So, yeah, I'm re-reading a book (only the second time I'm reading it). I'm enjoying it, quite a bit, but I'm approaching the start of the main plot (even though I'm several chapters in, the book has been teasing the subplot as the main plot, even as far as the end of the first book).
Why is that a problem? A bit of non-specific backstory (though I'm sure some people can probably identify the series). Due to natural disaster, the world as we know it is gone. Much of the sky is blocked out in an ashy cloud, triggering a massive "volcanic" winter. Technology is gone, agriculture is all but gone, few farm animals are alive and society is in the shitter. Some people band together for cooperation and support, others to prey on the weak.
The first book has the protagonist separated from his family and covers his journey to reach them. He comes into contact with various other people (some friendly, some not, some murderous and cannibalistic). He meets a girl, they fall for each other, and she ends up joining him on his quest to rejoin his family. Eventually, after several inches-from-death moments, they make it. Problem? His family isn't all there, his parents took off shortly after the disaster to go find him.
Book two starts a few months later as our hero and his girlfriend/lover/lifepartner/soulmate, following a clue that they came across from a group of roaming bandits (evil dudes who rape, kill and pillage), take off to find his parents.
Here's the hard part. They get separated. While trying to fight off one of the gangs, the girlfriend is shot and falls off a highway overpass onto a vehicle operated by the gang and our hero is alone, heartbroken and devastated. He has no idea if she's alive or dead or if this gang was one of those cannibalistic gangs he's been hearing about. His biggest fear being, in searching for his parents, not knowing if they're alive or dead, that he would lead his love to her death.
Now, I've read it before, I know what happens, I know that they find each other and end up safe (well, as safe as a post-disaster world with cannibal gangs and most people having an "everyone for themselves" mentality can be), but still, it's hard to read that part.
I get the same feeling from the last few episodes of Chuck (the ones involving Nicholas Quinn, Sarah uploading the faulty Intersect and having the memories of the last 5 years essentially erased). I mean, we spent so much time watching Chuck and Sarah finally admit their feelings for each other and to actually take that step to be together, through almost-moments, near death experiences and even a period where they end up together at the end of one season only to start the next broken up and the furthest from each other emotionally as they could be, to repairing their friendship only to see other people. They finally get together, they even get married, but can they have 5 minutes of peace and quiet just to enjoy it? Nope.
After the Volkoff mission (and the Volkoff-daughter mission), Chuck and Sarah end up with the liquidated assets of Volkoff Industries (turns out Volkoff was an Intersect-implanted personality as part of a CIA/MI6 joint mission that went haywire and Volkoff was actually a close friend to Chuck's father, and was part of the team that actually developed the original Intersect) they're out of the CIA, Chuck had the intersect forcibly removed (turns out that and their firing were part of a plan by Daniel Shaw as one last attempt at vengeance which occupies the first half of season 5) and have decided to use their skills and experience (and near billion-dollar bank balance) to start their own private security/investigation firm (basically, private-sector spies for hire). Oh, and Morgan temporarily gets a bad Intersect upload (meant for Chuck) that starts wiping his memories as he uses it. It gets removed, but not without some permanent memory loss.
Meanwhile, Chuck and Sarah are slowly discovering how emotionally exhausting and family-incompatible life as spies (private or government) is, and are looking to get out of the business and move into something a little more family friendly (they come to the realization that they both REALLY want to start a family, kids and all, eventually). Of course, they end up with one last mission. What does that involve? Recovering a pair of Intersect glasses from the hands of a former-CIA agent who went rogue. Sounds easy, right? Hah.
They get the glasses, but Mr. Quinn (the rogue former agent) captures Chuck and ransoms him for the glasses. Sarah, despite knowing they're the same version as the ones that messed with Morgan's brain, uploads it into her head in order to get herself and Casey out of certain death. Quinn eventually captures Sarah, forces her to flash (and thus wiping her memory of everything about her time with Chuck), and ends up convincing her that he's a good guy and Chuck is a rogue agent with a kill order on him.
Eventually the truth comes out, Sarah realizes that she's been played, that her life with Chuck wasn't an act or a cover, that it was real, but that she doesn't feel it. It's someone elses life, essentially. So, she leaves Chuck (not knowing how to be the girl he knows) and goes after Quinn (who discovered a device that was a part of the original Intersect design that was meant to avoid all the brain-melty parts the recent Intersect versions have been plagued with). Chuck eventually pairs up with her after her first attempt fails, and he tries to jog her memory (with limited success, but with some actual success, just some very minor things, but things that show that her life with Chuck isn't necessarily completely gone). Eventually, Quinn assembles the "perfect" Intersect, Chuck and Sarah reach him before he can use it, they kill Quinn and recover it. Turns out that this Intersect could restore Sarah's lost memories, but because of the design, the device could only be used once before frying the circuitry and Chuck needs the Intersect to defuse a bomb planted in a concert hall currently being attended by several high-ranking military personnel.
So, Chuck uses it, saves the day but had to sacrifice getting the love of his life back in order to do it. The team is disbanded (Sarah goes to "find herself", Casey goes to hook up with his adversary/girlfriend and Chuck is left alone).
Chuck decides to track her down one last time for one last attempt at keeping her in his life (in whatever form he can), and finds her at the very same beach Sarah found Chuck at in the very first episode after their first mission (there are a lot of parallels in this episode to the first, kind of a full-circle concept). She's not sure WHY that beach means something, but she knows it does. So, Chuck talks with her, explains that he knows that the memories are effectively gone and that he's not expecting to be able to pick their relationship back up where they left it, but that the most important thing for him was that she trust him and not completely cut him out, that however she needs him, he'll be there. Sarah asks Chuck to tell her their story, and by the end, though she doesn't remember, it seems like she's willing to give it a shot and see if they can rebuild what they lost.
That's another thing that, while it ends on a positive note, the low point is such a kick in the nuts it's hard to watch. I mean, CAN'T THESE PEOPLE JUST BE HAPPY FOR ONCE?
You've got Chuck and Sarah, Alex and Darla, Buffy and Spike, Angel and Cordelia, Mal and Inara, Eragon and Arya. I mean shit, if it's not one thing, it's another.
