I know that the Olympics are option one-through-100 right now for coverage on TSN.ca.
I get that. I wasn't looking for front page coverage.
But when I flip to the MMA page of "Canada's Sports Leader," I was hoping to see some coverage of Victoria native Sarah Kaufman.
Without a mention of the tiny terror on Monday or Tuesday, I took to passing along a link to one of the two feature-length pieces I penned on my fellow Islander earlier in the week, offering up more than 600 words for free simply to see a friend and worthy fighter get the coverage she had earned.
Still nothing, not even a "thanks but no thanks" email from TSN.
Friday, Sports Illustrated's MMA & Boxing page not only featured Ms. Kaufman as the main story by their head writer Josh Gross, but also ran a link below that to a Q&A with Kaufman courtesy of a certain someone who moonlights as a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report.
Saturday, both pieces were still up there, logging time and getting Kaufman some press coverage in our neighbor to the south.
Here at home? Nothing.
Waking this morning, I thought for sure they'd have something on Kaufman up at TSN.
I mean, all she did last night was put on a dominant technical display against Takayo Hashi to claim the Strikeforce Women's Welterweight title and extend her record to 11-0.
Sports Illustrated covered the event, with Kaufman as the poster child for the post-fight coverage.
TSN? Not a word.
They've got a two-day old story on Brock Lesnar's response to Frank Mir's stale comments from last week, a subsequent piece about Mir's apology to Lesnar from earlier in the week, and a blurb about Ben Rothwell, a fighter recently scratched from UFC 110 who will now be facing Gilbert Yvel at UFC 115 in Vancouver this summer.
Not one of those fighters is from Canada.
Here's what I don't understand - and hope to one day have answered by TSN:
How can you have a dedicated MMA page that gets updated fairly frequently and not have a single reference to the Canadian girl who just extended her winning streak to eleven and won a championship?
Yes, the UFC is the biggest name in the business, but they're not the only game in town. It's not like TSN has some kind of exclusive deal to only talk about the UFC, at least not that I know of anyway.
They show highlights of Canadian golfers in each PGA Tour event on the calendar, show the stats on every Canadian kid on an NCAA roster on the ticker during college basketball season, but a Canadian fighter goes out and wins a title in a major organization and "Canada's Sports Leader" doesn't even mention the achievement?
Kind of disheartening that at a time when national pride is riding high and we're trumpeting the accomplishments of Canadians to the world, a newly-crowned world champion can't get a single sentence put down about her successes.
Congratulations Sarah.
C'mon TSN... get with the program.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Calling Out TSN... Again!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Long Overdue Update
Monday, January 18, 2010
2010: The Year I Begin to Crush It!
Regardless of everything, you need to read the book pictured above.
My man Josh Nason of Ring, Ropes and Cage has become my personal Yoda when it comes to expanding my knowledge-base and understanding of the world I'm trying to break into, and I have to say that as good as On Writing was, Crush It!, well, crushed it.
This book is going to change my life, and I say that without any asterisks, hyperbole or pretenses.
Basically, this book not only confirmed all the fundamental beliefs I had about my passion for Mixed Martial Arts and the opportunity I have to make a career out of it, but also delivered a blueprint for how to do that.
What makes it even crazier is that a number of the steps and strategies are the little things that I already do, like Facebook the bejesus out of everything I write, and tweeting all my posts...
Gary Vaynerchuk - the author - has instantly launched to the top of my "Awesome People I Know About That You've Never Heard of Before" list, though I recommend you go out and get familiar with him.
D'you know how we all show up at work grumpy that we have to be there? We don't have to, and I'm not going to, thanks to Gary Vaynerchuk, Josh Nason and the dedication and passion I have to make my career something I enjoy, and not just a means to an end.
I give a lot of random advice on this blog, but if you've never listened to anything I've said before, listen to this: read Crush It!
The damn thing is only 130-pages long and cost under $25... and could change your life.
If you don't believe me, keep watching and see for yourself.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Things I Learned This Week
1. Write for Love, Let the Money Come Later
After spending a good number of months building up a readership at a couple different sites, I put them on the back burner to pursue a job with Heavy.com for the lone reason that they were going to pay me.
Ten weeks later, I was dropped via email... without ever receiving a check. I've been assured it's coming, and take solace in the fact that the continuing staff there have yet to receive their pay either, but it made me realize something.
I write because I love it and that needs to be the motivation. Ironically enough, I finished Stephen King's On Writing last night, and d'you know what the final message of the book was?
"I write because I love it, not because of the money."
2. If You Hear "No Disrespect," Expect an Insult to Follow
I'm as guilty on this one as the next guy, as I use the line, "no disrespect to (insert fighter)" fairly frequently, following it up with some statement about how the inserted fighter isn't up to par or a legitimate contender.
It's as if we think that offering up that precursor gives us the ability to say whatever the hell we want about someone. They no I don't mean it disrespectfully, so saying they look like a total jackass / have the talents of a trained chimpanzee / smell a little south of god-awful is okay...
