Silva stops Bonnar in first round at UFC 153

The man regarded as the pound-for-pound greatest fighter in the world, and perhaps in history, stopped Stephan Bonnar in the first round Saturday in the main event of UFC 153 at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro in Silva's home country of Brazil, where he is considered a national hero. Silva let Bonnar throw essentially whatever he wanted at him in the first round, at times standing with his back against the cage to allow his opponent in. But after a brief tie-up, Silva grabbed Bonnar's arm, and when Bonnar tried to pull away, Silva landed a big knee to the body that crumpled Bonnar. With the American on his knees and turtling up immediately, Silva moved in and landed several punches to the head before the fight was stopped at 4:40 of the first round. Bonnar (14-8 MMA, 8-7 UFC) was as much as a 14-to-1 underdog in the fight with Silva (33-4, 16-0), the UFC's middleweight champion who moved up to Bonnar's weight class, light heavyweight, for the non-title fight. "I'm not the best. I just believe I can do things that people think are impossible," Silva said. "I'm not going to fight at 205 again. I fought at 205 to save the event. I fight at 185 pounds. I was doing this just to save the event and put on a show for everybody." The fight was made a month ago when the original main event between featherweight champion Jose Aldo and former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar fell off the card due to an Aldo injury. With the co-main event also dropping off the same day, and with the knowledge of UFC 151's cancellation when the main event fell out, Silva stepped up for the fight -- against an opponent in Bonnar that few people saw as a possibility. Bonnar had been without a fight since November 2011 and had considered himself to be retired unless he was able to fight an opponent with more Twitter followers than him. Silva's 2.5 million followers was more than enough, and his unique brand of offense proved to be more than enough for Bonnar, as well. In the pay-per-view's co-main event, Silva teammate and fellow Brazilian fan favorite Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (34-7-1, 5-3) won for the first time since UFC 134, also in Rio, with a submission of Dave Herman (21-5, 1-3). Herman was vocal before the fight, saying Nogueira's Brazilian jiu-jitsu wouldn't work on him. But that was exactly what Herman fell prey to, tapping to a second-round armbar. Nogueira was returning for the first time since having his arm broken, also by an armbar, against Frank Mir this past December. Former welterweight title challenger Jon Fitch (24-4-1, 14-2-1) got back in the win column after a 12-second knockout loss to Johny Hendricks this past December when he won a back-and-forth fight against Erick Silva (14-3, 2-2). It was Fitch's eighth straight win by decision, something the former Purdue wrestler has been criticized for by fans -- though this fight was far from a boring grind session, featuring multiple close submission attempts from both fighters. And up-and-coming light heavyweight Glover Teixeira (19-2, 2-0) continued to impress, dominating a resilient Fabio Maldonado (18-7, 1-4) through two rounds before the cageside doctor called off the fight before the start of the third. Also on the main card, Phil Davis (10-1, 6-1) submitted Wagner Prado (7-1, 0-1) in the first round, handing the Brazilian his first loss, in a rematch from their August fight that ended prematurely for a no contest from an accidental eye poke from Davis. And Demian Maia (17-4, 11-4) won for the second straight time since dropping from middleweight to welterweight when he stopped Rick Story (14-6, 7-4) with a neck crank halfway through the first round. Full UFC 153 results: Anderson Silva def. Stephan Bonnar via TKO (strikes) -- Round 1, 4:40 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira def. Dave Herman via submission (armbar) -- Round 2, 4:31 Glover Teixeira def. Fabio Maldonado via TKO (doctor's stoppage) -- Round 2, 5:00 Jon Fitch def. Erick Silva via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) Phil Davis def. Wagner Prado via submission (anaconda choke) -- Round 2, 4:29 Demian Maia def. Rick Story via submission (rear-naked choke) -- Round 1, 2:30 Rony Jason def. Sam Sicilia via TKO (strikes) -- Round 3, 4:15 Gleison Tibau def. Francisco Trinaldo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Diego Brandao def. Joey Gambino via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Sergio Moraes def. Renee Forte via submission (rear-naked choke) -- Round 3, 3:10 Chris Camozzi def. Luiz Cane via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Cristiano Marcello def. Reza Madadi via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27) MMAjunkie.com is part of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group

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Alex Karras, former NFL linebacker and actor, dead at 77

