So I was watching some MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) on Saturday for the first time in a while. I enjoyed watching my favorite fighter from back in the day, Vitor Belfort, fight again (that clip above is from Saturday's fight). Back when MMA started, around 1993 or so, I was a huge fan. Back then it was called The Ultimate Fighting Championship. It was a no holds barred, anything goes type thing. There were only three rules- no biting, no eye gouging, and no fish hooking. Other than that, anaything was legal. There were no weight classes or time limits, and only three ways to win: submission, knockout or referee stoppage. I lost interest after they changed the rules and format drastically. They added time limits, weight classes, fouls and scorecards...even made them start wearing gloves. What angered me the most was the fact that there was no longer a best fighter in the world...it was the best fighter in the world in his weight class. Oh, wait...I had a point...

Back in the mid 90's Vitor was by far my favorite. His hand speed and power were unparalleled. But what I liked about him was that he had no fear. No caution. He'd get in the ring with huge brawlers who were known to be extremely brutal and he'd go after them. He was only 19 at the time.

Throughout the years he had problems and personal losses, both in and outside the ring. Injuries and hard times and even the kidnapping and subsequent murder of his sister back in Brazil. Now he's back and looks determined to make a name for himself again. Okay, FINALLY, my point:

"Vitor is hungry again!" said an announcer shortly after the fight. Vitor himself said that he was living in a small room with very little money and just training like he was back when he was 19.

And that's it. That's why was he so unafraid, and without caution... he had nothing to lose. He was an unknown. Nobody. He came here with no money and had to feed himself by using his fists...his only talent. Once he became the champion, got money, married a beautiful actress and had success in teaching people MMA...he was no longer "hungry."

Man, do I understand that. Sometimes in life we must lose it all to help us along...to give us that last little push that we need. Wake up call! Get off your ass, Miguel! Life is what you make it.

Thoughts???

***By the way, in case he didn't impress you in the fight above, this is him in his prime, back when I was watching MMA relgiously:

Whoa! It seems I went a little overboard with my drinking last night/this morning. If I were running for Xanga's equivalent of Mr Olympia I'd have a suggestion for John. How about not letting a person post a new entry if it has like 5 or more misspellings or if words have a lot of extra letters or gibberish? I know it would be beneficial to people like me who sometimes write under the influence. Well, at least it was very early morning and only like 50 or so people saw it before I woke up this morning and set it to private. To those who did, let me just apologize for the horrible spelling and grammar and also for wasting your time with rubbish. That's all.

Thoughts?

Part II of the previous post is in the works....

I think that we can all agree that we all have had or have dreams and aspirations. And yes, some of those dreams may seem foolish to those around us. But who is to say? Haters are quick to judge and sneer, point a finger or let out a little giggle...but hey, at least people are trying, right? I think that a lot of us fail to give credit to those that are trying. Maybe it's because we lack the courage? Or maybe because we've just accepted our supposed destiny and are content with living our tedious lives with as little risk as possible. I for one, admire those that risk it all chasing a dream that nobody else sees. Even in failure, at the very least those people can look back and say, "I tried." Doesn't that count for something? Sure it does. I think that most of us can look back at an opportunity that we lost to do something...and now we either kick ourselves in the ass, or at least ask ourselves the dreaded, "I wonder if..."

Lord knows that I have scores of things I left undone, or things that I regret not doing. The older I get, the more I realize that life isn't fair sometimes. Not that I'm complaining, because I think that I've had more than my share of chances in this life. But that doesn't mean I don't have regret. But thinking back to some of the things I've seen others endure, I realize that I'm indeed very blessed...to say the least! 

During one of my stays at a luxurious, Judge recommended suite, I recall that there was a young kid who was in for a shit and a shave. He wasn't a chester or anyone who was in for a real crime, at least nothing that I can recall. And yet just two months shy of going home, a prison torpedo who was doing the big bitch, hit him up for his manhood. The kid showed heart, and stood up to him and told him no...but in doing so, he called him a "fag." Though he followed proper etiquette, the next day while showering, he had a fifteen inch shank lodged in his side. The torpedo raped him as he lay dying on the floor. But life is ugly like that sometimes. We never know when our time is up.

