First let me qualify this post. As a wrestler I’m a big MMA fan; I watch most of the fights one way or another. That said, I’m a little bothered by the recent grumblings that Floyd Mayweather Jr. may pursue MMA next - with Mark Cuban’s help.
Mayweather is a surgeon in the boxing ring. That’s not to say that he’s not also a complete stud when he needs to be (see the Hatton fight). I’d love to see Mayweather get into MMA. Personally, I think he’d destroy 95% of the guys he faced very quickly. Speaking as a fairly accomplished wrestler I still don’t believe most MMA guys could take Mayweather to the ground without being hit 20-30 times in the process. If a Mayweather bomb sends Ricky Hatton to the canvas imagine what it would do to … (pick the MMA lightweight of your choice).
Here’s why I’m not ready to see Mayweather in the cage yet; there’s a bit of unfinished business. Is he the best fighter in the world pound for pound? Maybe. What!? Maybe?! That’s right, there’s a guy out there that Mayweather simply won’t fight. When he finally fights Miguel Cotto and wins then I’ll grant him the best pound for pound fighter in the world. Cotto is a monster with the power to hurt Mayweather. Hatton had the power as well, but Cotto is a better boxer to go along with the power. Cotto is 31-0 with 25 knockouts including recent wins against Shane Mosely and Zab Judah.
Floyd, please give us a fight with Cotto before making the leap.
It’s been over week now since my last post, so I thought I’d just put SOMETHING up for you today. I’ve been listening to all of the Pedro the Lion albums of late. I’m also still reading The Death of Marco Pantani. What do those two things have in common you wonder? Not much…but here’s a live version of “Options” by Pedro the Lion performed ….in Italy (home of Marco Pantani). Enjoy the mope-fest.
Nathan’s one of my closest friends; he was in my wedding and I was in his. He’s always been a great artist, musician, song writer, and all around talented dude. He’s had some of his paintings featured in a big show in Miami in the last few weeks. He’s selling alot of paintings right now - some of them even being purchased by overseas collectors. It’s fulfilling to see all of his work pay off for him. I’m proud of the guy. Congrats Nate. Everyone else, you better buy a Nathan Markham original now - while they are still affordable. Believe me, I’m glad to have a framed Nathan original hanging in my home.
I”ve been reading The Death of Marco Pantani for the last week or so. Whatever you might think of him or how the cycling world remembers him, he was a superb professional cyclist.
Marco passed away in 2004 of a cocaine overdose. Was he a victim of a professional sport that left him with no choice but to dope - get caught - and spriral into despair? Or was he just a man that made stupid decisions? Reading the book makes me realize that no matter how we all end up in life there was a point when each of us, Marco Pantani included, were just children - full of excitement and innocence. Marco loved riding a bicycle in the hills near his home the way kids today love Xbox, PS3, and the like.
It’s worth watching this video and remembering (if nothing else run the video to the 1:30 point and watch Marco descend the mountains mere inches over tire at incredible speeds. He was brave if nothing else). RIP Marco:
