Arianny Arrested, Mayhem Released, Big Foot Bloodied and Then Brock Turned Up at UFC

In a night of surprises, UFC 146 was extraordinary. Additional news around the event includes Arianny Celeste's arrest for domestic violence, Mayhem Miller's release from the UFC, Big Foot Silva's blood bath and Brock Lesnar's surprise appearance. Does he want to return to the UFC?

Mayhem Miller Released from UFC

UFC 146 had one notable exception--the Miller vs Dolloway--fight which was too boring for words in my opinion. Mayhem's performance and then some sort of backstage situation with his boss, UFC president, Dana White, ended in Jason "Mayhem" Miller being released by the UFC.

If that wasn't bizarre enough, perennial man-favorite, UFC octagon girl, Arianny Celeste, was missing at the start of UFC 146. Fellow ring girl, Brittney Palmer, held down the fort until later in the evening when Arianny showed up, suited up in her ring girl outfit and ready to do her ring girl thing.

Arianny Arrested

News is still sketchy, but apparently, domestic violence is the reason given for Arianny's arrest. In a week where UFC president Dana White is still reeling from the Jon Jones drunk driving incident, news of another arrest of a super-popular UFC personality is the last thing the Zuffa organization wants to deal with.

For his part, Dana says that he is loyal to Arianny and he will back her up. Maybe that's why she decided to show up to UFC 146 and to be supported by her fans and co-workers.

Arianny is a small person. This is pure speculation--I wonder if she brandished a weapon of some sort. That's the only thing I can think of that would have someone call the police to intervene. Was it against a man? Was it against a woman? Was alcohol involved? If so, then there's another UFC star, featured in a Bud Light commercial, to take all the fun out of having a few beers.

To ensure that fans were thoroughly entertained, there was something for everyone at UFC 146 and more tantalizing news to be discussed at a later date.

Knockouts Highlight Why Heavyweight Division Is Most Exciting

The big boys know how to put on a big show. 

And at UFC 146, an event in which the main card was littered with intriguing heavyweight fights, the big boys once again came through in entertaining the fans. 

Of the five heavyweight fights, one ended in a knockout, three ended in technical knockouts, and one ended in submission.

None went the distance. 

For comparison's sake, of the seven other fights on the night, three went to decision and only two ended with punches. Knockouts are what get the crowd off their feet, and that's why the heavyweight division, despite the argument that the fights were too one-sided, continues to be the King of Excitement. 

Let's take a further look at the fights that made Joe Rogan giddiest. 

Indy 500 gets underway

The 96th Indianapolis 500 blasted into action on Sunday on a steaming hot day in America's Midwest after an emotional tribute to last year's winner Dan Wheldon.

A massive crowd, estimated at around a quarter of a million, let out a mighty roar when the green flag was dropped and the 33 cars sped away for the first of 200 laps on the sprawling oval track.

Australian Ryan Briscoe started from pole position after setting the fastest time in qualifying and was joined on the front row of the grid by Canada's James Hinchcliffe and American Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Marco Andretti, bidding to end his family's apparent curse in the race, was on the second row alongside Australia's Will Power, the current IndyCar series leader, and three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves of Brazil.

The field included eight rookies, three women and two ex-Formula One drivers, Brazilian Rubens Barrichello and Jean Alesi of France, and drivers from 11 different countries, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, France, Spain, Venezuela, Brazil and Switzerland.

There were three former champions in Castroneves, bidding to become just the fourth four-time winner, Briton Dario Franchitti and New Zealand's Scott Dixon.

This year's race is one of the most open and unpredictable in years and was shaping up as grueling test for both the drivers and their cars with temperatures forecast to reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius).

Part of the race's enduring appeal is that it is steeped in tradition and once again the race was preceded by the singing of "Back Home in Indiana Again" and the eventual winner was expected to follow custom by kissing the bricks and slugging milk.

Before Sunday's race, the sport paused to remember Wheldon, the popular Englishman who was killed in a horrific crash in Las Vegas in October.

