Heroes & Villains

It's fight night, Texas style! Seven-time champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines, the man considered as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, takes on Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs) of Ghana tonight in the first major boxing event held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The tale of the tape:
-- Age: Pacquiao 31; Clottey 32
-- Weight: Pacquiao 145 3/4; Clottey 147
-- Height: Pacquiao 5-6 1/2; Clottey 5-8
-- Reach: Pacquiao 67"; Clottey 70"
-- Stance: Pacquiao (southpaw); Clottey (orthodox)
-- Pro Record: Pacquiao 50-3-2, 38 KOs; Clottey 35-3, 20 KOs)

The preliminary bouts will start at 6 p.m. PST. The live round-by-round coverage, with my scores for each round, will begin at approximately 8 p.m. PST. on this site: SportsFanLive.com/heroesvillains

Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) checked in just a shade under 146 pounds - 145 3/4 to be exact - during Friday's weigh-in while Ghana's Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs), a natural welterweight, tipped the scale at 147 pounds.

Both fighters were very friendly toward each other during the weigh-in, shaking hands more than once and playfully smiling and laughing during a face-to-face pose.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's much celebrated trainer, predicted Saturday's welterweight championship fight at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas - also known as Jerry Jones' Taj Mahal - wouldn't go past 10 rounds. Though Clottey has never been knocked out in his professional career, he has never faced a fighter like Pacquiao, who continues to defy physics and has managed to maintain his speed and punching power despite the added weight.

Pacquiao, a former flyweight champion, is on an incredible winning streak, knocking out his last four opponents:

-- def. Miguel Cotto, TKO Rd. 12 (Nov. 14, 2009)
-- def. Ricky Hatton, KO Rd. 2 (May 2, 2009)
-- def. Oscar De La Hoya, TKO Rd. 8 (Dec. 6, 2008)
-- def. David Diaz, TKO Rd. 9 (June 28, 2008)
-- def. Juan Manuel Marquez, SD Rd. 12 (March 15, 2008)

Clottey lost a split decision to Cotto in 2009 and his only signiture victory in his previous five fights was a technical decision over overrated Zab Judah in 2008 when Judah couldn't continue because of a bad cut. A look at Clottey's last five opponents:

-- lost to Miguel Cotto, SD Rd. 12 (June 13, 2009)
-- def. Zab Judah, TD Rd. 9 (Aug. 2, 2008)
-- def. Jose Luis Cruz, TKO Rd. 5 (April 3, 2008)
-- def. Shamone Alvarez, UD Rd. 12 (Dec. 20, 2007)
-- def. Felix Flores, UD Rd. 10 (Aug. 9, 2007)

Las Vegas oddsmakers has Clottey as a 4-to-1 underdog, making this bout more of a tune-up match for Pacquiao. About the only advantage Clottey will have when he steps into the ring with Pacquiao is his height (Pacquiao is 5-6 and Clottey is 5-8). But Pacquiao has yet to be overwhelmed by bigger and taller fighters so the height difference won't be a factor.

Of course, there is always a chance that Pacquiao could take Clottey lightly and make it more of a challenge. But considering there is a HUGE payday in his future (i.e. Floyd Mayweather Jr.), Pacquiao won't let his guard down.



Note: Heroes & Villains author Joel Huerto will do a live round-by-round scoring of the Pacquiao-Clottey fight. The pay-per-view event will start at 6 p.m. PST. For those who want to follow the live round-by-round blog, visit SportsFanLive.com/heroesvillains.

Like him or not, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the straw that stirs boxing's melting pot.

Depending on the opponent, Mayweather can play the hero or the villain. He is both fearless and calculated. Very few pugilists today can bring attention to a fight better than "Money" Mayweather, and his pay-per-view buys back it up his pre-fight bravado.

During Thursday's media event held at L.A. Live's Nokia Plaza to promote his upcoming pay-per-view championship fight with Shane Mosley, Mayweather managed to fire insults at Manny Pacquiao without mentioning his name. And as he made his way to a group of adoring fans who attended the Floyd-fest, Mayweather led a playful chant of "HGH! HGH! HGH!" as Mosley - whose name has been dragged through the BALCO mud - worked his way around the barricades to sign autographs.

Score two points for the undisputed king of hype, Floyd Mayweather Jr.

"I'm the face of boxing," boasts the six-time, 33-year-old former pound-for-pound king (40-0, 25 knockouts), who begins his "Clean Up Boxing" crusade with a blockbuster bout with the 38-year-old Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) on May 1 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Floyd Jr. has built his entire career being defensive. He didn't get the nickname Pretty Boy Floyd by getting into too many slugfests. In the ring, he has mastered the art of hitting without getting hit. Out of the ring, he always seems to find himself defending his decisions, whether it's not fighting a guy who refuses to subject himself to random blood and urine tests (ahem ... Manny Pacquiao!) or fighting a guy who appear to be past his prime (ahem ... Shane Mosley!).

"No matter who I face, I don't get my just due. I'm fighting against the media and all those Internet blogs. You have to be mentally strong to do that," he said."

Mayweather has vowed to rid the sport of boxing of all fighters who, in Mayweather's mind, have enhanced their careers with the help of human growth hormones.

"I just want to clean up my sport," said Mayweather, who certainly is not referring to the trash left people left behind at Nokia Plaza.

And as much as he says he is focused on preparing for Mosley, it is crystal clear that Pacquiao -- who fights Joshua Clottey on March 13 in Dallas -- is very much in Mayweather's sights.

Mayweather firmly believes that he's STILL the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and feels the title was unceremoniously taken away from him when he briefly retired from the sport three years ago.

Hard to argue Mayweather's point since he has never lost a professional fight.

When the subject of the much-awaited Pacquiao bout was broached, Mayweather went on the offensive and reiterated his suspicions about the Filipino fighter.

"At one time, fighters didn't have to take blood tests. But I'm taking a stand," Mayweather explained. "All I'm saying is, in the sport of boxing, you don't go from being an ordinary fighter at 25 to extraordinary at 30."

Whether or not Pacquiao is guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs, Mayweather has certainly planted a huge seed of doubt in the minds of the boxing community that Pacquiao may not be playing by the same rules as everyone else.

Pacquiao certainly didn't help his cause when he said he is not fond of needles. Well, if Manny Pacquiao is afraid of needles, then how did he get his tattoos?

I truly believe the Mayweather-Pacquiao megafight will eventually happen. There is just too much money on the line for it not to materialize. But Mayweather is going to make sure that it will be on his terms. Like he said before, the road to a big-time payday leads to Floyd Mayweather Jr.

If Pacquiao wants to complete his Hall-of-Fame credential and be considered the best fighter of his generation, he needs to agree to the Olympic-style drug testing and end all of the speculation. Otherwise, Pretty Boy will continue to needle him.

"I am deeply sorry."

