I have to say my favorite part of legalized, sanctioned MMA is the way it can win people over. It’s easy to forget how many people don’t realize there are rules and regulations. One of the guys in sales for the Planet was sitting beside Matt and myself last Friday, and he thought it was going to be some sort of barbaric gladiator contest with no rules and two guys trying to kill each other at any cost. He came away with a heightened understanding along with a whole new understanding of the sport.

The show on Monday was exciting because our old friend Gordon Senerius came by to do Ask a Lawyer. Gordon is a cool guy. Not only a lawyer, but a laid-back individual who loves him some Jimmy Buffett. The questions were good for the most part. The P1’s and their legal problems made me realize how often we wind up in court fighting over children and on behalf of children. That’s a sad reality of our time. We have to chalk it up to that, minimize the trauma, and leave it at that. It’s best to move on.

The most interesting point Gordon made was in regards to tort reform. It’s one of those things we hear thrown around a lot in politics, but does anyone actually know what it entails? I still hardly understand it. I really wish Senerius was here with me right now to explain it to me as I type about it.
In basic terms, medical tort reform would lead to decreased payouts for victims of medical malpractice. Once again, a terrible idea from our government. For one, it would be hard to find anyone who believes decreased medical malpractice insurance premiums would lead to more affordable health care for anyone, anywhere. It seems like putting a band-aid on Paige’s broken leg. And if we did that, and the doctor did just put a band-aid on Paige’s broken leg, she would be screwed out of a good settlement because we regulated how much doctors owe patients when they do things like amputate the wrong limb or leave a piece of medical equipment behind during surgery. If someone thinks any of this is a good idea, please explain it to me in terms I can understand. Because it seems like an awful one.
It seems to me that the government might not care very much about healthcare reform because they only present horribly flawed ideas concerning it. Meanwhile, everybody arguing about it makes it more of a hot commodity and that seems bad as well. We’re screwed, is what I’m saying. If nothing else, we can all agree on that.

February is evidently Marijuana Awareness Month as well as Black History Month. I would imagine it is some other month as well. Every month is designated to recognize or be aware of something. This one just happens to be marijuana. Most people seem to be aware of it so I guess it works.
We talked a bit this morning about legal pot in America. Wondering if and when it may happen, as well as asking people why they would or would not vote to legalize or decriminalize. Unfortunately, our phones went out and we weren’t able to talk to any of those people. Stuff happens. Forrest Gump said that.
I had a polite and thoughtful email from a lady who said she didn’t want to smell pot smoke everywhere she went, or to deal with giggling potheads when she goes to a restaurant or a movie.
For starters, I’m sure it’d be just as illegal to smoke a joint in a movie theater as it is to smoke a cigarette in a movie theater. Same goes for restaurants.
Secondly, if you’re in a movie theater, you’re surrounded by stoned people. And if people are giggling during the movie, you may have gone to see a comedy.
Also, if you’re in a restaurant, someone there is stoned. Quite possibly the person cooking your food. Also the person serving your food. Definitely some other customers. You may not necessarily be in the majority in this case. I’ve been to all-night diners. I know.

Football can go first. Clemson won impressively in a largely defensive battle with Kentucky. South Carolina lost horribly in a largely horrible game against a far more inspired, driven, competent UCONN team who wanted to win one for a fallen teammate. Good for the Huskies. They’re a better story. ‘Team rallies around fallen teammate’ is a better headline than ‘Dumb QB leads Gamecocks to victory two years after keying professor’s car; pees off balcony during celebration’ and pretty much ever lame duck sportswriter in America was dying to write just one more article where they could exploit Jasper Howard one more time. Because another story about Jasper Howard’s death is easier than trying.

Boise State is the real story, in my mind. They looked great Vs TCU. The pre-game talk was entirely about the TCU defense, which proved to be a phenomenal unit all season long. Every Clemson fan will tell you quickly that TCU’s defense is legit and among the best few in the nation. Every Boise State fan will agree. But the Broncos’ D wasn’t supposed to do what they did to the Horned Frogs. It was an impressive win over a very good team. The game showed everyone, in primetime, that Boise State and TCU deserved to be BCS teams this year. Utah did it last year. Boise State has done it in the past. It’s a beautiful thing.
Even better, that Boise State team from last night is largely the same Boise State team we’ll be seeing on that ugly blue field in the fall. There wasn’t one senior offensive starter for Boise State in last night’s Fiesta Bowl. If that isn’t enough, 10 of 11 defensive starters will be back in the fall. That’s 21 of 22 starters returning to a really, really good football team.
The Fiesta Bowl win and the number of players returning to an already dominant, undefeated team might mean…I can hardly bring myself to think about it. But it probably means a top-5 (more like top-3) pre-season ranking for Boise State football. And another undefeated season (with Virginia Tech on the schedule!) could mean a Boise State date for the BCS Championship this time next year. That’s the biggest sports story to watch. Actual sports story, that is. Sports story that takes place on the field rather than in an electrical closet or Tiger Woods’ Nike golf slacks or Gilbert Arenas’ gun safe.

UFC 108 went down over the weekend. The card was cursed, supposedly. The main event was never going to be the main event till a month ago. Rashad Evans was going to fight Rampage back at UFC 107, but Rampage had a falling out over going to play Mr. T in an A-Team movie. Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera was on the card, but he got hurt and will fight in February. Jim Miller beat Duane Ludwig. Miller was originally scheduled to face Tyson Griffin, who was replaced by Sean Sherk, who was then replaced by Duane Ludwig before the fight could finally happen.
Despite all the setbacks, UFC 108 was a really good show. Better than UFC 107 and almost as good as the most recent Strikeforce card on Showtime. Rashad Evans looked a little rusty, but he owned the first two rounds before maybe relaxing too much in trying to wait out the decision in round 3. Still, you can’t question trying to wait out a decision against a fighter as dangerous as Thiago Silva. Rashad proceeded to show why trying to wait out the final round might not be a good idea against a fighter as dangerous as Thiago Silva. There is a downside. The downside, of course, is getting knocked out. It almost happened. We almost wound up with Rampage Vs Thiago Silva. Which would be a fantastic fight, but come on. We want Rampage Vs Rashad.
Thankfully, we get our wish. Rashad had enough guts and a strong enough chin to take a few stiff shots and not go down. So we get Rampage Vs Rashad in 2010, then we probably get that winner fighting the Shogun/Machida rematch winner. It’s a good time to be a light heavyweight in UFC, providing you don’t mind getting beat up.
For the record, I can’t help thinking Gegard Mousasi would steamroll all these dudes if he wasn’t hanging out in Strikeforce with no one to fight. It’s a shame. Mousasi might be the best 205lb. fighter in the world right now and it’s only fair that we get to see him fight in the best 205lb. divison. Instead, the Strikeforce 205lb. division is a shallow, poor comparison where Mousasi can easily run wild the same way BJ Penn and Georges St. Pierre have cleaned out the UFC 155lb. and 170lb. classes. That’ll be fun to watch too.