Josh Koscheck’s team has lost three fights, so he’s serious now. He brings in American Kickboxing Academy teammate Jon Fitch. Then he makes reference to his team’s lack of balls. Foreshadowing the Axe ad later in the broadcast? Back at…
soccer
Does the USA need a “No. 10″?
by Beau Dure • • 1 Comment
David Hirshey critiques the U.S. MNT with a lament for the bygone days, which never really existed in the USA’s case, of a “No. 10″ playmaker directing the team. From Ives Galarcep, we get a very different reading — the…
mma
‘The Ultimate Fighter’: Season 12, Episode 4: Maturity rocks
by Beau Dure • • 0 Comments
The questions heading into tonight’s episode: 1. Will the latest Alex “Bruce Leeroy” Caceres housecapades include anything we haven’t already seen in the preview? 2. With Caceres and Michael Johnson winning but not looking dominant, who’s the favorite? 3. Will…
soccer
WPS Best XI and the evolving U.S. women’s national team
by Beau Dure • • 0 Comments
As I puzzled over my ballot for the WPS Best XI, announced today, something strange occurred to me. I couldn’t justify putting many U.S. national team veterans on the team. It’s not that the team is completely foreign — only…
chess, mma, soccer
Are sports monopolies necessary?
by Beau Dure • • 5 Comments
The news that a district court judge has allowed a lawsuit to proceed against MLS and U.S. Soccer is worrisome for the league and federation. The details of the ruling (see the PDF) are downright disturbing. At issue: Is U.S.…
mma
‘The Ultimate Fighter’: Season 12, Episode 3: Tyson for tea
by Beau Dure • • 0 Comments
Alex “Bruce Leeroy” Caceres is giddy after beating Jeff Lentz. He veers between complimenting Lentz on a good fight and pointing out all the ways he was vastly superior. Among the dubious claims: Lentz’s kicks just grazed his afro. Spencer…
mma
‘The Ultimate Fighter’: Season 12, Episode 2: Bruce Decoy
by Beau Dure • • 0 Comments
Last time on The Ultimate Fighter, we saw bits of 14 fights and learned that the “characters” on this show will be Alex “Bruce Leeroy” Caceres and Michael “No, Not The Olympic Sprinter” Johnson. Or maybe not. Jeff Lentz has…
soccer
World Cup economics and skepticism
by Beau Dure • • 11 Comments
Journalists are supposed to be skeptical. Actually, all of us should be skeptical but not cynical. Big difference. A cynic dismisses ideas and arguments as a reflex. A skeptic checks them out. So when the USA bids to host the…
mma
‘The Ultimate Fighter’: Season 12, Episode 1: Fight! (x14)
by Beau Dure • • 2 Comments
Time for another season of recapping, deconstructing and dissecting The Ultimate Fighter! We know the coaches — the venerated Georges St. Pierre and the vilified Josh Koscheck, subject of some guy’s USA TODAY profile today. Now we get to meet…
soccer
WPS seasons change: Freedom advance, Scurry says goodbye, Antonucci out?
by Beau Dure • • 5 Comments
Updated below with Hope Solo comments, expansion news The Maryland SoccerPlex is a good bit cooler today that it was this summer. Rather than worrying about heatstroke, those of us in short-sleeve shirts wish we had brought jackets. As the…
soccer
Player ratings: Chicago-Toronto
by Beau Dure • • 0 Comments
Chicago 0, Toronto 0 Sept. 8, 2010 Summary: Toronto came out much more aggressive than Chicago, controlling play but not getting a lot of good chances out of it. TFC had a couple of shouts for a penalty on two…
soccer
Briana Scurry bids farewell
by Beau Dure • • 0 Comments
It’s startling to hear Briana Scurry get emotional. Throughout her career, from the 1996/1999/2004 triumphs to the 2007 Women’s World Cup controversy, she has always been the calm one. The quiet one, like George Harrison of The Beatles. She didn’t…
soccer
Immediate questions after the USL bombshell
by Beau Dure • • 1 Comment
The USL announced today that its first and second divisions, beset by defections and dwindling numbers over the past 15 years, would merge into USL PRO. The league addressed a couple of long-standing concerns in its announcement: 1. The pro…