Fearsome NFL defensive lineman. Lovable TV Dad. Hilarious big screen cowboy. And finally, a dementia victim blamed the NFL for his illness, along with thousands of former league players lawsuits accuse of not doing enough to protect the long-term effects of head injuries. The Karras 77-year-old, who managed to be tough, poignant and tragic in the span of his life, died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by family, said Craig Mitnick, a lawyer for Karras. Karras was one of the fiercest of the NFL - and best - defensive tackles Detroit Lions from 1958 to 1970, bulling past offensive lineman and quarterbacks harassment. The charismatic boxer went to acting after his football career, and instead signed a horse fell with a thump as the softhearted Mongo outlawed in the 1974 comedy "Blazing Saddles". She also played the father in the 1980s sitcom "Webster", along with his wife, actress Susan Clark, and was at the booth of "Monday Night Football" broadcast along the way. "Perhaps no player in Lions history had such success and notoriety for what he did after his playing days as Alex," said Lions president Tom Lewand for. Born in Gary, Indiana, Karras starred for four years at Iowa and later was inducted into the Hall of Fame College Football. Detroit drafted him 10th overall pick in 1958, and was a three-time All-Pro defensive tackle for 12 seasons with the franchise. He was the heart of the front of the Lions defense that terrorized quarterbacks. The Lions gave the champion Green Bay Packers their only loss in 1962, a 26-14 upset Thanksgiving during which constantly harassed quarterback Bart Starr. Packers guard Jerry Kramer wrote in his diary of the 1967 season of concern about having to face Karras. "I'm thinking about it every minute," Kramer wrote. Karras was All-Pro in 1960, 1961 and 1965 and made the Pro Bowl four times. He was recognized by the Hall of Fame as a defensive tackle on the All-Decade team of the 1960s and retired from the NFL in 1970 at age 35. But Karras also had brushes with the NFL long before his trial. He missed the 1963 season, when he was suspended by NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle in a probe set. Karras bet insisted that cigarettes or cigars only with close friends. "Alex Karras was an outstanding player at a time when the NFL become America's favorite sport," the league said in a statement. "He will always be remembered as one of the most colorful characters in the history of the NFL." Despite his skill as a player, Karras may have gained more fame as an actor. It was released through behind the scenes of George Plimpton's book "Paper Lion: Confessions of a string quarterback last" about what it was like to be an NFL player in Detroit. Karras and Plimpton remain friends for life, and a son named Karras author. Karras played alongside Alan Alda in the movie adaptation of the bestselling book, and opened the doors to Karras to be an analyst Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford on "Monday Night Football". In Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles, "Karras played a not so bright, rough-around-the-edges outside the law, not only slugged a horse, but also delivered the classic line:". Mongo only pawn in Game of Life " In 1980, he played a sheriff in the comedy "Porky" and became a hit on television as a foster parent Emmanuel Lewis, George Papadapolis, in the sitcom "Webster". "He had a very strong heart this morning and I did not know why. Now understand," said Lewis. "Rest in peace, my friend." Karras also had roles in "Against All Odds" and "Victor / Victoria". He portrayed the husband of the famous female athlete "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias in the television movie starring Clark in the title role. The two later formed his own production company. Clark has said Karras began showing signs of dementia more than a dozen years ago, and she said that their quality of life has deteriorated because of head injuries sustained during his playing career. I could not drive and could not remember the recipes of some of the favorite Italian and Greek dishes that are used for cooking, he said. In April, he became the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia. He is among about 3,500 retired football players accusing the league of failing to protect them better from head injuries. "This physical beating he took as a football player has impacted your life, so it has impacted your family life," Clark told The Associated Press earlier this year. "He is interested in making the game safer football and hope that other families of retired players have a retirement healthier and happier." The NFL claims that did not intentionally try to confuse players and says it has taken steps to better protect players and advance the science of concussion management and treatment. "It's an ironic tragedy that Alex had to live with the devastating effects of playing the game he wanted," Mitnick said. He said the NFL on August 30 filed a motion to dismiss all player actions, and plaintiffs response is due October 30. Mitnick said the family has not decided whether to donate brains for study Karras, as did other families. The family issued a list of other diseases such as kidney failure, which he recently hospitalized, stomach cancer and heart disease. Karras later wrote an autobiography, "Even Big Guys Cry" and two other books, "Alex Karras" and "Tuesday Night Football". In addition to Clark, his wife of 37 years, is survived by his daughter and her four children from his first marriage to the late Joan Powell

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Roger Williams, Pianist Known for Sentimental Songs, Dies at 87

Roger Williams, the pianist whose exuberant versions of songs known as "Autumn Leaves" and "Born Free" became successful recordings in the late 1950's and 60's and continued acting in concert in 80 years, died Saturday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 87. The cause was complications of pancreatic cancer, his former publicist, Rob Wilcox told The Associated Press.

