Straight Shooting

Well…shit.  The Eagles did it again.

Philadelphia Eagles 17, Washington Redskins 23

For the second straight week, they let a game slip away because of their inability to punch the ball in from the red zone.  The Eagles came out looking sharp against the Redskins, opening up a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.  After that, it was pretty much all Washington…as the Skins outscored Philly 23-3 the rest of the way.

After an efficient 12-play touchdown drive on the opening series, the Eagles’ struggled to put points on the board.  As usual, untimely miscues and dropped passes plagued Andy Reid’s offense…earning a loss that leaves them at the bottom of the NFL’s toughest division.

But it isn’t all bad news for the Iggles:
- At least the weather is still warm enough for the Eagles’ cheerleaders to bring out the cameltosis shorts.
- Rookie receiver DeSean Jackson learned how to properly carry the football all the way into the end zone.
- Andy Reid prefers to have heartbreaking losses take place at home…that way he won’t ever be too far away from a consolation cheese steak.
- With the Phillies advancing in the MLB post-season, an Eagles’ loss ensures that Philadelphia fans won’t have to go a full week without crying about something.
- When you’ve got Wesley Snipes’ stunt double (Correll Buckhalter) in the backfield, you always have a chance.

Speaking of choke-artists…

Fight for Your Right

As Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) continues to make its way into the mainstream, Elite XC had another prime-time night of mixed reviews this past weekend.  The sport that was once deemed too brutal for the masses landed on CBS for the second time on Saturday.

And once again, the major network tried to exploit the inexplicable popularity of Kimbo Slice…only to see the overrated internet sensation get knocked on his ass in about 14 seconds.

If you’re not familiar with Kimbo Slice, he’s a real-life street brawler that made his MMA debut not much more than a year ago.  That was about the same time that I started to pay attention to Elite XC, as a much needed alternative to the joke that professional boxing has become.  Watching a night of Mixed Martial Arts for free sure beats the hell out of paying 50 bucks to see two anorexic midgets dance around for 12 rounds.

But like most things, you have to take the good with the bad.

The Good:
- Elite XC fight night is usually filled with a full card of meaningful bouts.  Whether you know the names or not, the “undercard” fights normally provide plenty of entertainment.
- It’s like watching the movie Bloodsport, without the fake blood and shitty acting.
- MMA fights normally have a definitive winner, unlike boxing matches.  True, MMA bouts sometimes go to the scorecard…but the decision is rarely a surprise.
- Atttaatttaaattaaa catfight.  Yes, they let the girls fight too.  And much like a Hilton heiress, they really know how to swing.
- Gina Carano.

The Bad:
- Understandably, some of the fights don’t last very long.  With varied styles and full contact, you never know what to expect.
- Sometimes the hype makes it seem more like “professional” wrestling.  The sport has divided into a Vince McMahon-like hybrid, with UFC & Elite XC battling for market supremacy.
- Great fights are often overshadowed by bad ones.  This Saturday was a perfect example.  A back-and-forth championship match between Jake Shields and Paul Daley actually served as an undercard to the Kimbo Slice letdown.
- Every once in a while, a cauliflower ear can explode.

Overall, MMA is a solid alternative for those not too thrilled with the current state of pro boxing.  Hopefully, the pride of martial arts can keep the sport away from the Don King corruption that ruined boxing many years ago.

As Al Bundy would say – “Let’s Rock”.

** Additional Sunday Night Football note:  During the bye week, will somebody please teach Ben Recklessberger how to throw the damn ball before he gets hit?  There aren’t enough variations on the “pounded like Paris” punch line to cover 16 games of this shit!