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Cubs off-season issues include starting rotation
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Connor Tapp
ubs GM Jim Hendry’s decision to pick up Rich Harden’s $7 million 2009 club option was a no-brainer, but in an industry where people in charge of $100 million+ budgets make a surprisingly large number of tactical and evaluative mistakes, Hendry is owed at least a pat on the back for his efforts. Harden was the Cubs’ most talented pitcher in 2008 (that’s true even if you consider the ability to stay healthy a talent), and that doesn’t look to change unless the Cubs make a big splash for CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, or A.J. Burnett, all of whom bear significant risk for what they are likely to cost: CC, for his Rich Harden late season and playoff workload, Sheets and Burnett for their perennial struggle to remain healthy. In addition to the explicit cost of the contract, signing Sheets or Sabathia would come at the added cost of giving 2 extra first round picks to an up-and-coming intradivision foe. With his performance in 2008 (206 2/3 IP, 2.96 ERA),
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Ryan Dempster earned the right to demand a top-of-the-market contract this off-season, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Cubs would be wise to take him up on it. 2008 was Dempster’s first full season as a starter in six years, and rarely does a player sustain the level of improvement Dempster displayed in 2008 when that
Pinella named NL manager of year CHICAGO – Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella was named the National League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Piniella received 15 first-place votes, eight second place votes and four third place votes for a total of 107 points. Philadelphia’s Charlie Manuel placed second with 67 points. As winner of the National League Manager of the Year Award, Piniella has earned a $100,000 con-
file photo by
Warren Wimmer
Reliever Sean Marshall putches during play against the Orioles on June 24, 2008. Marshall could be part of the Cubs starting rotation in 2009.
tract bonus, which he will graciously donate to McCormick Foundation’s Cubs Care, a charitable partner of the Chicago Cubs. Grants from Cubs Care help support non-profit organizations which aid children with special needs, support youth sports programs, victims of domestic violence and assist social service efforts in the Lakeview community. Piniella is only the third skipper in franchise history to earn ManPlease See PINELLA on page 4
improvement comes during an age 31 season. The Cubs would be well-advised to let a team like the Yankees make the Dempster family set for life while, in return, taking the compensatory first round draft picks mandated by the collective bargaining agreement. The Cubs may even have an in-house replacement at the ready.
Somewhat lost in the Cubs’ run at the Central Division title was a big leap forward for LHP Sean Marshall. Splitting time between spot-starting and working out of the bullpen, Marshall posted a 3.86 ERA in 56 1/3 innings with an 8.0 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9. Interestingly, Marshall was much better Please See TAPP on
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PUBLISHED BY: The Chicago Sports Review The Chicago Sports Review is published monthly. The Chicago Sports Review is not responsible for display advertisements,and their contents. Reproduction in whole or in part without publisher’s written permission is prohibited. For questions or comments contact:: THE CHICAGO SPORTS REVIEW 13520 St. Mary Circle, Orland Park, IL 60462 708.403.3285 office | 708.774.4464 cell | 708.403.3280 fax To read more great sports articles visit chicagosportsreview.net Publisher, lead photographer & Editor in Chief Warren Wimmer
Fights Ice
Blackhawks center Colin Fraser gets rocked by Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara during a second period altercation at the United Center in Chicago Wednesday Nov. 12, 2008.
Blackhawks left wing Ben Eager and Avalanche right wing Ian Laperriere drop the gloves during the second period at the United Center in Chicago Monday Nov. 3, 2008. Eager knocked Laperriere to the ice and Laperriere needed medical attention. The Blackhawks won 6-2
Flames center Brandon Prust is pummled by Blackhawks defenseman Matt Walker during a altercation in the third period. The Hawks wone 6-1 at the United Center in Chicago Sunday Nov. 9, 2008.
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Chicago Sports Review
CSR Photos Warren Wimmer
Xxxxday XXXXXX 3, 200x
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Alexei Ramirez named to Topps rookie All-Star team
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Brett Garamella
Ricardo Lamas with his 3-year-old dog, Chico, sitting outside the gym where he trains called Top Notch in Elmhurst, Ill.
