Tell me what you think........

Oh Monday.......,

How's everyone doing??? anyways I hope everyone watched Mayweather/Marquez 24/7 if so what did you think?? I feel that both fighters are looking ready and close to peak shape the catch weight is 144lbs which is Big for Marquez but he is a Warrior and seems to find a way to either beat or make Top fighters at least look ordinary the next episode is September 5th on HBO check it out!! if you missed the 1st one it is replaying all throughout the week and of course they will run all 4 episodes on the night of the fight.......also on this fight card Zab "Super" Judah is fighting Antonio Diaz who is tough Cat respect to Judah for fighting him also Rocky Juarez is fighting Chris John in a rematch 1st fight was a war so definately worth a watch,these 2 undercards are HBO Boxing After Dark caliber fights.......also Floyd looks like he has some recent Beef with the Police as far as a shooting at some Skating Rink.....hope all is right with Him he says he was not there and is currently NOT a suspect so hopefully he stays focused and ready to do this thing......alright Everybody I hope all reading this are good in life,love,health Hit me with a Comment or Diss you know me :)..........Ciao' David G.

David@wecoversports.com

Gimme Five! By Nick R

Here are the top five players I would pick to start a baseball team.


1. Albert Pujols, First Baseman, St. Louis Cardinals- Albert Pujols is one of those players you will tell your kids and grandkids stories about. Every generation has these kind of players. The 1940’s had Joe Dimaggio. The 1960’s had Mickey Mantle. Pujols is the best player this decade and he is not even 30 years old yet. What sets Pujols apart in my opinion is his patience. He struck out 93 times as a 21 year old rookie in 2001 and has not had a season of over 70 strikeouts since. In a day and age where a 160 strikeout season is not uncommon for a power hitter, Pujols knowledge of the strike zone is a major weapon. About halfway done with his career, Pujols is on pace for career numbers of 700 home runs, 2200 runs batted in, over 3,000 hits and a batting average around .330. These are Sega Genesis numbers. If the Cardinals resign Matt Holliday to hit behind Pujols and protect him in the order it’s possible Pujols has some of his best years coming up.

2. Joe Mauer, Catcher, Minnesota Twins- A great athlete, Joe Mauer turned down a football scholarship from Bobby Bowden to play Quarterback at Florida State. The number one overall pick in the 2001 baseball draft made the right call. I’m not sure what Mauer needs to do to win an MVP award. Prior to 2006 no American League catcher had ever won a batting title. Mauer won one in 2006 and in 2008 hitting .347 and .328. The only knock on Mauer coming into 2009 was he didn’t have a lot of power. Through 390 at bats in 2009 Mauer has belted 25 home runs. With all due respect to Justin Morneau (Mauer’s teammate) and Dustin Pedrioa who won the American League MVP award in 2006 and 2008 respectively they are nowhere near as valuable to their teams as Mauer. Playing the most physically demanding postion in baseball, Mauer is among the best hitters in the game. Much like Pujols, what makes Mauer such a great hitter is his patience. As a 22 year old rookie in 2005 Mauer walked 61 times and struck out 64. Those are great numbers for a rookie, but Mauer was not impressed. He has not struck out more than he has walked in any season since, and in 2008 he walked 84 times while only striking out 50. Mauer is also great at handling a pitching staff. The development of young Minnesota pitchers like Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, and Nick Blackburn can be attributed to Mauer. A Saint Paul native, Mauer can be as big in Minnesota as Prince or ice fishing if he plays his whole career with the Twins. As a small market team the Twins will have a hard time resigning Mauer. Due to be a free agent in a couple years, if Mauer hits the free agent market teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, and Dodgers will give Mauer a blank check.

3. Hanley Ramiez, Shortstop, Florida Marlins- Few times over the course of history does a trade in baseball work out for both teams. In November 2005, the Boston Red Sox traded three prospects to the Florida Marlins for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell. Beckett and Lowell helped Boston win the World Series in 2007. Acquired from the Red Sox for Beckett and Lowell, Hanley Ramirez has become one of the best players in baseball with the Marlins. In his first three full seasons in the majors, Ramirez has seen his on base percentage and home run totals increase every year. So far in his fourth full season in 2009, Ramirez is enjoying his best season to date in what looks to be a promising career. After 117 games played Ramirez is hitting .361 with an on base percentage of .422. That will do. Moved to the three hole this season in the Marlins lineup, Ramirez has responded with 85 runs batted in so far. Ramirez, who doesn’t turn 26 until December 2009, looks to have some great years ahead of him. The question shouldn’t be will Ramirez hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in the same season but how many times will he do it. Ramirez has also become a gold glove caliber short stop.

