Euro 2012: Bring Your Best Racist Chant

One of these players won't be treated like the others. And that's bad for soccer.

You know how I know soccer has racist fans? When the Dutch team gets racially attacked. I mean you have to be pretty racist to go after the Netherlands for being not white enough.

Now, I know...this doesn't reflect all soccer fans, qualifier, qualifier, ok now I'm being politically correct.

The history of racism in soccer is well documented. What happens when you're the world's biggest sport is that you have to include the entire world. It just so happens that some of these pockets on the planet think skin color provides ample grounds for harassment while enjoying a light brew and watching people run around on a pitch kicking a ball.

Motivation is key in these tirades that many in the Eastern European block go down. This isn't just stupid people making cheap jokes, these are neo-NAZI's and white supremacist groups that use soccer matches as pow-wows for their antiquated ideas.

UEFA, the governing body for European soccer, has made minimal efforts to expunge racism from the sport. It's one thing to see stop racism campaigns pre-match before Arsenal and Chelsea play in England. It's another when the UEFA denies the "racist-ness" of chants in Poland and Ukraine. It's always easier to fight the fight you'll win than the one you'll lose. While UEFA feels like it can pull its parlor tricks among Europe, what it is failing to grasp is the catastrophe that is awaiting their sport overseas in the US.

While racism in sports and life is prevalent everywhere, and shouldn't be treated as non-existent by any means, the, shall we say confidence in which these fans could possibly act will not go over well America. There was an incident earlier this year where Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds had a banana thrown at him during a pre-season game in Canada. That received national attention and the fan was found and fined.

Hockey, as minimal as it is on the US sports scene is still established. Much more so than soccer, and with the US the last great divide between soccer and true global sports domination, it's not hard to imagine how many people will be turned off, and frankly disgusted, by the lewd acts potentially perpetrated by the fans during Euro 2012.

ESPN, which has the rights to the Euros, also just so happens to be the biggest distributor of sports news. It's not impossible for them to cover up smaller incidents during a broadcast or while showing highlights to protect its investment and improve the chances of soccer catching on in the US (note: ESPN has been known to pick and choose moments to jump in on stories where there is a gray area between sports and other news, like the Ben Roethlisberger case, but more often then not, when it's warranted they will be a news organization first), but should something so egregious occur, not even ESPN can mute the effect.

UEFA should be taking more strict actions for their sport. While this may be more par for the course in Europe, this won't be accepted in the US. If certain areas can't be trusted to act with civility, then don't give them a world-wide stage to show their flaws. Aside from soccer itself, there's a lot of mess and ugliness that can occur. Hopefully, for every aspect, the better side emerges from this month long tournament.

Fantasy Funkhouser: Time to Start Making a Big Deal About...Bryce Harper?

Bryce Harper has done everything right, so why is he being wronged? (Getty Images)

Bryce Harper's story is well-known. If it isn't to you, well there are Sports Illustrated articles (where he was on the cover of the mag at 16), E:60 pieces (where he hits the back wall of Tampa Rays' Tropicana Field), baseball cards for you to get (one that costs $25,000), and countless other materials to get your fix. So if you weren't caught up, you can tell he's a big deal.

Now, this is all based on what he has the potential to do. Nothing to do with what he has done as a major leaguer, but since his sudden call-up on April 28th he has far exceeded any expectations that could be placed on a 19-year-old phenom.

Some of the knocks against Harper were his perceived arrogance, but any showing up thus far of any major leaguers was on account of Harper out hustling them (ay, Jason Heyward and Cole Hamels?). The only vestige of his pre-majors petulance is a little more eyeblack than the normal MLB'er.

With so much controversy following Harper's path to the majors aside from his electrifying play his arrival has been rather calm. No blowing kisses, no getting tossed from games, no and more no. He's be a study in big-time prospect not taking the game of baseball for granted.

After seeing that Harper's cockiness may have been a bit overblown (or at least well-hidden up to this point) and Harper's story was purely baseball, people covering him frankly got bored. They were getting the steak but no sizzle. The controversy that would draw web views and sell newspapers were nowhere to be found. The Twitter page Harper religiously maintained spouting everything from his love of "Swag" to the Yankees and Cowoys was gone, and aside form a swing and a miss during a recreational softball game in DC, Harper may as well be some kind of baseball hermit for all we know. Sleeping in the locker room, only emerging to crush baseballs and hustle all over the baseball diamond.

Fantasy experts were continually downplaying Harper's potential impact. In redraft leagues this makes sense as 19-year-olds don't have a great track records as far as fantasy production goes.