MMA: More than flying fists and feet image Continued
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a superhero. This is it. If you don’t have superpowers, you better know how to fight with your hands, fight on the ground, fight with your knees, your elbows, the whole bit. Otherwise, you’re looking at getting an ass beating if trouble comes to town.” The ironic part is that good fighters such as Lamas and Martins have very little time to look for trouble because they are always training. They also have learned to have a respect for others that mixed martial arts teaches. S A L E S •
JOHN RACANELLI 555 E. South Frontage Rd. Bolingbrook, IL 60440 Tel: (630) 739-4330
Email: johnrac@ fleetequipment.com
L E A S I N G
Cell: (312) 301-3447
•
Fax: (630) 739-6781
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first officially sanctioned MMA event in Chicago, held at the UIC Pavilion. Knowing Martins was a jiu-jitsu specialist, Lamas tried to win with his striking ability. “There’s always a game plan,” says Lamas, who likes to remain calm as possible before fights in order to not expend extra energy. “But when you get in there, there’s a million things that could go wrong, so you kind of got to be ready for anything…. During the actual fight, there really isn’t too much thinking that takes place. It’s more reacting. At my training camp, that’s why we do all those drills and all that work so that when you step in the ring it’s a reaction. You don’t have to think about anything.” Both fighters exchanged blows to the applause from the crowd. In the end, Lamas’s experience helped beat Martins in a unanimous three-round decision. These two young fighters are two examples of where the sport is and where it is heading. Yet, many people choose MMA for reasons beyond the pro fight scene. “If Superman wasn’t Superman, if he didn’t have super powers, this is what he’d be doing,” says Jerry Stewart, a boxing specialist who trains Lamas. “And this is the closest you’re going to get to being
CHICAGO – Inruns marked a club refielder Alexei Ramirez cord by a rookie second of the Chicago White baseman and finished Sox was named to the as the seventh-most Topps Major League in a single season by a Rookie All-Star Team. Sox rookie. Ramirez, Ramirez, who signed who ranked fifth in the with the White Sox as AL with a .380 average a free agent on January with runners in scoring 22, batted .290 (139position, was named the 480) with 22 doubles, league’s Rookie of the Alexei Ramirez 21 home runs and 77 Month for August afRBI for the White Sox ter hitting .308 with six in 2008. He established homers and 22 RBI. a major-league rookie record with Earlier this month, Ramirez finfour grand slams and ranked among ished second in the AL Rookie of the AL rookie leaders in home runs the Year balloting behind Tampa (2nd), RBI (2nd), total bases (2nd, Bay’s Evan Longoria. His second228), average (4th) and slugging place finish was the highest by a percentage (5th, .475). White Sox player since right-handThe Cuban native’s 21 home ed pitcher Shingo Takatsu.
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Cubs’ backstop begins career with bang
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Phil Meyers
espite a miserable end to the Chicago Cubs’ 2008 season, one highlight nevertheless glowed throughout this year’s campaign—Northside catcher Geovany Soto, who recently captured the National League’s Rookie of the Year award. Soto, who received 31 of 32 first place votes for the honor, became the first Cub since Kerry Wood in 1998 to gain such notoriety. Soto toted a remarkable .285 batting average, accompanied by 23 home runs and 86 runs driven in during ’08, though his most valuable asset came from behind the plate—aiding a Wrigley pitching staff quite admirably. Repeatedly, the Puerto Rican’s moundsmen mates commended the youngster regarding his maturity and desire to learn and improve at a position that is amongst the most vital on a baseball diamond. Such dedication came with this Rookie of the Year honor, a first bestowed on a National League catcher in 15 seasons, lastly crowning Mike Piazza top newcomer of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The award nabbed by Soto came with utter dominance, as he was the only Senior Circuit eligible player to be named on every applicable Baseball Writers Association ballot, tallying 158 points—82 better than second place finisher Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds. Geovany adds his latest hardware to an already sizable score from the recently expired campaign—that of his starting selection as NL catcher in the final All-Star Game at old Yankee Stadium. Very possibly, it was that moment that allowed the youngster to believe that he was just as good as any of his big league peers. Nevertheless, Soto will continue to face challenges, with some more daunting than others. Acknowledged is the Northsider’s fitness obstacle, making sure that Soto keeps off the weight and accompanying issues that he has battled earlier in his professional career. Further is whether Geovany can keep up with a full load of duty behind the plate, a spot where many a catcher has worn down
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file photo by
Warren Wimmer
18 September 2008: Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto during game action at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Il