I'm not exactly sure why I feel this way, or maybe I do. Maybe it has something to do with my own complete lack of relationship success. Maybe it's me living vicariously through these fictional characters. Maybe it's the thinking that if these pairings, whom are obvious soulmates (if you believe in that type of thing) can't end up together, with something always coming inbetween them, what hope does a normal guy like me have?
Yeah, I don't know. Twenty-nine year old virgin here, so what do I know. Maybe I look for relationships like what these characters have because I'm getting to the point where I think I'll never have something like they do (or even a fraction of what they have). If I haven't experienced even a part of it by now, maybe it's too late, and that the best I can hope for are these fictional characters?
I should see a shrink (and a dietitian and a personal trainer), but damn, they can be expensive.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
April 22, 2013
I don't want to go to sleep.
I don't want to go to sleep because that'll mean tomorrow will come sooner.
I don't want tomorrow to come sooner because I don't want to face tomorrow.
Tomorrow will just be more of the same. Trying to find a job, trying to get welfare to help me afford to live till I get a job (not that I'd want to EVER be on it, but I don't really have a choice at the moment), dealing with having no money.
Tomorrow will be me dealing with living at my father's place. A place that will never feel like home no matter how much he tries.
I just got back from a week at my sister's. Some job hunting mixed with just getting away from my "normal" life and I can't believe how much more relaxed I was up there. I felt like I wasn't completely in the rut I'm in, that my life wasn't completely fucked.
But, can't exactly stay there long term. As comfy as her couch is, it's no bed. So, I'm back "home" (I have no real home, just a place to crash and eat). I've been home for maybe 7 hours and I'm already wishing I was away again.
There's not really much I can do about that except get a job (or, you know, win the lottery).
Fuck.
I don't want to go to sleep because that'll mean tomorrow will come sooner.
I don't want tomorrow to come sooner because I don't want to face tomorrow.
Tomorrow will just be more of the same. Trying to find a job, trying to get welfare to help me afford to live till I get a job (not that I'd want to EVER be on it, but I don't really have a choice at the moment), dealing with having no money.
Tomorrow will be me dealing with living at my father's place. A place that will never feel like home no matter how much he tries.
I just got back from a week at my sister's. Some job hunting mixed with just getting away from my "normal" life and I can't believe how much more relaxed I was up there. I felt like I wasn't completely in the rut I'm in, that my life wasn't completely fucked.
But, can't exactly stay there long term. As comfy as her couch is, it's no bed. So, I'm back "home" (I have no real home, just a place to crash and eat). I've been home for maybe 7 hours and I'm already wishing I was away again.
There's not really much I can do about that except get a job (or, you know, win the lottery).
Fuck.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Well, today I was officially kicked out of my mom's house. It's not like I wanted to be there, I've just been unemployed for too long and mom wasn't exactly happy with my progress (despite applying to hundreds of positions each month). Didn't help that my physically disabled uncle is a complete douchebag, lives with her and took personal offence to my being unemployed. He felt like it was important to make sure my mother knew how much my unemployment annoyed him.
Thus, I get the boot. It's understandable, and I should be out on my own by this point, BUT, I would've liked a little warning, maybe have some time to find a more appropriate place. I'm sure I'll look back on this as the turning point where I finally got my life together (at least, I'm really hoping that this is the moment, otherwise I'm fucked), but still, not the greatest moment in a guy's life.
As it is, I packed a couple bags of clothes and necessities and made for my dad's place.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love my dad, but he's not exactly the easiest person to live with. Especially for an unemployed guy in desperate need for a job. A little to easy going.
So, my quest is to get a job, preferably in a different city, so I can get away from my family and really be on my own. As far as what kind of job, I'm not to particular. Just something with decent pay and steady hours that will help me pay the bills and maybe let me take some courses at night. Maybe start getting my way into the whole professional writing gig.
I need to do something creative. Something to get these ideas out of my head. I feel like if I don't, these ideas will be stuck up there and I'll end up going crazy. I don't know if I want to get into novel writing, whether I want to try my hand at scriptwriting (be it film, stage or television) or what. Maybe I'll do a bit of each, depending on what I end up writing.
One thing I always get whenever I read or watch something (especially when the endings are left open) is "What happens next". What happens to an immortal hero, who's story takes place in a world much like medieval Europe, if his world follows the same progression as ours? For example, Eragon from Chris Paolini's Inheritance Cycle. He and his sentient dragon Saphira exist in a world technologically equivalent to Arthurian England, and they are expected to live forever. How will this young man and his dragon companion deal with the evolution of science and technology? How would they deal in their world's equivalent to 21st Century New York or Tokyo? How would their relationship change? How would they deal with space travel and if their responsibilities required them to travel to other worlds?
Or what happens to the crew of Destiny, from Stargate Universe? We last see the crew as they load themselves into stasis pods for a three-year uninterupted jump between galaxies (in order to avoid a "race" of automated battle drones bent on destroying all technology except their own)? The character of Eli ends up volunteering to stay out of stasis when the last pod is found faulty, and is given two weeks to attempt repairs before the ship loses too much power to make the jump. Do they make it? Does Eli repair the pod? How does the crew deal with Destiny's original mission (identifying and decoding evidence possibly pointing to organized design in the creation of the Universe, based on a signal found in the background radiation dating back to the Big Bang).
Or PAM STOP READING HERE! CHUCK SPOILERS ABOUND!!!!!
What about Chuck? Casey's left to go be with Verbanski. Alex has moved in with Morgan (in Casey's old apartment). Jeff and Lester are touring Europe. And Chuck and Sarah were last seen on the beach reconnecting after Sarah's memory loss. Does Sarah remember anything? Does she remember actual events from her life with Chuck or does she just remember emotions but not the events that produced them (eg. she can't remember WHY being with Chuck feels rright, just that it does)? How does that affect their relationship? Does she decide to stay or does she still need to leave Burbank for a while? Does she go alone or does Chuck join her (maybe try their European tour from S3 for real)? If Chuck stays home, does Sarah use it as a "home base"? If she stays, do they keep Charmichael Industries going (as the anti-cyber-terrorism/crime outfit they were planning)? Do they get the house? Do they have kids?
CHUCK SPOILERS END HERE!!!
So, I have all these questions in my head, and I start coming up with these possible outcomes. Some of these I evolve into more original ideas that don't really have much of a link to the original inspiration, some of these remain "fan fic".
