P!nk Video F*'-ing Perfect

An interesting bit of trivia... Who is the stunt double for the boy that gets beat-up by the young version of Pink, in the F*'-ing Perfect music video? The red shoes may give him away.

Fossil Fighters DS

My kids recently got some used Nintendo DS games to keep them busy. My daughter got an art game, which teaches drawing. The name of it escapes me. She's cranking out a few really well shaded and composed digital artwork pictures. I'm wondering how it will translate to actual paper drawing? If she's learning art fundamentals, that's money well spent.

 

But I was most interested in the Fossil Fighters game my son picked-out. The premise of the game is finding dinosaur fossils, cleaning them and making replica "vivasaurs" from the bones; eventually fighting these monsters against others in arena style, turn-based combat. Its an addictive game. Much like the Cooking Mama series, there is a certain manual dexterity required for cleaning the dinosaur fossils. You start with a chunk of rock and go to town with a hammer and drill, trying to keep damage to the fossilized bone at a minimum as a clock counts down. The process gets a little repetitive, but there's something about trying for the 100% un-damaged specimen that keeps me cleaning away.

Fighting the vivasaurs is basic turn-based strategy. There are different size dinosaurs and attack ranges. Stronger attacks take more power points that accumulate each round. There are different modifiers and effects like poison or confusion. Each dinosaur has an elemental base, so there are inherent strengths and weaknesses against other elements. I wish there was a way to speed the combat, but overall it's fine once you master the controls.

There's a bit of story that goes along with the game that opens new areas and abilities within the game. Apparently there is a way to fight vivasaurs and/or share fossils between to DS handhelds. I haven't tested this yet, but it is a nice added dimension to a household with two DS units in it.

The only downside is that it's a bit involved for my young son. Go figure.

Wild, Wild West

Not much has changed in the last month. Only 4 points still separate 5th-10th place in the Western Conference. At one point last week, all of the Pacific Division teams were in the playoffs! That's incredible. As of today, there are roughly 10-games left in the season and the Kings have nothing but Western Conference games on the schedule, and 6 of those are Divisional games. I've never seen such a pre-playoff atmosphere in early March and the schedule guarantees important games down the stretch.

 

The Kings are 2-games from 11th place in the West and missing the Playoffs. However, the Kings are also 2-games from locking in 3rd Place and "jumping the Sharks". It's completely in their own hands. Being behind Phoenix by one point, LA has a head-to-head game and a game in hand. The Kings can pass the Coyotes and keep it that way. Also, passing the Sharks is in their power. The Kings still have 3 dates with the predatory fish and two of those are at home. That's six points San Jose can't get back. A sweep would vault the Kings past the Sharks. So, a BIG game against San Jose this Thursday!

 

The bottom line is that the LAKings need to keep Dory's song from Finding Nemo in their heads, "Just keep winning, just keep winning.." (Well, it's close enough).

Easton Stealth S17 Hockey Helmet - Review

So I recently bought a new helmet. I had problems with my last helmet. It was a Nike/Bauer 5500. It seemed too narrow for my head. Granted, I have a pretty big dome. A 7.5" fitted hat is pretty snug on me. But I think my head shape is the "big" issue. The Nike/Bauer helmet was too tight along the temples and behind the head, below the ears. I figured the foam would compress and break-in a bit once I wore it a couple time. But it didn't. So, my solution was to loosen it up the adjustment quite a bit. I have been taking regular blows to the head and decided that the helmet didn't fit well enough. If it moves around and doesn't protect you, that kinda defeats the purpose.

 

I may be a bit of a head safety Nazi. I'm prone to concussions as it is and I wear a mouthguard as extra protection. I guess all the recent focus on head injuries in the NHL has made me cautious. I need to be able to work 40 hours a week and take care of my family. Also, my playing style is a bit Kamikaze. So, having a well fitting helmet takes away any doubt that might be in my mind and allows me to play the game my way.

 

So I went to my local hockey store and tried on a bunch of helmets. I ended up with the Easton Stealth S17. They didn't have it in black, so I bought Dark Navy. I'm still not sure about having a dark blue helmet, but that's another story. The bottom line is that the Easton was the most comfortable of all the helmets I tried on and I even bought it in a color I didn't exactly want. It also happened to be the easiest to adjust in the store. I know that any helmet can be adjusted with simple tools or unsnapping a few plastic trim pieces. But the Easton has a lever on the back of the helmet that releases the size adjustment. It's quick and easy. You can adjust the helmet while wearing it. I know that you don't usually ever adjust your helmet again once it's set, but being able to ensure the helmet fit very comfortably while still in the store had me sold.

