Herschel Walker: From Hall of Fame to Fighting in a Cage

Just when we were all taking Strikeforce seriously, Scott Coker does this. He signs 47-year-old football legend Herschel Walker to fight for his MMA organization. One question Scott: why?

Strikeforce is too big and too popular to be pulling these publicity stunts, because that's all this is. Prove me wrong.

What's Herschel Walker's MMA record? Zero wins, zero losses, with no draws. The guy has never once stepped inside of a cage. What makes Scott Coker, or Herschel for that matter, think that he can start an MMA career at this time.

I'm not trying to knock Herschel here. I know full well his accomplishments on the gridiron. I know very well that age is just a number. I also know that just because somebody is 47, that doesn't mean they can't fight—*cough cough Randy Couture*.

But I also know that Herschel Walker is not Randy Couture. How do I know that? Because nobody is Randy Couture. What happened to the last over-40-year-old sports legend that decided to test the MMA waters? He got beat down by a seven-foot behemoth.

Luckily for Herschel, their are no seven-foot behemoths in Strikeforce, so he is safe there.

Reports say that Herschel doesn't plan on fighting until 2010. That means he could very well be 48 by the time he fights his first MMA fight. Sounds great, Scott.

Before I come off looking like a dream crusher, I want everyone to know that I wish Herschel all the best. I would love nothing more than for him to prove me and all the other naysayers wrong and knockout his first opponent.

He made a very good choice when he chose the prestigious American Kickboxing Academy to train at. With great wrestlers like Josh Koscheck and known strikers like Cung Le, Herschel will make all the best of his reported 12-week program with the camp.

Walker, when he fights, will be competing in the Strikeforce Heavyweight division. It is unknown when or who he will be fighting, but I'm sure Strikeforce will give him an easier fight.

The only problem is, no matter who his opponent is, I'm sure that guy has been training longer and harder and has more need to win.

Herschel doesnt' need this. We all know who Herschel Walker is. We all know his accomplishments. 1982 Heisman winner, USFL MVP, 1999 College Football Hall of Fame inductee.

He is regarded as on of the top college running backs of all time. Why risk your sports reputation by stepping into a cage?

I hope he doesn't take this sport lightly. I pray he doesn't underestimate the time and commitment needed to become a true fighter. If he does, he's going to get hurt, bad.

Let's just hope Yves Lavigne is the referee, that way the fight will be stopped as soon as Herschel gets hit too hard.

Good luck Herschel, you're going to need it.