It's A Hard Knock Life

A man's home is suppose to be his castle, but at my condo the drawbridge is stuck. A week ago a water pipe on the 18Th floor burst. As a result the stairwells of the building and elevator shafts became waterfalls. From then until now, only one elevator has been operable. However when I arrived home this evening after having completed 18 rounds of boxing training, and then taken 20 minutes to walk home, I was informed that all the elevators were malfunctioning.

So I sat in the lobby of the building for 10 minutes tweeting on my Blackberry in complete denial that I would have to walk up 14 flights of steps to get to my apartment. Maybe I wasn't in denial, I just needed a moment to feel sorry for myself.

Once I got my resolve together, I chalked the whole situation up to the hard knocks of life. On the bright side, I'm glad I don't live on the 33rd floor.

Reasons For Going To The Gym

1. Walking next to the man/woman on the treadmill beside you is the closes you have been to being on a date in weeks.
2. The receptionist at the front desk has to pretend that he/she is glad to see you.
3. The gym is a hunting ground for same sex relationships.
4. The locker room is nicer than your bathroom at home.
5. You save money by using the club's Internet connection and satellite TV service.
6. Joining the gym was the only way you could get the free bag, towel and water bottle.
7. By virtue of being there, it makes you feel like you're taking an active interest in your health.
8. You want to keep your weight issue from escalating to clinical obesity.
9. You sprained your wrist picking up a heavy beer mug at a Christmas party, and you need to rehab it before the Super Bowl.
10. You miss the 80's, and you needed an excuse to wear leg warmers and leotards.

Can Manny Pacquiao Be Beaten?

First, the circumstances of the question need to be clarified. I'm speaking of an opponent at a feasible weight class being able to beat Manny Pacquiao while he is at the pinnacle of his boxing career.

Realistically the competitor should weigh from 135lbs/61.2Kg (lightweight) - 147lb/66.7Kg (welterweight). The event has to occur within a 2 year time frame starting on January 1, 2011, ending on December 31, 2012.

Whether or not Pacquiao has completely matured and developed as a competitive prize fighter is a subjective argument, but I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that he has based on his performances over the last 2 years. I will also assume that his present physical condition and skills are not in jeopardy of declining for at least 2 more years.

Now let's address the fact that Pacquiao has already been beaten 3 times in his career. Two of those losses are by way of knockout. Rustico Torrecampo is responsible for the first KO loss in 1996, and Medgoen Singsurat gets credit for laying Pacquiao down in 1999. Ironically, each KO took place in the 3rd round, and both were the result of a single body shot. Some might argue that Pacquiao's current trainer, Freddy Roach, hadn't started training Pacquiao when he suffered these 2 KO losses, which otherwise might have helped Pacquiao avoid them. Perhaps it would have made a difference, but we will never know. So it's a moot point; moving on. Erik Morales is the last opponent to beat Pacquiao by way of a unanimous decision at the end of 12 rounds in 2005. Since then Pacquiao has gone on a undisturbed 5 year winning spree, in which he has been nothing short of exceptional throughout. Now having won 8 world boxing titles in 8 different weight classes Manny Pacquiao is boxing's current best pound-for-pound fighter and on the brink of reaching boxing immortality. A win over Floyd Mayweather Jr., the perceived second best fighter in the world, would all but assure Pacquiao being crowned the best pound-for-pound boxer ever.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. represents the only shred of doubt to Manny Pacquiao's legacy. Pacquiao is arguably the best offensive fighter in the sport of boxing today. However, one doesn't have to stretch their imagination to believe that Mayweather Jr. is presently the best defensive fighter and counter puncher. Both fighters are great competitors for different reasons. One could build a strong argument in either case why one fighter is better than the other. Only a dual can decisively answer the question of who is the better of the two, regardless of which fighter is your favorite to win.

Who can beat Pacquiao at the height of his carreer is not nearly as interesting a question as how that task can be accomplished? There have been plenty of seemingly qualified competitors to challenge Pacquiao in the last 2 years starting with Oscar De La Hoya, then Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey, and lastly Antonio Margarito. All of whom Pacquiao fanatically imposed his will over.

