Conditioning...

If you add up the number of boxers that have died in the ring or died later as a result of what happened in the ring in the last five years versus the number of MMA guys that have died over the same span, I guarantee you that boxing would "win" by a landslide. And this is coming from a guy that loves boxing and is fairly ambivalent toward MMA.
 
If you add up the number of boxers that have died in the ring or died later as a result of what happened in the ring in the last five years versus the number of MMA guys that have died over the same span, I guarantee you that boxing would "win" by a landslide. And this is coming from a guy that loves boxing and is fairly ambivalent toward MMA.

You are definitely in the majority my friend, I hated MMA at first too and grew up when boxing was at its best with Tyson, Holyfield, etc. so I was in the same boat, as was my Dad and many of the mainstream sporting guys. But the more I began to understand all the Martial-Arts and the legitimate tools practiced in those disciplines and began to actually learn and use them, I absolutely began to love it!
 
Oh I definitely don't have anything against MMA, and I do watch it at times as I have some friends that are huge fans. But I'm just like you, I grew up when Tyson was in his hey day and I remember watching all of the big PPVs with my dad. I've loved it ever since. It is really sad to see what it has become, which is an absolute mess. The fact that they couldn't make Pacquiao-Mayweather happen is exhibit A of why boxing has gone into the toilet. I was pretty much crushed when that fell through. Way too much greed, and no sense whatsoever of what is best for the sport. I like watching Friday Night Fights on ESPN2 because it showcases guys that are still up and coming and very hungry.
 
Ya when Pacquiao-Mayweather didn't happen it was just a summation of boxing since the 90's. I wish they could both succeed but with what Dayna White has done with the UFC its just swallowed boxing, even at the amatuer level. Tulsa still has some good fight night promotions. The Tulsa Charity Fight Night is coming up April 22nd put on by the Siegfried brothers and I'll be attending. Its the 20th anniversery, can't believe it. Allen Green has also got me back into boxing interest being from Tulsa. He will be fighting in Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament. He is fighting WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward on April 17th.
 
The thing that MMA, specifically UFC, has going for it is that it has a central governing body. Boxing is a total free for all. Who knows how many "titles" there are out there right now, it has to be thousands. I have watched fights on FNF and at the end of a fight the winner will be holding up some belt and the commentators literally said NOTHING about them holding a title during the entire fight. It's like did you make that yourself at home and bring it with you tonight?
 
I am also a good friend of Darby. He is second to none in his profession. I know that he made players work hard and some on the current team clashed with him over that. I have stated many times that Capel has too many yes men surrounding him. You need some hard nosed people to teach toughness and I don't see toughness on this team.
 
I am also a good friend of Darby. He is second to none in his profession. I know that he made players work hard and some on the current team clashed with him over that. I have stated many times that Capel has too many yes men surrounding him. You need some hard nosed people to teach toughness and I don't see toughness on this team.

Exactly! Darby would have stopped a lot of this stuff of happening because he worked punishment into his workouts and the players knew it and knew it would be coming if they did something wrong. Sometimes Darby admittedly would get on too much of a high horse and I think that is what he and Capel clashed over most but you still cannot deny what Darby can do and did do which is why I think we miss him more than some might think or would have never thought of.
 
I ran into Darby's wife at a Chamber event not long ago. She said Darby was working with Anthony but had recently accepted an assistant coaching position with a basketball team in Texas. They had an open spot. I'm trying to find out what team he is coaching with now. Anyone know?
 
I ran into Darby's wife at a Chamber event not long ago. She said Darby was working with Anthony but had recently accepted an assistant coaching position with a basketball team in Texas. They had an open spot. I'm trying to find out what team he is coaching with now. Anyone know?

Sam Houston State if I recall correctly.
 
Being from OK, I'm not familar with all the Texas bball teams but I looked up Sam Houston State and it's north of Houston. Went to the teams website, and it said they won their conference title last night. Good for Darby.

Guess that explains why he left OU a little more. Darby had been an asst coach in years prior and all that knew him, knew he wanted to coach again. Guess he didn't see an opportunity to move up at OU, so he left for a pretty cool gig on the PGA tour. Looks like he had a chance to be an assistant basketball coach again, and he left the tour to coach again. Wow. I don't know if I could leave a PGA gig but I guess Darby is a true basketball guy. Love it.

Like to see our former coaches and players doing well after their time at OU. Going to follow and see how they do the rest of the season.

The cage fighting comment I think is null and void now. Good one though.
 
Received a text from Darby this morning. Sam Houston St. won their conference and is playing out the string until the conference tourn. Darby is happy coaching and I know he wanted a spot on OU's staff when they added a yes man to Capel's staff. Discipline and Darby goes hand in hand. He did a great job for the Sooners and he'll do a great job for SHS.
 
Being from OK, I'm not familar with all the Texas bball teams but I looked up Sam Houston State and it's north of Houston. Went to the teams website, and it said they won their conference title last night. Good for Darby.

Guess that explains why he left OU a little more. Darby had been an asst coach in years prior and all that knew him, knew he wanted to coach again. Guess he didn't see an opportunity to move up at OU, so he left for a pretty cool gig on the PGA tour. Looks like he had a chance to be an assistant basketball coach again, and he left the tour to coach again. Wow. I don't know if I could leave a PGA gig but I guess Darby is a true basketball guy. Love it.

Like to see our former coaches and players doing well after their time at OU. Going to follow and see how they do the rest of the season.

The cage fighting comment I think is null and void now. Good one though.

Which comment?
 
Which comment?

That Rich is working with MMA fighters now. Figured if he's coaching in Texas, he isn't working with others at this time but I could be wrong.

I enjoy watching the matchups myself. Lot of physicallity and endurance goes into that sport.
 
That Rich is working with MMA fighters now. Figured if he's coaching in Texas, he isn't working with others at this time but I could be wrong.

I enjoy watching the matchups myself. Lot of physicallity and endurance goes into that sport.

He was privately training people when he was at OU so I'm sure he has several private clients. I bet he is still with Anthony Kim as well in some sort. Trainers like him get a lot of pub and are hired privately and do a lot of work like that. He was the one who turned Blake and Taylor on to Frank Matrisciano. He is still training MMA fighters because he trained me and I have talked to fighters that he has designed training programs for. I'm in the best shape I have ever been in since I started training and this is the most physically demanding sport I've been involved with.
 
Fitz may be going to spend a couple of weeks with Frank M. in Cali.

I think we miss Darby more than people realize. I hope Yo Yo can get the job done but Darby was one of the best out there!

The more I hear and read, the more I am concerned about Szendrei as well. We didn't have the same type of discipline related problems when Darby was here.
 
The strength coach may keep the guys in line to a certain degree, but only the man who controls playing time can truly play the discipline card. If the S&C coach puts up a strong front and it is not backed up by his boss, it does no good and he ends up losing ground with the players.

:clap :cade :crocker
 
The strength coach may keep the guys in line to a certain degree, but only the man who controls playing time can truly play the discipline card. If the S&C coach puts up a strong front and it is not backed up by his boss, it does no good and he ends up losing ground with the players.

:clap :cade :crocker
We had the same head coach last year, no problems. We didn't have the same S & C coach, problems. I am not sure it is a coincidence.
 
We had the same head coach last year, no problems. We didn't have the same S & C coach, problems. I am not sure it is a coincidence.

I've been thinking about it all year and the more I think the more I don't think it is a coincidence, plus he had Blake and Taylor to show as examples of what hard work and discipline do for you. I don't want to take anything away from JS but he might have been in over his head this year.
 
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