Sometimes, when reading a book or watching a show or movie, right in the middle I come up with different ways the character could handle various scenarios. Different choices, different things to say, things like that. Hell, there are times where I stop reading, or pause the video, and act out my version and whow it would affect the rest of the existing story.
So, yeah, where was I? That's right, kicked out of my home, trying to find a job, and trying to figure out how long I'm going to be in my current place of residence before I can move on properly.
Oh, and I just started watching Chuck for the fifth time in a month. Why? Because there's nothing on TV, all my DVD's and my external hard drive with my downloaded and ripped shows/movies are still at my former domicile, and pretty much all I've got on my laptop is Chuck, Fringe season 5 (just watched that, but I don't have the rest of the series) and Flashpoint Season 4 (which I finished watching yesterday). Besides, Chuck is awesome. Yvonne Strahovski is hot (and Sarah is probably one of my favourite characters in the last few years from any show/movie, very well written and acted). Adam Baldwin (a.k.a. John Casey, a.k.a. Jayne Cobb from Firefly, a.k.a. Animal Mother from Full Metal Jacket) is his usual combination of badass jokester.
Chuck is the type of guy I wish I could be. Starts out the series as me (and many other guys), awkward, nerdy, smart and a giant underachiever, but finds his place in the world and the woman he's supposed to experience it with and makes the best of it.
So yeah, that's today, that's me, and we'll see what tomorrow brings.
I need a haircut.
Thus, I get the boot. It's understandable, and I should be out on my own by this point, BUT, I would've liked a little warning, maybe have some time to find a more appropriate place. I'm sure I'll look back on this as the turning point where I finally got my life together (at least, I'm really hoping that this is the moment, otherwise I'm fucked), but still, not the greatest moment in a guy's life.
As it is, I packed a couple bags of clothes and necessities and made for my dad's place.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love my dad, but he's not exactly the easiest person to live with. Especially for an unemployed guy in desperate need for a job. A little to easy going.
So, my quest is to get a job, preferably in a different city, so I can get away from my family and really be on my own. As far as what kind of job, I'm not to particular. Just something with decent pay and steady hours that will help me pay the bills and maybe let me take some courses at night. Maybe start getting my way into the whole professional writing gig.
I need to do something creative. Something to get these ideas out of my head. I feel like if I don't, these ideas will be stuck up there and I'll end up going crazy. I don't know if I want to get into novel writing, whether I want to try my hand at scriptwriting (be it film, stage or television) or what. Maybe I'll do a bit of each, depending on what I end up writing.
One thing I always get whenever I read or watch something (especially when the endings are left open) is "What happens next". What happens to an immortal hero, who's story takes place in a world much like medieval Europe, if his world follows the same progression as ours? For example, Eragon from Chris Paolini's Inheritance Cycle. He and his sentient dragon Saphira exist in a world technologically equivalent to Arthurian England, and they are expected to live forever. How will this young man and his dragon companion deal with the evolution of science and technology? How would they deal in their world's equivalent to 21st Century New York or Tokyo? How would their relationship change? How would they deal with space travel and if their responsibilities required them to travel to other worlds?
Or what happens to the crew of Destiny, from Stargate Universe? We last see the crew as they load themselves into stasis pods for a three-year uninterupted jump between galaxies (in order to avoid a "race" of automated battle drones bent on destroying all technology except their own)? The character of Eli ends up volunteering to stay out of stasis when the last pod is found faulty, and is given two weeks to attempt repairs before the ship loses too much power to make the jump. Do they make it? Does Eli repair the pod? How does the crew deal with Destiny's original mission (identifying and decoding evidence possibly pointing to organized design in the creation of the Universe, based on a signal found in the background radiation dating back to the Big Bang).
Or PAM STOP READING HERE! CHUCK SPOILERS ABOUND!!!!!
What about Chuck? Casey's left to go be with Verbanski. Alex has moved in with Morgan (in Casey's old apartment). Jeff and Lester are touring Europe. And Chuck and Sarah were last seen on the beach reconnecting after Sarah's memory loss. Does Sarah remember anything? Does she remember actual events from her life with Chuck or does she just remember emotions but not the events that produced them (eg. she can't remember WHY being with Chuck feels rright, just that it does)? How does that affect their relationship? Does she decide to stay or does she still need to leave Burbank for a while? Does she go alone or does Chuck join her (maybe try their European tour from S3 for real)? If Chuck stays home, does Sarah use it as a "home base"? If she stays, do they keep Charmichael Industries going (as the anti-cyber-terrorism/crime outfit they were planning)? Do they get the house? Do they have kids?
CHUCK SPOILERS END HERE!!!
So, I have all these questions in my head, and I start coming up with these possible outcomes. Some of these I evolve into more original ideas that don't really have much of a link to the original inspiration, some of these remain "fan fic".
Sometimes, when reading a book or watching a show or movie, right in the middle I come up with different ways the character could handle various scenarios. Different choices, different things to say, things like that. Hell, there are times where I stop reading, or pause the video, and act out my version and whow it would affect the rest of the existing story.
So, yeah, where was I? That's right, kicked out of my home, trying to find a job, and trying to figure out how long I'm going to be in my current place of residence before I can move on properly.
Oh, and I just started watching Chuck for the fifth time in a month. Why? Because there's nothing on TV, all my DVD's and my external hard drive with my downloaded and ripped shows/movies are still at my former domicile, and pretty much all I've got on my laptop is Chuck, Fringe season 5 (just watched that, but I don't have the rest of the series) and Flashpoint Season 4 (which I finished watching yesterday). Besides, Chuck is awesome. Yvonne Strahovski is hot (and Sarah is probably one of my favourite characters in the last few years from any show/movie, very well written and acted). Adam Baldwin (a.k.a. John Casey, a.k.a. Jayne Cobb from Firefly, a.k.a. Animal Mother from Full Metal Jacket) is his usual combination of badass jokester.
Chuck is the type of guy I wish I could be. Starts out the series as me (and many other guys), awkward, nerdy, smart and a giant underachiever, but finds his place in the world and the woman he's supposed to experience it with and makes the best of it.
So yeah, that's today, that's me, and we'll see what tomorrow brings.