Besting Pacquiao at this point of his career requires 3 key ingredients: speed, stamina, and a high boxing I.Q. Each boxer that I just mentioned is missing at least one of these 3 essentials. De La Hoya, Cotto and Margarito were too big to keep pace with Pacquiao. Meaning their weight to muscle ratio didn't favor them being able to through as many punches over a 12 round period as Pacquiao. Lightweight compact fighters are like little Energizer Bunnies that just keep going and going and going, which is what Pacquiao is. But Pacquiao's punches don't just come fast and frequently, they are also accurate and strong. De La Hoya and Margarito were too slow to be able to avoid Pacquiao's assualt, or be able to return fire. Cotto was able to match Pacquiao's speed, but not for the full length of a 12 round fight. In the first round of their meeting, Cotto backed Pacquiao up with fast, hard, crisp jabs. If Cotto had been able to sustain that punching intensity, he might have pulled off the upset. In terms of boxing I.Q., De La Hoya and Cotto are smart technicians inside the ring. Margarito is a true warrior, but his boxing skills are only fair at best. As a note, Margarito was beaten-up the worst by Pacquiao amongst the three.

Ricky Hatton proved to be the easiest opponent for Pacuiao to beat. Hatton is a brawler with a low boxing I.Q. He just recklessly runs straight into the line of fire. For a deadly accurate puncher like Pacquiao, Hatton presented no more of a challenge than a heavy bag drill. Consequently, Hatton was dropped by a hook he never saw coming in the 2nd round. To Hatton's credit he did enter the fight well conditioned. But his speed and ring generalship weren't even close to being on par with Pacquia's skill sets.

Joshua Clottey was an interesting opponent, but not competitive. Clottey is highly defensive; almost too defensive. He took very few chances in his match with Pacquiao. The strategy allowed him to last 12 rounds with Pacquiao; only sustaining minimal damage. But it also nullified any chance of Clottey to win the bout. Because he wasn't willing to engage Pacquiao, Clottey never got a chance to showcase his very good inside fighting skills. In retrospect, even if Clottey had come forward on Pacquiao, he doesn't have the speed and footwork to keep Pacquiao trapped on the ropes long enough to be able to put in effective body work. But an attempt would have made the fight more interesting to watch. Clottey gets a "A" for defense, "B-'s" for speed and stamina, and than "F's" for offense and aggression. That spells an average performance which doesn't win world titles.

Based on these 5 fights is there a blueprint that has emerged for beating Manny Pacquiao? Maybe; maybe not. But you certainly get a clear idea of what strengths Pacquiao brings to the boxing ring. I believe the following conditions have to be met to legitimately challenge Pacquiao.

1. The opponent has to be naturally 140 - 150 pounds. Fighters past this weight have too much baggage to drag around the ring to keep pace with Pacquiao for the entirety of a 12 round championship bout.
2. They must obviously be as fast, if not faster than Pacquiao.
3. Their footwork must be excellent. This skill is needed to help force Pacquiao towards the ropes, and then keep him from sliding laterally into open space. Pacquiao is noticeably less effective fighting with his back on the ropes, than when he is in the center of the ring. When cornered, he holds his guards up high. At that moment he is open for uppercuts and hooks to the body. Remember, body shots are what lead to Pacquiao's 2 KO losses. In his recent fights verses De La Hoya and Margarito, the one punch that either was successful in landing against Pacquiao was the uppercut to the body. They were just too slow and easily made tired to do it often enough.
4. Back Pacquiao up with hard fast jabs, and then go underneath. Pacquiao is short, agile and fast, so it is very easy for him to slip under punches over the top. Bringing an aggressive inside fight to Pacquiao would help minimize his speed, while punching underneath would keep him from slipping under shots.
5. Now you just have to find one fighter that can fulfill each condition and carry out the tasks with vigor for 12 grueling rounds. Not too much to ask.

Is Floyd Mayweather Jr. up to the challenge?

Mr. Heatmiser Music Video

When I was a kid, this was my favorite song and dance medley from the TV Christmas special, "The Year Without A Santa Claus", a certified classic.

Be Careful Of What You Ask For

There has been a lot of buzz around the web about the possibility of England's WBA junior welter weight champ, Amir Khan, squaring off against Floyd Mayweather Jr. It's not an unlikely scenario. But is it one that Amir is ready for?

