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2015 ATP Argentina Open: Rafael Nadal Taking On Juan Monaco

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rafael nadal has carlos berlocq tennis balls in face at argentina open 2015

The final for ATP Buenos Aires (2015 Argentina Open) is set with what could be called a blockbuster final for the 250-series event. Rafael Nadal, having defeated Carlos Berlocq in the semifinals 7-6, 6-2, will face Juan Monaco, a player who defeated Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-7, 6-4. The championship match in the Argentine capital will now feature the World No. 4 against one of Argentina’s best players of the last decade.

Rafael Nadal, after defeating Berlocq, claimed that he is looking forward to the final in Buenos Aires: “It’s a joy to play this decisive match against a friend and for me it is also very important to play my first final of the year here in Buenos Aires, a place where I feel the affection of the people.”

carlos berlocq loses to rafael nadal argentina open 2015 images

Monaco, currently ranked 60th in the world, has eight career titles to his credit. Seven of those eight titles have been won on the clay court surface although the Argentine does have numerous losses in ATP finals as well. Heading into the championship match, Monaco has a losing record of 8-11 in tour-level finals. Furthermore, he is just 1-5 against Nadal heads-up having defeated the Spaniard at Cincinnati 2007 (Nadal retired mid-match).

Monaco commented on his victory over Almagro in the semifinals: “It was another tough match and I’m very happy for having managed to win,” he said. “I have wanted to play in a final for a long time and it makes it more special that it is here, in Buenos Aires, with all these people supporting me.”

It might seem as though there is little at stake for Nadal heading into the final. He’s won so many clay court titles in his career that he would remain the greatest clay courter ever, win or lose in Buenos Aires. However if he fails to defeat Monaco on Sunday, it will likely lead to increased criticism of the Spaniard, a player who stumbled last week in Rio. A 250-level event is usually a cinch for a player ranked in the Top 5, especially when the event is not contested by any other Top 10 players as ATP Buenos Aires was not.

rafael nadal beats carlos berlocq argentino open 2015 images

For Monaco there is much on the line. The title in Buenos Aires, if won through Nadal, would represent a career highlight. Furthermore it would help the Argentine return from obscurity as he is currently ranked just 60th in the world. With his appearance in the final, he can expect a Top 50 ranking on Monday but with a victory he would be closer to a Top 40 position. With a win, Monaco might set his sights on a seed at the Roland Garros later this season.

Berlocq was on the doorstep of snatching the first set in a tie-break after surging to a 6-1 lead, but Nadal fired back, winning eight of the next nine points to grab the opener. After falling behind an immediate break in the second set, Nadal battled back once again, reeling off six straight games to claim the momentum for good.

“I’m happy for Pico, who had long since reached a final,” said Nadal. “It’s a joy to play this decisive match against a friend and for me it is also very important to play my first final of the year here in Buenos Aires, a place where I feel the affection of the people.

“I was serving short in the first set and he (Berlocq) was very aggressive. In the second I was more aggressive and more dynamic with my shots. The tranquility and confidence gave me more energy at the end. I’m happy with the victory.”

Making his first appearance in the Argentina capital in 10 years, Nadal is seeking to win the title at a fourth different Golden Swing tournament, adding to crowns in Acapulco (2005, ’13), Sao Paulo (2005, ’13) and Rio de Janeiro (2014). He brings a 5-1 FedEx ATP Head2Head advantage over Monaco into Sunday’s final, having dropped a combined seven games in their last three encounters. They most recently met at the Mutua Madrid Open last year, where Nadal prevailed 6-1, 6-0.

The singles final from Buenos Aires is scheduled to start not before 2pm on Sunday. Nadal might be considered the crushing favorite (-1200 or 1/12 with bet365) however if Fabio Fognini can beat the Spaniard then Monaco, who is a better player than the Italian, has a fair shot if playing close to his best.

David Ferrer Takes Yet Another Title With ATP Acapulco 2015 Final

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david ferrer wins 2015 acapulco atp title 2015

David Ferrer, already a champion in both Rio and Doha, claimed his third title of the 2015 season this weekend. The Spaniard, who entered this week ranked 9th in the world, defeated Kei Nishikori in the ATP Acapulco 2015 final (Abierta Mexicana Telcel) 6-3, 7-5.

Ferrer did not have a difficult draw to the final as he plowed his way through Igor Sijsling, Marinko Matosevic, Bernard Tomic, and Ryan Harrison. All four of those players were unseeded in the event, one that saw both Ivo Karlovic and Grigor Dimitrov take an early exit. However the title in Acapulco is still very significant as Ferrer, who won in Rio last week, claimed his second title in as many weeks.

david ferrer returning balls to nishikori kei in acapulco tennis 2015

The Spaniard, who stated that his previous matches had “not been very good” against Nishikori, perhaps did not seem all that optimistic heading into the championship match. Ferrer also stated that Japan’s top player had “changed” both “physically and mentally.” However the former Roland Garros finalist showed some resilience against what might have been pre-match concerns. That he was able to dismiss Nishikori in straight sets shows that Ferrer will be a force in the upcoming clay court season.