So what am I trying to say? I guess more than anything, I'm trying to talk myself into staying focused on my priorities and not letting opportunities pass me by. Life is a risk, but success rarely comes to those who stand by and let conformity weigh them down. Just a tip from your uncle Migs.

**By the way, I apologize if this post didn't make a whole lot of sense, I'm a tad bit...you know.

So, as you may or may not know, I'm a huge Lakers fan. Recently, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Utah Jazz to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Many people will tell you that the Jazz lost because of this reason or that. But I believe I know the real reason why the Utah Jazz lost the series....

It was due to their star player, Deron Williams. No, not his basketball skills, or the way he played....nope. It's the haircut. It was a classic example of the Bowl Cut Curse!

I know what you're thinking, "Come on, Miguel...that's the silliest thing I ever heard!" But as many of you followers of my blog know, I try and qualify the things I say. I dare say that I can give you irrefutable evidence to support my claim. Let's look back to a happier time and I'll show you what I mean.

The Brady Bunch was a hit television show that enjoyed renewed success year after year...until some no brain executive decided to make additions to the cast and brought cousin Oliver into the mix. As you may recall, that bowl cut kid brought down ratings almost immediately, and the show was canceled soon thereafter.

Different Strokes was another show that topped the rating charts. All of America seemed to be watching this show. It endured success year after year...until....they brought in the little redheaded bowl cut kid. And just as with The Brady Bunch before, it spelled an almost immediate end to the show. Different Strokes was canceled shortly thereafter. Coincidence you say? Let me continue...

The Facts Of Life. Come on, who didn't watch that show? And as the others, it enjoyed years of success. That is until years later, Tootie, decided that she needed a hairstyle change...you guessed it, she got a bowl cut! Do I have to tell you what happened shortly thereafter? That's right. It was soon over.

Family Ties. The Keatons kicked major television ass! Everyone watched this show. Ratings couldn't possibly be better. We watched that family grow up before our eyes. Good writing, funny and witty dialogue. But then, once again, they brought in some bowl cut kid as an addition to the family...and the rest is history. Convinced yet? No? Let me continue...

The A Team. What a kick ass show. This was my favorite by far. Again, they had television ratings by the huevos until they had a guest appearance by Pete Rose, and then...

Okay, maybe I made that last one up. The fact is that I couldn't really think of a way to throw in Pete Rose's bowl cut into my theory.

Thoughts???

Been busy, you know??? I'll be back before you know it. I did do a drunken post on why I think hate is more powerful than love...but once I read it sober, I didn't buy it. So maybe I'll re-write it for a future post. Anyway...

...damn, my footprints haven't been this low since I first started! But I can't say I blame anyone but myself. I have been a lazy bastard! Anyway, see you soon.

I'm guesstimating that the year was around 1985. It happened in North Hollywood, on Whitsett Ave, in between the Saticoy St. split. I was visiting a friend who lived in one of the many apartment complexes in that area. While I was there, there was a certain heavy set lady that managed to climb the rail (that has since been replaced by a high chain-link fence) that was above the170 Freeway overpass, just before the Sherman Way exit. She stepped on the ledge and held on to the rail facing the oncoming traffic as she worked her way to the middle. She was obviously very scared. Before too long there were hundreds of people all outside waiting to see the outcome. She wanted to jump but lost her nerve every time she went to let go. The traffic below kept on moving unmercifully. She cried and wiped tears from her face several times. The scene lasted for a while. During this time, my friends and I had worked our way across the street and were busy telling this lady to stop wasting our time and to jump already! We even threw small rocks at her to give her the extra boost. After torturing this poor woman with our indifference and stupidity for a good ten minutes, we heard sirens getting louder as they approached. A fire engine, ambulance, and several black and whites were coming. This it seemed was her salvation, or her cry for help answered. But unexpectedly, instead of making things better, it gave her the boost she needed to follow through with her conviction. She jumped.

