Mark L. Van Name's Blog, page 231
September 29, 2011
On the road again: Portland, day 3
Another day of all work and so not much to report on that front.
Lunch involved work but was at a nifty place, The Venetian, in Hillsboro. The Venetian is an old theater that the owners rehabbed into a combination theater and restaurant. The food is basic but tasty, and the theater is gorgeous. I wish we had something like this in Raleigh.
Dinner was at one of my all-time favorite restaurants, Le Pigeon. Chef Gabriel Rucker, who won this year's Beard for Best Rising Star in the U.S., whipped up a nine-course tasting menu for us, and every single dish in it was excellent, as always. Rucker's plates are complex, strongly flavored creations, and I enjoy them immensely.
I'd go on, but it's late and I'm exhausted, so I will say again what I have said many times before: If you're in this area or visiting it, you must eat at Le Pigeon.
Lunch involved work but was at a nifty place, The Venetian, in Hillsboro. The Venetian is an old theater that the owners rehabbed into a combination theater and restaurant. The food is basic but tasty, and the theater is gorgeous. I wish we had something like this in Raleigh.
Dinner was at one of my all-time favorite restaurants, Le Pigeon. Chef Gabriel Rucker, who won this year's Beard for Best Rising Star in the U.S., whipped up a nine-course tasting menu for us, and every single dish in it was excellent, as always. Rucker's plates are complex, strongly flavored creations, and I enjoy them immensely.
I'd go on, but it's late and I'm exhausted, so I will say again what I have said many times before: If you're in this area or visiting it, you must eat at Le Pigeon.
September 28, 2011
On the road again: Portland, day 2
You know I won't tell you about my work meetings on these trips, so don't even ask. Sorry, but that's the way it is.
What I will tell you about is dinner, which was an oh-my-God, how-did-I-not-eat-here-earlier extraordinary meal at Castagna.
Let's start with your action item: If you live anywhere near Portland or will be coming here, make your reservations now. Go for the tasting menu, as we did. Yeah, the $95 per person cost isn't cheap, but if you need to sell a little plasma to pay for it, you'll be glad you did.
Every single dish we tasted--the ten on the tasting menu, plus five small warm-ups evocative of bar snacks that have gone through a magic machine and come out heavenly--was delicious and beautiful and playful and told a story. Every one involved your taste, your smell, your vision, your heart, and your head.
Woodward combines the most modern food chemistry techniques with local ingredients and a strong focus on the season. Evocative of the way Adria never let his love of cooking and science techniques overshadow his love of the food of his region, Woodward's dishes always told stories even as they appeared in unexpected designs with amazing flavors.
For example, a dish innocently named on the menu as
Chanterelles with young pine, leaves and watercress
appeared almost as a bit of forest undergrowth, brown and rich and fertile--and also amazingly delicious.
Many restaurants that focus on modern techniques are all about subtle tastes, but not Castagna. Woodward embraces strong flavors, so that each dish delivered a powerful set of tastes, all of them complementary.
I've also found that many of those same restaurants fall down in the dessert department. Again, not Castagna. When we talked with him, Woodward mentioned having spent time making pastries at WD50, and that experience showed in the extremely strong three desserts on the menu.
For example, the dish called
Huckleberries with walnuts and fig milk
was like a cobbler that had grown up, gone to New York, gotten a three-piece-suit job on Wall Street, and then returned years later wiser and ready to embrace the virtues of its home town. A delicious sprawl of all those ingredients and more, every bite of this deconstructed dessert was a treat.
I could go on and on, but you get the point: Go to Castagna and let Woodward and his team work their culinary magic on you.
What I will tell you about is dinner, which was an oh-my-God, how-did-I-not-eat-here-earlier extraordinary meal at Castagna.
Let's start with your action item: If you live anywhere near Portland or will be coming here, make your reservations now. Go for the tasting menu, as we did. Yeah, the $95 per person cost isn't cheap, but if you need to sell a little plasma to pay for it, you'll be glad you did.
Every single dish we tasted--the ten on the tasting menu, plus five small warm-ups evocative of bar snacks that have gone through a magic machine and come out heavenly--was delicious and beautiful and playful and told a story. Every one involved your taste, your smell, your vision, your heart, and your head.
Woodward combines the most modern food chemistry techniques with local ingredients and a strong focus on the season. Evocative of the way Adria never let his love of cooking and science techniques overshadow his love of the food of his region, Woodward's dishes always told stories even as they appeared in unexpected designs with amazing flavors.
For example, a dish innocently named on the menu as
Chanterelles with young pine, leaves and watercress
appeared almost as a bit of forest undergrowth, brown and rich and fertile--and also amazingly delicious.
Many restaurants that focus on modern techniques are all about subtle tastes, but not Castagna. Woodward embraces strong flavors, so that each dish delivered a powerful set of tastes, all of them complementary.
I've also found that many of those same restaurants fall down in the dessert department. Again, not Castagna. When we talked with him, Woodward mentioned having spent time making pastries at WD50, and that experience showed in the extremely strong three desserts on the menu.
For example, the dish called
Huckleberries with walnuts and fig milk
was like a cobbler that had grown up, gone to New York, gotten a three-piece-suit job on Wall Street, and then returned years later wiser and ready to embrace the virtues of its home town. A delicious sprawl of all those ingredients and more, every bite of this deconstructed dessert was a treat.
I could go on and on, but you get the point: Go to Castagna and let Woodward and his team work their culinary magic on you.
September 27, 2011
On the road again: Seattle, day 2 / Portland, day 1
The sky was never fully blue for the short time we were in Seattle, but the weather was generally lovely.