Those were the words that came out of Tiger Woods' mouth during a surreal 13-minute confessional on Friday that Rick Reilly described as a magic show with the blue curtain in the background and a small gallery that included Woods' mother and his closest friends. Tiger probably wished it was a magic show so he can just wave his magic 9-iron and make all his problems disappear.

Unfortunately for Tiger, no magic wand can erase the nightmare that has been suffocating him for the past three months because of his transgressions and for cheating on his wife. His private life and professional life will forever be stained - and I'm talking Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky stained.

Some thought Woods was contrite and sincere in his apology while some berated the whole staged event and criticized Woods for reading from a prepared statement instead of speaking from the heart.

To summarize Woods' public apology, he basically said he was furious at himself for being a sex monster and commended his wife Elin for showing enormous poise and grace throughout the whole ordeal. Hmmmm. Sound familiar? It was straight out of the Kobe Bryant book of admission.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, I'd give Woods' apology a 6.5 because I docked him for not allowing more writers into the room and didn't field any questions. There are far better public apologies made by superstar athletes in the past 10 years. Here is my top five:

5. MICHAEL VICK SENT TO THE DOGHOUSE
In 2007, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick admitted he made mistakes and his poor judgment cost him two years of his NFL career. Vick accepted responsibility for his actions and paid his debt to society by going to prison for dogfighting and conspiracy charges.



4. MARK MCGWIRE ADMITS TO USING STEROIDS
Big Mac revealed in January that he used steroids for the better part of baseball career, including the magical 1998 season in which he hit a then-record 70 home runs. Though he admitted using performance-enhancers, McGwire claims that steroids did not help his ability to hit home runs. Yeah, right. And I'm the son of Poseidon.



3. MARION JONES TEARFULLY TELLS THE WORLD SHE CHEATED
Marion Jones, the former Olympic champion and the most decorated U.S. track star, tearfully pleaded guilty in 2007 to making false statements to federal agents and added that she "let her country down" and called her actions as "stupid." Three years early, Jones said she never used performance-enhancing drugs and was drug free. Jones spent six months in jail for lying to federal agents.



2. ALEX RODRIGUEZ TOSSES HIS COUSIN UNDER THE BUSS
During a 2009 press conference prior to the start of spring training, A-Rod admitted that he experimented with a steroid called "Boley" or "Bolay" in 2001. Rodriguez said, "My cousin and I, one, more ignorant than the other, decided it was a good idea to start taking it. My cousin would administer it to me but neither of us knew how to use it properly." A-Rod says he kept taking the illegal substance from 2001-2003. The highlight of the 2009 press conference was A-Rod's dramatic pause before thanking his Yankee teammates for their support.



1. KOBE BUYS HIS WAY OUT OF TROUBLE
Facing a life sentence for sexual assault, Kobe Bean Bryant, with his wife Vanessa by his side, told the world that he was innocent and was falsely accused of rape in 2003. While holding back tears, Bryant said: "I sit here in front of you guys, furious at myself, disgusted at myself for making a mistake of adultery. I love my wife with all my heart. She's my backbone." Bryant then turned to Vanessa, holding her hand tightly, and said, "You're a blessing. You're the beat to my heart and the air I breathe." Then Bryant used a line from an R. Kelly song ("Turn back the hands of time") and then reiterated how much he loves her and called her "special." Kobe proved how special she is by purchasing a $4-million purple diamond ring. Nothing says "I'm sorry" better than diamonds.

Peyton Manning is a great player, there's no question about that. However, is he the best ever? That remains unclear.

It seems a bit absurd to say that Manning's legacy will be on the line on Feb. 7 in Miami when his Colts face the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV. But, as far as I'm concerned, I can't put Manning in the same conversation with Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas, John Elway, Terry Bradshaw, Bart Starr and Tom Brady unless he leads his team to a second Super Bowl championship.

Manning's resume should speak for itself, right? The guy has a Super Bowl ring, holds numerous NFL records and is the only player in league history to have four regular-season MVP awards. All those are nice decorations in his trophy room, but we all know that legacies are defined by what superstars do in the playoffs and Peyton hasn't exactly been legendary throughout his postseason career. He has the same number of Super Bowl titles as his younger brother, Eli, which must be really hard to stomach if you're The Great Peyton Manning.

There is a difference between great and legendary. Here's a list of MVP quarterbacks with their accomplishments and postseason records in parentheses:

-- Joe Montana (16-7): four Super Bowl titles + three Super Bowl MVPs = LEGEND.

-- Peyton Manning (9-8): average playoff record + four NFL MVPs + one Super Bowl title = GREAT.

-- Tom Brady (14-4): NFL MVP + three Super Bowl titles + two Super Bowl MVPs = LEGEND.

-- Dan Marino (8-10): Former all-time passing leader + NFL MVP + zero championships = GREAT.

-- Johnny Unitas (16-2): two NFL titles + one Super Bowl title + three NFL MVPs = LEGEND.

-- Brett Favre (13-11): average playoff record + three NFL MVPs + one Super Bowl title = GREAT.

-- John Elway (14-7): NFL MVP + two Super Bowl titles + retired as a champion = LEGEND.

-- Terry Bradshaw (14-5): NFL MVP + four Super Bowl titles + two Super Bowl MVPs = LEGEND.

-- Kurt Warner (9-4): two NFL MVPs + two Super Bowl losses + one Super Bowl title = GREAT.

-- Bart Starr (6-1): NFL MVP + two Super Bowl titles + two Super Bowl MVPs = LEGEND.

-- Steve Young (8-6): Average playoff record + NFL MVP + one Super Bowl title = GREAT.

Manning is a lock to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. His resume is certainly good enough to put him among the greats. But taking home another Lombardi Trophy will elevate Manning's status from great to iconic. It will also erase his 9-8 playoff record and past postseason failures (and he has many of them).

Elway is a prime example of overcoming his playoff shortcomings. Much of Elway's Hall-of-Fame career was defined by blowout losses in the Super Bowl, and it wasn't until Elway won two consecutive Super Bowls that he was finally able to erase the stigma of "can't win the big one."

Manning finally won the "big one" in 2007 when he led the Colts to a victory over the Bears. But prior to winning Super Bowl XLI, Manning was mostly remembered for his painful exits against the Steelers and Patriots. Even after he won the Super Bowl, Manning was bounced out of the playoffs by the Chargers - twice!

Winning championships and how their teams respond in crucial moments is what ultimately defines a player's place in history. Peyton Manning needs to win a second Super Bowl ring for me to consider him as the best quarterback in NFL history.

The moment has finally arrived. Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs), the man considered as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, takes on Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) tonight at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for the WBO championship belt. Both fighters agreed to fight at a catch-weight of 145 pounds. During Friday's weigh-in, Pacquiao tipped the scale at 144 pounds while Cotto was at 145.

