“Search out the man and you’ve got the coach. Because the essence of the business is not playbooks and diagrams and the confusing jargon that mystifies even the most dedicated fan. It is emotion and purpose and sincerity; it is channelling [40 to 60] collective personalities and egos into the most violent game anyone has managed to think up.”

Week two of the Niagara Spears try-outs had finally provided me with the opportunity to observe the Niagara Spears Varsity team (ages 17 to 19), but also, it gave me the unique occasion to speak with the man himself, Head Coach Dave Howe.

Coach Howe has been coaching football for over 30 years total in minor football, high school, and eventually with the Niagara Spears (since 2003).

Throughout his time with the Spears, Coach Howe has amassed a record of 35 wins with only five losses (three of those losses were a result of last season).

Over the past six years, Coach Howe’s record with the Niagara Spears (on paper) has been:

• 1 OVFL Title (very first year in the league)
• 2 conference titles
• 1 conference finalist

Anyone who understands the difficulties and complexities of the wonderful game of football should be able to appreciate just how amazing these accomplishments truly are.

Immediately after the coach’s meeting, I had the pleasure of speaking with Coach Howe.

This is my interview:

JR: Hi Coach.

Coach Howe: Hello James.

JR: Well I must say, the Varsity players were looking very impressive tonight. Any immediate thoughts or expectations on how you see the upcoming season, based on what you have seen so far?

Coach Howe: Without a doubt, this is going to be a team with incredible depth. We have so many big and tall athletes with incredible strength and speed. I expect very good things this year.

JR: So how will success be measured this year? Is it all about the wins and losses?

Coach Howe: Definitely not. Success isn’t determined by winning. Each year, it’s how all of my players improve. Instead of focusing on actual “wins,” we focus on our system and as a result, the wins will simply become a by-product of all of the hard work that the players will put in.

JR: So, when all is said and done with the try-outs, how many players will you end up with on your roster.

Coach Howe: We will end up with 60 players.

JR: 60 players? Wow, that’s a lot considering that there are only twelve players on each side of the ball. I’m guessing that a lot of players will sit on the bench?

Coach Howe: Definitely not. For the most part, all of my players will get equal playing time. I will have my starters—yes, but I also make sure that all of my players are in great condition and ready to play. A team is only as strong as its weakest player.

JR: How do you decide on your starters?

Coach Howe: There are a few factors but in the end, attitude is everything. Positions are earned on this team, so showing up for all practices is a key component to making sure that a player gets priority playing time. We also look at a player’s work ethic, as well as their obvious skill levels.

JR: So if you have a tremendous athlete who rarely shows up to practices, you won’t automatically start him?

Coach Howe: I make no promises. Everything is earned on this team. For me, the benefit of playing all of my players is that we become more than capable of playing extremely well through six full quarters of football. Taking a game into overtime or even double-overtime is not uncommon. I never want conditioning to be an issue and if I keep playing the same guys, week in and week out, we won’t get very far before they just start to get too banged up.

JR: Do you ever play your best players both ways, on offence and on defence?

Coach Howe: Never. That strategy might work with younger players, but these athletes play so physically each week, if I did that, I wouldn’t have my best players playing at the top of their game by the end of the season when winning in the playoffs is what we work so hard towards.

JR: What are your personal goals this year?

Coach Howe: My personal goals are the same as always. To build a team atmosphere around the word “respect,” on and off of the field. I want my players to progress as football players so that by the end of the season, we are playing our best football and that every player has an equal strength that they can bring to the field.

Like I said, we are only as good as the next player to step onto the field. Therefore, they must all play as well as each other.

I really want all of my players to have a positive experience with our team and I hope to be able to push them to their limits, so that they understand what they can achieve beyond their own expectations, physically and mentally, thus making them a better player back at their high school at at University in the fall.

JR: That’s excellent. What do you love most about coaching football?

Coach Howe: The passion of it all. Football is an incredible sport to help athletes in their desire to achieve greatness in their lives.

JR: Very well said, Coach. Any final advice for your players as they try to make it through the demanding try-outs?

Coach Howe: It’s about what you do and how you do it, so show us your absolute best and you will succeed in making it on this team.

JR: Thank you, Coach.

Coach Howe: Any time, my pleasure.

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Word of the week: Teamwork

Teamwork is the capability to comprehend and recognize the diverse strengths and abilities in a group setting and then applying them to one final solution (winning as a team effort).

Coach Dave Howe clearly understands this concept and does an exceptional job of instilling a winning attitude into all of his players.

Colour me impressed.

And just a final reminder…

Registration for all three Niagara Spears teams will continue to be held up until this Saturday, March 20th. An extension will be given to the Varsity program to better accommodate any returning College or University players.

Pee Wee Spears hopefuls must be 14 or under, Junior Varsity Spears 16 or under, and Varsity Spears 19 or under as of June 1st, 2010.

On-line registration information may be found on the Spears website at www.niagaraspears.com.

See you at the game, football fans!