The Acapulco event, part of the 500-series on tour, offered 500 ranking points to the tournament winner. Ferrer, thanks to the victory, will supplant Tomas Berdych for the World No. 8 position on Monday. Next up for the Spaniard has to be Indian Wells as Spain is not a part of the World Group for Davis Cup play.

As champion, the 24-time ATP World Tour titlist received $343,000 in prize money and 500 Emirates ATP Ranking points. Nishikori, who is guaranteed to rise to a career-high World No. 4 for reaching the final in Acapulco, received $154,620 in prize money along with 300 Emirates ATP Ranking points.

“Tonight I played my best match this week,” said Ferrer. “For sure. I played very aggressive, without mistakes. I’m very happy. To win here a fourth time is a dream.

“I tried to play my forehand to his forehand and with more energy. In important moments, he made more mistakes and I took my chances. I feel very confident with my tennis now. I’ve won three tournaments this year and we’ve only began the season.”

Kei Nishikori aiming high for david ferrers balls in acapulco tennis open 2015

The World No. 9 grasped an early 3-1 lead in the first set and, after trading breaks with Nishikori, served out the first set at love. Continuing momentum, Ferrer quickly raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set. The 25 year old from Japan was able to get one of the breaks back and later fired a forehand to level the set at 4-all.

Nishikori, even though he faltered in the final, will still ascend in the rankings. Japan’s No. 1 is now the World No. 4 as he will inch above Andy Murray in the standings, a player who has not been playing well post-Melbourne Park.

“There were too many unforced errors,” Nishikori said. “I tried to be aggressive but I was missing too much. Especially with this slower surface, he gets everything. I knew I had to step in a little more, but it wasn’t my day.

david ferrer takes title in atp acapulco 2015

“I fought hard from 0-3 (in the second set) and tried to come back, but he was too good. It was definitely a great week, I had some tough matches and it’s always a great feeling coming through to a final.”

Nishikori, a nomination for Japan in this week’s upcoming Davis Cup tie against Canada, is now expected to head to Vancouver, Canada. With Go Soeda, a player with few major victories, as Japan’s No. 2 Nishikori will be counted on to carry the Japanese side. Japan’s top player can also be expected to play in Indian Wells later this month as he is currently on the players list for that event.

Top 10 NFL Free Agents For 2015 Season

Top 10 Free Agents for the 2015 NFL Offseason

With free agency quickly approaching, it is becoming more and more clear which big names players will be hitting the market this year. Based on the number of impact players available, this offseason could be one of the busiest in recent memory. Here’s a quick list of the top 10 free agents available (as of now) in 2015:

byron maxwell top free nfl agent 2015

Byron Maxwell—Seattle Seahawks, cornerback: Maxwell is the best cornerback available this offseason, but because secondary players are so scarce this season he will be vastly overpaid. Nonetheless, still a great players and an immediate impact starter.

greg hardy top nfl free agents 2015 images

Greg Hardy—Carolina Panthers, defensive end: Hardy will not be available until he is reinstated, and there is still a possibility that he will be suspended for the beginning of this season. Despite his off the field issues, his talent and numbers on the field certainly make him one of the better defensive players available this offseason.

mike iupati top nfl free agents 2015 images

Mike Iupati—San Francisco 49ers, guard: Iupati has been one of the best run blockers in the NFL over his career. He is not coming off his best season, but maybe a change of scenery could help him out on the field.

randall cobb top nfl free agents 2015

Randall Cobb—Green Bay Packers, wide receiver: As it stands right now, Cobb is the best slot receiver available. Cobb can be a complete game-changer for both the punt return game and the offense as a whole. Aaron Rodgers’s numbers will certainly drop if he is not resigned.

demarco murray top nfl free agents 2015

DeMarco Murray—Dallas Cowboys, running back: Murray and Bryant both make the list form the Cowboys because they will more than likely only be able to keep one of them. Murray is an amazing player, but he does come with some risk. The Cowboys have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, and on top of that he had an insane 497 carries this past season. Murray may not be the same coming back in 2015 with a new team.

Devin McCourty top nfl free agents 2015

Devin McCourty—New England Patriots, safety: McCourty is not the best coverage corner in the NFL, but he is the leader of one of the best defense in the league. McCourty has made it clear that he wants to stay in New England, but with their salary cap issues he may need to find a new home for 2015.

jason pierre paul top nfl free agents 2015

Jason Pierre-Paul—New York Giants, defensive end: Pierre-Paul has had some back issues, but those seem to be completely gone now. JPP recorded nine sacks over the last five games of the season, and he is a well-known run stopper. The Giants are leaning towards using the franchise tag, but if he hits the market he will be a great addition to any defense.

dez bryant top nfl free agents 2015

Dez Bryant—Dallas Cowboys, wide receiver: The Cowboys are most likely going to franchise tag Bryant, but his off the field behavior is making them question his reliability. Well, numbers don’t lie. He’s the best wide receiver available but a long shot.

justin houston top nfl free agents 2015

Justin Houston—Kansas City Chiefs, outside linebacker: If it weren’t for Ndamukong Suh, Houston would be the best available player by a landslide. Houston was one sack away from breaking Michael Strahan’s record, and he has averaged 1.2 sacks per game over the past two seasons. If the Chiefs let him go he will be a great pick up.

ndamukong suh top nfl free agents 2015

Ndamukong Suh—Detroit Lions, defensive tackle: The only defensive lineman in the NFL right now that is playing better than Suh is J.J. Watt himself. Suh has had a Hall of Fame-type career so far: he shreds double teams, punishes quarterbacks, and stops running backs in their tracks. The Lions would have to pay $26.7 million to franchise tag him, so Suh may find a new team this season.

