I came across this while reading an article on ESPN. Seems very similar to an argument Reger posted awhile back. Now, ESPN is no Sci-Fi Blog but I would have to say that you have to give some credence to Rob's statement now.

Here is the Exchange:

Q: If soccer was king in the U.S. and every kid grew up playing it, which current athlete would be the best soccer player?
--Szabi, Far Hills



SG: My old answer for this question was Allen Iverson. He's washed up now, but the reasons I always thought he would thrive on a soccer field still hold up: lower center of gravity, explosive speed, phenomenal coordination, leaping ability and a feistiness/toughness/arrogance that every great soccer player has. (FYI: The world's two best players right now are 5-foot-7 Lionel Messi and 5-10 Wayne Rooney.) Can you think of any American athlete exactly like those guys? Me neither. These three would be the most interesting, though:



Deron Williams: Six-foot-3, great footwork, explosive, physical, strong, thinks like a playmaker. He'd be an unbelievable stopper in an alternate universe.



Rajon Rondo: Can you think of a better position for a cat-like 6-3 freakishly athletic guy with oversized hands than soccer goalie? I mean, other than point guard? Why do I feel like we could teach Rondo the position in 10 days and he'd instantly become the best goalie in the world?



LeBron James: My adopted team (Tottenham Hotspur) has a striker named Peter Crouch who's something of a soccer oddity -- 6-7, loves playing in the air, unleashes more crazy headers than everyone else in the Premier League combined. You can't help but watch him and think, "All right, what would happen if this guy had LeBron-like DNA?" And by the way, he's not lacking athletic chops. He's like a Brent Barry/Chase Budinger type. But he's not LeBron, either. Have LeBron playing soccer since age 4, give him Crouch's aerial DNA and holy schnikes …

This seems to be a real video in which this Indonesian 2 year old smokes like a bandit. Reports stake that he smokes over a pack a day......I don't even know how to comment on this one.

A brand new edition of "Big Fish Recap with Dinger," has been posted for your reading pleasure.

My wife and I are huge fans of Lost. We would DVR months worth of episodes, then power play them on the weekend. But there were a few things that were left unresolved for me…..

Hey guys! Not sure of the exact Sat plans but came across this & wondered if the group would like to attend a concert Sat day in St Pete. It's from noon to 8pm. Flobots "I can ride a bike with no handlebars" is headlining.

http://97xonline.com/cgi-bin/info.cgi?type=event&id=3918007

Ok, So I know most of the Dojo hasn't watched this epic TV Show. But, I wanted to hear Blaze's and Smokey's take on the Finale.

Read this Post and tell me if you agree with the theory?

http://lostmediamentions.blogspot.com/2010/05/someone-from-bad-robots-take-on-finale.html

I for one still don't understand Sideways world...and why there was 2? Also, what happened to Walt and Mr. Eko????

Sully, I’m not a bandwagon fan but it is not looking good for Team O-Town. As I posted earlier, the Celtics look rejuvenated. Either that or they just got it together at the right time. Rajon Rando has stepped it up tremendously and has made the Celtics "his team". I'll say one more thing. Throughout the years going to the gym and being in sport/ workout classes in high school, you always heard people say "wipe that smile off your face!" I think Dwight Howard and the rest of the Magic are having way too much fun. During the playoffs you need to step it up and be serious. You need to hit hard and beat your body up for the benefit of the team. I don't think Orlando has that, at least this year. The series is not looking good for the Magic.

I must admit I did shed a tear . . . A tear of pure happiness.

Strike First, Strike Hard, and No Mercy that is the Cobra Kai Mantra. Well, The Kai took the field after being on the receiving end the last couple of weeks and were ready for revenge. Having never faced Performance Radiator and missing key veteran leaders “Oil Can Spragues”, Roundhouse Reger, and Wild Man Wilson whom was still reeling from the effects of his genetically fused T-850 arm as it morphs into him, the Kai were unsure of the fate the night had in store for them.

