Bleacher Report - Articles by Josh Sanchez

Fighter Spotlight: Mark Matthews

Josh Sanchez — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:06:33 -0500

Originally contributed to Sanchoplata.com

A goal here at Sanchoplata.com is to cover the latest news in mixed martial arts, but also to highlight some of the most interesting and competitive fighters in the game. Mixed martial arts is continuously growing, and you will find men and women from all over the world testing their skills in a ring or cage.

However, it would be hard to find a fighter who tests themselves as hard and as often as Mark Matthews.

Matthews is in his first year as a professional and after his fight on Dec. 12 at Gladiator Challenge: Chain Reaction, he will have already had six pro fights.

What makes this even more impressive is that Matthews has fought those six fights in three different weigh-classes.

“I've been fortunate to not take a whole lot of damage in that time,” Matthews said. “However, I have learned a lot about my body and what it takes for me to operate at an optimal level. I used to overtrain more than I wouldn't and that would be the area that would have me feeling a toll.I'd wake up some days completely physically and mentally drained because I was doing everything as fast and hard as I could, for hours at a time for consecutive weeks. There was a time that in a training month, I only took two days off.”

Staying healthy is very important to any fighter, but even more so when you are competing at such a frequent level. The ability to push through those injuries is also key.

“I haven't had an injury that forced me out of the gym.” Matthews added, “When something is hurt or injured, I just find a way to work around it or through it. I fought my last fight with an ankle injury that had me unable to even walk for a few days, as well as unable to grapple or spar at all for that fight.”

Pushing through that injury and not letting up, Matthews ended up with a very welcomed result.

“I found a way to still work, still fought, and came away with a very fortunate outcome. I KO'd an undefeated, game opponent with the first punch I landed of the fight. My training takes a greater toll than the actual fights themselves. “

Not many people can fathom waking up every day with the pain. The constant battle to push forward and always be willing to step up to a challenge. Fighting as much of a mental game as it is physical and Matthews has a great mindset and unbelievable heart.

“I'm never one to quit. I'm always willing to test myself, no matter how much the odds are stacked against me…to me, that's all these fights are, personal tests. How much can I endure? How hard can I push? What have I learned that I can utilize? You can gain a victory for yourself no matter what the outcome of the fight may be just through what you discovered about yourself during that fight. So, my outlook is pretty simple. It's not about whether you win or lose, instead it's all about the fight.”

The three weight-classes Matthews has fought in have been light-heavyweight, middleweight, and now welterweight for his upcoming bout.

“I knew that mentally I was tough enough to handle 205ers, but reality set in when Im giving up 20+ lbs to my opponents who train to do the same things I do.

“At 185, I felt stronger and faster than any of the 3 opponents I've faced. Even if they were more skilled than I in any particular area of the fight, my strength trumped it. This upcoming fight will be my first as a welterweight. So far, I feel good through the weight drop. I've lost a bit of strength, but gained speed and endurance. I am looking forward to gauging it during this fight.”

I asked Mark if he would be willing to fight in multiple weight classes after this fight or if he thinks he could possibly have a home in the welterweight division.

“I have fought at 205 to guys weighing much more than I, and I won't be fighting at that weight ever again. Depending on the opponent and amount of notice I am given, I am not ruling out fighting at middleweight in the future. But, my body seems to be at its all around best right now.”

Matthews realizes that at 6’3" and walking around at 190 that fighting at welterweight gives him some advantages.

“It makes the most sense to make 170 my home as it appears that would be the best chance I have to succeed. I feel that if I can do well against larger guys in the gym and in the cage, I'll do very well facing guys my weight that I have physical advantages over. Especially with the skill set that I am acquiring by training with the guys that I do.”

A huge part of motivation for Matthews is his family. He recalls the day of his daughter's birth.

“I'm in my front yard, punching on a heavy bag hanging from a tree in my front yard. I'm thinking to myself , ‘How can I bring my daughter into this world and have her grow and develop with a great sense of security and protect her from the world? Without sheltering her too much?’

"I started to think that maybe if she were to grow up through a childhood that saw me fighting and winning, it would give her a great sense of confidence and allow her to feel as if her Daddy could protect her from anyone or anything in the world.

“ I made my decision right then and there to get my ass into a fitness gym and begin conditioning myself. I did exactly that, and about a year later, I found the MMA gym that was a perfect fit for me at the time, UnderGround MMA in Jackson, CA. I began training there as well as at Ultimate Fitness in Sacramento simultaneously.

“I fell in love with the physical and mental challenges presented to me during my training immediately. These challenges motivated me and I've been in the gym ever since. Eventually, I moved into training exclusively at Ultimate Fitness due to the skill level of the other fighters there, as well as the elevated level of instruction there.”

Matthews stays busy even when not training. Apart from being a father and a fighter, he is a tattoo artist.

He is working on MMAInked.com which as he states, “It will serve as an Internet portfolio for myself, and I am also looking to make it an internet magazine that brings the worlds of tattooing and MMA together in as far as educating MMA fans and tattoo enthusiasts can go. I will do features on MMA fighters who have exceptional tattoos and the tattooers who tattooed them as well. I will also be doing features on the rare breed of tattooers who are MMA fighters also.

"Anything that I can do to bring these two worlds together through the medium of media will be done, while also educating fight fans on tattoos and artists, as well as educating tattoo enthusiasts on the world of MMA.”

You can currently check out some of his artwork on http://www.myspace.com/mmainked .

Mark plans on being a tattoo artist for the rest of his life and if he applies the same attitude towards that art as he does to his fighting art it is within his grasp.

He even shared some similarities between fighting and tattooing.

“One would be attention to detail. In tattooing, paying attention to technical detail goes a long way when applying a solid tattoo. Same can be said for technique in fighting. If you're not paying attention to detail, you're going to get a result that is less than your best when it is time to apply what you've learned.

"Another similarity is self-discipline. You have to take it upon yourself to do the things that make you a better tattooer or fighter. No one else can do it for you… No matter how much you master in either area, there is ALWAYS more to learn. To me, that is the most beautiful aspect of it all.

“I will be tattooing for the rest of my life. Just as I will be doing various mediums of art. I know that my body will only allow me to fight for so long, and I have a whole lifetime to focus completely on art after that. It is my plan to eventually be the most recognized and marketed tattooer in MMA. But, I have to earn that hype first,” Matthews said.

“ I want to be the guy that fighters as well as fight fans WANT to get tattooed by based on my talent level in the tattoo industry and involvement in the sport of MMA. I plan to do paintings, sell them as well as their prints, sell sketch books, and eventually launch a clothing line that appeals to both MMA and tattoo fans.”

Matthews is a great guy, a loving father, a determined athlete, and an exceptional artist. There isn’t much to not like about him. His story is unique and inspiring. The ability to constantly push ones self is not something that comes easy to everyone.

Matthews continues to show that he is a modern day warrior both in the cage and in life. He won’t ever stop trying and his love and passion drives him to success.

In closing, this is what Mark wanted to share:

“I would want everyone to know that I am just an average guy who isn't afraid to challenge myself on any level. That no matter what the result is, you can be assured I gave my best and my all in any fight. That I am appreciative of any support or encouragement that I have ever been given.

"I would want everyone to know that I do the things that I do so that I can help make my world a better place. That I am a continually growing work-in-progress and that you will always see a better me than the last "me" you saw. And last but not least, I would want everyone to know that I love my wife, Christina, and my beautiful children Sevena and Marcos...

In closing I'd like to thank my sponsors; WAR (www.warwrap.com ), OTM Sacramento (www.otmfightshops.com ), West Coast Nutrition (www.exnutrition.com ), New York Fitness (www.nyftyfitness.com ), Gunz Up Urban Fight Wear, and Striker Battle Gear.

Be sure to follow Mark Matthews and check out his next fight on Dec. 12 at the Red Hawk Casino. The event is Gladiator Challenge: Chain Reaction and his opponent is Robert Ballard. The fights start at 6pm and it is a 24 fight card.

For more on Mark Matthews, follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/MMAInked

UFC 106 Main Card Predictions: Expect Wins for Forrest Griffin, Anthony Johnson

Josh Sanchez — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:12:00 -0500

Originally contributed to Sanchoplata.com

Well, here it is. It is time to make the official predictions for UFC 106.

This should be a very fun card to watch with the return of Tito Ortiz against the always exciting Forrest Griffin in the main event.

Scheduled to air live at 10 p.m. on pay-per-view, the card also includes the promotional debut of "Lil Nog," former TUF winner Amir Sadollah, and a very important fight in the welterweight division between Josh Koscheck and Anthony "Rumble" Johnson.

Main event: Forrest Griffin (16-6) vs. Tito Ortiz (15-6-1)

Griffin will look to avenge his first loss in the Octagon, which many people thought he had won. When the two fighters first met three years ago, Ortiz walked away with his hand held high after a split-decision victory that was very controversial.

Since that fight, Griffin has stayed active and fought consistent competition while Ortiz has been on the shelf with a serious back injury and hasn't fought in over a year. I respect Ortiz for coming back, and he seems very humbled now with this new opportunity, but Griffin is the much better striker, and his grappling skills are incredibly underrated.

Furthermore, Ortiz will definitely have some cage rust that should prove to be his downfall. You need to be at the top of your game against a guy like Griffin, and Ortiz just isn't there yet. I expect Ortiz to gas out near the end of the second round and Forrest to capitalize.

Prediction: Forrest Griffin def. Tito Ortiz via submission (third round)

Josh Koscheck (13-4) vs. Anthony Johnson (8-2)

Josh Koscheck is used to overpowering opponents in the welterweight division. He is a very aggressive fighter who has thrown his wrestling on the back burner, as he now prefers to stand and bang with his opponents.

If he decides to use this strategy against Johnson, who has an edge in power and a huge advantage in reach, Koscheck will be going to sleep quickly. Koscheck needs to take this fight to the ground at all costs. Unfortunately for him, the fight stands on the feet and Johnson will come out quickly. Johnson will use his explosive striking to put Koscheck away early in this fight.

Prediction: Anthony Johnson def. Josh Koscheck via TKO (first round)

Amir Sadollah (1-1) vs. Phil Baroni (13-11)

It is obvious that Baroni has the advantage when it comes to experience. What that also means is that Baroni's time has come and passed.