What’s Next For Ronda Rousey?

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ronda rousey next up after beating cat zingano 2015

Ronda Rousey has done it again. She defended her Bantamweight Title once again last night. She made quick work of the #1 contender in the world, Cat Zingano. Rousey had her patented armbar locked in before the graphic describing the color trunks of each fighter could get off the screen. For anyone that missed the graphic, Rousey was the lady making the other one tap for mercy as she put her arm in an inescapable lock. Oh and I checked, Rousey really does have a patent on her armbar, so don’t try and duplicate that shit!

The champ’s last two fights have totaled a Mike Tyson like 30 seconds. Totaled SON! She is getting better with each fight. And I know Cat Zingano, a prideful fighter, was embarrassed by her performance. Her body language right after she submitted told the story of her dissapointment after weeks of training left her with only 16 seconds in the octagon with Rousey. Zingano’s comments in the press conference after the fight showed how badly she wished things had gone differently. She made it clear she would do whatever it takes to get back to another shot at Rousey. Zingano has nothing to be ashamed of. The fight was over in a flash, but that is the nature of the fight game. She went on the attack from the jump and it simply didn’t work for her. She lost to the most talented female fighter among the billions of women on this rock we call Earth.

Some might be getting tired of Rousey getting these easy wins, but those fans are in the minority. Sure we would like to see a longer fight after laying down $60 for the right to watch this main event. It’s not Ronda Rousey’s job to make fights longer. It’s her job to destroy whoever is put before her. She gets more impressive with every destruction and builds upon her legend with each victory. If those victories only take a few seconds, that’s not a slight to her obviously. Greatness rears its head very quickly.

Dana White had said before UFC 184 that if Zingano didn’t manage a win, then Rousey may have to start fighting some guys since she has basically cleaned out the bantamweight division. Miesha Tate gave her a good fight but still lost for the second time to Rousey. They can’t just keep letting Tate get shots at Rousey time after time. That would be like letting a Von Erich win the world title from Ric Flair after losing like 50 matches to the Nature Boy over a couple years.

ronda rousey makes history ufc 184 with cat zingano

Rousey does need good competition to grow her legend. She can only beat those on the schedule though. And beat them she has, literally. The amazing thing is that she keeps catching her opponents with the armbar. She did mix in a couple of knockouts last year for the hell of it. The UFC may have to require her to win by armbar only, that way her opponents only have to guard against that single move. Or they could ban Rousey from using the armbar like the NWA did with the piledriver back in Ric Flair’s day. Too many pro wrestling references, I know.

Rousey mentioned a couple of ladies that she would like to face going forward. Holly Holm and Bethe Correia were on that short list. Holm would be an intriguing test since she is a former world boxing champ. I doubt she has an answer for the armbar so she best not let Rousey grab her in any way, shape, or form. Of course Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos name popped up again. Dana White took over the mic at the post fight presser to say that Rousey is willing to fight Cyborg, but only at 135 pounds. If that fight happens, great. If not I am fine with it. I would like to see Rousey close the book on Santos, however I don’t want to wait forever on a situation like Pacquiao and Mayweather. These two boxers are finally getting it on, but my interest is about 50% of where it was when both fighters were at their peak.

I know one thing. Whoever is going to push Ronda Rousey to the limit better get it done soon. She is not going to be fighting into her mid 30s like many fighters end up doing. She is here for an epic short run as the best ever. She is going Gale Sayers on the UFC. Better get her in the next couple of years. She is not long for this business. She may love to fight, but I can imagine she gets almost as much out of simply training as she does fight night. She will soon make more money in a single year from Hollywood than she has made in her entire UFC career. If that doesn’t work out longterm, she will always have a job in the UFC if she wants it. She is a perfect fit for the broadcast world or she could have a spot in the leadership of the company also.

Even though her fights may not last long we should try to enjoy every micro second…I’ve watched the Zingano replay 12 times already. She is something to behold so best behold now. In the not so distant future she will echo the immortal words of Brad Pitt playing the role of Achilles at the start of ‘Troy’ after slaying the most worthy adversary available. “IS THERE NO ONE ELSE? IS THERE NO ONE ELSE?” Is there?

New England Patriots Season Recap & 2015 NFL Draft Needs

New England Patriots Season Recap 2015 NFL Draft Needs

The confetti has rained down, the 2014 NFL season is over, and the New England Patriots are Super Bowl XLIX champions. The Patriots did about as well as a team can in a single season, finishing 12-4 for the third year in a row and winning their sixth consecutive AFC East title. The Patriots finished the regular season with the top seed in the AFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. A few games later, they found themselves in the Super Bowl.

new england patriots super bowl xlix winners 2015

It didn’t start out easy for the Patriots, losing their season opener 33-20 in Miami against the Dolphins, and barely pulling out a 16-9 victory over the Oakland Raiders Week 3 in New England. Week 4 was the low point in the Patriots season: the Pats left Kansas City with a 41-14 loss to the Chiefs on Monday Night Football.