No it isn't, and I hereby pledge to remove that phrase from my vocabulary.
3. I Love My Non-Paying Jobs
The one that pays me - picking produce orders for 35-40 hours a week at Islands West - isn't all that bad, but the pair that put little no money in my pocket on a regular basis are great.
After the whole Heavy debacle, I joined forces with the guys over at Five Knuckles. They had been syndicating my work from Keyboard Kimura for a while, have a great community and believe in my talents to help propel their site to bigger and better.
What really has me stoked is my role with Armageddon Fighting Championships. While I don't really have a defined title, I'm doing all kinds of different things, like hunting down sponsors, lining up media exposure, and building Fan Pages on Facebook.
Yes - you need to join.
Kind of ties in with the first thought of today - enjoy the work, do a good job and the returns will come in time.
4. Victoria Kicks Everywhere Else's Ass
It's January 17 and I plan on wearing shorts today. Not because I want to see if I can brave the harsh outdoors with my pasty white lower limbs, but because it's around 10 degrees, nice and sunny and there is very little wind.
Additionally, not having to shovel... awesome! Yes, it rains, but d'you know what? Rain at five, six or seven degrees is so superior to snow and ice and bullshit at some god-awful temperature well below freezing.
I've enjoyed everywhere I've lived over the years - 13 cities, 31 addresses in 31 years - but Victoria takes the cake.
5. So I Never Told You My New Year's Resolutions
Thanks for sticking around... and Happy Sunday!
Friday, January 15, 2010
But I'm The Blueprint / I'm Like the Map For'em
Back at you for the first time in a little bit - and I promise I'm going to try and be here a lot more regularly moving forward - and time to call out everyone.
Yeah - everyone.
At some point, we're all guilty of not giving credit where credit is due, and it's become something that really grinds my gears like Peter Griffin.
We're all so quick to attack and criticize; calling people out for their decisions and everyday actions, putting just about anything under the microscope of negativity as if we're without flaws and worthy to pass judgment.
Sure, there is some element of that necessary in the world, but with that should come a willingness and acceptance that you have to pay attention to the other side of the coin as well. You can't just be critical and not give credit when it's due...
The title of this piece - another brilliant lyric from Jay-Z and the song "A Star is Born" - sums up my personal connection to this situation incredibly.
As I'm sure I've rambled on about here a couple of times, a bunch of my Mixed Martial Arts writing is syndicated to Bleacher Report. Over the first six or seven months of my existence there, I went from being the new kid on the block to being selected as a Featured Columnist and the top-ranked writer in the MMA Community.
With the success came the usual collection of haters and detractors. It seemed that my dedication and commitment to writing every day was a problem for some. The line was usually something along the lines of, "No wonder he's #1 - the guy writes a million articles a day, and all of them are crap."
Seriously. You gotta love it.
Funny thing is, shortly after questioning my practices, a couple people started to put the pattern I laid out into use for themselves... and have now risen to the top of the charts in my place.
Note: I stopped posting a bazillion pieces a day during my two month dalliance with Heavy.com... but I'm back now, and plan on reclaiming the throne.
D'you think I've gotten any, "Sorry for busting your chops all summer. Now that I'm being as successful as you were, I can see the merit in your methods" type emails or messages?
Of course not.
That would involve giving credit where credit is due, and we can't have that.
It would take away from all the bitching and complaining about everything...
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
One Step Forward, One Step Sideways, and One Step into the Poor House
Today was supposed to be a momentous day, one filled with positive news, answers to very important questions and unbridled enthusiasm about the future.
In the end, I got positive news, a pat on the back and asked to reschedule the answers to very important questions, and a karmic reminder that unbridled enthusiasm about the future should be discouraged at all times.
The moral of the story: driving a shitbox can take the wind out of your sails in a heartbeat, no matter how excited you might be.
And now, the story - and I'll even start with the happy part.
Who's got two thumbs and works for Armageddon Fighting Championships? This guy!
You can't see it, but I've got my thumbs up and am pointing back at myself, like Rob Van Dam used to do. I miss RVD.
Anyway...
As of a sweet lunch meeting today at Red Robin (Chicken Ranch Club... delicious), I'm the jack-of-all-trades Media and Public Relations guy for the AFC.
Basically, I write things, try to find things, suggest things and am one of three employees of the organization, though technically, I'm a contracted employee. The technicality is there just so that if I ever do anything stupid, Darren and Jason can disavow me without penalty or repercussion, from me or the law.
Still, technicalities aside, I work for an emerging Mixed Martial Arts organization and get to be pretty hands-on from here on out.
That is the one step forward.
The one step sideways came literally ten seconds after I walked in the door from that meeting.
Yesterday was supposed to be my "contract negotiations" with Heavy.com for the new year. I use the quotes because really - and don't tell them this - outside of them offering me less money, I'm staying put, but you know, only after playing some hardball first.