The team would need a Hero to save the day and help jump start their path to a championship. “I told my troops to be ready, because we have to pick up the slack left by our missing teammates” Capt Tucci said. The Swami had the Outfield in position and vowed not to allow any meltdowns out there. “I told Captain, Let’s go Son, give me the troops and I will lead them to the promised land”. The Kai had to call up one of their affiliate members Mike B. to help complete the Swami’s posse in the outfield while the Minister transitioned into the Infield. Mike B. Had several clutch plays in the OF under the watchful tutelage of the Swami and provided much needed speed on the bases.

Mr. Miyagi taught the Kai to always be fleet of foot and be ready for the challenges set before you, no matter how big or small. Well, fate was the first challenge as the bus from Tacoma was running behind and the Minister was late to the game signing the final contract status for Mike B. and his transfer papers. Never Fear, as Capt. Tucci made some quick changes and stepped into the lead-off spot ready to lead his troops to the promised land. The First inning saw the Kai strike first, as we chipped away at their pitcher and paved the way for 3 runs lead by DonJuan’s 1st of 7 RBI’s on the nights.

The Swami was his usual assassin at the plate dominating pitch counts and finding his way on base all night and even clearing them with a shot to the fences that broke the spirit of Performance Radiator.

The Real story of the night came in the later innings as two usually quiet leaders for the Kai decided enough is enough and they took the reins to be the vocal and field leaders the Kai needed so desperately on this fateful night.

The Usually quiet yet sure handed 3rd Baseman Johnny Blaze started the Kai’s fiery resurgence in the top of the 5th when he used his Miyagi hands to catch a throw from Short and attempted to turn a Double play to end the inning and stop a Rally at home plate. However, his T-850 Cyberdine targeting system does not account for objects larger than 395 lbs and thus he was not able to circumvent the target while still accomplishing the mission. Johnny’s throw bounced off the target and made a 90 degree bounce right into Fig’s glove for his second tag out of the night at home plate. The Ump could not believe his eyes and called the player safe thus enraging our opponents after their vanquished player at third yelled at Johnny claiming he did this to send a message to them. The usual quiet and calm demeanor of Blaze was temporarily shelved as he channeled his inner Chai but was unable to contain his pride as you do not question the Kai’s methods. Cooler heads prevailed as the Swami ran into to explain to Blaze that Irony has a funny way of showing itself.

Well, Irony did not have to wait long as Johnny Blaze stepped to the plate the next inning and drilled a shot to deep Left field directly over the head of his previous attacker and Blaze quickly strode home with an in the park HR staring down the man who dared step up to Blaze’s dojo. “It wasn’t the best HR I ever hit, but it sure did feel good to jam it down their throats” Blaze said.

Our Opponents had one last fight in them in the bottom of the 6th trailing by 8 runs. They chipped away with a few runs and just as a rally was starting for them the Kai’s other hero of the night decided to surface and end the game once and for all. The man wearing his Superman Underoos and his new performance pants and shoes ended their rally and stunned the crowd with his amazing play at First base. After putting two men on, the Radiators drilled one down the first base line where Koko jumped up in air and made a diving stop, then hopped right back up and sprinted, then dove to first to put out the unsuspecting runner and end the game in awestruck fashion. “I haven’t gotten dirty in awhile, and I knew we would be shorthanded tonight, Thus I decided it was time to break out the Superman underoos as I knew we would need em” Koko said after the game. Red Bug lake had thought for sure he was wearing plastic man underoos after he made a few amazing stretch plays at first earlier in the game.

Another, Kai member stepped up to provide big help was Sully. He stepped in at second and made several key plays and drilled two clutch hits in the 3rd and 5th inning to break the will of our opponents and let them know anyone of us can beat you at any time.

“That is the beauty of the Cobra Kai, on any given night anyone of our players can be the hero or the “Dave Roberts’’ The guy that sparks the team to victory.
Well, The Kai look to continue their winning Strike tonight as they square off against the newly rebuilt Swanging D’s in the rubber match after the Kai destroyed them last meeting.

See You Under the Friday Night Lights!

Ok, so I know it has been awhile, but with the World Cup almost upon us, I would like to respond to some comments that appeared in the last Blaze is Burning.
Let's get right to the chase. The reason that Americans don't care that much about soccer is because, for the most part, our best athletes don't play it. In almost every other country they do.