I need a haircut.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Personal Thoughts on recent events in MMA
Starting with the most recent and working back:
1) Anthony "Rumble" Johnson missing weight, again
2) Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos tests positive for PEDs
3) Ronda Rousey drops weight-class and gets an immediate title shot
4) Miguel Torres, Rashad Evans and Forrest Griffin - very similar offenses, vastly different punishments
OK, lets start with #1: Anthony "Rumble" Johnson
Johnson was an MMA fighter in the UFC's welterweight (170 pounds) division. He is a rather large man for a welterweight (pictures showing him comparable in size to light-heavyweight, 205 pound, team mate Rashad Evans), and as a result, has missed weight on two different occasions, each time being fined a portion of his "To Show" pay. There have been calls for him for years to move up to middle weight (185 pounds), as the cut would be easier on him and likely less damaging to his body.
Finally, he agreed, and was scheduled to fight veteran, former Light-Heavyweight and UFC 12 Tournament Champion (and current middleweight contender) Vitor Belfort. Weigh-ins were this afternoon, and despite being in a division that allows him to cut 15 pounds less than he usually tries to, Johnson managed to STILL miss weight, officially weighing in at 197 pounds. That's 12 pounds over the 185 limit (11 pounds counting the 1 pound leeway they give for non title fights). That's the most he's ever missed by.
He's stating that there was a medical reason for his failure to make weight, and that he managed to get down to 187.5 but was so dehydrated that the on-site Doctor insisted that he rehydrate immediately or suffer possible serious complications.
Regardless if that's true or not, this man should not have been anywhere close to needing to dehydrate himself that badly to make 185 pounds, since he never encountered this before cutting to 170. This guy obviously needs new diet and health coaches as whomever he's using are obviously clueless.
As it is, Rumble is going to be lucky if he has a job after the fight tomorrow, win or lose.
Vitor Belfort made weight, and despite Rumble not coming close, agreed to still fight as long as Johnson kept his weight under 205 pounds. A loss, or failing to make 205, will obviously be the end of Anthony Johnson's UFC career, and quite deservedly. He has repeatedly shown a lack of professionalism, of respect for his opponent, and of ability in how to properly prepare for his fights.
Vitor by career-ending KO.
-----------------------------
2) Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos fails a drug test
The Strikeforce Women's 145 pound champion and arguably best female fighter in the sport has suffered a major setback that brings into question her entire career. Following her 16 second blitz win over contender Hiroko Yamanaka, Santos' mandatory post-fight drug test came back positive for anabolic steroids. The win was overturned and is now a "No Contest", and she was stripped of her title.
Now, I think most people who were aware of what happened live in a jurisdiction where "Innocent until Proven Guilty" is the way of the law, so, until she failed a test, we had to assume she was clean, BUT, she was very odd looking for a female, even for an elite athlete. Rumors, comments, and questions about possible steroid use have been around ever since she started making it big, as she is rather masculine.
The truth is out, though she claims it was an accidental dosing due to a tainted diet suppliment. However, that seems to be the case with most first-time positive tests. It's so common an excuse it's bordering on cliche.
As it is, Strikeforce's Female 145 division is pretty much dead in the water. Since Gina Carano left following her defeat to Cyborg (to crown the division's first champion), it's pretty much been Cyborg and whatever normally-135 pound fighter they can pay to move up . Then came Ronda Rousey, who seemed on the verge of challenging Cyborg, though, citing a lack of experience (she started her career in 2011 and has only 4 pro fights, all first round armbars) she decided to move to the 135 pound division, which has a larger roster of quality fighters. As I said, it's pretty much dead in the water, now.
The thing with a positive steroid test, is we have no real idea how long they've been using. Was this the first time or did she just mistime her cycle and this is the first time she got caught? How many of her fights were fought while she was using? How much of an effect did this have on her ability to train? If you could find an alternative universe where the only difference was she never used, and went from there, would she have been as dominate as she has been? Would one of her previous opponents have found a way to beat her?
We will never know. All we can find out is what this extra scrutiny, and a 1 year suspension, will have on her ability to train. Will she still be a badass, will this mentally mess her up, will her entire career from now till retirement be ever tainted with this scandal, even if she passes every test she does from now on?
----------------------------------------
3) Ronda Rousey dropping from 145 to 135, and leapfrogging Sarah Kaufman for a title shot
Ronda Rousey is an Olympic level Judoka, taking the bronze in Beijing. She is also hot. The "too pretty to be a fighter" kind of hot, almost to the level of Gina Carano. She is 4 fights into her professional career, sporting a perfect 4-0 record, each fight ending in round 1, in less than 60 seconds, by arm-bar, giving her a total of 2:18. Toss in her 3 first round amateur wins (again all armbars in less than 60 seconds each) and it's 4:02. That's right, 7 fights, 7 wins, and in less than one standard 5 minute round.
Because there is such a lack of legitimate competition at 145, she was being talked about soon fighting Cyborg for her title. For one reason or another, she decided to move to the 135 pound division and work towards that title before fighting Cyborg. She was also talking about how she wanted to fight for the title immediately.
Yes, without ever having fought at the weight, or even knowing if she could safely cut to 135, she wanted to fight for the title. And thus began the war of tweets between Ronda, current champ Miesha Tate and former champion and generally considered the #1 contender Sarah Kaufman.
Sarah Kaufman was the inaugural champion of the 135 pound division, and suffered her first (and to-date, only) defeat at the hands of Marloes Coenen (Marloes then went on to lose the title to current champ Miesha Tate). She also holds a win over Miesha Tate and this was looking to be a good fight, for the title and to give Miesha a chance to avenge an early loss.
The powers that be, however, felt different. They saw the attention that Ronda was getting, with this online confrontation, with her thoughts on what Strikeforce should do with womens mma (merge the 135 and 145 divisions, either at 135 if Cyborg could make it, or maybe at 140), and insinuations that Cyborg was using steroids and that was one of the reasons she hasn't dropped to 135 already (allegations proved true just days later). So, as per usual, the powers that be decided that Sarah Kaufman could wait and Ronda Rousey would match Miesha Tate for her title.
Which is complete and utter bullshit. It's shit like that which causes more damage to the already fragile legitimacy of womens MMA than Cyborg's failed piss test. It shows that your record doesn't need to be there if you can draw attention to yourself.
----------------------
4) Miguell Torres/Rashad Evans/Forrest Griffin, Sonnen/Marquardt, and Rousey/Kaufman and how marketing value counts for more than legitimacy and consistancy.