The Patriots weren’t about to let a 2-2 record stop them, and seven wins in a row slung them right back on top of the AFC. The Patriots earned a first-round bye in the playoffs, and their first game came in the Divisional Round against the Baltimore Ravens—an extremely close game that came down to a Patriots game-sealing interception at the end of the 4th quarter to win 35-31.

tom brady overcame deflategate for new england patriots 2015

The Pats second playoff game was hardly a game, as they demolished the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 in the AFC Championship Game; however, this did blow open “Deflate-gate” (the scandal involving Tom Brady and the Patriots deflating their footballs, making them easier to throw and catch). Obviously the Patriots are no strangers to cheating, but after not getting punished appropriately for Spygate this repetition shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

The Patriots were showered with controversy and questions regarding the scandal for the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl; however, Bill Belichick was not about to let his team get distracted and miss out on his fourth Lombardi Trophy. The Patriots went into Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks, pulled off a 14 point comeback in the 4th quarter, and thanks to a Malcolm Butler interception on the goal line they won the big game.

The Patriots are heading into the draft not necessarily looking to improve, but simply maintain the high level of play they had in 2014. The Patriots have some salary cap issues, so they will probably lose a few big names this offseason. The draft is the Pats best way to stay on top. Here are the New England Patriots biggest needs heading into the 2015 NFL Draft:

new england patriots devin mccourty getting cut 2015 nfl

Secondary: The Patriots may need to find replacements for both safety Devin McCourty and cornerback Darrelle Revis this offseason. It would be hard to replace these two, especially Revis; but at the very least the Patriots can use the draft to get a little more depth at both positions. Tavon Wilson is the Pats’ backup free safety, but he doesn’t appear to be ready to start. The Patriots don’t pick until 32nd overall, but that should be early enough to find a decent safety.

legarrette blount earned new england patriots spot 2015 images

Running Back: Both Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley hit the free agent market this offseason, and there is almost no way that both of them can return. LeGarrette Blount has certainly earned his spot in the rotation, and James White and Jonas Gray should get their chances to carry the ball occasionally this season; but since the Patriots are so solid everywhere else they can afford to bring in a young running back to compete for a spot on the roster and maybe even some playing time of his own in 2015.

UFC 184: Ronda Rousey Just Needed 14 Seconds With Cat Zingano

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ronda rousey makes history ufc 184 with cat zingano

UFC star Ronda Rousey has set yet another record for having one of the fastest fights ever with UFC 184 against opponent Cat Zingano. This was a match that everyone was looking forward to, but it turned out to be blink and you missed it fast. You can check out the entire 14 second match below.

Ronda Rousey has stopped every opponent she has faced in her meteoric mixed martial arts career, so a first-round victory is no shock for the UFC’s bantamweight champion.

Except nobody had ever finished a UFC title fight this quickly, and hardly anyone had done it with this much flair.

Rousey stopped Cat Zingano with an acrobatic armbar 14 seconds into the first round, dramatically defending her 135-pound title at UFC 184 on Saturday night.

Rousey (11-0) earned the most impressive victory of her career with jaw-dropping speed, taking out the previously unbeaten Zingano with her signature armlock from an unlikely position.

Rousey landed on her head after Zingano (9-1) charged her at the opening bell, but the champion gracefully flipped Zingano onto her back, got up and scampered into position to wrench Zingano’s arm grotesquely.

Just like that, Rousey forced the challenger to tap out, ending her fifth title defense before the sellout Staples Center crowd could process what it just witnessed.

Rousey’s last three fights have lasted a total of 96 seconds, including two bouts against previously unbeaten opponents. Her 14-second finish was a record for any UFC title bout, but she thought it only went to plan.

“We were expecting that she might come out and do something flying at me right away,” Rousey said. “That’s not usually how you land an armbar at that angle, but it works. … It was a lot like judo transitions, where you scramble the second you hit the ground.”

ronda rousey ufc 184 takes out cat zingano in seconds 2015

Champion boxer Holly Holm made her much-hyped UFC debut with a split-decision victory over Raquel Pennington in UFC 184’s penultimate bout. Jake Ellenberger also earned a second-round submission of Josh Koscheck as the world’s dominant mixed martial arts promotion ended a two-year absence from Southern California, the home base of Rousey and numerous fighters.

But the hometown crowd got what it wanted from Rousey, the Olympic medal-winning judoka who has become one of the UFC’s most prominent fighters just two years after the promotion added women’s bouts. Zingano was considered the most daunting active threat to Rousey’s reign, but proved to be no match for the best female fighter on the planet.

Immediately after the finish, Zingano was as stunned as the fans. Zingano chose the dubious strategy of charging and grabbing onto Rousey, whose judo skills make her practically unbeatable in a clinch.

“I want to do it again,” Zingano said. “I just … (The armbar) was in, but it wasn’t in. She did it. She won. She did good.”

