UFC 92 Predictions

The Ultimate 2008 is surely one of the best cards ever assembled in UFC history. There are three major fights that could each have headlined their own PPV. It’s a Christmas gift from Zuffa, and one that will be relished by fans.

Cheick Kongo vs. Mustapha Al Turk

Replacing an injured Cain Velasquez, Cheick Kongo has stepped up to beat the snot out of another UFC newcomer hoping to make a big splash on the year’s biggest PPV.

While Kongo was initially hailed as potential heavyweight bigwig he has lost all of his early fanfare with a string of fights ended by judge’s decision. The main problem it seems is that when the competition stepped up Kongo couldn’t. Against a relative nobody who hasn’t faced any top-caliber opponents, Kongo should be back to his old self. Al Turk’s only hope is to take down Kongo and smother him for 3 straight minutes.

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Hawksley Workman a little too staged

Any night proves to be memorable, to a degree, when it takes place within the velvet, wood and stone beauty of Massey Hall’s concert theatre. Hawksley Workman’s Friday night gig on November 28th was no exception.

After a healthy intermission following openers, Hey Rosetta!, Hawksley graciously took the stage with a full backing band, and gently nudged the evening off with his holiday recipe number, “Almost a Full Moon.” The crowd clapped mushily and the evening seemed to be off to humble but fantastic start.

Unfortunately, the next slew of songs kinda just…happened. There were a lot of vocal acrobatics, with Hawksley coming off as more of a cartoon of himself, and at times, I could have sworn someone was rhythmically letting air squeak out of a balloon and into a microphone, but then again, balloons don’t wear newspaper boy hats. It was all Hawkley who, to be fair, was nursing a cold from a few days prior.

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Top Five Songs Guaranteed to Get You Action*

In the game of love and romance, we all need a little help with winning over the object of our infatuation.  Some of us choose to court with flowers and shiny gifts that come in boxes, while others rely on long beauty regimes that give us the confidence to text badly-written flirtatious messages.  And some of us…write cheques.

While all these tactics work to varying degrees there is something to be said for unabashedly holding a boombox over your head at 2 a.m. while standing at the window of your Prince or Princess Charming’s abode, blaring a song that sums up your feelings (and moves the neighbours to call the cops).  If John Cusack could do it in Say Anything, so can you, you just need the right iPod speakers and musical arsenal.

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Toronto’s Best Dingy Underground Cinemas

I love going to the flicks, but the thought of negotiating the crowds, the stale popcorn and even staler programming of a multiplex often makes the couch look mighty good. Fortunately Torontonians are a movie mad bunch, and there are a sway of homier, grungier celluloid gin joints around offering to upsize my popcorn-and-Coke experience.

Here are some of the best:

Bloor Cinema - 506 Bloor St W (east of Bathurst)

Often voted Toronto’s favourite repertory cinema, the century-old Bloor is a grand old dame with over 800 seats, a two tiered balcony and an enormous screen. Showcasing an impressively diverse range of programs and film festivals, Bloor Cinema is a must for any self respecting cinephile. Cheap membership and admission means you’ll have change for Scooby snacks or a post celluloid brew at one of the many nearby watering holes.

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Hardboss NHL Rankings - 4th edition

Hardboss Chris Boyd lays out the fourth of his hardbossin’ ass NHL rankings after another exciting week of hockey action.  Find out which team is in a total free fall.

EAST

1. Boston Bruins   11-3-4
Tim Thomas continues to impress, leading in almost every goaltending stat. Boston is turning from dark horse to white knight and causing fans in Beantown to ask, “Who are the Red Sox?”

2. New York Rangers   14-5-2
The Rangers have peaked. The problem is there is still 75% of the season left to play. Watch for a trade in the city that never sleeps, or else there will be some disappointing endless nights.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins   11-4-2
‘The Fraternity’ continues to put up solid numbers, and with Malkin leading the league in points and Crosby not too far behind, they could become the team to beat in the near future. The only difference between the Penguins and a real fraternity is a ring and come June that may no longer be a problem.

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Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreak

Kanye West’s fourth album 808s & Heartbreak is a stray from the norm…even for Mr. West. With three critically acclaimed records already under his belt, Kanye has decided to switch things up, ditch his rap persona and inherit an Auto Tune in hopes of becoming a singing sensation a la T-Pain and Akon.

The album jumps right into a soundscape of minimalistic beeps and snares and sounds much like a lifeline slowly fading beside a hospital bed on “Say You Will”. The strongest track comes a few skips later on “Heartless”. Patterned flutes and piano fill the background to a pitch corrected vocal track about losing love and your soul to a “woman so heartless.”

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