BRADLEY AND MARQUEZ

In keeping with my Sunday government bullshit boycott I have decided to talk about the anticipated battle between Tim Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez. I've been watching 24/7 and Tim Bradley sounds like a man with a hell of a lot to prove, and that can actually be a bad thing. In his last fight Bradley left himself open to too much punishment. I'm not saying that Bradley is damaged goods but he proved that he can hit and he does have a tendency to throw out his plans.

Marquez is a tactician and his ability to keep calm under fire can work as a major plus in his quest to stay near the top of the pound for pound rankings. The interesting thing here is Bradley had major troubles with Pacquiao while Marquez was Pacquiao's biggest problem. Marquez may well unsettle Bradley and Bradley may well dominate Marquez.

Marquez is superbly conditioned but age and battles may be too much for him while Bradley is vulnerable and hittable. This battle is really a crossroads fight for the two men. If Bradley loses he will validate everyone that thinks he lost to Pacquiao and is damaged goods. If Mraquez loses he will likely have to retire. In the end this fight has major implications for both men but chances are that a Mayweather fight is not necessarily one of those implications.

KLITSCHKO: SAFETY FIRST, EXCITEMENT LAST

I like Wladimir Klitschko, I think he is a gentleman and his conduct outside of the ring and focus inside of it is what has allowed him to compile a 22-2 championship record along with a reign that's second only to Joe Lewis' in terms of length. Now let's look at some factors behind everyone's shunning of Klitschko as a champion. The heavyweight division has brought forth classic feuds between fighters like Holyfield and Bowe, Ali and Frazier, and so on. Today fighters in the heavyweight division show up to either get beat or get paid. Klitchko is an intelligent man that knows how to use his advantages in a manner that's safe, smart, and effective.

Klitschko is a superb athlete whose sensational physical condition along with his methodical approach are enough to beat guys into frustration. People call Klitschko a safety first, boring fighter with little regard for excitement and an inability to give fans their money's worth. First of all Klitschko was not always a methodical fighter, in fact Klitschko use to throw as many as 70 punches every round. While Klitschko was put in front of guys like Jameel Mccline it was not a problem for him to plow opposition down with his style. Klitschko was a heavily touted guy until he ran into the late Corrie Sanders and wore himself out against Lamon Brewster. From that point on Klitschko began fighting as a tall guy using his advantages and relying on a laser like jab along with occasional power shots in order to beat guys over the long run.

Fans in the US see Klitschko as a robotic fighter that just likes to maul guys until they either quit, fall over, or just survive enough to lose. The thing about Klitschko is this, he has not been put in a position where he needed to fight back. No one fighter since the once highly touted Sam Peter has made Klitschko fight or at least really attempt to hold on. In his latest fight Klitschko seemed to just act as if he were spending another day in the office. Klitschko used his height an weight to take Alexander Povetkin's legs out and toss him around like a rag doll. Klitschko won ugly but he won never the less.

Klitschko will not be appreciated for winning over guys without real focus. Klitschko is shunned because in part he has no real opposition. There are no great heavyweights coming out of the US and overseas guys play into the Klitschko game plan by fighting too upright and leaving themselves open to continuing one two shots that eventually take their toll. Until Klitschko finds someone that really tests him, he will continue to fight safe, smart, and boring. It may be a losing performance that makes Wladimir more appreciated or it may be his continued winning ways that may bring him some respect in the end. Until one of those things happens, it's livestream online broadcast that will carry Wlad until the end of his reign.

GOOD FIGHT.............BUT

I am tired of government bullshit so I have decided to go ahead and write about last night's boxing match between Miguel Cotto and Delvin Rodriguez. I thought the fight was great, from a showcase perspective. It was Cotto's way back after two back to back losses to Floyd Mayweather and Austin Trout. What was interesting was seeing what Cotto had left after not only after the two losses but also after fighting a murderer's row of punchers such as Pacquiao, Clottey, and Margarito. Common wisdom dictated that Rodriguez would likely extend Cotto because of his advantages in height and rugged nature.

Cotto dominated Rodriguez with a sustained body attack and an incredibly aggressive approach that Rodriguez was not expecting. Cotto went back to a huge left hook to the body that nearly caved the ribs of Rodriguez and a combination that nearly took Rodriguez's head off. Yes I think Cotto has something left but let's put it into perspective.

Delvin Rodriguez does not have an aggressive puncher's nature like upper echelon fighters such as Martinez and, to a lesser extent, Canelo Alvarez. I think Cotto could handle Alvarez and Martinez but he needs to be extremely aggressive and at the same time understand how to wear out and smother the attacks of fighters that will take three to land one.

One thing that Cotto may have against Martinez is the fact that Martinez may well be starting to feel the effects of age and wear and tear. Martin Murray extended Martinez and the punishment Martinez took in his first fight with Paul Williams was something else. The last round against Chavez was also taxing for the aging Martinez. Cotto looks good still and his new union with Roach provides a confidence and line that he needs. Cotto is no longer the boss of the corner and that's vital for a successful last run.

I think Cotto has a good run provided that he stays away from punchers such as Golovkin. Let's see if his last run leads him to the right roads.