Work meetings filled the early part of the day, and then we drove to Portland. I was mostly either driving, which meant focusing on the rather considerable amount of traffic, or working, which kept me looking down, so I didn't get to pay much attention to the scenery. What I saw, though, was lush and, when we weren't in the land of strip malls, quite pretty.
Dinner in Portland was at Gabriel Rucker's second restaurant, Little Bird. We sampled several small plates, and all were very tasty. The potato, bacon, and fromage side dish is a favorite of mine, a small bowl of potato-y, bacony, cheesy comfort-food goodness, exactly the sort of thing you wish your mom had known how to make.
As I always note, if you live here or visit here, you should make time to eat at Little Bird.
Work meetings filled the early part of the day, and then we drove to Portland. I was mostly either driving, which meant focusing on the rather considerable amount of traffic, or working, which kept me looking down, so I didn't get to pay much attention to the scenery. What I saw, though, was lush and, when we weren't in the land of strip malls, quite pretty.
Dinner in Portland was at Gabriel Rucker's second restaurant, Little Bird. We sampled several small plates, and all were very tasty. The potato, bacon, and fromage side dish is a favorite of mine, a small bowl of potato-y, bacony, cheesy comfort-food goodness, exactly the sort of thing you wish your mom had known how to make.
As I always note, if you live here or visit here, you should make time to eat at Little Bird.
September 26, 2011
On the road again: Seattle, day 1
A few notes to the rude and inconsiderate man ahead of me at the x-ray station in RDU this morning:
* The rule is two carry-on bags. That's two. Not your two large rolling bags and your briefcase. That would be three.
* No man should need nine--yes, nine--little three-ounce containers in his carry-on baggie of personal products. I know the number because I was waiting so long for you to move through the line that I had time to count them multiple times.
* It's okay to put shoes and belt in one bin. You personally consumed eight slots on the metal tables: five plastic bins, plus your three carry-ons. That's too many for one person. Hell, it's too many for two people. Learn the rules.
* Leaving your last carry-on in the aisle next to the luggage tables so it blocks everyone else is an asshole move. You are not alone in the world, and you're certainly not alone on the security line.
Can you tell that this idiot pissed me off?
Anyway, his rudeness started my travel morning, and a flight to Chicago in a non-exit-row seat with the jerk in front of me leaning all the way back so I could not work kept the good times flowing.
Happily, my fortune reversed in Chicago, where I was able to work in the Admiral's Club, get some lunch at a food court, and then sit in an exit row, buy bandwidth, and work on the flight. Upgrades were out of the question on this excessively crowded flying day--both flights were way, way oversold--but I have no right to complain when I have an exit-row aisle seat and bandwidth.
A wet gray blanket covered the Seattle area as we landed, and it's still here. The temperature, though, is lovely, and I do like having the humidity.
Dinner was good but not great in the hotel's restaurant; just too much work to do to be able to afford the time to go elsewhere.
Soon, I will fall over and go boom. I need some sleep.
* The rule is two carry-on bags. That's two. Not your two large rolling bags and your briefcase. That would be three.
* No man should need nine--yes, nine--little three-ounce containers in his carry-on baggie of personal products. I know the number because I was waiting so long for you to move through the line that I had time to count them multiple times.
* It's okay to put shoes and belt in one bin. You personally consumed eight slots on the metal tables: five plastic bins, plus your three carry-ons. That's too many for one person. Hell, it's too many for two people. Learn the rules.
* Leaving your last carry-on in the aisle next to the luggage tables so it blocks everyone else is an asshole move. You are not alone in the world, and you're certainly not alone on the security line.
Can you tell that this idiot pissed me off?
Anyway, his rudeness started my travel morning, and a flight to Chicago in a non-exit-row seat with the jerk in front of me leaning all the way back so I could not work kept the good times flowing.
Happily, my fortune reversed in Chicago, where I was able to work in the Admiral's Club, get some lunch at a food court, and then sit in an exit row, buy bandwidth, and work on the flight. Upgrades were out of the question on this excessively crowded flying day--both flights were way, way oversold--but I have no right to complain when I have an exit-row aisle seat and bandwidth.
A wet gray blanket covered the Seattle area as we landed, and it's still here. The temperature, though, is lovely, and I do like having the humidity.
Dinner was good but not great in the hotel's restaurant; just too much work to do to be able to afford the time to go elsewhere.
Soon, I will fall over and go boom. I need some sleep.
September 25, 2011
UFC 135: How we fared
Last night's UFC 135 was generally fun to watch, though a couple of the heavyweight bouts were painful at times. Kyle and I disagreed on three picks, so someone was going to emerge the winner.
Let's see who it was.
We start as always with the preliminary fights. We were fortunate enough to get to see two of the three as fillers on the later shows.
James Te Huna vs. Ricardo Romero
We both opted for the grappler, Romero, to triumph over the striker, Te Huna. Boy, were we wrong. Romero looked like he was moving in slow motion, and Te Huna took little time in picking him apart. Forty-seven seconds after the fight started, Te Huna knocked out Romero. We began the night 0-1.
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Cole Escovedo
I opted for Escovedo in what I thought would be three rounds of ugly. Kyle chose Mizugaki. Kyle was right. Mizugaki won the first round, and in the second he dominated Escovedo until the ref swooped in for the save and Mizugaki earned the TKO victory.
I was 0-2, while Kyle went to 1-1.
Junior Assuncao vs. Eddie Yagin
In the one fight we didn't get to see, Kyle and I again disagreed. I figured Assuncao would win if for no other reason than that this was Yagin's UFC debut. Kyle opted for Yagin, because Yagin trains with a better team.