Anyhow, it got bumped yesterday and rescheduled for today.
Long story short, it got rescheduled again for early next week. While some positives came from the brief phone conversation with my new editor - he likes my work, sees the dedication and talent, wants me as part of the core team - I have no idea what kind of money I'll be making, which means tomorrow's joyous resignation from Islands West Produce isn't happening.
For now...
Interestingly enough, my editor calling wasn't who I was expecting on the other end of the phone. I was expecting Canadian Tire.
For my 17 American readers out there, Canadian Tire would be like if your local Mienke had a store attached to it that sold everything from hardware and electronics, to sporting goods, lighting and seasonal items.
True story - our '93 Honda Shitbox was leaking gas. Not really sure for how long, but long enough that today was the day we finally decided to check if it was our car after convincing ourselves for the last couple weeks that it had to be the boat in the driveway, Monica's car or something Derek spilled while filling up his snowmobile.
Turns out, it was the Civic and we really shouldn't have been driving.
Sidenote: good thing I quit smoking. One flicked cigarette blown the wrong way and I wouldn't be here writing this... Smoking can kill in so many ways. God I miss smoking...
The call from Crappy Tire eventually came, along with an estimate for roughly $500, depending on how bad things are.
It's a '93 Civic with decent amounts of rust around the back wheel wells, over 190,000 klicks on the dial, and we've spent a good 50% of what we paid for it fixing things in the year-and-a-half we've owned it.
The chances of "depending on how bad things are" coming back as not too bad at all are slim and none.
Ah, I see you have a vacancy at The Poor House. I'll take a room. Thanks.
Win some, lose some, throw a whole bunch of money at some.
Or as I like to call it... Tuesday.
Monday, November 9, 2009
The First Step Towards World Domination...
Say hello to the latest addition to the Mixed Martial Arts team at Heavy.com!
That's right, yours truly has found himself a job writing about Mixed Martial Arts and it actually pays something... crazy, I know.
Of course, there have been other "paying" jobs in the past that ended up paying me in pocket lint, but this one is a much more reliable venture, having been around for an extended period of time and coming to me courtesy of a guy I've come to trust in the business.
Now, this certainly isn't going to be "stay at home and never serve another plate of fries" type money, but it's a start. You've got to make your first buck before you can make your first million, right?
That being said, it's money and money for something that I've been doing religiously for the last five months pretty much for free, so there is no denying that it's an improvement. As great as exposure and opportunity is when it comes to the business of writing, exposure and opportunity with a little something something in the bank account each month is certainly a much more appetizing idea.
The move to Team Heavy as I'm going to call it will come with a little bit of a shift for Keyboard Kimura; some of the more regular pieces and top tier op-ed stuff will get moved over to Heavy, but that doesn't mean K2 is going the way of the dinosaur.
After all, I have a serious addiction to (a) the computer, (b) writing in general and (c) reading my own work and thinking how wonderful it is, so you know I'm going to find a way to keep spreading myself ridiculously thin and writing in as many places as possible.
But Team Heavy becomes the primary focus... so be sure to check out the site and find my work... all 37 of you.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Blogs About Dogs and Unreturned Inquires
This is my dog, Luke.
If you've been here before, you've heard a thing or two about him. Little man is my canine sidekick and I wouldn't want it any other way.
As it turns out, Victoria has a pretty healthy pug population; from Chili upstairs to the two puggles who avoided Luke like the plague at the Dog Park yesterday, they seem to be everywhere, including in the newspaper.
Well, at least on the newspapers website.
Adventures with Ollie is an entertaining blog written by Adrian Chamberlain, chronicling the hilarity and odd moments that are present through his pug, Ollie.
In just over a week of being here and knowing about the blog, both Sarah and I are fans. Additionally, I'm jealous as hell.
Seriously, the guy is living my dream; getting paid to write about the ridiculous things that his overweight animal companion does on an irregular basis. All that is missing for his situation to turn into my version of paradise is a bottomless keg of Guinness and a plate of chicken wings.
What makes it all the more awesome for me - and yes, when I say "all the more awesome," I mean "a massive kick in the cujones" - is that this is the same newspaper who wouldn't even send me a "thanks, but we're in no way interested in your thoughts on MMA" email when I inquired about doing some pro bono blogging for them before moving out here.
The Adventures with Ollie blog certainly gives me hope that one day I will be able to fully live the dream, spending my days in my sweatpants while making money for my trivial thoughts on everything from the latest Kate Gosselin to the Georges St-Pierre signing a sponsorship deal with Under Armour Underwear.
It also makes me want to tear my own eyes out, since blogs about overweight dogs dressed as bees for Halloween gets coverage galore but the fastest growing sport in the world can't even get me a "piss off, rookie!" response...
Maybe I should write more about Luke and less about Brock Lesnar?
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Things I Learned This Week
1. A Few Less Headaches
Moving is a stressful process, so it was great to get a couple of the headaches out of the way earlier this week by finding a place to live and discovering that we have pretty solid landlords who will be living above us with their pug named Chili.