For the first time in UFC history, two women’s fights headlined a pay-per-view event. Middleweight champion Chris Weidman originally was slated to fight Vitor Belfort on the Los Angeles card, but when Weidman’s injury forced a postponement, the UFC promoted Rousey and Zingano to the main event without adding a major men’s bout.

Although partly created by necessity, that spotlight is the latest affirmation of Rousey and women’s MMA. Just two years after Rousey’s debut, the UFC has two busy women’s weight classes featuring more than 50 fighters — and Rousey is a movie star, a model and a celebrity who can sell out a large arena in her hometown.

Celebrity Gossip Round-up: Kanye West Clean Up & Kid Rock vs Beyonce

Celebrity Gossip Roundup Kanye West Clean Up Kid Rock vs Beyonce

So much has happened this week in the world of the rich and famous. From red carpet disses to fashion misses, here’s some of the top celebrity news.

giuliana rancic apolgizes about stinky zendaya hair comment 2015

Giuliana Rancic and Zendaya

On Monday after the airing of the Oscars, Giuliana Rancic, one of the cast members of  the E! Fashion Police show, opened her mouth and said that Zendaya’s faux dreads makes her look like she smell like “patchouli oil … or maybe weed.” Now whether or not she meant anything racist by it doesn’t matter at this point because the girl’s job is not supposedly on the line. But I want to point something out here that people are not talking about. Kathy Griffin also gave her two cents and I am pretty sure she is the one who said “…or maybe weed.” No one is addressing that part of the situation thought. I wonder why. All in all, I don’t think Rancic is racist, she just should have thought before she spoke or listened to Kelly Osborne who reportedly told her not to say what she said.

mirjana puhar from americas next top model killed with boyfriend 2015

America’s Next Top Model Contestant Murdered

Mirjana Puhar, the 19 year old former contestant of the popular show, was killed Tuesday February 24th, in a triple homicide along with her boyfriend in Charlotte, NC. She appeared on the 21st cycle of ANTM and was eliminated in the 10th episode. Details are still forthcoming as authorities continue to search for clues as to why this tragic incident happened. What they do know right now is that the murder seems to be drug related, the victims knew the killer and Puhar had only been dating her boyfriend for a few months. This is a sad story that serves as a lesson to be careful who you love and who you allow yourself to be around.

kid rock vs beyonce fight 2015

Kid Rock Vs. Beyonce

Apparently Kid Rock done lost his mind and has thus suffered the wrath of the Beyhive. In an interview he did with Rolling Stones Magazine, for whatever reason, he felt the need to go in on Beyonce, stating that she “doesn’t have a fucking ‘Purple Rain,’ but she’s the biggest thing on Earth…How can you be that big without at least one ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ or ‘Old Time Rock & Roll’?” He then goes on to say, “People are like, ‘Beyoncé’s hot. Got a nice fucking ass.’ I’m like ‘Cool, I like skinny white chicks with big tits.’ Doesn’t really fucking do much for me.” This dude is a fucking moron and his comments come from a very ignorant place. I bet he’s the type to say to his hillbilly friends over a game of pool how he doesn’t get why men are attracted to “black bitches.” He comes off as a bigot with his comments and truthfully, he’s just a hater. What the hell do you have fucking Kid Rock? You don’t have a “Beyonce” or “Crazy in Love.” Get hell out of here with that shit.

lupita nyongo oscar dress goes missing when she needs to return it 2015

Lupita Nyong’o

The Oscar winning actress was a dream at the Academy Awards on Sunday, donning a dress made up of over 6,000 pearls. Well, that dress, which cost a cool $150,000, has gone missing. Reports say that it was stolen from the actress’s room at the London West Hollywood Hotel. The dress went missing sometime Wednesday February 25th, and authorities were called around 11:30pm.  Who would have the nerve to steal the dress is beyond me. I mean that is pretty bold. Too bad too because that was one gorgeous piece of clothing.

kanye west working court for lawyers

Kanye West’s Day in Court

Yeezus is forever in the news it seems like these days. He has told his lawyers to ask for comments or pictures from his interrupting Taylor Swift back in 2009 and Beck most recently this year at this year’s Grammy’s to prohibit them from being presented in a case brought against him by a photog claiming the rapper assaulted him. He wants all references to the two infamous interruptions to be banned during the proceedings as they show him being the cocky dude that he is. According to Kanye’s Lawyer, the incidents are not relevant and would cause “cause jurors to form a negative opinion of West.”  Um newsflash, people already look at him in a negative light so seeing anything related to his actual behavior will more than likely not affect the jury one bit.

rip mister spock leonard nimoy 2015

RIP Spock

For all you Star Trek lovers, we are sad to announce that Lenard Nimoy who played the title character Spock on the original Star Trek series, died today February 27th. Nimoy was 83 years old and enjoyed a long and successful acting career. His cause of death is reported to be from COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which he attributed to years of smoking. Good bye dear Spock… you certainly did live long and prospered.

bobbi kristina brown has seizures to go back into coma 2015

Bobbi Kristina

If you have been following the tragic saga of Bobbi Kristina’s hospitalization, you know that doctors recently attempted to bring her out of the medically induced coma with the hope that her condition might improve. However, she suffered what one family insider calls “violent “seizures and still remains in a comatose state. As of today, it has been almost a month since she was found in her Rossville, GA home face down in a tub, and she is still fighting for her life.

