Sports Pics of the Year - 2010

Here are #7’s top 10 sport pictures of the year;

February 7^th - The New Orleans Saints defeat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history. Drew Brees is named Super Bowl MVP.

February 12^th - A snowboarder soars through the centre ring of the Olympic Rings during the opening ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

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Georges St-Pierre

Why Nam Phan was robbed at the Palms.

As if it wasn't completely obvious that the split decision that went to Leonard Garcia in his bout against Nam Phan at The Ultimate Fighter Finale was far from the right outcome, the statistics from the fight compiled by both FightMetric.com and CompuStrike will add to Phan’s misery.

FightMetric, the official statistical provider of the UFC, determines an "effectiveness" score for each round based on a combination of striking and ground game data. This system can be somewhat misleading at times depending on the bout, but the numbers they showed for this fight represented a clear victory for Phan in all three rounds.

The CompuStrike numbers released on Monday highlights Phan’s dominance even further. In a fight contested almost entirely in the striking game, Phan out-landed Garcia by a near 2-1 margin for the fight, landing 122 strikes to Garcia's 66. Phan out-landed Garcia in every round of the fight, including a 46-15 difference in the second round. Phan landed 61 "power strikes" to Garcia's 39 in the fight as well.

Every round of this fight should have gone to Nam Phan. Garcia may have been swinging with everything he’s got, but I’ve seen more accurate strikes in pub fights. From the punches attempted, he landed a measly 23%. Throwing and missing should not win a fight, and yet it seems to be a continual pattern in Garcia's fights that his sloppy style seems to win over judges who apparently aren't concerned with strikes actually hitting their target.

This fight was just another example of the need for more accurate and trustworthy judging in MMA.

David Beckham on the Ellen Degeneres Show

Showing his sense of humour, David Beckham played along with a hidden camera prank on an unsuspecting masseuse. During the five-minute sketch, DeGeneres fed lines to the super star via an earpiece as he tormented the masseuse with outrageous diva demands. Awesome!

#7 Film - Despicable Me

Storyline

In a happy suburban neighbourhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbours, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru, planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon. (Yes, the moon!) Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. The world's greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes.

Rating

Although it may not be up to Pixar standard, Despicable Me is a must see. As a How I Met Your Mother fan, I had high expectations as one of the main characters, Vector, is voiced by Jason Segal, who plays Marshall Eriksson in the show. Gru’s minions make the film and are hilarious all the way through. My favourite part of the film is when Gru shows his softer side by winning Agnes a unicorn (see video above), this sparks a reaction which every kid will have had at some point in their life. The 3D adds to an already brilliant film and is the icing on the cake. A massive thumbs up from me!

(9/10)

#7 Snap

The new Heavyweight Champion, Cain Velasquez celebrates his win over Brock Lesnar at UFC 121 on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

#7 Inspirational Figure - Ernie Davis

Jim Brown and Ernie Davis

Ernie Davis was as inspirational as they come, paving the way for black athletes throughout America. Born December 14th, 1939 in Pennsylvania he was the first African American man to win the Heisman Trophy. He was also the first black athlete to be chosen 1st overall in the NFL Draft.

A three-time All-American halfback and 1961 Heisman Trophy winner, Davis set yard and scoring records at Syracuse University. He would go on to win MVP title in both the 1960 Cotton Bowl and the 1961 Liberty Bowl, and would be inducted into the College Football Hall Of Fame in 1979.

Although the details are somewhat disputed, Davis' contract was considered to be the most lucrative ever offered to an NFL rookie. His teammates and supporters looked forward to seeing Ernie sharing the backfield with the great Jim Brown, breaking countless records and leading the Cleveland Browns to a decade of victorious seasons. Sadly those seasons would never come, as Ernie was diagnosed with leukemia during preparations for the 1962 College All Star Game. Although treatment had begun immediately, the disease would prove incurable and Ernie died on May 18, 1963 - Having never played a professional football game. An idol too many, his wake in New York saw more than 10,000 mourners pay their respects.

#7 Quote

Greatest video of all time...

The greatest UFC montage ever. This video is played before the every UFC event. When it was played around the 02 at UFC 120 the hairs on the back of my neck instantly stood up. Zuffa have never released this video so excuse the quality. Enjoy. (Not available on iPhone)

London 2010

Our weekend in London will be remembered for years to come. Friday in Leicester square was awesome and UFC 120 at the 02 was incredible. It’s a trip which brought countless sayings and plenty of laugher. London 2010 will go down as one of the best weekends to date and thanks to all who was involved. Happy birthday Peako and Fozz!

The five greatest misconceptions about MMA

Mixed Martial Arts has received bad press since day one. Partly due to the aggressive nature of the sport and partly due to idiots walking around saying I’m a ‘cage fighter’ and can destroy anyone. In reality its one of the most exciting sports in the world and home to hundreds of sensational dedicated athletes. Here’s what UFC star Dan Hardy had to say on the matter when speaking to GQ; a great interview which highlights all the reasons why I rate Hardy so highly.