Admir's trainer Freddy Roach, who also trains Manny Pacquiao, has said, " he has the key to beat Mayweather Jr." That might be true depending on who is turning the key, especially if that someone is Manny Pacquiao. Unlike Pacquiao, Amir has yet to face an opponent anywhere close to the caliber of Mayweather Jr.

Amir's last 5 fights have highlighted his potential to be a great boxer, and made him popular around England. But that is only good enough to get inside the ring with Mayweather Jr.; not beat him.

If this match does take place next year, Amir is going to find out the hard way just how high the step-up to world class really is. Mayweather Jr. is too much, too soon for Amir at this juncture of his boxing career.

Draw?

The fight between Bernard Hopkins vs. Jean Pascal at Pepsi Colisee in Quebec City, Canada ends in a majority draw, which allowed Pascal to retain his WBC Light-Heavy Weight Title.

I previously stated that Jean Pascal would have to knock Bernard Hopkins out to remotely make the bout interesting. But the seasoned vet, Hopkins, just one month shy of turning age 46 next month put on a performance that was exciting and skillful. These are not adjectives I would have used to describe Hopkins' last fight against Roy Jones Jr., which is why I didn't anticipate the entertainment value he would bring to this particular match.

One judge scored the bout 114 - 112 in favor of Hopkins. The other two judges scored the fight even (113 - 113, and 114 - 114). Although Hopkins won the majority of rounds during the bout, he suffered 2 knock downs. The first knock down occurred in round 1 from a hook that clearly hit Hopkins in the back of the head while he his bent over. The second knock down took place in round 3 from a hook to the body. In either case, Hopkins did not appear to be significantly hurt or hampered.

Despite the 2 knock downs and probably having lost the first 3 rounds, Hopkins kept his veteran poise and statistically out-boxed Pascal the remainder of the contest. The only exception is round 12, which could have gone in favor of either fighter. Pascal was noticeably tired by round 7 from the steady assault of lead hooks and upper cuts Bernard used to ascend from the hole he was in at the early onset of the bout.

However, only one judge thought Hopkins had done enough to overcome the 2 knock downs and win the fight. The other two judges were impressed to the point that they felt Hopkins was able to draw even. I scored the bout 114 - 112 in favor of Hopkins. I didn't award Pascal with a knock down in round 1, because it came as a result of an illegal punch to the back of the head.

In a post interview Pascal claimed victory over Hopkins, but the statical numbers measuring the effectiveness of each fighter tell a different story. Pascal retains his belt. But the majority of boxing fans will probably perceive Hopkins as the winner, especially fans over the age of 40.

Full Fight Video

We've all heard about people having guts or balls. But do you really know the difference between them? In an effort to keep you informed, the definition of each is listed below:

"Guts" is arriving home late after a night out with the guys, being assaulted by your wife with a broom, and having the guts to say, "are you still cleaning or are you flying somewhere"?

"Balls" is coming home late after a night out with the guys smelling of perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife on the ass and having the balls to say, "You're next"!

The Color of Success

Most practitioners of Tae Kwon Do (Korean martial art) begin training with the objective to achieve the rank of black belt. Although the black belt is a symbol of advanced skill, its attainment does not mark the end of a journey, rather it is an exploratory phase of one's physical, intellectual and emotional self.

It takes several years of dedicated training, blood, sweat, and pain to become a first degree black belt. But the reward for those who are able to endure is increased physical and mental ability, and extraordinary focus and discipline. If you continue training past the rank of first dan (the beginning rank of a new black belt in a succession of 10), you will discover there are even greater rewards and opportunities to be realized.

The Philosophy Of The Belt System
Early pioneers of TKD (Tae Kwon Do) did not use a belt to indicate rank, but merely as a practical means to hold one's clothing in place. But over a long period of time, as they practised their belts would become soiled and darkened. Eventually a darkened belt of a TKD practitioner began to symbolize someone who had practiced extensively, and was well versed and highly-skilled in the art.