Seven singles by Mr. Williams did on the Billboard Top 40, perhaps the best known of which - and that brought him fame - is "Autumn Leaves". During his long career he recorded over 100 albums, including "Roger Williams plays her favorites," and "the best pianist Popular".
Mr. Williams "virtually transformed the piano into a harp," wrote Joseph Lanza, a music historian in 1994 in his book "Elevator Music", adding that "cultivates a style of dramatic raids from classical to jazz the country to soft rock and roll. "

She performed on stages across America, from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl, and led for many years at the MGM Grand and the Tropicana in Las Vegas. Nine presidents, including Harry S. Truman and George W. Bush, took him to the White House to provide soothing sounds for guests.

Certainly, "Autumn Leaves" was one of the most welcoming, with its cascading arpeggios reminiscent of falling leaves. Mr. Williams instrumental version of the song 1940, originally known as "Les Feuilles Mortes" ("Dead leaves"), with music by Joseph Kosma and lyrics by Jacques Prevert French (Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics to English) was No. 1 on the Billboard singles chart for four weeks in 1955 and remained in the Top 40 for 26 weeks.

Accompanied by the orchestra and chorus, Mr. Williams captured the extent of the African savannah with his cover of the 1966 film "Born Free" about a lion raised as a pet in Kenya, and item # 7 in the decade of record 14 weeks in the Top 40 in 1966. His other Top 40 hits were "Wanting You" (1956), "La Mer" or "Beyond the Sea" (1956), "Almost Paradise" (1957), "Up" (1957) and "Near You" which reached Top 10 in 1958.

In 1960, Mr. Williams was honored with a star on the Walk of Fame Hollywood.

When he appeared in the New York Philharmonic in 1970, Robert Sherman of the New York Times wrote about her "sumptuous piano settings" and that "kept his large audience captivated" by playing an old favorite after another. "The concert of the promise of" Easy Listening "," Mr. Sherman concluded, "remained faithful."

Despite his musicality was evident even as a child was not always Roger Williams.

Louis Jacob was born in Omaha Weertz October 1, 1924, and grew up in Des Moines, the only son of Frederick and Dorothea Weertz. His father was a Lutheran pastor who had been a professional boxer, and his mother was a music teacher. (Only after the founder of Kapp Records, David Kapp, a contract was signed in 1954 which changed its name, at the insistence of Mr. Kapp.)

"I could play" Home Sweet Home "on the harmonica when I was 3 years," said Mr. Williams The Daily Mirror in 1955. By the time he was in high school had jurisdiction on 12 other instruments. "Everything but the oboe and bassoon," he said, "but I finally settled on what I liked -. The Piano"

Mr. Williams graduated from Idaho State University in 1949, earned a master's degree in music at Drake University in Des Moines, a year later and then came to New York to study at the Juilliard School, where the renowned pianist Teddy Wilson jazz took him under his wing.

Mr Wilson insisted, he competed on "Talent Scouts" Arthur Godfrey in 1952, and won. That led to the reservations of many nightclubs and Kapp's first album, which sold very well. Then came his single, "Autumn Leaves".

What followed was a winding path through many of the most nostalgia inducing, the melodies of the last half of the 20th century, including "A Time for Us", "The Impossible Dream," "On a Clear Day "," Hello, Dolly "" Raindrops keep Fallin 'On My Head "and" Lara's Theme "from" Dr. Zhivago ".

He is survived by two daughters, Laura Fisher, Caramel, California, and Alice Jung, New York, and five grandchildren.

Mr. Williams was unabashed about his penchant for sentimentality.

"If the lyrics of a song says, 'I love you', then I mean exactly that when I play the notes," he told The Christian Science Monitor in 1970. "The public, live or at home, can detect if an artist really means what it touches. By the way to choose music to warm up and I know I can convey. I know."

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Ides Of March' Star Ryan Gosling Charms Us Again...What's New?

In case you had not noticed, let me state the obvious key: "Ides of March" star Ryan Gosling and Horowitz own MTV News' Josh is in the midst of a major bromance. Do not believe me? When the two met recently to discuss the political drama Ryan (today), there was a certain amount of catching up and asked that the chemistry was palpable.
Josh. "Ryan, it's good to see you, my friend, how are you?"