4. David Wright, Third baseman, New York Mets- David Wright made his major league debut on July 21, 2004. Since then, Wright has been the Mets starting third baseman. As a 22 year old in his first full season in 2005, Wright played in 160 games and batted .306 with 27 home runs, 99 runs, 102 runs batted in, 42 doubles, and 17 stolen bases, leading the team in average, runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs batted in, and doubles. However, Wright made 24 errors tied for the most by a third baseman in the majors. Known for his work ethic, Wright became significantly better in the field in 2006 while making his first all star game. On August 6, 2006 the New York Mets signed Wright to a 6 year contract extension worth $55 million. After signing a huge deal like this some players get complacent. Not David Wright. He finished up his 2006 season with 116 runs batted in, and in 2007 Wright had an MVP caliber season. Wright became a gold glove winner at third base in 2007 and hit 30 home runs, stole 34 bases, hit for a .325 average, and had an on base percentage of .416. Decimated by injuries in 2009, the Mets have had a sub-par year in 2009. The power numbers are down for Wright this season with only eight home runs in 426 at bats. A lot of this has to do with the Mets new ballpark where the ball doesn’t carry. Only 26 years old, Wright is still hitting .324 with 31 doubles so far in what critics are calling a “down year”.

5. Carl Crawford, Outfielder, Tampa Bay Rays- As the old adage goes, speed kills. Carl Crawford is the best athlete in major league baseball in my humble opinion. Crawford was offered a basketball scholarship to UCLA and football scholarships to play Quarterback by Nebraska, Oklahoma, USC, and Florida. Crawford chose to sign a letter of intent to play for Nebraska, but he turned down the offer when he was drafted in the second round of the 1999 baseball draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (yes yes, I know they are the Rays now but they were still the Devil Rays when they drafted Crawford, count to ten, you will be ok). As a 21 year old in his first full season in 2003, Crawford stole 55 bases. Well, when I was 21 I could make a grilled cheese sandwich. Crawford followed his 2003 season by stealing 59 bases and making his first all star team in 2004. Despite his early success, critics began to wonder in 2005 if Crawford would be able to hit as well as he could run. He didn’t disappoint. Crawford had 63 extra bases hits in 2005, hit for a .301 average, and stole 46 bases. Known for one of the most exciting things in baseball, the triple, Crawford hit 69 triples from 2004 to 2008 and was a key member of the Rays making their historic World Series run in 2008. So far in 2009, Crawford is enjoying his best season yet and is an MVP candidate. Through 124 games, Crawford already has 54 steals, 44 extra base hits, and is hitting .315. Once a weakness, Crawford has added patience to his game in 2009 with an on base percentage so far of .371. At 28 years old, Crawford is entering his prime and the Rays need to do everything they can to hold onto him.


Boom

nick@wecoversports.com

Why Brock Lesnar is STILL the man! By Brandon K.

August 28, 2009

I have seen Brock Lesnar since day one. I remember sitting in front of my buddy’s television watching Wrestle mania X8 (because my mom wouldn’t let me get it) and seeing Lesnar rush through the crowd and attack Al Snow, Spike Dudley and Maven turning normally “bad dudes” by WWE standards into pudding pops. I remember saying out loud, “Who the hell is that guy?” From that point on I tuned in each Monday night to watch and see who was next to be ran over by this giant with the huge back tattoo. And by the way, how many times did he have to go back to get that thing done? Then finally becoming the youngest WWE champion every. I know, I know, it’s all staged yes, but to be the “head guy” of a franchise at the age of 25 is pretty impressive in itself. After he won the title and started to get a big head and thinking no one would “beat him,” the owner of the WWE Vince McMahon decided to turn him into a bad guy. Once he did that and beat up on a few wimpy guys, fans including myself, started to shy away from him because of his attitude and the way he was acting in and out of the ring. I did grow up liking other wrestlers like the Ultimate Warrior, the Legion of Doom and the Undertaker, so when he started saying he was the best, the 12 year old “hey you can’t say that to my idols” came out. I think that is how a lot of people felt too. Then the biggest insult to wrestling fans, Brock leaves at the peak of his career to try the NFL. That lasted about 20 minutes…and Lesnar was found without pay. I heard him say on a television program that the reason he quit was because of all the pain and “crap” he had to deal with in the WWE. But instead of sitting on his hands and trying football over and over again (ala Brett Favre), he decided to do what he does best…beat people up. I don’t mean like Hulk Hogan doing a fake leg drop to a man’s chest, but the real sh#!...Ultimate Fighting! When I heard that Brock Lesnar was going to fight MMA I was pumped! I really didn’t think anyone in their right mind would come close to matching up with that man child! His first match against Min-Soo Kim (video below), he looked so dominate but he did fight Min-Soo Kim who to me looked like he wet through three pairs of tights before he came out to fight. His second match, first in the UFC, Frank “pretty boy” Mir made him submit with a knee bar. Lesnar under estimated Mir and if he would have been less psyched up and more reserved, he would be undefeated. He did get Mir back though in July 2009 and made him look like a kid in the play ground that didn’t want anything from the bully. After that fight, Brock went on a little bit of a “babyish” rant, flipping the crowd off and even telling the Bud Light sponsor that he was going to “Go home and have a nice cold Coor’s Light, because Bud Light didn’t want to pay” him. Wow.