UFC Versus PEDs

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ufc vs peds 2015

The UFC has a real fight on its hands. The MMA promotion company is taking on a badass opponent in the form of these performance enhancing drugs. After having a number of big name fighters, including one of the best fighters ever in Anderson Silva, get popped for failed drug tests lately, the company had no choice. This fight will not be an easy one or a cheap one. Maybe most of all it won’t be a popular one in the eyes of some fans.

Part of the new plan involves a full slate of testing for all athletes on every card in the UFC. This will go for the big name fighters in main events as well as the lesser knowns competing in the undercards. This is a smart move since there is no point testing the stars if you are going to let the newcomers climb the up the rankings while possibly skating by with performance enhancers.

Dana White was very disappointed by Anderson Silva’s positive tests for PEDs before and after his fight with Nick Diaz. It’s not a good look for a legend to have been caught cheating, although Silva maintains he was clean and there must have been a lab mistake. To be fair, he reportedly had never failed a test before. Anderson Silva is the best MMA fighter in the history of the sport and for him to be guilty of cheating is a big black eye for his sport. White is savvy enough to know this and realizes that he must move now to make changes. And that’s what the UFC is in the process of doing. They are seeking stiffer penalties that are not just a dog and pony show for the public. “We are advocating for longer suspensions and harsher penalties issued by state athletic commissions, international federations or whatever body is handing down penalties. Currently I believe that the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) standard on a first-time offender for PED usage is a two-year ban. We certainly advocate for that,” UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta said. A two year ban is no joke for a sport that has a short window of opportunity for these guys.

One of the biggest draws and polarizing figures in the UFC has been outspoken about the PED issue. Ronda Rousey says that she supports stiffer penalties for cheaters and likes the new focus to clean up the sport. She too was very disheartened at Anderson Silva testing positive for the enhancers. The blond armbar aficionado makes the best point about PEDs when she talks about fighting being more dangerous than other sports. A quicker point guard due to drug use is not much danger to his opponents, but a fighter with 20% more power in his or her punches is a serious threat to the person eating that punch.

Other sports have had to deal with PEDs of course. Baseball was hit the hardest as many of their stars started hitting home runs at an alarming pace until someone finally noticed how abnormal this was….along with players’ heads becoming enlarged! The NFL clearly has issues as well. They catch players occasionally and suspend them a few games, but it is not the same as in baseball. The NFL isn’t held to the same standard as baseball in the fans’ eyes for whatever reason. Mainly football is so popular that fans just don’t really care about this side note of guys getting better with drug use.

Are fans going to get behind this new UFC policy? I think some will, most will not care much, and some will be against it once it starts interfering with the actual fights. When a popular fighter is put out of commission for a year or more, there will be fans that are pissed at the UFC itself. These fanatics won’t blame their fighter for “just trying to get an edge.”

As for the UFC’s seriousness on this issue, clearly they want to clean up the sport. But how are they going to handle this testing? The biggest concern I have is when the tests are done. Is the UFC going to test the fighters just hours before fight? I doubt it. They can’t have a main event changed at the last minute like that. What are they going to do, pick a guy out of the stands to fight Chris Weidman if Vitor Belfort tests positive for the juice right before a PPV? I think not.

The UFC is hoping a two year ban will be enough for fighters not to try it once the new system is in place. I get that. But some athletes will always try to gain an advantage if they believe they can beat the tests. Scientists work on both sides of the rules when it comes to performance enhancing drugs.

The bottom line for me has always been the same when it comes to athletes using drugs to make themselves better than the other guy or girl. It’s not fair for one guy to have to put possibly harmful drugs into his body to keep up with the neanderthal that doesn’t give a fuck, and is willing to inject himself with anything as long as it makes him faster and stronger. The UFC is still a young sport compared to others like MLB and the NFL, so they are in a great spot to make their sport better in the long run by cleaning it up. It won’t be cheap. It may not be popular among some fans. And they will lose some awesome fighters for extended periods if they do strict testing like they are putting forward. This will be a bloody fight for the UFC. But it’s better to ring the bell right now instead of waiting until the sport becomes a joke due to negative tests every other week. This will be a painful process, but if the UFC’s leaders stay the course they will at least stay even in an everlasting fight against PEDs and cheaters.

Adrian Peterson Has His Say On NFL Suspension Being Overturned

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adrian peterson releases statement about nfl suspension overturned

Adrian Peterson waited a full day to make sure to get his words right in a statement about his recent NFL suspension being overturned this past week. Speculation is everywhere on what the future holds for the Minnesota Vikings running back, but one thing is for sure, the Minnesota Vikings don’t seem to be in it. At least as can be seen in his statement which leaves any mention of the team out.

One day after U.S. District Judge David S. Doty overturned the suspension of Adrian Peterson, the Minnesota Vikings running back has weighed in on the matter.

