Socal Bloggin

The Chargers win could be called an upset. To most fans it was, but no one could find Darren Sproles. He was the player who made the difference in this game. Sproles had the 3rd most all purpose yards ever in a playoff game. Not only that he is the smallest person in the NFL at 5-6 and 165. So the defense when they do hit him he goes down hard. But when he can stay on his feet he's always moving forward. And he moved the ball in the end zone to win the game for San Diego in ovetime against the Colts. Sometimes in a game your best defense is when your offense keeps the ball for long periods of time. In the overtime Peyton Manning never touched the ball. It didn't help that the Colts had 3 penalties during the game winning drive.

This is the second straight season that San Diego has beaten Indianapolis in the playoffs. So it shouldn't be that much of a shock.

San Diego will take on Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh.
LaDainian Tomlinson has proved he's a quality back in the NFL.
But Darren Sproles can also play the role. He can run the ball as the featured back but can catch and return the football as well.
Will Sproles elect to stay in San Diego at the end of his contract?
Most likely at some point I see the Chargers keeping Sproles and giving LT the boot . No matter if your the every down back in football today you have to give your featured back rest during each game.

While all the attention is on the skilled players the men on the line really never get any credit. When they do get credit it's usually as a group. But the coaches and players on the field understand the job that these men do. And when it's as an individual it has to do with a negative play.

So the next time you hear "What a great pass....remember...there are 10 other players on the field besides the quarterback.

I've seen a lot of negative remarks about Jennifer Lopez. I don't know where these people get there information about celebrities from but it's really not fair. But it's understandable.

Jealous people don't have anything to do but put down other people. And for most of these people who make these negative remarks about people who they say they don't like sure do offer a lot of photos and time to write such mess.

I read somewhere on the internet that Jennifer and her husband refuse to hire a nanny. The comments are that the couple are to stuck up to have one or too cheap.

If your Jennifer Lopez and you starred in a movie about Selena and was on the set with her father and family and the one who took Selena away from everyone was some trusted person who had unlimited access. That is kind of scary when you become a mom and now your going to leave a stranger in charge of your children in your house. That isn't something only celebs worry about. It's something every parent worries about when they leave their children with someone other then themselves.

Of course parents have done their share of deeds to their own children.

The world is an awfully beautiful place but it only takes one person to turn that world ugly for an entire family.

All you've got to do is be in control of your destiny and win one game and your in the playoffs. But Mike Shanahan couldn't get his players to respond. Not only that it wasn't even close against a division rival. The Chargers helped Mike Shanahan into the unemployment line.

Now that he's available don't expect him to stay in that line for any amount of time. By next season Mike Shanahan will be a head coach somewhere in the NFL. Cleveland maybe. Oakland probably, absolutely no. He was fired from the Raiders in the middle of his second season. But the Rams need a head coach. And a lot of other teams that think Mike Shanahan can get it done will be approached for the job.

By the time everyone starts to talk about Mike Shanahan being fired he'll be the head coach of another team soon.

Shanahan is an offensive minded coach and the Rams need help they've got some players that could use his help. The offensive line for Shanahan has always been accused of cut blocks and illegal stuff. But I hope he brings that philosphy and coach to help the Rams.

If the Rams don't snap him up and allow him to hire a defensive coordinator which I'm sure he can do.

He'll get an offer from Detroit but maybe he doesn't want to go there.

Cleveland might not be that bad of a job with tremendous potential offensively on the team.

Other teams that could use a head coach that has a heavy run offense added with the West Coast Offense. Seattle Seahawks, I mentioned the Rams, San Francisco could use an offensive coordinator but he would have to love Singletary. My guess is he would be head coach and oversee the offensive unit and bring a staff with him. Kansas City would be an excellent place for Shanahan wanting to prove something to Denver and still never liking the Raiders too much. Remains in the division so he can get back at the San Diego Chargers.

Shanahan is the quarterback guru and the New York Jets might be the next stop for him. Favre could be gone. But the reason he could end up there is that he has the most wins against the Patriots. I could see Dick Jauron being pushed out to make room for Shanahan in Buffalo.