and/or succumbed to injury since the game began—a task coming no easier fending off the heat and humidity posed by Chicago’s unforgiving summers. Though most glaringly, will be the pressure thrust upon the “pinstriper” to follow-up his tremendous freshman offering, now seen as one of the organization’s cornerstones for the Cubs’ future. There is quite a decent chance that players like Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano, or others may not be with Chicago over the long haul, salaries and age dictating that those could eventually move on
to other pastures. Thus, it will be Soto, whose youth and relatively affordable contract which will lead this team into the millennium’s second decade. More importantly, is his slot as catcher which proves so promising, being one of a highly coveted “up-the-middle” contributor. And then there is the second Wrigley Field “curse” with which Geovany must exorcise, one that hasn’t seen a consistent every-day home-grown Chicago Cub make a substantial presence since Mark Grace and Rafael Palmeiro of now 20 years past. True, Cubbie Blue
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witnessed Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith finish one-two in Rookie of the Year balloting in 1989 respectively, as well as varying aid from Corey Patterson and others along the way—but none have shown to be more than flashesin-the-pan, role players, or names from the past—instead of athletes who will bring an elusive championship to Clark and Addison. Does anyone still remember the big hype, no talent offerings of Ty Griffin or Earl Cunningham by chance? Likely, the days of ballyhooed Please
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Monday December 1, 2008
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PINELLA: Third award for Cubbies skipper Continued
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ager of the Year honors, the first since Don Zimmer in 1989. Jim Frey also won the award in 1984. Piniella has earned three Manager of the Year awards in his 21 seasons as a big league manager, previously winning American League Manager of the Year honors in 1995 and 2001 with the Seattle Mariners. Additionally, Piniella is one of only five managers to win this award at least three times, joining Tony LaRussa (four times), Bobby Cox (four), Dusty Baker (three) and Jim Leyland (three). Piniella is now the fourth manager to win the award in both leagues, joining LaRussa, Cox and Leyland. In 2008, Piniella guided the
Cubs to a National League best 97 victories, the ninth-most wins in the 133-season history of the franchise and most by a Cubs team in 63 years when the club went 98-56 in 1945. Chicago was either tied or had sole possession of first place in the National League Central for 151 of 181 days, including May 11 through the end of the season. The 97 wins in 2008 marked the second-most by any club Piniella has managed, trailing only the 2001 Seattle Mariners club that won 116 games. In 2008, he joined Dick Williams as the only managers to win 90 games with four different clubs, as Piniella previously reached 90 wins with the Yankees, Reds and Mariners.
TAPP: Free agent options include Chad Gaudin Continued
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as a starter than as a reliever. In 39 innings as a starter, Marshall struck out 36, walked only 12, and posted an ERA of 3.42. He was also much better against righties (.236/.296/.410) than lefties (.296/.350/.436). This split marks a complete reversal from 2007, so it may be the result of dealing with a small sample size (Marshall only faced 67 lefties), but Marshall’s improvement against righties (over 178 AB) is encouraging. Of course, sustaining (not to mention building upon) that improvement over the course of a full season as a starter is no sure thing, but Marshall is still just 26 and has shown enough to at least warrant a shot at filling out the rotation. Speaking of which, unless Hendry is satisfied with Jason Marquis as
his fifth starter (he shouldn’t be), he might think of throwing some money at Freddy Garcia. Garcia was still a decent, slightly-aboveaverage pitcher when he was healthy in 2007, and might the best bargain among the 2009 free agent pitchers. Alternatively, Chad Gaudin was a starter with the A’s in 2007, and might be a decent fifth starter/spot-starter option. Besides Dempster, Jon Lieber is the only Cubs starter whose contract expired in 2008. And you have to ask: what would be the point? With that, the Cubs’ 2009 rotation could look something like this: 1) Rich Harden 2) Carlos Zambrano 3) Ted Lilly 4) Sean Marshall 5) Chad Gaudin / Freddy Garcia / Other Free Agent
In his two seasons with the Cubs, Piniella has guided the club to consecutive N.L. Central Division titles and is the first Cubs manager to lead the club to consecutive post-season berths since Frank Chance in 1906-1908. Piniella has led the Cubs to a 31-win turnaround the last two seasons, as the club’s 85 wins in 2007 was a 19game improvement from 2006 and the team’s 97 wins in 2008 was a 12-game rise from 2007. Piniella is 1,701-1,561 in 21 seasons as a major league manager with the Yankees (1986-88), Reds (1990-92), Mariners (1993-2002), Devil Rays (2003-05) and Cubs (2007-08). His 1,701 managerial victories rank 14th in major league
The Cubs have gone 182-141 under Piniella’s guidance, a .563 winning percentage, and the 182 wins are the most in back-to-back seasons by the Cubs since 1935-36, when the club combined to win 187 contests. Piniella was originally hired to manage the Cubs on October 17, 2006. Including 2008, Piniella has gone to the postseason 12 times during his big league career
Brian McBride of the Chicago Fire battles Chris Albright of the Revolution during play.