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Warm-up and stretching exercises are critical to player safety

A player gets ready in a Defensive Back Drill

The Plate Push Drill emphasizes driving and form running technique

The Plank Abdominal Core Drill

High Knee Running Drill (very fast)

Varsity Head Coach Dave Howe speaks with his players after the try-outs

Niagara Spears Football 2010 Try-Outs: Week Two is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

The Ninja were not evil assassins who killed for fun as Hollywood would have you believe.

For the most part, Ninja were ordinary people who developed certain skills in order to survive the difficult times in feudal Japan’s history.

The Ninja’s outlook is a physical, emotional, and spiritual method of self-protection from the dangers that confront those on the warrior path to enlightenment.

Having had the privilege of speaking with Daniel Roberts, it is apparent that he is a “Ninja Warrior” in the truest sense.

Roberts, is a former All-American wrestler with over 12 years of jiu-jitsu experience, four years of karate experience, and three years of judo experience. He has won countless competitions over the past few years and carries some of the most impressive credentials of any MMA fighter who is not currently calling themselves a champion.

Robert’s MMA record is a stellar 9-0, which has finally earned him the opportunity to make his UFC debut on March 21st (Live on Versus) against John “Doomsday” Howard, an intimidating fighter with incredibly powerful striking abilities.

This is my interview with the Ninja:

JR: Hi Daniel.

Ninja: Hello James Ryan.

JR: First of all, congratulations on making your UFC debut. You must be very excited.

Ninja: Absolutely. This is definitely something that I have been working hard towards.

JR: Initially, your opponent Howard was scheduled to fight Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, but because of an injury, you have been given the opportunity instead. How did this all come about?

Ninja: Well, I had thought to initiate contact with Joe Silva in the UFC some time back, and I just kept updating him on my status as I kept on winning.

JR: So, you were being completely pro-active by making sure that they obviously knew about your accomplishments.

Ninja: Precisely. I wanted to keep them in the loop on what I was doing and Joe just kept on encouraging me to keep on doing what I was doing. I knew that if I kept winning, I would eventually get my shot in the UFC. I knew that they would call on me eventually, I just didn’t know when.

JR: Awesome job!

Ninja: Thank you.

JR: I noticed on the UFC website that a lot of the fights are listed as potentially not being broadcast. How important is it for you to be televised in your debut in order to increase your exposure and name recognition amongst the fans?

Ninja: Obviously I would love to be on television for all of my fans, sponsors, and supporters, but all I can do is go in there and do my best.

JR: Did you receive any advice from the UFC on how to improve your chances of getting televised?

Ninja: [LAUGHS] Oh yes, they basically said to go out there and “win impressively.”

JR: Win impressively? So then, does that put any added pressure on you to go out there and try to get the knock-out against Howard?

Ninja: Not really any added pressure. I haven’t been in a fight that has lasted past the first round, since 2007. My game plan is to just go out there and perform the way that I always do. I don’t plan on changing what I do. It’s gotten me this far.

JR: I agree totally. Don’t fix it if it’s not broken, especially if it has brought you the level of success that you are currently having. Any special preparations for this fight? Are you feeling any extra pressure to train harder than usual simply because it is your debut and you would like to do well?

Ninja: I have beefed up my training a bit, particularly with my cardio. Even though my fights don’t generally last very long, you still have to be prepared. Anything can happen in a fight and I have to be ready in case I need to go the distance.

JR: Let’s talk specifically about your opponent for a sec. On paper, you both seem pretty evenly matched. What are your thoughts on this?

Ninja: No disrespect to Howard, he is a powerful guy, but his ground and pound is no where even close to mine. I also don’t think that his stand up is overly impressive. I definitely will not be afraid to stand with Howard. My main goal is to win this fight as fast as possible.

JR: You mentioned his power. Is that something that you have been training for?

Ninja: A bit. I’ve been training and wrestling with much bigger and stronger guys, but that’s something that I always do anyway.

JR: You sound physically prepared, but how about your mental preparation? I noticed on your website that you believe very strongly in mental preparedness.

Ninja: Mentally, as a fighter, you always need to stay confident. I know that realistically, I am a human being just like anyone else and can be beat, but once I step into that ring, I completely transform. I am 100% confident that I am going to win and I never feel that anyone else will beat me. I am a straight destroyer in that ring and my mission is simple; to hurt the other guy and to do it as fast as possible.

JR: On the flip-side of mental preparedness, how much of your game plan is spent trying to intimidate your opponent or trying to get inside of his head to throw him off of his own game plan?

Ninja: Leading up to a fight, I’m not like that. Once we’re in the ring together, I’m not intentionally trying to intimidate my opponent, but I definitely stare him down. That’s just me being focused on the task at hand.

JR: What are your thoughts on the importance of sportsmanship in MMA?

Ninja: Sportsmanship is very important to me. Before and after the fight, I am always very respectful. I’m a nice, laid back guy who likes to tell jokes, but once we’re inside of the ring, it’s a different story. I’ll touch gloves at the start of the fight, but after that, no way.

JR: How do you mean?

Ninja: Say, if a fighter kicks the other guy with an accidental low blow, they usually touch gloves again before they continue. I would never do that. I have seen it where other guys let their guard down like that and their opponent takes total advantage. During the fight, I am trying to destroy my opponent. That’s it.

JR: Well, it is a fight after all.