In short: Forrest Griffin tweeted "And Rape is the new Missionary". It was a comment he made due to all the Penn State scandal coverage on TV and how flooding the media about a subject can numb our responses (much like video games and horror movies desensitizing kids to violence).
He made an appology and donated money to a rape crisis centre and that was it.
Rashad Evans, at the first press conference for his upcoming fight with Phil Davis, live in front of a good number of press, told Davis that he would "Put my hands on you like the guy from Penn State", a direct reference to the scandal and the coach. Davis attended Penn State.
Dana commented on it saying "It was in the heat of the moment" and nothing else was done.
Miguel Torres tweeted "If a rape van was called a surprise van more women wouldn't mind going for rides in them. Everyone likes surprises." It was a reference to the TV show "Workaholics", which was on at the time.
He was immediately let go from the show, despite his comments being no worse than Forrest's and much less than Rashad's. Even when fans raised shit with Dana and told him that it was a reference to a TV show, Dana didn't care.
It took a formal apology, a donation to a rape crisis centre, "sensitivity" classes and a 20 day limbo period before he was brought back.
When questioned about his varied responses, Dana White commented that he liked to take these situations on a "case by case basis". It just so happens that a perennial Light-Heavyweight title contender (and former champ) and one of the two guys Dana credits with saving the UFC (and former champion himself) basically got free rides, while the third guy (himself a former WEC champ) who was working his way back up got tossed under the proverbial bus.
Nate Marquardt and Chael Sonnen have a lot in common. Both have fought Anderson Silva for his middleweight title, both lost, and both use Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Now, in most jurisdictions, TRT is allowed IF approved in advance by the applicable Athletic Commission. There is a great deal of double-checking, testing and medical consultation required to get permission (basically you need to show that your natural testosterone levels are constantly lower than normal). Once you get permission, you need to keep your levels within the set limits of the Athletic Commission (so as to not give you an advantage akin to steroids).
Chael Sonnen passed his prefight tests, fought Anderson Silva, came within 3 minutes of winning before being submitted and failed his post-fight mandatory test. During the investigation, Chael's permission to use TRT came into question. During the hearing, Chael was shown not to have followed the proper procedure for legitimately using TRT, specifically failing to inform the commission that he was on it. Chael commented that he did inform the commission, but the commission head said in no uncertain terms that he never received any such notification. Chael then went to say he meant he told his manager to inform the commission, to which the commission head effectively called Bull Shit.
At first, Chael was going to receive an indefinite suspension (effectively ending his MMA career), but that was eventually reduced to 1 year and then to 6 months. During that suspension, Chael, who has a day-job as a Real Estate Agent, was charged with and plead guilty to Real Estate Fraud (paying a $10000 fine and losing his Agent's license, permanently). Ever since this, Chael has gone on to repeatedly deny his guilt for the TRT issue.
What did Dana do? Nothing. He welcomed Chael back and started planning how he was going to get Chael back in against Anderson Silva.
Nate Marquardt failed his pre-fight test, which caused him to be pulled out of his fight against Rick Storey (was originally supposed to be Anthony Johnson but he pulled due to injury). This caused a shuffle in the card (the last of several) and pissed off Dana. This wasn't a title fight, this wasn't a PPV, this wasn't even a big card on Spike. This was Nate making his 170 pound debut on a "UFC on Versus Live" card, which was scheduled as the last card the UFC would put on Versus (the Fox deal being announced a couple months later). Nate lost his job because of it. Another immediate, knee-jerk reaction, typical of Dana.
The state's Athletic Commission suspended Marquardt's license, but reinstated it the next day (fight day) after testing his levels again and finding them to be within the stated limit. He was still fired.
Nate, eventually, gave an interview to air his side of the issue (on "The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani"). He stated that Doctors found his testosterone levels to be abnormally low after Nate complained of poor health and constant fatigue, and recommended he begin TRT. In order to get him back to normal levels they started him on a slightly more aggressive dosage than normal, but miscalculated and didn't lower the dosage closer to fight time, which resulted in the above-normal levels he had.
To this day, Nate Marquardt hasn't fought. He was looking into Bellator, but couldn't come to a deal (likely wanted more money than they were willing to pay). He eventually signed on with UK based BAMMA to fight in their welterweight division. He was scheduled to make his debut at BAMMA 8, but then his fight was delayed (by BAMMA) to BAMMA 9, and was to fight Yoshiuki Yoshida. The entire BAMMA 9 event was delayed a month, and Nate's manager requested to be released from the contract due to going so long without his first fight. No word yet on where he might go.
So,
Sonnen: jackass, felon, liar, tried to deny his guilt repeatedly- still has his job and status as #2 middleweight.
Marquardt: overall decent guy, not the greatest fighter but better than most, family man, accepted his guilt and punishment - Dana says he'll never fight for the UFC again.
Rousey/Kaufman
My main points about this are in the previous section. In short, despite only fighting for 1 year, and never having fought in the 135 pound division, Ronda Rousey leapfrogs former Champion and generally accepted next-in-line (who has a win over the current champ) Sarah Kaufman because Rousey is more marketable (she's got trash talking skills akin to Sonnen and she's hot, while Kaufman is more respectable and not as hot. Kaufman isn't "Cyborg" levels, as Sarah can clean up quite well from what I've seen, it's just she doesn't seem to care too much about that. She's a fighter not a model. I certainly wouldn't kick her out of bed, and not because she'd likely kick my ass if I tried, well, not ONLY because of that.)
What does this show? Dana favours those who can make him money, even if they paint MMA in a poor light. He's showing that entertainment is more valued than legitimate sporting competition.
1) Anthony "Rumble" Johnson missing weight, again
2) Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos tests positive for PEDs
3) Ronda Rousey drops weight-class and gets an immediate title shot
4) Miguel Torres, Rashad Evans and Forrest Griffin - very similar offenses, vastly different punishments
OK, lets start with #1: Anthony "Rumble" Johnson
Johnson was an MMA fighter in the UFC's welterweight (170 pounds) division. He is a rather large man for a welterweight (pictures showing him comparable in size to light-heavyweight, 205 pound, team mate Rashad Evans), and as a result, has missed weight on two different occasions, each time being fined a portion of his "To Show" pay. There have been calls for him for years to move up to middle weight (185 pounds), as the cut would be easier on him and likely less damaging to his body.