In the modern era of TKD a black belt still symbolizes a practitioner of advanced skills. However, the black belt is part of an incorporated belt-ranking-system which not only outwardly indicates a practitioner's physical proficiency, but their mental and philosophical growth as well. The WTF (World Tae Kwon Do Federation) has standardized the progression of belts and recognizes five belts below the black belt: white, yellow, green, blue, red. The beginning students wear the white belt. The absence of color symbolizes innocence and purity as evident by a beginning student's lack of knowledge of TKD. Next the yellow belt represents the rising sun, the source of all life. At this stage the student begins to flourish and learn the basics of the art. The next belt is green, the color of well-rooted things growing upward toward the sky. During this stage the student starts to develop power. Next is the blue belt, the color of the sky, boundless and ever reaching. At this stage a student begins to stabilize their power and focuses on reaching their fullest potential. The color belt before reaching black is red, the color of blood which is the vital essence of life. Students at this level are refining and deepening their power and control. Finally, the black belt represents the color of all the belts combined. This stage represents technical mastery executed with calm dignity and sincerity.

Black is the color of the spectrum in which all colors blend into one.

Each One Teach One

Chokyonim (which means instructor) is the title given to a student who reaches the rank of first degree black belt or first dan (which is the minimal level of competency required to teach what he/she knows). At this point a student has a moral obligation to give back to TKD from which they have received by passing along the knowledge they have learned to other students following in their footsteps. Secondly, teaching helps to hone and consolidate a black belt's skills and understanding, bringing them more and more in accord with themselves in mind, body, and spirit. This understanding extends to all practitioners of the martial arts including the masters. In addition to reaching for a higher understanding, new black belts are expected to solidify their physical capabilities through constant training with the goal of increasing speed, precision, power, agility, stamina, and flexibility. The idea is to exhibit total will over the body, to achieve a state of perpetual readiness, able to attack or defend at any point and time along a 360 degree radius. Achieving near flawless execution of this kind will require many years of training, but time passes quickly for those who are dedicated.

You can tell the experience of a black belt practitioner by the shading of his/her belt, ash being the noblest.

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How To Pursue Excellence

How often one should practice depends on how good he/she wants to be. Repetition is the tool of permanent impression. If one practices their craft with enough frequency and attention to proper form, it is possible to rise to a level of proficiency whereby the execution of their practiced skill-sets becomes so fluent and effortless that minimal conscious consideration is spent performing these task(s). This is training to the point that the complex is made to look simple.

All meaningful practice should encompass the following variables:

1. Duration - time spent performing the task(s).
2. Intensity - the level of challenge needed to evoke a positive intellectual, neurological, physiological or emotional response.
3. Frequency - the number of episodes of training it takes to reach a desired goal(s).
4. Volume - how many meaningful tasks will be included with each episode of training.
5. Desire - the emotional satisfaction derived from practicing an activity.

The application of these 5 variables determines how worthwhile a practice session is. Any competitor wishing to reach the echelon of their sport must be willing to commit their mind, body and soul toward his/her goals every day, and by virtue of the process they will be rewarded. For it is the pursuit of goals that gives meaning to achievement in sport, and life in general.

Second Wind

After yesterday's long exhausting workout, I had it in my mind that I was going to rest today. I've changed my mind. I'm going to do some dumbbell and suspension training instead. I can rest when I die.

I'm Exhausted!

20-minute walk to the gym,

5 minutes of dynamic stretching,

2 x 3-minute rounds of shadow boxing,

2 x 3-minute rounds of jumping rope,

12 x 3-minute rounds of heavy bag training,

20-minute walk back home,

Now I'm too tired to even blink!

Saturday, December 18, 2010, Bernard Hopkins (51-5-1) will face-off against Jean Pascal (26-1-0) in Quebec City, Canada.

This isn't a fight that is going to have boxing fans on the edge of their chairs. Jean Pascal is an up and coming fighter just starting the climb to notoriety, and Bernard Hopkins is a boxing legend that should retire. Bernard's style is stale and boring, and his skills are no longer at a level that he can handle world class contenders without the risk of getting seriously injured. These aren't the ingredients that make for good fights and sell out arenas, which is probably one of the reasons why this bout is taking place in Canada; not under the bright casino lights of Las Vegas. Secondly, Pascal is from Canada, so it's likely that hometown fans will show up to the fight to support one of their own.