Houston or Dallas is an outside chance. Shanahan being from Texas. His son already a member of Houstons' staff could be easy for ownership to ask his son what's up with your father?

But I do think that Mike Shanahan will be a head coach starting next season. The earlier a team snaps him up the better the build-up for next season. If teams wait too long he might not be available.

Bill Cowher will also be in talks for a lot of teams. The coaches that are fired this season most of them I don't see them going to another team.

But then again you never know.

In Sports it's easy to love a winner. It's hard to ride every season out when your a Detroit Lions Fan. But they do it every season. There is always next year right. Look at the Miami Dolphins last season how many games did they win 1. This year they are in the playoffs. But a few teams had a good chance to make the playoffs and slid down to the on vacation mode.

1. Dallas Cowboys - They are the biggest collapse because of the expectations for them this season. Owens keeps on crying but he did catch 10 touchdowns on 69 receptions. It's Dallas because of the swagger they caused over the off season. They are the football equivalent of the New York Yankees. A lot of attention and money put out for this team and they lose the last game that could have put them in the playoffs by 38 points.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - All they had to do was beat the Oakland Raiders in the last game and they are in the playoffs. But they didn't and they are out.

3. Denver Broncos - This team has no much mention. They don't receive a lot of press, don't have household star studded teams. But they too just rolled over and played dead the last game trying to hang on to first and the Chargers make it to the playoffs.

4. New York Jets - had a chance to run with the Dolphins and failed. Favre was the big story and he couldn't get them into the playoffs. The coach just got fired. Favre will again retire and then will he come back and retire and come back again. The Dolphins should give a gift to the Jets for dealing Pennington to them. Favre threw 22 touchdowns compared to 19 for Pennington the difference was in the interceptions. Favre had 22 interception compared to 7 for Pennington.

The Miami Dolphins having made the playoffs already has done more than anyone could expect. So if they win in the playoffs would just be that much more to a great season for them.

Tennesse is a bit of a shock having finished the season on a losing streak. Will they be able to win in the playoffs or have the Titans run out of gas.

Maybe the Colts meet the Giants in this years Super Bowl and they call it the Manning Bowl.

Some teams are cellar dwellers and don't seem like they are going anywhere:
Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals & Cleveland Browns, St Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans, Washington Redskins,

New Orleans, Jacksonville was suppose to compete for the top spot in the division. Washington is improved. The Rams have the same players on offense but don't have a defense either.

The only team I think that will get better next season from they way they played at the end is San Francisco. Seattle Seahawks look awful and the Hasselbeck era might be over.

Everyone who needs a running quarterback one is going to be available next season: Michael Vick.

This year in the playoffs will be interesting. Let's see if any of those idle teams in the first round get knocked off. I think at least one will exit the playoffs.

Next season there also will be a team with a complete turnaround. But the name will be concealed to protect all the other fans so they can hope it's there team that does it.

One game left in the regular season. A game with everything on the line. Each game meant a lot to each team this season. Many of the teams that didn't make the playoffs could probably find some games they should of won but didn't.

Now it comes down to one playoff spot. The AFC west title is on the line for the Broncos and Chargers. The winner will fill the last spot for the playoffs.

Patriots are out. But I don't think many NFL fans will cry for them they've dominated football this decade. And clearly when Brady went out so did the hopes for the Patriots. But that wasn't the case 11-5 isn't bad. Last year undefeated going into the Super Bowl and losing. Next year they'll again be among the favorites to make the playoffs. You can never count them out until it's over. And for them it's over.

Dolphins make it in after being one of the worst teams last season. Thanks to Green Bay trading Favre to New York and Pennington coming to Miami. Parcells has done a great job getting them to the playoffs but how far can they go?

Ravens have done another great job with defense but will they have enough offense to make it through to the Super Bowl?

Colts are in but have looked awkward doing so. Not that same dominate team. But they've survived to get to the playoffs and will face the winner of the Broncos vs Chargers game tonight. It appears the Colts could have an easy opponent. But you never know what's going to happen on any gameday.

