Brock taps, Lakers lucky, Giants win (FATALITY!)

Weekend sports musings

UFC 81 - Mir gets Lesnar to tap to a kneebar in the first round. Lesnar's strength and ridiculously massive arms really stymied Mir from securing an armbar in any shape or form, but Mir eventually managed to pick Brock's ankle and roll into the leglock for the submission. Brock looked good though, taking Mir down at will and pretty much dominating the entire fight until Mir got his ankle. I think we can chalk this one up to inexperience on Brock's part, but his raw ability is pretty frightening. There was one point in the fight when Brock secured half guard and absolutely abused Mir with a flurry of fast hammer fists (I'd hate to see what he'd to do guys in full mount). Perhaps more importantly, the typically brash Lesnar showed a ton of class after the loss, rightfully calling Mir the better fighter and just being all-around gracious. If he fully dedicates himself to fighting and takes his training seriously, Brock definitely has all the tools to be champ sometime down the line. Best of luck to him. Elsewhere on the card, Nog gets his face properly destroyed for 2 and 1/2 rounds before choking out Sylvia for the interim title. Thank God.

The Grizzlies giving Pau Gasol to the Lakers for practically nothing is pretty sickening. I hate to even consider the notion, but on paper, the Lakers could arguably be the best team in the league once Andrew Bynum comes back. The worst part is that Kobe is now surrounded by guys who are either too young (Bynum), too comfortable as sidekick (Odom), too classy (Fisher), or too passive (Gasol) to step on Bryant's toes. Meaning? In spite of the almost unfair collection of talent, the chance of team implosion is fairly minimal. I was looking forward to seeing Phoenix kick Los Angeles out of the playoffs for the third straight season, but if the Gasol experiment works out and Bynum comes back healthy, I'm not entirely sure I want a piece of the Lakers this year. We'll see.

Obligatory Super Bowl XLII thoughts: My distaste for both teams has been fairly well documented, but I have to admit that I was rooting pretty feverishly for the Giants by the time the 4th quarter was halfway through. What can I say? I enjoy seeing Brady hit the turf. I'm happy for Plaxico Burress though. He's the one guy that I wish were still a Steeler, especially in light of Roethlisberger's recent requests for a taller receiver. Oh well. In the end, I do feel a little indebted to NY for saving me from this nightmare of a season. I'm going to use a variation of the "several kicks to the groin" analogy again, because it's what I feel most accurately describes the overall experience of watching the New England Patriots nearly ruin the NFL this year. It was like the strongest, most deadly fighter in the world ruthlessly kicking you in the balls 18 times, but then for some inexplicable reason, you muster the fortitude the block his 19th kick, protect your balls, and finally, in a moment of infinite glory, you rip his heart from his chest like you're Kano and pop the thing like a f***ing zit. Indeed, the New York Giants are much like Kano; he's kind of lame and you wish it were Sub-Zero in there instead, but a win's a win. Well done.