Finally, he agreed, and was scheduled to fight veteran, former Light-Heavyweight and UFC 12 Tournament Champion (and current middleweight contender) Vitor Belfort. Weigh-ins were this afternoon, and despite being in a division that allows him to cut 15 pounds less than he usually tries to, Johnson managed to STILL miss weight, officially weighing in at 197 pounds. That's 12 pounds over the 185 limit (11 pounds counting the 1 pound leeway they give for non title fights). That's the most he's ever missed by.
He's stating that there was a medical reason for his failure to make weight, and that he managed to get down to 187.5 but was so dehydrated that the on-site Doctor insisted that he rehydrate immediately or suffer possible serious complications.
Regardless if that's true or not, this man should not have been anywhere close to needing to dehydrate himself that badly to make 185 pounds, since he never encountered this before cutting to 170. This guy obviously needs new diet and health coaches as whomever he's using are obviously clueless.
As it is, Rumble is going to be lucky if he has a job after the fight tomorrow, win or lose.
Vitor Belfort made weight, and despite Rumble not coming close, agreed to still fight as long as Johnson kept his weight under 205 pounds. A loss, or failing to make 205, will obviously be the end of Anthony Johnson's UFC career, and quite deservedly. He has repeatedly shown a lack of professionalism, of respect for his opponent, and of ability in how to properly prepare for his fights.
Vitor by career-ending KO.
-----------------------------
2) Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos fails a drug test
The Strikeforce Women's 145 pound champion and arguably best female fighter in the sport has suffered a major setback that brings into question her entire career. Following her 16 second blitz win over contender Hiroko Yamanaka, Santos' mandatory post-fight drug test came back positive for anabolic steroids. The win was overturned and is now a "No Contest", and she was stripped of her title.
Now, I think most people who were aware of what happened live in a jurisdiction where "Innocent until Proven Guilty" is the way of the law, so, until she failed a test, we had to assume she was clean, BUT, she was very odd looking for a female, even for an elite athlete. Rumors, comments, and questions about possible steroid use have been around ever since she started making it big, as she is rather masculine.
The truth is out, though she claims it was an accidental dosing due to a tainted diet suppliment. However, that seems to be the case with most first-time positive tests. It's so common an excuse it's bordering on cliche.
As it is, Strikeforce's Female 145 division is pretty much dead in the water. Since Gina Carano left following her defeat to Cyborg (to crown the division's first champion), it's pretty much been Cyborg and whatever normally-135 pound fighter they can pay to move up . Then came Ronda Rousey, who seemed on the verge of challenging Cyborg, though, citing a lack of experience (she started her career in 2011 and has only 4 pro fights, all first round armbars) she decided to move to the 135 pound division, which has a larger roster of quality fighters. As I said, it's pretty much dead in the water, now.
The thing with a positive steroid test, is we have no real idea how long they've been using. Was this the first time or did she just mistime her cycle and this is the first time she got caught? How many of her fights were fought while she was using? How much of an effect did this have on her ability to train? If you could find an alternative universe where the only difference was she never used, and went from there, would she have been as dominate as she has been? Would one of her previous opponents have found a way to beat her?
We will never know. All we can find out is what this extra scrutiny, and a 1 year suspension, will have on her ability to train. Will she still be a badass, will this mentally mess her up, will her entire career from now till retirement be ever tainted with this scandal, even if she passes every test she does from now on?
----------------------------------------
3) Ronda Rousey dropping from 145 to 135, and leapfrogging Sarah Kaufman for a title shot
Ronda Rousey is an Olympic level Judoka, taking the bronze in Beijing. She is also hot. The "too pretty to be a fighter" kind of hot, almost to the level of Gina Carano. She is 4 fights into her professional career, sporting a perfect 4-0 record, each fight ending in round 1, in less than 60 seconds, by arm-bar, giving her a total of 2:18. Toss in her 3 first round amateur wins (again all armbars in less than 60 seconds each) and it's 4:02. That's right, 7 fights, 7 wins, and in less than one standard 5 minute round.
Because there is such a lack of legitimate competition at 145, she was being talked about soon fighting Cyborg for her title. For one reason or another, she decided to move to the 135 pound division and work towards that title before fighting Cyborg. She was also talking about how she wanted to fight for the title immediately.
Yes, without ever having fought at the weight, or even knowing if she could safely cut to 135, she wanted to fight for the title. And thus began the war of tweets between Ronda, current champ Miesha Tate and former champion and generally considered the #1 contender Sarah Kaufman.
Sarah Kaufman was the inaugural champion of the 135 pound division, and suffered her first (and to-date, only) defeat at the hands of Marloes Coenen (Marloes then went on to lose the title to current champ Miesha Tate). She also holds a win over Miesha Tate and this was looking to be a good fight, for the title and to give Miesha a chance to avenge an early loss.
The powers that be, however, felt different. They saw the attention that Ronda was getting, with this online confrontation, with her thoughts on what Strikeforce should do with womens mma (merge the 135 and 145 divisions, either at 135 if Cyborg could make it, or maybe at 140), and insinuations that Cyborg was using steroids and that was one of the reasons she hasn't dropped to 135 already (allegations proved true just days later). So, as per usual, the powers that be decided that Sarah Kaufman could wait and Ronda Rousey would match Miesha Tate for her title.
Which is complete and utter bullshit. It's shit like that which causes more damage to the already fragile legitimacy of womens MMA than Cyborg's failed piss test. It shows that your record doesn't need to be there if you can draw attention to yourself.
----------------------
4) Miguell Torres/Rashad Evans/Forrest Griffin, Sonnen/Marquardt, and Rousey/Kaufman and how marketing value counts for more than legitimacy and consistancy.
In short: Forrest Griffin tweeted "And Rape is the new Missionary". It was a comment he made due to all the Penn State scandal coverage on TV and how flooding the media about a subject can numb our responses (much like video games and horror movies desensitizing kids to violence).
He made an appology and donated money to a rape crisis centre and that was it.
Rashad Evans, at the first press conference for his upcoming fight with Phil Davis, live in front of a good number of press, told Davis that he would "Put my hands on you like the guy from Penn State", a direct reference to the scandal and the coach. Davis attended Penn State.
Dana commented on it saying "It was in the heat of the moment" and nothing else was done.