Baroni still has a recognizable name, and that is being used against him in this case. Baroni has nothing left to offer, as evidenced in his last fight. He looks lost, and he prefers to display little to no defense.

Expect the former TUF winner Sadollah to have an impressive showing after he waited so long for his return to the Octagon in August only to have the fight ended on an early stoppage. I expect Sadollah to wear down Baroni, and when Baroni realizes he has nothing left on his feet, he will try to take the fight to the ground, where Sadollah will use his slick Jiu-Jitsu to grab his second win in the UFC.

Prediction: Amir Sadollah def. Phil Baroni via submission (second round)

Luis Arthur Cane (10-1) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (17-3)

The twin brother of MMA legend Minotauro Noguiera is making his UFC debut. "Lil Nog" is facing a very worthy and dangerous opponent in Cane in what is a favorite for Fight of the Night.

Cane has an advantage on the ground, but if Nogueira can get his hands on Cane and drag him to the mat, the fight enters dangerous waters. Noguiera has decent standup himself, so if the fight stays on the feet, he can hold his own; however, Cane has never really shown what he can do on the ground and could be overwhelmed by the world-class skill of a grappler like Nogueira. In a very entertaining fight, I think Lil Nog will do everything he can to start off his time in the UFC with a W.

Prediction: Nogueira def. Cane via unanimous decision

Paulo Thiago (11-1) vs. Jacob Volkmann (9-0)

This fight was originally on the undercard, but after the Karo Parisyan fiasco it was promoted to the televised card. Both of these fighters are incredible Jiu-Jitsu players, so I would expect a beautiful display of grappling. Of course, they could both try to stay away from each others strengths and turn the fight into a slugfest, but I expect the former.

This is a big step up in competition for Volkmann, who is also making his promotional debut. Thiago has gone 1-1 in his last two fights against top welterweights Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck. This experience should really favor Thiago, who is looking to rebound from his loss to Fitch. In a grappling clinic, Thiago should stay poised on way to victory.

Prediction: Paulo Thiago def. Jacob Volkmann via unanimous decision

Undercard Picks

Marcus Davis (16-5) over Ben Saunders (7-1-2)
Kendall Grove (10-6) over Jake Rosholt (6-1)
Brock Larson (26-3) over Brian Foster (9-12)
Caol Uno (25-12-4) over Fabricio Camoes (10-4)
George Sotiropoulos (10-2) over Jason Dent (19-9)

Brock Lesnar Will Be Fighting in Six Months

Josh Sanchez — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:58:39 -0500

Originally contributed to Sanchoplata.com:

Since Brock Lesnar first pulled out of UFC 106 people have been looking for answers. The more we found out, the more we noticed that Lesnar in much worse health than initially imagined. Lesnar has been living for over a year with a hole in his intestine and he finally had surgery to correct the issue.

UFC commissioner Dana White has said that Brock Lesnar will never fight again. Everytime he is asked the question he responds, "I don't know. We will have to wait and see." Wait no longer.

Brock's longtime friend and Jiu-Jitsu coach, Rodrigo "Comprido" Medeiros, said that Lesnar is "is getting better and that is the most important thing ... He will be fine and be fighting again within six months. I can just say that the heavyweights can stop laughing and get ready to start crying because the champion will be back soon."

Brock Lesnar has yet to release a statement on the situation himself, but his friends seem to be taking a hands on approach. A friend let the media know Lesnar was at home recovering from surgery , and now Comprido is saying Lesnar will in fact fight again.

Everything sounds positive, so let us hope there are no complications during recovery.

WEC 44 Main Card Recap: A New Champion Is Crowned

Josh Sanchez — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:39:49 -0500

This article was originally contributed to Sanchoplata.com

The WEC never disappoints and tonight was no different. In an action packed fight, we saw a handful of upsets and the crowning of a new champion.

Jose Aldo used his unbelievable Muay Thai skills and his unmatched speed to completely overwhelm the strong Mike Brown in the main event. We all knew that Aldo was an explosive striker, but his balance and takedown defense shined through, as he was able to keep the fight standing and pick apart the former champion.

Aldo seems to be the future of the featherweight division. He has won his last six fights by TKO or KO, and he hasn't recorded a loss since 2005. At only 23 years of age, Aldo has the ability to remain at the very top for a long time. His technical striking and superhuman speed will give any man in his division the fight of their life.

Both the Leonard Garcia vs. Manny Gamburyan and the Karen Darabedyan vs. Rob McCullough fights went to decision with Gamburyan and Darabedyan pulling out the victories.

Garcia came out quick and pressed the action early, but midway through the second round Gamburyan was able to score a handful of take downs. Gamburyan was able to control the fight in the final frame as he grounded out a unanimous decision victory.

Darabedyan made his promotional debut against the former lightweight champion, Razor Rob. Darabedyan was spectacular in his first WEC fight, as he let his hands go and walked away with a split decision win.

The other main card fight was a bout between Danny Castillo and Shane Roller. It was a back and forth fight. Castillo was in serious trouble late in the second-round as he was getting pounded on by Roller, but his heart and determination led him to the third round with a chance to win the fight. In the end, Roller prevailed as he sunk in a rear-naked choke at the 3:32 mark in the final round.

The WEC always puts on a good event. After this night of endless mixed martial arts action, one can only be even more excited for the Strikeforce Challengers Series on Showtime Friday night and UFC 106: Griffin vs. Ortiz II this Saturday on Pay-Per View.

What Did Carano vs. Cyborg Do for Women's MMA?

Josh Sanchez — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:49:12 -0400

One aspect of last night's event that should not be overlooked is: what did the fight do for women's mixed martial arts? The fight was ground breaking. It was full of action. But, did it benefit the sport in the long run?

I am not one to say that because Gina Carano lost that the women's MMA is dead [I actually laugh at that notion], but I don't think Cyborg's victory does anything for the big picture of the sport.

Carano was the face of the sport, yes her looks had a lot to do with it, but so did her skill and personality. I would imagine Strikeforce was pulling for a Carano victory. Not only was she the fighter they were hyping, but she is far more marketable.

If an organization is to succeed they need big personalities, they need people that the crowd can relate to and get excited about. It is a show, it isn't just a sport.

Dana White understands this fully and it is why the UFC has so much success. While a guy like Anderson Silva is the most exciting fighter on the planet, he isn't necessarily the biggest pay-per view draw.

The guys like Brock Lesnar, Forrest Griffin, and Rampage Jackson pull in the big viewing numbers. They have the perfect mix of skill and personality for the business.

When you look at the women's division there doesn't seem to be anyone on Chris Cyborg's level, which could be bad for the sport, but it won't kill it. Carano got us to where we are with women's MMA.

If it wasn't for Gina Carano, do you really thing a women's bout would have headlined the card? No. It wouldn't have and there likely won't be a women's headliner until Carano is back in the picture.

Cyborg doesn't appeal to the fans. She tried her best to win some over last night by signing as many autographs as possible, but as unfair as it may be her lack of English doesn't create the connection with American fans. It is the sad truth of the business.

Cyborg could be a fantastic champion, but as long as none of the fans are connecting with her, it won't really matter. No one will be compelled to turn on the television and see a Chris Cyborg fight.

While the women put on a good show last night, I think that it didn't improve or hurt the standing of their sport. It is at a stalemate. The sport has gotten as big as it can get for now, until they get a champion who draws in even more fans.

Gina Carano should be applauded to getting women's MMA to where it is, Chris Cyborg should be applauded for winning the title, but if women's MMA is going to continue to grow then Strikeforce needs Carano to come back stronger than ever.

This article was originally contributed to Latest Sports Gossip

Strikeforce: Carano vs Cyborg Recap

Josh Sanchez — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:31:41 -0400

This article was originally contributed to Latest Sports Gossip

Last night's event made history. It was the first time that a televised mixed martial arts event was headlined by a female bout. Gina Carano and Chris Cyborg did not disappoint as the fight was filled with nonstop action, for the one round it lasted.

In the main event that everyone had been waiting for, Chris Cyborg just overwhelmed Carano with her strength. You could see from the opening minute that Carano was trying everything to hold on.

The fight ended with one second left in the first round as Gina Carano curled in the fetal position and Cyborg continued to land power shot after shot onto Carano's head.

Cyborg was nothing short of dominant and she was rewarded with the first ever Strikeforce Women's 145lb Championship. Her next opponent is expected to be Marloes Coenen. The crowd was heavily for Carano so the result was disappointing in many fans eyes, but you can't fault the two women for putting on a great show.

Before the main event we got to see the emergence of a new star in the mixed martial arts world, Gegard Mousasi. Mousasi was the challenger for Strikeforce's Light Heavyweight Champ, Babalu Sobral. It was the first time that Mousasi has stepped into a cage at 205.

There was no doubt about who was the better fighter last night. Mousasi steamrolled Babalu and left him unconscious on the mat only a minute into round one. It is unbelievable how many people didn't know Mousasi before last night, but they will know the name now. At only 24, he has a lot of time left.

The other two fights on the televised card were finished before the closing bell as well. It is something the fans like to see. As UFC lightweight Kenny Florian would like to say, "do you like to see fights finished?!" Gilbert Melendez and Fabricio Werdum both took care of business in their fights and ended them.

Werdum opened the televised card against Mike Kyle and he only needed 1:24 until he showcased his jiu-jitsu skills and submitted the challenger. Strikeforce wanted to make sure you knew that Werdum is a heavyweight and he could potentially match up with their new golden boy Fedor in the future.

In the Melendez-Ishida fight, it was action packed. Melendez got a huge response from his home crowd and he rode that to victory. Ishida was persistent at going for the take downs and it almost looked like he wasn't looking to throw punches.

The strategy didn't work out for him as Melendez picked apart the Japanese start until he finally got Ishida to the ground and pounded him out.

It was overall a very entertaining card, like Strikeforce tends to put on. And oh yeah... they signed Fedor in case you didn't know.

Brian Bowles Shocks MMA World, Miguel Torres

Josh Sanchez — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:42:01 -0400

This article was originally contributed to Latest Sports Gossip.