 

There is also a secondary fit mechanism that resembles something straight out of a bicycle helmet. An extra support strap sits down behind your head and it is adjustable by a crank wheel. Again, you can do this easily while the helmet is on. I think it is this feature that really makes the helmet fit well. I am pretty confident that my helmet is staying put.

 

I've got two games in with the new helmet. It doesn't seem all that much different. About the same weight, maybe a bit lighter? I didn't take any head shots so I'm glad to not have any review of differences with impact forces. I'm more comfortable and hopefully more protected with a better fit.

 

The Ultimate Co-promotion?

So, the UFC has acquired Strikeforce. Pretty wild news. I was trying to comprehend all the ramifications but each one multiplies into many more. For the time being, the two organizations will remain separate entities. I can only imagine that would be for the existing contracts of the Strikeforce fighters to expire. Then you have to consider the roster of fighters involved. My mind went to the marquee names: Overeem, Barnett, Diaz, Kawajiri, Melendez, Aoki, Jacare, Mousasi, Carano, Santos, etc. Some are former disgruntled UFC employees: Barnett, Daley, Hendo to name a few. Strikeforce also has several women's weight classes to consider. Dana White has claimed no interest in women in MMA.

As of now, there are more questions than answers. But one thing is for sure, the MMA world is getting monopolized. Hendo left the UFC after contract talks broke down. In hindsight, he lost a championship fight to Shields, but recently regained his luster in the light heavy championship against Feijao. Hendo took home $250K for his trouble. I would say that he got paid. Now, there is no rival promotion to go to if things breakdown with the UFC. Paul Daley was effectively banned from the UFC by Dana White. Daley recently doubted his appearance against Diaz, which would make Zuffa money. Where's he gonna go? BAMMA? Good luck with that. Recent promotions in Australia and Japan have not paid the fighters that appeared for them. I would like to say that Bellator is in the mix, but aside from Eddie Alvarez, there's not much more to that organization. And if you take M-1 global out of the picture, with Fedor's recent two losses and retirement talk; Strikeforce was the only other legitimate competition to the UFC.

I see this as make or break time for MMA. You have one dominant promotion. How Zuffa/UFC handles this situation will determine the fate of the sport. To me it's more scary than exciting.

 

Japan

I had a great weekend. Today I feel a bit guilty about it. It is hard to imagine the earthquake, tsunami, hardships and radiation fears hitting Japan. Thousands of people literally washed out to sea? Recent disaster movies have depicted this sort of thing, but the reality of such events is sobering. I am usually very appreciative of my health, but always take things like: electricity, Wifi, clean water, clean air and fuel for granted. It really gives you some perspective. Any "bad feelings" or grudges within the family seem pretty insignificant and petty by comparison. Actually, they have always been that way. But are extremely petty and insignificant under these circumstances.

Playoff Race

It has been some exciting times in hockey. The LAKings are in the midst of a very tight playoff race. Whether they play a game or not, the Kings move positions in the Western Conference standings. One night out of the playoffs in 9th, then up to 5th, down to 8th, then up to 6th. It's crazy. Similarly, my rec hockey team is jockeying for their first playoff appearance. Well, first with me on it. I'm playing my second season with this team and we've made some improvements to put us in contention.

 

Too much MMA?

Coming off a big week in MMA. UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator all had events. I follow those organizations as well as Dream and some K-1. My man Dan Henderson won the Light Heavy Championship on Saturday. As a fan it has been hard to watch him lose, and I honestly didn't know what to expect. The guy is 40 and there are only so many Randy Coutures in the sport. The hardest part of being an MMA fan is watching guys lose to Father Time, (see Chuck Liddell). But the big right hand landed and Feijao went down. I didn't catch the Bellator event. Shame on me. I am mostly focused on the lightweight division. I followed Eddie Alvarez's career into Bellator and watch the annual lightweight tourney. I don't really have a coherent point to this post. But that's all I got for today.