Miguel Torres tweeted "If a rape van was called a surprise van more women wouldn't mind going for rides in them. Everyone likes surprises." It was a reference to the TV show "Workaholics", which was on at the time.
He was immediately let go from the show, despite his comments being no worse than Forrest's and much less than Rashad's. Even when fans raised shit with Dana and told him that it was a reference to a TV show, Dana didn't care.
It took a formal apology, a donation to a rape crisis centre, "sensitivity" classes and a 20 day limbo period before he was brought back.
When questioned about his varied responses, Dana White commented that he liked to take these situations on a "case by case basis". It just so happens that a perennial Light-Heavyweight title contender (and former champ) and one of the two guys Dana credits with saving the UFC (and former champion himself) basically got free rides, while the third guy (himself a former WEC champ) who was working his way back up got tossed under the proverbial bus.
Nate Marquardt and Chael Sonnen have a lot in common. Both have fought Anderson Silva for his middleweight title, both lost, and both use Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Now, in most jurisdictions, TRT is allowed IF approved in advance by the applicable Athletic Commission. There is a great deal of double-checking, testing and medical consultation required to get permission (basically you need to show that your natural testosterone levels are constantly lower than normal). Once you get permission, you need to keep your levels within the set limits of the Athletic Commission (so as to not give you an advantage akin to steroids).
Chael Sonnen passed his prefight tests, fought Anderson Silva, came within 3 minutes of winning before being submitted and failed his post-fight mandatory test. During the investigation, Chael's permission to use TRT came into question. During the hearing, Chael was shown not to have followed the proper procedure for legitimately using TRT, specifically failing to inform the commission that he was on it. Chael commented that he did inform the commission, but the commission head said in no uncertain terms that he never received any such notification. Chael then went to say he meant he told his manager to inform the commission, to which the commission head effectively called Bull Shit.
At first, Chael was going to receive an indefinite suspension (effectively ending his MMA career), but that was eventually reduced to 1 year and then to 6 months. During that suspension, Chael, who has a day-job as a Real Estate Agent, was charged with and plead guilty to Real Estate Fraud (paying a $10000 fine and losing his Agent's license, permanently). Ever since this, Chael has gone on to repeatedly deny his guilt for the TRT issue.
What did Dana do? Nothing. He welcomed Chael back and started planning how he was going to get Chael back in against Anderson Silva.
Nate Marquardt failed his pre-fight test, which caused him to be pulled out of his fight against Rick Storey (was originally supposed to be Anthony Johnson but he pulled due to injury). This caused a shuffle in the card (the last of several) and pissed off Dana. This wasn't a title fight, this wasn't a PPV, this wasn't even a big card on Spike. This was Nate making his 170 pound debut on a "UFC on Versus Live" card, which was scheduled as the last card the UFC would put on Versus (the Fox deal being announced a couple months later). Nate lost his job because of it. Another immediate, knee-jerk reaction, typical of Dana.
The state's Athletic Commission suspended Marquardt's license, but reinstated it the next day (fight day) after testing his levels again and finding them to be within the stated limit. He was still fired.
Nate, eventually, gave an interview to air his side of the issue (on "The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani"). He stated that Doctors found his testosterone levels to be abnormally low after Nate complained of poor health and constant fatigue, and recommended he begin TRT. In order to get him back to normal levels they started him on a slightly more aggressive dosage than normal, but miscalculated and didn't lower the dosage closer to fight time, which resulted in the above-normal levels he had.
To this day, Nate Marquardt hasn't fought. He was looking into Bellator, but couldn't come to a deal (likely wanted more money than they were willing to pay). He eventually signed on with UK based BAMMA to fight in their welterweight division. He was scheduled to make his debut at BAMMA 8, but then his fight was delayed (by BAMMA) to BAMMA 9, and was to fight Yoshiuki Yoshida. The entire BAMMA 9 event was delayed a month, and Nate's manager requested to be released from the contract due to going so long without his first fight. No word yet on where he might go.
So,
Sonnen: jackass, felon, liar, tried to deny his guilt repeatedly- still has his job and status as #2 middleweight.
Marquardt: overall decent guy, not the greatest fighter but better than most, family man, accepted his guilt and punishment - Dana says he'll never fight for the UFC again.
Rousey/Kaufman
My main points about this are in the previous section. In short, despite only fighting for 1 year, and never having fought in the 135 pound division, Ronda Rousey leapfrogs former Champion and generally accepted next-in-line (who has a win over the current champ) Sarah Kaufman because Rousey is more marketable (she's got trash talking skills akin to Sonnen and she's hot, while Kaufman is more respectable and not as hot. Kaufman isn't "Cyborg" levels, as Sarah can clean up quite well from what I've seen, it's just she doesn't seem to care too much about that. She's a fighter not a model. I certainly wouldn't kick her out of bed, and not because she'd likely kick my ass if I tried, well, not ONLY because of that.)
What does this show? Dana favours those who can make him money, even if they paint MMA in a poor light. He's showing that entertainment is more valued than legitimate sporting competition.
Monday, August 16, 2010
MMA Is NOT a team sport!
I hear from many places around the internet about how MMA is a team sport, and that you'll get nowhere thinking it as an individual sport. That is something I have NEVER understood. Why? Because, when a fighter steps in a ring or a cage, they go in alone. No one in there except their opponent and the referee.
Team sports, like baseball, football, hockey, etc., are called team sports because each player works with their teammates and their success or failure will be awarded to the team as a whole. Those acolades will also stay with the team, even all the members of that particular team are no longer with the team. For example, the Toronto Blue Jays were the 1992/1993 World Series Champions. They are still the 1992/1993 Champions, even though all the members of those winning teams have either retired or moved onto other teams.
On the other hand, despite the existence of training teams in MMA, each fighter competes on their own for their own personal successes or failures. Their records are their own, their titles are their own.
As an example, look at one of the big teams in MMA right now, Team Jackson led by Trainer/Coach Greg Jackson. They have an impressive stable of fighters, including current Welterweight Champ Georges St. Pierre, former Light-Heavyweight Champion and current #1 Contender Rashad Evans, and former Interim Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin. There is also Diego Sanchez, returning to the team after a couple years exploring other opportunities, Light-Heavyweight rising star Jon Jones, and the TechnoViking Keith Jardine, to name a few.