Ryan: "Well, thank you."

Josh: "Why is it wrong?"

Ryan: "You always think I'm mad I'm happy I'm relaxed ...."

Josh. "I'm just trying to figure our dynamic Even after all these wonderful moments we have had, yet ..."

Ryan: "Do not try to pigeonhole."

Josh: "It's all or nothing."

Ryan: "Is everything all the time."

Is everything all the time? When Ryan so casually throws around these deep lines like that, makes us wonder if it's no secret, writing "The Notebook 2" in his loft in New York. While wearing a shirt ...

Click play on video above to see the, uh, interesting exchange between Ryan and Josh, and be sure to review "The Ides of March" in theaters.

Will you see "The Ides of March"? Sound off in comments and on Twitter!

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Game 2011 Playoffs.5: Tigers at Yankees

(Note: tonight is a combined Coleman/Kevin In Dallas post, kind of like the Verlander/Fister Game 1 start–hopefully with better results).

On March 31st, Curtis Granderson hit an insurance home run in the bottom of the 7th off of Phil Coke (who was brought in to just face Granderson), while Austin Jackson went 1-4 and Alex Avila went 0-4 in a 6-3 Tigers loss.  JV took a no decision.  After 166 games in 189 days, we’re right back where we started.
JV (most likely) will not factor into the decision tonight, but Doug Fister will in a rematch against Game 1 Part 2 opponent Ivan Nova, who just 3 months ago was demoted to the minor leagues, while Fister suffered on last-place Seattle.
Fister gave up 6 runs in 4 2/3 innings, but didn’t pitch as badly as that sounds.  He started off well, putting the Yankees behind consistently in the count–the first time through the order, 6 of 9 Yankees were caught looking at first pitch strikes.  Expect the Yankee hitters to take a more aggressive approach tonight.
(Speaking of aggressive approaches:  Delmon Young swung at 11 first pitches in his first 13 ALDS plate appearances).
Nova pitched well, allowing 2 ER over 6 and then gave way to the Yankees bullpen.  The Tigers will have to hit him harder tonight, or at least make contact–Cabrera, Martinez, Jackson, and Raburn all had swinging strike 3s against Nova.  But Nova will not be so nova to the Tiger hitters the 2nd time through.  And perhaps tonight’s earlier (8:07) start will throw him off.
It would help for the Tigers to capitalize early.  Tuesday’s first inning Granderson grab was the 2nd consecutive game the Tigers failed to take advantage of an early bases-loaded situation.  In fact, the 14 times in the regular season that the Tigers had the bases loaded with less than 2 outs in the first or second inning, they ended up with a .091 BA and .182 OPS.
It would also help for Austin Jackson to get on base,  and maybe Don Kelly in the 2nd spot will provide a spark, or at least avoid the GIDP or failed sacrifice problem that has hurt Detroit.
(Leyland has indicated a Kelly to RF/Inge to 3B defensive shift is likely later in the game).
If the Tigers do strike early, Yankee manager Joe Girardi has indicated that he is willing to use Rivera for 2 innings, and will have CC Sabatia available in the bullpen.  No Verlander for Leyland though, and probably no Alburquerque either.  Leyland is set to go with Fister, Coke, Benoit, and Valverde. If Fister doesn’t make it far enough into the game, Max Scherzer will be the guy.
Tuesday night’s debacle was the most watched LDS game since 2007.  The Tigers have one more chance to show the baseball-watching world what they are really made of.  As Brandon Inge said, “it’s hard to beat us 2 games in a row.”
Stat to remember – Game 3 Winners (Tigers) have won 83% of the last 23 LDS.  Time to pick a winner.  Have fun everybody.  Let’s play ball!
Player of the Pre-Game: Alex Avila
Has Iron-Man Alex finally worn down? Avila has yet to have a hit in the postseason, and has in fact struck out 6 times in 15 plate appearances, a rate almost twice as high as his regular season rate.  Batting between Cabrera-Martinez-Ordonez and the hot Peralta, Avila could swing the course of the game with a timely hit.
Today’s Hmm-Let’s-Try-This Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Don Kelly, 3B
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Magglio Ordonez, RF
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Jhonny Peralta, SS
9. Ramon Santiago, 2B

source:detroittigersweblog.com

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