Fortunately for me, Assuncao dominated the fight and won every round en route to a unanimous-decision win.
I was then 1-2, as was Kyle.
On to the matches that aired on Spike TV.
Tony Ferguson vs. Aaron Riley
We both chose Ferguson, and I said I didn't expect the fight to last all three rounds.
It didn't.
A vicious uppercut from Ferguson broke Riley's jaw midway through the first round. Riley, who was as touch as they come, finished the round but after the bell told his coaches his jaw was broken. It sure seemed to be, and they called off the fight.
Ferguson took us both to 2-2.
Nick Ring vs. Tim Boetsch
I have to hand it to Ring: he was bigger, stronger, and tougher than either of us expected him to be. He even won the first round, though not by a lot. In the second and third, however Boetsch kept beating him up and scoring points. Those two rounds gave Boetsch the unanimous-decision victory and put the two of us above .500 for the first time at 3-2.
Then it was time for the PPV.
Ben Rothwell vs. Mark Hunt
This fight was the last one on which Kyle and I disagreed. I figured Rothwell could stay away from Hunt and win a decision--though I also said I was not at all sure I was right. Kyle called for Hunt by knockout.
Neither of us was completely right, but Kyle at least called the victor correctly, as Mark Hunt left with a unanimous-decision victory. Along the way, though, both men gassed as completely as I've ever seen fighters gas. Both could barely breathe and looked like they could fall over at any moment. Hunt clearly deserved the win, however, so I cannot complain.
I lost for the night and went to 3-3, while Kyle was at 4-2.
Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
There was not one second of the 4:27 that this fight lasted in which Gomi looked like he had a chance. Diaz dominated him striking, then ended up on the ground and submitted him with an armbar.
Fortunately, we both picked Diaz to win. I again went over 50-50 to 4-3, while Kyle was 5-2.
Travis Browne vs. Rob Broughton
We both picked Browne to win by knockout. We were half right: Browne won, but it took him all three rounds and a great deal of work. The two heavyweights were clearly gassed long before the bout ended. Perhaps Dana White and Joe Silva should rethink the plan of putting heavyweights to work in Denver.
I was then 5-3, while Kyle was 6-2.
Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck
For about two minutes, Matt Hughes actually looked like the crisper striker. For the next minute, it looked like it might be a good contest. The remaining time was clearly Koscheck's, as he hurt Hughes, knocked him down, and then knocked him out with one second left in the fight.
We were both right to pick Koscheck, but I still wish Hughes had won. Kyle hits 7-2, while I move to 6-3.
Jon Jones vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
Rampage looked as good as I've ever seen him. He was conservative. He landed a few strikes. He did his best.
It was simply nowhere near good enough. Jon Jones dominated the entire fight and with a little more than a minute left in the fourth round did something no else had ever done: finished Rampage (with a rear naked choke) in the Octagon.
The conclusion left us all chatting about who could even stand a chance against Jones. Of the current 205 crop, our best guess is Machida. I don't think it will be Jones' next opponent, Rashad Evans.
Jones is fighting at a completely different level than the rest of his weight class. He is as good as all the hype around him says he is. If he can keep his head straight, he could be the first Light Heavyweight champion in some years to hold the belt for a long time.
I ended the night 7-3, while Kyle beat me with an 8-2 record. We tied last time, so at least he's not on a streak.
As always, don't use us for betting advice!
Let's see who it was.
We start as always with the preliminary fights. We were fortunate enough to get to see two of the three as fillers on the later shows.
James Te Huna vs. Ricardo Romero
We both opted for the grappler, Romero, to triumph over the striker, Te Huna. Boy, were we wrong. Romero looked like he was moving in slow motion, and Te Huna took little time in picking him apart. Forty-seven seconds after the fight started, Te Huna knocked out Romero. We began the night 0-1.
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Cole Escovedo
I opted for Escovedo in what I thought would be three rounds of ugly. Kyle chose Mizugaki. Kyle was right. Mizugaki won the first round, and in the second he dominated Escovedo until the ref swooped in for the save and Mizugaki earned the TKO victory.
I was 0-2, while Kyle went to 1-1.
Junior Assuncao vs. Eddie Yagin
In the one fight we didn't get to see, Kyle and I again disagreed. I figured Assuncao would win if for no other reason than that this was Yagin's UFC debut. Kyle opted for Yagin, because Yagin trains with a better team.
Fortunately for me, Assuncao dominated the fight and won every round en route to a unanimous-decision win.
I was then 1-2, as was Kyle.
On to the matches that aired on Spike TV.
Tony Ferguson vs. Aaron Riley
We both chose Ferguson, and I said I didn't expect the fight to last all three rounds.
It didn't.
A vicious uppercut from Ferguson broke Riley's jaw midway through the first round. Riley, who was as touch as they come, finished the round but after the bell told his coaches his jaw was broken. It sure seemed to be, and they called off the fight.
Ferguson took us both to 2-2.
Nick Ring vs. Tim Boetsch
I have to hand it to Ring: he was bigger, stronger, and tougher than either of us expected him to be. He even won the first round, though not by a lot. In the second and third, however Boetsch kept beating him up and scoring points. Those two rounds gave Boetsch the unanimous-decision victory and put the two of us above .500 for the first time at 3-2.
Then it was time for the PPV.
Ben Rothwell vs. Mark Hunt
This fight was the last one on which Kyle and I disagreed. I figured Rothwell could stay away from Hunt and win a decision--though I also said I was not at all sure I was right. Kyle called for Hunt by knockout.