His tragic death continues to cast a dark pall over the sport and has added a somber sense to this year's race.

The car he won in 12 months ago, was driven on a lap of honour, serving both as a tribute to him and a stark reminder of the dangers the drivers face when hurtling around the track at speeds of 220 mph (350 km/h).

(Editing by Gene Cherry)

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/05/27/indy-500-gets-underway/#ixzz1w6CaZjjM

76ers’ playoff experience invaluable

As the regular season wound down, there was a faction that hoped the 76ers wouldn’t sneak into the playoffs with the eighth seed, instead hoping for the lottery. Coach Doug Collins has never understood that.

And with the Sixers reaching Game 7 of the second round against the Celtics, there was no question in his mind how valuable the experience was for his young team.

“To me, a Game 7 like this is worth about 10 regular-season games, when you start talking about the magnitude of the game and all that goes with it and the chance that if you win you move into another round,’’ Collins said, before the Celtics ended the 76ers’ season, 85-75.

“I sort of chuckle at all those people that with about 10 [games] to go in the season wanted us to not make the playoffs and get the 12th pick of the draft instead of the 15th. I’ve never understood that mentality.

“I wonder how they think about that now that our guys have played, they’ve had some success, and they’ve grown.’’

Collins cited the fact that the Sixers won few close games in the regular season, that they didn’t know how to close. In the playoffs, it was a different story, closing out the Bulls in six games, snagging Game 2 from the Celtics on the road. They have learned what to do in such situations.

“That, to me, is why you get into the playoffs and why you give yourself this opportunity,’’ Collins said. “You never know what’s going to happen.

“We were able to find a way to win a playoff series. That’s why you’ve always got to give yourself a chance. You don’t know what’s going to happen.’’

Collins said the three players who benefited most from the playoff run were Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, and Lavoy Allen, three young players who performed well in the series. Allen made a big statement in containing Kevin Garnettthrough most of the series, after Garnett torched the Hawks in the first round.

Most of the Sixers’ regulars have four years or less of NBA experience - with Lou Williams (six), Andre Iguodala (seven), and Elton Brand (12) the exceptions - and few had significant postseason experience.

So in ways that Collins never could have coached, his team is growing up, gaining knowledge. The Sixers now know how to win, and how to handle difficult and pressure-packed spots.

Turner said he had come to understand playoff basketball, in a way he hadn’t before. It brought maturity, he said.

“It’s amazing,’’ Brand said. “Most of the young guys that have got an opportunity to play have won ballgames for us. Seeing these guys grow, it’s just due to how hard they work and the coaching staff.Continued...

To Hell and Back: Scanning war movies (for better or worse) on Memorial Day weekend

There's a disconnect in the new action thumper "Battleship."

Col. Gregory D. Gadson, an Army artillery officer who lost both legs while serving in Iraq, plays an Army vet trying to help the Navy save the world. He navigates a hillside as best he can on his prosthetic legs with Sam, an admiral's daughter played by Brooklyn Decker. The imposing Gadson does a nice job of portraying a bitter, intense and ultimately helpful military man as he and Sam try to stop alien attackers. The movie also briefly salutes a few elderly vets from various wars.

The problem is, "Battleship," starring the less-than-thrilling Taylor Kitsch, is an overblown, overlong, cliche-ridden film. It's good that our veterans are being saluted, but did it have to be in such a dopey movie?

It reminded me of the time I spoke with Capt. Jon Powers after he returned from a 14-month stint in Iraq. The former Army artillery officer was in Cleveland in 2005 with the documentary "Gunner Palace," the up-close tale of what soldiers were really dealing with in Baghdad. Powers was trying to get high school students, the generation that would be fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, to see the film, which he appears in briefly. As he traveled the country, Powers was shocked by the tremendous lack of interest in the war. Whenever he clicked on the news or picked up a newspaper, celebrity gossip or malfeasance were grabbing the headlines.