Here is the tale of the tape:
-- Age: Pacquiao 30, Cotto 29
-- Height: Pacquiao 5-6 1/2, Cotto 5-8
-- Reach: Pacquiao 67", Cotto 69"
-- Chest normal: Pacquiao 38", Cotto 39"
-- Chest expanded: Pacquiao 41", Cotto 41"
-- Waist: Pacquiao 28", Cotto 32"
-- Thigh: Pacquiao 20", Cotto 22 1/2"
-- Calf: Pacquiao 15", Cotto 12"
-- Neck: Pacquiao 16", Cotto 16"
-- Fist: Pacquiao 10", Cotto 11"

The preliminary bouts will start at 6 p.m. PST. The live round-by-round scoring with highlights will begin at approximately 8 p.m. PST. on this site: SportsFanLive.com/heroesvillains

-- 6:55 p.m. PST: Both fighters are in the arena. Cotto is sitting ringside, watching the prelims with his family. Pacquiao is in his dressing room with his entourage. More to come....

-- 8:15 p.m. PST: Last of the prelim bouts nearly over. Pacquiao-Cotto bout should start at approximately 9 p.m. PST.

-- 8:21 p.m PST: Magic Johnson, Derek Jeter and Mark Wahlberg in the house...

-- 8:24 p.m. PST: JC Chavez Jr. scores an unimpressive win over Rowland. Some boos in the crowd...Main event is about to start.

-- 8:28 p.m. PST: More faces in the crowd...Roberto Duran, Will Ferrell and P. Diddy. La Diva singing the Philippine nation anthem.

-- 8:31 p.m. PST: Ednita Nazario singing the Puerto Rican national anthem...
-- 8:33 p.m. PST: Ramiele now singing the Star Spangled Banner...

-- 8:37 p.m. PST: Pacquiao now entering the ring with his entourage to the sounds of "Thunder Struck" by AC/DC.
br/>-- 8:41 p.m. PST: Cotto entering the ring with his entourage to the sounds of "Stronger" by Kanye West.

-- 8:44 p.m. PST: Pacquiao looks relaxed, smiling to the cameras. Cotto looking real intense.

-- 8:46 p.m. PST: Michael Buffer doing his thing...Let's get ready to rumble!

ROUND 1 -- Cotto throwing jabs early. Cotto lands the first significant punch of the fight with a straight jab. Pacquiao a little tentative. Pacquiao misses with the left, Cotto counters. Round 1 goes to Cotto.

ROUND 2 -- Cotto's jabs are moving Pacquiao backwards. Pacquiao connects with a flurry of punches. Cotto lands a great left hook to the head but Pacquiao counters with a straight left to the side of the face. Crowd roars with each Pacquiao combination. Pacquiao scores a late flurry to take control of the round. Round 2 goes to Pacquiao.

ROUND 3 -- Pacquiao's speed is beginning to bother Cotto. Pacquiao lands a short right punch that knocks down Cotto in the middle of the ring. Pacquiao is beginning to land his right hook. Pacquiao's footspeed and handspeed are starting to dictate the fight. Round 3 goes to Pacquiao (10-8).

ROUND 4 -- Pacquiao scores with a quick right jab and straight left to start the round. When Pacquiao is stationary, Cotto goes to the body. Both fighters exchanging some power shots in the middle of the ring. Pacquiao hits Cotto with a quick left uppercut to the head and knocks the Puerto Rican down for the second time in the fight. Round 4 goes to Pacquiao (10-8).

ROUND 5 -- Cotto's early attack has been tempered by Pacquiao's counter-punching. Pace has slowed down compared to the last round. Cotto gets Pacquiao on the ropes. Cotto connects with a right hand that stuns the Filipino fighter. Round 5 goes to Cotto.

ROUND 6 -- Pacquiao is clearly ahead on power punches landed. Cotto seems to have recovered from his two knock downs. Pacquiao's movement has stopped momentarily, fighting more flat-footed. Pacquiao lands two quick punches to the head that backs up Cotto against the ropes. Cotto lands a straight left to Pacquiao's jaw to get out of trouble. Pacquiao landing the heavier punches in this round. Crowd-pleasing flurry from both fighters at the end of the round. Round goes to Pacquiao.

ROUND 7 -- Pacquiao lands a solid right hook that stuns Cotto. Pacquiao lands a heavy straight left that snaps Cotto's head. Pacquiao's speed is dictating this round. Cotto slips a jab to Pacquiao's chin. Pacquiao is landing the more significant blows in this round and Cotto's bigger body is not huge a factor. Round goes to Pacquiao.

ROUND 8 -- Cotto seems to have forgotten his jab and Pacquiao's confidence is growing. Pacquiao's lighting-quick movement is the difference the fight. Cotto lands a quick jab that snaps Pacquiao's head. But Pacquiao backs up Cotto with his non-stop attack and Cotto can't seem to figure out how to counter Pacquiao's relentless attack. Pacquiao connects with two left hands near the end of the round that gets a rise from the crowd. Cotto has a small cut below his right eye. Round goes to Pacquiao.

ROUND 9 -- Cotto showing a lot of courage despite getting blitz by Pacquiao's right-left combinations. Cotto scores with two quick glancing shots to the head. Pacquiao corners Cotto and delivers two solid shots to the head. Pacquiao continues to pepper Cotto with quick power shots, especially with the left hand. Pacquiao catches Cotto with a big left cross and the Puerto Rican backs into the ropes. Cotto is now bleeding on both eyes and his nose. Round 9 goes to Pacquiao.

ROUND 10 -- Cotto's trunks are stained with blood. Cotto is backpedaling to avoid engaging in the middle of the ring with Pacquiao, who is clearly in control of this fight. Some boos in the crowd as Cotto is reluctant to exchange blows with Pacquiao. Round goes to Pacquiao.

ROUND 11 -- Cotto starts the round by throwing his left jab, something he should have been doing throughout the fight. A chant of "Manny, Manny" screams from the pro-Pacquiao crowd. Pacquiao corners Cotto, but he backs the Filipino fighter with a solid left jab. Pacquiao trying to press Cotto into a slugfest. Some more boos in the crowd as Cotto continues to back up. Round goes to Pacquiao.

ROUND 12 -- Pacquiao pushes Cotto into the ropes with a devastating straight left. Referee steps in to stop the fight 55 seconds into the round. PACQUIAO WINS BY TKO.

Pacquiao claimed his seventh world championship belt and reestablished his position as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Cotto suffers his second defeat as a professional.

There is some truth to Teddy Atlas' observation about Miguel Cotto being "damaged goods" and, before we dismiss Atlas' personal unbiased opinion as baseless, the proof is in the DVR.

Atlas, the longtime boxing trainer who also serves as a TV analyst, recently explained that often times when fighters suffer a severe beating like Cotto did against Antonio Margarito last year, they become gun-shy and doubt creeps into their head.

That doubt was evident in Cotto's last fight, a 12-round split decision over Joshua Clottey in June. Some thought Clottey won the fight. I recently reviewed that fight in its entirety (with the sound down, of course), and I must say I had a hard time giving the fight to Cotto.