Neither of us was completely right, but Kyle at least called the victor correctly, as Mark Hunt left with a unanimous-decision victory. Along the way, though, both men gassed as completely as I've ever seen fighters gas. Both could barely breathe and looked like they could fall over at any moment. Hunt clearly deserved the win, however, so I cannot complain.
I lost for the night and went to 3-3, while Kyle was at 4-2.
Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
There was not one second of the 4:27 that this fight lasted in which Gomi looked like he had a chance. Diaz dominated him striking, then ended up on the ground and submitted him with an armbar.
Fortunately, we both picked Diaz to win. I again went over 50-50 to 4-3, while Kyle was 5-2.
Travis Browne vs. Rob Broughton
We both picked Browne to win by knockout. We were half right: Browne won, but it took him all three rounds and a great deal of work. The two heavyweights were clearly gassed long before the bout ended. Perhaps Dana White and Joe Silva should rethink the plan of putting heavyweights to work in Denver.
I was then 5-3, while Kyle was 6-2.
Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck
For about two minutes, Matt Hughes actually looked like the crisper striker. For the next minute, it looked like it might be a good contest. The remaining time was clearly Koscheck's, as he hurt Hughes, knocked him down, and then knocked him out with one second left in the fight.
We were both right to pick Koscheck, but I still wish Hughes had won. Kyle hits 7-2, while I move to 6-3.
Jon Jones vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
Rampage looked as good as I've ever seen him. He was conservative. He landed a few strikes. He did his best.
It was simply nowhere near good enough. Jon Jones dominated the entire fight and with a little more than a minute left in the fourth round did something no else had ever done: finished Rampage (with a rear naked choke) in the Octagon.
The conclusion left us all chatting about who could even stand a chance against Jones. Of the current 205 crop, our best guess is Machida. I don't think it will be Jones' next opponent, Rashad Evans.
Jones is fighting at a completely different level than the rest of his weight class. He is as good as all the hype around him says he is. If he can keep his head straight, he could be the first Light Heavyweight champion in some years to hold the belt for a long time.
I ended the night 7-3, while Kyle beat me with an 8-2 record. We tied last time, so at least he's not on a streak.
As always, don't use us for betting advice!
September 24, 2011
UFC 135: Kyle and I pick 'em
Tonight's UFC 135 has so many fun fights that Kyle and I decided to put ourselves to the test once again. Here's how we seem the bouts going, starting, as always, with the three that won't be on cable TV. (You can catch them, though, on Facebook.)
We haven't posted any fight picks in over two months, so when Kyle suggested it, I jumped at the idea. This card is loaded with good fights, so it's going to be a joy to watch.
Here are our picks for the preliminary fights that are not on Spike TV or the PPV event, though you can catch them live on the UFC's Facebook page.
James Te Huna vs. Ricardo Romero
Mark: Pit an okay striker against an okay grappler, and the grappler will usually carry the day. Romero is the better wrestler here, so I'm going with him.
Kyle: Te Huna and Romero both have impressive records outside the UFC, but have only gone 1-1 since coming to the big show. This is do or die for them. Romero is the better grappler. Te Huna is the better striker. In such cases I'm inclined to pick the better wrestler. Romero for the win.
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Cole Escovedo
Mark: Expect a full three rounds of ugly, back-and-forth fighting as neither man is likely to finish the other. In the end, I'm going with Escovedo as the winner by decision of a close bout.
Kyle: Mizugaki and Escovedo are both crossovers from the WEC, where they have long records and have faced some of the best bantamweights in the division. They have similar styles, combining journeyman-level striking skills with journeyman-level grappling. This should be an even, incremental fight. But I think Mizugaki's a little bit tougher and has held his own against slightly stronger competition in the past. Mizugaki should take it in the end.
Junior Assuncao vs. Eddie Yagin
Mark: Pretty much all I know about Yagin is that he's won seven of his last eight fights, and this is his UFC debut. I've read several folks picking him, but I'm going with Octagon jitters affecting him and Assuncao getting a much-needed victory.
Kyle: After losing fights to Kurt Pellegrino and Nate Diaz, Junior Assuncao got sent back to the minors, but four years and seven victories later he's back in the UFC and fighting for a second chance against newcomer Eddie Yagin. I don't know much about either fighter, but I''m picking Yagin because he comes from a stronger team. He trains at Alliance MMA with Joey Beltran, Travis Browne, Dominick Cruz, Phil Davis, and Brandon Vera. Assuncao trains with Rory Singer in Georgia, where there just aren't as many UFC-caliber fighters to push him to a higher level. Yagin to win.
The next two fights will be available for free on Spike TV.
Tony Ferguson vs. Aaron Riley
Mark: Aaron Riley has participated in a lot of great fights and logged a ton of victories, but this fight won't be one of them. Tony Ferguson will beat him both striking and on the ground. I don't expect this one to last three rounds before Ferguson emerges the victor.
Kyle: Ferguson is the most recent winner of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, and Riley is the experienced past-his-prime veteran that the UFC is using to build Ferguson up further. Riley's a game brawler, but Ferguson is better-conditioned and more technical. Expect Ferguson to wear Riley down, avoid his haymakers, and get the win.
Nick Ring vs. Tim Boetsch
Mark: Ring will enter the Octagon undefeated but will exit with his first loss as Boetsch, who should now be comfortable at 185, will be just too strong and too tough for him to handle. It's 50-50 whether Boetsch finishes Ring, but Boetsch will win.