1. We're all thugs
"A lot of the people involved in the sport are well educated. There are guys qualified as lawyers, teachers etc. One of my team-mates is a chemical biologist. I consider myself a very professional athlete, as does everyone else on my level. I don't drink - I haven't had alcohol for ten years - and I don't go out. I'm strict with my diet. You have to have a certain level of intelligence to stick to your training sessions and understand what the sport involves. If you don't have that discipline, there's no way you're going to progress."

2. The sport is lethal
"Because we wear small gloves that aren't as padded as boxing gloves, and we use elbows and knees and can strike opponents on the ground, people often think that mixed martial arts is by far the most dangerous sport there is. It's not really. We are highly trained, we work a lot on defence (head movement, blocking and parrying), and the number of medicals I have to go through in order to fight is unbelievable. This next fight is my 30th, and I've had nothing worse than a broken finger or a broken nose. Early in my career I once got cut and needed three stitches. But no one has ever died in a UFC fight."

3. Mixed martial arts is human cockfighting
"No one's forcing me to do this sport - it's a personal choice. In society nowadays you can have a job where you completely avoid any conflict. But some of us choose to go and find that conflict. At the end of the day, it's human nature. Some people like to play chess, some people like to play badminton. I like to test myself using my fighting skills. My intention is to get in the octagon and beat my opponent within the rules of the sport and within the confines of my ability. I'm not picking fights with guys in the street. I'm doing it because it's my job."

UFC 120 Predictions

Our trip to UFC 120 at the 02 Arena is just a few days away. After looking forward to this for months it’s time to put my neck on the line and make a few predictions.

Michael Bisping Vs Yoshihiro Akiyama

I’m going for Akiyama. Bisping is a fighter who has a lot to say but rarely backs it up in my opinion. I expect Bisping to stand and bang, whereas Akiyama will want to close the distance and let his Judo skills dictate the fight. If Akiyama can withstand the first round, his superior skill set should seal the win.

Prediction: Akiyama by decision.

Dan Hardy vs. Carlos Condit

This is my main event of the night and I’m backing Hardy to win. It's hard to go against a man that lasts all five rounds with GSP. He can grind out a fight and has had a long time off to improve his game. The last time Hardy fought at the 02 was against Rory Markham at UFC 95. The fight lasted 69 seconds and ended with a huge KO.

Prediction: Hardy by third-round TKO.

John Hathaway vs. Mike Pyle

England’s most promising UFC talent John Hathaway will dominate this fight. Hathaway's victory over Diego Sanchez was a bit of a shock, but his performance was incredible. Mike Pyle may actually be a step down in competition for Hathaway.

Prediction: Hathaway by second-round KO.

Hot prospects set to collide

A big light heavyweight bout between two hot prospects looking to break into title contention is in the works for the early stages of 2011. According to multiple published reports, a fight between The Ultimate Fighter season eight winner Ryan Bader and Jon "Bones" Jones is being targeted for the beginning of the year.

The bout is rumoured to take place on the Super Bowl weekend UFC 127 event, but Jones' agent Malki Kawa claims that Jones is looking to return at UFC 125 on New Year's Day regardless of who the opponent is.

Jones was expected to face the winner of the UFC 119 bout between Bader and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, which Bader took by decision. So the news of this fight being in the works comes as no surprise. Should the bout be put together, the winner could be one fight away from a title shot in the light heavyweight division.

This is the fight people were expecting after Bader won at UFC 119. Although this fight has the potential to be a classic, it might not be as close as first thought. The way Bader won and what he showed against Nogueira really suggests that his skill set might not match up well to the wrestling ability Jones possesses. In recent fights Bader has been solid but not dominating. I think Jones will be a heavy favourite coming into this fight.

#7 Snap

Samuel Eto'o grabs a photographer's camera for a unique celebration after completing his hat-trick in Inter’s Champions League clash with Werder Bremen.

#7 Inspirational Figure - James Dean

September 30^th will mark the 55^th anniversary of James Deans’ death. Born Feb. 8, 1931 Dean was a legendary actor and iconic symbol of the 1950s.

James Dean became a Hollywood legend portraying temperamental, insightful and often rebellious characters. He represented the troubled and misunderstood teens of the 1950s and gained cult icon status after his untimely death at the young age of 24.

Dean got his start in television and stage before starring in the three films, East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant that would catapult him to stardom. His unique style of acting and fondness for race cars didn't sit well with the directors he worked with, but helped fuel his bad boy image.

Shortly after completing work on his third starring feature Giant (1956), the restless Dean drove off in his silver Porsche to compete in a sports car rally in Salinas, California. Speeding down the highway, he crashed head first into a Ford sedan and was killed instantly. Almost immediately, a cult was established and within days of his death he became a film icon. His final film Giant was released more than a year after his death, and the premiere was a fitting tribute to a talented actor who would never realised the full potential of his talents, and the incredible fame that was to come. 