OKAY TOO MUCH IS GOING ON

If you've read my blog you know I try to do as much in terms of current events as I possibly can. I just read that a man set himself on fire at the National Mall in what may have been a protest of some sort. I read that the man apparently had an accomplice whose job it was to tape the whole thing. I'm wondering what the fuck this guy was thinking.

I think that setting yourself on fire has little to no effect on policy making, if that were the case the US would be a live barbecue. This whole world is going insane, what in the hell what this guy trying to prove? If this was really a protest it only shows how low hope has sunken the last few days.

The man, as it was written of hims, is battling life threatening injuries. If this man dies, it will have been for nothing because unfortunately nothing will change.

THE DAY OUR ECONOMY BECAME THE PROSTITUTE WITHOUT CLIENTS

I was recently in Amsterdam and while attending an exhibition of Federico Fellini's work at the EYE Museum and I was treated to some clips from Roma. I thought this film was an example of what abstract visual art is really all about. The film had a little bit of everything and it really spoke to the time it was released. The film was released in 1972, a period when there was so much much turmoil still and when the world was suffering a shock in terms of its transition from peace to unadulterated sex. If you've read this far I am certain you are asking yourself " What does this have to do with US economy issues? " Please let me get there before you get all ADD on me.

The film, if I recall accurately, had some prostitutes that looked like they were past their prime. What I think of our economy is that it has become that prostitute. Republicans are the pimps and democrats are the johns. What's funny about this is that if you think I'm complimenting democrats, I am not. I am saying they won't throw the whore a bone by opening a discussion to at least avoid what's going on. I'm also not complementing republicans, I am saying republicans are like a pimp with no whores except for the one with the saggy 70's cleavage.

Please republicans and democrats, let that hooker and let her freak flag fly.

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING?

I usually try to stay away from certain issues only because hot buttons tend to create animosity and I'm not all about that. Having said that let me ask: Who in the fuck does Charles Rangel think he is? Who in the fuck does Sheila Jackson Lee think she is? Why won't all these fucking republican and democrat whores shut the fuck up about one another and stop politicizing everything just so they can make a point.

A woman with postpartum depression and an apparent bi polar disorder ends up going of the deep end and that's the fault of republicans? What the hell? Is there nothing sacred anymore? The woman got shot because she was seen as some sort of threat and suddenly the big thing answer is " This was a cause of the lack of the republican action." I think politicizing someone's mental illness is the lowest form of shit.

I have a better idea, how about democrats and republicans stop pimping our economy like a garden variety whore and do their jobs. Miriam Carey was a mentally unstable person and as a result of her problems she ended up making a mistake that would cost her her life and almost cost her her 18 month old's life. Please, don't use this as yet another manner of finger pointing, all of do need to shut the hell up and do your job.

CAN WE REALLY CALL THEM LEADERS?

I don't care if you are a democrat or a republican because we live in a free country. I'm bound by our constitution and the freedom of speech, choice, and so on, to respect your ideals. I don't have a side but I do have an observation about both sides. If you are a republican or a democrat and feel sensitive then please stop reading now.

I turn my TV on and all I hear is republicans blaming democrats and vice versa. Every politician with high hopes is getting their name out there in hopes that either the mid term elections or 2016 will be their breakout period. Let's not talk about sides, let's treat this in a more general manner so we can better appraise what's happening.

We put our futures in the hands of men and women that, although well educated, are as flawed as we are. These men and women reach a point where their nature is to assume that they as singular beings know better than every one of their constituents. While most of the time these men and women are well educated, that doesn't mean that they are beyond our reproach or better than us. While society needs a specific order and manner of law, that law and that order needs to be established with the interests of the people in mind.

It's true that 300 million Americans cannot individually agree on anything, other than their right to disagree. I think that one thing we can agree on is the fact that our "leaders" can't step outside of their fragile egos and do what's right. The root of this battle is Obamacare, whether you are for it or against it is irrelevant, at the moment anyway.

You have elected officials hurting the economy, the country's standing, and the well being of the average citizen because " they know what's best." The truth is that whatever our founding fathers spoke of ,when they banded together against an imperialist empire, has evaporated. Today the government does not stand for the cause of its citizens, it simply stands for whatever keeps key figures in power.

Republicans want to be seen as the guardians of value, the keepers of America's coffers. To house republicans it is vital to strike out against Obama's signature law. On the flip side, Democrats want to be  seen as the merry thieves of Sherwood Forrest. What we have are a couple of groups shooting toward opposite extremes and not giving a care about how badly this is stressing the middle. The government did not need to close over this disagreement and that's an undeniable truth, regardless of political proclivity.

It doesn't matter if you agree with the healthcare law or not, this is a game of hide and seek with the economy. I'm not saying that republicans needed to cave, nor that democrats needed to cave. I am stating that both sides should have agreed to serious talks with regards to keeping the government open and not holding the population hostage. The big concern now is the debt celling and how that particular issue will be affected, truthfully that's not really as big an issue though.

I think the bigger issue is the question of how we can make our "leaders" act less like gangsters at a mob pow wow and more like leaders. Until these "leaders" can change their tune, America will continue to look like a day care full of children with discipline problems.