(We were experiencing some server issues yesterday that we had to deal with due to a recent spike in network-wide traffic. We have figured everything out and The Monday Bangover will definitely be back next week.)

My fantasy football draft is merely hours away (don’t forget — I’ll be live blogging the event at 8 PM C/9 PM E), and even though I’ve done a ton of research I’m starting to panic.

I pick seventh this year, after riding Steven Jackson (who I picked fifth) into the playoffs last year despite Chad Johnson and Eli Manning disappearing for much of the season. I was fortunate smart enough to pick a sure thing last year, a rarity for owners who pick out of the top three or four picks. This year finding that sure thing will be a whole lot tougher.

Actually, I’m somewhat recently single, and picking outside of the top three this year in fantasy is quite a bit like getting out and dating again. There are a lot of good-looking options out there, but no guarantees.

It didn’t work out last time (either with Jackson or my ex), but I felt pretty secure about the relationship for most of its duration, and had at least a good run. That’s as much as you can ask for unless a LaDainian Tomlinson type falls in your lap.

Now, I’m all over the place.

There’s Laurence Maroney, the young hotty I liked at first. As the draft quickly approaches, I’m starting to wonder if he’s mature enough to handle the load. Get your mind out of the gutter — I’m taking about dependability here, people.

There’s Willie Parker, the sleek little thing who caught my attention out of nowhere with his fast moves this past weekend. I can’t get him out of my head, and maybe I shouldn’t. He’s not the most proven option, but he did prove an awful lot last year despite Pittsburgh’s quarterback woes.

There’ Joseph Addai, too. He’s the guy everyone is telling I should like. But I’m just not feelin’ him.

Then there’s Shaun Alexander. Part of me tells me that this proven vet won’t let me down. He might not be a sexy pick, but if that foot holds up he’ll be the equivalent of a down-ass chick. Those are hard to find. Real hard. But part of me is concerned with his baggage.

I guess there’s even Rudi Johnson and Peyton Manning. Johnson is pretty dependable, but he’s not exactly the kind of guy who goes out and wins you ’ships. He’d be more of a rebound, just something to get me through the year. As for Manning, I’ve never drafted a quarterback in the first round. That would be like dating a bisexual girl for the first time or something — too drastic of a move for right now.

Honestly, I don’t know what I’m going to do. Actually, yes, I do. I’m going to polish off some beers and let the chips fall where they may. It’s always worked before. That’s what I’ve always done in the past, and I’m still standing.

Make sure to check in tonight from about 8 PM C/9 PM E - 10 PM C/11 PM E to catch my live blog of The Dirty Dozen draft. It’s a great league, and the draft should give everyone an in-depth look at how their draft might end up shaking out.

I know that I’m a little more perverse than most, but this is just a ridiculous headline.

Well unfortunately tonight I will not be live blogging the pay-per-view. My friends are throwing a party with the fight and I can’t pass up the opportunity for free beer, food, and a fight. Would you? Well I should be back live blogging for the Rampage-Henderson fight. Well lets get to the predictions:

Clay Guida Vs. Marcus Aurelio - Marcus Aurelio will finish Guida in the 2nd round. (0-1)

Frank Mir Vs. Antoni Hardonk - What happened to Mir? After Tito demolished him and is injury he has never really cameback. I think Mir will finally get a solid win he is looking for. Mir wins by split decision. (1-1)

Renato Sobral Vs. David Heath - Sobral has lost his last two fights and Heath lost at UFC 70. Both of these guys need this fight to get back on track and I think Sobral will do just that. Sobral wins by submission in the 3rd round. (2-1)

Ryan Jensen Vs. Thales Leites - Leites was the only fighter to originally not make weight, but he cut the two pounds necessary to fight. I think Leites might not be ready for this fight and Jensen will pull out a slight shocker in his UFC debut. Jensen submits Leites in the 2nd round. (2-2)

Patrick Cote Vs. Kendall Grove - This might be the fight of the night, so make sure you don’t miss it! These two match-up very well against one another, but I feel Grove is a better on the ground and will be all over Cote for the entire fight. Grove wins by unanimous decision. (2-3)

Kurt Pellegrino Vs. Joe Stevenson - This fight is going to be one hell of a duel. Both of these guys don’t fight prett, but both get the job done. This is a very tough one to call, but I am going to go with Pellegrino. I am surprised I am going against Stevenson. Nevermind… I can’t do it. Stevenson wins by submission in round 3. (3-3)

Josh Koscheck Vs. Georges St-Pierre - My boy GSP is back after his embarrassing loss to Matt Serra. Josh Kocscheck is no joke and this should be an excellent fight. Both are extremely athletic and this fight should be all over the Octagon. Look for a GSP to try and keep on his feet while Koscheck will try and drive GSP to the ground where is more effective. I look for GSP to regain his pride and beat one of the top Middleweight contenders. GSP wins by unanimous decision. (4-3)

Roger Huerta Vs. Alberto Crane - Plan and simple, Huerta has too much experience for Crane. El Matador wins by TKO/KO in 1st round. (5-3)

Randy Couture Vs. Gabriel Gonzaga - The main event of the evening that everyone thought would never happen. This fight was suppose to be Kro-Cop and Conture, not Gonzaga and Conture. This is still a bad match-up for Conture who had one of the best fights in MMA to win the heavyweight title. I think Gonzaga will give Conture a big challenge, but I am going with the Legend. He is going to win this one and then retire finishing on top of the world. Conture outlasts Gonzaga by a decision. (6-3)

Well, on this last Thursday’s iMPACT! Young finally got his wish — sort of.

Here’s the commercial for the No Surrender PPV. I think it’s cool that Kurt Angle is defending three titles in three different matches, and all on the same night. I wonder why that’s never been done before. Wrestling think tanks must not be very good.

Today, I was set to do a piece on the highly anticipated Iron Man (2008) comic book flick, discussing the early buzz on the film and then transitioning into which NFL players I think would make the best iron men. That post will have to wait a while because…

My favorite athlete of all time, Reggie Miller, has decided to stay retired over making a comeback with the suddenly loaded Boston Celtics. At first I was saddened, especially when I read that he knew he could do it physically. Actually, I’m still a little upset now that I have to finally face the fact that his basketball career is said and done.

What does all of this have to do with Friday Flicks and the film industry?

Everything.

First off, Reggie went to UCLA, is a Los Angeles resident and a film producer.

More importantly, people today in both the film industry and the sports world just don’t know when to call it quits. The 14th Resident Evil sequel is about to drop, my friends. When is enough enough?

I guess, for most anyway, it’s all about money. Not for Reggie, though. Even though it’s tough — even tougher considering I have a rough headache/hangover, which I’m going to go ahead and blame on Brodie Croyle and my Chiefs — to handle him being permanently retired, I’m proud that he stuck by his decision, and I’m even prouder that he retired a Pacer.

In Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back the Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season joke works because the idea is ludicrous. Sometimes things are just meant to end — on a high note. The studios didn’t sign Bogie and Ingrid up for Casablanca 2: Rick Goes to America for a reason. Back then people believed in dignity, pride and storybook endings, things society seemingly threw in the dumpster long ago.

We didn’t need another Rush Hour 3, we don’t need a 59-year-old college linebacker and we don’t need another surefire NBA HOFer tarnishing their legacy in colors that just don’t look right.

There. I said it. Do with it what you will.

What to See This Weekend:

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