So to sum everything up on how I feel about Mr. Lesnar…he is awesome! I don’t care how cocky or arrogant he is. He is THEE dominant force in the UFC and he would be a dominant force in any type of fighting, with gloves or without, that he chose to do. I don’t think that anyone in this world can beat him from here on out. There is no little chump that got lucky against Kimbo Slice out there or no dominant force like Fedor Emelianenko that can stand toe to toe with Lesnar. Please feel free to speak your mind on this, but I am sure that anyone that steps in his way would be smashed to the ground like a finished cigarette. Truth… BK OUT…

brandon@wecoversports.com

Mayweather Vs. Marquez 24/7........ By David G

Happy Friday everyone!!!,

Tomorrow on HBO is the premiere of the Countdown show for This HUGE fight..... 9:15 cst-10:15 est this is a 4 part series that goes through both Fighters training camp and personal lives. I am a huge fan of this series the 1st one that ever aired was for the mega fight between Oscar De La Hoya Vs. Floyd Mayweather Cinco de Mayo 2007 and that's when we as Boxing fans were introduced to Mayweather as a person and Character he made that series in my opinion he is so candid and is not trying to be soft or PC about anything he does not hold back. On the other hand you have Juan Manuel Marquez who is very quiet and reserved he most def a blue collar kind of fighter and is currently regarded as the #2 fighter pound for pound I will be posting a link to his Greatest Hits so folks that are not familiar with him you will see that he is a big risk for Mayweather. And props to Floyd for even fighting him everyone says that Floyd is ducking Manny Pacquiao (current #1 pound for pound) but in my opinion (again) JMM is just as big of a risk he has 2 fights against Pacquiao and 1st was a draw (that he should have won) and the 2nd was a controversial loss to Pacquiao.


So please,if you are not quite a fan or a long time fan like myself treat yourself to Mayweather/Marquez 24/7 you will not be disappointed......also does anyone have any predictions for Nogueira Vs. Couture??? comment and let me know who you think will win and how I welcome all comments/feedback and disses like I said here is the Link for Juan Manuel Marquez's Greatest Hits.......




Ciao' Errybody-David G.

David@wecoversports.com

Quit Whining! Top 5 Biggest Cry Babies of the NBA: Past and Present. By Brandon K

August 27, 2009

One thing that I have a huge problem with are players that are constantly crying over calls that didn’t go their way or that they feel were “unfair.” Below I have listed my top 5 biggest cry babies, past and present in the NBA.

1. Charles Barkley. I love this guy, don’t get me wrong, but he cried about every single call he never got! I have seen more videos of him crying about stuff on the court than I have my oldest son trying to ride his bike.
2. Dennis Rodman. He would have been number one if he wasn’t my favorite player. He took crying about calls to the next level, even to a point of kicking a camera man in his “man parts” because he felt he got shoved out of bounds. I heard the camera guy’s wife tried to sue Rodman for making her husband “unable to perform.”
3. Rasheed Wallace. Wow. This guy never has a nice look on his face. The most technical fouls in league history. That alone deserves a nice hand shake from Stern and a trophy that says, “Shut the hell up.”
4. Hedo Turkoglu. This is a player that I have followed since he was in Sacramento, and he has been a big cry baby ever since. The one thing with Turk is that he only complains and whines when he is having a bad game. Once his game is on, he shuts his trap.
5. Reggie Miller. I am not a huge fan of this player, and that is saying it nicely. He used to get in the face of each and every referee every single game. The only reason the refs let him say what he wanted was because each one of the refs could beat him up! And the little side kick on each of his three pointers that he shot to try and draw a foul…lame!

Thanks for listening to me. Have a great rest of the day. BK…OUT. brandon@wecoversports.com

Nogueira Vs. Couture....... By David G

I don't know if anyone who is reading this saw Nog's last fight against Mir @ UFC 92 but I could not believe the outcome Nogueira KO'd??? and By Mir??? Frank is kind of a Phenom in his own right I mean he did catch Lesnar in a foot lock because Lesnar was 2 fights into his MMA career (Mir fight was #2) and just got caught. It was a rookie mistake....I'm sure most of you heard what happened in the Rematch, Brock handled him but as far as Nogueira goes I don't think he will be able to deal with Couture. I mean Randy has been in some wars too respect to "The Natural" for this people. He has his legacy on the line as does Nogueira but if it was not for the UFC Nogueira would be about half as pop as he is now and Couture is one of the OG's so my prediction is Couture will outlast Nogueira for the decision......