Additionally, getting great reviews of the neighbourhood from friends and family that have frequented Victoria over the past few years helps too; nothing worse than thinking you found a great place to live and ending up in a stinkhole.
Now all we have to do is coordinating getting everything out there with spending a couple days in Vancouver.
2. My Time Will Come
I'm still super impatient, but this week yielded a couple great interviews and a few chances to talk to people in the MMA industry, reaffirming my belief that writing about the sport will eventually become my sole career.
It was great to hear "Showdown" Joe Ferraro echo some of the thoughts and feelings I have, both about the growth of the industry and future opportunities, as well as some fighters to keep an eye on.
There is no better way to know you're on track than to have someone who has made it that you look up to and respect saying the same things as you.
3. I'm An Uncle Again!
Charlie Olivia Kyte was born on Wednesday and I'm happy to report that both mother and daughter are doing well.
I would have told you sooner, but no one called to tell me... not my brother (the dad), not my mom (the doting grandmother), no one.
How can I be out of the loop inside my own family circle?
4. Step-Mother-in-Law
Additional congratulations go out this week to my father-in-law Garry and his now fiancee Theresa. While step-mother-in-law is easily the most awkward title a person can hold, T is awesome and I'll be happy to spit out that mouthful of a moniker over the coming years.
These two are actually nauseatingly cute; they text each other all the time, talk three or four times a day and are like school kids around each other, all giddy and silly and in love... makes me sick!
Congratulations guys... may I suggest somewhere warm in the winter for the wedding?
5. Dedication is For Suckers... Sometimes
I like to consider myself a hard-working guy and someone who does whatever is needed of him at work, covering shifts, doing the little extras and all that stuff that should get a person ahead.
Turns out, I was just a chump.
Back to the slower season and what has my hard work through last ski season and all summer gotten me? Wednesday and Thursday days on the bar, where a grand total of 23 customers could possibly turn up.
The guy who left for the summer gets more shifts than me. The woman who works "when she needs to" gets more shifts than me and the one who showed up loaded every weekend all summer long gets more shifts than me.
Super...
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The Rundown: Countdown to Victoria
Now that we've found a place and confirmed moving dates with the the guys who are hauling our stuff to the island, all that is left to do is pack and think about all the things I'm looking forward to with this move to Victoria.
While I'm certainly going to miss aspects of life here in Kimberley, the simple truth of the matter is that despite my one year sabbatical to the quiet outdoors of British Columbia, I'm a city boy at heart and Victoria has more of what I'm looking for.
What are those things? Keep reading because they're the topic of today's Rundown.
Top 5 Things I'm Looking Forward to About Victoria
5. SUSHI
I don't think I can say this enough - I love sushi!
As much as the drive to Fernie makes for a nice evening out with the wife, spending three hours in the car to enjoy my favorite food just isn't worth it. Instead of having sushi once in a blue moon, we'll be able to walk around the corner and pick up dinner whenever we want.
Fast food will be a thing of the past; sushi will replace all on-the-fly meals and that is absolutely awesome.
4. BEST FRIEND FOR LUKE
This may sound silly to some, but since we aren't at the "having kids" stage of life, Cool Hand Luke gets treated like our child and everyone wants their kids to have friends.
With this move, the little puggy bastard will have a built in best friend right upstairs. The little ball of energy will be able to hop out into our fenced backyard and hang out with Chili, our landlord's pug.
While we'll certainly still play "The Bite Game" and go for some marathon walks to tire him out, it's going to be real nice to just open the door and let him expend some energy without having to stop everything to entertain the dog.
3. COVERING LIVE MMA EVENTS
In addition to making a long weekend out of the UFC's proposed trip to Vancouver this coming summer, Victoria is home to Armageddon Fighting Championships.
Being able to get out and cover events in person will be a great way for me to continue my development as an MMA writer and foster some new relationships within the industry.
Maybe the newspaper will be interested in having someone cover these events for them...
2. BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR SARAH
I love my jobs and I want the same for my wife.
Right now, she hates work and it's making her question her chosen career path. That makes me angry.
Hopefully, this move to a bigger and better hospital with actual opportunities for growth and improvement, not to mention support and stronger management, will result in a renewed faith in her abilities as a nurse and a long and fruitful career of helping others.
1. CIVILIZATION
Shopping. Restaurants. Museums. Movie Theatres.
Nothing personal Kimberley, but having a choice between buying my clothes at Wal-Mart, Zellers or Superstore just doesn't cut it for me.
I need a place with malls and stores and more than four restaurants and a big-ass movie theatre that shows all the new movies and museums and Chapters and Starbucks...
You get the point.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Things I Learned This Week
1. C'mon End of October
As much as I hate moving, this move can't get here fast enough.
Simply put, I'm over it here. Not that I won't miss certain people and the beautiful surroundings, but I need a city.