They are a team. They fight under the Team Jackson banner, they train with each other, and rely on each other to prepare for their fights. They are much like a team in the NFL, but with one notable exception. MMA Fighters do not share records/titles.
For example, Rashad Evans and Keith Jardine go way back, both being The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 alumni (Rashad being the winner of the season), as well as both holding knockout victories over former LHW Champions Forrest Griffin and Chuck Lidell. The similarities end there, though.
Rashad has a nearly unblemished fight record (15-1-1), with his only loss coming at the hands of Lyoto Machida during Evan's first title defense. Rashad went on to coach The Ultimate Fighter Season 10, which featured former EliteXC fighter and internet street brawler Kimbo Slice and the only IFL Heavyweight Champion Roy "Big Country" Nelson (who went on to have one of the highest rated fight of any MMA fight, ever). After the show (and after opposing coach Quentin Jackson finished filming/promoting "The A-Team" movie), Rashad defeated Jackson to earn a second shot at the LHW title against Champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (after a highlight-reel KO of formerly undefeated Lyoto Machida, in a rematch of their previous fight which saw Shogun lose a decision despite the vast majority of fans, and Dana White himself, being sure he won).
Jardine, however has had a less successful, albeit longer, record of 15-8-1, while going 2-6 since his KO of Griffin, and dropping his last 4 fights. Needless to say he was cut after his most recent loss, despite a Fight Of The Night bonus (and unnofficial Bloodbath of the Night award, for Jardine spraying enough blood to hit one of the cameras, and having some land on "Best of Pride FC" host Kendra Perez while she watched from the crowd) earning performance. He's currently slated to fight for the "Shark Fights" promotion in September.
Keith Jardine, despite being a friend and teammate of Rashad Evans, and despite both competing in the 205 pound division (and up till now, both in the UFC), they do not share records. Jardine cannot call himself a former LHW Champion. Nor can he call himself a former HW Champ or the current WW champ, despite being teammates of both.
As you can see, despite having the same coaches, training partners and facilities, Rashad Evans has a much better record than Keith Jardine. What this shows, is that there is an additional component that differentiates them, and that would be the fighters themselves. Rashad is a different fighter than Jardine, they perform differently, have different styles and are able to adapt with different levels of success.
Am I dismissing the importance of having the right team of trainers, coaches and training partners? No, not in any way. Team work is necessary for training, and without it there can be no success.
HOWEVER, training is not the sport. The sport is not Team vs Team (the IFL tried that, and while a novel idea, failed). It is One vs One. If I were to compete, and went to train at Xtreme Couture with Randy, I wouldn't be able to call myself a 5-time UFC Champion, would I?
So, despite teamwork being a major part of training, it is not a part of the actual competition.
Team sports, like baseball, football, hockey, etc., are called team sports because each player works with their teammates and their success or failure will be awarded to the team as a whole. Those acolades will also stay with the team, even all the members of that particular team are no longer with the team. For example, the Toronto Blue Jays were the 1992/1993 World Series Champions. They are still the 1992/1993 Champions, even though all the members of those winning teams have either retired or moved onto other teams.
On the other hand, despite the existence of training teams in MMA, each fighter competes on their own for their own personal successes or failures. Their records are their own, their titles are their own.
As an example, look at one of the big teams in MMA right now, Team Jackson led by Trainer/Coach Greg Jackson. They have an impressive stable of fighters, including current Welterweight Champ Georges St. Pierre, former Light-Heavyweight Champion and current #1 Contender Rashad Evans, and former Interim Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin. There is also Diego Sanchez, returning to the team after a couple years exploring other opportunities, Light-Heavyweight rising star Jon Jones, and the TechnoViking Keith Jardine, to name a few.
They are a team. They fight under the Team Jackson banner, they train with each other, and rely on each other to prepare for their fights. They are much like a team in the NFL, but with one notable exception. MMA Fighters do not share records/titles.
For example, Rashad Evans and Keith Jardine go way back, both being The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 alumni (Rashad being the winner of the season), as well as both holding knockout victories over former LHW Champions Forrest Griffin and Chuck Lidell. The similarities end there, though.
Rashad has a nearly unblemished fight record (15-1-1), with his only loss coming at the hands of Lyoto Machida during Evan's first title defense. Rashad went on to coach The Ultimate Fighter Season 10, which featured former EliteXC fighter and internet street brawler Kimbo Slice and the only IFL Heavyweight Champion Roy "Big Country" Nelson (who went on to have one of the highest rated fight of any MMA fight, ever). After the show (and after opposing coach Quentin Jackson finished filming/promoting "The A-Team" movie), Rashad defeated Jackson to earn a second shot at the LHW title against Champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (after a highlight-reel KO of formerly undefeated Lyoto Machida, in a rematch of their previous fight which saw Shogun lose a decision despite the vast majority of fans, and Dana White himself, being sure he won).
Jardine, however has had a less successful, albeit longer, record of 15-8-1, while going 2-6 since his KO of Griffin, and dropping his last 4 fights. Needless to say he was cut after his most recent loss, despite a Fight Of The Night bonus (and unnofficial Bloodbath of the Night award, for Jardine spraying enough blood to hit one of the cameras, and having some land on "Best of Pride FC" host Kendra Perez while she watched from the crowd) earning performance. He's currently slated to fight for the "Shark Fights" promotion in September.
Keith Jardine, despite being a friend and teammate of Rashad Evans, and despite both competing in the 205 pound division (and up till now, both in the UFC), they do not share records. Jardine cannot call himself a former LHW Champion. Nor can he call himself a former HW Champ or the current WW champ, despite being teammates of both.
As you can see, despite having the same coaches, training partners and facilities, Rashad Evans has a much better record than Keith Jardine. What this shows, is that there is an additional component that differentiates them, and that would be the fighters themselves. Rashad is a different fighter than Jardine, they perform differently, have different styles and are able to adapt with different levels of success.
Am I dismissing the importance of having the right team of trainers, coaches and training partners? No, not in any way. Team work is necessary for training, and without it there can be no success.
HOWEVER, training is not the sport. The sport is not Team vs Team (the IFL tried that, and while a novel idea, failed). It is One vs One. If I were to compete, and went to train at Xtreme Couture with Randy, I wouldn't be able to call myself a 5-time UFC Champion, would I?
So, despite teamwork being a major part of training, it is not a part of the actual competition.
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