Top 10 "Top 10s": Most Awesome Knockouts

     In this second of my top 10 "top 10s," I name the most awesome knockouts I've seen and know of.

Parameters:  Since From the Fifty Peso Seats covers both Boxing and UFC, it would be fair to give 5 slots each to both sports.  They will all be ranked under one list though.  While knockouts come in many forms, I am most awed by quick, sudden and unexpected knockouts.  Here we go:

10.  UFC - Matt Hamill vs Mark Munoz

     In what was a memorable UFC debut, Munoz, the Filipino Wrecking Machine, underestimated fellow wrestler Hamill's stand up game and well he, as my friend put it, "got wrecked." Hamill absolutely destroyed Munoz with a well placed head kick and the fight was over.   I'm still a fan of Munoz though and his recent victories over Nick Catone and Kendall Grove have me smiling.

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Top 10 "Top 10s": Top Sports Movies

      So it begins.  This is my 91st post, which means I'm 10 posts away from the 100th and to celebrate reaching that number, I will be revealing my top 10 "Top 10s,"  my personal best of sports.  To start with, I'll be listing down the top 10 best sports movies in history.


Parameters:  My only restrictions would be to exclude movies where sports were not the central theme of the movie.  This is why Oscar winners like, "The Blind Side" and "Jerry McGuire" were not considered candidates, no matter how much I love them.  Other than that, any sports movies were a part of the list of candidates.


10.   Kingpin (Bill Murray, Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid)

     What kind of bowling coach would I be if I didn't include this movie?  Possibly the only bowling-centric movie ever made, Kingpin is an irreverent comedy from the Farrelly Brothers (of There's Something About Mary fame) about a former college bowling standout (Harrelson),who lost his hand in a hustle gone wrong, trying to help naive Amish bowler Ishmael (Quaid) win a pro bowling tournament to earn money to save his Amish town.  While in no danger of being regarded an art film, the movie is absolutely hilarious with over the top performances from three great actors (extra kudos to villain Bill Murray).  


Favorite Part:  Asked why he bowled so low, Ishmael explains, "It's not my fault.  It's you and your ten frames!" He then explains he bowls 15 frames as his granddad taught him, "to always do more."

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NBA 2010 Season Awards

     With the playoffs kicking off last Sunday, it's also time to take a look at which players should receive individual recognition for their efforts.


Most Valuable Player (MVP)

     I only look for three things in my MVPs.  First, is the player putting up tremendous numbers?  Second, will the player's team absolutely lose its way without him? Last, is the player a great ambassador for the NBA and basketball in general.  With that, I only see four candidates, Lebron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers), Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic), and Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder).  All these four players satisfy the first question, but only two will satisfy each of the next two questions.  While James will in no way satisfy the third question, it is the least important of my questions, so as much as it pains me, Lebron James must be MVP a second straight year.  His numbers are simply other-worldly, with averages of 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1 block per game.  Furthermore, it is beyond obvious that the Cavaliers would be absolute crap without him.

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Fifty Peso Previews: 2010 Playoff Preview (1st Round)

     While it's a little late in the game, here are the Fifty Peso Previews for the first round of the playoffs.


Western Conference 


L.A. Lakers (1) vs Oklahoma City Thunder (8)

     The Lakers are, as usual, creating their own drama with a less than stellar end to the regular season.  Anyone entertaining a 4th "8th seed defeats 1st seed" upset needs to remember that all Phil Jackson-coached teams encounter tons of problems just before the playoffs and then comes in to do what they need to do to win in the playoffs.  The exuberant Thunder (who I predicted would make the playoffs in my pre-season Fifty Peso Previews, will have their first audition for greatness and leading the charge would be NBA history's youngest scoring champ Kevin Durant.  Despite Durantula's impending playoff coming out party, the Lakers' experience and the Thunder's inexperience will result in a cocktail known as a Laker series win.


Fearless Forecast: Lakers in 6

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Shorts: Numerology

     Okay, so I turned 31 this week.  Wondering what kind of year my 31st will be, I took a look at some NBA players who have worn the number 31 for most or all of their careers for some answers.  


Pacemaker

      Right out of UCLA, reed-thin Reggie Miller donned the number 31 for the Indiana Pacers.  Known as Cheryl Miller's kid brother, Reggie bucked the odds and silenced the doubters as he proved he could not only survive the NBA but also dominate despite his slight build.  Miller played 18 fruitful seasons (all for the Pacers), marking his career with an amazing 8 point explosion in less than 15 game seconds against the Knicks, over 1000 three point shots converted and timeless playoff battles against John Starks and Michael Jordan.  Unfortunately, the sharpshooter was never rewarded with a championship, coming close in the 2000 NBA finals.  Question is, will my year feature amazing accomplishments like Miller's infamous playoff scoring sprees and duels or will the year be one big heartbreak like Reggie's inability to win a championship?

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NBA Fantasy League Awards

     With the NBA regular season on it's final week, it's the best time to hand out my All NBA Fantasy League Awards.  Now, while some of the awardees would win the real NBA awards, the following are winners in the fantasy league world.  In short, these are this season's best players, statistics-wise.


Regular Season MVP

Lebron James - I've been giving James a lot of grief for his childish behavior and boorish arrogance, but statistics wise, this guy is a fantasy stud.  This season, James averaged 29.9 points (on .502 FG percentage and 1.7 3 pointers made), 7.3 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 1 block per game.  He was a positive factor in at least 7 statistical categories, and in most leagues, only 9 are measured.  With a crappy line up I had in a league where I missed the live draft, I will finish no lower than 4th, thanks in no small part to James.  He may be the "King" of immaturity, but in NBA Fantasy Land, he truly is the "King."

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Heartbreak Hotel

     In the sports entertainment world of professional wrestling, hyperboles are thrown around like rice in a wedding procession.  There are, however, a few great men and women, who have earned each and every single one of those hyperboles.  One of those great ones, bade a final goodbye to his adoring fans of over 25 years.  Shawn Michaels, the "Heartbreak Kid," finally bade good bye to the WWE Universe last Monday, ending the career of easily one of wrestling's most popular and enduring superstars.  As a tribute to one of wrestlings icons, I look back on HBK's most memorable career moments.  While HBK has won a tremendous amount of titles, including every single one the WWE has ever had, I find these moments were his greatest.

Kwentong Barbero


     In 1988, a then teenaged Shawn Michaels burst into the WWE scene as one half of the Rockers. Teamed with Marty Jannetty, Michaels wuickly busted through the tag team ranks, winning against greats like the Hart Foundation and the Brain Busters.  His road to greatness, however, started with the implosion of his tag team.  After a series of rumors surrounding the Rockers' partnership, Michaels cleared the air in Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake's barber shop, raising Jannetty's hand before turning around and super-kicking him in the face.  The separation from Jannetty allowed Michael's to pursue the tremendous singles career everyone will remember for quite some time.

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