“I was pleased to learn about Judge Doty’s decision,” Peterson wrote in a press release after Doty ruled in his favor, granting an NFL Players Association motion to vacate a previous ruling by arbitrator Harold Henderson.

“It is a positive step in protecting players’ rights and preserving due process for all players,” Peterson wrote. “It also brings me one step closer to getting back on the football field and playing the sport I love. As I prepare for my return to football, I am still focused on my family and continue to work to become a better father every day. I want to express my gratitude for all of the support I have received from the fans, NFLPA, Jeffrey Kessler, and my agents Ben Dogra, Tracy Lartigue, and Mark Heligman from Relativity Sports.”

Whether or not Peterson will remain with the Vikings upon his return is another topic. His father, Nelson, said Thursday that he’s heard of three teams interested in making a play for the All-Pro runner.

“I’ve heard rumors, Arizona,” Peterson’s father said. “I’ve also heard the rumors of Indianapolis and the Colts, going there with a quarterback the caliber of (Andrew) Luck. I’ve also heard the Cowboys, coming back home with the Cowboys, behind that offensive line that they have.”

Peterson’s father isn’t afraid to talk landing spots, but Peterson has yet to say a word about where he hopes to play in 2015. Until we know the answer, the future of the NFL’s finest back remains one of the offseason’s most intriguing subplots.

Relationship between Adrian Peterson & Minnesota Vikings Deteriorating Quickly

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adrian peterson not mentioning minnesota vikings reinstatement 2015

Adrian Peterson has been unarguably the best running back in the NFL since being drafted to the Minnesota Vikings in 2007. In fact, Peterson never rushed for less than 1,200 yards except for the 2011 season when he only played in 12 games. Peterson also suffered a severe knee injury at the end of the 2011 season, tearing both his ACL and MCL on one blow to the knee. Peterson’s injury was so severe that there was questions as to whether or not he would even be able to play in 2012; and if he was able to play, could he come back at the same high performance level fans had become accustom to over the last five seasons?

Peterson wasted no time putting everyone and anyone’s doubts to rest—Peterson had made a full recovery by Week 1, and the 2012 NFL season was the best of his career. Peterson finished 2012 with 2,097 rushing yards (eight yards short of Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record) and 12 touchdowns on route to being named the 2012 NFL MVP.

The 2013 season was slightly below average for Peterson, but in 2014 things just got ugly. Peterson had a bad Week 1 with only 3.6 yards per carry, but after that Peterson would be finished for the season in light of his child abuse scandal. Peterson was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List while he dealt with his legal situation. The shocking images of his child’s bruises left many people calling for Peterson to leave the NFL for good. Now the Vikings have a difficult, $13 million decision to make this offseason regarding the PR nightmare that is Adrian Peterson.

Peterson’s massive contract with the Vikings has him pinned in Minnesota through the 2017 season and has him set to make $13 million in 2015; but it is unclear whether or not the superstar wants to return to the Vikings—or if the team wants him back.

Peterson has made it clear that he is a little uneasy with the organization as a whole. Peterson felt “ambushed” by the team as they made the push to get him placed on the exempt list, making him question how much support he truly had within the organization. A few weeks ago Peterson reiterated these feelings amongst reports that the Vikings would like to have him back in 2015. Peterson stated once again that he is “still uneasy” about the team and the idea of remaining a part of the organization moving forward.

Peterson has managed to stay very calm and level-headed when talking about his future in the NFL, but his agent decided to burn bridges for the Pro Bowl running back. There are reports coming out of the NFL combine that Peterson’s agent Ben Dogra was involved in a heated exchange with Vikings VP Rob Brzezinski. In fact, the conformation got so ugly that former Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik had to break the two men up. Dogra made it clear to the Vikings during the argument that Peterson would never put on a Vikings uniform again.

The other big issue the Vikings will need to deal with this offseason is Peterson’s massive contract. It’s no secret that Peterson has always wanted to play for the Dallas Cowboys, and Jerry Jones has been trying to acquire the superstar for years now; but Peterson’s contract may make dealing the running back an issue.

Peterson’s cap hit in 2015 will be $13 million, making him the highest paid running back in the NFL by far. No team, even the Cowboys, would be able to pick up this contract through a trade. The only edge that the Vikings have on the running back is the ability to cut him: Peterson has already been paid out all the guaranteed money in his contract—in other words, the Vikings can cut Peterson with no cap hit or cash expense.

Peterson released a statement on Friday about being reinstated which doesn’t mention the Vikings:

“I was pleased to learn about Judge Doty’s decision. It is a positive step in protecting players’ rights and preserving due process for all players. It also brings me one step closer to getting back on the football field and playing the sport I love. As I prepare for my return to football, I am still focused on my family and continue to work to become a better father every day. I want to express my gratitude for all of the support I have received from the fans, NFLPA, Jeffrey Kessler, and my agents Ben Dogra, Tracy Lartigue, and Mark Heligman from Relativity Sports.”

Adrian Peterson will be reinstated to the Minnesota Vikings on April 15th, but only time will tell where he will play during the 2015 NFL season.