Although James Dean was long before my time he has had a lasting memory on many of my family. Dubbed the iconic bad boy of the 50’s, I wish I had to chance to see what he was all about rather than read it. His short life was certainly as colourful as they come and his long lasting legacy makes him a worthy #7 Inspirational Figure.

#7 Girls - Irina Shayk

Here's the low-down on the incredible Irina Shayk. She made her name in the world of modelling by winning a "Miss Chelyabinsk" contest and regularly featuring in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. She doesn't like football - but her boyfriend, a certain Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't seem to let it affect him. She recently posed for these stunning photos in the September issue of American GQ.

#7 Hall of Fame - Kimbo Slice

Kevin Ferguson, better known as Kimbo Slice was born February 8th 1974. The 36 year olds trademark appearance is a full beard, clean-shaved head and gold teeth.

In his early days, Slice was a star defensive football player for Miami Palmetto High School in the Pinecrest area of Miami, Florida. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed both his home and school, forcing him to live out of his 1987 Nissan for a month. During this time his focus changed and he starting mixing with the wrong type of people. Despite this, he attended University at Miami studying criminal justice. After a year and a half studying, Slice earned a tryout for the Miami Dolphins but was unable to secure a place in the team.

Frustrated with his rejection from the Dolphin’s, Slice decided that he would look for a job rather than return to education. He found work as a bodyguard for a Miami-based pornography production/promotion company called Money Talks, a site all the lads will be familiar with (High Five).  

While this was paying the bills, Slice sought after other activities to get the adrenaline running. He became an underground street fighter, a hobby which was to make him an overnight sensation. His brutal knockouts took the fight world by storm. Kimbo appeared in eight street fight videos, winning seven of them. His only loss was to Boston police officer, Sean Gannon.

#7 TV Show Review - An Idiot Abroad

Karl Pilkington represents the typical English bloke who is stuck in his ways. He loves what he's used to, and that's all he knows. Before Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant sent him on this trip around the world he'd only ever been to Wales. By his own admission he pays his way in life, has a steady girlfriend and this is all he wants from life.

Gervais and Merchant thought it would be fun to send him around the world to see the Seven Wonders. Merchant claimed that the reason for doing this was because he thought it would be enlightening for Karl, and Gervais honestly states that he knew Karl would hate it.

The result is An Idiot Abroad, Karl puts into words what we all think when we go abroad - for example, public toilets in China have no doors and no toilet rolls. This would also get to me.

The first episode saw Karl visit the Great Wall of China. It was hilarious viewing and I found myself laughing at Karl's misfortune and one liners all the way through. A plus point of the show is that Ricky Gervais has very little to do with it. At first I was expecting him to dominate it and thank god he doesn’t. I can’t wait to see the rest of the series. A huge thumbs up from me. 

Marshall secure their first win of the Season

 

Marshall Thundering Herd Vs Ohio Bobcats

The Ohio Bobcats failed on a two-point conversion attempt on the last play of the game, as the Marshall Thundering Herd survived for a 24-23 win.

Quarterback Brian Anderson led the way in the victory for Marshall (1-3) by completing 21 of 30 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those touchdowns went the way of receiver Antavious Wilson, who caught seven balls for 119 yards.

The game went down to the final play. As time expired, Ohio QB Jackson tossed a 36-yard prayer that was answered by Wide Receiver McCrae, good enough to bring the game to 24-23. It looked like they were heading to overtime, just as it did against West Virginia in game 2. The Bobcats then decided to go for glory and attempted a two-point conversion, but Jackson's pass sailed through the end zone and Marshall took the exciting one-point victory. We are......MARSHALL!

UFC 119

I certainly won’t be hurrying to watch the replay of 119 anytime soon. The lacklustre card was topped off by a poor main event, only rescued by a third round KO by Mir. Dana White's disappointment was clear to see in an unusually short post fight press conference. Fight of the night bonuses of $70,000 were given to Evan Dunham Vs Sean Sherk and Matt Mitrione Vs Joey Beltran. I can only assume that they were awarded due to the close nature of both fights rather than the quality of them. A knock-out of the night bonus was not awarded despite the main event ending in a KO, a move which speaks volume's for the fight. All in all a poor night for the UFC. The results are as follows;

Frank Mir salvaged a terrible fight by knocking out Pride legend Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic with less than a minute to go in their fight with a vicious knee.

Ryan Bader passed a tough test against ‘Lil Nog’ defeating Nogueria via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). Bader dumped Nogueria on his arse several times and was also able to tag the Brazilian with some big shots.

Chris Lytle put on a decent show for the fans in his hometown of Indianapolis, beating Matt Serra by way of decision, 30-27 on all three judges' cards. This was my fight of the night, they were the only two fighters who took risks all night.