I expect Bernard to try to weather the initial attack of the younger faster Pascal, and then attempt to take advantage of his ring experience to unravel the spirit of Pascal in the later rounds. Unraveling in B-Hop's case means head butting, holding, rabbit shots, liver shots, etc. All of his usual well documented tactics for bulling his opponents. If the fight plays out this way, it's going to come down to a long drawn-out ugly anti-climatic decision.

Pascal will have to knock B-Hop out for this fight to be remotely exciting. At the very least Pascal needs to win, otherwise he will be casted back into the shadows of obscurity. A win for Bernard might be considered impressive considering the fact that he is 46 years of age. Not a bad way to cap-off a long and successful career. But supposing Bernard does win, he still needs to retire. His last fight against Roy Jones Jr. was less than stellar, and it exposed the growing number of chinks in his armor. Pascal might just prove to be the straw that breaks the bulls back.

For the record, I would like to see B-Hop win. He is from Philadelphia, and so am I. That's reason enough for me.

Ring Theory: Do not conceive to the point that you miss out on doing.

I don't like to live life through exhausting amounts of thinking. Frankly, it is a waste of time. Life is the here and now. I can only control what is before me; not events of the past, or future. My actions at the moment are my only concern. When that instance is gone, then I move on. In this way my mind is never cluttered with over-analytical evaluations. People often think to the point that they frustrate and confuse themselves. They stumble over ideas and concepts to the point that they can no longer decipher between what is real and concrete, and what is abstract and surreal. Instead, one should take from a lesson what is needed, and then discard what is not.

Improve your ring generalship by applying minimalist thinking inside the ropes. Once a match has begun don't bank on your opponent waiting for you to decide what is the best course of action. One has to know and feel what needs to be done. Indecision and hesitation is a disaster waiting to happen when your sparring. The knowledge that you need to defend yourself against an adversary should be at the forefront of your mind instilled through constant training. A good fighter remains in a state of readiness, so that their actions are in the present; not an after-thought that came too late. Readiness is derived through practice that teaches the processes of conceivable reactions in the ring. Master the processes and you will be able to act without thought.

Gym Fashion Mistakes

Discretion is the better part of valor. Exercise good judgment when you decide what to wear to the gym. I understand that fashion is a matter of personal choice. But frankly some wardrobe decisions do not make sense to me. Just because some popular clothing item looks good being adorned by a mannequin in a store front window, does not mean it will flatter you in the same way.

Whoever said, "clothes make the man", clearly did not live during the age of spandex. It seems the fashion police and animal rights activists have been so concerned with manufacturers and consumers of fur clothing that they let the spandex abuse crisis slip under the radar. I blame spandex for my chronic case of T.M.I. (Too Much Information), which is what I get every time I have to bear witness to a guy walking around the gym in tight spandex shorts with a clearly formed impression of his tally-whacker and goody-bag highlighted like an outlined chalk figure at a murder scene.

Women are also culprits of committing heinous acts of spandex abuse. Some women try to squeeze into elastic outfits that did not fit them 3 years ago, when they were ten pounds lighter and two sizes smaller. The elasticity of spandex does have its limits. Tease me with a little flesh, and save some for the imagination. The seepage of ass, breasts, love handles and saddle bags, along with textile jammed into the crevices of a woman's body is not sexy at all. The only things ladies will attract with this look are maladjusted perverts, and yeast infections.

To avoid social embarrassment, ridicule, finger pointing, and disgusted looks, here is a list of ten gym fashion faux pas:

