Randy Couture climbed into the octagon prepared for UFC 118 and an MMA bout while James Toney looked like he was not. The result was embarrassing for Toney as the current IBA heavyweight boxing champ got his ass handed to him in front of 15,575 screaming MMA fans who packed TD Garden in Boston Saturday night.

Couture, 19-10-0 dug into his arsenal and pulled out as basic move as you will see, performing a single-leg takedown by grabbing Toney’s left ankle and dropping the soft-looking boxer to the floor.

Once on the ground, Couture pounded Toney until eventually applying an arm triangle and choking him out; Toney tapped out at 3:31 of the first round.

Couture commented on the single leg maneuver that is rarely seen in MMA:  “It’s pretty easy to counter. A good grappler or a good wrestler is going to step out of that.”

Toney being neither of those ended up on his back and the rest is history.

It was a smart and expected strategy by Couture. Get the boxer into an unknown element as quick as possible to avoid punching it out. In fact Toney never landed a single punch until he was lying supine fighting from his back and if any of those lame shots landed, so what, the lady packing groceries at the local supermarket could have shrugged them off.

Toney has a boxing record of 72-6-3 and turned out to be a bad representation for boxing in the Boxing vs. MMA debate. Getting dominated in the cage without connecting a blow in front of a sold-out arena and a pay-per-view audience almost closes the debate.

Over the past few months Toney has been telling the world he was capable of knocking Couture out from any position, on his feet or lying on his back. That turned out to be nothing but trash-talk and hype.

Using a few versus from LeBron James’ third person book, in a prefight interview, Toney said, “You will see how James Toney boxes. You will see that James Toney hits hard. You will see why James Toney hardly ever gets hit.”

Toney expected the 5-ounce MMA gloves to make his hands weapons and create damage to Couture but punches need to land for that to happen and they didn’t.

After the fight UFC President Dana White said, “Toney lasted longer than I thought he would.”

Toney’s response to the quick fight was, well, we don’t know but we can assume since the fighter didn’t show up for the post fight presser.

So after this debacle will the Boxing vs. MMA debate continue? Don’t count on it after the boxer known as “Lights Out” was exactly that after lasting less than four minutes in the octagon.

NOTE: A short Randy Couture vs. James Toney video clip can be seen on ESPN here. The fight was over so quick; the few short clips will define the fight for you.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Rex Ryan F-Bombs have become a hot topic around water coolers these days and have created quite a buzz for the New York Jets’ HBO reality show, ‘Hard Knocks’.

Hard Knocks normally features the Jets players during training camp but Coach Ryan decided to get involved this season and debuted in this month’s premiere. When the show was aired, Ryan who is no stranger to controversy became the scene-stealer of the show and it wasn’t for delivering well-rehearsed, touching lines.  

Media members who spend time around the Jets’ locker room and colorful Ryan postgame pressers expect to be ducking F Bombs, that’s a traditional part of it. That’s Rex Ryan.

Since arriving in New York, Ryan has craved attention. Whether he’s flipping off a group of rival Miami Dolphins fans during an event in South Beach or predicting a Super Bowl win with a rookie quarterback taking the snaps for his team, cameras continue to find Ryan at the most inopportune times.

Shortly after Ryan’s debut on Hard Knocks was aired, Tony Dungy didn’t hesitate to step up to the plate against Ryan’s Sopranos-like vocabulary.

While on the Dan Patrick Show, Dungy was asked if NFL Commish’ Roger Goodell should call Ryan and get involved.

“I would hope that he does,” Dungy said. “I don’t know that he will or not but I hope that he does because I just don’t think the league needs that. If I were in charge, I wouldn’t hire someone like that.”

The following day with lenses focused, the Jets’ head coach responded in classic Ryan style:

“I apologize if I’ve offended more people than I usually offend.”

Well at least Ryan kept his bird in his pocket this time since he had to write a $50,000 check for the one he displayed in South Beach.

F-Bombs are nothing new to professional sports. How many times have the microphones picked up vulgar trash-talking after an NFL player gets nailed out of bounds, when NHL enforcers are face-washing along the boards or ‘Sheed is arguing a foul call under the hoop.

When it comes to late night television, if Dungy or anyone else doesn’t want to expose their ears to language that may fall into anything higher than G-Rated, they can always opt for Disney Channel or Nick at Nite.

HBO isn’t required to bleep out language or place a “Do not try this at home” subtitle on the screen for guys like Dungy whenever Ryan speaks; just put on Sponge Bob reruns if you don’t want to hear it.

And good for the league or not, HBO reported that this year’s Hard Knocks premiere saw a 37 percent increase in viewer audience. You could almost hear the celebration coming from the HBO office at 42^nd and 6th Ave.

