KarateKen

It was 40 years ago today (June 22, 1984) that the original Karate Kid movie was released. (Perfectly enough it was also five years ago today that I had my first Karate belt test, but that is for a different post.) When I first saw the movie, it was by accident, I was channel surfing on a lazy Sunday night, and it was on TV. I decided to watch it, having missed the first part, and I loved it so much that as soon as the movie was over, I went to the Blockbuster Video in town and rented the VHS, then went back home and watched the entire film seeing the beach scene and thinking "oh that is why they are fighting." I have never done that before or since. At that time, I had been wanting to get into martial arts and about two weeks later I enrolled in TKD and spend basically all summer at the Dojang, going to every class I could while obsessively working my forms in the back room at work, when nobody was looking and still on the clock. I was also in college at this time and met several college students who trained there who became friends. Over that summer I also obsessively watching the entire Kid movie series and began searching out more martial arts films. To that point I had seen very few of them. I never would have imagined that there would be a Cobra Kai series years later with many of the same actors and characters. All of them were young enough in the 80s to still be able to be alive and working today, other than Morita who passed in 2005. He leaves behind an incredible legacy with the movie series that expands to Cobra Kia, nearly 20 years after his passing. If you have any fun facts about the movie or stories of how it impacted your life, please share them here. If not thanks for reading, this is one of my longest posts and I tried to keep it short.

It just got a lot more exciting. WOWWWWWWWWWWWWW. Game 7 is on Monday.

Mudvayne - Forget to Remember

My pick before the series was Panthers in six, so I am sticking with that, but I do hope that the game is close because if the Oilers are ahead, or this game is tied, after the second period, things are going to get interesting, and if there is a game seven all the pressure will be on the Panthers to make sure they don't blow this thing.

The popularity of Nikki Glazer has exploded since the roast. She was well known before and now has become one of the most popular comedians in the country.

McDavid puts up four points as the Oilers win game five, cutting Florida's lead in the series to 3-2 with game six shifting back to Edmonton on Friday. Final score on Tuesday was Oilers 5 Panthers 3.

Nelly - Ride With Me

Statement from McGregor posted on X: "Very tough to be ruled out of my scheduled return bout. I picked up an injury prior to the press conference that required more time to heal than was available to me. The decision to postpone the fight was not made lightly, but one made in consultation with my doctors, the UFC, and my team. My fans and opponent deserve me at my best for this fight and we will get there! Thank you for the messages of support, I am in good spirits and confident I’ll be back!" IF I was Chandler, I wouldn't wait around much longer. We don't even know what the injury is or the severity of it. If the fight gets rebooked in the next few weeks, then sure, stick it out, but if we get more of this stuff that is kind of "we will see it when we see it" then it might be time to move on, otherwise he could be waiting around another six months only to learn the fight is never going to happen. It's a gamble because if he gets the fight it is a huge payday and the biggest fight of his life, however if he waits around for a fight that never happens, suddenly two plus years of his career are gone with nothing to show for it. Tough spot.

ABBA - Dancing Queen

LOL, as much as I hate to admit it......well not really, I guess I just felt it looked better to start that way.....when I was new to the arts I would kihap at the top of my lungs. Loudest in the class. It was a combination of pent-up anger and wanting to look tough. At the time I was impressed with myself. I was a lot younger and a little bit more immature. I do recall preparing for my first tournament and one of the black belts in class told me that "yelling loud can score you points in the forms or weapons because judges think it shows confidence." Or something like that. So, it was encouraged, at least in that example.

Stunning score in game four as the Oilers crush the Panthers 8-1, avoiding the sweep and sending the series back to Florida Tuesday night.

Dana White has announced that McGregor is out of 303 with an injury. The new main event is Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka. As of this posting there has been no announcement by the UFC of if/when the fight will be rescheduled.

Panters win 4-3 and take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series with a chance to win the cup Saturday night in Edmonton. The Oilers made it interesting with a late push, down 4-1 after two and getting it to 4-3, but Florida holds on and needs one more victory to win the Stanley Cup for the first time in team history. Ironically, I guess, it was one year ago today (June 13) when the Panthers were eliminated by Vegas and now, they are almost certainly going to win the cup this year after tonight's win. Only once in NHL history has a team come back from three games to zero deficit to win in the Cup Finals, and that was in 1942. Barring a miracle comeback by the Oilers, the Florida Panthers will be the 2023-24 Stanely Cup Champions.

Journey - Anyway You Want It

Stitched Up Heart - Lost

Rumors swirling around the internet over the past week about the fight and if it is still on. As of now the fight will go on as scheduled, less than three weeks out. With the cost of the tickets and, for those out of town, the hassle and cost of traveling to Vegas for this event, it would be extremely frustrating if the fight were to be cancelled or postponed just days before it took place. That is always a risk you taken when you travel for a sporting event or concert, ect, that if the gets called off you can't get reimbursement for your plane tickets, hotel rooms, and what not.

Leon Draisaitl will not be suspended for his illegal hit against Barkov in game two, where Leon left his feet to strike Barkov in the head with an elbow. Panthers coach Paul Maurice has issued a warning to Draisaitl and McDavid saying, "keep your head up." Could get very physical in game three. The hit caused injury to Aleksander Barkov on the play, and he is questionable for Thursday's game in Edmonton.

Often, if the weapon intentionally touches the ground, you tell the judges so they know not to deduct points from you. I once saw a competitor tell the judges that if he hits himself (in the head, groin, etc.) that this was intentional. It got a good laugh. Of course, he didn't mess up and did just fine. I suppose if I had said my name was Steve-O I would have gotten extra points for doing it, then a TV contract. Oh well.

It has been over a month now and I can say honestly that not once have I had even the slightest urge to drink.

To me the keyboard is like an umpire in baseball. I never give it much thought unless something goes wrong. Back in the day I would have keys that would stick, or fall out, things like that, but for the last 15 years probably I don't recall ever having an issue other than maybe the ink wearing off some of the keys.

I don't have much tournament experience, but I have never heard of it. Doesn't sound like a great way to do it. The couple times I did it we went up, did the form, and sat down until everyone was finished then the judges announced the third, second, and first place winners.

I'd just add that if you do NUNCHAKU, and I have at tournaments, I suggest not hitting yourself in the groin.

Grimmstine - Supernatural

Panters win game two, 4-1, as the series shifts to Edmonton.

Florida shuts down and shuts out Edmonton in game one 3-0.