Kyle: Nick "I'm not gay but my boyfriend is" Ring was the best thing about season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter, but he's going to have his hands full with Tim Boetsch. Boetsch, aptly nicknamed "The Barbarian," looked like an absolute beast in his first fight at 185, smashing Kendall Grove for three rounds straight and sending him packing right out of the UFC. Ring is a technical kick-boxer who's going to want to keep his distance and punish Boetsch with leg kicks from the outside. But Boetsch has the wrestling chops to tie up with Ring, dirty box against the cage, and drag Ring to the ground for more abuse. Boetsch by assault and battery.
To see the final five fights, you have to pony up for the PPV.
Ben Rothwell vs. Mark Hunt
Mark: Ben Rothwell could win this fight. All he has to do is piss off Dana White by playing it safe, flicking jabs, clinching on the fence, taking down Hunt, and walking out with the decision.
Alternatively, Rothwell could do what the UFC wants him to do: stand in the center of the octagon and trade punches with Hunt in a bid to land the Fight of the Night bonus--a bonus likely to be far larger than his paycheck if he wins.
I'm really torn on this one, but I'm hoping a desire to win after over a year in rehab leads Rothwell to fight intelligently. So, I'm going with Rothwell--but I'm not at all sure I'm right to do so.
Kyle: When 524 pounds of ham-fisted heavyweights walk into the cage Saturday night, somebody's getting knocked out. That much we can be relatively sure of. Rothwell's best chance is to get Hunt to the ground and dominate with ground-and-pound. But I don't think he's going to be able to resist the temptation to brawl, and Hunt has head and hands of granite. Hunt by KO.
Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
Mark: If this were the Gomi of a few years ago, when he was tearing up fighters in Japan, he'd still lose to Nate Diaz--but the fight would be closer. Gomi is not that guy any longer, and the competition in the UFC is way tougher than it was in Japan. Diaz will do what the Diaz brothers do: flick and jab and slap and generally annoy from a distance, slowly but surely chop up Gomi, and hope Gomi takes him down so he can pull a submission. Whether by points or submission, though, Diaz will walk out the winner.
Kyle: Four years ago, Gomi was solidly beaten by Nate's older brother Nick--only to see the decision overturned when Nick Diaz tested positive for smoking marijuana before the fight. Nick and Nate have similar styles, and Gomi hasn't gotten any better in the meantime. Diaz should be able to frustrate Gomi on the feet with pitter-pat strikes, tie him up on the ground with superior jiu jitsu, and earn the win.
Travis Browne vs. Rob Broughton
Mark: The UFC must be thinking ahead and wanting another undefeated heavyweight, because that's the only reason I can figure they would feed Broughton to the undefeated Browne. Browne will destroy Broughton in a fight that won't last long.
Kyle: Browne comes into the ring with a five-inch height advantage and an undefeated record. He's beaten Stefan Struve and fought Cheick Kongo to a draw. Broughton is a step down for him. It's not a step that he should have any trouble taking. Browne by knockout.
Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck
Mark: I've never found a reason to like Josh Koscheck, and just about everything I've seen him do has increased my dislike of him. So, I'd love to see Hall of Famer Matt Hughes spank his blond butt. The problem is, Hughes at his best would have had a tough time with Koscheck, and Hughes is no longer at his best. Koscheck will be better in every area and walk away the winner.
Kyle: Like most wrestler vs. wrestler match-ups, this one will probably take place entirely on the feet. Unfortunately for Matt Hughes, despite his recent work on improving his striking skills, he's at a tremendous reach disadvantage vs. Josh Koscheck. Expect a kickboxing match between powerful and competent strikers with Koscheck eventually getting the knockout.
Jon Jones vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
Mark: I would love to see Rampage win this fight, simply because it would continue the win-it-and-lose-it pattern that's been dogging this Light Heavyweight championship for a while. Rampage even has a puncher's chance, because if Jones gets sloppy, Rampage can knock him out with one punch.
Jones won't, though, get sloppy. Greg Jackson will have trained him too well, and he's generally not an emotional fighter.
Without sloppiness to help him, Rampage will have to face the harsh reality that's afflicted everyone who's faced Jones: Jones is bigger, stronger, and has a vastly longer reach than he does--and Jones is insanely talented.
Jones will win this one, and everyone else at 205 will be left desperately trying to figure out how to beat him.
Kyle: This is Jones's fight to lose. Jackson brings some of the best boxing in the UFC, but Jones simply has more weapons, especially his tremendous reach advantage. Jones should be able to use leg kicks to chop down Jackson the way Forrest Griffin did, but with even more size and aggression. Jackson has a puncher's chance, but the odds are that he's going to lose the fight everywhere it goes.
Tomorrow, I'll report back on how we did.
As always, don't use us for betting advice!
We haven't posted any fight picks in over two months, so when Kyle suggested it, I jumped at the idea. This card is loaded with good fights, so it's going to be a joy to watch.
Here are our picks for the preliminary fights that are not on Spike TV or the PPV event, though you can catch them live on the UFC's Facebook page.
James Te Huna vs. Ricardo Romero
Mark: Pit an okay striker against an okay grappler, and the grappler will usually carry the day. Romero is the better wrestler here, so I'm going with him.
Kyle: Te Huna and Romero both have impressive records outside the UFC, but have only gone 1-1 since coming to the big show. This is do or die for them. Romero is the better grappler. Te Huna is the better striker. In such cases I'm inclined to pick the better wrestler. Romero for the win.
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Cole Escovedo
Mark: Expect a full three rounds of ugly, back-and-forth fighting as neither man is likely to finish the other. In the end, I'm going with Escovedo as the winner by decision of a close bout.
Kyle: Mizugaki and Escovedo are both crossovers from the WEC, where they have long records and have faced some of the best bantamweights in the division. They have similar styles, combining journeyman-level striking skills with journeyman-level grappling. This should be an even, incremental fight. But I think Mizugaki's a little bit tougher and has held his own against slightly stronger competition in the past. Mizugaki should take it in the end.