Although Las Vegas hasn’t posted an over/under on the number of F-Bombs Ryan will drop in the upcoming episodes of Hard Knocks or at his next postgame presser after a loss, that might be something to consider for the local water holes scattered around the Big Apple.

Final Note: Even though New England Patriots QB Tom Brady said he refuses to watch his rival’s show, the rest of us can see Hard Knocks on HBO on Wednesdays at 10 p.m.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

This NFL preseason we keep hearing about how the Detroit Lions defensive line has shown vast improvement from last season and will be depended on to carry the team’s questionable squad.

If you  watched either of the Lions’ first two preseason games, it’s clear this group is aggressive and will be wreaking havoc, collapsing pockets  and causing Percy Harvin-type migraines for their opponents.

Coach Jim Schwartz worked overtime to revamp the front four that includes newly-acquired veterans Kyle Vander Bosch and Corey Williams as well as No. 2 overall draft pick, Ndamukong Suh. This unit will be a force no doubt but the key player to keeping points off the opponent’s board this season is actually on the offensive side of the ball; his name is Matthew Stafford.

Stafford has shined thus far in the preseason and has done well showing off Detroit’s new offensive weapons like wide receiver Nate Burleson, rookie running back Jahvid Best and tight end Tony Sheffler. With wideout Calvin Johnson thrown in the mix, Stafford has been showing great poise this preseason and opting for longer, structured drives as opposed to looking for the homerun ball to Johnson.

Yeah, it’s preseason and we know the Lions were 4-0 in preseason the same year they went on to their Matt Millen-infested 0-16 record but the good news is, Stafford is orchestrating 10, 11 and 14 play drives this preseason and that may be the key to this team’s success.

If Stafford can learn to utilize the new two tight end formation the Lions are implementing and  control the ball and clock, keeping the team’s sieve-style unit off the field, expect these 2010 Lions to compete.

The Lions’ defense is suffering some significant personnel losses including the season-ending injury to linebacker Jordan Dizon and the nagging groin injury that has severely limited second-year standout Louis Delmas. Not keeping veteran tackling machine Larry Foote who wanted to stay in Detroit may come back to haunt the Lions, especially after the Dizon injury

Over the past few years opposing quarterbacks have feasted on Detroit’s defense making career days out of what should have been ordinary Sundays.

I don’t expect to see embarrassing opening game plays like the 60+ yard bomb that Matt Ryan smoked the Lions’ defense on in his first play of his NFL career or the multi-career-days so many running backs have put up against the team’s former defenses, but regardless, there is still a lot of work to be done and that’s why Stafford is the key.

Stafford has brought hope to Detroit and their loyal fans and thus far is showing he can handle carrying the team on his shoulders. Question will be, can he maintain ball control and keep the team’s demise off the field.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Cincinnati Bengals wideout, Chad Ochocinco, has a knack for accumulating fines and with the kickoff for the NFL regular season still three weeks away, ‘Robin’ is already writing his first check to Roger Goodell and the league.

Ochocinco, who likes to call himself ‘Robin’, the sidekick in the NFL’s version of Batman & Robin, was slapped with a $25,000 fine for sending out Tweets on his Twitter account during last week’s preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

NFL rules state that players, superheroes or not, are not allowed to Tweet 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff and not until postgame pressers are completed.

All NFL players have been made aware of those rules since there’s been so much attention brought to them regarding players and media alike, but the controversial player Tweeted anyways, posting two messages during that cut-off time.

In fact, the wide receiver’s second Tweet came during the game at 9:53 p.m. ET:

“Man Im sick of getting hit like that , its the damn preseason [expletive]! 1day I’m gone jump up and start throwing hay makers , #Tylenolplease,”

According to the league, Ocho-5 sent two messages to his one million-plus followers, the first at 6:50 p.m. ET and the second one mentioned above at 9:53 p.m. ET. With the kickoff for that game scheduled at 8:07 p.m. ET; it cost the offender.

How did Ochocinco respond to the NFL? Through his Twitter account posting, “Dear NFL I apologize for tweeting during the game but that was 2 monthsof my Bugatti payments you just took from me,I won’t do it again,”

Any readers interested in following this NFL circus act can go to his Twitter account here.

MORE NFL:

NFL nicknames ‘Holy obnoxious wideouts Batman!’ - Sports Climax

Bengals’ Batman & Robin Debut in NFL - Sports Climax

Bengals Team Profile - NFL.com

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg’s death in May, 2010 left the LPGA and its fans in shock and after months of investigation by the Clark County Coroner’s Office and police, the death has officially been ruled a suicide.