Within a minute, things went back to normal and people went back inside their habitations. It didn't mean a whole lot to me back then. In fact, the incident was forgotten almost immediately. But over twenty years later...I still remember the part I played in this woman's demise. Could I have changed the outcome? Would some words of encouragement, or an extended hand have made a difference? I'll never know. What I do know is that it's a horrible thing to have been a part of. I am deeply ashamed. 

Perhaps it's youth, and maybe stupidity...but this is no laughing matter. I cringe when I come across comments or posts about other people "faking" suicide or trying to get attention and traffic to their sites by talking about it. Again, who knows? Maybe. Maybe not. I know that I for one don't want anything else on my conscience. I have enough already. I'll leave it to someone else to learn that lesson for themselves.

Just so you know, it's not an easy thing to live with. Take it from your uncle Migs.

**Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. What I'm saying is that we shouldn't judge other people's sincerity when it comes to that subject. Why take the chance? Who are we to say what's true?

As you've probably guessed, the last post got me a first class ticket to the doghouse. What sucks worse than that, is the fact that nobody took my side on the matter. Where's the love, huh? That made S.O. even more empowered by her now, recently validated righteous anger. Thanks, Xanga! But, I stand behind what I said. And furthermore, will not retract my post or my words. In fact, I've had wonderful, restful, and heaven sent rest lately. No knees jabbing me in the back. Nobody hogging all the blankets. Not having to twist in Gumby-like positions for lack of room on the bed. It has been great! I confess, rather lonely...for the most part. But aaah...I'll let you in on a little secret....

I have a beautiful and long forgotten friend that has helped me cope in these lonely times. We lost touch a while back....forever ago it seems. But we have recently been introduced and have become inseperable once again. It's been almost magical.  ==>

And of course...

It's not often that I post about arguments or fights that I get into with my S.O.. Truth be told, she reads my blog, and I suppress a lot of damn funny stuff for her sake....or rather, for my sake...so I don't miss out on the late night mambo that she graciously rations out on occasion...like if the stars are aligned just right, and or Saturn's moons are...nevermind, let me stop right there. But there are some things that need to be said. And though this may cost me many a lonely night for the next few weeks, I have to say it. Besides, there's always alternatives.

Okay, I admit. Men are naturally dirty minded. We take the most innocent of things and turn them into porn in our minds. Hey, guilty as charged. But you want to know what? That imagination can be your friend as well. You women can use it to your advantage. And in fact, you do...probably without even realizing it. Let me qualify what I'm saying:

Gross. I know. But I have a point. Now, regardless of how many men out there deny this, or swear on the Bible that it isn't the case, it is. Every man who has witnessed the miracle of childbirth, has had this thought enter his mind, "Holy shit! This kid has just ruined her [enter any term for vagina here] forever!"

Now, even though we have just witnessed your vaginal opening withstand an 8 lbs, 3oz monstrosity coming out a few months back...we still think that we can hurt you in bed. We give it every effort. Now, as if that wasn't enough, we can also pretend that it still feels the same. I'll bet that almost all of you women have asked their man if they could tell the difference, to which we reply, "No, dear...it's better than ever." Imagination. Plain and simple.

Now, not to talk shit...because I know how hard a thing it is to carry a baby for 9 months and also how horrific it is to see you go through childbirth...but the fact is that it is a rare woman who can get back to her original factory condition. Let's face it...you normally add on a few pounds. Especially after a few kids.

Again, our imagination is your best friend. For every man knows that beauty is only a lightswitch away...

And the reason we can still perform is, because in the dark, our imagination can stretch even further. And though it may shock you...it's not you that we're with! Take that!

Thoughts?