When Cotto began bleeding profusely above his left eye after an accidental head butt from Clottey, he began to fight cautiously. You could sense Cotto was more worried about the cut than his opponent.

Cotto fought Margarito in July 2008, a slugfest Margarito won decisively and Cotto left the ring that night bleeding from the nose, around the eyes and his ears. It was the kind of pounding that would make any proud boxer question his ability. Margarito won by TKO and Cotto was battered and severely bruised physically and emotionally.

Miguel Cotto, left, suffered a TKO loss to Antonio Margarito in 2008 in Las Vegas.

A year later, though his wounds have healed, Cotto is still scarred by that devastating loss.

This is exactly what Atlas was referring to when he said Cotto is damaged goods. Atlas is not convinced Cotto has gotten rid of the memory of his bloodbath against Margarito - who is currently suspended from the sport for reportedly having a plaster-like substance in his gloves when he fought Shane Mosley in January in Los Angeles.

Cotto's handlers are saying the Puerto Rican fighter is back to being Miguel Cotto, and that the former unbeaten fighter is at the top of his game and ready to take down pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 14.

Is he? Can a fighter who just a year ago was knocked down twice and lost buckets of blood rebound that quickly? Can Cotto honestly say he will not have any visions of Margarito when he steps into the ring at the MGM Grand Garden on Saturday night, the site of his only professional defeat?

Pacquiao is not Margarito. He's better.

The Filipino six-time world champion may not be as big as Margarito but he's faster and more elusive. I anticipate Cotto, a more natural welterweight, to try to bully the smaller Pacquiao with body shots, but that would mean Pacquiao would have fight flat-footed, which he rarely does. Cotto has never fought anyone with Pacquiao's slippery movement, and he will have a hard time cornering the southpaw who has now added a solid right hook to his repertoire.

The one advantage Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) will have when he enters the ring is size, having fought at 147 pounds most of his career. And the catch-weight of 145 shouldn't bother Cotto. But being the undersized fighter didn’t slow down Pacquiao in his convincing victories over Erik Morales, Oscar De La Hoya, David Diaz and Ricky Hatton.

While Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) has his sights set on a huge payday against Floyd Mayweather, Saturday’s bout is more of a therapy session for Cotto.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, is the best at breaking down a boxer's weaknesses and bad habits, and he has seen plenty of bad habits from Cotto.

Roach revealed during an episode of HBO's 24/7 that he doesn't think Joe Santiago, Cotto's lead cornerman, is experienced enough to make the proper adjustments during the bout. Obviously, Santiago disagrees with Roach's assessment but the stark contrast between the two corners are overwhelming.

Pacquiao likes to start fast and Cotto's physical and mental state will be severely tested early. Even if Cotto survives the first barrage, I just don't see him weathering the storm and the sustained barrage of punches that Pacquiao will send his way. Prediction: Pacquiao wins, ninth-round TKO.

Let the countdown begin for Pacquiao vs. Mayweather.

Note: Heroes & Villains author Joel Huerto will do a live round-by-round scoring of the Pacquiao-Cotto fight on Nov. 14. To read his live round-by-round blog, visit SportsFanLive.com/heroesvillains.

If Cris Arreola is the best America has to offer in the heavyweight division then the abyss that American heavyweight boxers have fallen into for more than a decade has gotten significantly deeper and larger.

The WBC championship fight on Saturday night between world champion Vitali Klitschko and challenger Arreola was ... in the words of Homer Simpson ... BORING!

I've seen better fights in the stands at a Raiders-Chargers game.

Arreola, 28, was overmatched and way over his head against Klitschko, who despite his advanced age of 38 and being so mechanical methodically dismantled the Mexican-American fighter from Riverside, Calif., and the fight was mercifully stopped after 10 rounds.

The sellout crowd at Staples Center, a fired-up audience that included Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pete Rose, Kobe Bryant and Mike Tyson, paid a lot of money to watch two big guys - considered two of the best in the world by many publications - to slug it out in the ring. Instead, it was so one-side it almost looked like a divorce settlement between Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.

Tyson probably would have done better than Arreola, and he's 20 years past his prime.

The previously unbeaten Arreola (27-1, 24 KOs) was so upset after the fight that he was overcome with emotion and had to be consoled. Now, I'm not sure if he was upset because the bout was halted or disturbed at how he performed during the fight. Either way, he apologized to the fans and began to cry. Yes, a man who considers himself a modern-day gladiator who says he's willing to die in the ring was weeping like a baby.

There's no crying in boxing!

Joe Louis must be turning over in his grave. George Foreman just knocked over his grill. Evander Holyfield just bit off his own ear. And Muhammad Ali is shaking his head.

Arreola claimed he was in great shape, weighing in at 251 on Friday. Now, I'm not the most finely tuned athlete in the world but if Arreola is in "great shape" then this whole diet craze is overrated. Arreola had more love handles than a VH1 reality TV special. His wife looked to be in better shape than he was.

What has happened to American heavyweight boxers? Did they all go to the UFC? Are they all playing football? The sport of boxing is suffering because the American audience just does not gravitate to European pugilists. Vitali Klitschko and his brother, Wladimir, are dominating the heavyweight ranks because they have very little competition.

Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37 KOs) doesn't excite me at all. He's good but not great. He's like a robot. He throws punches as if he has 10-pound weights in his gloves (hmmm ... maybe he does), and he drops his hands. But amazingly, nobody has been able to take advantage of Vitali's deficiencies. What is it about this guy that American fighters, or any fighter, can't figure out? He is about as predictable as a Joe Paterno offense.

About the only interesting storyline in the heavyweight division is a fight between the Klitschko brothers, but that's not going to happen anytime soon.

In years past, a heavyweight championship bout would have attracted a large pay-per-view audience. On Saturday night, the Klitschko-Arreola fight was reduced to second billing to a replay of the Mayweather-Marquez welterweight contest on HBO that happened a week ago.

Boxing's heavyweight division is in a serious recession and there is no telling when it will recover.

He's cocky, obnoxious, egotistical and downright filthy rich, which makes him the envy of the community. No, I'm not referring to Kanye West. I'm talking about Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr., the former pound-for-pound king of boxing who is coming out of a two-year retirement to fight Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept. 19 in Las Vegas.

Like him or hate him, Mayweather is the man that moves the meter. He is half man, half promoter. His mouth will bring attention to a fight and his fists will entertain people in the arena.

Though he was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Mich., Mayweather is now a full-time Las Vegas resident and isn't bashful about enjoying the fruits of his labor in Sin City. The only thing Mayweather loves more than himself is money. The man loves to make money and loves to spend it (hence the nickname and the title to his record label "Philthy Rich Records").

Beyond all the bravado and the oozing swagger, Mayweather is also a smart guy. You don't get to be a multimillionaire without being business savvy and you don't get to be 39-0 in the ring without having the capacity to stay away from harm's way.