Last night, Miguel Angel Torres walked into the WEC cage as a juggernaut in the bantamweight division. Most people expected him to go ahead and walk right through Brian Bowles and extend his win streak to 17 wins.

Bowles had different plans.

Torres had Bowles in trouble. He was chasing him down and had Bowles against the cage, until for one quick second he dropped his hands. Bowles landed a short right hook that shocked the mixed martial arts world. It dropped Torres right to the mat.

Torres seemed to be scrambling and holding on to little hope, but Bowles was relentless and kept unloading blow after blow until Torres was sprawled out on the mat unconscious. It was the first time that Torres knew what it was like to be on the losing end since November of 2003.

After the fight, Bowles said, "He had me rattled there pretty bad and I kind of recovered. I seen him coming in a little hard and just swung a good hook and hit him right on the jaw."

While many didn't think Bowles stood a chance, he had confidence in himself all along. "I was convinced that I could beat him," Bowles said. "I just stayed calm. I think other people get caught up in the [Torres] hype and are afraid of him. I wasn't worried about that."

While it is a setback for Miguel Torres, he isn't making excuses. "It's not a setback for my career, it's a new challenge," Torres said. "There's no excuses for what happens. It's going to be a good road back."

Bowles earned a $10,000 bonus for Knockout of the Night. Others receiving bonuses were Joseph Benavidez and Dominick Cruz for Fight of the Night, and Rani Yahya was awarded for Submission of the Night.

Women's MMA: A Potential New Star

Josh Sanchez — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:21:30 -0400

The Gracie family has always been a prominent force in the jiu-jitsu world. Carlos and Helio Gracie were two founders of the popular martial arts platform. Over the years, this technique has been developed further and is practiced by many fighters in the modern mixed martial arts world.

From Rickson, Helio, Carlos, and Cesar to Renzo, Royce, and Carlson, the Gracie family continues to stay on top.

An established, but unknown Gracie member is the beautiful Kyra Gracie. Kyra, age 23, is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and is the first female in the Gracie family to actively compete in the sport.

She trains at the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York along with the Gracie Barra Academy in Lake Forest, California, and Rio de Janiero, Brazil.

Her résumé is impressive. She is a five-time World BJJ Champion, with the most recent title being in 2008, a five-time Pan American BJJ Games Champion, and a two-time World Abu Dhabi Champion, and she holds even more titles.

There is no denying that this woman has some serious talent, and I think it's time to build a platform where she can shine across the nation.

There are few women who would be able to hold their own with Gracie; in fact, only two women are really that well-known: Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg.

Gina Carano, also known as “Crush” on American Gladiators, is known as the face of women's MMA and has helped bring the sport to the nation’s attention; however, it is time for a big organization to step up and take the reigns on women's MMA.

Dana White has acknowledged the talent and appeal that women bring to the game, and he has even been quoted as saying: “I think that Gina Carano is a real star. She’s beautiful, talented, and she’s a real fighter.”

White also went on to say: “I just don’t think there are enough good women fighters that you can start a division around them.”

That is the problem.

I would love for the UFC to take a risk and set up a tournament as a throw back to the original events. Bring in some of the most talented women from across the world and see how the division takes off. It's worth a shot.

With the sex appeal of Carano and Gracie and the skill and technique that they bring, it would be nothing short of entertaining, and it is about time the women's division gains notoriety.

The problem that we are having with women's MMA is the lack of discipline and respect for the sport.

I myself have stated on numerous occasions that I won't be able to fully respect the accomplishments and talent these women display until they have enough respect for their own opponents and the sport to make weight.

Women's MMA has big potential, Strikeforce's women's division is taking off. The upcoming match with Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg on August 15 will help the sport grow even more. The bout will be the second women's match to have five-minute rounds, and it is the first women's bout to headline a card.

So, attention women mixed martial artists: make weight, fight hard, and your sport has the opportunity to step into the spotlight. Until then, it will merely remain a spectacle. Carano and Cyborg, get out there and do battle.

Let’s get women's MMA the respect it deserves, and Strikeforce, bring in Kyra Gracie. You will increase the talent pool in the division, and she can give those top girls a run for their money.

Top Ten Pound-for-Pound Fighters in MMA

Josh Sanchez — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:16:05 -0400

The best pound for pound fighter. Lists like these always spark a debate. There is no exact science and that is why people can get overly offended and defensive when discussing such a thing. You have to look at the fighter's dominance in their own division. This isn't matching up guys saying who could beat who, it is just a list compiling the most dominant fighters in the sport, regardless of their weight. It is hard to pick ten, but enjoy the guys I have picked as the best mixed martial artists in the world. Honorable Mentions: Shinya Aoki (DREAM), Jake Shields (Strikeforce), Yushin Okami (UFC), Dan Henderson (UFC), Josh Barnett (Affliction), Shogun Rua (UFC), Rashad Evans (UFC), Jose Aldo (WEC)

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What They Aren't Telling You About Steroids

Josh Sanchez — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:09:45 -0400

A fact that has failed to be touched on during this steroid fiasco in baseball is this: Steroids don’t actually help you hit home runs.

To hit a home run you need proper hand-eye coordination and reaction time along with pitch recognition. Steroids do not affect any of these senses.

"Hitting a home run requires accelerating a bat from a stand still to over 70 to 110 feet per second in a few milliseconds. Such a feat requires rapid force generation that can only be supplied by fast twitch muscle fibers," according to Arthur De Vany from the Institute for Mathematical Behavioral Sciences at California Irvine.

What steroids provide is bulk.

In order to get bulging muscles you need a high volume of slow twitch muscles. Slow twitch muscles are counter productive when it comes to hitting steroids as if bulk. If you are bigger, you usually weigh more, which would take longer to get the weight moving and get the necessary acceleration for the ball to sail out of the park.

"Body building, and the slow twitch fiber composition that it produces, could not produce the power and speed that Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, and Sammy Sosa exhibited in their prime years," said De Vany.

Fast twitch muscles are directly related to speed. Just look at sprinters for an example. No other field of athletes has a higher volume of fast twitch muscles than these athletes who are strictly built for speed.

If a player is not naturally talented, steroids won’t change a thing. If you can’t see the ball, you can’t hit it. Steroids don’t help eye sight.

So why would players take steroids if they didn’t help hit home runs? The answer is simple, and it’s not one you will like. Steroids help the body recover, and over the course of a long season the players need that.

It still doesn’t make it right, but by no means is steroid use directly related to the incline in home runs.

Perhaps Major League Baseball should look at the decrease in ball park sizes. Maybe they should investigate the way new stadiums are built, such as Yankee Stadium, which is allowing home runs left and right.

People need to realize that baseball is just like any other sport. The records and numbers in baseball aren’t any more sacred then those of football, basketball, or hockey.

Records are meant to be broken, so quit trying to find excuses.

What It Means To Be a Pittsburgh Steelers Fan

Josh Sanchez — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:29:35 -0400

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most popular franchises in all of professional sports. Everywhere that Pittsburgh plays you can be sure of one thing, there will be yellow towels waving.

Steeler Nation is a force to be reckoned with. They are everywhere. The most rabid fan-base in the sport.

The Steelers stand for tradition.

The franchise has been in the same family since 1933. The Rooney family is well-known amongst the Pittsburgh natives and their willingness to accept everyone brings a unique family atmosphere to the fan-base.

When the steel industry collapsed, it let a lot of people feeling unsatisfied and hurt. People had lost their jobs and morale around the city was down. The Steelers filled the emptiness inside of those people and it brought them joy.

It is not every day that we can find an outlet or a way to cope with our struggles, but the Steelers family brings comfort. We know that every Sunday we can go out and root on our team that will play their hearts out.

In the late-'70s and early-'80s the Steelers were the class of the NFL. This helped rebuild the Steel City and it kept the hopes of their citizens alive.

One of the most overlooked aspects of the Steelers is that they are a small-market team. The city population is around 350,000 people, yet you see the Black and Gold represented everywhere.

The Steelers are an attitude.

Tough. Blue-collar. Hard-working. They bring this to the field every week. The Steelers aren't a finesse team. They get in there and do the dirty work. Pittsburgh struggles for every yard.

That is part of the reason why the team is so popular in all areas of the United States. Americans know the struggle. They know you have to work hard.

The Steelers attitude transcends country lines. Even south of the border people are waving the terrible towels.

People can relate to the team. There aren't any diva players who put themselves before the team. It is one cohesive unit, and that is refreshing to see in modern sports.

The Steelers give back.

A symbol of Steeler Nation is the Terrible Towel. The Terrible Towel is the heartbeat of a Steelers fan. The passion runs through our veins all the way to our fingers and it escapes through the waving of the towel.

You have to be at a game in Heinz Field to appreciate the beauty of what happens when everyone gets together. Everywhere you look, there is just a sea of yellow.

It envelopes the stadium and chills run down your spine when you catch a glimpse of this magical sight.

Apart from giving an incredible experience to football fans at football games, the Terrible Towel does much more.

Proceeds from buying a towel go directly to the Allegheny Valley School in Coraopolis, PA. It is in institution that provides care for over 900 people with mental retardation and physical disabilities, including the founder of the Terrible Towel Myron Cope's son.

In total the Terrible Towel has raised over $2.5 million for the school.

The Steelers are a family.

After everything I've mentioned, I'm sure you've realized how close knit the entire Steelers' family is.

Steelers football encompasses an entire city and it spreads across the entire world.

The team means more than just football to a lot of us. It is an escape mechanism, a charity, an attitude, a heartbeat.

Steelers football is a way of life.

Power Running Will Come Thundering through Pittsburgh Again

Josh Sanchez — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:38:29 -0400

Since the days of Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh fans have been clamoring for one thing—a hard nosed runner.

The Steelers are known for their physical play and bruising rushing attack, but since Bettis has left, no one has been able to fill the vacancy.

Willie Parker is a phenomenal back. He has had trouble staying healthy as of late and it may be related to him having to carry the ball between the tackles.

Pittsburgh drafted running back Rashard Mendenhall in 2008 in hopes of getting a back to share the load with Parker. Unfortunately, Mendenhall's rookie year was cut short after he suffered a season-ending injury at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens.

