Archive for August, 2006
Ultimate Fighting - Legitimate Sport or Guilty Pleasure?
August 31st, 2006 | Author: Craig
It wasn’t until I started tuning in to The Ultimate Fighter [season one] that I came to realize that the majority of these fighters are trained martial artists [wrestling, judo, boxing, etc.] and not just a bunch of knuckleheads who love to fight. Don’t get me wrong, they DO love to fight, but most have skills and love to test theirs.
Another reason that I avoided watching UFC fights is that I didn’t want to see people getting their bones broken or worse in an “athletic” event. And while it is true that many fights do end up with one or both contestants bleeding, and it isn’t unheard of for a knockout to occur; these injuries are similar to what one could get in a boxing match. Sure, I understand that UFC fights do sometimes end with broken bones, but that is pretty rare. My guess is that more bones get broken in football games than UFC matches.
Still, there are times that I feel that watching a UFC fight is something of a guilty pleasure. I wouldn’t want to see two guys brawling on the street and yet I find myself watching The Ultimate Fighter and UFC Unleashed every week.
I guess I’ll ponder this a bit more during commercials. The Ultimate Fighter is coming on SPIKE TV now…
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"Jazzman" Does It All
August 30th, 2006 | Author: Craig
Collector’s Comics — Full Report
August 29th, 2006 | Author: Craig
Beatty and I have known Keith for about 20 years, so we were both looking forward to catching up with him. He’s a pretty funny guy [maybe not as funny as he thinks he is, but he still has a pretty good batting average for humor]. We knew it would be a fun day.
Keith had advertised for weeks that Beatty would be at the shop signing autographs and sketching for fans. You can even see that Keith spared no expense with the sign to welcome John to his store.
A steady stream of fans joined those who had been waiting for Big John’s arrival. Most wanted to get an autograph or sketch, but a few artists showed up so that John could offer advice on their work. You can see the look of joy on the little guy’s face in the picture above. Of course the pic was snapped right before Keith tried to bogart the kid’s sketch. Luckily the little feller’s dad set Keith straight and he returned the drawing straight away.
As the minutes turned into hours, Beatty continued to autograph and sketch for fans. Monica sensed that Big John was starting to fade, so she offered up one of her famous massages. [Personally, I think that Big John was faking it in order to get a backrub!]
Never one to be left out, John Higashi put down the manuscript that he was working on in order to get a massage of his own! As for me, well… 
When six o’clock rolled around it was time to go. Everyone was having such a blast that Keith offered to take us out to dinner [again] and put us up for another night. Unforutnately, we had planned to get back home [and I really needed to]. Keith attempted to bribe us not only with another meal, another night in the hotel, but even tempted us with a poker game!
Next time, Keith! Next time!
Third Time a Charm for Shamrock?
August 28th, 2006 | Author: Craig
On October 10th, Ken Shamrock and Tito Ortiz will meet in the octagon for the third time. Despite the fact that Ortiz has won both previous fights, there has always been enough “controversy” to bring the two [and fans around the world] back for a rematch. That and the fact that Shamrock and Ortiz have a REAL dislike for each other.
This time the fight will be televised on SPIKE tv for free. My guess is that the third time won’t be a charm for Shamrock. I look for Ortiz to win… but there is a chance that Shamrock could pull off the upset.
Which of course would pave the way for another rematch.
Way of The James
August 27th, 2006 | Author: Craig
Anyone who says, “if you took Athos, Keyser Souze, Snake Plissken, Zatoichi, Bill, Miyamoto Musashi, Josey Wales, Roland of Gilead, Odysseus, Tom Ripley, Bruce Campbell, and Gene Wilder…blended them together with an obsession for all things Batman — you’d get me” is worth a read.
And I’d say that even if I didn’t give “The James” his name.
Collector’s Comics — Update
August 26th, 2006 | Author: Craig
Live Blogging from Collector’s Comics
August 26th, 2006 | Author: Craig
Keith is actually a pretty funny guy — and I’m not just talking about his looks. Ok, ok, all kidding aside. Keith has a really nice comic shop that carries action figures, statues, dvds, trade paperbacks and, oh yeah, comics. When I found out that the shop also had a wireless internet connection I decided to give “live blogging” a try. If you’re reading this, I was successful and we’ll have more updates as the day continues.
Vampires, Anyone?
August 24th, 2006 | Author: Craig
I’m currently reading Underland by Mick Farren. It’s got modern day vampires, as well as modern day nazis, conspiracy theories, UFO’s and more. I’m digging it and am only about 1/2 way through.
Before Underland I read Already Dead by Charlie Huston. Huston has quickly become one of my favorite writers. Already Dead also features a modern day vampire, uh vampyre. As much as I’m enjoying Underland, Already Dead is even better. It combines The Godfather, Raymond Chandler, Mickey Spillane and the end result is pure Charlie Huston. I highly recommend this one!
Okay… enough about me and vampires. I’d write more but I’m off to watch the latest episode of Blade.
Survivor: Race to the Finish
August 23rd, 2006 | Author: Craig
This season on Survivor contestants will be divided into four tribes by ethnicity [blacks, whites, Latinos and Asians].
Does anyone really think that this is a good idea?
On one hand, it does add a twist to the series which has teamed men against women, and young against “old.” One the other mit, I know what the reaction would be if making up teams along racial lines was done in professional or amateur sports or even other game shows. Insert your own jokes here.
Prison Break Premiere
August 21st, 2006 | Author: Craig