The Notable 19: (Games/HR/RBI/OPS)
Ken Griffey Jr (127/16/61/.748)
Alex Rodriguez (48/5/19/.672)
Mel Ott (124/18/77/.921)

None of those lines are above replacement level players in a standard 10 team mixed league. Many were projecting Griffey's line as the best case scenario for Harper this season. Certainly puts him on track for a Hall of Fame career, but that's the reason some of the fantasy hype in Harper's fire have been significantly dwindled.

Now, don't get it twisted Harper's production so far at his age has been historic. But people covering the sport are looking for more excitement. That excitement has come from an unlikely place in fellow 20-year-old super rookie Mike Trout. Not unlikely based on baseball talent, but unlikely since personality wise Harper is a fireball while Trout is a bit of a dullard.

Trout finally getting attention. (Getty)

Trout has certainly taken some steam from Harper, and rightfully so. As far as I can tell, these guys have the potential to be the Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams of our generation. Elite talents and perfect foils in personality. The argument for who is the better ball player will certainly rage on for years.

Trout's performance so far since his call-up, ironically on the same day as Harper, has been fantastic. He has sparked the Los Angeles Angels out of their early season struggles and is batting .338 with 24R, 5HR, 22RBI, 9SB and played excellent defense in the outfield.

He has vaulted to the top of the AL Rookie of the Year race where other high profile names like Yu Darvish and Yoenis Cespedes have had great year one campaigns as well.

You wouldn't have to look far to see Trout ranked among the top OF already, and projections as high as the 5th round in redraft leagues if a draft was done today. The numbers justify it, even if we were to toss caution to the wind and pretend there won't be a slump with Trout's high K rate.

The hype it seems has shifted it's focus to Trout with Harper taking on the more critical eye. The thing with spotlight is, as Rashad Evans put it brilliantly (paraphrasing): Nobody owns the spotlight. It's just you stand there, and the spotlight moves, and moves, and moves. 


Right now, that spotlight is on Trout, but rest assured Harper will get it back soon. But I'm looking to turn it back on him right now.

This applies mostly to dynasty leagues, but when looking at what Harper has done, it is impressive.

After 118 at bats, Harper is hitting .288, 5HR, 12RBI, 2SB, .922OPS.

For all the spotlight hogging Trout is doing, here are his numbers last year when he was 19.

After 123 at bats, Trout was hitting .220, 5HR, 16RBI, 4SB, .672OPS.

With Harper stuck in the 2-hole most of his days and learning a new position he is getting on base and hitting at a higher rate than Trout was at the same time. Trout is much more of a lead-off hitter than Harper, so for Harper to be getting on base more should be a great indicator that by next year when he's in a more run producing spot in the order, that should translate to more RBIs.

Harper has also gone through a small adjustment period this season going 7-for-36 in mid-May, but has since made adjustments and went on to win NL Rookie of the Month for May.

The AL ROM for May? Mike Trout.

If he can continue on this upswing, it's not out of the question he could approach 20HR this season. Were he to maintain his OPS at this rate some sabermetric heads may explode.

He's capable of doing this, and Harper has earned the accolades of being a nose to the grindstone type player with Mt. Olympian level talent. Let's not underestimate what he can do. While Trout is further along developmentally and his skills are more easily transferable between the minors and majors, Harper is the one that can develop exponentially and has the look of a guy that maybe the expectations we set for him weren't quite enough.

The Funkman says: "What about Matt Moore?"

Looking for a Fight: TUF Live Finale

Jake Ellenberger (L) and Martin Kampmann add one of a couple meaningful bouts to TUF Finale.

The past couple of weeks have had it's share of ups and downs for the UFC. Let's start with their long-time ring girl/Playboy, Maxim, et al. model Arianny Celeste being arrested for domestic abuse. If you weren't intrigued already, then read about what actually happened. Now, I say this in jest as I'm assuming there was no ill will done to her by her very fortunate boyfriend (let's face it, every man and some women out there would happily take more than just a Christian Louboutin pump to the head for Arianny). But the image of her Rashad Evans-ing to his Scott Salmon-ing is just too full and rich to not conjure up in one's imagination. The details are still under wraps, but she is a very recognizable part of the UFC family. While Dana White has publicly stated his support for Arianny, this incident is certainly not something anyone expected.

That happened the night before an excellent UFC 146 card with plenty of finishes and exciting fights from the prelims all the way to the main event. It certainly lived up to the billing. The UFC got their next big heavyweight title fight, a rematch between Cain Velasquez, who bloodied, bloodied Antonio Silva in the battle of block heads. Then Junior dos Santos did his duties dispatching of Frank Mir who was replacing the banned Alistair Overeem. Plus, whenever you can mix in some Brock Lesnar news, that's a big win.