Mendenhall is poised for a healthy return this season, but contrary to popular belief, he is not going to be the bulldozer the Steelers need. He has the build of a power back, but his speed allows him to be a more well-rounded of a runner. Mendenhall's patience is what sets him apart from the rest.

In steps fifth round pick, Frank "The Tank" Summers.

Summers was born Sept. 6, 1985 in Oakland, Calif. and he has always been a force.

In high school, Summers played running back and linebacker. You can attribute his time on defense to his hard-nosed running style. Summers will not be one to shy away from contact. He instead is looking to lay the hit.

Summers was also a varsity wrestler and a three-year shotputter for his high school, Skyline.

Pursuing his collegiate football career, Summers enrolled at Cal University. Due to late enrollment at the university, he redshirted his freshman season in 2004 and later transferred to Laney Junior College.

He eventually become one of the top 100 junior college players where he was a two-time All-American. During his time at Laney, he set records for most carries in a game (48) and most carries in a single season (254).

He also set rushing records for the school for most yards in a game (280) and most rushing yards in a season (1,515).

After his time at Laney, he went on to play at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). At UNLV, Frank continued to add to his impressive resume.

In his first season, he led the team in rushing yards and touchdowns, while earning All-MWC honors. He ended his first season with the most rushing yards at UNLV since 2004.

He entered his senior season on the Doak Walker Award Watch List. For the second straight season, he received All-MWC honors.

That brings us to the present.

Summers blew away scouts at his Pro Day when he recorded a 4.55 40-yard dash and a 34.5 inch vertical leap despite his monstrous size (5'9", 245 pounds).

If it were not for a knee-injury that Summers suffered in the season finale, he likely would have been taken higher in the draft. It is rare that you find a guy with his size, speed, and power.

Summers will be used as a short yardage specialist and fullback for the Steelers. He will be a welcomed addition to the team and he also brings some versatility in the passing game. He will be able to line up as a blocker, but he also has impressive hands.

He did not drop a single pass at his eye-popping Pro Day.

Steelers fans are excited with the arrival of "The Tank," and they are hoping he can help restore a hard-nosed rushing attack that the team has been missing since Super Bowl XL.

The comparison is there. We all want to make it. Will he live up to the hype and become the "Junior Bus?" We will have to wait and see.

Until then, appreciate him for what he is. Frank "The Tank" Summers. Power rusher and Pittsburgh Steeler. The rest is up to him.

Five Plays That Led To Pittsburgh Steelers' Success

Josh Sanchez — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:10:12 -0400

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That is a quote that applies to multiple aspects of life. It is especially relevant in the sports world. Every team has their bread and butter plays that they will go to in specific situations during a game. The Steelers have a very traditional offense for the most part. They do inject a trick play or two to keep defenses off balance, but they often return to the running game and a play-action heavy passing game. On defense, the Steelers have a complicated scheme that keeps offensive linemen guessing. Coordinator Dick LeBeau is a 3-4 genius and he is always coming with creative ways to rush the passer. Inside this slide show I have five plays that make the Pittsburgh Steelers tick. These are plays or strategies that every fan will recognize and it is a key part of the Steelers success. Keep an open eye because you will see these plays again.

Begin Slideshow

Post-Draft NFL Power Rankings

Josh Sanchez — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:01:47 -0400

The free-agency madness has come and gone. NFL executives and coaches were crowded around their war-room table jostling for players they prefer. Pre-camp rosters are set, and it's time for an early look at who could be the NFL's best.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

It is hard to put the Steelers anywhere else heading into the 2009 season. They are the defending Super Bowl champions and have retained most key players from last year's run.

Pittsburgh's defense is going to be just as impressive and Mike Tomlin will keep this team hungry.

Until the Steelers suffer a disappointing loss in the season, they will remain at the top spot due to their quality leadership and playoff experience.

2. New England Patriots

Four words. Tom Brady is back.

New England will have their superstar quarterback under center again and that automatically qualifies them as one of the leagues best.

The Patriots consistently bring players out of nowhere to fill holes and their elite coaching always makes them an early season favorite.

In the off-season New England did nothing but improve their roster by adding rookies Patrick Chung, Ron Brace, and Darius Butler who can immediately contribute.

3. New York Giants

Bravo to the New York coaching staff and front office. They have done nothing but make this the best and deepest front seven in the entire league.

There are still questions regarding Eli Manning and whether or not he is a franchise quarterback, but the Giants put a perfect cast around him to succeed.

New York has a great running game even with the loss of Derrick Ward and as mentioned... their front seven is going to be a headache for anyone they play.

People will say that the Giants don't have an elite receiver, but rookie Hakeem Nicks will be more than effective with Steve Smith and fellow rookie Ramses Barden could be a monster in the red zone.

4. San Diego Chargers

San Diego was just another underachiever last season. They always have the talent to be amongst the leagues elite and this could be the year they finally get it all together.

There isn't much competition inside the division. If San Diego can handle business with non-division opponents than they should cruise to the playoffs.This will be where their real season starts.

Shawne Merriman returning will be a huge lift as will the addition of rookie Larry English and free-agent signee Kevin Burnett. Burnett was a very underrated acquisition. He is incredible dropping back into coverage and he adds top notch depth to the line-backing corp.

Last season everyone predicted big things from San Diego, this could be their year.

5. Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan needs to avoid a sophomore slump. If he plays as well as he did last season then the Falcons are an elite team in the NFC.

Trading for tight end Tony Gonzalez will do nothing but make that offense even more dynamic. Gonzalez will bring the receiving threat from tight end that Atlanta severely lacked last season. Pair that with emerging star Roddy White and the Falcons passing game could reach new heights.

The additions of linebacker Mike Peterson and rookies William Moore(S) and Lawrence Sidbury(DE) will also improve their defense. The line-backing corp did take a hit losing Keith Brooking and Michael Boley, but now they are a younger and fresher unit.

As long as they stick to their strong running game and they get the pressure from their defensive line, the team shouldn't suffer a let down and could find themselves improving on last season.

6. Carolina Panthers

Jake Delhomme returning was a good move regardless of what some may say. This team is built to go now and while Delhomme had a disappointing end to last season, the Panthers will come back strong.

They have the best running back duo in the league and with Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad on the outside, the offense is balanced and always a threat to put up points.

Don't underestimate the drafting of fullback Tony Fiammetta from Syracuse who will do nothing but improve the rushing attack and add a powerful goal line back to the mix.

On defense they brought in former Seminole, Everette Brown, to play across from Julius Peppers. Brown was one of the best pure pass rushers in this class and Peppers benefit from another force on the opposite side.

7. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens were one game away from reaching last year's Super Bowl.

Baltimore failed to add an elite receiver in this draft to help out second year starter Joe Flacco. As long as Derrick Mason returns healthy, he should do the job well enough to keep the Ravens in the playoff picture.

While the passing game may not be putting fear in the eyes of opponents, the running game should remain atop the NFL. Willis McGahee should be healthy entering the season, second year back Ray Rice adds versatility and tough running, and fullback Le'Ron McClain is the hammer.

The hammer on defense, Ray Lewis, has returned to Baltimore. Retaining Lewis was huge after the departures of Rex Ryan, Bart Scott, and Jim Leonhard from the defensive unit.

The Ravens should still have a strong defense. Anytime you have a guy like Ed Reed patrolling the secondary, a big play is only one step away.

8. Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia needed to keep up with the New York Giants and they did so with an incredible draft. Getting a steal like Jeremy Maclin in the late first round was a gift from above.

The Eagles may now have the most explosive wide receiving corp with DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, and Jeremy Maclin. To go along with Donovan McNabb's new toys on the outside, Philly brought in two new running backs --LeSean McCoy from Pitt and Lorenzo Booker from the Cardinals-- to make up for the loss of Correll Buckhalter.

McNabb will also have time to spread the ball to his new targets after the Eagles solidified their left tackle position when they brought in Jason Peters.

On defense the loss of Brian Dawkins will be huge, but free-agent signee Sean Jones and returning starter Quintin Mikell are both effective players who shouldn't miss a step.

Philly added cornerback Ellis Hobbs during the draft to improve among their already impressive stable of defensive backs to take that defense to the next level.

9. Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis could be in for a serious let down this season after losing head coach Tony Dungy and offensive line coach Howard Mudd. Those two have been key members of the staff and were a large part of Peyton Mannings success.

Marvin Harrison was also released, but this shouldn't have as big of an impact because Marv appeared to be on the downside of his career.

The Colts beefed up their defensive line when they drafted Fili Moala and Terrence Taylor at defensive tackle and their secondary looks just as impressive as ever.

Indianapolis could rely on a more balanced running game this season since they have three solid backs, Joseph Addai, Mike Hart, and Donald Brown. This would be a new look to the Colts offense, but it could help them be one of the AFC's last teams standing in 2009.

10. Minnesota Vikings

While there isn't a clear resolution to the Brett Favre situation in sight, the Vikings are still one of the best in the NFL. They have the best running back in the game and a superior run defense.

This is a formula that has been proven to work over the years.

Adrian Peterson should be able to keep this team in the playoff picture single- handed. If Tavaris Jackson could keep playing at the level he was at near the end of the season, he will win the starting job and be a good enough quarterback to get this team in the postseason.

If Favre is to join the team, they automatically jump right up with the Giants as the NFC's best. If he stays at home with his tractor, the team has enough talent to be a force.

11. Tennessee Titans

A lot of people think that the Titans could crumble after the loss of Albert Haynesworth. Don't be so quick to assume.

They added Jovan Haye and Auburn standout Sen'Derrick Marks this offseason. Add these guys to Jason Jones and Tony Brown, and the Titans have a great rotation at defensive tackle who should more than make up for the loss of Big Al.

On offense they return to rushing duo of "Smash and Dash." Chris Johnson will be looking to improve on his 1228 yards and 9 TD's from his rookie season. Tennessee added some weapons at wide receiver that should allow him to see more open room.

Nate Washington and Kenny Britt will step in at receiver and automatically be better than what the Titans had last season. As the slot receiver Washington had just as many receiving yards (631) as the Titans former No. 1 receiver, Justin Gage (651).

Washington will be able to stretch the field and Britt, who has been compared to Terrell Owens on the field, will provide a big physical wide receiver for Kerry Collins.

