An In-Depth Breakdown of ‘Lesnar vs. Overeem’

On December 30th, the UFC is putting on UFC 141, whose main event will feature a heavyweight collision between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem! I felt it necessary to throw my two cents into the penny fountain that everybody else has thrown their two cents into, and give you my breakdown of this fight and my prediction for it.

Brock Lesnar is coming off over a year off from fighting, and during which he had to overcome his second serious bout with Diverticulitis. Last October, we saw Cain Valasquez pick Brock Lesnar apart in the first round with his striking, until a final TKO victory for Valasquez, stealing the title from Lesnar. I will not say that striking is Lesnar’s issue, after all who can forget the incredible right hand that sent Heath Herring in a backward cart-wheel across the cage, breaking his Orbital bone. I will say that Lesnar’s issue, is striking defense. Brock hasn’t quite found out how to get hit, and keep moving forward. This fault may present a huge problem when fighting Alistair, who will undoubtedly be the best striker that Lesnar has fought thus far in his career.

Overeem comes into this fight making his UFC debut, and there is a big question mark over how well he is going to be able to stop Brock Lesnar’s takedowns. Brock has made quite a name for himself with his explosive takedowns, over powering of opponents, and destructive ground and pound.

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#9 – Countdown to Christmas: CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

There is nothing on TV that gets me in the Christmas spirit quite as much as A Charlie Brown Christmas.  Released in 1965, it is a timeless classic that endures for many fellow lovers of the holiday season. Charlie Brown we all know and love as the ho-hum, down-on-his-luck grade school boy with the yellow and black shirt.  In this particular made-for-TV special, Charlie Brown searches for the true meaning of Christmas.  In his conversations with his fellow classmates, he realizes how commercialized Christmas has become.  There are Christmas cards to give out.  There are pageants to organize.  His sister is more focused on her letter of demands to Santa.  Even Snoopy has bought into the hype, decorating his dog house like a Macy’s Christmas float.

snoopy-xmas

And then, Linus has the answer.  Readers, you may have a wide range of beliefs, but there’s something incredibly sweet and innocent about the way Linus recites the Christmas story.  There’s something incredibly poetic about Charlie Brown’s love for a wimpy Christmas tree, shunned by everyone, in which he can see so much of himself.  He is able to take something everyone sees as ugly and make it beautiful.  And then the kids sing with their faces in the air and their mouths open wide.

I have always enjoyed the humor and the heartwarming stories that the Charlie Brown cartoons have told.  The Christmas special reminds us to slow down at Christmas time and remember what it’s really about – celebration, family, of giving.

As a musician, I appreciate the soundtrack almost as much as the story.  Vince Guilardi’s jazz piano carols are some of the few holiday tunes I can stomach, let alone enjoy, every year.  All of these reasons make A Charlie Brown Christmas a top contender on my list of holiday favorites.

5/5.

Grizzly Review – Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the mastermind behind the original “Sherlock Holmes” novels, a series of gripping mysteries led by one of the most famous characters in literary history. The books are witty, suspenseful, well-plotted, and the character of Holmes, as well as his sidekick Dr. John Watson, are two of the smartest and slickest protagonists to ever hit the page. Their ability to transform the most miniscule detail into the one that cracks the case was so invigorating that readers couldn’t help but just keep going.

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