UFC on Versus 3

I'm not sure why, but the UFC Fight Nights and Versus events are usually better than PPV events. Maybe it is because I have lowered expectations for the free UFC broadcasts. Betting $55 that a fight card will be explosive, puts the expectations way up there for PPV. Also, the guys fighting on these cards are really making the most of their exposure. Some of the UFC veterans tend to be conservative, as a couple losses and you are out of the organization. Also, title fights are always PPV and those can become conservative/boring with so much on the line.

True to form, last night was great. There was a WEC rematch with deja-vu, as Brian Bowles guillotined Demacio Page at 3:30 of the first round, again. I loved seeing Mark Munoz place a stiff overhand right onto CB Dollaway's chin. Dollaway doesn't like to lose, who does? But after complaining about phantom tapouts, the "early stoppage" from last night was garbage. Dollaway was knocked out. I think it was great refereeing by Yamasaki. He saw that CB was out and defenseless; then he wisely stopped the fight. Fine. Next time let CB Dollaway take some extra punishment, by TKO or submission, just to be sure. Finally, we saw a tubby Diego Sanchez come from behind to out point Kampmann. I can feel for Kampmann, as I wanted him to win and he was picking apart Sanchez and bloodied him badly in the first round. To Diego's credit he kept coming, scored a takedown, and managed a unanimous decision.

Probably the biggest thing to come out of the fight was Dana White awarding the Fight of the Night bonus. He LOVED the Sanchez vs Kampmann fight. First it was $40K FOTN bonus. Later he ups it to $60K. Today it was announced as $100K, additional. Wow. Only the top UFC breadwinners usually take home $160K. That's on top of the agreed bout pay and win bonus. Sanchez probably earned over a quarter million. For once I love the precident that White's setting. Come to fight, put on a show, and I will compensate you. This can only have a positive effect on future events. C'mon boys, go get that FOTN bonus.

Lombardi Apologist

Some would say that Lombardi got the leftovers of the trade deadline, by not acting sooner. Maybe. I'm sure there was interest by rival GMs in most of the Kings' younger players. But I think his philosophy was clear, that none of the current roster players were moving.

I assume that Lombardi realizes that the locker room is a fickle thing. Tweak it too much or bring in the wrong guys, and it becomes a nightmare. And you don't mess with a good thing. Penner has some familarity with Stoll and Greene, so he wouldn't be a pure, hired gun (aka Kovalchuk this past summer). Lombardi showed solidarity and confidence in the guys that got him here. (Obviously, Sturm wasn't a part of that). Maybe that painted him into a corner and drove up the price, but a deal was done. At the end of the day, I think building from within is the way to go.

Penner to Kings

I was very busy yesterday and didn't even track the NHL trade deadline deals. I got back to my desk after lunch and saw that Lombardi had made a deal for Dustin Penner. My initial reaction is mixed.

The Good: The Kings did not give up a roster player. Lombardi said he wouldn't lose anyone from the roster and he kept his word. Penner is not a rental, and has another year of contract obligation. Penner is a big body with skill, those guys are pretty rare.

The Bad: The price was a little steep with prospect Colin Teubert, a first rounder in 2011, and second rounder in 2012. Actually, the 2012 pick is conditional, but since the Kings are making the playoffs this year, that makes it a 2nd round pick instead of a 3rd round pick. (I'm optimistic in the midst of the closest playoff race in NHL history.?)

The Ugly: Penner has a history of coasting. To me, these's nothing worse than a big guy that doesn't use his size. Dany Heatley comes to mind, yet Penner is not a sniper of Heatley's caliber. Jason Spezza also comes to mind, yet Penner is not the puck wizard Spezza is. Penner used to play for the Ducks. He helped then win a Cup. That kills me.

Realistically this is a good trade. Kings fans (& probably coaching staff?) have been clamouring for a scoring winger. This will satisfy those people for the time being, whether the move is a good one or not. Penner is coming out of Edmonton, whose media can and will slam any player with expectations as high as Penner had. I would reason that Penner could flourish playing as a piece to the puzzle, instead of trying to carry a team/city/province on his back. Penner also showed some class, making a graceful exit out of Edmonton; that's a good sign to me.

I have pretty high expectations on this guy. Obviously, since we are giving up three high picks. The Kings are far from in the Playoffs with a dogfight going on, one guy on the roster could make all the difference.