Insider Look at How Minnesota Vikings’ Defensive End Brian Robison is Surviving the Lockout!

Many people ask me these days, “What are you doing while this lockout is going on?” My answer sounds simple and boring, “I’ve just been busting my butt by training hard and making sure I’m ready when the time comes.” Although this may sound like a very simple answer, for me it’s a little bit different because I like to pride myself as one of the hardest working people in any sport, let alone the NFL. The last couple of years I took time in the offseason to train with my throwing in track and field. This year I decided to take a little bit of a different approach by just training for football. Although with this lockout dragging on as long as it has, I really wish I would’ve thrown this year, but I honestly think I may be in the best shape I’ve ever been in and hopefully it pays off this season.

Back to the original question and answer, “What are you doing while this lockout is going on?” Every Monday through Thursday I go to Plex Performance where I get my football specific training. We do a lot of things that create explosiveness, quickness, strength, endurance, etc. These are very tough and intense workouts which is why I love them. They are always challenging and different. The two locations I go to are in Stafford, TX. and Willowbrook, TX.  A normal workout at Plex starts with me getting there around 10:30 a.m. and ends when I leave around 1 p.m.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday I do MMA(mixed martial arts) training. These workouts are usually about an hour and a half to two hours long. What I do at these workouts are Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai. Jiu Jitsu is a type of grappling ground game and Muay Thai is basically kickboxing.  How do these help with football? For me there are many qualities that I can use and translate to football. One of the main things in Jiu Jitsu is learning how to control an opponent, which is also one of the main components to football. Controlling someone’s hands, grip strength, strength endurance, etc. are all things that I can use in football. Muay Thai is big time cardiovascular workouts which help in gaining stamina. Muay Thai also teaches hand-speed, hand-eye coordination, foot movements and how to block someone’s hands. All things that can be used on the football field.  I go to get this training in Magnolia, TX. at Gracie Barra. I recently just earned my Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu which I’m proud of.

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook then you know I just finished a 21 day detox where I ate nothing but organic veggies, fruits and meats. Many of my meals consisted of just shakes, which was really tough, but it really helped and I feel great. I was put on this by my nutritionist Jason Ivesdal at Higher Power Training.

In my free time, which you can see really isn’t much time at all, I try to hang out with family and friends. Other than that I like to do a little fishing, play with our dogs(2 labs: Sadie and Drake, Chihuahua: Missy and Chorkie: McLovin), and watch my wife barrel race with her horses. Like I said though, I like to do all this when I get the chance. Oh yeah almost forgot, I love to play Call of Duty on XBOX and Playstation. Mostly Playstation, but I do have both. One last thing I forgot to mention was that we got a new barn built for my wife and her horses which she really needed and wanted.

As you can see My family and I have been very busy during this lockout with many things. I hope that we can get this lockout over with and begin the season for all the fans. I also hope that all the hard work pays off and I can give the Viking fans something to cheer about. I guess after all of this I can leave you with an answer to your question “I’ve just been busting my butt by training hard and making sure I’m ready when the time comes.”

Want to thank Mr. Robison for taking the time out of his busy schedule to write this great article and give Vikings fans and NFL fans an inside look at how he is using his time during this ridiculous lockout!  Skol Vikes!

NBA Western Conference Mid-Season Report

Part deux of the Mole’s NBA Mid-Season report is here, and as Will Smith might say, ‘Welcome to the Wild Wild West, where Men In Black fight like Ali, all in the Pursuit of Happiness’ (see what I did there?) So stay chillin’, relaxin’, maxin’, and all cool through this semi-comprehensive prediction of meaningless regular-season basketball.

Western Conference Playoff Teams

Dallas Mavericks: ‘David Hasselhoff! Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!’ – And Dirk clanks another free throw; vintage 2006 Finals – Grade: A Prediction: 3^rd seed

Denver Nuggets: George Karl is a crazy person. That is all. Grade: C Prediction: 8^th seed

Los Angeles Lakers: For some reason, I feel like this team has one last run left in them. Maybe this meth is starting to kick in??? Grade: B+ Prediction: 2^nd seed

Memphis Grizzlies: Utah without Deron Williams < < < Rudy Gay’s Grizz (Yep, I’m 5 years old) Grade: C+ Prediction: 7^th seed

New Orleans Hornets: A Chris Paul lead squad can’t sell out home games. More reason for contraction (I do know the meaning of the word, by the way…) Grade: B- Prediction: 5^th seed

Oklahoma City Thunder: Although KD is a ‘fake clutch guy,’ getting Perkins for bleepin’ Jeff Green should help this team make a playoff run (The entire Eastern Conference thanks you, Danny Ainge) Grade: B+ Prediction: 4^th seed

Portland Trailblazers: Oh yea, Greg Oden is still making more than 6 million a year while teachers across the country lose their jobs. Let’s get political, Portland! Grade: C+ Prediction: 6^th seed

San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan stinking it up on my fantasy bench while they dominate the conference. AWESOME. Grade: A+ Prediction: 1^st seed

– Carlos Sanchez

 

Charles Barkley Makes His Musical Debut, And What A Splash It Was

T-Mobile only gave us a sneak peek, but oh no, The Sports Mole doesn’t go through life doing things half ass, so here is the full-version of the always popular Charles Barkley in his first and likely last music video debut.  Barkley for Prez in 2012, who’s with me?  No?  Okay, well ENJOY!

Clutch: Where Amazing Happens….If You Shoot It Enough Times

Inspired by this article from True Hoop blogger Henry Abbott, ‘your humble narrator’ has set out to define the true meaning of ‘clutch.’