A monster payday awaits him in a much anticipated bout with new pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao. Boxing promoters are already lining up to get a piece of this megafight, which has all the star power to be the biggest event in the sport since De La Hoya-Mayweather, and pay-per-view buys should be off the charts.

So, with so much money riding on the table, why take on Marquez, considered by many as the No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter in the world?

Simple. Pretty Boy Floyd needed a warm-up fight before he takes on Pacquiao and he picked a good enough opponent to earn a decent payday, but not good enough to stop him. In other words, Mayweather truly believes he can beat Marquez without getting beaten up.



Mayweather didn't come out of retirement to lose. Even though he lives in the gambling capital of the world, he doesn't like to take risks. He always walks the safe route when it comes to his sport. He knows how much money is at stake, and he's not about to lose an opportunity to break the bank.

Marquez has been tirelessly working on speed in his preparation for one of the most important fights of his life, going to great lengths to get his 36-year-old body to be quicker, which includes drinking his own urine to supply his body with some "piss power." But Marquez can drink all the urine he wants, he's still not going to be able to catch the ultra-quick, 32-year-old six-time world champion.

Marquez is not your typical Mexican fighter. He's not going to engage in an all-out slugfest. He is a counter-puncher who depends heavily on his technique to win bouts, which is the perfect foe for the equally defensive Mayweather, who relies on his superior boxing skills to win fights.

To get Mayweather's undivided attention, you have to take the fight to him and relentlessly attack him from all angles. It's similar to forcing a football team out of a Cover 2 zone defense. You have to pound the ball on the ground and bring a safety near the line of scrimmage.

At this stage of his career, Marquez doesn't have the punching power nor the hand speed to threaten Mayweather and force him out of his defensive shell, which has never been cracked in 39 fights.

Don't be disappointed if there is no knockout because both fighters are very economical in terms of the number of punches they throw each round, and neither one likes to brawl. Marquez is very good at in-game adjustments. The problem here is, he will be fighting a guy who is the BEST at making in-game adjustments.

Mayweather claims he doesn't watch tape of his opponents because he doesn't feel the need to game-plan for a certain type of fighter. He reasons that his skills are so much better than anyone that he just needs to focus on himself and the rest will take care of itself.

Floyd Mayweather should defeat Juan Manuel Marquez in a 12-round decision this Saturday night and Manny Pacquiao should dismantle Miguel Cotto in November, igniting the Mayweather-Pacquiao hype machine in 2010.

"It's not about what you are capable of ... it's about what you are willing to do."
- Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach

When you listen to Mike Tomlin talk, it's like hearing an old wise man sharing his vast knowledge of his trials and tribulations. Tomlin is only 36 years old. He's barely older than his starting wide receiver, Hines Ward.

But Tomlin's age does not hinder his incredible aptitude to instruct and motivate players.

When Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker asked Tomlin for a contract extension during training camp, the coach replied: "Put it on tape." Translation: Prove it on the playing field on Sundays.

When 330-pound defensive lineman Casey Hampton failed to complete a running test a year ago, Tomlin sent Hampton home, placed the Pro Bowl nose tackle on the physically unable to perform list and didn't allow him to practice with the rest of the team until he met the head coach's weight requirement.

When wideout Santonio Holmes was busted for marijuana possession in November last year, Tomlin immediately suspended him and told him not to show up on the Steelers' sideline.

And when Michael Vick was made available to the Steelers, Tomlin considered signing his fellow Virginian but opted not to out of respect to his starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was going through some legal issues as the team geared up for camp. Tomlin felt his quarterback needed his full support, and acquiring Vick would send the wrong message.

Tough but yet compassionate. Imperfect but yet brilliant. Those characteristics define the man now in charge of running the most decorated franchise (as far as Lombardi trophies are concern) in the league.

In less than 36 months, Tomlin has elevated himself to elite status in his profession. Heading into his third season as the Steelers' headmaster, Tomlin already owns two Super Bowl rings - one as an assistant with Tampa Bay in 2003 and one as coach of the Steelers in 2008 - and is the reigning Motorola Coach of the Year.

"Hungry is a word that I've been analyzing here of late. It's not hunger that drives me, it's not hunger that needs to drive our football team. Hunger and thirst are things that can be quenched. We have to be a driven group, we have to seek greatness."
- Tomlin, on preparing for the 2009 season

To be a successful head coach at any level, you have to be part teacher, part counselor, part drill sergeant and part psychologist. Being able to wear many hats is a prerequisite. Other key elements are flexibility and communication, finding a balance between criticism and praise.

Coaches such as Dick Vermeil and Tom Coughlin struggled with change. Vermeil burned himself out with his full-throttle philosophy, and it wasn't until he took his foot off the gas pedal a little bit is when he finally won a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams. Coughlin's cutthroat ways wore out his teams, but his most gratifying season came when he allowed his players to see a softer side of him.

It took Vermeil and Coughlin years before they finally "figured it out." It took Tomlin two years before he mastered the art of adaptability.

Tomlin's no-nonsense approach blends well with his philosophical nature. The proud graduate of William & Mary exhibits great poise and power on the sidelines. He is able to deliver his commands in various ways. It can be terse or subtle. Either way, he manages to get his point across loud and clear.

He meticulously chooses his words and wisely communicates them in such an intelligent and civil manner that you sometimes forget that he's a football coach. Regardless of his methods, he has had some of the most inspirational and profound statements you'll ever see or hear.

"We don't live in our fears, we live in our hopes."
- Tomlin, following the Steelers' win over the Rams in 2007

"He is extremely well read," Pro Bowl safety and Stanford graduate John Lynch told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about his former defensive backs coach with the Buccaneers. "And not just about football."

When then Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy was interviewing Tomlin for an assistant position, he had Lynch in the room with him. Once the session was over, Lynch told Dungy: "I like that guy."

"We have to defend every blade of grass."
- Tomlin, on his top-ranked defense

What separates Tomlin from the others is his capacity to adapt quickly and learn from his mistakes. He's far from perfect, and he'll be the first to admit it. Coaches preach accountability, but only a few actually practice it. Once Tomlin figured out his shortcomings, the job became easy and the process was less taxing.

During his rookie season, he put his squad through a physically exhausting camp that affected his team's stamina. The Steelers got off to a great start in 2007, winning seven out of 10 games, but won just three of their next six during crunch time. By the time the Steelers hit the playoffs, they were spent and were bounced by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Divisional round.

"It was my intent to come in here in 2007 and draw some hard lines in the dirt as a basis of forming a relationship with our football team. It's a heck of a lot easier to pull back than it is to put down."
- Tomlin, on his first season as Steelers coach

Before the start of last season, Tomlin eased up on his squad and maintained a more consistent but less stressful training camp. The result was a fresh team in the playoffs that went 3-0, including a historic comeback in Super Bowl XLIII against Arizona.