12. New York Jets

Getting Rex Ryan to be the new head coach was a brilliant move in New York. He is immediately changing the attitude of the team. Bart Scott has described the Jets as a "swaggerlicious" team and said that they will be "violent."

New York made the biggest splash in the draft when they jumped up and grabbed USC star quarterback, Mark Sanchez. Sanchez has already gained some respect among the team's veteran players and he seems poised to win the starting job.

If it were not for the collapse of Brett Favre last season, this team could have made a deep run. Sanchez should be able to step in and play game manager while handing off to Thomas Jones and the electrifying Leon Washington.

The defense looks to be strong and that will just help to keep even more pressure off of Sanchez.

13. Dallas Cowboys

Last season at this time people had the Cowboys penciled in as the NFC representative for the Super Bowl. How things have changed.

After a season of locker room turmoil and off the field distractions, Dallas is entering the season with a new approach. They are looking to have more chemistry in the locker room and after cutting Terrell Owens and Pacman Jones, they seem to be headed in the right path.

It's time for Roy Williams to step up and be the big time receiver Jerry Jones expected him to be. Dallas will also need some production from youngsters Miles Austin and Sam Hurd.

Defensively they are still one of the NFC's best. They added Igor Olshansky and Gerald Sensabaugh for much needed depth as long as bringing in former Falcon Keith Brooking to start at middle linebacker.

DeMarcus Ware will need to have another big season and Tony Romo will have to show he is the main guy. He doesn't have any excuses now.

Don't be surprised if the Cowboys turn to a strong rushing attack with their three-headed monster at running back, Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice.

14. New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees is a top five quarterback in the NFL. His talent along with Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey, and last season's breakout wide receiver Lance Moore makes this one of the league's best offenses.

Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush will share the load at running back.

The defense is always the weak point for the Saints. Rookie defensive back Malcolm Jenkins will be a huge help. He brings incredible ball skills and elite zone coverage ability to a secondary that has lacked much talent for the past years.

Darren Sharper also adds talent to the secondary and the team is on its way to turning things around.

15. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins really burst onto the scene last season and surprised a lot of people. Bill Parcells and Tony Sporano put together a fantastic off-season and really changed the mindset down in Miami.

Chad Pennington proved to the Jets that they had made a mistake in choosing Favre over him, and the Dolphin took the NFL by storm with their new "Wildcat" phenomenon.

Parcells just brought back Jason Taylor to add another much needed pass-rushing linebacker. In the process they stole a second round draft pick from the Redskins in the masterful deal.

Pat White is an intriguing draft pick. No one is sure how often he will be used, but it appears as if he will be utilized in the "Wildcat" formation. Miami should once again be one of the league's most exciting teams.

16. Arizona Cardinals

It is not often that you see a Super Bowl team rank in the middle of the pack following their appearance, but the Cardinals defy all logic. They were widely regarded as the NFL's worst playoff team last season, yet they appeared in the big game.

The loss of multiple coaches and the unhappiness that seems to grace their locker room could really have a negative impact on the team.

Kurt Warner is nearing the end of his career and perhaps he gave it his all last season. They will be an interesting team to follow. No one knows what to expect.

17. Chicago Bears

The Bears traded a fortune for quarterback Jay Cutler and they need to hope the move pans out. I'm a little skeptical with the move because the team still has no offensive line and no well-known commodity at wide receiver.

Devin Hester will be brilliant in the slot, but I don't think he is NFL starting receiver caliber. Juaquin Iglesias was drafted and he has the potential to develop into a strong target, however, I expect Greg Olsen to be the teams leading receiver.

As long as the defense plays well, the team has a chance to make a splash in the NFC.

18. Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks will most likely have a healthier season than they did last year and anytime you are in the NFC West you have a chance.The addition of Aaron Curry was incredible and grabbing Max Unger in the second will help improve their line.

Curry is ready to step in and contribute immediately. He joins LeRoy Hill and Lofa Tatupa and the group could automatically be one of the leagues best.

Matt Hasselbeck will return healthy and he has new target TJ Houshmandzadeh to toss the ball to. As well as Houshmandzadeh, the Seahawks have one of the best young tight ends in the league, John Carlson.

Carlson will help Hasselbeck get comfortable as he returns from injury and the Seahawks will no doubt have a better team than they did last season.

19. Buffalo Bills

Terrell Owens will help Lee Evans continue to be one of the league's best deep threats. If Trent Edwards can play like he did in the early part of the season the team could have an explosive offense. If he performs like he did in the second half of the season, they will have an explosive locker room.

Buffalo added Penn State sensation Aaron Maybin to help boost their pass rushing ability. Fellow Penn State alum, Paul Posluszny, could be poised for a breakout season and the two could take the Bills defense to another level.

The Bills have the talent; they are just a year or two away from being serious contenders.

20. Houston Texans

The Texans have had a great off-season. They addressed their biggest need at right defensive end when they signed free-agent Antonio Smith and drafted Cincinnati's "Mr. Versatile" Connor Barwin.

They addressed their other big need at strong-side linebacker with first-round draft pick Brian Cushing.

On offense this team has one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, Andre Johnson, and a future star running back in Steve Slaton.

If Matt Schaub can stay healthy the offense is as explosive as it gets and they could finally be the breakout team that we've expected for years.

If Schaub continues to be injury prone, in comes Dan Orlovsky and away goes any chance they have this season.

21. Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers filled in great as Brett Favre's replacement last season. The reason the team didn't reach the playoffs was their poor defensive play.

The team did add Clay Matthews Jr. and nose tackle BJ Raji, but the transition to the 3-4 defense will take a little while.

With new faces scattered throughout their line-up and the learning curve for learning a new scheme, the Packers will have a rough start to the season and will fall short of the playoffs for a second consecutive year.

22. Washington Redskins

Washington overpaid for DeAngelo Hall and Albert Haynesworth.

The acquisition of Haynesworth looks good on paper, but he has been known to not play hard when the money is there. The Redskins will have to keep Haynesworth motivated and that is easier said than done.

They did bring in Brian Orakpo who was one of the highest rated defensive ends in the draft, but he has also been compared to Vernon Gholston who was a non-factor in his rookie season.

There are questions as to whether Jason Campbell is the guy for Jim Zorn, and most signs point to a non-trustworthy relationship.

Washington tried everything possible to get rid of Campbell this off-season, but they weren't able to succeed.

The Redskins could very well implode this season.

23. Cincinnati Bengals

Anytime you have a franchise quarterback like Carson Palmer you should be in the running for a title. Unfortunately the Bengals have been injury plagued and never really have had any form of leadership.

Palmer is coming back healthy and hopes to start turning things around.

The Bengals had a great draft when they grabbed Andre Smith, Rey Maualuga, and Michael Johnson within the first three rounds. The team also drafted former Missouri standout Chase Coffman who should be to Cincinnati what Dallas Clark is to Indianapolis.

Smith, Maualuga, and Johnson were all first round talents but they fell due to minor concerns. Smith showed up out of shape and had an awful combine, Maualuga has questions concerning his ability to cover, and Michael Johnson has a motor that shuts off too often.

With good coaching these guys could turn into great NFL players. The Bengals just need to dig deep and find that coaching.

24. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs new regime is off to a hot start. They bring in their quarterback of the future with Matt Cassell and they bring in veteran leadership with Mike Vrabel and Zach Thomas.

The one issue with the team is that they traded Tony Gonzalez. Matt Cassell has all of the talent, but Kansas City traded away his security blanket.

Kansas City could be on their way to turning things around; it just may be a few years away.

25. Denver Broncos

Josh McDaniels came in and screwed things up for Denver. They had a young franchise quarterback and a prolific offense. The first thing he does is come in and completely change the offense while driving their franchise quarterback out of town.

The Broncos entered the season with Jay Cutler as their starter and they will go into camps with Kyle Orton and Chris Simms in a battle. The talent drop off is obvious.

Give credit where credit is due though. They brought in a great veteran leader in Brian Dawkins. Even with that signing the defense still has a lot of holes.

It could be a long season in Denver and the fans that haven't already turn on McDaniels could soon turn on him.

26. San Francisco 49ers

Mike Singletary is working hard to turn things around in the bay. Singletary is on his way to changing the attitude and culture, but the team is a few years away.

They have no proven quarterback and there are holes all over the roster.

Michael Crabtree was a great draft pick and he could be a franchise wide receiver, now they only need a quarterback to get him the ball.

If they get a QB to go with running back Frank Gore and Crabtree, then the offense has a solid young corp.

Go get that QB San Fran.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This team was absolutely gutted. They no longer have a quarterback, defense is depleted, and they have a rookie head coach.

It is clear that Tampa Bay is rebuilding and if they choose to go with Josh Freeman, who isn't NFL ready at all, they will fall flat on their faces.

The only hope for Tampa Bay to not have an embarrassing season is to start Byron Leftwich. Even if Leftwich is the guy, the Bucs will rank among the leagues worst in all categories.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars

They have an awful offensive line. To make matters worse, they cut Fred Taylor and now will have Maurice Jones-Drew as their featured back.

MJD is a very good change of pace back, but I think he will end up injured if he's given the main load.

There aren't many weapons for this team on offense. David Garrard is an okay starter, but they could absolutely upgrade at the position and they have no real threat at tight end.At wide receiver, while they did bring in Torry Holt the cupboard is relatively bare.

Jack Del Rio is likely in his last "hoorah" as a head coach in Jacksonville.

29. St. Louis Rams

They had a great draft. Orlando Pace's replacement is now Jason Smith and he is an incredibly athletic lineman with unlimited upside.

St. Louis is the team that I think could make the biggest jump in rankings during the season.

30. Cleveland Browns

They have a new coaching staff and no real quarterback.

To make matters worse for whoever their quarterback may be, their No. 1 receiver wants traded and the No. 2 guy is facing vehicular manslaughter charges.

On defense they have a lot of Mangini's old guys coming in, unfortunately the guys won't make a significant impact immediately.

It will be a long and bumpy road in Cleveland this season.

31. Oakland Raiders

Al Davis raised eyebrows again when he reached for Darrius Heyward-Bey and Michael Mitchell on the first day of the draft.