A day or two after, the current UFC light heavyweight champ and best chance to be the UFC's transcendent athlete Jon Jones plead guilty to DWI and crashing his Bentley into a telephone poll a couple of weeks back. For the fast rising Jones this was certainly the most formidable foe he has faced since partnering with UFC. Those Bud Light ads and Nike contracts might be harder to come by for the champ, but he is 24, and while that's not an excuse for driving while intoxicated for anyone, but when you're a millionaire, how about you designate a guy in your posse (whose life you're probably going to support so long as the funds don't dry up) to be the designated driver for the night. You get to drink and not mess things up for yourself and he gets to live high off your hog and drive a Bentley. Win-win.

Those ups and downs resonate with the first year of The Ultimate Fighter in their live format on their new channel FX. While the shows predecessor on Spike was puttering along, the thought was a move to Friday night and a live format would rejuvenate the show. While I thought there were a lot of positives from the move, the most glaring was probably having the show on a Friday night. I would catch up on DVR but the odds of me being home on a Friday to watch a couple of guys fight that I'd probably never see again is highly unlikely. Chuck Mindenahall probably doesn't even do this.

Overall the ratings were a tinge below what Fox and the UFC wanted, but it was steady, on a Friday, and hit the key demo of dudes. A couple tweaks moving forward and this could be a step in the right direction. Oh, and back to the ups and downs, TUF coach and bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz tore his ACL training for his fight against Urijah Faber in July. He's out for a year and an interim belt will be in play. So is life for the UFC.

What emerged from all of this outside turmoil is a finale between two Faber guys: Al Iaquinta (5-1-1) and Michael Chiesa (7-0).

TUF fights, from what I recall, typically have fast finishes. Not many barn burners, certainly not on the level of Griffin-Bonnar I. Iaquinta was the top pick and brings a strong striking and power game to the fold, while Chiesa uses his lanky frame for subs. The interesting thing will be to see how these fighters come out on Friday night. With the season being live, the conditioning and preparation of the fighters is different than years past where the show would wrap and they'd have months to work on their game and essentially get a full training camp in.

For whatever reason the #1 weakness of virtually every TUF contestant is cardio in the ring, and that is something they typically could work through during their camp. Without that, and without having to fight 3 rounds in TUF, this will be the red flag hanging over the match.

Where the series is perhaps going down it's weakest stretch is that the show hasn't produced an elite talent like it did in the early years. It's hard to pinpoint why this is. Is it a result of more organizations picking up these guys, is the current UFC competition too tough so these fighters get swallowed up, or are these guys just not as good? TUF is not the main way UFC recruits talent. They have scouts out there and buy up contracts of other guys that are already established. So with MMA growing as a sport, it's hard to imagine a lack of talent being available, but maybe this is just a lull before another wave of talented fighters re-fill a depleted pool of fighters that aren't good enough to get a job fighting as a pro right now.

I would expect another decisive finish within the first two rounds: Going with Iaquinta.

What is this Sport...Basketball?: The Ignant NBA Fan

Just like the Georgetown days, huh Roy? (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The allure of NBA basketball escapes me. I feel that the idea of the NBA as a major sports entity is one more conjured up by ABC and ESPN who have millions upon millions of dollars invested in it because it provides a lot of live sports for them to fill up their airwaves. I don't know any die hard NBA fans or anyone that would invite me over to watch the Sixers play the Bucks in January. It's a sport as lost upon me as NASCAR is in that I see the popularity, I hear the ratings, but I have no personal evidence to back up that if the NBA disappeared tomorrow anyone would care.

It's a sport that has built up some of the most marketable figures of our lifetime. Michael Jordan is the most famous athlete on the planet even years after he's retired and taken ownership of the worst NBA team ever assembled (seriously, when the team's own site is "hoping things work out at the draft" you know things are embarrassing). Kobe Bryant is a mega star in the biggest media market. LeBron James was a multi-millionaire before he even laced up his custom Nike's for his first NBA game. So there is an impression that the players leave, but unlike the game itself, I'll pass.

The reason these individuals are so easily marketed is that they appeal to a wide demographic (white, suburban, urban, country, Jewish, Asian, et al.) as virtually everyone plays basketball around the world in any economic environment, the players are in tank tops and shorts so they are easily recognizable, and their immense athleticism and ability to run, jump, and dunk is the perfect action to...ahem...jam into a 30 second commercial spot for shoes that can make you run, jump, and dunk better.