Cowboys once cruising looking like a playoff team. Fell so far down the mountain that it's hard to imagine that Donovan McNabb and the Eagles are in and the Cowboys are headed in from the last round up for this season. It's ironic that Owens was crying about McNabb and now McNabb comes through today to get a win. Owens keeps crying everywhere he goes. Can the Eagles, McNabb and Andy Reid finally get to win a Super Bowl? It seems that is something a little to far for them to reach.

The birds have it in the NFC. Cardinals won the division but will face the Eagles in the first round. The Falcons make the playoffs and will face the run happy Vikings. Who'll pound Adrian Peterson over and over again.

Titans, Steelers, Giants and Panthers all have first round byes. But none of these teams are guarantee 2nd round wins.

Whose going to the Super Bowl. Well at first glance most would say the NFC championship will be Panthers vs Giants
AFC Championship will be Steelers vs Titans.

But for any of these teams to win the defense must be able to stop the run. Panthers, Giants, Steelers and especially the Titans all have decent defenses and running game.

If defense wins championship then offense wins games. But it's certainly hard to judge all of that when everything is on the line. The defensive and offensive line that is. That will be key to all these games. When everyone is focused on the skilled positions. The advantage will go to the bottom line. Whichever line can get lower and make blocks or tackles will win. I won't leave out the special teams it could and sometimes comes down to a special teams play. Kickers get smashed by the press. But no one is more valuable when the game is at the end of a kickers foot. One way or another this season has been close and certainly surprising. I'm sure the playoffs might carry that same theme.

A few sports items come to mind on this rainy Christmas day in California.

Yesterday Notre Dame beat Hawaii in the I don't care about this bowl game. The announcers were praising the Fighting Irish for the performance they put out. But who did they play? This year Hawaii isn't the team from last season. Again the announcers are commenting on that Hawaii players aren't like last seasons.

But that's college football. Players change and you can't get back last season and the players once they graduate and move on.

But to praise Notre Dame for beating a team like Hawaii is not telling it like it is. Even though the records are identical these are .500 teams playing for money.

Today the Celtics take on the Lakers in the first of two meetings this season. Both teams are having good years and are expected to make the playoffs. They could both make it to another NBA finals. But this game is only one. This game for the Lakers is huge. The Celtics already confident in repeating what they did to LA last season. The Lakers didn't have a chance in most of the games. We'll get to see if the Lakers are any closer to winning this game.

But more importantly this could be a teaser for what is coming in the NBA Finals.

Another note about playoffs: College Football Division I is missing huge amounts of attention by putting on sub 500 teams and teams that don't deserve to be playing another football game.

While the NCAA gave up the division I football game to the old money grubbers. The high school football committee in California has put on a State football finals. Of course some teams are going to be left out each season from Northern and Southern California. But that's the way it is when you have so many Section Champions. Finally the NFL playoffs and someone is crying about maybe the Patriots being left out this season. That's the way it is. They can't allow more teams in the process it doesn't make the playoffs any better. It is the division champions plus a couple of wild cards. Some divisions are weaker then others. Some might be called weak every year like the West both in the NFC and AFC.
But that 's how it is set up. To try an include the Patriots you'd have to include other teams also. Where do you stop? Maybe have them all play in the NFL bowl championship series. Nothing is wrong with the format. You've got to win the division. New England didn't. Stop crying for the Patriots. They've been to the playoffs every year. They had an opportunity last season and lost in the Super Bowl. Nothing wrong with the Patriots you've got to cry if your in Detroit.

Replay to me sucks. It is what it is. It is now part of the game. But I think they should reserve replay for the playoffs.

It's human beings making errors on the field from players and yes the referees.

Everyone has to remember these are just games. Kids games. Played by men for huge amounts of money whether they win or lose. But at the same time these games generate huge amounts of revenue. From office pools to betting online to merchandise and marketing to the media selling ad space. It's big business.