I need a place where people go out to eat for lunch and the guy who is stuck working during the day can actually earn some money.
And I need sushi.
2. Newspapers Don't Return Emails
Or at least not unsolicited emails from people telling them they need to improve their MMA coverage.
Between the Victoria Times-Colonist, the National Post and the Globe and Mail, you would think that one of them would at least send a "Thanks for you input, we'll be in touch" type email, knowing that if I'm willing to cold email two of the biggest newspapers in the country, a response email would make me do cartwheels.
Alas, no cartwheels this week; guess all that "slow and steady" advice I've been getting is the way I'm going to have to go.
3. Another Shining Moment for the US Justice System
Plaxico Burress started serving his two-year sentence for shooting himself earlier this week.
While I certainly agree that his decision to bring a concealed, loaded handgun into a club was moronic, am I the only one who thinks this feels like if the cops showed up in 8 Mile and hauled Cheddar Bob off to the clink when he shot himself?
He's an idiot, not a threat to society...
4. All Things Considered, Business is Good
As much as I'm over-anxious and anti-patience, my move to writing about MMA has been outstanding and business is good.
In just shy of five months, I've gone from starting Keyboard Kimura as an outlet for myself to being syndicated on four strong sites, interviewing a number of talented fighters and MMA personalities and garnering well over 1,000 reads per day.
Even if nothing else changes between now and May, I'll easily break the 300,000 page views mark and that is pretty damn impressive if you ask me.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
The Rundown: Busier Than the Prettiest Hooker on 2-for-1 Tuesdays!
Pictured is Ms. Julia Roberts who once played the prettiest hooker on film opposite Richard Gere in Pretty Woman.
No, this isn't a post about Pretty Woman, though I could certainly tell you everything there is to know about the flick as it is easily one of my mom's all-time favorites and was a sick day from school staple growing up.
This is, however, a breakdown of all the things going on in life right now that have me running ragged and working at a fevered pace.
From interviews with fighters and MMA personalities to shifts at the restaurant and planning our next move, this week has me feeling busier than the prettiest hooker on 2-for-1 Tuesdays and I thought I'd share that with you.
You're welcome.
spanFive Things Keeping Me Busier Than Humanly Possible
5. Moving to Victoria
It's official: we're relocating again, heading off to Victoria next month to try again in another town.
Things just haven't worked out here the way we wanted and Victoria offers a better collection of the things we're looking for both in life and work, so we're packing up and shipping off once again.
Between now and then we've got to find a place to live, find me a job, pack up this place and arrange for all our stuff to get out there. Unfortunately, working on most of those things will have to wait until next week.
4. Harassing People to Give Me a Job
Maybe harassing isn't the right word; begging might fit, but I try to keep the emails and letters free from any usage of the word please with more than one e.
Jokes aside, this move is a chance for me to really break into things on the MMA front if someone is willing to take a chance, as both Victoria and Vancouver have outstanding newspapers with quality websites in need of some MMA coverage.
And I want to be that guy...
3. Writing
This one should be pretty damn obvious.
I know what you're thinking: how hard is it to write two mediocre "blogs" per day? Well, for starters, nothing that goes up at Keyboard Kimura is mediocre; Sports Illustrated doesn't carry mediocre and they're becoming fans of carrying K2 material.
Additionally, when you're trying to make this your career - not necessarily this particular brand of writing here, but you know what I mean - it's more than just sitting down and smashing out random thoughts.
Plus, next week gets even crazier with two fight cards to preview in addition to the everyday routine.
2. Transcription
Easily my least favorite part of what I'm doing right now.
I need one of those computers or programs that has voice recognition and can take what I've recorded from various interviews and convert it into text for me, because I hate trying to do it myself.
Fifteen minute interviews take an hour to transcribe with all the starting and stopping, Google every sponsor and coach mentioned to make sure you spell their name right and so on and so forth.
My birthday is coming up quickly people - someone feel free to buy me that software.
1. Interviews
Now we come to what is clearly my favorite part of what keeps me busy these days.
In addition to the outstanding interviews I've already churned out, I've got a bunch on the horizon, including having completed two today; one with Ryan Loco and one with Ultimate Fighter Season 10 contestant Matt Mitrione.
Still to come are Cole Miller, Sam Stout, New Jersey Athletic Commission Board member Nick Lembo and potentially a couple more TUF 10 contestants.
What makes it even more enjoyable is that the goofy, awkward Spencer who first interviewed Cabral Richards is long gone, replaced by a seasoned vet with a great mix of intelligent, though-provoking questions and straight up nonsense.
The forthcoming Ryan Loco interview (tomorrow or Friday on Keyboard Kimura) is the most ridiculous thing I've ever done, and I mean that in the best way possible.
With all this in mind, sorry if I don't reply to emails, answer you on MSN, have time to chat on Facebook or pick up the phone.