Ninja: Exactly. I’m not in there to be nice.

JR: Curious, what’s the best advice that you would give to young people who would want to get started in this sport?

Ninja: Best advice? I would have to say, don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do something. I had a lot of people telling me that I would never succeed in this sport, but I have used that as motivation. Becoming a fighter is not easy, but if you want something bad enough, you need to go for it. So long as you keep finding success, you will achieve your goals.

JR: I’d say that’s pretty good advice.

Ninja: And surround yourself with positive energy and positive people.

JR: For sure. So dare I ask? What is your prediction for your fight against Howard?

Ninja: Knock-out or submission in the first round. Either way, it’ll be over quickly.

JR: Well, judging by how explosive you are in your videos, I would say that Howard has his work cut out for him. All the best next week Daniel, and thank you very much for your time today.

Ninja: My pleasure. Thank you, James.

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This is my interview. If you don’t like it…I have others. Check them out at www.coachjamesryan.com

Special thanks to the Carried-Out Fight Gear Family! Man, it feels great to be back!

Carried-Out Fight Gear was founded in 2009 by a group of ex-fighters who realized that the true essence of a Warrior was being lost by some people giving up. The Carried Out mindset of “One Way Out – Carried Out!” signifies that a fighter will never, ever surrender and fight to the very end, leaving everything he/she has in the ring, on the mat, or in the cage….. One Way Out…CARRIED OUT!

JR: Wait, wait!! I almost forgot! Daniel?! Are you still there?

Ninja: Ya, what’s up?

JR: After you win against Howard, I get to be first in line to interview you again, right?

Ninja: [LAUGHS] But, of course James.

JR: Sweet!

COFG Exclusive Interview with UFC’s Daniel “Ninja” Roberts is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

“Football is a game in which two opposing teams of [twelve] players each defend goals at opposite ends of a 100-yard rectangular field, points being scored by carrying an inflated oval ball across the opponent’s goal line or by kicking this ball over the crossbar between the posts of the opponent’s goal.”

Piece of cake, right?

Football (not to be confused with soccer) is without a doubt, one of the most complex and difficult sports for anybody to learn (let alone to actually be good at playing). In order to be successful in football, one requires a rare combination of natural athleticism, an unrelenting work ethic, and the ability to cooperate and sacrifice for the greater good of the team.

That’s right…sacrifice.

Along with, commitment, responsibility, enthusiasm, respect, sportsmanship, and honour.

These are just a few of the qualities that young football players will learn to develop.

Many young men (and women) dream about when they will one day (maybe) play professional sports.

Football not only captures the imagination of youth, but it is an amazing tool to be able to teach young children the values that they will need in order to be successful, not just on the football field, but in life as well.

When asked about his expectations for his team this year, Junior Varsity Head Coach Brian Duguay stated the following:
“I would like to continue to develop the skills of my players, to continue the growth of the Spears organization, to provide knowledge to my players for when they move on to the next level, and to always stress the importance of education.”

After only one week, my personal observation of the Junior Varsity team is that they look incredibly fast and determined to succeed at this level.

The leadership amongst these young men is especially impressive and assuming that this leadership can stay consistent, the Junior Varsity team should most definitely make a major statement this year in the OVFL.

When asked the same question about his expectations for his team, Pee Wee Head Coach Kent Risko had this to say:
“At the risk of sounding cliché, my goal is to make this season fun for the boys. I will teach them to think about and understand the game of football, and I will teach them the basic skills needed to be successful. Also, I fully expect to compete for a championship this year. We are going to shock a lot of people.”

Without a doubt, these incredible Pee Wee prospects represent some of the best young athletes in the entire Niagara Region.

Despite the fact that this is the first year that the Spears have been able to put a travel Pee Wee team together, these are a group of players that are anything but inexperienced.

Many of these boys had already been playing together for years, thanks in large part to the Niagara Regional Minor Football Association.

If any of the opposition dares to take this team lightly, they are going to be in for a very rude awakening.

Word of the week: Respect

Respect for self, respect for your teammates, respect for your opponents, but most of all, respect for the game itself.

And in case you are wondering…

Registration for all three Niagara Spears teams will continue to be held up until Saturday, March 20th. An extension will be given to the Varsity program to better accommodate any returning College or University players.

Pee Wee Spears hopefuls must be 14 or under, Junior Varsity Spears 16 or under, and Varsity Spears 19 or under as of June 1st, 2010.

On-line registration information may be found on the Spears website at www.niagaraspears.com.

See you at the game, folks!

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Pee Wee Head Coach Kent Risko welcomes the players

Tire Flip Drill

Footwork Drill

Plyometric Box Jump Drill

Quarterback/Wide Receiver Drill

Junior Varsity Head Coach Brian Duguay congratulates the players on a great first week of try-outs

Niagara Spears Football 2010 Try-Outs: Week One is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

Thank you all so much for the positive support and feedback that you have given me over the past few months.

It’s great to know that so many of you (most anyway, lol) really enjoy my work.

My plan at this stage is to take some time off in order to re-evaluate my goals and work out a few new ideas.

I plan on returning, so please be patient.

In the meantime, now might be a great opportunity for you to review some of my earlier work.