1. If you decide to go commando (under-wear free) underneath your bottoms, make sure there are no peek-a-boo gaps that will allow everyone to see your secret garden.
2. Full-figured women and husky men should stay away from horizontal lines that run across the body. It gives the visual perception of making one look bigger, in addition to looking like a prison escapee.
3. If you need to get a running start to get into a pair of shorts or pants, they are too small for you. You probably have not fit those bottoms since primary school. Likewise, if putting on your top feels like a wrestling match, once again it is too small for you!
4. There is a casual atmosphere at the gym, but it's not so casual that you can start wearing your under-wear as outer-wear. Perhaps people who spend a lot of money shopping for these items at expensive boutiques do not want attention to their bloomers to be limited to themselves.
5. Wearing shades while listening to, "I Wear My Sun Glasses At Night" on your ipod might seem like a nostalgic idea. It's a thought that should be saved for karaoke night. Sporting shades inside the gym makes you look either blind or stupid. The eighties are gone, get over it.
6. Tying a sweat shirt or jacket around your waist does not avert attention to your ass. It is like trying to throw a napkin over an elephant to disguise the fact that it is there. It only makes sense that if you add layers to an area that is already pronounced, it is just going to appear even bigger.
7. Do wear gender appropriate clothing. Guys wearing crushed velvet scooped neck tank-tops from the Miss teen section is a no-no. Only Prince can pull off some fashion discord like that. Women should not try to look like studs. It's unattractive to see a woman wearing over-sized men's clothing draped all over her body. A sweat shirt that has sleeves five inches past the tip of the longest finger, and bottoms with an inseam twelve inches from the ground will make any woman look like M.C. Hammer.
8. Don't show up to the gym an expect to workout with boots, sandals, dress shoes or some other ill choice of footwear. The reason should be self explanatory.
9. If you workout in the same outfit 5 days a week, but wash it only once a week, than you are both stinky and unfashionable. You should give serious consideration to adjusting your wash-to-wear-ratio.
10. No man or woman should wear leg warmer socks. The Jane Fonda/Flash Dance era is over.

Note: in case I go senile in my older age and I am unable to make this plea, if anyone out there ever sees me at the gym wearing a tank-top, suspenders, plaid Bermuda shorts hiked up to my chest, long dress socks to my knees, and sandals, do be kind and shoot me.

Thursday, 9 December 2010, the AirAsia Philippine Patriots came from behind in the waning seconds of the game to beat the Westports KL Dragons at Ynares Sports Arena 73 - 71. However, any discouraging effects the Dragons may have suffered from the loss were laid to rest by thoroughly beating the #1 team in the ABL, the Chang Thailand Slammers, 77 - 57 this Sunday, 12 December 2010, at MABA Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.

Both the Dragons and the Slammers came out the gates slow. The conservative pace continued throughout the first two periods. In the second half the Dragons finally decided to shift the fast-break from 2ND to 5Th gear, and then red-lined there way to a decisive victory.

The Dragons' over-all performance was very good for several note worthy reasons. The team showed it can bounce back from a disappointing loss. Secondly, bench players made a significant contribution towards the Dragons' win tonight, which shows these players are starting to develop confidence and skill. Delivering quality minutes off the bench takes some of the pressure off the starting 5 and will go a long way in closing out the season with a winning record to secure a play-off spot. Third, the defense was awesome. The Dragons nearly contested every Slammer who tried to score inside the paint. Nakiea Miller didn't just block Slammers' shots tonight, he engulfed them, and then stamped the ball with 'return to sender'.

What wasn't positive are some problems the Dragons have been routinely suffering from as a team: missed free-throws, streaks of poor shot selection, and bad execution of set-plays. Errors like this cost points, or lead to mismanagement of the clock. The Dragons' coaching staff needs to address these issues immediately; it has been going on for far too long.

The stats for the Dragons' top performers haven't been released yet. But since I witnessed the game, I can tell you that Nakiea Miller, Guganeswaran Batumalai and Rudy Lingganay will be on that list. But regardless of who scored the most points, it was the entire Dragons' defense that scorched the Slammers to get the 'W'.

Partner Ab Exercise

There is a limit to what you can ask your training partner to do for you. This ab exercise crosses those boundaries.

How To Tell If Your Girlfriend's a Psycho

Does your girlfriend...

1. Constantly call you throughout the day to update you about what she is doing and/or she wants you to update her about what you're doing?
2. Ask your opinion about how she looks, and then harshly judges the sincerity of your answer?
3. Tell you "if you loved me, you would do it" (which means anything from showering her with a dozen roses to throwing yourself off a high cliff)?
4. Obsess over getting ready to go out to the point that it grates on your nerves and leads to an argument (thereby sapping any joy out of attending social gatherings together)?
5. Celebrate the anniversary of every event and occurrence in your relationship including the mundane?
6. Feel the need to assert to other women that you and she are an item?
7. Seek the attention of other men, even in your presence?
8. Tell you " she likes taking care of you?
9. Tattoo herself to you every moment you are together?
10. Talk about what the future of the relationship will be (i.e. marriage, kids, residence, etc.) without having any prior discussion with you on such matters.
11. Have dramatic mood swings from she loves you more than life itself to throwing angry public tantrums?
12. Try to be physically intimate at inappropriate times, ask you sensitive questions in mixed company, or provoke any other actions that makes it seem like she is testing you?
13. Become physical during arguments?
14. Tell you "I don't know what I would do if you left me"?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, chances are you have a crazy and deranged fatal attraction on your hands. Take out a restraining order, and then run for the hills.

