's game.

No doubt there will be mention of this. They'll do the usually pre-show memorial photo, probably mention it briefly in the broadcast at some point. From everything I've heard from Helio, he seems the most level headed of all the Gracies. Because God knows the other member of his family have been known to take a dip in the delusional pool every once in a while. RIP Helio.

Holy shit, Kulemin was a beast out there. I don't think he has finished as many checks all season as he did last night. Him and Garbo still pass a little too much and way too wonky for their own good some times, but it seemed liked their average turnover ratio was down last night. At least now Kulemin is throwing decent checks. At this point, I'll buy into anything. +3 for Schenn last night, the game's highest rating. Yay!

Sloppy seconds. Consolation winner. I actually work right beside the Cup's house. He never calls anymore and the few times we've bumped into each into each other, it was just plain awkward.

Where in the GTA? FUCK. YES. POGGE IS BACK! I know this is old news, but I wept when Robbie Earl was dealt. My hopes and dreams of a black man making the 82 game roster is shot down. Jamal Mayers? In my defense, it's not like Jamal Mayers ever sticks out. Unless it's in the middle of a scrum. In that case, there are 50 other guys around too.

Where in the GTA? FUCK. YES. POGGE IS BACK! I know this is old news, but I wept when Robbie Earl was dealt. My hopes and dreams of a black man making the 82 game roster is shot down.

WEC 38 Spoiler: Click here to view Faber's win was perfectly definitive. I haven't been on the net for more than 15 minutes today, but apparently KID was there last night. SPECULATION! Anyways, Cerrone vs. Varner was fucking rocketbuster until the end. Jesus, a perfect FOTYC and it all ends with a knee grazing Varner's eye. Fuck.The knee was as much of a grazing blow as you could imagine, it could have cut slices of turkey so thin you wouldn't even been able to see them. I was giving Varner the benefit of the doubt, it looked weak, but it wasn't me on the receiving end of it. But post fight, I'm almost convinced Varner is going to win an Oscar next year. He seemed too over the top in trying to convince everybody he couldn't see. Both men were impressive, classic striker vs. wrestler/GnP vs. grappler. The fight was Varner's on the scorecards, the take downs giving him the slight edge, IMO, but the ending does not sit well with me at all. Cerrone still seemed to have enough zip on the feet that if he was going to turn it on in round 5, he could have possibly pushed for the finish. At least we get an excuse for a rematch very soon. Tremendous fight. Disappointing ending. Regardless, still worth watching if you can

I think Soko just needs to ease himself back into the game. Beating Lil Nog, then Arona, was the best and worst thing that happened to his career. He went from fighting lower tier fighters to being catapulted into facing competition levels above guys he fought before. The shift happened after only three fights. The jump up clearly happened way too soon, by no fault of his own. On the bright side, Soko is only 24 and has solid experience against quality opponents. As long as he keeps working and stays focused, the best of Soko is probably yet to come.

WEC 38 tonight! Come for Faber/Pulver II, stay for Cerrone/Varner. Jose Aldo is on the main card too, he could very well be a big deal in the making. All in all, WEC rarely disappoints in the entertainment department. What they lack in names, they make up for in the fighter performances.

That poor goalie could not look like he was trying any less, but still did a damn good job of keeping his save percentage respectable. Props to Ovie, Doan, and Tim Thomas. Out of everybody there, nobody looked like there were having more a fun then those three guys. Malkin prepping Alex was very cool to watch, Tim Thomas seemed determined to put on a show in net, and Doan looked like he was having a blast in the elimination shootout. Great way to end of the usual exhausted skills comp, with Doan winning with his daughter on the bench. Ovechkin's enthusiasm was very contagious, if it wasn't for him, we probably wouldn't have watched past the Breakaway Challenge. Oh and Schenn looked good in that 3 on 3 pond hockey showcase... No, but he did look good. And he scored a goal. Hurrah. Actually, Rinne was pretty impressive in goal for the rooks.

Spoiler: Click here to view Fedor is clutch. Always. He's a master of countering any early shortcomings with one, swift movement, whether it's striking, from the ground or feet, or just a well timed pivot. It's like his brain is working two steps ahead of his opponent's and doing all the the calculations to find the exact moment to end the fight. He's timing and execution are flawless. Andrei should get consideration for another shot and showed could very well win if he keeps it in his pants until the appropriate time, but there needs to be Andrei vs. Josh at the very least before either of those guys gets Fedor. Josh looked very meh against Pedro and Yvel, and Andrei had his chance and lost, this time he'll need something more than Rothwell or Nelson to warrant taking a short cut back to Mount Fedor. It only makes sense Barnett vs. Arlovski comes next. Thank Jesus Vitor knock the jock stank off of Matt "The Law...zzzz" Lindland. Matt is one of the most unlikeable guys in the sport, IMO. Not a horrible human being, but he doesn't give anybody outside of Team Quest much, if any, respect. Vitor was my first favorite fighter, any time he scores a comeback win, I find it very hard to shake the notion that THIS is the time for him to take the next step to greatness. I mean he rarely follows up, but it at least it gives me a reason to yell "MOMMA! WE BACK! WE BACK!" for the time being.