Anyways on to some other MMA jargen Looks like Franklin Vs. Belfort for UFC 103 This will be interesting Belfort is back in the UFC after a while and Franklin recently decisioned Wanderlei Silva. Anyways Vitor Belfort is one of the guy's that turned me on to MMA 1st fight I ever saw was Belfort Vs. Abbott and he KO'd Tank so fast it was like watching throwback Mike Tyson in the late 80's $75.00 and 60 seconds later and a dude was twitching on the ground. Back to Belfort I say he wins this by Referee stoppage hope everyone is good and thanks for reading please drop me some feedback or comments,disses or just say whatever Ciao'-David

David@wecoversports.com

PRACTICE? The AI saga… By Brandon K

August 27, 2009

First time blogger long time reader. My first topic will be the “who the heck is waiting to pick up Iverson” story. I am a huge NBA follower. Allen Iverson has been a particular fun player to watch all the way from Gtown to the Sixers to the Nuggets to the Pistons (kind of) and to the … I guess I understand why certain owners do not want to pull the trigger with the Answer, because he has been more of a question the last few seasons. In Philly he was basically allowed to reign free and to skip PRACTICE anytime he wanted. If you out there don’t know why I am capitalizing practice, YouTube the video sometime and see what I mean. Larry Brown for some reason was able to bring Iverson on board with what he was trying to do, and guess what; he got the Sixers to the finals. Iverson stepping over T. Lue in the corner after a three…priceless. After Iverson was traded to the Nuggets for (basically) Andre Miller; which being a Denver fan was a wrong move, but that’s another story. He didn’t work out too well there because in my opinion he just didn’t fit the system. Denver is not a one on one team, unless you are Carmelo, and it just didn’t fit his style. Then he was sent to Detroit for B B B B Billups, which again being a Denver fan was an awesome move! I don’t know if Iverson looked more weird in the “slow down and throw it in the post” offense or just in the Pistons uniform in general. Joe Dumars took a gamble on someone that didn’t even travel for the last couple games thinking that he could change him. Iverson will not change people, I don’t care who you are. But, I do think that there are some teams that should take a chance on him. The latest news is that Memphis has made an offer, and at this posting has not been accepted yet. WHAT!?! I do not see that happening at all. How do you bring in someone like Iverson to a team that has a great nucleus in the back court with Mike Connelly Jr. and OJ “don’t call me Simpson” Mayo? I just think that is a wrong move, but does anyone remember when Memphis made a great move? In my opinion there are two teams that would be a fit for Mr. Iverson. New York. They need someone to push the tempo that D’Antoni wants to run. Also, if the Knicks can get David Lee to resign and get Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler and Al Harrington to get on board they could be a sold team in the East. And let’s face it; you don’t need too much to be a solid team in the East anymore. Again, Denver fan. The only other team that I can see taking Iverson would be Charlotte. There are two words why I would say that…Larry Brown. That man has some kind of hold on Iverson, kind of like the good old’ days with Dennis Rodman and Phil Jackson. I have written enough for today and hope that you didn’t get bored with this. Please comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for listening and have a great rest of the day.
BK OUT… brandon@wecoversports.com

Boxing by David G

Hey Everybody,

Just thought I would talk some Boxing with everybody.....last weekend I watched the Paulie Malignaggi Vs. Juan Diaz fight even though the decision went Diaz's way if you watched the fight you know that Malignaggi schooled him (Diaz). I guess what I saw and what Judge Raul Caiz saw were 2 different fights Caiz scored the fight 118-110 for Diaz........huh??? even the 116-112 scorecard from David Sutherland was like wow. So I guess that it is ultimately Malignaggi's fault for not trying to put Diaz away and not leave it in the judge's hands but hard to do when your record only has 5 KO's in 20 some odd fights (26-3, 5 KOs) his rant after the fight to Max Kellerman was a good laugh talking about how Boxing is Bulls**t and that he only does it for the paycheck......I guess nobody knew that Paulie LOL. Anyways the 19th of Septemer is Floyd Mayweather's comeback fight against Juan Manuel Marquez, I like this fight people....Floyd is a counter puncher and so is JMM so it could go either way,could be both guys try to be careful and just try to edge each other on the scorecards but Juan Manuel Marquez will eventually not be able to resist going for the KO if you have HBO the countdown show for this fight Mayweather/Marquez 24/7 is on this Saturday check it out it so interesting to watch the training regimen. Anyways everybody hope all is good with you all if you read this and think I am crazy about the Diaz fight I welcome all comments/Feedback until next round......Ciao' everybody-David G
david@wecoversports.com