Junior Assuncao vs. Eddie Yagin
Mark: Pretty much all I know about Yagin is that he's won seven of his last eight fights, and this is his UFC debut. I've read several folks picking him, but I'm going with Octagon jitters affecting him and Assuncao getting a much-needed victory.
Kyle: After losing fights to Kurt Pellegrino and Nate Diaz, Junior Assuncao got sent back to the minors, but four years and seven victories later he's back in the UFC and fighting for a second chance against newcomer Eddie Yagin. I don't know much about either fighter, but I''m picking Yagin because he comes from a stronger team. He trains at Alliance MMA with Joey Beltran, Travis Browne, Dominick Cruz, Phil Davis, and Brandon Vera. Assuncao trains with Rory Singer in Georgia, where there just aren't as many UFC-caliber fighters to push him to a higher level. Yagin to win.
The next two fights will be available for free on Spike TV.
Tony Ferguson vs. Aaron Riley
Mark: Aaron Riley has participated in a lot of great fights and logged a ton of victories, but this fight won't be one of them. Tony Ferguson will beat him both striking and on the ground. I don't expect this one to last three rounds before Ferguson emerges the victor.
Kyle: Ferguson is the most recent winner of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, and Riley is the experienced past-his-prime veteran that the UFC is using to build Ferguson up further. Riley's a game brawler, but Ferguson is better-conditioned and more technical. Expect Ferguson to wear Riley down, avoid his haymakers, and get the win.
Nick Ring vs. Tim Boetsch
Mark: Ring will enter the Octagon undefeated but will exit with his first loss as Boetsch, who should now be comfortable at 185, will be just too strong and too tough for him to handle. It's 50-50 whether Boetsch finishes Ring, but Boetsch will win.
Kyle: Nick "I'm not gay but my boyfriend is" Ring was the best thing about season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter, but he's going to have his hands full with Tim Boetsch. Boetsch, aptly nicknamed "The Barbarian," looked like an absolute beast in his first fight at 185, smashing Kendall Grove for three rounds straight and sending him packing right out of the UFC. Ring is a technical kick-boxer who's going to want to keep his distance and punish Boetsch with leg kicks from the outside. But Boetsch has the wrestling chops to tie up with Ring, dirty box against the cage, and drag Ring to the ground for more abuse. Boetsch by assault and battery.
To see the final five fights, you have to pony up for the PPV.
Ben Rothwell vs. Mark Hunt
Mark: Ben Rothwell could win this fight. All he has to do is piss off Dana White by playing it safe, flicking jabs, clinching on the fence, taking down Hunt, and walking out with the decision.
Alternatively, Rothwell could do what the UFC wants him to do: stand in the center of the octagon and trade punches with Hunt in a bid to land the Fight of the Night bonus--a bonus likely to be far larger than his paycheck if he wins.
I'm really torn on this one, but I'm hoping a desire to win after over a year in rehab leads Rothwell to fight intelligently. So, I'm going with Rothwell--but I'm not at all sure I'm right to do so.
Kyle: When 524 pounds of ham-fisted heavyweights walk into the cage Saturday night, somebody's getting knocked out. That much we can be relatively sure of. Rothwell's best chance is to get Hunt to the ground and dominate with ground-and-pound. But I don't think he's going to be able to resist the temptation to brawl, and Hunt has head and hands of granite. Hunt by KO.
Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
Mark: If this were the Gomi of a few years ago, when he was tearing up fighters in Japan, he'd still lose to Nate Diaz--but the fight would be closer. Gomi is not that guy any longer, and the competition in the UFC is way tougher than it was in Japan. Diaz will do what the Diaz brothers do: flick and jab and slap and generally annoy from a distance, slowly but surely chop up Gomi, and hope Gomi takes him down so he can pull a submission. Whether by points or submission, though, Diaz will walk out the winner.
Kyle: Four years ago, Gomi was solidly beaten by Nate's older brother Nick--only to see the decision overturned when Nick Diaz tested positive for smoking marijuana before the fight. Nick and Nate have similar styles, and Gomi hasn't gotten any better in the meantime. Diaz should be able to frustrate Gomi on the feet with pitter-pat strikes, tie him up on the ground with superior jiu jitsu, and earn the win.
Travis Browne vs. Rob Broughton
Mark: The UFC must be thinking ahead and wanting another undefeated heavyweight, because that's the only reason I can figure they would feed Broughton to the undefeated Browne. Browne will destroy Broughton in a fight that won't last long.
Kyle: Browne comes into the ring with a five-inch height advantage and an undefeated record. He's beaten Stefan Struve and fought Cheick Kongo to a draw. Broughton is a step down for him. It's not a step that he should have any trouble taking. Browne by knockout.
Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck
Mark: I've never found a reason to like Josh Koscheck, and just about everything I've seen him do has increased my dislike of him. So, I'd love to see Hall of Famer Matt Hughes spank his blond butt. The problem is, Hughes at his best would have had a tough time with Koscheck, and Hughes is no longer at his best. Koscheck will be better in every area and walk away the winner.
Kyle: Like most wrestler vs. wrestler match-ups, this one will probably take place entirely on the feet. Unfortunately for Matt Hughes, despite his recent work on improving his striking skills, he's at a tremendous reach disadvantage vs. Josh Koscheck. Expect a kickboxing match between powerful and competent strikers with Koscheck eventually getting the knockout.