Serie A Game Week 24 Soccer 2015 Review: Big Financial Problems At Parma

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Serie A Game Week 24 Soccer Review Big Financial Problems At Parma

9 points clear at the top of the table, Juventus are in prime position to retain their title in Serie A Soccer. AS Roma have been in terrible form off late and on Sunday they registered their ninth draw of the campaign. In the last six matches in all competitions, Roma has won only one game. They might soon lose the second spot to Napoli if they don’t find a way to get better results.

as roma draws with verona serie a soccer 2015

The Romans were held in a 1 – 1 draw at Verona. Totti drew first blood, but twelve minutes late Jankovic found the equalizer. Although Roma had seven out of 16 shots on target, they couldn’t stop themselves from losing two important points. The league leaders, on the other hand, came back from behind on Friday to win 2 – 1 against Atalanta. Llorente got the equalizer for the Old Lady, while Andrea Pirlo scored a majestic winner just before half time.

napoli beats sassuolo serie a soccer 2015 images

Rafa Benitez’s Napoli got a convincing victory over Sassuolo on Monday. Zapata and Hamsik scored for the Naples based team, but soon after the second goal Mertens got sent off and Napoli were reduced to ten men. They had 3 shots on target of which two converted to goals.

cagliari loses to inter milan serie a soccer 2015 images

Cagliari were beaten by Inter 2 – 1 and with this win Nerrazuri have reached the eighth spot on the Serie A table. They are only five points away from the fourth placed, Lazio. Yet, the Champions League place seems quite far for Roberto Mancini’s men. Their fierce city rivals, AC Milan aren’t very far away from them. Milan have taken the ninth spot in the table and they are only two points behind Inter. Rossoneri won the game on Sunday against Cesena at San Siro. Bonaventura opened the scoring for the Italian giants, while Pazzini’s penalty in the dying minutes sealed three points for Inzaghi’s team.

lazio beats palermo serie a soccer 2015 images

Lazio won 2 – 1 against Palermo, while Empoli recorded a 3 – 0 win over Chievo. The match between Parma and Udinese was postponed because the club has not paid wages to the players or staff in the last five months. Also, the new owner Giampietro Manenti has failed to meet the minimum costs against debt due on 16 February. Things are really bad at the club as the cash levels have dipped below £29,700 reportedly.

parma gets hit for financial problems serie a soccer 2015

The federation statement read: “The president has taken note of Parma’s request that Parma-Udinese, originally scheduled for February 22, take place exclusively behind closed doors.

“He has heard from the Italian Footballers’ Association and the Italian Association of Soccer Coaches who have expressed discomfort of players and coaches from both teams about playing behind closed doors.

“Decision: the rearrangement of the game to another date which will be decided by the Lega Serie A.”

parma alessandro lucarelli not happy with financial problems 2015

The club skipper Alessandro Lucarelli has expressed his discomfort over the whole situation and said, “We’ve had a meeting with the president [Manenti] and what has emerged is the difficulty in bringing the money to Italy. He has reiterated that he will try to give us some guarantees in the next 24 hours.

“But our patience has a limit. We are a united group and we have given the club an ultimatum. The time is running out. We need action, not words.”

Roger Federer Defeats Novak Djokovic For 2015 ATP Dubai Tennis Title

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Roger Federer Defeats Novak Djokovic For 2015 ATP Dubai Tennis Title

Roger Federer, the World No. 2, made fairly light work of Novak Djokovic in the ATP Dubai 2015 final (Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships). The World No. 2 claimed his seventh title at the event on Saturday with a 6-3, 7-5 straight sets victory over the World No. 1.

Federer, who will remain the World No. 2, is now 20-17 against Djokovic overall. The Swiss Maestro made the following comments after the match:

novak djokovic loses to roger federer atp dubai open 2015

“I think the first set belonged to me whereas the second set belonged to (Djokovic) more,” Federer stated. “He created many more opportunities. I struggled to get into his service games more frequently. It seemed like the moment I wasn’t serving great he created chances for himself and put a lot of pressure on me. It was a huge game clearly at 5-5, 40/0 for him. I crawled my way back into the game and ended up breaking him. So that was big, but I think the break points saved were even bigger tonight.”

roger federer giving back novak djokovic balls 2015 images

Commenting on the 37-match rivalry that has developed between he and Djokovic over the years, Federer stated the following:

novak djokovic worn down by roger federer dubai 2015 iamges

“I think it’s really become a very nice rivalry,” said Federer. “I think we play very nicely against each other, and it seems people like the way we play against each other, as well. I don’t think we have to adjust our games very much against each other, which I think is nice, as well. We can just play our game, and then the better man wins.

roger federer wins atp dubai title 2015

Federer, who is not listed as a Swiss nomination in that country’s upcoming Davis Cup tie, will now be idle until Indian Wells 2015. According to the schedule at his homepage he will not play in Miami this season however he will be in the Monte Carlo Masters, a tournament he has often skipped in the past.

roger federer vs novak djokovic dubai 2015 images

Djokovic, following the loss in Dubai, is currently listed as a Davis Cup nomination for early March when the Serb side hosts the Croats in Sarajevo. Following those matches, Djokovic fans can expect him to be in both Indian Wells and Miami ahead of the clay court season.