But I like to just enjoy players and coaches matching up and seeing who will come out on top.

May everyone have a blessed holiday season, a wonderful new year.

What really matters to all of us is this slide in our economy. The world now can see we are all connected to one another. We've got a lot of smart people in the US and throughout this world. This game of economics is vital to everyone it could mean eating, having shelter, and the means to support yourself each day. This is truly important for everyone how come these smart guys from around the world can't find a solution to help everyone.

Maybe the answer is tied to the simple matter for College Football, why business partnerships have failed. It's greed and it has to do with no compromise and getting it all or nothing. Not thinking about anyone else but yourself. It's the way of the world. But when this happens you can see the results. This selfish habit continues on and will continue to plague us all.

The game between Narbonne and San Pedro ended in a tie. That means 2 champions right. I don't think this is the way to end any championship game. But they followed the rules set. But any time you play a championship game there should be a winner. Both teams will be passed for the State Championships. But it should make for an interesting season next year.

Fox Sports Network puts on some of the best high school football games. But the announcer named Jay Jay is awful. But he's not any different then most color commentators. They don't add much color. He states the obvious. He comments on the negatives as most commentators or experts do. It makes the mute button on my remote very useful.

Long Beach Poly continues on to the State Championship although they don't announce it until tomorrow during the Lakers game. They'll probably face De La Salle. It's a great win for Poly and Coach Lara who continued to do what got Poly to this point. Poly was unable to establish the running game but it was a running play that allowed Poly to pass Tesoro who led most of the 2nd half. Centennial Corona will be in the Division I game since they've added the open division which Poly and De La Salle will compete in.

This is a chance for Poly to finally win a State Football Title. It won't be an easy task against De La Salle. But both coaches and schools are familiar with each other. Too bad the NCAA and Division I football can't take the same formula. Only type of champions that are truly crowned and recognized champions come from a playoff bracket. Not just two teams that are selected.

Even though a committee decides who'll play in the championship game each team that is considered have won a championship through the traditional brackets. Come on wake up you sleeping money bags and get with the program put together a Division I playoff and stop being so greedy.

People are rather rude and crude. They make statements that are mean spirited. The press can be a large part of someone being critical of everything they do. When in fact they have developed skills in a game that few can duplicate. Take Michelle Wie she's what 22. No she's only 19 seems like everyone is waiting for her to turn into the next Annika Sorenstam or the female version of Tiger Woods. This isn't realistic. This isn't fair. But for Michelle Wie the expectations of her winning tournament on the LPGA have been to high.
I don't think that a high school student would react to the game like someone who felt like they have to make a living and if they don't finish the tournament they won't be able to support themselves or there family. Wie wasn't in that position but I think that her failing the way she did. Having all the expectations from home, family, friends and then completely fall from the picture. It was good for her. It's part of life. Was she too full of herself knowing that she could drive farther from the tee then most men. But golf the drive is for show but you putt and chip for the dough. And she wasn't even close. It really showed that she was but a teenager. She was all over the place, not focused and really didn't seem to adjust well under pressure.

But now she's 19 and played her way onto the LPGA. Now let's see what she can do is the next tournament. Sponsors must be waiting for her to have success. An asian market in China waiting for her to win a few tournaments, maybe a major so that they can have a 6-1 pitch women market products to not only China but Korea and Japan. Not to mention the U.S market as well

It seems to me that her statement from making to the LPGA is I did it. No sponsors exemption needed. Play her way onto the golf course. Now let's see if that same drive to show everyone that she could make it to the LPGA remains with her during the season.

Boxing isn't what it use to be. Now that MMA is on the map people just don't get the exposure to all of the boxers that use to come into your living room every weekend. The sports map has changed from free big time fights on regular television to pay-per-view events.

Manny Pacquiao has put himself in the position as being the most recognized fighter in combative sports. After defeating the once "Golden Boy". Who still will be golden if he's able to promote some great fight cards.

