Greatest Thing Ever: The Sequel

"Hey! Remember that time you, me and the guys  __________ ?"

"Sure, that was the greatest night of my life!"

"I didn't even want to go at first but turned out to be awesome"

"I was really psyched but still it was better than I could've hoped for."

"Man! Good times!"

"Hey! Wanna do it again? "

"Hell yeah!"

Somethings happen and then they are done. They are complete even though they may not be resolved.Be glad you had the good fortune to experience something of that quality. Make sure you remain open to and on the look out for something of equal or perhaps greater quality in the future. Do not try to relive, recapture, revive a memory. You will be disappointed, sure, but what's worse is that disappointment will forever be tied to what was a great memory. You lose twice.

Everybody's done this. Whether it's getting back with that ex one more time or reconstructing that perfect night out. It never works out as planned and if we are honest with ourselves, we never really thought it would.

I Heart Heart

 Timothy Bradley  brought more heart to the Bell center than it's seen in 42 Habs' games this year. Bradley hit the big time last year knocking down and beating Junior "the Hitter" Witter. It was nice to see a humble, hard-working, young talent take out Witter whose combination of cockiness and mind numbing dulness leaves a bad taste in my mouth.This time he was up against big mouth Kendall Holt. After letting Holt get in his head with his (very loud) trash talking during the referee's instructions, Bradley came out a bit recklessly and got dropped by a punch that came pretty close to ripping his head clear off his body. He got up, seemed to get his bearings back within the eight count and closed the round strongly. The rest of the fight was just a perfect example of wanting it more. While Holt stood around waiting to land the next big shot and bitching to the ref about anything and everything, Desert Storm just kept coming, punching through clinches and outworking his opponent for every second of every round. He got caught again in the twelfth, with his glove touching the canvas, but he convincingly won almost every minute in between. I scored the tenth as a 10-9 round as I thought that apart from the flash knock down Bradley won it. 

What's not to like about Timothy Bradley? He fought two of his last three fights outside the USA (most American boxers go a whole career without doing that even once). He is a smart guy who says interesting things without being a dick. He fights hard for 36 minutes. He's only 25(!) and the Habs inspired shorts put him over the top! Throwing on a Habs sweater is a bit of a cheap move but it works on me. I hope he becomes the next American fighter to realize what a great boxing town Montreal is and, following in the foot steps of Librado Andrade, becomes a de facto hometown boy. I for one would love to see more of him, and anyone really who has half a heart, wearing the Bleu, Blanc, Rouge.

Fight!

Although we mostly saw what we wanted to see, there was a lack of drama on this weekend's B.A.D. card. Guerrero didn't look great before quickly and rather nonchalantly forfeiting his fight due to a pretty bad cut. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt if he gives "Air" Yordan a rematch.

It's hard not to think Ortiz is the real thing after knocking out tough, but second tier, Arnoutis. Good stoppage too. Arnaoutis asked his corner what happened about twenty seconds after the ref waved it off. "You lost, that's what". I'd like to see Ortiz take on Malignaggi and perhaps separate Paulie's head from his neck.

We didn't get the climax and release that comes with a knock out in the Kirkland-Julio fight but we did get some nonstop pummeling. After the fourth round Julio looked like he'd rather be doing just about anything else than  fighting. His fists said "Let's fight" but his eyes said "Mommy, I want to go home".

Bandwagoning - Although I was already running along side it, I have jumped on the James Kirkland bandwagon. It may be speeding towards a brick wall or off a cliff but WoooooooWeeee! It's gonna be fun! The only time Kirkland moves his head it seems to be into an oncoming punch. I don't agree with those who question his chin, however. He got hit hard but never seemed dazed or even off balance in the last three fights I saw. O.k. he's been knocked down but he got up completely composed and proceeded to destroy.

Who can stop the tank? I think Santos would knock him out. Power plus skill. I think Paul Williams (I bought a pass for his bandwagon, I ride it so much) could find a solution to his straight ahead pressure as he did against Margarito.

De-Bandwagoning - No fallen heroes this week but I am slowly leaning towards Hatton in the upcoming mega showdown. De laHoya never really imposed his size (as a welter or above) on anyone and ,being the Golden Retard, he can't feed or nourish himself properly and thus came in weighing less than the Pacman, so it's not a gauge of how Manny will match up against strength. Hatton is strong and will outweigh Manny by 10 lbs. Is Manny strong enough? Then he better be fast enough.

Fight!

Never considered myself to be much of a Juan Manuel Marquez fan. Never had anything against him. I cheered for Pacquiao when they fought. He just never fired my imagination. The "he coulda shoulda won" story line on him kind of rubbed me the wrong way too. If Pacquiao hadn't knocked him down four times... If Morales had given him a fight...If he hadn't fought John in Indonesia...Tough luck!

What he's done since moving up to lightweight, however, has been spectacular. While some boxers become weight division leapers, looking for the fame and the money, damning the significance, and ruling out the most intriguing match ups in favour of the obvious names and getting famous off of some one else's fame, Marquez has stepped up to a weight class many thought was a step beyond his comfort zone and knocked out the linear champ and the guy most considered the second best in the division. Wow. Yes and he knocked them out! Handing them both their first career stoppages. He should move up and knock out Nate Campbell while waiting to see what happens after the dust settles between the Pacman and the Hitman.

A Bit of Bitch - Funeka, Martinez, and John. All non-Americans fighting Americans in America and all three got the shaft. Let me never hear the US boxing press say an American boxer shouldn't go to Germany, Japan, Montreal,where ever because he'll get robbed. They act like somehow America is neutral ground for all fighters and the only place where an unbiased decision could ever be made. PFFTTTTTT! Wake up! Or Shut up!

De-bandwagoning - I am still seated on the Pavlik bandwagon but both feet are on the ground and with a mere straightening of  the knees and I will be off. It was not all his fault, but his last fight stank. They are talking about fighting Duddy who was arguably beaten by Walid Smichet. Not impressed. I heard a rumour about Trinidad. Ugh.And people have the nerve to criticize Abraham's opponents!  Actually, anything short of fighting Abraham before the year's end and I'm off. "But why should he fight in Berlin when he can sell 7000 tickets in Youngstown?" you ask. Well my friend last time I checked Youngstown wasn't exactly a world center and Abraham is selling 20,000 tickets in the heart of the European boxing market, where, by the way, people seem to give a shit about boxing. It's Kelly's call. Arthur can be king of the middleweights and he can be king of Ohio.

Bandwagoning - Tomasz Adamek boy! I've seen his last four or five fights and I love this guy! Since moving up to cruiser he's a one man gang. Knocking guys all over the ring. He's got a very sound and economical style. He throws punches to land them and he lands them hard. No wild bombs just well placed devastating punches. He gets hit back just enough to make it interesting, and at least once a fight he gets hit so hard it hurts your eyes. But he walks through shots that would bring down a stone age obelisk (too much History channel?). After knocking out a very large man last weekend he declared his desire to move up to heavyweight. Yes, please. He says he'll clean out the division. Yes, please. Can he? Right now I so want someone to, that I will put my faith in anyone who can box a bit (or a lot actually) and who looks like they spend more time in the gym than the tattoo parlor.