Although this ruling has long been expected, it was delayed due to toxicology testing taking about eight weeks. Once those tests were received, the cause of death was announced as asphyxia and toxic levels of medications in her system, meds that included over-the-counter and anti-anxiety drugs.

Blasberg, 25 years old, was found dead in her home on May 9 by a doctor who phoned 911 saying he had found the golfer deceased with “a bag over her head.”

Although no foul play is involved, that physician, Dr. Thomas Hess, was arrested this week and accused of removing items from the scene prior to police arriving. The arrest stems from Hess allegedly hiding Blasberg’s suicide note and prescription drugs in his vehicle prior to police arriving and the charges are said to include obstruction of justice.

Hess posted his $637 bail, was booked and left the station a short time later.

During the investigation the doctor told police he knew Blasberg from a golf club and stopped by to check on her after she didn’t leave for a tournament in Mobile, Alabama.

Blasberg seemed to have the world in her grasp, heading into her 6^th year on the LPGA tour after a successful college career that included a collection of some impressive hardware. While playing for the University of Arizona in 2003, Blasberg gained a lot of attention after being named All-American and taking home the NCAA Freshman of the Year and Pac-10 Player of the Year awards.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

ST LOUIS – On August 19, 1951, the Detroit Tigers played the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis in a game that many believe provided one of the most bizarre moments in MLB history.

During the second game of a double-header, Brown’s owner Bill Veeck inserted Chicago-born Eddie Gaedel into the line-up to pinch hit.

Unusual? In this case it was . . . Gaedel was a midget who  stood 3 feet 7 inches tall.

The crowd of over 18,000 rose to their feet to give the little newcomer a standing ovation as the shortest man to ever play in a MLB game waddled to the plate. Gaedel, who was wearing a St. Louis uniform donning the number 1/8 and a pair of elf shoes, stepped into the batter’s box.

The Tigers immediately protested the move and after a long, heated conference with both teams and the umpires, it was determined that Veeck had covered all the league’s requirements and it was legal for Gaedel to bat.

Bob Cain was on the mound for the Tigers and had the challenge of hitting Gaedel’s one-and-a-half inch strike zone. Nearly an impossible feat, Cain delivered four consecutive balls, walking Gaedel triggering a roar of approval from the crowd.

Gaedel was replaced by a pinch-runner and the Tigers eventually won the game 6-2.

Veeck was verbally reprimanded the following day by the American League office and Gaedel’s contract was voided by the league.

Copyright © 2008 – Sports Climax

Brian Westbrook has been searching for a new NFL sidelines since being released by the Philadelphia Eagles in February following an injury-plagued season in 2009. Well the Eagle has finally landed; in San Francisco.

Westbrook signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers and with Frank Gore on the roster is expected to lace up the cleats in a back-up role for the team.

Losing out on Westbrook were the St. Louis Rams, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins.

ESPN was reporting that Adam Schefter obtained details pertaining to the deal and the numbers are in the vicinity of $1.25 million guaranteed with another $1.25 million in incentives.

The 49ers ended last season with an 8-8 record but appears on the cusp of putting together a solid winning season and Westbrook’s decision to join the team may have a lot to do with that.

“My number one concern throughout the process was going to a winning team, a football team that was coached by a man I respect and a team that had a winning tradition and players that would be able to achieve that.”

San Francisco Coach Mike Singletary is the man Westbrook was referring to and commented on adding another Pro-Bowl running back to his roster.

“When I talked to Brian Westbrook, I just wanted him to know how much I respected him as a player,” said Singletary. “The more we talked and the possibility of that being able to work out, it was great. But the thing I wanted him to know about our team and about Frank [was] Frank Gore is the guy. Frank Gore is our running back.”

An eight-year veteran, Westbrook brings leadership and experience to the 49ers young locker room. He has 5,995 yards rushing on 1,308 carries 37 TDs in his career and has decent hands too with 426 receptions for 3,790 yards and 29 TDs.

The main question for Westbrook will be if he has fully recovered from the pair of concussions and ankle injury suffered last season, a year where he only found the endzone on two occasions.

“I am fully healthy. Last year was a tough season for me,” Westbrook said. “I spent the whole offseason rehabbing. This year, I’ve been able to spend my whole offseason preparing for a football season. Now that my body is completely healthy, I’m ready to go out there and perform.”

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Detroit Tigers and Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch first showed his love for sports when he was cranking up his Little Caesars Pizza chain of restaurants back in the 70’s and he gave back to Detroit by sponsoring elite hockey teams from the Mite to the Junior divisions.

As an onslaught of investors helped him expand his pizza-flipping business, Little Caesars evolved to a successful enough chain for the mogul to fork over about $8 million to purchase the Red Wings in the 1980’s. After adding the Tigers, historic Fox Theatre and the Motor City casino to his collection, Ilitch now is hot on purchasing the Detroit Pistons which would make him a Trifecta owner of pro sports teams.