But just a note for anyone who might be interested. Everyone remembers Mike Tyson. He was known for fierce fighting. His power to connect would leave people saying oh my god he could kill someone. He came in with a little voice, a sweater with a hole cut in it, trunks, shoes, gloves and heart that no one seemed to think that he could ever lose. But one day along came a man named Buster Douglas. And after that Tyson was never the same.

Tyson was trained by Cus D'amato who had a number system set up for his fighters. Tony Atlas also used the same system with Michael Moorer. If you ever get a chance to watch Mike Tyson fight and listen to his corner. You won't hear them saying anything but numbers. Those numbers trigger the fighter to throw a certain punch to a certain area. For instance if you hear them saying more 7's this could mean a jab. But once you've heard the number and see which punch Tyson throws then you would be able to figure out which punches Tyson is throwing. But it's something an opponent would hear while he's being hit and then the punch that by the time the fighter hears the number your already on the canvas.

Your style that you've been accustomed to since you start training doesn't change much in most fighters. Fighters are hard headed when it comes to knowing what to do in the fight. Many of them couldn't change. I've only seen one fighter that listens to his corner and really does what they ask him and that's Manny Pacquiao.
Tyson was a modern day video game with the corner punching in the number through his hearing. Once Tyson changed trainers that was it. He couldn't function like that. The only way he could have had a chance is if he were to have gone back to Kevin Rooney or Tony Atlas men who adopted Cus D'amato style.

Not many people today will say that Oscar De La Hoya is there idol. But that's exactly the comment after the fight by Manny Pacquiao. Who took all the critics bravado and made a statement in the ring. The little man took apart Oscar like no one had ever done. The little man who was suppose to be on the receiving end of punches but took the fight over and dominated the fight throughout.

But unlike anyone I've ever seen in boxing Manny Pacquiao has the best listening skills ever. While many boxers try to copy the Muhammad Ali mode of bravado and then backing it up. Pacquiao assumes a low profile and does his homework. The fact that will separate him from all the others he listens to his corner, trains and creates a plan. He comes to the ring and executes that plan to perfection. A beautiful poet delivering his message inside the ring.

He's a small statue of a man. But he's like a David who slew the giant Goliath. Looking at him don't be fooled. He can box, punch, and change his style fight after fight.

The difference in this fight like many other fights is the fighters themselves. They could sign any corner men they want to. But if the fighter believes that he can come up with his own fight plan during the fight like Ali did against Foreman it usually leads to disaster. Roach knew what to do against De La Hoya and knew his strengths weaknesses. But this would mean nothing if Pacquiao didn't listen and execute the plan.

I don't know how much is left in Pacquiao to keep doing this but I'm sure Freddie Roach will be there to tell him this isn't what you want to do anymore. But I think that when the day comes when Pacquiao can't do it anymore I don't think Manny and Freddie will have to discuss it both of them will know. For now it seems Pacquiao can fight some major opponents and Roach will be there to come up with a plan to win. Roach will be there also to tell Manny he's all wrong for you right now in order to beat him your going to need to do this.......And if Manny takes that type of opponent you better believe whatever plan they come up with to defeat that opponent Pacquiao will listen, learn and then execute it until the end of the fight. Just like he did against Oscar De La Hoya.

Florida vs Oklahoma in the Championship Game. Texas got the shaft they beat Oklahoma head to head. But Texas lost to Texas Tech and Oklahoma beat them. So the latest win by Oklahoma against unbeaten Texas Tech came at the right time. There will be some great BCS games this season. But all it will be is a pay out for those schools and bragging rights and a recruiting tool for next season. Maybe one of these days the winners of great bowl/playoff games will get to earn the right to play for a NCAA Division I Football Championship.

Boxing is a brutal sport when it comes to the end. To see a fighter grow up in the sport is amazing. But once they start the down hill trend of losing or getting knocked out it is time to hang up the gloves and move on. Most boxers stay too long, maybe because they think they can fight, maybe for a pay day. But I don't think this will happen to Oscar De La Hoya. He's a buisness man and hopefully he can help promote the right fights and bring boxing back to where it once was.