Not sure what he is doing right then and there with it, but tractor tires, or whatever tires they are, are pretty common in training for conditioning and shit.

Vesa, you drive me nuts. I want another Pogge game, just another peek. Everybody always says Vesa needs something to push him to play his best, give Pogge a shot in Minnesota or Colorado. Of course if he gets bum rushed, all that does is further cement Vesa as the only goalie in T.O. for real, but my heart aches for at least one Pogge-manned game soon. EDIT: Fuck Minny or Colorado, I just remembered the Leafs are playing the Canes tomorrow. Play Pogge at home TOMORROW! STATEMENT GAME FOR THE FUTURE!

Photos of Semmy Schilt and Alistair Overeem actin' all chummy with Mr. President. A few of them are here ----> http://www.mmanews.com/other/Photos:-Alist...Dana-White.html Bigger photo ops have been taken with less aftermath, but it's kind of a random event to invite Alistair and Semmy to, in Dublin, assuming the trip was courtesy of the UFC. Anyways, the more notable things about the photos, besides posing with an ecstatic Dana White, is the that Alistair seems to have arrived in a kimono, while Semmy looks like he is ready to hit up the singles bar. Note the Dana White impersonator in the Overeem picture. Spoiler: Click here to viewNever really paid much attention to Martin Kampmann's move down to 170, but I'm glad he won. I think Kampmann could be a true force as a six foot welterweight. I've very much become a fan of his over the last few years. He doesn't get much hype, I'd put money on Martin changing that at 170. I keep on forgetting about the dude, but Kampmann, more often than not, impresses and I like his stock to rise this year.

Spoiler: Click here to viewHendo by split D. First round, Hendo. Third round, Ace. Second round was a close call, Franklin had some time to score on the feet, but Hendo was able to take control for what seemed like a more than half the round on the ground in top position. I'd love to see these guys hook up again, great fight. Side note: Hendo caught Franklin with an accidental headbutt in the first which marked up Ace nicely and then caught Rich with an accidental eye poke in the final half miniute of the third round, just as Ace was getting ready to try to finish it. Franklin wasn't really able turn it on in the dying portion of the fight after it.

Spoiler: Click here to view Shogun did not look good. Accurate striking, but very sluggish, gassed half way through the 2nd, kept his hands low, allowing Coleman to answer with jabs. Even with Mark exhausted, Coleman was still able to get some good take downs and get dominant positions. Coleman asks for another rematch, I say give it to him. Shogun did not look good. I say if Coleman wasn't a beaten up, middle aged man, that was his fight to finish. Hopefully for Shogun this was just cage/ring rust, because his stock does not go anywhere with this win at all. Also, Joe was pretty annoying going on about Jeremy Horn's ability to defend himself in the fight. Palhares has 10 fights, a grappling-MMA crossover, just finally starting to face good competition, on his way to convincing victory over Horn, very well rounded fighter with maxed out experience, all Joe can talk about is how good of a job Horn was doing of surviving. Clearly Palhares is on his way to big thinks, exceeding expectations against Hendo and now handily putting away Jeremy Horn. Would have been more fitting to drop a few more pro-Palhares comments as the fight wore on. Anyways, Hendo vs. Franklin is on now

If Hughes wins, Serra has to deliver an array of pasta dishes to Hughes' door. If Serra wins, Hughes has to serve the entire Serra clan a nice, hearty, country breakfast. Mmmm, heaps of raw back bacon. So basically what Ace said. Matt Serra reminds me so much of one of my friends. A cocky, little, Italian dude who is obsessed with jits. It's always saved a place for Serra in my heart because of that.

I thought Jason Blake scored with the Islanders because there was nobody else to it for them. I mean, somebody has to score your goals. Honestly, I never paid any attention to Jason Blake until the Leafs signed him. Then I was like "wait, Jason Blake scored 40 goals last season?" What journey it has been since then.

Ah, I see what you are saying. I think if Maia can handle Sonnen in short order, the UFC will bump up his competition. You think with Okami, the winner of Hendo/Ace, if Nate beats Wilson, you've got a nice four man eliminator if you throw Demian in the mix too if he wins, but that's a scenario for a perfect world.