MEYERS: Soto was a silver lining to Cubs season Continued
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prospects without producing any results are coming to a gradual, if not rapid end—with Geovany Soto representing the first line of attack. For one, the Cubs now have a quality staff in charge of drafting, signing, and developing amateur and minor league players, readying them for the big time. Secondly, the franchise is finally willing to spend the money to make the
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history and are fourth among active managers behind Tony LaRussa (2,461), Bobby Cox (2,327) and Joe Torre (2,151). He and Torre are the only people in major league history to record 1,700 wins as a manager and 1,700 hits as a player.
developmental system work. In any case, this is a time for Geovany Soto; for he certainly added a silver lining to an exciting but ever disappointing season that many Cubs supporters saw to a hasty and heartbreaking end. Such positive in Soto cannot act as a balm for those broken hearts, though his emergence concretely provides the Chicago faithful for many more tomorrows of hope.
William Conde and Bakary Soumare shake hands after a goal during the Eastern Conference semi-final series between the Fire and the New England Revolution on Thursday Nov. 6, 2008 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.
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Goalkeeper Jon Busc, right, Bakary Soumare of the Chicago Fire battle for the ball.
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William Conde dribbles the ball against the the Revolution during play.
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Monday December 1, 2008
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Cubs, Dempster agree to contract extension CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs and rpitcher Ryan Dempster tagreed to terms on a four-year contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Dempster, 31, went 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA (68 ER/206.2 IP) in 33 starts for the Cubs last season in his return to the starting rotation. He set a career high and tied for third in the National League in wins, ranked fourth in the league in ERA and was third with a .227 batting average against. Dempster allowed only 14 home runs in 206.2 innings and turned in 21. A 2008 National League AllStar, Dempster began last season 10-0 at Wrigley Field, the first Cubs pitcher to do so since Rick Reus-
chel in 1977. Dempster finished the campaign 14-3 at the Friendly Confines, the most victories by a pitcher at Wrigley Field since Fergie Jenkins won a franchise-record 15 games in 1967 and the most by any major league pitcher at home since Atlanta’s Russ Ortiz won 14 games at Turner Field in 2003. Dempster last season returned to the Cubs rotation after serving as the club’s closer the previous three years, combining to save 85 games from 2005-07. In 2008, he became just the second big league pitcher in the last 40 seasons to post 17 wins a year after a 25-save season (Dempster saved 28 saves in 2007). Detroit’s John Hiller had 38 saves in 1973 and 17 wins in 1974.
The righthander last season worked at least six innings in 25 of his 33 starts and at least seven innings in 12 outings. The club went 22-11 in his starts, a .667 winning percentage, and Dempster ranked fourth in the league with a .769 winning percentage. Dempster also set a franchise record with 19 sacrifice bunts in 2008, the most by any pitcher in the majors in 2008. Dempster is 76-81 with 87 saves and a 4.55 ERA (721 ER/1425.0 IP) in all or part of 11 major league seasons with Florida (1998-2002), Cincinnati (2002-03) and the Cubs (2004-present). Since joining Chicago prior to the 2004 campaign, Dempster has gone 26-26 with 87 saves and a 3.59 ERA (184
ER/461.0 IP) in 259 appearances, including 39 starts. In addition to 2008, Dempster was a National League All-Star with Florida in 2000. The club’s 2008 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, Dempster works closely with Cubs Care and Chicago Cubs designated charities that support youth sports, children with special needs, victims of domestic violence and additional charities in the Lakeview/Wrigleyville community, including the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, Children’s Memorial Hospital & University of Chicago Comer’s Children’s Hospital, the Sheil Park Playlot Renovation and the Makea-Wish Foundation of Illinois.