What do you think would happen if a 4 year old LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Randy Moss, Deion Sanders, Bo jackson, Michael Jordan, ect decided to dedicate themselves completely to soccer? We would kill everyone. Instead, for the most part, the guys in this country that play soccer are usually the ones who are not good enough to make the football or basketball teams, so they settle. We are essentially playing our 10th rate athletes against everybody else's 1st rate athletes. That's why nobody here cares.

I actually watch (and bet) a lot of soccer and besides the goals, there is very little excitement and the majority of the match is spent 30-50 yards away from the goal. At least in baseball (another sport that some people call boring) every pitch could provide a home run or great play.

I know you're dying to hear my "Karate Kid" remake thoughts. Well, I'm in conflict here -- obviously, you can't remake iconic classics if they remain exceedingly watchable. On the other hand, I'm the same guy who once wrote that ALL movies can be remade as long as the remake has a different gender or race. I can support concepts like "Black Scarface," "Female Hoosiers," "Black Caddyshack" (which actually happened and was awful), "Female Rocky" and so on. So it would be hypocritical of me to say, "No, I can't support 'Black Karate Kid.'" I hate being pigeonholed by a previously established position. Damn it all.

Field of Dreams Farm
You can now own a little — okay, actually really big — piece of movie memorabilia by purchasing the Field of Dreams Farm ($5.4 million). This 193-acre property includes the baseball field and two-bedroom, 1.5 bath farmhouse seen in the 1989 film, two souvenir stands, and six other assorted farm buildings. With approximately 65,000 movie buffs visiting the site each year, it's a modest tourist attraction, along with actually being a farm. If you build or buy it, they will come.

I have a theory about our woes on the field lately. Please note that I am NOT addressing this to any one person or singling anyone out. I love all you guys. I just think that we have begun to lose site of the real reason we go out every week and play ball.

Last week I said that we behaved like children. I was incorrect. Our problem is that we've been acting way too much like serious adults. We need to start acting more like kids.

Of course we all want to win. Winning is fun! And every single one of us gives 100% to try and help the team win. But when winning becomes more of a relief and losing is a catastrophy, it could be time to take some personal inventory. It is softball, and it's suppose to be a stress reliever from the work week.

We need to start having fun again guys . . . Win or Lose!

A new edition of "Big Fish Recap with Dinger," has been posted for your reading pleasure.

Check out what Byrnes' life after baseball will be like...sounds like a dream to me...

Let’s recap on the “Big Fish’s” outlandish berating of the Domino’s marketing strategy. Late last year “Big Fish” Greiveldinger questioned Domino’s new commercial admitting to America that their pizza really did suck. We all remember quotes like “watered down sauce” and “cardboard like crust”.

“Big Fish” thought it was a bad idea and even started a delivery pizza war with the Dojo. I however commented that it was ballsy but a good strategy to challenge consumers to try out Domino’s one last time.

Well the polls are out and the statistics show that the Domino’s pizza chain had a 14.3% increase in first quarter sales. Excuse me, but that’s huge! The next chain, Pizza Hut, barley had a 6% increase. Now, one can ask “Was the bump due to the product or simply a big infusion of ad dollars that put the brand top of mind?”



Domino’s CMO, Russell Weiner, sees the 14.3% increase as “validation” that the ad worked, but he could be an optimistic type of guy. One thing for sure is that Domino’s HNICs never intended this high of a bump in sales. Mr. Weiner was quoted in AdAge.com saying "Sales have trumped the company's expectations and more than two-thirds of consumers have said they'll be back."The advertising itself has scored off the charts," he said. "We've never had ads score like this."

I give it up to Domino’s because they took a risk and told America “we know our pizza sucks but we listened to the comments, reworked the ingredients and pizza making methods, and “boom” try this. They also got, as they say, “free media” from all the publicity this ad made.

Bravo Domino’s Bravo!!!

A brand new edition of "Reel Reviews with Koko," has been posted for your reading pleasure.