Do You Know The Difference Between Whole Grain & Whole Wheat?

Both terms sound like healthy options, which they are. This is especially true when you compare whole grain and whole wheat products to bleached flour products such as white bread.

Ultimately, whole grain reins supreme over whole wheat, because of the way the grain flour is processed. With whole-wheat flour, the grain goes through a refining process that strips the end product of some vital nutrients. Whole-grain flour is exempted from this process, and thus the end result still maintains all of its nutritional content.

For better health choose whole grain products over whole wheat. Bleached flour products should be eaten sparingly, or avoided altogether.

On Saturday, 4 December 2010, the Westports KL Dragons didn't have a stellar performance, but it was gutsy enough to beat the Brunei Barracudas 95 - 87 in over-time at MABA Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.

Until the over-time period, neither team was able to establish more than a marginal advantage over the other. The lead swung back and forth for 3 and a half periods. Then the pillar of the Dragon's Defense, Nakiea Miller, fouled out with about 5 minutes left in regulation. Once the perennial shoot blocker vacated the floor, the Barracudas wisely started attacking the rim. They eventually pulled ahead of the Dragons, and then held a 3-point edge with 16 seconds remaining in the game. At this juncture the Dragons called timeout to set-up their final play, a 3-point shot by Patrick Jan Manlawe Cabahu. He missed and got fouled in the act with just 1.6 seconds from the final buzzer. Unfazed by the pressure, Cabahu confidently preceded to bury all 3 foul shots to send the game into over-time. The momentum of surviving an 8-count carried the Dragons through OT, and allowed them to finally distance themselves from the Barracudas.

There is a saying, "sometimes it's better to be lucky, than good". The Dragons were a little of both last night. From my line-of-sight, Cabahu's rushed and off-balance 3-point attempt in the closing seconds of the game didn't look likely to go down. Thus fouling the shooter in this particular instance was a huge mistake by the Barracudas, and a lucky break for the Dragons. However, the fact that Cabahu nailed all three foul shots in crunch time was skill.

Besides winning the contest, the Dragons proved to themselves that they could resourcefully do so without one of their key starters for a long stretch of the game. Good teams find a way to pick each other up, when the x's and o's aren't going quite the way they planned. I noticed when Miller fouled out of the game, he was cheering and imploring his Dragon mates to rise to the occasion louder than anyone else in the stadium.

Top performers for the Dragons include Nakiea Miller with 28 points and 12 rebounds, Patrick Jan Manlawe Cabahu scored 16 points (3 of those points with the weight of the game on his shoulders), Alex Hartman contributed with 12 points and 7 assists, while
Angelus Raymundo finished the game with 12 points and 8 rebounds.

Compliments of last night's victory, the Dragons move up from #3 to #2 ahead of the AirAsia Philippine Patriots, who they defeated a week ago. Ironically, it's the same team they play next at Ynares Sports Arena in the Philippines. This should prove to be a firecracker of a game, because of the equal competitive nature of both squads. Also, dare I say that some Philippine Patriots' fans might be looking for some pay-back for the bottle of liquid that was thrown at the head of a Patriots' player during the last meeting between the two teams on the Dragons' home court. Granted, the Dragons organization offered an official apology. The ABL fined the Dragons USD5,000. Now no outside food or drinks are allowed inside MABA Stadium.

The Gatorade I purchased at the game was promptly dispensed into a light-weight flimsy plastic cup minus a quarter of the bottle's content that didn't fit into the cup, but I had to pay for every once none the less. I was not even offered a straw_I suppose it might have been maliciously used to spout liquid or blow darts. However, all this may not be enough to satisfy some angry emotionally charged fans in the Philippines.

If it is any consolation to Philippine Patriots' fans, I would like to break my size 12 Timberland boots off in the ass of the person responsible for making me have to drink my Gatorade out of the crappy strawless cup in the picture.