Dallas Sports Offseason Update
July 10, 2009 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
Dallas Sports Offseason Report
As UFC 100 betting grabs most of the sports headlines entering the weekend, Dallas’ top sports teams continue to retool and prepare for their upcoming season. Let’s check in with the Mavericks, Cowboys and Stars to see what’s new.
The Mavs are easily the busiest of all Dallas teams in the front office of late. First, they retained point guard Jason Kidd by signing him to a new three-year contract worth over $25 million. The deal pays Kidd through his 39th birthday. While Kidd’s 9.0 points per game was the lowest average of his career, his 40.6 three-point percentage was his second best single-season mark and his 8.7 assists fit his normal lofty standards.
The Mavs also just completed a multi-team trade that could significantly change the hoops betting landscape next season. While the biggest name moving in the deal may be Hedo Turkolgu going to Toronto, the Mavs make the biggest roster shakeup of any team involved. Dallas says goodbye to Jerry Stackhouse (going to Memphis), Devean George (Toronto) and Antoine Wright (Toronto). On the way to Dallas are Shawn Marion, the centerpiece of the deal, Kris Humphries, Nathan Jawai and Greg Buckner. It’s safe to say the Mavs will look very different on opening night of the 2009-10 season, and offshore sportsbook odds makers have taken notice.
Nothing major to report for the ’Boys, though their summer of offense experimentation continues. The latest idea: using Marion Barber and Felix Jones in the same backfield. The plan would extend beyond two-back sets, possibly spreading Jones wide, though his pass-catching ability wasn’t tested last season. The plan sounds reminiscent of New Orleans’ use of Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush a couple of seasons ago.
For the most part, the Stars have sat idle as other teams spend like crazy this NHL offseason. The Stars lost the Jonas Gustavsson sweepstakes to the Toronto Maple Leafs, meaning Marty Turco looks safe to retain the No. 1 goaltending job next season. Jere Lehtinen will be a Dallas Star for at least one more season; he signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal just before unrestricted free agency began on July 1. One of my main sports predictions for the season: If the Stars fall out of the playoff race come winter, I’m betting management trades Lehtinen to a contender.
Urijah Faber vs Jens Pulver 2 Preview
January 24, 2009 by Derick-Schaefer · 1 Comment
TV Channels: Versus (DirectTV 603, DISH 151, Time Warner Cable Digital 31, 190, 786)
Time: 9:30 PM Eastern Standard
Venue: San Diego Sports Arena, CA
The Fighters
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Name: Urijah Faber Nick Name: “California Kid” |
Name: Jens Pulver Nick Name: “Little Evil” |
Their Previous Match
The official score cards read: 50-45 and 50-44 and 50-44 for Urijah Faber in one of the most challenging fights Faber had faced in years. Though the judges scored in Faber’s favor (10-9) for the first two rounds, Jens Pulver landed several significant blows that showed both Faber and the world he was there to fight. It was the first time in years that WEC audiences had seen someone send a message to Faber–it was the first time in years they had seen a fight go past the 2nd round. In the third round, however, Pulver, sporting swelling under his right eye, began to fight on the defensive as Faber’s conditioning and fighting style continued at a pace unexpected by the challenger. Though Faber finished the 5th round, he knew it was not a fight that would go in his favor. In an an interview after the fight, Jens admitted that Urijah “dictated the fight”. Still, he accomplished what no other 145 pounder could accomplish in recent years–he took Faber the distance.
Though the WEC is notorious for exchanges of words both pre and post fight, this one ended with two accomplished professionals complimenting each other on both their abilities and performances in the fight.
Urijah Faber
Until 2008, Urijah Faber simply walked into the ring and eliminated opponents in fraction of the time allotted for his fights. In 2007, examples of Urijah Faber’s dominance in the extreme cage fighting would include his submission of Dominik Cruz in 1:38 into the first round or Chance Farrar who submitted at the 3:19 mark of round one. In 2008, however, things changed.
On June 1 of 2008, Urija Faber was take to a decision after rounds in his first encounter with Jens “Little Evil” Pulver. The fight was exemplary of their strengths and ended in an unrivaled display of sportsmanship where both fighters praised the other’s ability in the ring. On November 5, 2008, Urijah Faber’s world significantly changed in a first round technical knock out (TKO) he experienced as a result of an explosive set of blows by Mike Brown that not only lost him his title but knocked him off of a pedestal that showcased him as one of the unique and unstoppable fighters in this format.
Jens Pulver
After 30 professional fights and a solid track record in the UFC, Jens Pulver made a statement on December 12, 2007 by defeating Cub Swanson in his WEC debut in a mere 35 seconds via a choke hold. This quickly sky rocketed him to a title bout with then WEC champion Urijah Faber where he took Faber the distance which forced a decision after five rounds. Though he lost the decision, he accomplished things no fighter before him had done–he survived the first two rounds with Faber. Beyond survival, there were several points in the fight where he placed doubts as to whether Faber could beat him and in the end made Faber work harder than he ever had in recent years.
On Nov 5th, 2007, to the surprise of many, Jens Pulver incurred his second defeat in the WEC, by technical knock out (TKO), at the hands of Leonard Garcia.
In an interview posted on Versus site, he stated that he “is excited” and “expects things to be different this time”.
What’s On The Line
Both fighters have ground to make up due to recent losses. Urijah’s loss in particular was unexpected and cast doubt on him being considered one of the top MMA fighters in the world.. This isn’t one of those “get your confidence back” fights however. These two fighters are arguably the most skilled 145 pound fighters in the world and they both are fighting to get back what they’ve lost which ups the adreniline and ultimately what is on the line with this fight. For the winner, it is back on the title track. For the loser, it could set back dreams for 18 months or more to come. NOT A FIGHT TO MISS!
To this date, the only time that Urijah Faber has had that had more riding on it was a street brawl in Indonesia where he found himself in a fight for his life.