Illini
Illinois’ Jeff Cumberland rushes during play against Ohio State at Memorial Stadium in Urbana, Ill., Nov. 20, 2008. Ohio State won 30-20.
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Juice Williams of Illinois fumbles during play against Ohio State.
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CSR Photos
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Chicago Sports Review
Jeff Cumberland of Illinois stretches for a pass with Malcolm Jenkins of Ohio State in close coverage. LEFT: Dere Hicks of Illinois hits on Dan Sanzenbacher of Ohio State.
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UFC holds championship event in Chicago by
Brett Garamella
This was the true beginning of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Dana White was hanging out in the Hard Rock Café in Las Vegas. Next to White stood his close friend Frank Fertitta III, a casino magnate. Across the room they recognized a UFC fighter named John Lewis. At the time White was a diehard boxing fan; he had boxed his whole life and was then a boxing trainer who “lived for boxing.” On a lark, White and Fertitta began talking to Lewis and asking him about how he uses jiu-jitsu to fight on the ground. Intrigued, White invited Lewis to his gym for jiu-jitsu lessons a couple days later. Fertitta brought his brother Lorenzo to this jiu-jitsu training session as well. As White recalls his introduction to jiu-jitsu a decade ago, “We were blown away. Oh, blown away by it. And it actually scared me. I said, ‘How have I walked around for 30 years and not known this? This is scary.’” White and the Fertitta brothers then trained jiu-jitsu three or four days a week. They soon saw their first live UFC fight at the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena. Leaving the arena White wanted the masses to know about this sport, mixed martial arts, which had “literally changed my whole life and the way I looked at fighting.” A few years later, in 2001, White did just that. He convinced the Fertitta brothers to purchase the UFC for $2 million. As the new president, White added many rules to the sport while attracting world-class athletes who were experts in different martial arts rather than one-dimensional fighters of the past UFC. In doing so, the UFC lifted its barbaric reputation while becoming the fastest growing sport in America. At around the same time White began taking jiu-jitsu classes, a young man named Anderson Silva quit his job working at McDonald’s in Brazil so he could be a pro mixed martial arts fighter. Silva had begun working at McDonald’s at age 17. He worked there for six years before fighting professionally. “I feel the experience I had working at McDonald’s was an excellent one,” Silva said. “I feel that
Wisconsin quarterback Dustin Shere rolls out of the pocket during play against Cal Poly.
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Anderson Silva (left) and Patrick Cote (right) bow to each other while UFC President Dana White watches during the UFC 90 weigh-ins on the stage inside the Chicago Theatre.
the discipline, the responsibility, and dealing with various situations in my life and as a professional fighter, McDonald’s was a big part in helping me get there.” Since Silva joined the UFC in April 2006, he has won respect from fans and the fighting community thanks to his humble personality and devastating fighting style that earned him the UFC middleweight title. A lethal striker with a black belt in Brazilian jiujitsu, Silva has been called the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, most emphatically by White. Silva, however, deflects this notion, saying there is no best fighter and that he is beatable. Wins and losses aside, people are getting to know Silva and other fighters thanks to the dramatic popular rise in mixed martial arts with its pay-per-view events, replays on Spike TV, and the reality show The Ultimate Fighter. On the internet you can watch a documentary where Silva is playing paintball with his friends or soccer with his family in his backyard in Curitiba, Brazil. “One of the cool things of the UFC is that everyone has their own personality, everybody has a differ-
ent background,” White says. “The old thing they always say about boxing was, ‘Listen, if it wasn’t for boxing I’d be dead or in jail. I came from the mean streets of such and such. That was every guy’s story. All these (UFC) guys have completely different stories…. This thing is so multi-national. We got Georges St.-Pierre from Canada. He’ll come down here, and the Americans will cheer him over the American he’s fighting. Nogueira comes from Brazil fighting Tim Sylvia. They’re cheering Nogueira and not Tim Sylvia, the American. You don’t see that in any other sport. It’s because people invest in character, who they are, their personality, or their fighting style.” Despite its popularity, no UFC event had been held in Illinois until last month. A few months prior, on July 1 to be exact, the state of Illinois officially lifted its ban on mixed martial arts, opening White’s promotion for UFC 90, held on October 25 at All State Arena in Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport). Mixed martial arts is now viewed as a sanctioned event that has cleaned up its act with its 31 fighting rules as well as huge draw for Chicago fight fans. The near