Chances are I'm already on it, either talking to a fighter, trying to get a job or ordering a pizza because I'm too damn busy to cook!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Things I Learned This Week
1. I Must Learn Patience
No, this isn't a new revelation, as the topic of my lack of patience has made an appearance or two here over the years.
That being said, I spent the week talking to some people I greatly respect within the MMA industry and everyone said to be patient; take the small opportunities, make the most of them and keep putting out good work.
Eventually, good things will happen. So for now, we remain patient.
2. Pay Would Be Nice, But The Exposure is Great Too
Three weeks, four pieces posted to the MMA page of Sports Illustrated.
As much as I would love for someone to randomly drop into my life and offer me a fat salary for covering the sport, it's hard to argue with an opportunity to have thousands of readers checking out my material.
While it doesn't pad the wallet, it sure looks great on the resume.
3. Never Going to be Those Guys
Friday night's drunken morons in the bar solidified that while I certainly enjoyed my booze-fueled days of before, I have absolutely no interest in repeatedly revisiting them.
What makes it better is that these tools are mangled and telling tall tales in a Kelsey's... full of other dudes. Being a drunken moron is one thing, being a drunken moron at a massive sausage fest is even better, where better means funnier to the sober bartender.
Don't get me wrong: I still enjoy a few drinks (as I will this evening) but three day benders in a quiet little town like Kimberley aren't my idea of a good time.
4. The Wife is into MMA
While she didn't have much choice in the beginning, what with me prattling on about it all the time, now she's admittedly getting into it on her own... and that is awesome.
Watching the fights last night, she actually delivered a "Wow, that guy really has no wrestling or jiu jitsu whatsoever, huh?" when Chris Leben was getting dominated on the ground.
That's my girl!
5. Moving Update
Sarah has an interview on Friday and there are a couple different opportunities at the hospital she's been looking at, so that eliminates some of the worry.
Addditionally, we've now got some contacts out there who have assured us that work for me would be easy enough to find, as would an apartment, seeing as we're not students any more. Apparently, they really like hearing the words, "Oh, I'm a nurse."
Jackpot! See you in November Victoria...
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Highly Recommended: Evan Shoman Art
I understand that not everyone has the same compulsion with Mixed Martial Arts that I do.
Regardless of your interest in the sport, recognition of talent is something universal and that's what this is about.
Pictured above is one of the pieces I recently ordered and received from Evan Shoman, an incredibly gifted artist who happens to share my predilection for pugilism of the MMA variety.
I was first introduced to Shoman through Fight! Magazine and have been a fan ever since, frequently checking the website to see the latest additions to his collection, which is extends outside the cage as well.
While the prints I've purchased to decorate my next office with are certainly sketches of MMA legends (the other piece is of "Lil' Evil" Jens Pulver), some of the non-MMA work ranks as the best Shoman has to offer.
The LeBron James piece is my absolute favorite, and judging by the smile on King James' face, he's a big fan of the piece too. But his bread and butter is MMA and with good reason.
In addition to being a gifted artist, Shoman is the host of TapouT Radio and earns extra points in my books for being a self-described "Full time internet whore," something I can very much relate to.
MMA fan or not, Evan Shoman's work is Highly Recommended.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Things I Learned This Week
1. Cris Cyborg Might Be An Actual Cyborg
And that is a very scary prospect for any female looking to make a name for herself in the Strikeforce 145 lbs. division, because the champ is just 24 and an assassin inside the cage.
I thought Gina Carano would be able to stick and move and use technique to counter Cyborg's power. I learned that there is no real counter to Cyborg's power, other than getting smashed in the face so much that the ref mercifully calls an end to things.
And don't feel bad for Carano either; I'm sure there are hundreds of guys will to help nurse her back to health.
2. The Flu Sucks Balls!
I had two days off this week and spent 75% of that time on the couch alternating between being freezing cold and sweating my ass off. How one man can sweat through six shirts in 24 hours is beyond me.
Though I've been feeling better the last couple days, I'm clearly not back to full strength yet either; I won't tell you how I know this other than to inform you I'm still doing a great amount of reading each day on a porcelain reading chair...
3. All This Shameless Self-Promotion is Paying Off
Friday and Saturday, your favorite writer was featured on the MMA page of Sports Illustrated thanks to a well-written little preview from Bleacher Report. I know I've said it before, but that site has been a godsend.
If that isn't cool enough, an emerging organization called the MMA Fight Council contacted me to become a part of their Writer's Guild. It's a collection of some of the best talents in the MMA field... and me.
Now if I could just find some way to make a little money out of all this.
4. The Next Move is Coming Together
Finally some good news for my wife!
By the sounds of things, a move to Victoria and an opportunity at a much more enjoyable position at a much more structured and supported hospital is not much more than a formality.
While it means we have to once again box up all of our worldly possessions, that is a worthy hassle for a chance for Sarah to have the enjoyment of a job the same way I do with all my writing endeavours.
Plus, there is actual shopping and restaurants in Victoria... no more 90 minute drives for sushi!
