Anderson Silva Breaks His Leg, Literally

In the early second round of his UFC 168 rematch against middleweight champion Chris Weidman, Anderson Silva broke his left leg after throwing a hard kick. Weidman caught it, as it instantly snapped Silva's bone just above his ankle.

Weidman explains the technique:

"It's knee on shin, so when he goes to kick, you put your knee on his shin. It has happened in sparring and guys take a minute off and walk around, and at least it stops them from kicking you."

Silva, who is considered by many as the greatest MMA fighter of all time, had already contemplated retiring prior to the fight. Given that he's now nearly 40 and the serious look on his injury, it would be a daunting task for Silva to get back on the octagon.

Anderson Silva was immediately rushed for operation after the incident. 

Predictions for the Portland Trail Blazers

It's already October and the NBA season will start in a few weeks. Basketball fans across the globe is excited, specially when super power casts of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash and Dwight Howard team up in LA-La-land. While fans can't think of anything else but a highly likely Heat-Lakers finals match-up, I can't help feel excited myself for the Portland Trail Blazers. 

I've been a blazers fan since the start of the Brandon Roy era. Yes, I know, the team is not as sexy as the Thunder, Celtics or the Clippers. We only have one legitimate all star in the roster and our chance of success for this season hinges on a rookie. Our bench probably lack the depth to make meaningful impact. So what's there to look forward to in this team?

Will they laugh as hard when they meet as opponents?

I've never seen Lamarcus Aldridge this dedicated. Even before training camp, he has assembled most of the team in informal workouts and practices. It is so good to see that he has finally embraced the leadership role. He was supposed to be a third wheel of the Roy-Oden combo, before the two succumbed to injury. Roy is of course back from one-year retirement to join forces with LMA's archenemy, Kevin Love in the  Minnesota Timberwolves.  It should be fun when these two teams meet.

They acquired rookies with fantastic attitude. Never mind the pressure on Damian Lillard for thrusting him the point guard of the franchise role right after he was drafted. Or Meyers Leonard's NBA-ready frame and athleticism for a big man. Or Will Barton touted as the steal of the draft when they got him at 41st pick. It is their personal stories and background from college that I feel will help them succeed. 

Nic Batum and Wes Matthews have something to prove. Sure no one's going to take away the starting job on them, but expectations are high on their potential. I think this is the year they'll shine.  

Role players are fighting for playing time. It's a young team and everybody needs solid minutes to further develop their game. Victor Claver and JJ Hickson will come out on top of the bench list, but I think Luke Babbitt and Nolan Smith will be busts. Ronnie Price and Jared Jeffries are serviceable because of their experience, while the rest will most likely float around for awhile.

They have a new GM, a new coach and a new system, and the season will be long and ugly. As much as I want them to make the playoff, I expect them to finish 10th in the west. The league simply has too many great teams well ahead of them to be able to make it out. Besides, another lottery season can be beneficial as it increases their chance of getting a potential star in the draft. We'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.

Gilas Line up is Good, But Can Use Some Upgrade

The Smart Gilas Philippine National team is now 2 - 1 in their FIBA Asia Cup campaign in Tokyo, Japan thanks to solid plays from Marcus Douthit, L.A. Tenorio, Gary David and Jeff Chan, among others. Having watched the first two games, it seems coach Chot is sticking to a rotation of 8 to 9 players. Enrico Villanueva, Matthew Rosser, Jay-R Reyes and Sonny Thoss have barely seen action either because they are still unproven in international court or their skills just do not match up well with opponents.

While the team have done good and will most likely make it to quarterfinals, some of its players can very well use some upgrade. Imagine if the team is composed of the players on the right, as opposed to the actual delegates on the left:

Point Guards:
L.A. Tenorio		L.A. Tenorio
Matthew Rosser		JV Casio
		Jason Castro
Shooting Guards:
Gary David		Gary David
Jeff Chan		Larry Fonacier
		Sol Mercado
Small Forwards:
Larry Fonacier		Gabe Norwood
Jared Dillinger		Arwind Santos
Power Forwards:
Ranidel De Ocampo		Mark Pingris
Gabe Norwood		Kelly Williams
Centers:
Marcus Douthit		Marcus Douthit
Enrico Villanueva		Ranidel De Ocampo
Jay-R Reyes
Sonny Thoss

No disrespect to the current squad here, but clearly, they need additional depth in at least two positions - point guard and center. The country has always been short of right-sized centers, but never a point guard. That's why it baffles me how the only pure point guard in the line-up is Tenorio. Alapag and Castro are nursing injuries, and Sol Mercado who can play point has citizenship issues with FIBA rules. 

I find it most disappointing that Casio and Pingris was not able to join. Casio is well on the rise to be a prime point guard and can relieve a lot of burden on Tenorio. Pingris brings in the hussle and can compensate for the team's lack of height. De Ocampo can also slide in on center to give Douthit some rest. I know some players on my dream squad is playing out of position, but they can spread the court well and can play on both offense and defense. There are more experienced and popular players that is not on my list, mainly because I don't think they'd fit in well with a team-first approach and international play.  

Being the best national team ever assembled as declared is pretty arguable right now, but these guys never lacked the guts to and heart to fight regardless of who their opponents are. We just have to hope it's enough to bring the gold, only then will the claim be proven.