Jon Jones vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
Mark: I would love to see Rampage win this fight, simply because it would continue the win-it-and-lose-it pattern that's been dogging this Light Heavyweight championship for a while. Rampage even has a puncher's chance, because if Jones gets sloppy, Rampage can knock him out with one punch.
Jones won't, though, get sloppy. Greg Jackson will have trained him too well, and he's generally not an emotional fighter.
Without sloppiness to help him, Rampage will have to face the harsh reality that's afflicted everyone who's faced Jones: Jones is bigger, stronger, and has a vastly longer reach than he does--and Jones is insanely talented.
Jones will win this one, and everyone else at 205 will be left desperately trying to figure out how to beat him.
Kyle: This is Jones's fight to lose. Jackson brings some of the best boxing in the UFC, but Jones simply has more weapons, especially his tremendous reach advantage. Jones should be able to use leg kicks to chop down Jackson the way Forrest Griffin did, but with even more size and aggression. Jackson has a puncher's chance, but the odds are that he's going to lose the fight everywhere it goes.
Tomorrow, I'll report back on how we did.
As always, don't use us for betting advice!
September 23, 2011
About that conversation
In yesterday's blog entry, I shared a fragment of a conversation that left me fighting inappropriate laughter.
If you haven't read that yet, go do so now. I'll wait.
Back? Good.
I promised to provide the context, which despite the tone of much of what the other person said was decidely non-sexual.
About eight days ago, I noticed a slight swelling on the right side of my face along the jaw line below and just barely in front of my ear. I had no pain and no other symptoms; just the swelling. When I felt the area, I realized that I had a lump there.
Despite my natural paranoid tendency to jump right to the worst thing I could think of (cancer! tumor!), online research suggested strongly it was an issue with the parotid gland, which is a saliva gland in that very location.
When I returned home from last week's travel, I headed straight to my ENT for his opinion on the lump.
He stared up my nose, in my ears, down my throat, and in my mouth. He palpated the lump on the outside. He stuck a gloved finger in my mouth and for several seconds rubbed the inside of my cheek.
That rubbing, as it turns out, was him expressing the salivary gland, i.e., causing it to emit saliva. If it could not do so under the pressure of his fingers, that would mean a stone (yes, you can get saliva stones) had blocked the gland. If the gland emitted milky saliva, that would mean a stone might be in it.
Neither was the case. The gland "came clear."
He prescribed me a ten-day course of antibiotics and massage of the lump, which is what he meant when he said I should "milk the gland." The three-finger motion he mentioned is just how he wants me to rub my jaw.
So, I have a small lump that I hope antibiotics and massage will cause to disappear.
The conversation fragment was way better than the reality.
If you haven't read that yet, go do so now. I'll wait.
Back? Good.
I promised to provide the context, which despite the tone of much of what the other person said was decidely non-sexual.
About eight days ago, I noticed a slight swelling on the right side of my face along the jaw line below and just barely in front of my ear. I had no pain and no other symptoms; just the swelling. When I felt the area, I realized that I had a lump there.
Despite my natural paranoid tendency to jump right to the worst thing I could think of (cancer! tumor!), online research suggested strongly it was an issue with the parotid gland, which is a saliva gland in that very location.
When I returned home from last week's travel, I headed straight to my ENT for his opinion on the lump.
He stared up my nose, in my ears, down my throat, and in my mouth. He palpated the lump on the outside. He stuck a gloved finger in my mouth and for several seconds rubbed the inside of my cheek.
That rubbing, as it turns out, was him expressing the salivary gland, i.e., causing it to emit saliva. If it could not do so under the pressure of his fingers, that would mean a stone (yes, you can get saliva stones) had blocked the gland. If the gland emitted milky saliva, that would mean a stone might be in it.
Neither was the case. The gland "came clear."
He prescribed me a ten-day course of antibiotics and massage of the lump, which is what he meant when he said I should "milk the gland." The three-finger motion he mentioned is just how he wants me to rub my jaw.
So, I have a small lump that I hope antibiotics and massage will cause to disappear.
The conversation fragment was way better than the reality.
September 22, 2011
Fragment of a conversation
I recently had a conversation with a person that struck me as so odd that I could barely keep myself from laughing during it. Here's a fragment of that exchange.
Tomorrow, I'll tell you.
Person: Did that hurt at all?Can you guess the context?
Me: No.
Person: Good. I expressed the gland.
Me: Okay.
Person: It came clear.
Me: That's good?
Person: Yes. If it came milky, that would be a sign of a problem.
Me: Uh-huh.
Person: What I want you to do now is milk the gland at least four times a day.
Me: Okay.
Person: Use the three-finger milking technique, like this. [demonstrates]
Me: Okay.
Person: At least ten strokes each time you milk it.
Me: Okay.
Tomorrow, I'll tell you.
September 21, 2011
An alternate perspective: Tigger answers the Dr. Efficient questions, #4
Warning: The following is an adult entry. If you are underage or simply do not want to read about sex-related topics, stop now.
The first home post after my long trip comes courtesy of Tigger, who is coming up fast on Dr. Efficient with her fourth installment.
Enjoy!
All opinions are those of Tigger.
Being a Tantra master, you are aware that according to theory, sex can be sustained for many hours at a time. To be honest, I think my honey pot would turn into sandpaper. Tell me how this is attained without a man's veined beast being shredded into pulp?
As long as you keep sending in questions, Tigger and Dr. Efficient will return soon! Email your queries to me or send them via
The first home post after my long trip comes courtesy of Tigger, who is coming up fast on Dr. Efficient with her fourth installment.
Enjoy!
All opinions are those of Tigger.
