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| "We like Sportz and we don't care who knows..." |
Since starting this blog, I have had the intention of starting to write an occasional sports report. The combination of free time and strongly felt opinions made this past weekend's events the perfect opportunity to take action...
Pacquiao vs. Bradley:
"BOXING IS A FUCKING JOKE!" This was my initial reaction on Facebook. Now that I have had time to sleep on it and digest what I witnessed, I wish to clarify. What I truly meant to say is that boxing is a huge fucking joke. My opinion, like that of the 99% of the people who actually watched the fight is that Pacquiao won handily. A quick scanning of the internet immediately following the fight showed overwhelmingly that boxing experts, boxing fans, celebrities, and the average sport fan agreed. The statistical evidence also agreed. Pacquiao connected on 253 of 751 punches compared to 159 of 839 for Bradley. He also landed more punches in 10 out of 12 rounds. The fact that two judges (Duane Ford and C.J. Ross) did not see it this way leads one to the obvious conclusion that it was either blatant corruption or gross incompetence. Either way it is disturbing. The fact that an event watched by so many and involves the exchange of so much money can have such an unjust outcome is frightening to say the least. Depending on what source you look to there are conspiracy theories abound. Some point to the fact that there was a great amount of money bet on Bradley at the last minute. While others don't believe Bob Arum's post fight outrage and think he is responsible. Still others have sited that the judges are just too old and incompetent. Whatever the reason, to end such a massive sporting event with such an absurd outcome gives credence to the opinion that boxing is fixed. If there is a rematch later this year, I hope that nobody pays to watch it and boxing is forced to reform its arrant ways.
Miami Heat:
I don't like the Miami Heat. I don't like Wade, Bosh, and especially Lebron. I do like that this is a sentiment shared by many Cavs fans as well as many basketball fans outside Miami. That is not to say that I hate the Heat and wish them ill will. I simply choose to root for the other team. What strikes me as strange is the sentiment recently expressed by some that there is something wrong with this. That I should be happy for Lebron for some reason. Why? This is sports and sports is entertainment. Like all entertainment, it is more fun to have a villain. Lebron and the Heat gladly accepted this role and many outside Miami are happy to see them as such. This will be especially apparent when the Heat face the very likable Kevin Durant and OKC in the Finals. It is an ideal matchup for the basketball fan without a horse in the race. If the Heat made so many impartial fans root for KG and Boston just imagine how easy it will be to put your full support behind OKC.
Euro 2012:
I have played soccer my whole life, but have only become a true fan of the international game recently. This is the first year that I watched the EPL and Champions League consistently. This was in turn rewarded with some of the most dramatic sports viewing that I have ever witnessed. Manchester City and Manchester United going down to the last day and Drogba's winning penalty for Chelsea were two all time great sports moments that I will remember for quite some time. This will also be the first year that I am invested in watching the Euros. A tournament believed by many to be a better display of the international game than the World Cup. From what I have seen so far it has been great and will undoubtedly live up to the hype. Spain drawing Italy, Denmark defeating Holland, and the Russians routing the Czechs have been the highlights of what is sure to be a tournament well worth the viewing time and effort.
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