To establish a baseline for my opinions, it is important to note that I am in no way a stats guy. I tend to look past the numbers, and feel there are more compelling stories in sports outside of how many points a player scores. However, the ultimate goal of any athlete is to win, to define his or her legacy by championships, along with the ability to carry a team during ultimate hardship.

Based on these leadership qualities, my interpretation of clutch players would be those who most efficiently put their team in the greatest position to win. Simple? Yes. Easily accepted among fans? Not so much. I’ve never understood the obsession, among fans and even media members, with the so-called ‘it factor.’ This non-existent will to persevere, to never accept losing and to emotionally push a team to victory, just doesn’t seem realistic to me. Call me a skeptic, but don’t all players want to win? Isn’t the goal to play at the highest level possible regardless of game magnitude?

Kobe Bryant is constantly lauded for having an “assassin” mentality, fortitude far greater than most of the league, which enables him to take over in last second situations when his team desperately needs a score. Based on the stats, and more importantly my own eyesight, I refuse to believe that someone with his type of game should ever be considered as “clutch.” When the vast majority of the team’s final shots are being taken—and missed—by him, he’s far from being a good captain and trying to ensure the best opportunity for victory.

The smart basketball move for all “superstars” should be to draw the defense in, look for an open teammate, and attempt the shot with greatest odds. The smart basketball move takes the glory and ego away from said stars, and certainly does not drive jersey sales. The smart basketball move doesn’t provide us with an epic television moment, but it does win games. Shouldn’t that count the most when it comes to a player’s legacy? Well it certainly does not, and if you weren’t already aware of that, just ask LeBron James and his “large-testicle” friend.

– Carlos Sanchez

Get the Hell Out of New York Justin Bieber, Sincerely Knicks Fans

Like a scrotum, here it is in a nutshell.  It seems like everywhere Justin Bieber goes, he’s showered with hugs, kisses, positive energy and 14-year-old girls panties.  Ewwww!  He’s so popular and lovable that Tom Brady ripped off the Bieber hair-do.  Usher?  Well, that’s a whole different beast.  I’ve heard the Biebs got him to switch teams a long time ago if you know what I’m talking about, huh.  So entering last night’s New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks game at the Garden, he should have expected more of the same man love he experiences around the country, correct?  That’s a big fat negative.  Have you been to New York, let alone the Garden?  No man, woman or mythical beast is safe from scrutiny and the ever popular sound of booing.  And, if there is one person on this Earth,whose ego needs to be brought back to reality, it’s that skinny little twerp Justin Bieber.  I say off with his head, or at least with his career.

The Sports Mole Gets Up Close and Personal With Kim Kardashian At New Jersey Nets Game

Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks may have crushed the spirit of New Jersey Nets fans with his game winning shot last Saturday night, but oh no not The Sports Moles.  Hard to be down in the dumps, when you’re sitting only a few seats away from the world’s most famous plumper humper.  After getting up close and personal with that monstrous booty, I too can now confirm that if it gets any bigger, it will be registering its own zip code.

Kevin Love’s “Numb#rs” All-Star Game Pitch – Borderline Awkward

There’s nothing more uncomfortable than watching this pale Pillsbury doughboy in drag make his pitch to be in the NBA All-Star game. However, it’s hard to argue the “Numb#rs” being that he is throwing down an impressive 21.6 points and 15.7 rebounds per game.  Despite these stellar stats, the Minnesota Timberwolves atrocious record (10-35) and the laundry list of superstars at the forward position in the Western Conference won’t help the pudgy kid from The Goonies chances of getting in.  If I had to guess, I say Mr. Love comes up shorter than Brett Favre in the balloting.

Carmelo Anthony Stops to Pay Tribute to MJ – No the Other One!

The Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl has gone on record saying that “Carmelo Anthony looks distracted as of lately” and that he wouldn’t hesitate to reduce his minutes if the struggles continued to effect his play on the court.  First off, I can assure you these “distraction’s” have nothing to do with the recent tug-of-war battle between the Nuggets and Nets over acquiring the services of the 3x NBA all-star, which according to most was just put to a halt by Mikhail Prokhorov – proof the recession is indeed real.  Oh ya, it probably also has nothing to do with the recent death of his sister who left her four children without a mother and a brother (Anthony) with no one to turn too.  Soooo distractions?  NAH!  In fact, Melo is feeling so peachy these days that instead of practicing, he’s using his free time to pay tribute to the great Michael Jackson by shall we say busting a move to the tune of “This is It.”  If this isn’t the epitome of a metaphor, well then take me out to the woodshed and go all Old Yeller on me!

Old Man River Pop, Locks and Drops it at Lakers Game

I’m really struggling to understand why the crowd at the Staples Center is cheering this guy on and putting him on the big screen, when he’s clearly suffering a seizure.  WAIT, WHAT? Oh, wow! I guess its been confirmed by one of my anonymous sources that the man isn’t actually suffering from a seizure, but instead showcasing three recently learned dance moves from this weeks dance class at the local nursing home.  Someone should tell old man river that he can throw out his hip moving at that rapid-fire pace. EASY young fella!

Charles Barkley Doing The Dougie, Cover Your Children’s Eyes

The old saying that “a picture is worth a thousands words”, refers to the idea that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single still image.  Hmmm, well what if the image isn’t still, the person is as complex as a donut with sprinkles and instead of an image, a video of Sir Charles Barkley whipping out the Dougie during halftime of the Lakers & Thunder game outside of the Staples Center?  I believe that “picture” would be referred to as simply PRICELESS, get moving Mastercard.