Heyward-Bey is a pure speedster with suspect hands and he has never been asked to run an NFL route. In his first rookie camp, Heyward-Bey pulled his hamstring. That's an awful start for their number one pick.

Until the Raiders get rid of Al Davis it is hard to ever see them succeeding.

JaMarcus Russell needs to prove he is more than a physical specimen. It is time for him to show intelligence and that he is a capable starter in the league or else Jeff Garcia will be ready to jump in.

32. Detroit Lions

0-16.

They have a rookie coach, rookie quarterback, and they failed to address their major needs in the draft.

The Motor City will likely host the NFL's worst team again this year.

These Ten Fights Would Be As Good As It Gets For MMA

Josh Sanchez — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:58:22 -0400

Every mixed martial arts fan wants a chance to play match maker. We all dream up matches in our head that would take the sport to new levels. After thinking long and hard, I have come up with ten fights that be both entertaining and possible. While it is hard to just go by paper to match up a fight, every one that I picked would have relevance and excite the sport's community. I didn't use any gimmick fighters. No Roy Jones Jr. No Kimbo Slice. Only legit mixed martial artists who have a place and this sport and who can take this sport even further into the mainstream. We all know the names like Anderson Silva and Fedor Emelianenko we would love to see have a real battle, but who could match up against them and create enthusiasm while still impacting the sport's rankings. Honorable Mentions: Joachim Hansen vs. Gesias Cavalcante II Martin Kampmann vs. Nick Diaz Wagnney Fabiano vs. Satoru Kitaoka Joseph Benevidez vs. Takeya Mizugaki

Begin Slideshow

Five Breakout Stars for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009-10

Josh Sanchez — Tue, 12 May 2009 12:09:09 -0400

Every season a team has holes to fill and unproven guys who are expected to step up. These players are an unknown commodity throughout the league, but the faithful fan base knows their names. The Steelers will have some new faces sprinkled throughout their starting lineup after a Super Bowl victory. It is essential for these guys to step up if Pittsburgh has a chance to return to glory. Last season guys like LaMarr Woodley and Mewelde Moore really stepped up their game. Both were key members of the Steelers success. Woodley made himself known as a terror coming off the left side of the defense across from Defensive Player of the Year, James Harrison. Woodley's presence was a big factor in Harrison's monster season. Mewelde Moore filled in brilliantly when both Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall went down with injuries. He allowed the Steelers to stick with their game plan and continue to run the ball. Moore's presence also allowed WIllie Parker to not rush his return. In return, Parker was fully healthy come the playoffs and his fresh legs were on display. So which players could break out for the Steelers this season? If the injury bug hits the team or for whatever circumstance they are called upon, which players will answer the call? I've picked five players who could make a big impact for our 2009 version of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Begin Slideshow

Buckle Your Chin Straps: An AFC North Preview

Josh Sanchez — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:53:43 -0400

The AFC North produced the last two teams standing in last season's AFC playoffs. This year either Cincinnati or Cleveland will have to step up their game if they want to prevent this from being another two-horse race.

When the teams in this division meet, there is no shortage of big hits and heated words. The AFC North has some of the biggest rivalries in the entire league; a lot of this has to do with the teams close proximity to each other.

You will not find another division that has their teams and fan bases so close together. This truly makes for a one of a kind atmosphere at every game. There will fans from both sides filling in to the stadium and tailgating, and there will be no shortage of trash talk.

There are some intriguing story lines within the division this season.

Who will be the Browns starting quarterback? Will Joe Flacco suffer a sophomore slump for Baltimore? How will Carson Palmer follow up an injury plagued season? And quite possibly the biggest and most relevant question league-wide, how will the Steelers follow up their Super Bowl season?

Cleveland was a colossal disappointment last season. Many experts and fans alike had them as the trendy up and coming team on the NFL landscape. It didn't take long for everyone to realize that perhaps this was a few seasons premature.

They really never had any stability at the quarterback position and with a new regime both Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson could be seeing their time in Cleveland coming to an end.

In Cincinnati, they never really had a chance to get anything rolling; anytime that your franchise quarterback has an issue with his throwing arm, it is going to be a long season. The Bengals has the offensive talent and promising young stars like Keith Rivers, but they will need to pull everything together if they want to make an impact this season.

The two teams who produced epic battles game in and game out last season were the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Baltimore was lead by rookie sensation, Joe Flacco, and they really surprised people with the direction their team headed. Flacco has added much needed stability to the team and a strong arm quarterback, with accuracy and leadership, which Baltimore has really never had.

As for the Steelers, we all know how their season ended. Santonio Holmes did his toe tap in the corner of the endzone as Pittsburgh became the crème de la crème of NFL franchises, with their record six Lombardi Trophies.

Pittsburgh has a lot to live up to this season.

Let us take a closer look to each of the AFC North's teams:

Baltimore Ravens:

Offense: Baltimore has kept together the key members of their deep playoff run from last season. Quarterback Joe Flacco should improve even more this season and the running back combination of Willis McGahee, Ray Rice, and Le'Ron McClain should be key contributors again.

Their offensive line did lose center Jason Brown, but he will be replaced by perennial pro-bowler and former Minnesota Viking, Matt Birk.

Baltimore also adds first-round pick Michael Oher to the offensive line. Oher is an experienced player who has is brutal when it comes to run blocking and he has impressive footwork.

One big surprise was a move that was not made. Baltimore still lacks an explosive, go-to-guy at the receiver position. Derrick Mason will be their number one guy again. He was hampered by injuries last season and isn't getting any younger.

It looks like they have all of the pieces in play to return to the power running game this season and keep Joe Flacco in the game manager role.

Defense: This is the biggest concern for Baltimore. They not only lost Rex Ryan to the Jets, but also middle linebacker Bart Scott who brought a lot of attitude to the team.

Defensive end Marques Douglas and safety Jim Leonhard joined Scott in New York and Baltimore parted ways with long-time corner, Chris McAllister.

Middle linebacker now looks like a weak spot on this team. Outside of Ray Lewis it appears that second-year player Tavares Gooden will get the start. Gooden has the talent to be a key player, but I don't think Baltimore was expecting feeding him to the lions so soon in his career.

You can never count out a defense that has Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. While there are those new faces, expect the same attitude and hard hitting mentality that has made Baltimore the NFL force that it is.

Prediction: 10-6, 2nd in the AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals:

Offense: Losing TJ Houshmandzadeh may have been the biggest loss for the Bengals this offseason. Not only is Carson Palmer returning from a serious injury, but now he has to do so without one of his top weapons. Cincy did add Laveranues Coles to the wide receiving corp and as long as Chris Henry can steer clear of his troubled past, they will have a very respectable corp.

Cedric Benson was a pleasant surprise at running back. Not many people were knowing what to expect after his disappointing stint in Chicago, but he really showed up when the Bengals needed him. He proved that he can be a workhorse and feature back in this league.

In order to keep Palmer healthy, a lot will rest on the young offensive line. First-round pick Andre Smith will need to show that he is dedicated to the game and Anthony Collins has continually improve.

One of the biggest additions Cincinnati made this offseason may have been drafting Chase Coffman from Missouri. He is the receiving threat that they have long needed at the tight end position and he should be able to beat out free-agent bust, Ben Utecht.

Overall, the talent is there. It is just up to the coaching staff to keep this unit rolling and put up points to help with their defense.

Defense: The Bengals got excellent value with their second and third round picks in this years draft when they signed linebacker Rey Maualuga and defensive end Michael Johnson.

Maualuga was a projected first-rounder. He dropped due to concerns of his coverage ability, but expect the coaching staff to come up with a way to hide his weakness.

Maualuga is a huge hitter and a powerful force that will be welcomed in the middle of that defense.

Michael Johnson is a physical freak with unlimited potential. He was being considered by the Buccaneers with their first-round pick, but after they passed he fell to the third round.

Johnson is one of the best natural pass rushers from this class. He needs to bulk up and become a more consistent force. If he does those things, Johnson will be a superstar in this league.

These two rookies will be key members of a young and improving defense. Keith Rivers was on his way to being Defensive Rookie of the Year, until his broken jaw and the Bengals have two young, impressive corners.

I expect this defense to really come on and surprise people this season.

Prediction: 7-9, 3rd in the AFC North

Cleveland Browns:

Offense: Cleveland has the farthest to go out of any AFC North team. They have no clear starter at quarterback and that is only where their troubles begin.

Braylon Edwards wants out of town and Donte' Stallworth is facing serious legal issues.

If Edwards gets traded nad Stallworth misses significant time, that would leave the Browns with a stable of unproven receivers, Mike Furrey, and Josh Cribbs. Cribbs is an electrifying return man and a spark to the offense. He just isn't effective as a pure receiver.

Whatever quarterback gets the starting nod, whether it be Quinn, Anderson, or long-shot Brett Ratliff, will have a rough going this season. All are relatively unproven. Pair that with an inexperienced receivng corp and no real threat at tight end, after trading Kellen Winslow, and Cleveland could be in for a rough offensive season.

Give the Browns credit though. They made some offseason additions to their offensive line and got a great player in the first round, center/guard combo Alex Mack.

Defense: One of the brighter spots on Cleveland's roster would have to be the defensive line. Shaun Rogers had a solid first season in Cleveland, and as long as they can keep him motivated he will continue to be a strong anchor.

New head coach, Eric Mangini, has also brought a handful of his former Jets' players to the team. Defensive end Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam, linebackers Eric Barton and David Bowens, along with corner Hank Poteat.

D'Qwell Jackson is a tackling machine at middle linebacker and paired with new teammate Eric Barton the two could be an impressive duo.

A position the Browns failed to effectively address was outside linebacker. Kamerion Wimbley hasn't been the most devastating pass-rusher and across from him David Bowens is slated as the starter.

This was a great year to pick up a 3-4 pass rusher, but Cleveland failed to do so. They did draft Hawaii's David Veikune in the second round, unfortunately that was a huge reach.

Mangini has added players who are familiar with his system, so the unit should be okay. It just won't stack up to the division's elite.

Prediction: 5-11, 4th in the AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers:

Offense: The Steelers offense will once again depend on the play of their offensive line. Fortunately for the Steelers, they have a quarterback who does not need top notch protection, but you cannot have him constantly running for his life.

