Knee Deep

With Brandon Roy’s retirement announcement last week, the only thing the city of Portland is blazing (besides chronic…ba-dum-tsh) is a trail of disappointment and unfulfilled potential. You would think the team that gave up Michael Jordan for Sam Bowie would catch a big break in the karmic cycle of professional basketball. Think again. Between Roy’s degenerative knees and multiple knee surgeries for their former 1st round draft pick, Greg Oden, the Blazers have new meaning for the term “Contract Killers.”

                 

No stranger to injury, Roy was plagued by knee troubles since his college days at the University of Washington. A meniscus tear in his right knee forced the college star to the bench during his junior year. Although B-Roy contemplated entering the NBA draft after a strong recovery from knee surgery, he decided to finish his education and play UW basketball for one more season (good decision in hindsight). After a historic senior year, the first team All-American and PAC-10 player of the year was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2006 (only to be traded shortly after to the Portland Trailblazers). Even after dealing with a left heel injury that sidelined “The Natural” for 20 games, Roy came back with a vengeance and was awarded the NBA rookie of the Year award.                      

               

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“No Knee[d] For It” - Should Front/Side Kicks To The Knee Be Banned From MMA?

Jon “Bones” Jones has been under constant criticism from the MMA community since dismantling Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 125, where he captured the Light-Heavyweight (LHW) Championship. Why? I’m not entirely sure, actually. Maybe it has to do with how quickly Jones blasted on to the scene. Since starting his MMA career in April of 2008, Jones compiled a 7-0 record in a matter of four short months. Since then, he has put together an impressive record of 15-1. Entangled in those fifteen wins are whoopins he put on Stephan Bonnar, Brandon Vera, Vladimir Matyushenko, and most recently, the former PrideFC Middleweight Champ and UFC LHW Champ, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

 Along the way, Jones has been tagged by both fans and some opponents alike as “cocky” and “very arrogant” for what he claims is “being very confident in my own abilities.” But here is how I see it; Jones is easy to hate. Why? Think about it. The guy destroys some of the sports’ most beloved fighters in one jagged swoop and makes it look effortless. Fans barely had time to watch him fight, much less get to know him. It’s like the new kid at school; he can’t just jump on the court during lunchtime recess and call next. He’s gotta wait till he’s picked. Instead, not only did Jones call next, but he still hasn’t left the court. And, as if that weren’t all enough, Jone’s isn’t the coolest of dudes. He’s not particularly funny. In fact, he can be a bit corny at times. Oh and lets not leave out the fact that he’s not afraid to share his religious devotion at all times (people don’t seem to dig that, for whatever reason). So it’s pretty clear to the MMA community; Jones ain’t your homie, and he plays by a different set of rules. Which brings me to crux of this Injury-Duty Report: Should kicks like Jones’ front/side kick to the knee be banned from the octagon?

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