Kimbo vs Tank

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Kimbo Slice fights Tank Abbott tomorrow night on Showtime.

Kimbo is a youtube legend thanks to his quick knockouts of big and mostly tough [but unskilled] backyard fighters. Kimbo has had one official MMA fight which lasted all of 19 seconds. He had [what is now being called] an exhibition fight where he chocked out Ray Mercer [an old boxer] in less than one minute.

Tank Abbott fought in MMA fights back when the Earth was just starting to cool. Less rules and less skills needed then. Tank would come out swinging and if you weren’t knocked out and could last until Tank gassed [which usually didn’t take too long] odds were you could beat him. Still, Tank was popular with the fans. Much more popular than his 9-13 record would lead you to believe. Tank’s had 6 fights in the last 5 years [losing five of them and none going past the first round].

Looking at their records and who they’ve fought it’s hard to imagine Kimbo vs Abbott as a main event. But I gotta admit that I’d tune in if I had Showtime.

A Lot Can Happen OVERNIGHT

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“Overnight” is a documentary that covers the rapid rise and fall of Troy Duffy, who in 1997 scored a million dollar deal to direct his screenplay, “The Boondock Saints” for Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax pictures. Duffy’s story was the stuff of legend. He was a bartender and part time musician who had written a screenplay that was getting lots of notice. When the dust settled Duffy was given over a million dollar deal that included his band getting to do the soundtrack for “The Boondock Saints,” Duffy getting to direct WITH FINAL CUT and the bar that Duffy worked at purchased for him.

Most people in this position would count their blessings and hope that they could live up to the hype. Not Duffy. It was amazing to hear him talk down to his friends and family. To hear Duffy tell it, his talent was going to take them all to the top. He thought nothing of making sure that his mother knew that HE was right and his brother would have to listen to him now. Duffy made sure that everyone in his band understood that he was in charge and thanks to him they would be able to make a living with their music. He was ego gone mad… burning bridges and destroying friendships. And before too long Duffy alienated the man who made it all possible, Harvey Weinstein.

Soon the movie deal was dead in the water… same with the soundtrack. To Duffy’s credit, he regrouped and found some backers to finance “The Boondock Saints” which he directed [at a greatly reduced rate]. And his band did get an album produced. It sold 690 copies... TOTAL. “The Boondock Saints” was made but when Weinstein and Miramax passed on it, so did every other company in Hollywood.

“The Boondock Saints” was never given wide theatrical release and eventually made it’s way to cable tv and video. Where a funny thing happened… it’s popularity began to build. Word of mouth spread and it became even more popular. Unfortunately the deal that Duffy agreed to in order to get the film made did not provide him any compensation for video or dvd. Duffy’s advance from Miramax was long gone as was his payment for “The Boondock Saints.” To this day he’s never gotten another project made.

Just as quickly as his star had risen, it fell… “Overnight.”

What Up, Raf?

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Rafael Kayanan [Raf to his friends] is an extremely gifted artist to the second power.: See, he’s an artist as in creating artwork, and an artist as in can kicking butt [martial arts]. In the comic field he’s worked on everything from Conan to Star Wars. In the film industry he’s done everything from storyboards and conceptual art to serving as technical adviser and fight choreographer on major films.


Click HERE and you’ll get an interview with Raf and you can find out what he’s been up to lately.

 

RIP – Roy Scheider

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Roy Scheider died yesterday at the age of 75.

Although Scheider appeared in several dozen films over the course of his career, it is his work in three that is most remembered: “The French Connection,” “Jaws,” and “All That Jazz.” He received an Best Supporting Actor nomination for “The French Connection” and a Best Actor nomination for “All That Jazz” but it was “Jaws” that made him a household name.

Chris Mills said it best with: “He was part of that last generation of character actors who could play leads, before the movie industry became obsessed with pretty boys and grunting beefcake.”

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fans.

007 Guesses Who is Back

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I was a huge fan of the last James Bond film “Casino Royale.” I thought Daniel Craig perfectly nailed the thugish qualities needed for the early Bond — you know, the Bond he was before he became the ultra-cool superspy.

Of course I am looking forward Craig’s next outing as 007 despite the somewhat blah title “Quantum of Solace” and the fact that a new director is at the helm.

I was surprised to see a teaser poster and a behind the scenes video for QoS today at AICN. Click HERE and you can be just as surprised.


Thoughts on the Superbowl

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The Patriots play the Giants today see who will be the Superbowl Champion. I really have no dog in this race.

On one hand I’d like to see the Giants win because they’re the underdogs and I like to pull for the ‘dog. On the other hand, the Pats have had an amazing run. If they win it today will finally quiet the Dolphins fans who keep yappin’ about their perfect season 36 years ago.

Now don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against the Dolphins and I loved the 72 Dolphins that set the mark. But what many Dolphin fanatics don’t want to recognize is that the ‘fins went 14-0 during their regular season, while the Pats went 16-0. Oh, I can hear the ‘Finatics saying, “Well, don’t blame us because the season was shorter. We’d have beaten anyone that year.” Maybe, maybe not.

We really don’t know. What we DO know is that year Miami only beat two teams with winning records during their regular season run [Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets], and both of those teams were just 8-6. This year the Patriots have beaten two teams that were 13-3 [Dallas and Indianapolis], one that was 11-5 San Diego, three that were 10-6 [Cleveland, the Giants and Pittsburgh] and one, Washington, that was 9-7. Talk about strength of schedule! Also remember that while facing these tough teams New England set a new NFL record for scoring 589 points!

So who do I want to win? I guess it’s safe to say, let the best team win. If it’s the Patriots, it will be a great capper to a great season. If it’s the Giants, then more power to ’em.

Most likely the Dolpfanatics will keep yappin’ anyway it works out.