Tomlin was also smart enough to realize that defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was so respected and beloved in the locker room that he couldn't just shove the veteran coach aside and render him useless. So, Tomlin kept the 3-4 blitzing scheme in the playbook. Though LeBeau received a ton of credit for the development of the Steelers' defense into the No. 1 unit in the league, Tomlin's influence should not be ignored. Before he became Steelers coach, Tomlin coached the No. 1 run defense in Minnesota in 2006.

The Steelers still run LeBeau's famous Zone Blitz scheme, but they don't run it as often as they did under Bill Cowher. Because they've been able to apply pressure on the quarterback with their edge rushers, the Steelers have implemented more and more Cover 2 looks in their arsenal. Tomlin is a product of the Tony Dungy Cover 2 school, something Dungy learned from his playing days with the Steelers in the 1970s under defensive coordinator Bud Carson.

"I'm a private person by nature, this is what I do, it's not who I am."
- Tomlin, on his persona



If there is a drawback to being Mike Tomlin, it has to be his physical appearance. The man just freakishly looks like actor Omar Epps. It has become fodder for wannabee comedians on SportsCenter.

I liked Epps in "Juice," "Love & Basketball" and "Higher Learning" but he's definitely not in Denzel Washington's league when it comes to cinematic achievements. Now, as far as Tomlin is concerned ... King Kong ain't got nothing on him.

I've compiled my list of top active head coaches in the NFL. These five coaches are the only ones with job security after this season. The rest could easily get fired on a drop of a hat.

1. MIKE TOMLIN, Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers have hired just three head coaches since 1969: Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin. The Rooney family appears to have this selection process down to a science.

2. BILL BELICHICK, New England Patriots: Belichick may have more rings than Tomlin, but Commander Hoodie was never this good at this stage of his career. Remember the Cleveland days, Bill? I do. I remember Belichick was eight games under .500 as Browns coach and was sent packing by owner Art Modell. The "Spygate" controversy also put a huge smudge on Belichick's once impeccable resume.

3. TOM COUGHLIN, New York Giants: Though his career will be remembered for his remarkable work during the Giants' Super Bowl run in the 2007 season, Coach Coughlin should be recognized for laying down the foundation in Jacksonville, where he spent the first eight seasons of his head coaching career. Belichick and Coughlin are products of the Bill Parcells coaching tree.

4. ANDY REID, Philadelphia Eagles: The most successful coach in Eagles history. He drafted Donovan McNabb, led the Eagles to four consecutive NFC Championship games from 2001 to 2004, came within three points of winning Super Bowl XXXIX and the second-longest tenured coach in the league. Winning a Super Bowl is the only remaining blank spot on Reid's checklist.

5. JEFF FISHER, Tennessee Titans: Fisher is the longest tenured head coach in the NFL. He's been with the Titans so long that he was there when they were still the Houston Oilers. Fisher came within a yard of winning Super Bowl XXXIV, and that yard has grown significantly with each passing year.

Honorable mention: Ken Whisenhunt, John Harbaugh, Mike McCarthy, John Fox.

Before the Oregon-Boise State college football game on Sept. 3, very few people knew about LeGarrette Blount. One day and one infamous punch later, LeGarrette Blount was the most popular name on all the Internet searches.

In an otherwise ho-hum, error-filled game that saw Boise State defeat Oregon, 19-8, before a national television audience, the best on-field action took place just moments after the game when Blount threw a right cross to the face of Boise State's Byron Hout that dropped the Bronco linebacker to the ground.

An ESPN TV replay showed Hout appeared to be taunting Blount as the teams converged onto the field. As Blount backpedaled away from the brewing melee, he took another swing at another player - this time it was his own teammate.

Blount had to be restrained by a member of Oregon's coaching staff and was escorted off the field. On the way to the tunnel, Blount got into it with several Boise State fans and nearly pulled a Ron Artest. Blount momentarily broke free from his security entourage and headed towards the stands, much like Artest did back in November of 2004 when he rushed up the stands of The Palace of Auburn Hills during a Pacers-Pistons regular-season game and engaged in an all-out throwdown with Piston fans after someone threw a water cup at him.



Fortunately for Blount, the Oregon staff member was able to grab him from behind, along with two other security personnel and two Ducks teammates, and prevented the 6-foot-2, 240-pound senior running back from recreating Artest's dubious display of poor anger management.

Once he cooled down, a regretful Blount was apologetic for the whole incident.

"I should have handled that situation a lot better than I did," Blount told reporters. "I apologize. We will never have a game like this again. The game, as it went on, just got more frustrating and more frustrating for me in general. I shouldn't have said anything. I shouldn't have done anything."

In the NBA, any time a player throws a punch at another player results in an automatic one-game suspension. In Artest's case, Commissioner David Stern had to be more strict and, given Artest's history of unruly behavior, slapped him with an unprecedented 73-game suspension.

There's no question Blount should be punished for his unsportsmanlike conduct and Oregon's decision to suspend him for the rest of the season was justified, agreeing with a lot of the Internet polls suggesting that Blount should be kicked off the team immediately. There is no place for this type of behavior in college athletics, and Blount should have shown better restraint.

And it wasn't the first time Blount has ignored rules. According to reports, he was suspended from the team in February for "failure to fulfill team obligations." He reportedly missed team meetings. He was reinstated before spring practice.

Hout shouldn't come out of this unscathed either. He ignited the whole incident by slapping Blount on the pads and appeared to have mouthed off something to him. Hout got an earful from Boise State coach Chris Petersen after the game.

Whatever the outcome may be, the bottom line is Blount needs to check his emotions and keep his fists to himself regardless of any "smack talk" thrown his way. If he was really upset by what was happening during the game, he should have done a little better than the minus 5 yards he tallied on eight carries.

Part of learning how to win is learning how to accept defeat. You can learn a lot about a player on how he responds to adversity.

Under the United States Constitution, an amendment states that we, the people, have the right to bear arms. We are legally and justifiably allowed to own firearms when we find it necessary to protect ourselves from harm's way. So, I'm not hating on Plaxico Burress for carrying a loaded handgun.

But don't misinterpret what I just communicated. I don't condone what Plax did in November 2008 when he went inside a crowded Manhattan nightclub with a loaded firearm that was not secured. New York has a strict gun law and anyone, regardless of their social status, who breaks that mandate will pay a very steep penalty.

However, before we cast Burress as the villain and label him a criminal, let's not forget the root of this issue.

We, the diehard football fans, always demand our athletic heroes to go above and beyond the call of duty. We want them to sacrifice their bodies to make that game-saving play or ignore pain to score that game-winning touchdown. It is the gladiator-type mentally most competitors possess to make them feel superhuman or indestructible.

But once the game is over, we then expect them to tone it down and become model citizens. That's like asking a pitbull to refrain from biting or a bear from dumping in the woods. It's just not realistic.