Simply scroll through the headlines, and if anything peaks your interest…go to town.

Thanks to all of my fans and have a great day!

Cheers
James Ryan

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make—the better.”—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Brief Leave of Absence is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

.
I figured that it would be most appropriate that I write about Mir’s apology, because in fairness, I was probably one of his toughest critics in these past couple of days.

First, please let me speak on behalf of myself—and myself alone—when I say that Mir’s apology is absolutely accepted.

“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”—Bruce Lee

In fact, I should be thanking Frank Mir.

Despite what some fight fans may think, I do not hate Frank Mir. I never have.

Have I been a bit critical of him for some of his “mind-game” antics? Yes.

Did he annoy me during his stint as a TUF coach with his constant “Junie…Niiiiiiicce!” remarks? Yes.

So then, why (at the risk of sounding like a back-peddler—which would require an apology, by the way) am I thanking Frank Mir?

I am thanking him, because if not for him, we would not have all been discussing the issue of fight-hyping, trash-talking, and “how far is too far?”

Here is an obvious example: “I want to fight Brock Lesnar. I hate who he is as a person. I want to break his neck in the ring. I want him to be the first person that dies to Octagon-related injuries.”—Frank Mir, WXDX Radio

It’s tough to say that this comment crossed the line because in fairness to Mir, there was no predetermined line to cross. Bad behaviour has been tolerated and excused by many up until this point, and there needs to be a higher level of accountability and professionalism in MMA if we want this sport to continue its incredible growth as an industry (still not legal in New York and Ontario).

For all of the complaining that fight fans did when Brock Lesnar first came into the UFC about not wanting it to emulate the poor characteristics and bad behaviours typically found in the WWE, I was surprised that some fans didn’t really have a problem with Mir’s remarks. In fact, they liked them.

Personally, I found them unprofessional, irresponsible, and downright idiotic.

Anyway, enough said about that. We all make mistakes.

It’s water under the bridge for this fight fan.

Lord knows that I am in no way perfect, and the folks that are probably the most upset with me for writing my last article (c’mon Gary…how ‘bout a hug?!) would certainly be the first in line to tell you exactly that.

I accept that about myself, and I accept that about Frank Mir.

I take my responsibility as a parent and as a coach seriously.

Maybe a little too seriously sometimes…

In fact, a common trend amongst my articles (even the ones bashing Tito) has been ensuring that all professional athletes act in a way that influences our youth positively and responsibly.

Admittedly, Frank Mir had me second guessing my own involvement in this sport. Even some of the comments by the fans had me wondering, why on earth I would want to associate my name and reputation with MMA.

Then, I received this private e-mail from a young man:

“I was trying to get my dad to watch MMA. I was showing him stuff on the web and telling him about the sport. When we came up on Mir’s comments . He is a very critical man and decided he did not think much of the sportsmanship. This morning I sent him a link to your article. He liked what he read. He emailed me back and said maybe. I appreciate your article because it does show that the fans are not barbaric and do not think it should be tolerated. I read somewhere Mir would not let his children watch TUF because of a reason that in my opinion was not even close to what he said. Please excuse spelling and capital letters I’m really trying.”

This has really inspired me to keep going and so, like it or not, I will continue to speak out on the things that I do not like about this sport, in the hopes that one day, it could be something that everyone would all be proud to let their own children get involved with (it’s all about planting “roots,” folks).

Look, I’m not a naive guy.

I know that this is a violent sport. I just really thought that Mir went too far.

More than anything, I felt that Mir’s remarks warranted a serious discussion, exploring all possible consequences.

Martial arts, for me, has NEVER been about violence. I don’t see any competitive fighting sport that way. I have always looked at it more like a physical chess game.

A Sport!

Why would I want to endorse and promote MMA if I thought that it was just stupid brutality?

I could just go down to any local bar instead and watch two idiots kick the crap out of each other for free.

You can call me soft if you want (thanks Stoke), but I call it…being responsible.

And in the best interests of Frank Mir and his mental health, I feel the following quote by a “fan” sums it up best:

“Realistically, the loss to Lesnar has obviously affected Mir and it’s clear that he’s got some issues involving Lesnar to the level that his judgment is clouded on subjects relating to Brock. I know when I heard him say his motivation to train insane and beat Kongo was so that he could one day tear off Brocks arm in a rematch, I actually was on the fence about where Frank was mentally with his loss. I don’t wonder now, Frank needs some closure on that issue, whether it’s in the cage or in a therapists room, he needs it badly, it’s clear. We’ve all said and done things we have regretted or STILL regret because we haven’t reconciled the situation and I’m pretty sure at SOME point it would be prudent for Frank to make an apology for what was said and rectify his career in the sport.”

Frank Mir is without a doubt a future Hall of Famer in this sport.

We should all want what is best for him.

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These are my opinions. If you don’t like them, I have others. Check them out at www.coachjamesryan.com

Frank Mir Apologizes for Comments, but Should the Fans Accept It? is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

“The offence of utter death threat may be prosecuted by summary conviction or by indictment. If prosecuted by indictment, the accused person is entitled to elect trial by jury and upon conviction is liable to up to five years jail.”—www.defencelaw.com

“I want to fight Brock Lesnar. I hate who he is as a person. I want to break his neck in the ring. I want him to be the first person that dies to Octagon-related injuries.”—Frank Mir, WXDX Radio

Not exactly the usual non-literal metaphor of “I’m gonna kill that guy!” that is heard so often in competitive sports.