This was suppose to be a good fight and the heart of Oscar De La Hoya didn't ever give up. But Manny Pacquiao has a heart of a champion also. He was ready and prepared for Oscar De La Hoya. Manny listened to his trainer while Oscar listened to his. But plans are only good if your able to execute it and clearly Oscar has all the mind and heart. Only thing is his legs are gone and by the 9th round he wasn't able to spring into action.

We watch many fighters heart continue on trying over and over to capture what they use to be able to do. There mind still able to counter the punches. But the legs and reactions aren't what they use to be. In any sport once your physical reaction becomes to slow and your legs are unable to react as quickly as they use to. It's time to say good-bye.

De La Hoya will not disappear from the sport. He'll promote boxing and arrange for some great matches. But Manny Pacquiao is old as Oscar but his legs are still fresh. He's able to pull the trigger and adjust to any style. Who would believe the shorter fighter, the little man in the ring could beat De La Hoya like he did. But of course all boxing fans know the heart of Pacquiao was the equal to De La Hoya. It's just that on this night we all see that when your legs are no longer fresh what happens to even the best fighters in the world.

For Manny Pacquiao who knows when the time will come when his legs will no longer be able to respond. But until that day comes he'll be one of the fighters to watch. He'll make some huge paydays and he won't duck anyone. So for Pacquiao the next question what weight division will he fight in. There will be many opponents lined up for a chance to fight against Pacquiao. This was one of those fights with a feel of a championship fight with no title on the line. But this was one pound for pound champion winning and another finding out it's time to retire.

Okay I said previously in my blog that Ball State was going to be called Chicken State for refusing to accept a bid to face Boise State the hosts of this bowl game yearly.

But upon further review look at what Ball State would give up. Money, that's right no AD, coach, staff or any other person has the choice about where the team will play. But the money managers of the bowls hosted for the MAC conference now can scoop in some money since they have a great draw in Ball State. Although right now they're losing to Buffalo in the MAC championship game. Motor City Bowl (mac vs big 10), International Bowl (mac vs big east) , GMAC Bowl (mac vs c-usa).

Now if your Ball State do you travel all the way to Idaho to face a team on blue turf? Do you travel to Canada and face the Big East rep, take the GMAC bowl held in Alabama against C-USA, or face the big 10 in the motor city? But taking the Boise State game how much money would Ball State stand to lose?

Okay all of you people who like the BCS raise your hand. I've seen all the comments about how good it is for college sports to have the bowl system. I grew up watching all the bowls.

But in keeping with consistency the NCAA has developed a playoff bracket for every sport except for Division I College Football. Why? Because the cash cow isn't run by the NCAA. And it wasn't set up to be a part of the NCAA. Only the sport and the institutions names are a part of the system.

The second reason I hear that a playoff isn't good is that it would make the season longer. Actually the season would remain the same. The only difference is the extra games you get if you beat your opponent.

If you wanted to see how it feels to be a regular student-athlete and a part of the NCAA ask all the other athletes about the playoffs including the division II and III football players. They'll all be a part of a regular job and most of the Division II and III players will never play in the NFL.

While all the academic coaches from football talk about how important education is while holding 3 meetings and spending all of there time getting ready for the next opponent. While they consult NFL scouts and people on whether players who are in college should leave school and play in the NFL.

For those who think that football ends when the season does in college? Think again. Kick these old players out and bring in the new meat because we got to recruit, study, lift and get our team ready for the season.

I hear some talk about how important conference championship are and blah blah. Hell there has never been a true NCAA Division I Champion ever. And as far as conferences go what do you play for anyway? A bowl game. Is that it. A bowl game. While only 2 selected teams play for BCS Championship. Notice it's not an NCAA Division I Championship and the titles that a football team wins in Division I doesn't count as a Championship banner for the school.

The regular season is only a way to find the league or conference champions. Then in all sports at all levels those champions or winners plus wild card or at large bids get to play in a post season games. Where the winner moves on to the next game and the losers go home.