Burress, 31, was simply following the above-the-law cachet that has been afforded professional athletes for years. It is that the same distinction that allowed him to take the weapon inside the club. Burress recently told ESPN's Jeremy Schaap that security personnel were aware that he was carrying a gun.

Now, I don't know Plaxico personally nor have I spoken to him, and he's even had his brushes with insubordination and defiance on and off the field, which doesn't exactly help his case. But based on the information he disclosed to Schaap, the former New York Giants wide receiver was mainly thinking of his own safety before he accidentally shot himself in the leg. His whole mindset was, before trouble found him he was going to stop it before it stared him in the face.

Is it wrong to carry a concealed weapon in New York? Yes. Is it wrong to protect yourself at all costs, especially if your private life has been previously violated? No.

Athletes have big targets on their backs. Whether is envy or obsession, some trouble-makers feel the need to harm them and muck up their posh lifestyle.

Tragic stories that claimed the lives of Darrent Williams and Sean Taylor definitely contributed to Burress' anxiety. He was also spooked by what happened to teammate Steve Smith, who was robbed at gunpoint near his home three weeks before Burress' nightclub incident.

Add it all up and you have a case of a pro athlete caught in a web of circumstance.

Burress has already pleaded guilty of felony weapons charges and will serve two years in prison. He said it's the price he is willing to pay for breaking the law. I commend him for owning up to his actions, but he succumbed to the wrong charges. He should have pleaded guilty of negligence and stupidity.

Bringing a loaded firearm to a Manhattan nightclub is inexcusable. The law clearly states that. Not securing the weapon is another careless mistake. What got Burress in more trouble was his clumsiness. One misstep on his way up to the VIP lounge consequently disrupted his livelihood and stripped him of his freedom.

A heavy penalty for someone who claimed guilt for his indiscretion. Plaxico Burress is going to jail and will eventually pay his debt to society, a similar fate that consumed Michael Vick.

And just like Vick, Burress is neither a thug nor a criminal. He simply dropped the ball (or, in this case, the gun).

Don't hate the player. Hate the game.

Brett Favre is now a Minnesota Viking. Packer Nation is in a state of shock and Vince Lombardi must be rolling around in his grave.

The Favre saga played out like a bad Hollywood script. He's like that old, washed up action hero who simply refuses to die. He's Sylvester Stallone in all those "Rocky" movies. He's Bruce Willis in "Die Hard." He's Harrison Ford in "Indiana Jones." Just when you think he's done, he keeps coming back for sequels.

In the latest installment of Brett Favre Reloaded, he announced on Tuesday that he officially unretired for the second time in two years and signed a two-year contract with the Vikings, the same team he held hostage for months before finally saying, "I do. I do want to come back, Chilly." Chilly is his pet name for Vikings head coach Brad Childress. I have a nickname for Favre. How about Liar Liar?

"I did it for all the right reasons," said the three-time NFL MVP during his news conference. "If people don't understand that, then I'm sorry."

Could one of the reasons be exacting revenge on his beloved Green Bay Packers? Favre says it's not about revenge. Yeah, right. His nose grew an inch when he said that. This is the same guy who said he was done last year and the same guy who told the New York Jets he was done this year. Other than winning a Super Bowl, Favre's return is all about beating the Packers and rubbing it in the face of Packers GM Ted Thompson, who has been unceremoniously dubbed the villain in this whole Favre drama.

Besides the obvious fact that he still feels like he can play and be able add to his legacy, I'm guessing another reason Favre came back was because he grew tired of having ESPN's Rachel Nichols and the NFL Network's Scott Hansen camping outside of his house in Hattiesburg, Miss., as well as ESPN's Chris Mortensen tweeting, texting and calling him every other day.

Favre ended all the rumors and speculation when he boarded a plane to Minneapolis on Tuesday and drove to Eden Prairie, Minn., to meet with his new coaches and practice with his new teammates, who all seem to be toeing the company line and have nothing but nice things to say about their new 39-year-old starting quarterback.

It is a move straight out of a diva's diary. I'm retired ... No, I'm not ... I'm retired ... No, I'm not ... I'm retired ... No, I'm not. His back-and-forth indecision is something a 14-year-old girl would do when she goes to the mall and sends a text message to a friend to help her decide whether she wants the purple dress or the green dress. OMG, Brett! OMG!



This is exactly what Thompson and Coach Mike McCarthy went through last year when Favre couldn't decide if he wanted to remain a Packer. When Thompson and McCarthy made the decision for him, Favre ran out the door kicking and screaming as if his mom told him he can't play with his friends. It was unbelievably childish for a man who has been in the league for almost 20 years.

If things don't work out in Minnesota, he can easily change his mind and play somewhere else. Dallas, anyone? Oakland? San Francisco? Actually, the Bay Area would be a perfect landing spot for Favre since Mary Jensen (played by Cameron Diaz in "There's Something About Mary") said in the movie that she's a 49ers fan. Remember Mary? The perfect gal pal who loves to have a beer and go to ballgames, and almost went to the prom with Ted (not the Packers' GM Ted Thompson) before a certain zipper incident turned the whole town upside down.

Quarterbacks always gets the girl at the end, right?

OK. Maybe that's not how it happened. As a matter of fact, Ted (played by Ben Stiller), got the girl at the end and Favre was left standing at the door with con man Pat Healy (Matt Dillon) and Mary's ex-boyfriend, Woogie (Chris Elliott).

When the season starts, Favre will likely feel the weight of an entire state on his shoulders, and anything less than a Super Bowl appearance would be considered a failure. But Favre should be able to handle that heavy burden. It would be similar to carrying big, fat Warren on his back. And when I say Warren, I'm referring to Mary's retarded brother and not retired NFL lineman Warren Sapp.

Good luck, Brett Faaav-ra. Hope that old arm holds up.

Nobody's perfect. Not even the great Tiger Woods.

That proved to be true during the final round of the PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., when little known Y.E. Yang did the unthinkable and tamed Tiger, handing the world's greatest golfer the most heartbreaking loss of his professional career.

Woods showed a side of him that we've never seen since becoming the No. 1 player on the PGA Tour. Call it a choke or a hiccup, however you want to describe it, he simply lost his focus.

It happens to the best. It's the same way Michael Jordan lost his focus when he returned to the NBA after his two-year retirement (or paid vacation) and the same way Mike Tyson lost his focus in 1990 in Tokyo.

Jordan, wearing that unfamiliar No. 45, looked like an old Air Jordan instead of the old Air Jordan. He was a step slow and his once great athletic prowess was somewhat diminished. He got the message loud and clear during the 1995 Eastern Conference playoffs when he got schooled by Orlando's Nick Anderson. Nick Anderson!

Tyson had never lost a fight until he lost his razor-sharp edge and ran into a journeyman fighter named James "Buster" Douglas, whose left jab and right cross stopped the undisputed heavyweight champion in what many boxing experts call the greatest upset in the sport's history.