As a boy growing up on the mean streets of Port Washington there were two constants in my life. Bob Ueker calling great Brewers games every memorable Spring and Summer day and my big Brother beating me up. Not a day went by that I didn’t get beat up or pushed around somehow someway, and there was basically nothing I could do about it. I tried every fashion to get him back, using illegal weapons (trophy’s, boots, butter dishes) anything I could get my hands on that would give me the advantage. In every sporting event it was usually my brother versus me and two or three of my friends……he would still usually beat us.

I hated every minute of it! However, one day unbenounced to me the tide turned. It happened when a friend and I were getting beaten up again for no reason. My buddy turned and looked at me and instead of running away we both went charging toward him and hearing Vince Lombard’s words in our heads we jumped into the air simultaneously and took him down with a double Crane Kick to the back and the knees. From that day forward things changed.

A similar story happened in Major league baseball. On October 17, 2003 Aaron ‘Bleeping” Boone crushed a devastating Home Run for the New York Yankees to lift them over the Red Sox once again in the ALCS and continue their dominance. Since 1918 up until that time the Yankees had won 27 World Championships and 40 AL Pennants compared to the Red Sox measly 0 World Championships and paltry 4 AL Pennants.

Why do I mention this? Because it is a foreshadowing of the Cobra Kai-Sharks feud. Once again the Kai took the field against the Mighty Defending Champion Sharks. And once again, the outcome was much the same. The Sharks and Kai battled back and forth and then the Sharks putting on a hitting display for the ages overcame the Kai. However, this game was different. The Kai didn’t back down at all, we kept battling and didn’t relent or give anything to the Sharks. The Sharks didn’t smell the blood in the water like they usually do against teams. Once they smell blood they go for the kill. However, this game they never achieved that ‘Kill” they simply took too many bites out of the Kai that we didn’t have enough of a base to complete our Crane Kick for the knockout.

The Sharks tried their usual power shots to the Gaps but the Swami was wise to this and adjusted the outfield to render their power hits useless. Roundhouse Reger ran down their blasts to Right Field and even gunned down an unsuspecting Shark at home plate trying to take too much heading home with no respect for the Kai. Reger also came through at the plate for the team punishing the Sharks for their lack of respect by putting one to the fence to spark the Team. However, it proved to be too little too late.

The Sharks are one of the most dominant teams in Red Bug Lake history. However, it should be noted they are also the “OLDEST” Team in our league. This game was different. It is only a matter of time before the tables turn and the Cobra Kai overtake the Sharks for league dominance. The Sharks know it and we know it. However, until that time we should be thankful for their “lessons” much like the same way Mr. Miyagi taught Daniel Son. At first, these lessons seem trite and a waste of time. But, I guarantee you one thing. In a few seasons, we will look back and say “Remember when these old guys use to beat up on us, yeah I can’t believe it…………let’s not let up and let’s go for the Mercy Rule on them just for old time Sakes”!!!!!

Until that time, just remember……Wax on….Wax Off……Wax On…..Wax Off!

See You under the Friday Night Lights! Let's Win this One For Johnny Blaze and Sully whom celebrated Birthdays this Week!!!

Tom Tom has released a new GPS with actual voices from the Star Wars films. Here's how Vader's recording session went.

Inspired by a great quote Prosthetic Johnson emailed out to our entire company from the Babe

"With every strike, I get that much closer to my next Home Run"

I found this interesting Wall Street Journal article on the Greatest Yankees of all time. Normally, I wouldn't write about the Yankees but it was an interesting list.

I was a little surprise....more like baffled at the list. Maybe our Yankee fans can clear it up and give their thoughts.

But here is the List.. (Click)
1. Babe
2. Lou Gherig
3. Joe Dimaggio
4. Jeter
5. Yogi
6. Mickey Mantle
7. Reggie Reggie Reggie
8. A-Rod
9. Joe Gordon
10. Ben Henrich

First, The most glaring omission of Donny Baseball and Mo Rivera. Mo is arguably the greatest closer of all time. Also, I don't consider myself a Yankee historian but I never really heard of Joe Gordon or Ben Henrich?

Plus, just goes to show you Yankees are sell outs if they get Reggie on the list for his what...3 or 4 seasons as a hit man for them???

I was wondering about the whereabouts of Mr. Sandy Johnson? He has been missing at Gators?