When I watch an NBA game (for the 3 minutes I can stand it, or for the last 2 minutes because that's all that matters) I don't see ballin' Baryshnikovs (reference: his ballet dancing, not his guest spot on Sex and The City) so agile and fleet a foot that all you can do is watch in awe. A sport that has spawned a million internet sites and 700 page books that was poetic about the sport like it's baseball. I see a sport that has all the makings of a team game, but is very much an individualized sport.

Now, I just so happened to read that 700 page book because I love sports and it was written by one of my favorite writers, Bill Simmons. So perhaps my title of Ignorant NBA Fan is a little misleading. I'm perhaps not ignorant as the word is defined, but maybe more ignant as the girls in grade school used to use it; "stupid" or "lame" or "rude" about my approach to the NBA.

The thing is, I don't dislike basketball. I enjoy some pick up hoops when everyone is as bad as I am. And I wildly enjoy college basketball. Going back to my ignance about the NBA, it's not that I'm just writing the sport off, but I have a rather clear explanation as to why I don't enjoy the NBA nearly as much as college. The reason is that while there is no doubt the skill level in the NBA is far superior, what makes interesting basketball is the teamwork involved.

In the NBA, my interpretation of the sport over the past 20 years is that you get one to two superstars and  a solid supporting cast and you win the championship. You don't have at least one superstar, you don't have a chance. The reason is that in this world where everyone in the NBA is crazy athletic and gifted, individuals can take over the game. Individuals can make things happen by themselves so long as the team can hustle on defense and make an occasional shot then you'd be in it.

College doesn't work that way. Not everyone is as talented. Less than 10% of the people on the floor at any given time in any given D-1 game will not be an NBA player. Individuals can alter a game, but they cannot take over a game. In college, teamwork is needed to set up shots, win the battles on defense, and have a continued success in the regular season and through the NCAA tournament.

The comparison between the two styles of basketball is important because basketball as a sport is more fun and exciting when it is a team sport. When Kobe has the ball and everyone clears out for him, hey that's fun in the dwindling seconds of a half, but when that is the offense, it's dull.

What has emerged through the first couple of rounds of these 2012 NBA Playoffs is that team sport has reemerged from the shackles of super teams and pure athletic greatness. As much as marketing firms, shoe companies, and the NBA want to highlight individuals, its the teams that are making an impact. These NBA playoffs have been won by teams that are more college and a collective than pro and apart a part.

Two teams in particular are the San Antonio Spurs and the Indiana Pacers.

The Spurs are in the midst of demolishing the Los Angeles Clippers after sweeping the Utah Jazz on a march to another championship that no one wants to see them in. In a strike shortened season it takes a great coach like Gregg Popovich to have the assertiveness to bench the likes of Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan in order to see the long-term vision for how this season would play out.

It's not terribly surprising to see the Spurs in this position as they are the top seed in the West and they have a lot of veteran guys with playoff experience. Of course, they are also doing their Spurs thing. Getting what they need out of their proven vets and roll players, but also turning late round picks and castoffs into integral rotation guys. Thiago Splitter (1-Top 5 best name in basketball), Gary Neal (1), Kawhi Leonard (R), DeJuan Blair (2) and Danny Green (2) have a grand total of 6 completed season under their belt. Or less than one half of a Duncan (14). Yet they all played key minutes and fit perfectly into what the Spurs want to do.

The are able to be a veteran team, but still have the athleticism and energy to keep up with the gunners. Now, that's not their game, but what they have mastered is ball movement. The ball will be flying all over the court, with relatively little running by players without the ball. It's all positional. What you see a younger, less experienced, and less coached team like the Clippers do is run all over the place trying to stop the ball, when all they are doing is playing right into the Spurs strategy.


In the East, the Pacers have gained more notoriety, especially after last night. They hold a 2-1 lead over the Heat and appear to be yet another out of nowhere hurdle in the path of LeBron James' first championship.

The Pacers quietly won the third seed and came on late after acquiring Leandro Barbosa. The team defense was always in play this season, and like most younger teams the Pacers were able to take advantage of the strike shortened schedule more than most.

Where they have been able to come out as more than just a grind it out defense is through Barbosa and George Hill (former Spur!) being more productive on the offensive end. While the team has their defensive anchors in the front court, the offense really moves through the gang of talented guards they have. None of which are over powering, but they are all able to function together.

With hardly anyone that could be considered a superstar, although maybe Roy Hibbert is on his way, the Pacers certainly don't have the chops the Spurs do, but they are able be a sum greater than their individual parts. Based on why I used to think about the NBA, where a LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were all you needed to win, this very concept of team is winning out.

