Weekend Fun: Non-traditional sports rule

May 25th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanE

I’m not sure if non-traditional is the appropriate word there, but it’s close enough: this is a weekend peppered with the sorts of sporting events that don’t typically register high on the average sports fan’s calender.

First, there’s the UFC fight this weekend. Strangely enough, UFC — and MMA in general — seems to be getting more attention than ever, as that New York Times story wondrously explains. I’m not exactly sure why this is; UFC has been around, and popular, for years. Perhaps it’s just because I’m from the Quad-Cities, home of UFC legend Pat Militich, but the UFC is really nothing new to us. I feel a bit like a snobby indie kid from Minneapolis turning on The Hold Steady or something, but it’s true. We’ve been down on the UFC since, like, 2002, and now IFC is well established in the area. (Go Silverbacks.) Come, join us.

And second, there’s the Indy 500. Where I currently reside, this is a huge deal, but in other areas of the country, I get the impression that very few people care. I almost get the impression that more people care about the UFC fight than about the race, but that sort of makes sense. While brutal hand-to-hand combat appeals to the monster in us all, Indy racing only seems to appeal to people from Indianapolis. NASCAR fans don’t seem too enthused, and the average sports viewer probably doesn’t see the difference between NASCAR and Indy Car. Sorry, but we’re ignorant. That’s how we roll in America.

So, for one weekend, the NBA Playoffs will take a back seat. But unless you’re digging on the Liddell fight Saturday, or live anywhere else in the country, I’m betting you’re only feeling half of this weekend. I know I am.

Memorial Day brings the funk

May 26th, 2006 | Posted by PostmanE

Off work Monday? Three-day weekend upon you? Sure, it sounds ok, but you know you’ll get sucked in to hanging out with family eventually. Oohhh. Ouch.

Never fear. There’s plenty of stuff to watch this weekend.

Tonight, the stellar NBA playoffs continue as the Mavs try not to get Diaw’d again and the Suns try to set records for chucking ability and the U.S. National Team attempts to get a friendly win. Tomorrow, the Pistons and Heat start up again, and the Cubs will try to WIN A GAME PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

Sunday, a bunch of cars will go around in a circle for a few hours, and everyone will love it. I’ll be watching basketball, thank you.

Good luck to you all.

(By the way, not to get too schmaltzy or anything on you, but thanks to the people who are the real reason we have a day off work Monday - our fallen, and living soldiers. Props, homies.)