sell-out crowd of 15,359 at All State Arena last month set a record live gate of $2.85 million with tickets ranging from $50 to $600. Fans had paid top dollar to see 10 fights, but the final fight event of the evening, Anderson Silva versus Patrick Cote, was the real draw. Unfortunately, the fight wasn’t what the fans hoped for. Silva danced around the ring for rounds 1 and 2, while Cote hardly grazed him. Other than a routine head kick and flying knee that didn’t faze Cote, it was a lackluster fight. Silva didn’t seem to be the same fighter who attacked opponents with ruthless efficiency. At one point he offered to help Cote off the ground, a gesture Cote refused. In the beginning of round 3, Cote fell to the ground in pain due to a freakish injury, a torn meniscus that didn’t seem to be caused by Silva. After the fight Silva apologized to fans and told them not to boo Cote. “You never want to walk out of an arena like that,” White said at the post-fight press conference. “But strange things happen sometimes. We have a pretty good track record of putting on big fights and delivering. Sometimes weird stuff happens. Tonight was a weird night.”
Cal Poly’s Greg Francis holds on to Wisconsin runningback P.J. Hill’s ankle during play.
Badgers
Mustangs beat
Wisconsin 30 • Cal Poly 20 Photos
Chicago Sports Review
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Warren Wimmer
ABOVE: Cal Poly cornerback Xavier Gardner, right, gets his hands on to a Wisconsin’s David Gilreath during the first half of play Saturday Nov. 22, 2008 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison Wisc.saLEFT: Wisconsin’s John Clay rushes 27 yards for a first down during the second half of play.
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Monday December 1, 2008
GARMELLA: Passion strong for local fighters Continued
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Chris Martins taking notes in an intellectual property class. Martins is in his second year at DePaul Law School.
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says he has made dramatic strides in his overall fight game. Martins’s opponent, Ricardo Lamas, has more fight experience with a record of 9-0 since turning pro in November 2006. His passion for the sport, like Martins’, is a coach’s dream, according to everyone who trains him. Unlike Martins, however, Lamas was a troublemaker as a child. Maybe it was the fact his five older brothers picked on him. Lamas says his parents got him involved in sports because he was so hyperactive. Nevertheless, Lamas loved to fight, and after watching a bunch of Bruce Lee movies, he began taking taekwondo classes. When he watched the UFC he liked the
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idea of one-on-one competition with no one to help you. Lamas wrestled throughout high school in Oak Brook, but it wasn’t until he attended Elmhurst College that he became a dominant wrestler at 157 pounds. During his senior year, he couldn’t practice for two weeks before the national tournament because he had a dislocated shoulder. Despite basically wrestling with one arm, Lamas wrestled his way into the All-American round. This competitive spirit helped him advance at such a rapid rate since his first MMA fight in January 2007. This month Lamas and Martins, fighting at 155 pounds, had perhaps the best fight at the IronHeart Crown XII, which was the Please
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The life of two local MMA fighters by
Brett Garamella
From the outside the gym looks like a garage. Inside, perched near the rafters sits Macario “Mac” Ramos behind his computer. With a couple clicks of his mouse, hip-hop music is pumping from the speakers and a Ricardo Lamas fight video is playing on his screen. Mac is the director of this old school gym called Top Notch, located in Elmhurst, a Chicago suburb. Lamas, of Cuban and Mexican heritage, is perhaps Mac’s top mixed martial arts fighter. Mac, born in the Philippines, has more than a dozen different flags hanging high on the gym’s walls and representing the backgrounds of the fighters who train there. This gym is the fruit of many years saving money and dedicating himself to mixed martial arts (MMA), in particular Muay Thai. Top Notch has attracted some of the best trainers and coaches in the Elmhurst area due to its open and honest atmosphere. While fighters train around lunchtime, Mac and other coaches have paying students in the afternoons and evenings, which include women and homemakers. Meanwhile, in the downtown Chicago area, Chris Martins trains at the Valko Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy. This gym, located on the fourth floor of one of the city’s largest personal training buildings. Jay Valko, a jiu-jitsu black belt, is the director of this academy situated in a modern gym with a view of the Sear’s Tower outside the window. Like Mac, he is well-respected in the mixed martial arts community. Gyms like these provide fighters like Lamas and Martins the proper structure and guidance for mixed martial arts fights. Time management is a necessity for any MMA fighter, but is even more essential for Lamas and Martin. Lamas, 25, is nicknamed “The Bully” due to his dominant fighting style and the fact that he owns a 3-year-old English Bullterrier named Chico. Yet he doesn’t have as much time as he’d like to spend with Chico. His mornings are spent working as a personal trainer.