If you make the playoffs and your tired. You can skip the playoffs instead you rather study and take a vacation. I guarantee this if the NCAA was to hold a championship playoffs no school would turn down the offer. No coach is going to say I don't want to participate. I don't think you'll see protests by players.

The coaches, conferences, money men are connected. Coaches are sold on talking about an education while being paid millions of dollars to coach football. Talk to the other coaches on campus and see how much they're getting paid.

The bottom line what is actually happening behind all the smoke and mirrors is:
Division I football programs are not part of the NCAA.
They fall under another jurisdiction which is blatant when all other sports under the NCAA compete in a playoff.
This has been in existence as long as some colleges have been around.
The system and it's inner workings have nothing to do with education or student athletics.
This all has to do with money. Check out the payoff for the BCS bowl participants get 17 million dollars probably a 8 millions dollar paid day for both schools. The players get what? The head coach has a million dollar contract and the boosters get lump sums of money. Think what the members of the college board of directors and head administrators get. And the players get to say they attended a bowl game.
Bah hum-bug. I'm tired of the college bowl system. I don't watch any bowls except maybe the BCS Championship game.

Oscar De La Hoya has gone his entire life fighting big fights. He's not ducked anyone. His biggest challenge will stand in tomorrow. Manny Pacquiao is no kid. He's been fighting since 1995 a 13 year career in which he's fought 52 times won 47, 35 by ko, 3 losses and 2 draws.

Manny Pacquiao has only lost 3 times once to Erik Morales in 2005 on a unanimous decision, once to Medgoen Singsurat 3rd round in 1999 and his first loss came against Rustico Torrecampo in the 3rd round in 1996.

Oscar De La Hoya has fought 44 times won 39, 5 losses and 0 draws. He started boxing professionally about the same time as Pacquiao. He lost to Floyd Mayweather by decision in 2007, lost by Ko in the 9th round by Bernard Hopkins 2004, lost to Shane Moseley unanimous decision in 2003, lost to Felix Trinidad by majority decision in 1999. He went 7 years undefeated. But has lost 3 of his last 5 fights.

If you look at Oscar he doesn't fight someone who has defeated him again. He's a business man first right now but when he gets in the ring don't let his smile and his voice fool you. He's a boxer.

This fight between these two warriors could be one of the greatest fights in history. A problem exists for Pacquiao not De La Hoya. Can Pacquiao feel comfortable fighting at welterweight a division that Pacquiao has never been to. De La Hoya has 3 years fighting at this weight and could be comfortable.

Another problem is the length of De La Hoya will he be able to take advantage and keep Pacquiao at the end of his punches. There will be a size advantage and it will be something that no one can hide. If Pacquiao feels good will he be able to have power enough at this new weight division.

Team De La Hoya must have seen something while studying Pacquiao. Don't think that Oscar is coming into this fight just to make money. He wants to put on a good showing and win. Pacquiao must weather the first few rounds. As you can see his career he's been ko'ed early in fights. De La Hoya never was Knocked out until he met Bernard Hopkins a fighter who was bigger than De La Hoya.

Everyone who'll watch this fight might not really have a favorite. But they want to see a good fight. De La Hoya isn't known to have a weak chin. But can Pacquiao get inside on Oscar and when he does will he have enough power to make it count.

All the signs point to De La Hoya wearing down Manny winning by tko, ko in the later rounds. But De La Hoya has the power to end it early. The longer the fight goes Pacquiao can't just settle for being in the fight and become a punching bag. He'll have to pick his spots and seize opportunities to inflict damage on Oscar.

my predication one of the greatest fights ever. I hope

The Patriots who are fighting injuries and could possibly miss the playoffs have picked up a surfer. A surfer from California was minding his own business and taking care of his family. When all of a sudden the phone rings and he's speaking with the head coach of the New England Patriots. Junior Seau hangs up his wet suit and puts the cleats back on for the final few games of this season.

People might think that Seau is all washed up but don't let the water on his body fool you. Seau can impact a game in a blink of an eye. That's all a defensive player needs is a few big plays at crucial times of the game to turn a loss into a win.