In fact, I don’t think that a summer goes by where my son, who plays middle linebacker, doesn’t have at least a dozen other kids telling him that he’s a “dead man” out on the football field (easier said than done by the way).

As a coach, I may not believe such a frivolous threat in literal terms, but make no mistake, I am always conscious and aware of any perceived intent to injure another player, regardless if it’s my son or not.

Contact sports can be very emotional. I take nothing for granted and my responsibility as a coach prevents me from underestimating potentially inappropriate intentions to hurt or injure another player.

Given Mir’s recent obsession with Lesnar, which became stalwartly fuelled by his prior embarrassing defeat, Mir’s comments must be taken seriously by the UFC, as well as the authorities.

They simply must.

We cannot pretend to know Mir’s current state of mind. We cannot make assumptions that Mir is simply “hyping” a fight, and we cannot ignore the potential danger of this incredibly unfortunate situation.

Some of you may be thinking that this is a slight overreaction or that this is possibly even an acceptable level of behaviour in sports (which as a stand-alone opinion, I would have to strongly disagree).

But what if in this particular case, you are wrong?

What if Mir is deadly serious?

I really hope that the Governor of New York State or the Ontario Premier didn’t catch wind of Mir’s incredibly disturbing and irresponsible remarks. Trying to get MMA legalized is tough enough it seems, and this absolutely plays right into the old stereotype that MMA is nothing more than a ruthless, lawless “bloodsport.”

Without a doubt, it makes the UFC (Mir’s employer) and all of MMA in general, look extremely bad.

Even worse, it makes each of its supporters look bad as well (guilty by association). Believe it or not, Mir’s reputation becomes our reputation. It’s like Frank Mir reached out through the media and punched every single MMA fan square in the face.

This absolutely is “one step forward—two steps back.”

Bottom line: it insults and undermines all of our hard work in this sport.

Personally, I have been a long time advocate and supporter of all things MMA and I have taken it upon myself to speak out on the things that I don’t particularly like. I have consistently refused to sit back and accept the negatives of this sport, even if it has sometimes meant that I had to against popular opinion.

I refuse to accept bad behaviour as a natural part of this sport.

I have been a martial artist in the truest sense of the word for my entire life and I believe very strongly in the values of sportsmanship and honour.

I believe strongly in the good things found in MMA (and I hope that if you are reading this—you do too).

It’s the bad things that I have intolerance for and I have never given up trying to make a positive difference.

Frank Mir now has me asking myself “why?”

Why am I putting my personal reputation on the line amongst my friends, my peers, my colleagues, my family members, my children, my players, my community?—trust me, the list is very long.

I speak out and voice my opinions because I love this sport and I believe in its future. Or at least, I thought I did.

Now I’m not so sure.

This whole thing about “hyping” a fight just goes too far in my opinion, even for combat sports.

I believe that all professional athletes have a social responsibility to act in a way that should not be deemed illegal or as a detriment to their sport. The entire MMA community will now suffer at the hands of Frank Mir who has pushed us back into the stone ages and created a major set-back in MMA’s drive for mainstream acceptance.

So the question is: what should be done about Mr. Francisco Santos Mir?

I’ll just leave you with this:

“After lying on the ice for several minutes, Moore was removed on a stretcher. He suffered three fractured vertebrae in his neck, a grade three concussion, vertebral ligament damage, stretching of the brachial plexus nerves, and facial cuts. To date, Moore has not appeared in another professional hockey game.

Bertuzzi was suspended indefinitely by the NHL, and lost approximately $850,000 in salary and endorsements. The Vancouver Canucks were also fined $250,000, on March 11, 2004, for “…failure to prevent the atmosphere that may have led to [the incident].”

Responsibility, folks.

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These are my opinions. If you don’t like them…I have others. Check them out at www.combatsoup.com

Should Frank Mir Be Arrested After Public Death Threat on Brock Lesnar? is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

Fedor Emelianenko, has been considered by many (but not all) as being the best heavyweight fighter in the world for the last eight years (and yet, most people I talk to have never even heard of him).

Several mixed-martial arts publications and websites currently rank Fedor as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world and many analysts, as well as former and current fighters, consider Fedor to be the greatest mixed-martial artist of all time (sorry…but that honour goes to Bruce Lee).

Rumour has it even that Fedor once stubbed his big toe and wiped out the entire country of Kazakhstan in the process.

Oh wait…that was Chuck Norris.

My bad.

Either way, whether it’s just perception (which is nine-tenths of reality anyway) or fact, Fedor Emelianenko has earned the respect and admiration from his fans as the reigning king of MMA and nobody, not even the great UFC heavyweight champion, Brock Lesnar, can take that away from him…or can he?

And speaking of Lesnar, what’s a guy gotta do to get a little respect around here?

After all, Lesnar does have a record of 4-1 inside of the Octagon (oh wait…that’s just one of the problems).

