Michael Vicks Future in Limbo

Well I waited to see what would happen with all this dog fighting business surrounding the already troubled Michael Vick, but I can wait no more.
First of all, let me say that I am a big Michael Vick fan and he was and may still be my fantasy football quarterback. However, you would think that after getting caught with a bong at the airport would have been enough to get him straightned out and especially after the horrible season he had. But no, now hes being implicated in a dog fighting ring (I’m assuming pitbulls) that apparently were held in one of his homes in rural Virginia. What I don’t understand is how he can be a franchise player for a professional football team and still act like hes in the ghetto. I mean what the hell is wrong with him, his little brother had the same problem, had a promising career ahead of him at Virginia Tech and then gets booted for weapons charges. The must be some kinda gene in the Vick family that gives them tremendous talent and horrible judement. This latest incident might be the straw that breaks the camels back, he played horribly last season, gave the fans the finger, busted for marijuana, and now organized dog fighting. Whats his deal? What happened to the Michael Vick that made people believe that the Falcons could win a superbowl, he is a model for the future quarterback, mobile, rocket arm, and playmaker. Now it seems that it has all gone up in smoke(if you know what i mean). All I can say is that IF he is still on the Falcons team come August he will have to quit being ghetto and start acting like a professional, he owes it to the fans, the Falcons organization and the NFL, I think Ricky Williams should give him a call and tell him its not worth it!!! I don’t think he would enjoy the cold weather of the CFL. Bottom line…. from me to you Michael Vick, “GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER”
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2011 Super Bowl to be played in Dallas

The 2011 Super Bowl will be played at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium in Arlington, Texas, where the NFL will be able to fit thousands more fans into the stadium for its showpiece game.
NFL owners voted Tuesday for the North Texas group, which had Hall of Famer Roger Staubach lobbying on its behalf. The Cowboys' $1 billion stadium seats up to 100,000 and will open in 2009. It has about 27,000 more seats than the other finalists' stadiums in Indianapolis or Arizona.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the actual crowd ticketed at the game could reach 120,000, with fans being able to watch video screens at each end zone.
"Everyone has always told me, 'I wish we could get more fans in the Super Bowl. I wish we could do that,'" he said. "I think the fact we can have 100,000 people in the stadium is important because it includes that many more people in our biggest event in the NFL.

UFC 71: Odds & Picks

This Saturday night at 10:00pm est Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell will square off against an old adversary in Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in which Liddell will be defending his belt in a World Light Heavyweight Championship bout.
This isn't the first time the two have fought, the first bout took place back in 2003 at a Pride Fighting event in Japan. Jackson defeated Liddell by TKO in the second round after a storm of punches finally wore down Liddell. Since then, both fighters have been undefeated. Making his debut to the UFC in UFC 67 Jackson pummeled Marvin Eastman by way of a KO in the second round and had earned the right to fight for the Light Heavyweight belt facing a familiar foe in Chuck Liddell.
The Breakdown:
Both fighters have dominated the Light Heavyweight division all over the world and this rematch should be nothing short of an all out war. Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell has a standup striker style that allows him to use his fists as his main weapons and likes to stand his oppponents up with his fists and then slip in a high kick to the head. He also makes it a point to stay very loose and on his feet, which would indicate that he is not comfortable on the ground and wrestling his opponents is the last thing he wants to do. Liddell is 9 years the senior to Jackson and at 37 years of age, you have to think that Liddell will not want to go the distance and he will try to setup the KO early in the fight. This could be a very dangerous strategy against a younger opponent who has already beaten you. However, I don't see an alternative for Chuck, Jackson is almost 10 years his junior and has proven over and over again that it is very difficult to square him up for a knockout hit. In order to win I think Chuck will have to bait him in and then look for the powerful counter to try and catch him off guard, much the same way he did against Tito Ortiz in UFC 66. I just don't believe that Chuck can get into a punching contest or a wrestling match with a younger and what looks to be, a stronger opponent in Quinton Jackson. Quinton Jackson also has a standup stiker style, but is also not afraid to pick up opponents and slam them into the floor. Jacksons biggest advantage is that he has already beaten Liddell once and will probably follow the same strategy again this time around, "if it aint broke, don't fix it!!!" He can go out and win quick if he just stands up and starts off the fight by stalking Liddell and taking control of the Octagon. There is no size difference between the 2 and it will basically come down to who can establish a rythem first and start timing their opponents for the eventual counter punch/kick for a knockout. Thats right, you heard it hear, there WILL be a knockout in this fight, there is no lovelost between these 2 and there will definanlty be some fireworks, if not for strategy then purely for the fact that these 2 REALLY don't like each other. The line on the fight is available at GamblersPalace.com, currently it is Liddell -190 (risk $190 to win $100)and Jackson +150 (risk $100 to win $150). I would have to say that earlier in the month the value on Jackson was excellent at +200 now that the touts have come in and opinions have come out the line has moved way down into more realistic numbers, Chuck was a fan favorite which is why he opened so high, but the fact is, is that Jackson is a talented and tough fighter who has already gone up against some of the top fighters in the business. This is a tough fight to pick with no overwhelming odds to sway opinion, Jackson is no slouch and I think that at +150 there is enough value to at least throw $50 on him, but I will wait until the weigh in on friday to make a decision. Another notable fight will be Welterweights Josh "The Peoples Warrior" Burkman vs Karo "The Heat" Parisyan. Karo looks to be the more experienced fighter with a record of 24-3, however Josh Burkman has risen quite rapidly through the welterweight division in the UFC and has proven hes a force to be delt with. The current lines are Parisyan -300 (risk $300 to win $100) and Burk +220 (risk $100 to win $220). Without too much knowledge about these 2 fighters I will have to considr the value placed on Burk and whether or not I think an upset is in the works, I mean hey its the UFC, stranger things have happened. I will also have to wait to see the weighins before I make a play, but I'm leaning towards the underdog, strictly for the value. I'll have an updated picks blog out later this week after handicapping the rest of the fights on the card.