The only thing more embarrassing than getting stripped by Nick The Brick or knocked out by Buster Douglas is losing in a major championship to a 37-year-old golfer two years removed from Q-School, ranked 110th and had just one win on the PGA Tour.



When it was winning time, Woods - golf's best closer - couldn't deliver in the clutch. He missed numerous birdie opportunities and the frustrations mounted as the day progressed. He talked to himself more than usual and never got in control of his emotions, which could very well be the reason for all those crucial putts he missed.

In the past, Tiger was able to rebound from bogeys and three-putts and regain his composure on the next hole. He did it better than anyone in the world. But that supreme confidence and nerves of steel were clearly missing on Sunday.

Based on his track record, Woods seemed to be a lock to win his 15th major title. We've all read about his magical record when he leads after three rounds: 14-0 in major championships and 37-1 in PGA Tour events. And all those mortals who played with him in the final round usually fell by the wayside and became notches on his ever-growing championship belt.

But someone must not have told Yang about Tiger's epic tale, a story that is usually punctuated with a fist pump on the 18th green, both arms raised in victory and a hug for caddie Stevie Williams for a job well done.

Instead, it was Yang who nailed his approach shots and sank all the critical putts en route to becoming the first Korean player and the second Asian male to win a major golf championship (Tiger was the first Asian to win a major).

Woods said he played well enough to win, but he just didn't make enough putts. He also admitted he misread a few putts and was thrown off by the blustery conditions. The bottom line was, Tiger didn't play like Tiger. He shot 3-over par (75) in his forgettable fourth round while Yang shot 2-under (70) and played the round of his life to overcome Tiger's two-shot lead.

Though he would never use his injury as the reason for his major-less season, it is hard to ignore the fact that Woods, who missed eight months because of knee surgery, is still not 100 percent. Despite winning five times on the Tour this season, Woods went 0-for-4 in the majors and never found the comfort zone. Tiger may be fully healed from his knee injury, but his game is still in rehab mode.

For Tiger to regain his championship form, he just needs to go back to the lab and work on a few things; similar to what Jordan did when he was forced to alter his game prior to the 1996 season. He needs to play in more tournaments and get his confidence back. He can't afford to play in just 16 or 17 tournaments and expect to dominate in the majors.

Because of his loss to Yang at Hazeltine, many pundits will probably jump off the Tiger bandwagon. But don't count on Tiger being down too long. Next year, the British Open will be held at the Old Course in St. Andrews and the U.S. Open will be at Pebble Beach - two of Tiger's favorite courses. He could go from not winning a major in 2009 to winning all four in 2010.

Roderick Kevin Woodson, better known as Rod Woodson, was recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. He is, without question, a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and was the best defensive back I ever saw. I have to admit, I write this piece with great bias because I grew up a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and Woodson is my all-time favorite Steeler.

I was too young to remember the Steelers' glory years during the 1970s, and caught the tail end of their dynasty. For the most part, I gravitated to those Steeler teams in the 1980s led by Mike Merriweather, Donnie Shell, Mark Malone (gulp!), Louis Lipps and, of course, Woodson.

Woodson was so good during his prime years he was named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary team after just seven seasons, one of just three active players to be included in the league's Dream Team. He was a complete cornerback. He was fast, he could cover, he could tackle, you could bring him on a blitz and had a great knack for making game-changing plays.

There was a sign that used to hang in Three Rivers Stadium that read "On the 8th Day God Created Woodson." If God indeed created Rod Woodson, then he certainly outdid himself because No. 26 was the consummate DB.

During his 17-year NFL career, 10 with the Steelers, one with the 49ers, four with the Ravens and two with the Raiders, Woodson made 11 Pro Bowls, was the 1993 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and played in three Super Bowls, winning once in 2001 with the Ravens. Who knows how much he could have accomplished if he hadn't torn his ACL on the Three Rivers turf in 1995.

When I compiled my list of top cornerbacks in the last 30 years, there was no doubt that Woodson would be No. 1.



Here's my top 10 all-time cornerbacks: (Note: Because they spent most or their entire careers playing under a different set of rules, I did not include Mel Blount, Dick "Night Train" Lane, Herb Adderley, Ken Riley, Paul Krause, Ken Houston or Willie Brown. So, this list only includes players who played under the "no bump-and-run" rule (aka the Mel Blount Rule), which the league adopted in 1978.)

1. ROD WOODSON: He had 71 interceptions for an NFL-record 1,483 yards. He also holds the NFL record for most interception returns for touchdowns (12). Came back from a torn ACL in just five months to play in Super Bowl XXX.

2. DEION SANDERS: A blend of style and substance. Once you get past all the bravado and Prime-Time persona, he was one of the best shutdown corners the league has ever seen. His technique was flawless and was fearless when it came to jumping routes, as nine of his 53 picks turned into TDs.

3. MIKE HAYNES: The former Patriot and Raider had only 46 career interceptions mainly because teams stayed away from his side of the field. A nine-time Pro Bowler and named to the HOF in 1997. He and Lester Hayes formed the league's best cornerback tandem, according to the NFL Network.

4. DARRELL GREEN: The NFL's fastest man. He could run down anyone. Just ask Eric Dickerson. Green used his world-class speed to track down running backs and close in on receivers. Played his entire 20-year career with the Redskins. Inducted into the Hall in 2008.

5. CHAMP BAILEY: Has been named to the Pro Bowl in eight of his 10 seasons in the league. Recorded 18 interceptions in 2005 and 2006. When Bailey is healthy, no quarterback in his right mind would challenge him one-on-one.

6. ERIC ALLEN: His ball-hawking skills resulted in eight touchdowns. Was named to six Pro Bowls and had 54 career interceptions. Had a 94-yard interception return in 1993. Played seven of his 14 years in Philadelphia.

7. RONDE BARBER: Because the Buccaneers play a Cover 2 zone most of the time, Tiki's twin brother does not get enough credit for his cover skills. He plays the run extremely well for a player who is barely 5-9. The five-time Pro Bowler should get a call from Canton.

8. LESTER HAYES: Things get a little sticky whenever someone mentions Hayes' name as a Hall-of-Fame candidate. Intercepted 13 passes in 1980 and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Won two Super Bowls with the Raiders.

9(t). HANFORD DIXON and FRANK MINNIFIELD: I found it really hard separating these two former Browns. They go hand-in-hand like oil and water or Peaches and Herb. Would have been ranked higher had they found a way to stop John Elway from driving 98 yards in the AFC title game.

10. ALBERT LEWIS: Very underrated corner. Spent 11 of his 16 seasons in Kansas City. Made the Pro Bowl four times and twice named All-Pro.

Top 10 safeties: 1) Ronnie Lott, 2) Kenny Easley, 3) Ed Reed, 4) Bob Sanders, 5) Steve Atwater, 6) John Lynch, 7) Troy Polamalu, 8) Brian Dawkins, 9) David Fulcher, 10) Deron Cherry.