Lesnar won the UFC heavyweight championship with a record of only 3-1, while Fedor didn’t win his first championship (PRIDE) until he had a record of 13-1 (which included a win over Bobby Hoffman, who Fedor never actually fought, but still got credit for the win on his record).

It is clear that in order for Lesnar to gain the same level of respect and admiration that Fedor currently has, he is going to have to follow a very similar path to success by matching and eventually surpassing the achievements of “The Last Emperor.”

Lucky for Lesnar, I just so happen to have three suggestions that could potentially help him out.

Step One: Fight lots of “Tomato Cans” because many fight fans only respect large, unbeaten records

Unfortunately, it has gotten to be all about quantity in MMA—not quality.

I am starting to get a strong sense that MMA is going to be taking this page away from the boxing industry, which will become an unwelcomed trend that will affect the quality of all future fight cards (Bobby Lashley, anyone?).

Not saying that Fedor doesn’t have some quality wins on his record, such as a prime Nogueira and more recently, Brett Rogers, but let’s be perfectly honest fight fans—there are a lot of names on Fedor’s win record that only add to the conspiracy that has become Fedor’s success in MMA.

Lesnar may only have a few fights under his championship belt, but they are all impressive when you consider his inexperience in the sport and the dominant fashion in which they were all won.

Why Fedor ever fought Tim Silvia for his 30th win is beyond me.

How exactly does that secure and benefit his legacy in any way?

Step Two: Fight Fedor

“Slay the overbearing father, disparage his legacy, and gain power by shining in your own way.”

Sorry, but I find it incredibly hard to believe that Fedor could beat Lesnar. This is a debate that has been raging on amongst hardcore, extremist MMA fans ever since the threat of Lesnar appeared on the horizon.

So why ruin the fun, right?

Fedor refuses to fight Lesnar, not because he is afraid of Lesnar, but because he has more to lose than adding a loss to his otherwise perfect record.

The myth, the man, the legend—all will get flushed once Lesnar destroys Fedor in such a way that it will make Mir’s decimation seem like foreplay.

If Lesnar doesn’t find a way to make this fight happen (hey Brock…hop on a plane and get your big ass over to Russia), he will forever live in Fedor’s shadow.

This must become Lesnar’s top priority No. 1, or he will absolutely regret it.

Fedor knows this.

Step Three: Stop stirring up so much controversy

“The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated: In the long run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you.”

Some fans refuse to believe that Lesnar is as good as he is because they don’t like him as a person. They refuse to root for a guy who behaves so ignorantly.

Then again, Lesnar was never likely going to be fully accepted as a result of his involvement with the WWE anyway, so knowing this likely hasn’t helped Lesnar with that rather large chip on his shoulder.

Lesnar had a shot at redemption after he got sick, which from a public relations standpoint, almost never happens, and he absolutely blew it.

He had better start volunteering his time at the Sick Kids Hospital or something, because his whole attitude of not caring what the fans think, or whether or not they like him, will be something that he will look back on in his life with disappointment.

I know I initially stated three suggestions, but this one is for sure the most complicated.

There is no easy solution for Lesnar’s ailing relationship with the fans, especially for a champion who publicly appears to care less.

Yikes.

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I just hope that at the end of their careers, we will remember these two men as they are, instead of how we wanted (or needed) them to be.

By my standards, Fedor is a simply a better “champion” than Lesnar, and that has nothing to do with wins and losses.

Respect. Honour. Attitude.

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These are my opinions. If you don’t like them…I have others. You can now check them out at www.combatsoup.com

Brock Lesnar: Surpassing Fedor’s MMA Legacy in Three (Not-so) Easy Steps is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

Just when it seemed that all was forgiven (but certainly not forgotten), Brock Lesnar went and did something completely unthinkable…

He spoke his mind.

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What on earth was the big man thinking, criticizing the Canadian Health Care System?

Doesn’t Lesnar know that he was put on this earth for the sole purpose of entertaining the masses?

Beating people up for our own selfish enjoyment?

Being that heel that we all love to hate?

Lesnar’s destiny is to serve the public as an idol, which would represent everything that we hate about our own shortcomings and miserable, unfulfilled lives.

In Column A, we all get to live vicariously through Lesnar and wonder what it must be like to be rich, famous, monstrous, and married to a smokin’ hot Playboy model (ya Brock…we all know that you like to “get on top” of her…thanks for rubbing it in!).

In Column B, we then get to spin right back around again and look down our noses at Lesnar as we somehow convince ourselves that we are all better human beings than he is because our own personal values do not include “cocky” behaviour (ya, right…because we’re all so perfect!).

Is it just me, or does the “over-the-top” hatred that Lesnar conjures up in people seem a lot like the green-eyed monster—jealousy?

As a society, we seem quite disinterested in how celebrities or athletes view the world.

They can sing, act, play guitar, throw a football and guillotine choke someone unconscious, but under no conditions do we ever want to hear them express their thoughts on unemployment, health care, politics, education, crime, and most of all—life.

But maybe we have just become too cynical?

Perhaps we view the involvement by celebrities as an intrusion—or a personal insult?