The team has a strong group of running backs returning. Willie Parker looked great when he came back from his injury at the end of last season and Mewelde Moore was a pleasant surprise to all fans.

On top of Parker and Moore, the Steelers will hope to have last year's first-round pick, Rashard Mendenhall come in healthy and contribute.

The biggest loss for the offense was speedster Nate Washington. Washington brought the ability to stretch the field from the slot and now it will be up to Limas Sweed to fill in.

Sweed didn't have the best rookie season, but he has the talent to develop into a productive receiver. Sweed needs to bring his A-game though, because he will be facing stiff competition from rookie Mike Wallace and newly signed veteran, Shaun McDonald.

The offense shouldn't lose a step from last season's form. Expect them to come at you again with a strong running game and spectacular play by one of the NFL's elite, Ben Roethlisberger.

Defense: The heart and soul of Pittsburgh is Dick LeBeau and the Steelers' defense. Last season's Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison will return with a new contract and he will look to improve upon his 16 sacks from last season.

Harrison's return will do wonders for up-and-coming star LaMarr Woodley. Woodley recorded 11.5 sacks last season and he is only getting better.

Pittsburgh suffered minor losses on the defensive unit. Inside linebacker Larry Foote was recently cut, but he was slowly losing playing time to Lawrence Timmons who was poised to win the starting job even if Foote returned.

The biggest loss would be cornerback Bryant McFadden. His shoes will likely be filled by a favorite of the coaching staff, William Gay. The Steelers' secondary has a physical attitude thanks to All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu. Expect this season to be no different.

During the draft the Steelers added quality depth with defensive lineman Ziggy Hood and cornerbacks Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett. None of these players will be expected to immediately contribute.

The Steelers defense remains intact and they will be feeding off of last year's momentum. I would be surprised if big things were not achieved from this unit once again.

Prediction: 12-4, 1st in the AFC North

Interview with the Veteran Voice of the Octogon: Bruce Buffer

Josh Sanchez — Sun, 10 May 2009 10:29:19 -0400

This interview was originally conducted by me for FanIQ.com

“Ladies and Gentleman, We are live!” These are all words you have heard before if you are a fan of the UFC and mixed martial arts. Bruce Buffer is widely known as the “veteran voice of the octagon,” but he is also a very successful business man and entrepreneur.

An avid fan of the sport, Bruce has a unique insight and he took the time to answer a few questions regarding the UFC, World Series of Beer Pong, and many more topics. Enjoy!

Josh Sanchez: How did you first get the gig as an announcer for the UFC?

Bruce Buffer: I managed a fighter into UFC 8 in Puerto Rico and before I left for the trip I called and convinced the owner to let me announce the preliminary fights and told him I was packing my tuxedo and would be ready to go, to which he agreed... then I didn't get called back until UFC 10.

I didn't hear from the UFC until I was asked to play myself on the TV show FRIENDS as the UFC announcer and it was there on the set while filming that I convinced the owner that I should be the announcer for all the UFC's and he agreed.

Sanchez: What has been the biggest change in the UFC since you’ve been around?

Buffer: The biggest change is that it has gone from "Spectacle to Sport" and it is now mainstream with people beating the doors down to do business with the UFC due to it being the fastest growing sporting brand and event in the world.

Hearing the fighter’s names becoming household names is amazing. It has been a true evolutionary process for all of us and it is not over yet.

Sanchez: Any fights that you were present for that absolutely stand out?

Buffer: I've forgotten more than I can remember as I've pretty much seen them all...I need to write my book so I can remember all the great experiences I've had over the years, not just in the UFC but many other adventures elsewhere also.

Sanchez: What fight are you most interested in seeing in the future, and what do you think the fans want?

Buffer: I would enjoy seeing GSP [Georges St. Pierre] fight Anderson Silva, and I am really excited about Silva vs. Forrest in August. Many fans would like to see Fedor in the Octagon, as I would too, but I don't feel his entering the Octagon will add significant increased commercial success to the UFC beyond what it has.

I think it is much better for Fedor to be in the Octagon to help make him a household name to the UFC fans.

Sanchez: How did you get the habit of quickly turning to each fighter before announcing their name?

Buffer: It's blows me away how much attention there is to the way I move in the Octagon when announcing as I've been moving this way for years.

I hate to stand still and announce like everyone else...this is the UFC, the greatest event in sports and deserves the most excitement that can be generated when announcing these great main events that happen in the Octagon.

One night a few years back I was looking at the red corner when I was announcing the blue corner and my immediate reaction was to spin 180 degrees to face the fighter I was announcing... that was the birth of the 180. For me, it's not what I say; it's how I say it as I'm not phrase driven.

Sanchez: I hear that it’s possible we could be seeing a “Buffer 360” for the main event at UFC 100. Is that true?

Buffer: Anything is possible, but that will be decided at that exact millisecond that I do it or not, because it cannot be rehearsed. I have to feel it and I feed off the energy of the fans and the event at hand at every event... although UFC 100 would be the perfect time and if done once, you probably will never see a 360 again.

Sanchez: You’ve got some other organizations you do announcing for whether it’s the K-1 events, Abu Dhabi Combat Club, but the one that sticks out…you’re the official announcer of the World Series of Beer Pong. What goes on there and how would you rate your pong skills?

Buffer: I have never played Beer Pong as after one or two beers I'm usually done... I got a call and a nice financial offer to fly into Vegas and announce their main event only between the two finalists.

But it was exciting due to the fact that the ballroom was full of beer drinking fraternity brothers and others from universities around the country and when I walked in the room they went ballistic, which shows how popular the UFC is to college students, so I gave them my all and it was a blast.

Sanchez: Speaking of World Series events, you played on the final table of the World Poker Tour for the season three invitational and placed sixth. When did you get into poker and how often would you say you play?

Buffer: My father taught me poker at a very young age and I've been playing for money since I was 14 years old. No Limit Hold Em has been my game for the last five years and I play most every day, whether on the computer or live.

Like most, I dream of winning a World Series of Poker bracelet among other poker events like the WPT. I play at http://www.RumblePoker.com and Full TIlt on the Internet. Poker is a great game and feeds my need for competition a lot.

Sanchez: You are a very successful business man and CEO of your company Buffer Enterprises, Inc. Can you give the readers a little insight on what the company does?

Buffer: My company is involved in various areas of sports and entertainment marketing and also management of my career ad my brother Michael Buffer's career. I've been Michael's manager for close to 20 years and also oversee all product, event and promotional licensing and development surrounding his famous "Ready to Rumble" trademark phrase, such as our recent video game released on the Nintendo Wii in March.

I like working because I love what I do, which I wish everyone could say when talking about their avenues of work.

Sanchez: Outside of MMA, what other sports are you a big fan of and who are some of your favorite franchises or players?

Buffer: I don't bet on sports anymore like football so I only watch the NFL during the playoffs and Super Bowl and really don't watch other sports except for surfing, which is my personal favorite sport of any I have ever done as I grew up in Malibu since I was 15 and surfed most of my life.

I respect and appreciate all sports and enjoy watching anyone compete at their best so when the time calls for it, I'll watch it.

Sanchez: You have a great quote: “I live, eat and breathe in this world of sports and entertainment every day. Some people say show me the money! I say show me the Rumble. In business, you can have a diamond in your hand, but if not marketed correctly, it just becomes another piece of coal.”

Do you have any other advice that you’d like to give before we go?

Buffer: When deciding on the paths one has choices to take in life, if possible always follow your passion. Treat all you meet with respect, be honest, be tough, be focused and believe in yourself.

It doesn't matter if you want to be a fireman, a corporate CEO or the best retail clerk in the store in which you work, just pursue your goals and observe, learn and analyze what it will take to be the best to get there and go for it.

Sanchez: Thanks a lot for your time Bruce, I appreciate it.

Buffer: Thank you Josh, appreciate the interview!

Anderson Silva Fights To Win (However That May Be)

Josh Sanchez — Sat, 09 May 2009 13:59:55 -0400

All of us who watched UFC 97: Redemption witnessed two things. We shall the end of an era as Chuck Liddell was knocked out, yet again, and we saw one of the most dominating fighters of our time.

Chuck Liddell meant a lot for the sport and there is no question that he will be an incredible ambassador for mixed martial arts, but what really surprises me is the lack of respect people have been showing the UFC Middleweight Champion, Anderson “The Spider” Silva.

I really feel like fans were spoiled early in his UFC career as he would finish of opponents in spectacular fashion and now he is just continuing his dominance, but in a way that isn’t too exciting for the average fan.

Anderson Silva is now just focused on retaining his belt and he is employing the strategy of “don’t get hit in the face.” Can you blame him? He has absolutely no competition in the Middleweight division, why should he stick his neck out and try to do something that could end with him being caught and put to sleep?

Sure, the Thales Leites fight wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, and Thales looked more like a call girl laying on their back waiting for the client to come in, but Silva didn’t play those games. Silva kept his range and slowly picked apart Leites until it was clear that Leites just wasn’t there to fight anymore.

I can’t blame the lack of highlight punches on Silva; it was Leites showing clearly that he really had no backup plan if his take-downs didn’t work. So instead of playing in to his opponents strength, Silva showed some impressive and unorthodox strikes like he usually does, while punishing his opponent and easily taking the decision.

People will say that Anderson Silva should have tried to finish the fight in spectacular fashion for the fans, but let me ask you this...if a football team is cruising to victory should they just run the ball or try to get the crowd roaring with a careless trick play?

Should an NBA team make careful passes and slow the game down or should they try to go all And1 while making ridiculous passes and shots? It’s a simple concept, play smart...there is no need for unnecessary risks.

The bigger question is no what is next for Anderson Silva? He really has no competition in the middleweight division and with Thales Leites proving he wasn’t a mixed martial artist but just a jiu-jitsu player, while Demian Maia got his shot?

Maia may have been shut out of an opportunity because of Leites’ lack of fighting skill. To me it is clear that Silva is bored with the division. He is instead dancing around and making the opponents look like fools while he uses his textbook striking to pick them apart.

Silva says that he still wants to have some more fights at 205. He is getting his wish at UFC 101 in Philadelphia, PA against fan favorite Forrest Griffin.

