Sport

I've been so engulfed with the World Cup the last couple of weeks I've hardly had a second to even think about anything else, and that's not an exaggeration. I've got a book to work on, another thing I'm writing, a radio show to launch, but still, up at 6:55 (East Coast then West Coast), and games until they're over.

On that, I am loving Argentina's energy. Maradona has really turned the page, and has become someone I am fully rooting for. The energy from guys like Tevez, Messi, Higuain, Maschereno, and the rest is addicting. However, I'd be more likely to win my World Cup Fantasy League (yes, I'm that guy) if Brazil wins. I must point out I am one of only two people in my league wherein all of my players have scored: Podolski, Tevez, and Fabiano. Note: It's not a large league...

But for nows I skips over Ze World Coopski for ze moment. <--I happen to think Germany is pretty good.

ANYWAY...

Onto MMA. Fedor Emelianenko, the "greatest fighter" in the world just lost to someone who was not considered the "greatest fighter" in the world...but is still a very good fighter.

To take nothing away from Fabricio Werdum, a man I know and like, what happened to Fedor was inevitable. He has been fighting an up-hill battle for quite some time. Fedor fights at 230lbs, maybe. He's 6 foot tall, maybe. He's been crushing much bigger men for quite some time now. However, with UFC Heavyweight fighters now weighing in at over 260lbs, and guys Fedor has been seeing coming from the UFC it was just a matter of time. At some point size matters, and Fedor is literally 2-3 weight classes smaller than a lot of his opponents.

So he lost. He's still arguably the best POUND FOR POUND fighter in the world. Is he the best HEAVYWEIGHT in the world? No. Brock Lesnar is a 300lb gorilla who is somehow not in the NFL. He has to be the largest, most agile, most powerful man in the world not playing professional football. No 5'11", 225lb man is beating him without a seriously lucky punch.

But speaking of the NFL I was having a conversation the other night here in San Francisco about the "biggest bust" in NFL history. People love that convo, and while I fall into the grouping of "people", I'm not one of THOSE people. I do have an opinion though.

It really doesn't matter. There's no bigger or smaller. They're all equally and simultaneously awful, yet hilarious. Ryan Leaf, Blair Thomas and Tim Couch all come to mind for me when I even have the discussion but there's something overlooked by so many when this debate takes place: bad management.

Do I consider Jamarcus Russell a huge NFL bust? Sure, he sucks, the Raiders paid him a lot of money, and now he's out of the NFL. Guy may never play again, and that's clearly worse than what Tim Couch, Heath Shuler, and Tony Mandarich did in the NFL. BUT the thing of it is, MANY PEOPLE KNEW HE WOULD SUCK! Russell should be classified as a RAIDERS bust, not a NFL bust, or a surprising bust. EVERYONE thought Tim Couch would have a career. Most believed in Thomas and Charles Rogers. At the same time many believed Lawrence Phillips would in fact beat up a girl. And that Akili Smith should be running track. In other words, there are levels of bust, and it depends on who you're talking to. If I get drafted #1 tomorrow by the Lions I'm gonna be a bust, for sure, but it's not really on me, the same way it's not REALLY on Russell for other people thinking he'd be good.

Did you watch him at LSU? Really?

Lets digress to hoops right quick before I sign off on "Sport" for the night. I'm a huge Ohio State fan, this is known if you've ever read my work, spoken to me, heard me on the radio, whatever...Evan Turner, second pick of the NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Great kid, hard worker, most everyone thinks he's going to be a great player...

Bust.

Yep, you heard it from me, Buckeye fan. Evan Turner = Bust.

Goodnight.