Detroiters are holding their breath as they await the outcome of this Pistons’ sale. Ilitch actually jumped on board when talk of the possibility of moving the team out of Detroit began to circulate through the sports gossip world.

In a recent interview, Ilitch showed his passion for his hometown and why he is the right guy to own the team.

“When I read in the paper there was the chance that this great sports town could lose one of its professional sports franchises, I just didn’t see how we could let that happen. The Pistons, just like the Red Wings, Tigers and the Lions, have a rich and storied tradition in this community.”

Ilitch was born in the Detroit area and has been very instrumental in rebuilding the downtown area over the past few decades. With ex-Pistons star Dave Bing currently sitting in the Mayor’s seat in Motown, Ilitch buying the team feels as sure as a LeBron James slam-dunk.

Ilitch is said to have presented a bid to Karen Davidson, current owner of the team, and there is no formal deadline for that bid to be accepted or rejected. Davidson did however comment how she expects the deal to be done before this upcoming NBA season meaning the docs would be signed and a deal approved before October.

The NBA does have a multifarious procedure for selling a team. After the current owner takes bids, the prospective owners get grilled by the league’s Board of Governors to confirm the buyer has the funds and no skeletons in his closet.

We have to assume Ilitch is clean since in today’s day and age of Internet scandals we certainly would have heard and seen any gossip news on him by now. So it would just be a matter of the pizza mogul’s bid being acceptable to Davidson and him showing her the money.

After he would pass that hurdle, the 30 NBA owners would then vote on the sale.

If Ilitch succeeds in obtaining the team, it would be the second time an owner has pulled that off. The other happened in Atlanta when Ted Turner owned the Atlanta Braves, NBA Hawks and NHL Thrashers.

Final note, Forbes estimates the Pistons’ worth as the 4^th highest in the NBA at $479 million.

Copyright © 2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Usain Bolt used to be the fastest man on the planet until yesterday when American Tyson Gay streaked past him to win a 100-meter race.

It was Bolt’s first loss in over two years and although the Jamaican isn’t in his top shape, many still refer to him as the fastest man on the planet and expected him to win this sprint in Stockholm on Friday.

This was a match-up pairing the two fastest runners in the world and when it started, Gay had a slim lead over Bolt until the halfway point of the race. That’s when the American, Gay, pulled away and went on to set a meet record of 9.84 seconds and dethrone Bolt for the first time in his career.

Bolt time of 9.97 seconds was enough to secure second place in the event and although that would be impressive for most runners, it was actually Bolt’s second slowest time ever in a final.

Ironically, Bolt’s last loss in competition was also in Stockholm and occurred in July 2008.

After the race Bolt told the media it was “just one of those days” and went on to say “I told you I’m not unbeatable. I did not train as hard as in past years, so I can’t complain. And it was Tyson Gay. My congratulations to him. I’m not in my best shape and he is in great shape…. I simply wasn’t ready enough for that clash.”

This certainly sets a competitive tone for the 2012 Summer Olympics scheduled to be held in London.

Copyright © 2010 Sports Climax, LLC

The NBA Eastern Conference champions Boston Celtics just got 325 pounds bigger after signing free agent Shaquille O’Neal to a contract yesterday.

With NBA rings earned while playing with the Miami Heat and L.A. Lakers, the 7-foot-1 Shaq goes to Boston the year after failing to win a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James last season.

The two-year deal is said to be worth around $3 million and will take one of the NBA’s most popular players to the end of a 20-year career.

Big Daddy, 38 years old, will be teamed up with several other aging but productive players on the parquet floor including Kevin Garnett, 34, and Ray Allen, 35.

Shaq was originally drafted No. 1 overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic after a successful college stint at LSU.

 Playing on 6 teams, his career numbers include 28,255 points (5^th overall), 12,921 rebounds (14^th overall) and 15 All-Star appearances.

 O’Neal’s playoff experience is sure to help the Celtics but the big man does bring some baggage with him in the form of brick-throwing from the free throw line.

When I was living in Orlando, while Shaq was imploding at the line with the Magic, I had my wife come out to the neighborhood hoop and asked her to “stand on that white line right there” and see how many shots she could make into the hoop. She hit her first 6 out of 10 for 60% meaning her percentage was better than Shaq’s currently was at that time for the Magic. Could she do that again? Probably not since that was the first time she shot a basketball since her gym class in high school but it makes a good story.

If you would like to get personal with Shaq, you can follow him on Twitter at his account; @THE_REAL_SHAQ.

MORE NBA:

See LeBron’s “Loyalty” tattoo

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Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC