Dave Smith

Sitting in my living room on Saturday night, I actually considered ordering the James Toney-Randy Couture fight. Since I know James pretty well and consider him a friend, I found it fascinating he was actually going to enter the octagon to fight a UFC legend….

In a boxing ring, Couture wouldn’t last 10 seconds with Toney, but under MMA rules this looked like a complete mismatch….

Last week I predicted a first round win for Couture, based on James’ complete lack of experience. Sure, he had a puncher’s chance and would knock Randy out if he hit him on the chin; but once Courure got “Lights Out” on the ground the fight would be over….

I was also skeptical when James stated he was in “the best shape of my life” and was going to come into the octagon around 215 lbs. I’d heard this countless times over the years, but every time Toney stepped on the scale he was fat, blubbery and over 230….

So it was no suprise James waddled to the scale at 237 for the Couture fight. That sealed it for me, so I closed my wallet and turned on the USA-Croatia World Championship basketball game….

When James fought Evander Holyfield in 2003, he weighed 217 lbs. and knocked out the Real Deal in nine rounds. He was in great shape, threw combinations and dominated the fight. Had he stayed at that weight, he would have become heavyweight champion and made a lot of money….

Unfortunately, twinkies and ding dongs took precedence over training….

When I went on the web and saw Toney submitted near the three minure mark, I was suprised: Not that he lost, but that he lasted so long….

So why would James risk getting embarrassed and potentially tarnish his legacy as a great boxing champion? Simple, it was an excellent payday….

According to reports, Toney received close to $1M; which was impossible for him to pass up. At 41, he was having difficulty getting fights and needed the money….

Who among us wouldn’t have done the same thing?….

One thing which bothered me, though, were the message boards on all the MMA sites after the fight. Post after post claimed this proved MMA fighters were superior to boxers and several people ridiculed boxing and said it “wasn’t a man’s sport.”….

Wrong. All this proved was that an out-of-shape, 41-year-old former boxing champion with no wrestling or martial arts experience was no match for an elite UFC fighter….

But if you put Chuck Liddell, Couture, Tito Ortiz, Dan Henderson, Brock Lesnar or any other MMA guy in a boxing ring they’d get knocked out in less than a minute….

I respect both styles, but you can’t say one is superior to the other based on a guy fighting under the other sport’s rules….

Speaking of the World Championships, Team USA is off to an impressive start after 20+ point wins over Croatia and Slovenia. It gets a little tougher on Monday against Brazil, but the Americans caught a break when Nene was sent home with an injury….

By the way, why isn’t Sasha Vujacic playing for Slovenia?….

Co-favorite Spain was shocked by France in their opening game, losing 72-66, but bounced back Sunday with a win over New Zealand….

The French were very impressive and could win this thing if Tony Parker and Mikael Pietrus were playing. Unfortunately for Les Bleu they aren’t there and the Frenchies have little chance without them….

France’s Ian Mahinmi, the young 7′ player drafted by the Spurs a few years ago, looks really good and developed into a muscular, shot blocking, rebounding force. He also has a nice shooting touch and looks ready to help San Antonio this season….

Watching international basketball, it’s incredible to see how far these guys have come since we created the Dream Team in 1992. Back then, every game was a 40 point blowout and the opposing players would sit on the bench with cameras and take pictures of their American heroes….

Just 12 years later, our Dream Team lost to Lithuania in the opening round, were eliminated by Argentina in the semis and settled for bronze in the Athens Olympics….

Two years later our NBA superstars lost to the Greeks in the world Championship semi-finals….

Foreign teams are not afraid of us anymore and the days of them asking to pose for a picture are long gone….

And it turns out that allowing our NBA players to compete in the Olympics was a great thing, because it forced the world to get better….

Why should we send less than our best just because the international players can’t compete? The solution was they needed to get better; not us sending second rate players to make them feel good about themselves….

And now they can play on a level similar to us and it’s great for basketball….

After struggling mightlly since his return, Tiger Woods looked like the guy who has dominated golf the past decade in shooting an opening round 65 at the Barclays….

Maybe all he needed was to finalize his divorce….

Sure, he’s out $350M, but now he’s free to go out and bang all the chicks he wants; without fear of geting caught by his wife….

As Howard Stern once said “Why is divorce so expensive? Because it’s worth it.”….

We can ridicule Tiger all we want and delight in his demise, but it’s great for golf when he’s winning and the game desperately needs him….

When El Tigre is in the hunt on Sunday afternoon, I’m tuned in. When he’s not, I change the channel….

The collection of robotic, politically correct, play-for-second-place bores on the tour are killing the ratings and God bless Tiger and his return….

After being denied a boxing license in California, Antonio Margarito was approved by the Texas Athletic Commission and will face Manny Pacquiao for the 154 lb. belt on November 13 at Cowboys Stadium….

Interesting matchup, because over a year ago Freddie Roach said the following when I asked him if Pacman would ever fight Margarito at 147 lbs: “I’m brave, but not that brave,” replied Roach….

Now, almost two years later, Manny is not only getting into the ring with the Tijuana Tornado, he’s doing it at a career high 154 lbs….

Two years ago, Antonio would have been around a 5-1 favorite; now he’ll be a 5-1 dog. Funny what getting caught cheating can do to you….

Even though the fight will be at Junior Middleweight, I like Pacquiao to stop Margarito: Too quick, too young and better boxing skill….

Margarito used to be a killer, but after getting exposed for loading his gloves his career as an elite fighter are over….

With the news that the Big Ten might break into two divisions, with Michigan and Ohio St. seperated, fans for both schools are outraged that they might not continue to play every year….

My reaction: Who the hell cares? Every year the game is a colossal bore, with two slow, unathletic, conservative teams taking turns running the ball. I’ve never given a damn about this game and could care less if they never play again….

Kind of like Michigan-Notre Dame, another annual snooze-fest….

Give me USC-Oregon or Oregon-Oregon St. any day….

Hell, I’d rather watch Boise St-Hawaii….

I know hardly anyone in America gives a damn, but I’m looking forward to the FIBA World Basketball Championships, which take place in Turkey between August 28-September 12….

We have a good young team and are favored to win, primarily because Pau Gasol will not be playing for Spain, but we’re not nearly as good as the team which won gold in the 2008 Olympics….

This time there’s no LeBron, no D-Wade and no Kobe, so we’re going to have to play flawless basketball to win….

Three or four teams have a chance to win and I believe Brazil is the darkhorse….

I enjoy the international game, with the hexagon-shaoed three-second area, fast pace and brilliant outside shooting….

It also gives me a chance to see foreign players we don’t see much here; namely Ricky Rubio of Spain….

We squeaked out an 87-86 win over Spain in an exhibition over the weekend and have one final game against Greece before the Worlds begin….

Just finished watching the USA-Greece game and we were very impressive in the 87-59 victory. One thing which stood out was the abscence of Sofiklis Shortsanitis, the “Baby Shaq” of Europe….

He did not play, which gave them no chance of winning….

I also enjoy the round-robin format, with teams breoken up into several groups of four. Everyone in the group plays each other, with the top two advancing to the Round of 16. From that point on, it’s single elimination….

I like the fact you can survive a loss and still win, because often times a loss is due to officials incompetence. If you think NBA officials are bad, wait until you see these clowns calling the games in Turkey….

Every trip down the floor is an adventure….

It’s goint to be a fun two weeks….

For some reason, Elin Nordegren found it necessary to grant People magazine an interview; in which she expressed her feelings abou tTiger and her marraige ending….

I would have kept quiet and counted my $350M, but she found it necessary to talk….

She’s never been one to seek attention, so I guess she can have this one….

Let’s hope she doesn’t start doing reality shows and makes a fool out of herself; further embarrassing her family….