5. I'm Good At Things That Don't Make Me Money
In addition to being an outstanding volunteer writer, I'm also quite adept at playing Fantasy sports.
All four of my baseball teams reside at or near the top of their respective divisions, with the two that are outside of first place being the hottest teams around and poised to make a move down the stretch.
And now it's time to get started on Fantasy Football, with Draft #1 taking place on Tuesday night.
I really need to find some hobbies that pay better.
6. If You're A Guy and You Don't Love I Love You, Man You Have to Surrender Your Testicles
It's just so awesome. I would argue there isn't a guy around who can't watch that movie and name two friends, one for each role, and remember numerous instances from the movie that happened in their own life.
And it does it without being horribly cheesy and cliche like most movies. Additionally, once we buy a house and actually settle down somewhere, I'm building a man cave like Jason Segel's.
No word yet on whether or not it will have a Masturbation Station.
You're welcome for that...
I'll end there...
Saturday, August 15, 2009
TSN Comes Through Again
And by comes through again, I mean "gives all the more validity to the letter I sent them last week being critical of their lack of coverage of Mixed Martial Arts, furthering my hopes of being hired to cover the sport for Canada's Sports Leader."
I understand not being a haven for Breaking News in the world of Mixed Martial Arts.
I can deal with the general lack of coverage the sport receives over Canadian staples like curling and the CFL.
What I can't comprehend and fail to understand is how an historic event like tonight's Strikeforce main event between Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg does not receive a single shred of mention on the entire site?
I'm not talking about no coverage on the main page; no, this is click through to the MMA section and find the square root of SFA about what is easily the biggest fight in the history of Women's MMA and one of the biggest moments the fastest growing sport in the world has produced in some time.
What's earning time instead?
Thales Leites and company getting dropped by the UFC is the feature story, even though that broke on Thursday and today is Saturday, while the top three headlines are Miguel Torres' loss to Brian Bowles, UFC 101 results and Vitor Belfort being Rich Franklin's opponent at UFC 103.
Two of the three mentions of Strikeforce on the entire page are still about Fedor, including the earth-shattering revelation that the Russian superstar signed with the company... some fourteen days ago now.
Let's see if we can't get something done about this, as fans of Mixed Martial Arts, as fans and supporters of TSN and as loyal followers of yours truly that want to see me succeed, if only so I stop whining like a kid with skinned knees for once in my life.
Email TSN expressing your frustration and let them know there is a marginally talented Canadian MMA writer willing to help them out that they should contact. His name is E. Spencer Kyte.
You can hit up the Audience Relations department at the following address:
audiencerelations@tsn.ca
Chances are it won't amount to anything - much like my letter / resume / portfolio trio that they've already received - but there is no harm in trying, right?
Thanks in advance for your support faithful followers.
If this doesn't work, I'm pledging my undying allegiance to Showdown Joe and Rogers Sportsnet!
Monday, August 10, 2009
I Understand and That's All That Matters
One of the things I've learned to deal with in pursuit of my writing career is a great dearth of understanding amongst friends and family.
Very few people can comprehend why I would put so much time and effort into what I do when the rewards appear to be so very little.
There was a time when I was part of that group about once or twice a month, wondering why I spend hours on end behind this keyboard, coming up with marginally-entertaining pieces and posting them for your consumption when most of the returns are anonymous hecklers telling me to quit.
But in the last few months, everything has become clearer to me; the path I'm on now has streetlights and I can see where I'm going. Just because others don't doesn't mean it isn't a valid journey.
Yesterday alone, over 1,500 people read my work at Keyboard Kimura, a far cry from the days of 42 people checking in here being the high water mark.
A large collection of respected and influential people in the Mixed Martial Arts business know my name and like my work, and nothing bad can come from that.
Just three months into writing about MMA - something I should have been doing a long, long time ago - my name is alongside some of the best in the business as a member of the MMA Fight Council Writer's Guild ... and not because I begged them to include me.
I've gotten to interview some great fighters, refine my skills on the keys and make a whole slew of friends and connections that can only serve me well moving forward.
A paying job it is not, but not everything in this world is about money. Sometimes it's about putting in your time because you know the money is out there and continued improvement and success will eventually bring it your way.
Have I chosen to pursue a career that is exceptionally difficult and has left many feeling unfulfilled? Absolutely, especially now with newspapers going the way of dinosaurs and the publishing industry cutting back in these harsh economic times.
But I would rather spend countless hours a week chasing my dream and winning little victories than giving up because I make less than $20 a month from writing and very few understand why I keep at it.
Even if nothing more comes of this, I'm happy and love what I do.
How many of the doubters who don't understand can honestly say that?
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
The Rundown: Fighting Favorites
I realized on the way home from work tonight that for all the time I spend talking about MMA on this site, I've never dropped a Rundown centered around the one thing outside of Sarah that my life is actually centered around.