There is no question this will be an exciting fight. Griffin will not back down and he will go at Silva relentlessly. This could be just the fight that helps restore Anderson Silva’s reputation with the fans.

Even after this fight there is one thing we will all want to see. We want Silva drop to 170 and fight the welterweight champion, Georges St. Pierre. Will it happen? We will just have to wait patiently.

Until then, appreciate Anderson Silva for being one of the best technical fighters of our generation, and look forward to his brawl with Forrest Griffin.

Questions to Hines Ward From A Pittsburgh Steelers Fan

Josh Sanchez — Sat, 09 May 2009 10:59:35 -0400

Whether you love him or hate him, Hines Ward is one of the toughest players in the NFL. It is hard to find a player who embodies the spirit of his city better than Ward.

Teammates and fans love him, opponents hate him. One thing for sure, you must keep your head on a swivel when he is in the game. Nothing slows down Ward, the most prolific receiver in Pittsburgh Steelers history.

There is no doubt that Ward is one of the most loved Steelers on the roster, so I sat down and came up with some questions that I would love to ask him.

1. How does it feel to be a two-time Super Bowl champion?

2. You signed a four-year extension on April 25. When did you realize that Pittsburgh was where you wanted to spend your entire career?

3. What has the city meant to you?

4. You give a lot back to the city. There’s the Hines Ward Show and Southside 86, formerly the locker room. Do you feel like building a relationship with the people in the city is important?

5. It is apparent that family means a lot to you. You have your son’s name, Jaden, on your right arm in the Korean alphabet. You also took a trip back to your birthplace in Seoul, South Korea, after being the first Korean-American to win a Super Bowl MVP. How often do you return to South Korea and how what is your experience like when you visit?

6. You donated $1 million to start the Hines Ward Helping Hands Foundation. Do you have any other charities that you do work for?

7. Spreading happiness off the football field really seems to translate to your joy on the field. Everyone knows the Hines Ward Smile, and it even seems to get under the skin of some opponents. Do you intentionally do this or is it something that you really can’t control?

8. If players aren’t frustrated by the smiling, they usually are going to get upset when you knock them flat on their back. When did you first start your physical play?

9. Would you say that some of your time playing running back at Georgia contributed?

10. On top of playing wide receiver and running back at Georgia, you also had some reps at quarterback. Do you have to have a certain mindset to play numerous positions?

11. You were highly touted as a quarterback out of high school—All-American honors, two-time county player of the year, all-state. Was it hard to not be a full-time quarterback when you got to college?

12. During the pre-draft preparations, it was discovered that you were missing the ACL in your left knee. Did you have any prior knowledge, or what were your thoughts when you found out?

13. It most likely affected your draft stock. Did you feel like you had to play with a chip on your shoulder?

14. If you didn’t feel like you needed to prove anything, you did it anyway. How does it feel to be mentioned in the same breath as a John Stallworth and Lynn Swann as the greatest wide receivers to ever wear a Steelers uniform?

15. Your passion seems almost unparalleled. Have you ever laid any big hits in practice and had the coaches tell you to ease up?

16. The Cincinnati Bengals would have liked you to ease up on Keith Rivers. What was the fallout like with that situation?

17. Later the Ravens said they put a bounty on you. Did that affect you at all?

18. Everyone here loves you in Pittsburgh. If you could tell one thing to all of your fans, what would it be?

Time to Make Your Money: Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp Battles

Josh Sanchez — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:02:48 -0400

This is an exciting time for a lot of fans. The NFL Draft is over, the free agency period has slowed down, and now it's time to start early evaluations on your teams roster. In training camp, it is do or die time. This is where careers are made or careers are ruined.

For the rookies entering camp, make sure you study that playbook endlessly and do everything in your power to get noticed. For the unproven veterans, make sure you don't get outshined by a rookie, and for the starters...just don't do anything ridiculous and you'll have your job.

Every team has intriguing battles during camp and the Steelers have a few exciting ones as well.

Starting Right Guard: Darnell Stapleton vs Kraig Urbik

Darnell Stapleton was the starter this previous season, but with issues consistently surrounding the Steelers offensive line he shouldn't feel too comfortable. Urbik is a highly touted rookie who could very well end up winning this job.

Urbik was a tackle at Wisconsin, but he struggles in space so will get bumped inside. His size and the ability to be a mauler in the running game fits the mentality of the Steelers organization perfectly.

Fans are already on Urbik's side in this battle and as long as he continues to show the work ethic and intelligence that he had while he was a Badger, he should get the edge entering the season.

3rd Wide Receiver: Limas Sweed vs Mike Wallace vs Shaun McDonald

Limas Sweed was the Steelers second round pick last season and he really failed to impress. Coming out of Texas he was hampered by wrist injuries and it seemed like he never got the hang of the Pittsburgh offense.

His rookie year was littered with penalities and dropped passes, reminiscent of a young Plaxico Burress. There is some hope that Sweed can turn things around, but he has some stiff competition.

Mike Wallace was the one of the fastest wide receivers at the NFL Scouting Combine where he ran a sub- 4.3 40 yard dash. He struggles when it comes to blocking, but having a guy like Hines Ward as a mentor would work wonders for any wide receivers game.

The one aspect Wallace really contributes is in the return game, so if he doesn't win the third wide receiver position, I fully expect him to be the return man this season.

One of the newest editions to the Steelers family is Shaun McDonald. McDonald has the most experience out of this bunch. As the third wide receiver for Detroit in 2007, McDonald led the team in receptions(79) and yards(947).

McDonald was hampered by injuries last season and that along with financial issues ultimately led to his release.

This will be one of the most intriguing battles and the one I am most excited to see. When all is said and done it will likely be Limas Sweed who has the edge due to his previous experience in the offense.

2nd/3rd Cornerback: Deshea Townsend vs William Gay vs Keenan Lewis

Losing cornerback Bryant McFadden may have been one of the biggest losses for Pittsburgh this season. It leaves the team with a big question mark at the postion.

Deshea Townsend has been a familiar face to fans, but he was benched last season in favor of McFadden. It is very possible that Townsend, who will be 34 early into the season, is seeing his last run as a Steeler.

He doesn't appear to have much left and when he does see the field, he usually gets a good view of the back of opposing receivers jerseys.

William Gay has been a favorite of the coaching staff since he first made the roster. Gay is incredible in zone coverage and really has that ball-hawking mentality. He may have the best nose for the ball in the secondary outside of Troy Polomalu. He isn't the tallest of guys (5'8) but he has the swift hips and awareness that it takes to be successful.

Lewis is a rookie who was drafted in the third round. Lewis has very good size for a corner (6'1, 208) and he has the physicality to contribute in run defense. He doesn't have the best speed, but has he intelligence and collegiate experience to make up for it.

I expect William Gay to win a starting spot and Deshea Townsend should be the third corner.Although keep an eye out for Lewis, I think he could make a real significant impact.

Backup Quarterback: Charlie Batch vs Dennis Dixon

Charlie Batch missed last season with a broken collarbone while Dennis Dixon spent the year holding a clipboard as a rookie. With Byron Leftwich leaving for Tampa Bay, this job is completely up in the air.

Charlie Batch has long been a favorite of the Steelers fans and when he comes into the game there is no real need for concern, but will he be able to return to his fully healthy form?

Dennis Dixon is an extremely talented young guy who was a Heisman front runner and would have been a first day pick if not for a torn ACL in his final games as an Oregon Duck.

Backup quarterback is one of the most important positions on a football team, and this decision will not be made lightly. Due to the importance, I see Charlie Batch getting the nod due to his huge experience advantage over Dixon.

After this year Batch could call it a career and you could see Dennis Dixon as the new backup QB in Pittsburgh.

Is There a Super Bowl Hangover in Store For The Steel City?

Josh Sanchez — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:31:32 -0400

After last season ended with a sixth Lombardi Trophy being brought home to Pittsburgh, there is one word you won't hear uttered in the Steelers' locker room. Repeat.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin has continuously stated that this is an entirely new season.

"The thing I'm going to sell to our football team, we're not attempting to repeat. That special group of men that were in that locker room at the end of that game, that's gone forever. There will be 53 new men in there. A lot of the faces will be the same, but nothing stays the same in this game. Those that remain, the roles will change. Some will ascend, some will descend. "Our focus will be about being the one at the end of the season. I think repeating and defending Super Bowl championships in today's NFL is something of a misnomer" says Tomlin.

This should be the perfect attitude to take into the upcoming season. Teams will often fall into the trap of eyeing the prize instead of enjoying the journey; the Steelers will not allow this.

Going into the year it would be a let down to the fans if the team followed up with anything less than an AFC North title and another appearance in the AFC Championship game. Missing the playoffs is not an option.

Staying healthy will be a key in the Steelers advancement to the postseason. With a lot of rookies and unproven guys filling the back up roles, Pittsburgh may not be able to afford having a few guys behind the learning curve.

The Steelers always seem to have players ready to go and Mike Tomlin has proven to be a great coach who will get the best out of his players,so I would not worry about it too much.

If there is one thing you learn when you watch the Steelers, it's that they always have a guy ready to go whether it is Ben Roethlisberger, Willie Parker, Bryant McFadden, or Lawrence Timmons. All of these guys made a big splash when they first entered the line-up, and I have faith that the coaching staff will be able to do the same again this year.

Pittsburgh's veteran leadership will also be a huge key to keeping focus and not looking ahead. A lot of the guys now have two Super Bowl rings and with Big Ben and Ward leading the offense and Ike Taylor and James Harrison being the leaders on defense, there is a great nucleus.

The Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns appear to be in a rebuilding mode, so the Baltimore Ravens will be the biggest threat to derail the Pittsburgh hopes. Quarterback Joe Flacco will have another season under his belt and should be more comfortable when he faces the Steelers defense. Protection is always an issue in Pittsburgh and with the loss of Bryant McFadden, the secondary could be a minor concern.

As long as the Steelers buy in to what Tomlin is preaching, you won't hear the word repeat and Pittsburgh should sail to another AFC North Championship.

If you are looking for a monumental collapse or a Super Bowl hangover... look elsewhere, I don't see it happening here.