Being a Tantra master, you are aware that according to theory, sex can be sustained for many hours at a time. To be honest, I think my honey pot would turn into sandpaper. Tell me how this is attained without a man's veined beast being shredded into pulp?
I'm actually not a Tantra master (and I seriously suspect that Dr. Efficient isn't, either).Why in God's name would someone want to fuck animals? And is it true the same [sic] men of a Mediterranean culture have special boots made for fucking sheep?
Tantra has always sounded to me too much like putting a lot of effort into taking something gloriously fun (sex) and making it into a lot of boring work.
This doesn't mean I haven't spent hours at a time having sex with a man, just that Tantra wasn't involved. (A man can get hard again pretty quickly after orgasm if given appropriate encouragement.)
So long as lubrication is involved (natural or otherwise), you can pretty much have sex indefinitely without having problems. Well, maybe not indefinitely; eventually, you're bound to get hungry.
Well, you know, sometimes you're just horny.
Or feeling experimental, I guess.
Men seem willing to insert a penis in almost anything, presumably with hopes that it might feel good and they'll get off.
And, as to the other, I really, really hope not.
As long as you keep sending in questions, Tigger and Dr. Efficient will return soon! Email your queries to me or send them via
September 20, 2011
Farewell, DADT, you sorry piece of shit
I've long hated the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law. We should applaud, not discriminate against, people who want to serve our country in the military. That many of them should have to pretend to be something other than what they are is wrong. Period.
Yeah, I know many people hold an opposing view, but I'm not going to debate that here. You can find those debates elsewhere.
Instead, I'm going to talk about two men, one bisexual, and one heterosexual.
The first is Pruitt, one of Sarah's best friends and someone I've come to know a tiny bit over the last couple of years. (You can read Pruitt's own take on this day and this law here.) Pruitt is going to be a Navy officer. He is putting in the time in ROTC, and after he graduates, he will serve. Until today, Pruitt had to hide from his fellow soldiers his relationship with his boyfriend. No matter how good a soldier he was, he could not be himself. That sucks.
The point is that this law, like all oppressive and discriminatory laws, is ultimately not about a group; it's about each of those individuals who make up the group. It's not hurting a faceless many; it's hurting individuals.
In case you don't want to read Pruitt's piece, let me quote (without his permission, but I think he'd be okay with it, and if not, he can let me know) the answer he wishes he had been able to give to the Navy interviewer who asked him why he wanted to be in the Navy.
The second man is me. I'm heterosexual. Men don't attract me; women do. I am, though, openly supportive of relationships of all sorts, between any two or more people who want to be in them. If I could, I'd make marriage legal for any group--I support poly relationships--that wanted to marry. I weave poly relationships very quietly into the background of my novels, as I did in One Jump Ahead when I mentioned that a girl's parents were two men and a women.
I mention all this because a friend recently asked me if I was worried that doing this might cause people one day to boycott my books. I hadn't considered the question, but after doing so, I answered that I couldn't imagine being a big enough seller that anyone would bother, but that if they did, I would welcome the attention to the cause.
Pruitt and many other people today get to start being more open about who they are. I am so glad they do. Though I expect it to be a long time coming, I look forward to the day when no one cares about the types of consenting relationships that other adults have.
The repeal of DADT is a long overdue step in that direction.
Yeah, I know many people hold an opposing view, but I'm not going to debate that here. You can find those debates elsewhere.
Instead, I'm going to talk about two men, one bisexual, and one heterosexual.
The first is Pruitt, one of Sarah's best friends and someone I've come to know a tiny bit over the last couple of years. (You can read Pruitt's own take on this day and this law here.) Pruitt is going to be a Navy officer. He is putting in the time in ROTC, and after he graduates, he will serve. Until today, Pruitt had to hide from his fellow soldiers his relationship with his boyfriend. No matter how good a soldier he was, he could not be himself. That sucks.
The point is that this law, like all oppressive and discriminatory laws, is ultimately not about a group; it's about each of those individuals who make up the group. It's not hurting a faceless many; it's hurting individuals.
In case you don't want to read Pruitt's piece, let me quote (without his permission, but I think he'd be okay with it, and if not, he can let me know) the answer he wishes he had been able to give to the Navy interviewer who asked him why he wanted to be in the Navy.
I want to be more than this. I shape my own identity, and I refuse to be locked up in the Art Haus closets of so many from the LGBT community. I am so sick of all the spangles and glitter that blots out my sight whenever I see queer men in media, and I'm sick of the fact that's all the rest of America can see too. In five years, I want people to go to my commissioning and say 'That's what a queer American male looks like, and damn does it look fine.' I want to be one of the first openly bisexual men to be made an officer in the United States Navy.The only part of that wish that I hope he does not get is that I don't want him to be one of the first such Navy officers; I want so many to have come before him (a mere two years from now) that his sexual orientation is no longer news.
The second man is me. I'm heterosexual. Men don't attract me; women do. I am, though, openly supportive of relationships of all sorts, between any two or more people who want to be in them. If I could, I'd make marriage legal for any group--I support poly relationships--that wanted to marry. I weave poly relationships very quietly into the background of my novels, as I did in One Jump Ahead when I mentioned that a girl's parents were two men and a women.
I mention all this because a friend recently asked me if I was worried that doing this might cause people one day to boycott my books. I hadn't considered the question, but after doing so, I answered that I couldn't imagine being a big enough seller that anyone would bother, but that if they did, I would welcome the attention to the cause.
Pruitt and many other people today get to start being more open about who they are. I am so glad they do. Though I expect it to be a long time coming, I look forward to the day when no one cares about the types of consenting relationships that other adults have.
The repeal of DADT is a long overdue step in that direction.
