Boxing Needs a Canelo Victory

         Contrary to popular belief, the sport of Boxing is strong.  The major fights still sellout and pay-per-view buys are healthy.  With the emergence of MMA and the country’s undying love for its three major sports (Football, Basketball and Baseball), Boxing’s had to take somewhat of a backseat in America.  I’m not sure Boxing will ever capture America like it once did in the golden era, but I do know that a Canelo Alvarez victory over Floyd Mayweather will provide resurgence to the sport.  

Courtesy of www.daily.co.uk.

Floyd “Money” Mayweather has been the face of the sport ever since Oscar De La Hoya’s steady decline into retirement.  Now Floyd’s an incredible fighter and one of the all-time greats, but he’s not the fighter you want as the face of the sport at a time where Boxing is considered an afterthought to the average sports fan.  He’s not overly exciting, he doesn’t engage in action packed fights and most importantly, he’s not willing to fight the very best fighters in the sport.  That’s not to discredit what he’s accomplished in the ring, but what makes boxing such a captivating sport is the heart and determination of a fighter.  They’re supposed to be modern day gladiators!

The greatest era of all-time, in my opinion, was the late 70’s and early 80’s when Sugar “Ray” Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler and Thomas “Hitman” Hearns were all in the prime of their careers.  What made them so special, was their fortitude to be known as the best.  They fought whoever was best or was claimed to be the best.. and they wanted to destroy them!  

Floyd’s a businessman in a sport that’s been stained with a reputation for bad business. It's not a good look.

We need a new face of Boxing…  We need a fighter that lures the casual fan into buying a pay-per-view event and ends the night in awe of how beautiful Boxing truly can be!  A fighter that doesn’t care who they put in front of him… A warrior… A determined fighter who will take chances and be carried out of the ring before he gives way to any opponent.  A boxer who will fight Adrien Broner, Brandon Rios, Sergio Martinez, Manny Pacquiao (hmm..) and the other best fighters in the sport.

Boxing has that in Canelo, and come September 14^th, let’s hope he dethrones the king.  

Tranquility in a Smile

Struggle is a common word in each and every one of our lives.  We deal with struggle on a daily basis.  Whether it's struggling with our jobs, struggling with our relationships or even struggling with ourselves; struggle is embedded in the fibers of our everyday being.

In the midst of struggle, we look for a light.. a reason to strive for better.. a path of some sorts. My solution is something  I like to call the ultimate tranquility.. and it's our children.  The moment you look into the eyes of your child and see the purity of everything this life has to offer can be a mesmerizing experience!  It's that moment where you realize that no matter what this life has given or taken from you.. you've created perfection!  You've created something that is and will always be yours!

Courtest of Clarocet.co

I often say that my daughter is a "replication of me that I will never be".

I created her (with the help of her mother I guess) and she's the purest part of me.   Stress and depression are not on her agenda.  At the end of the day, she just wants me to be Daddy. I make it a point almost every night to go in her room after she's asleep and give her a kiss.  She's my tranquility and the reason I'm able to push stress and struggle to the side.  She's my light.. my reason.. my path.

We're going to face struggle in everything we do.  We're even going to struggle with our kids.  So when those moments are too much for us, look towards that unconditional love of  your child.. that little piece of you that's perfection.. the ultimate tranquility.

Project: Fantasy Football Gone Wrong

Project: Fantasy Football Gone Wrong

So based on my previous blog advising women not to participate in Fantasy Football, but to support their men during this highly demanding time of year, some of my female colleagues suggested a different type of Fantasy Football league…

“How about we create a Fantasy Football League based on which players are the hottest?”

…and being the competitor I am, why not give it a shot?! I created a basic league with 1 Quarterback, 2 Running Backs, 3 Receivers, a Tight End and a Kicker.  The scoring system is an extremely basic touchdown system with touchdowns being worth 10 points and field goals worth 5.  Keep it simple!

From the moment we decided to move forward with the league, my fellow female co-workers went to work! Googling the hottest football players and making their lists.. asking their friends for advice..

“Who’s Peyton Hillis?... He has huge biceps, I like that!”

Tom Brady was the #1 target as expected.  But since, he could only be selected by one lucky lady, the race for the second hottest QB was in full effect.  There was a debate on Drew Brees.  Eli Manning didn’t get much love.  Colin Kaepernick received some attention.  Andy Dalton.. not so much. 

For countless hours, they researched, made lists and did their due diligence to create an in-depth analysis of the players they’re interested in. 

So what’s the point of this project?  To show women how much fun, time consuming, strenuous and competitive Fantasy Football can be.  The draft’s tomorrow… and it should be quite interesting!

Need a Moment?

Courtesy of tears&fragility - pinterest.com

We've all been there before.. that moment in life where you look in the mirror and are unfamiliar with the reflection. You've been in your own skin. Years of your life have passed by and this is the first time you've realized that you truly don't know who you are. You spend countless amounts of time staring at yourself and you walk away with one question:

What are you doing with your life?

We're all in different places and we've all experienced life in different ways. Whether the aforementioned question pertains to your position in life, career or an intimate relationship, it's vital that you take some time to evaluate what's important to you. The majority of people who hate their job feel like they're trapped. Remember, you were able to obtain that job somehow and you can find another. Happiness is what we strive for in life, so why would you subject yourself for 40-plus hours a week to an employer who brings you countless amounts of despair? Life's too short and your time is too precious. Remember, you create your own happiness.. and if the situation you've put yourself in is making you unhappy, it's time to relieve yourself from that situation.

Being in a serious relationship can be a beautiful experience that provides endless amounts of happiness to your life. Unfortunately, there are many times where we find ourselves with someone who constantly makes us unhappy. We'll hold on to what was and put our future hopes into moments of the past. Love is the only emotion that makes us overlook our own happiness. How many times have you made life decisions based on the person you were with? Would you have made those same decisions if you were single at the time? The person you choose to share your life with should care about your happiness just as much as their own. The sad reality is that we push our lives to the side for the sake of the relationship. When you're truly in love, you should want to make the other person happy.. but not at the expense of your own life and happiness. It's a balance that has to be shared between both of you.

If you're at a point where you're questioning who you are, it's time to make some changes. Sometimes it's as easy as writing your goals and dreams on a sheet of paper. Don't let a situation hold you captive from your own happiness.