This Week in No Mas

(While reading today's T.W.I.N. notes, we suggest that you listen to the provided audio. It's a little number that we call "Flow Mas", but we think you'll recognize the source. It should set the mood nicely. Production Props to Michael Ramadan Jones.)



1/21
A little Willie Pep, a little Joe Frazier...
Large breaks down the Hatton and Castillo fights from Saturday night. "We think of boxing as such an instinctual, savage occupation, but the way Castillo went about his business last night was positively surgical. He wasn't in great condition mentally or physically, but he knew exactly what he needed to do to win that fight, and he did it as if he were following an algorithm. The sweet science, indeed."

The Prowlin Italian
Must-see No Mas TV - YES is running maybe the greatest episode of The White Shadow ever, the one where Salami starts moonlighting as a club-fighter known as "The Prowlin Italian."

1/22
K.O.W. - The Left Hook from Hell
After all the Ali hoopla of last week, we throw a little love Joe Frazier's way with our Knockout of the Week, Smokin Joe's one-round smackdown on Dave Zyglewicz from 1969. "You get to see the vaunted Frazier left hook in full effect, because in a minute and a half, he lands about 30 of them on Ziggy's body and head..."

Backhand Compliment
Large turns to his pal Steve Tignor from Tennis Magazine for some analysis of A-Rod's backhand and its notable evolution. "...he's taking the ball earlier, farther up in the court, and on the rise (heavy Connors influence) and extending through the hitting zone more (also a Connors specialty). The combination has made it a weapon."

Bam Bam Bigelow 1961-2007
Our wrestling correspondent, The Franchise, says goodbye to one of the all-time greats, Bam Bam Bigelow.

1/23
The earth trembled on its axis...
The anniversary of the day the earth stood still, when the Hulkster broke the Cobra Clutch and vanquished the Iron Sheik once and for all.

1/24
The Swede Down Under
Nineteen years to the day since Mats Wilander beat Pat Cash in an epic five-set Aussie final, the first leg of a three-Slam season for the Swede.

Is Lennox next?
With Vitali Klitschko set to make a comeback in April, Large wonders if his ultimate aim is to mix it up with his brother. "For myself, I know I'd be rooting for Dr. V all the way, but if he wants a piece of his younger bro right now, he better make sure he's in crack condition, because Manny Steward is turning that boy into a veritable one-two machine."

No Mas at the Golden Gloves
The 2007 Golden Gloves opens at the Copacabana, and No Mas is on the scene.

1/25
There is nothing left to do
Large wonders if maybe it isn't time to wonder at just what Reger Federer is up to on this planet. "...after his three-round destruction of Andy Roddick last night, bitch-slapping the insurgent Rod like a Cockney mosquito at an Irish wake, the only explanation left for this man's appearance among us is that he is a space alien."

All right, all right
We start our run to the Super Bowl with our first No Mas Super Bowl of the Day, the Broncos upset of the Packers in SBXXXII.

1/26
Baseball, basketball, tennis, football
The anniversary of the deaths of Abner Doubleday, Al McGuire, Don Budge and Bear Bryant.

Super Bowl of the Day - Sometimes the Bears Eat You
Remember these guys? The '85 Bears? Not enough gets written about them. It's almost like it never happened. "Mostly what you remember about the big game anyway is the week beforehand and all of Jim McMahon's bullshit, the Bourbon Street Pied Piper, mooning the helicopter, dissing the quality of ho to be found in N.O., and of course the personally inscribed headbands - "Rozelle" and my favorite, "Acupuncture."