How do I go well-over 500 posts without dropping the most easy-to-put-together list I could ever imagine? Well, no one ever said I was the smartest...
So after way too long a delay, let's get into the five fighters I'd fight you to the death over in today's Rundown.
All-Time Top 5 Favorite Fighters
5. Forrest Griffin
One of the winners from Season 1 of The Ultimate Fighter, Griffin will be the first to tell you that he's not that great of a fighter. He doesn't have a dominant skill like many guys these days and isn't going to knock you into next week with one shot any time soon.
What he does have is tremendous heart and drive. He beats guys he shouldn't beat and does it with a goofy smile on his big-eared face.
As of late, Griffin has been shooting up my rankings with his numerous comedic appearances in video segments, like the one where he tried selling copies of his book at Borders and his earnest assessment of things on UFC Countdown.
4. George St-Pierre
Canadian, dominant in almost every facet of the game and a tremendous ambassador for the sport, GSP is the face of the UFC and deserving of the role.
Additionally, he earns high marks in my books for his attire; while others rock horrific Affliction t-shirts with skulls and daggers and glitter, GSP sports a suit and looks crisp all the time.
What? You thought I stopped be a fashion guy all of a sudden?
3. Miguel Torres
The WEC Bantamweight champion is supremely confident and with good reason: sitting at 37-1 heading into his fight this weekend, Torres hasn't been beaten in nearly six years.
Torres goes a thousand every second of every round until the fight is over and throws out some crazy moves from time to time. Not many guys try a rolling kick ever, not to mention in a title fight against an undefeated opponent.
Best of all, Torres has a super mullet. Seriously. Google him. It's awesome in a "it's so bad it's good" kind of way.
2. Royce Gracie
The man who got me hooked on the sport and taught me that in Brazilian "R" is pronounced like an "H" is an absolute legend and will always be the best ever to fight in the UFC in my books.
Watching him submit guys over and over during those early UFC tournaments was simply unbelievable. as was his epic battle with "The Gracie Killer" Kazushi Sakuraba back in 2000.
We marvel at guys who fight 15 or 25 minute wars; those two went 90 minutes... just incredible.
1. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
Three words: Ricardo Arona Powerbomb.
It's going to be very hard for me to ever select something else as my all-time favorite knockout and it's going to be equally hard to knock Rampage off the top of my list.
Not only is he a dominant fighter, the dude is a video blog goldmine. Whether it's picking fights with Mo Lawal, playing bag-tag his omnipresent wingman Tiki Ghosn and Dana White or whatever, Rampage never ceases to make me laugh.
Then he goes in the ring, let's out his trademark howl and gets to "whippin' that ass" as he would say.
What's not to like?
Monday, August 3, 2009
Come Back Tomorrow
It's 1:00 p.m. my time, meaning I've been sitting here writing and working on all things MMA for the last six-and-a-half hours.
Forgive me, but my fingers and mind needs a break.
iBlog is closed for the day, but will return in full force tomorrow.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Dishonour Roll: TSN - The "Sports" Network
You can't rightfully call yourself "The Sports Network" anymore.
Why?
Just like MuchMusic is no longer "The Nation's Music Station" because of the no-longer-surprising lack of music videos that are actually shown, TSN is no longer just a home for sports.
Poker is not a sport.
The championship ping pong that was on yesterday morning is borderline.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is certainly not sports.
Of course, what cements my frustrations even more is the networks decision to pay absolutely zero attention whatsoever to the sport I am most passionate about - Mixed Martial Arts.
While some will certainly think this attack on TSN is that of a biased and hurt MMA fan - and that is of course partially true - it is also a valid point of contention from a long-time TSN viewer who doesn't understand current programming decisions.
I mean really, how can you devote an hour of your midday broadcast to showing Ping Pong?
Has there been a massive groundswell of support and outcries from a frustrated public who have demanded more network of a miniature version of tennis that I don't know about?
And don't even get me started on the ridiculousness of all the poker that runs on The Sports Network, though for what it's worth, all the sports networks are equally at fault on this one.
How do I get to watch repeat after repeat of the 2008 World Series of Poker, but barely a shred of MMA programming can work it's way into the rotation?
TSN occasionally carries the WEC, with episodes of WrekCage popping up from time-to-time and broadcasts of major cards from Versus appearing shortly after their completion.
Personally, I'd love to see what kind of numbers those WEC shows do on TSN, because something tells me that they do a lot better than spelling bees, ping pong, 467 poker tournaments that all look the same and the other dead-weight programming TSN carries.
I won't even get started on the TSN website MMA page, what with it's finger far removed from the pulse and everything.
You would think that a major network like TSN would pay attention to the trends of sports and keep an eye on the competition.
While Sportsnet and The Score have ramped up their MMA coverage in accordance with the sport's progression into the mainstream and upper echelon of the industry, TSN has done next to nothing.
Hard to call yourself "Canada's Sports Leader" when you're behind the rest of the pack on the fastest growing sport in the world.
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