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Brett Garamella
Ricardo Lamas trying to punch Chris Martins during their fight on Nov. 8 at UIC Pavilion. Lamas won by unanimous decision. It was the first mixed martial arts event in Chicago since the state athletic commission lifted its ban on July 1, 2008.
Then he boxes, kicks, runs and lifts at Top Notch. He then drives to wrestling practice at Elmhurst College, where he is an assistant coach. During the evening he works on his jiu-jitsu with Jeff Neal in Naperville. He returns home at 10 p.m. He trains six or seven day per week, totaling about 25 hours. His biggest challenge is finding time to eat, so he takes protein shakes and vitamins and supplements. Martin, 23, says taking the time to eat is his biggest challenge as well. To makes matters more challenging, it disrupts his studies. Martin is in his second year at DePaul Law School, and never seems
to have more than an hour or so to study before he has to eat, workout, or go to class. So why put yourself through this grueling schedule, which includes getting punched and kicked in the face for very little pay if any? “As humans, we’re animals, and you have this primal instinct to fight,” Martins says. “Look at every male animal. They are always fighting. When you know you’re in a fight and you’re not going to get jumped by a bunch of guys, cops aren’t going to come arrest you, nothing is going to happen. You’re here and you’re supposed to fight. It’s like the fight or flight instinct. But for me it’s almost like fight or
Chicago Sports Review
fight. That’s it. No flight instinct for me. I get this … feeling that overcomes my body that I completely run off instinct and it’s such a liberating feeling.” For people like Martins, who grew up watching the movie Bloodsport with his uncle, the possibility of fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship is a dream. Just fighting Lamas at the IronHeart Crown XII, one of Chicago’s premier MMA events, a couple weeks ago was a huge honor and great way to get noticed by sponsors and fight promoters. For Martins it has meant serious sacrifice since he began at age 16 in Boca Raton, Florida. He stopped going to the bars with his fake ID, and alienated many of his friends, practicing jiu-jitsu rather than partying. He competed in every jiu-jitsu tournament he could and won many medals. Martins also began getting in many street fights. Normally, a non-confrontational, small kid, he had a new way of dealing with people who “disrespected” him. For an entire year, at age 17, he constantly got in street fights. He then matured and hasn’t gotten in a street fight since he was 18. By then he had already begun training to be a mixed martial artist, practicing Muay Thai, boxing, and wrestling. After graduating from a small private university in Florida, Martins moved to Chicago to pursue his plan B. Plan A is still the desire to be a big-time fighter. But his mother, a single Brazilian woman who raised Chris and his younger brother and sister, always drilled into his head the importance of having a plan B, or in this case, DePaul Law School. Coincidentally, one of the guys practicing jiu-jitsu at his gym in Florida was a partner at one of the largest class-action law firms in America. He offered Martins a job in the file room, and it was there that Martins developed an interest in the law. Because his first year of law school was so demanding he only had time to train for one MMA fight, over Christmas break, in which he won. This year he began training with Jay Valko, who Please
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Monday December 1, 2008
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Syracuse wide receiver Donte Davis (7) catches a pass while being against Notre Dame safety David Bruton (27). Notre Dame runningback Armando Allen (5) is tackled by Syracuse cornerback Michael Holmes (35) during play at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind.
Notre Dame Syracuse downed by
Fighting Irish 24 • Orangmen 23 CSR Photos
Syracuse runnningback Antwon Bailey carries the football against Notre Dame.
Syracuse linebacker Jake Flaherty (45) knocks away a pass from Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph during play.
Chicago Sports Review
by
Warren Wimmer The Syracuse University sidelines celebrate defeating Notre Dame 24-23.
Chicago Sports Review