There's still more basketball to play. The Spurs will most likely have to deal with one of those crazy athletic teams in the Oklahoma City Thunder in the next round and should the Pacers upend the Heat, they'll take on the East version of the Spurs in the Celtics. It's a tough road, but it's good to see teams that play hard and play together still have a shot in today's NBA.

I'll be watching...a little.

Looking for a Fight: UFC on Fuel 3

Looking for a Fight focuses on one particular fight during certain UFC events. 

"Zobified" Chan Sung Jung applying the rare twister submission to punching bag Leonard Garcia.

UFC on Fuel has finally gone a bridge too far. It was bad enough I had to miss the Brian Stann fight and Alex Gustaffson dominate in Sweden last time around, but now I have to miss Donald Cerrone and the Korean Zombie? Preposterous. I guess when you have every cable channel plus the sports package on Xfinity, that's still not enough.

In fairness to Cerrone, I was not a fan of his in his WEC days. Perhaps one of the greatest weaknesses of the WEC was their lack of ability (which I'm sure was driven by lack of funds and airtime) to build up the personality of their fighters. Anything you would learn about Urijah Faber or Anthony Pettis or Cub Swanson or Jose Aldo (I'm going to go ahead and refuse to acknowledge Jamie Varner in that group) at the time you had to figure out on your own. On fight night there would be the standard fight montage leading up to it, but again, this was only showing the in-ring abilities. Good for catching up the causal fan as to why one should care, but poor from dissuading the avid fan of one's preconceived notions.

The UFC does a great job of making their fighters marketable by showing their personalities, not just let their ring personas speak for themselves (something Rashad Evans should be thrilled about). While in WEC all I could think about Cerrone was, you're a cowboy, you wear a hat, we get it. But with UFC allowing Cerrone's personality to show you realize he's a daredevil crazy guy that is a big time thrill seeker. He's always out to fight the guy put in front of him, and I can get behind that. While things like a UFC title and winning are important to him, he admits he'd rather just fight so he can buy some jet skis. Even going so far as to say his lifestyle doesn't lend itself to longevity. Thinking you're immortal is one thing, but recognizing your mortality and not caring is another.

Aside from his weird ranch he owns with Leonard Garcia, everything I learned about the guy I liked. Along with his improved Muay Thai striking game at Greg Jackson's camp he's turned into not a favorite of mine, but a guy I always want to watch.What I look for out of a Cerrone fight is aggression and a need to finish things by KO or submission. Those bonus fight checks Dana White dishes out are pretty nifty.

He is must see fighting because he's exciting and, well, it's hard to avoid him. From December 16, 2010 the last WEC event to Tuesday night he has fought 7 times. He was 5-1 in 2011, losing his last fight in an odd performance where Cerrone was sluggish and out boxed by Nate Diaz. Some say injuries were involved, others that the continuous training and fighting just wore him down. Whatever the reason, Cerrone wasn't the same guy he was the previous 5 fights.

Assuming he gets back to his swashbuckling, bike flipping, and base jumping ways in the ring, he'll have a tough guy to bounce those strikes off of in Jeremy Stephens. Lil' Heathen stepped in to fight Cerrone after Yves Edwards had to pull out due to an injury. Stephens is no stranger to exciting fights. While only one of his previous four fights have ended in a finish (a 3rd Rd KO of Marcus Davis at UFC 125) he is constantly pressuring fighters and has a solid chin so he's not afraid to bang inside the Octagon.

While Cerrone was literally fast-tracking himself to a title shot before losing to Diaz, Stephens had a #1 contender contender match with poor Anthony Pettis. Pettis who was the actual WEC lightweight title holder when the company folded, and through a maze of injuries and rematches and draws finds himself injured and on the shelf until September with at least one more guy ahead of him in the pecking order should current LW champ Benson Henderson (whom Pettis beat and who also beat Cerrone twice) and former LW champ Frankie Edgar settle their business this Summer. Please, please no more lightweight rematches for a while.

Stephens lost a split-decision to Showtime and clearly has ideas of using Cerrone to get back up the LW ladder sooner rather than later.

OUTCOME


I'd really look for Cerrone and Stephens to set a high speed pace for the duration of the fight. While Cerrone has a stand-up advantage, there's no reason for Stephens to feel incredibly comfortable taking him to the mat either. Cerrone is quick on the ground with subs and also possesses violent up-kicks. Cerrone can definitely take Stephens out of his comfort zone and control how the fight goes down. My prediction is that this fight ends on the mat and Cerrone bails on a sub for a ground n' pound TKO in round 3.