Isn’t it bad enough that they get the coolest jobs on earth? To top it off, they think they have something of importance to say as well?

Not on my watch, fight fans!

It’s like when you go to a rock concert and the singer starts talking about world politics and starving children in Africa—it’s just so selfish.

Blah, blah, blah…people are dying.

Blah, blah, blah…save the whales.

Hello!! We came to hear you sing…not bitch and moan about the hardships of life.

[SHOCK]

Okay…okay…settle down, I’m obviously kidding, but don’t tell me that we expect more from our athletes because we definitely expect less.

For some reason completely unknown to me, we still trust the word of a politician over that of someone who can probably better empathize with the best interests of the fans who had made them so successful in the first place.

Forget about the fact that over the years, the Canadian Health Care System has met with the following criticisms (by Canadians):

One: Although life threatening cases are dealt with immediately, some services needed are non-urgent and patients are seen at the next available appointment in their local chosen facility (or failing that—drive your big ass back to the United States).

Two: The median wait time for diagnostic services (non-life threatening) such as MRI and CAT scans is two weeks.

Three: Since 2002, the Canadian government has invested $5.5 billion to decrease wait times (although, it has been observed and found that the complete elimination of all waiting times is not ideal).

Would somebody please tell Mr. Lesnar that only Canadians can criticize or make fun of the Canadian Health Care System?

Oh, and before you think too heavily about Dr. Day’s comments above, please consider this:

Access to veterinary care for animals is based on the ability to “pay” for those services.

Plus, the good Doctor never could provide a source to back up his claims. One might be inclined to think that if he were just spewing out exaggerated rhetoric, that it would be quite irresponsible for a man in his position.

Personally, as a Canadian, I love free health care.

I would sooner have it, than not have it.

We want it to be free, we just don’t like the waiting around in discomfort while our health changes from “injured” to potentially “life-threatening.”

No, the Canadian Health Care System is not perfect, but at least in Canada (and many other countries) we don’t have to worry about the poor dying because they can’t afford a simple antibiotic.

And if not for the Canadian Health Care System, I absolutely would have lost my leg.

As a final bit of advice for Brock, because I still actually like the guy, let me just leave him with this—stay out of International Affairs, at least until you have something constructive to say.

Just because you come from the same state as Jesse “The Body” Ventura, does not make you Jesse “The Body” Ventura.

Oh and Canada…lighten up, eh?

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These are my opinions. If you don’t like them…I have others. Check them out at www.mrjamesryan.com

Brock Lesnar: Because We Expect Less From Him is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

I’m referring of course, to personality.

I took an on-line quiz once that matched up my “management personality” with a famous leader in history. I’ll let you stew on that one for a minute or two first.

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This generalization is not set in stone of course, as each human being is different in a variety of ways. Some things however, aren’t as different as you may think.

Assuming that you are not the self-loathing type who possesses incredibly low confidence and self-esteem, then the reality is that you would likely be drawn to a another person based on a human “connection.”

We are drawn to values and personal characteristics that remind us of ourselves and of our own moral beliefs.

For example, if you are a huge believer in sportsmanship and honour (notice the use of the “u,” eh?), then some fighters like Shinya Aoki or Tito Ortiz may be a major turn-off for you, and you would in turn, boo them at any given chance.

Even in cases where you felt that they might be the better fighter in a match-up, you would still be inclined to bet against them based on a strong desire to see them lose.

So what makes the perfect personality for being a fighter, and does it even matter?

First, let’s define what it means exactly to “have” a personality.

Basically, everyone has one.

Some are outgoing, some have a never quit attitude, some complain non-stop and feel that they are the victim in life, some blame others for all of their problems, some refuse to ever give up, some are the life of the party, some are great public speakers, some hate being in large groups, some are as quiet as a mouse, and others don’t know when to shut up.

(Cough…Tito…Cough…)

The only thing that really matters is, which one is the most like you? Which fighter do you feel the strongest connection to?

Think about your favourite fighter for a second (don’t worry…I’ll wait) and ask yourself, what is it that you really like the most about him (or her)?

Then, see if there is a connection in what you admire most about them, and what you see in yourself (values). Perhaps it is a quality that you are most proud of even?

See the connection yet?

Not everyone needs to be extremely camera-friendly and extroverted in order to be successful either. Jake Shields for instance, is considered by many as being a complete bore.

He also happens to be the current Strikeforce middleweight champion, and for as many people who think that he is boring to watch and listen to, there are just as many people who respect his quiet demeanour and professional attitude.

To those fans—they couldn’t care less if Shield’s is as out-going or personable as someone like Jason “Mayhem” Miller. In fact, fans of Shields would almost naturally despise Miller because of their polar entities.

Right now, perhaps some of you are thinking that in our subjective world, it doesn’t really matter one way or the other. All that really matters is: Who can fight the best?

Right?

Then why do so many fans clearly feel the need to constantly weigh in on issues that offend and bother them when it comes to fighter personalities and/or behaviours?

Look at Brock Lesnar—either you love him, or you hate him. Rarely is there an in-between. Same with Fedor.

In fact, looking at those two personalities and take notice of how completely different they are. It really should be of no surprise that the fans of one, feel very strongly against the other.

Maybe there’s even some deep psychological need that the fans have to see these two men battle it out that has absolutely nothing to do with who is the best “fighter,” but rather, who is the greatest “personality?”

Who are the greatest fans?

I know… I know… sounds strange.

That’s because it is.

And no offence to Kimbo Slice, but he is hardly a great fighter—mediocre at best.

But you throw him on a card, headlining across the Octagon from Chuck Liddell, and the pay-per-view numbers would set an all time head-spinning record (and certainly not because they are the best fighters).

So again, does personality matter?

I would have to answer—yes.

Another issue worth discussing is; how does a fighter go about “mirroring” the psychological needs of his audience in order to gain greater acceptance and popularity? Is it even possible?

Stay tuned fight fans…there’s more on the way.

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And if you’re curious—Hitler.

A youth football coach was born.

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These are my opinions. If you don’t like them…I have others. Check them out at www.coachjamesryan.com

MMA Fighters and Why Personality Matters (Or Does It?) is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

“The media has conditioned us to tolerate visually entertaining material measured out in spoonfuls of time, to the detriment of rational public discourse and reasoned public affairs.”

The point is that we now live in an age where we have become so completely overwhelmed by information and news that we have allowed it to completely consume our lives, despite the fact that the majority of the news that we seem to get so involved and passionate about really does not have an impact on our own everyday lives.

We hear about it.

We discuss it.

We discard of it.

REPEAT CYCLE

It does not take much for “new” news to become “old” news in this day and age.

Brock Lesnar, for example, is returning to the UFC this summer! Awesome!

Unfortunately, the powers that be have kept fans in the dark on Lesnar’s health for so long, this is now well past its prime in my limited, technology-conditioned attention span. Tell me something new.

Lesnar bad mouthed the Canadian Health Care System? So what? The last four times that I have had to go to an emergency room in Canada have been concerning to say the least.

Free health care is great! It’s the waiting around that can kill you (literally).

However, somebody please tell Brock Lesnar that only Canadians can trash the Canadian Health Care System.

Telling me something that I already know is boring.

Randy Couture is making history with every new fight! Love it!

But who really cares?—most everyone it seems (not me) is getting totally sick of hearing about how great a guy with a losing record is. Tell me something new.

Randy Couture will be facing off against Mark Coleman in a couple weeks. Both men are UFC Hall of Famers and former champions. Their styles match up perfectly and this clash of the Titans has the makings of being a fantastic fight.

Unfortunately, it’s not the headline fight that most fans want to see so it officially falls under the category of “who gives a crap?”

Obviously, we would all sooner listen to Frank Trigg and Matt Serra bad-mouth each other. Their fight is totally meaningless but at least we can find enjoyment (and entertainment) at their expense.

Herschel Walker is set to make his MMA debut with Strikeforce this weekend!

Geez, could the guy be any nicer? Can somebody please tell this class-act that “nice” translates into “boring?”

Personally, I love controversy and disfunctionality (such as Shinya Aoki breaking his competitor’s arm and then demonstrating some of the worst sportsmanship ever in sports)…but wait…

We’ve heard about that—so I guess that means I’m automatically bored of it already.

I suppose that we could always look outside of MMA to feed our insatiable cravings for hype and conflict.

Did you know that Tiger Woods is in sex rehab?

Did you know that Mark McGuire admitted to using steroids??

Did you know that Michael Vick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles???

You would think that with big names and big topics, we would all stay interested for months and years on end, but by the time the media hammers the crap out of essentially nothing, we get so sick of hearing about it, that we quickly file it away in the back of our minds under “G” for garbage (or “U” for useless).

Take note professional athletes: all bad behaviour is forgotten after a little public humiliation and debate, so please do whatever you want.

Shoot yourself in the leg.

Run a dog fighting ring.

Drink and drive.

Murder your ex-wife and her new lover.

We may not forgive what you have done, but even better—we will eventually stop caring.

Has it ever occurred to anyone else that the only ones who seem to really care about MMA, when it’s not highlighting the news reel with image-damaging headlines, are the hardcore and loyal fans?

Mainstream audiences just don’t care.

How surprised would you be if I told you that during a conversation this past weekend with a person that I know who has watched the UFC quite a few times, he had absolutely no clue who Fedor Emelianenko was.

No joke. He’s never heard of him.

These days, we all have the attention spans of cracked-out infants with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

Fedor is the undefeated king of the heavyweights—yet, most people still don’t even know who he is.

Solution: I am recommending that Fedor robs a liquor store and shoots a security guard in the neck during his escape. Follow it up with a little car chase—maybe pull a “Harold Howard” and smash his car through the front windows of a Moscow Casino?

Certainly then, mainstream would take notice.

Our attention spans are good for all of about a day and then it’s time to move on to the next bit of useless information.

As fans, we are media hungry, but without controversy and debate, we become bored far too easily.

That’s not a good thing.

Please pass the crack pipe—I think I can feel my ADD kicking in.

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These are my opinions. If you don’t like them…I have others. Check them out at www.mrjamesryan.com

Has Interest in the Sport of MMA “Hit the Wall?” (Satire) is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan