just a couple of highlights Ive seen from some of his home runs in Taiwan, | Forum

Anderson Silva has stepped in to face Daniel Cormier at UFC 200, but is it enough to save what couldve been one of the greatest nights for the UFC? Brian Campbell and Arash Markazi disagree and explain their positions. Matt Milano Youth Jersey .Campbell: Silva saves the dayFor a landmark combat sports pay-per-view to be a great success, the buzz and financial support from the mainstream audience is essential in order to elevate it to the next level.Saturdays UFC 200 card perfectly fits the description of a cornerstone event, with its eye-catching No. 200 serving as a litmus test for just how far both the UFC and the sport of mixed martial arts have evolved.Yet despite being gratuitously stacked from top to bottom with strong fights, its impossible to minimize just how much of a hit the card took after Jon Jones was pulled on Wednesday night from the main event for a possible doping violation.Three months after the UFCs virtual ATM machine, Conor McGregor, was also removed the card, Jones grudge match with light heavyweight champion Cormier became UFC 200s sexy anchor.Yes, the addition one month ago of Brock Lesnar in his return from a five-year retirement sweetened the pot. But losing Cormier-Jones II automatically meant the loss of big dollars and record-setting pay-per-view buys -- and you need the support of casual fans to accomplish that.Thats where Anderson Silva comes in. Its nearly impossible to find an opponent on 48 hours notice to provide the same kind of intriguing buzz as Cormier-Jones II, but somehow the improbable addition of The Spider has done just that.Its very possible that Cormier-Silva wont prove to be as competitive in the cage on Saturday as the video game-style pairing sounds in the heads of most casual fans. Silva is 41, hasnt registered an official UFC win since 2012, and is two months removed from gallbladder removal.But the matchup is plenty creative and certainly a godsend to the UFC considering the situation.The fight offers the adored Silva, no worse than No. 2 on most experts list of the greatest MMA fighters in history, one last opportunity to shine on the very highest of levels, providing him the chance at an ultimate victory lap.And most importantly, above all else, its fun. The curiosity factor alone of what Silva will look like under these circumstances and how his improvisational skill set will adapt to Cormiers constant pressure is worth the price of admission alone.Dont agree? Consider the most logical alternative, Gegard Mousasi, who is a fine fighter in his own right and already had a fight scheduled for the UFC 200 undercard. He was the UFCs safe and default pick to replace Jones, but theres nothing about Cormier-Mousasi that moves mainstream fans.On a card like UFC 200, theres no room for offerings that would serve only hard-core fans. The addition of Lesnar to the card illustrates exactly the type of event this is: a borderline carnival, designed to bring in as much money as possible and extend the outreach of the brand even further.It has often been said that the NFLs Super Bowl is designed for casual fans, with the conference championship games serving as the NFLs true pinnacle for its most seasoned fan base.In many ways, UFC 200 is no different. This is MMAs Super Bowl. And in this setting, under these crisis circumstances with the surprise loss of Jones, the addition of Anderson Silva is the ultimate Band-Aid.Markazi: Silva nice, but just not enoughThe ever-changing UFC 200 card got one final twist and turn on Thursday night, about 48 hours before it starts on Saturday. Anderson Silva was announced as a replacement for Jones and will face Cormier.Meanwhile the womens bantamweight title fight between Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes will be the new main event, technically the fifth main event of this star-crossed card and the third in as many days.Excuse me if I refuse to allow Silvas star power and resume in the sport to blind me from the reality of what Silva has become. Dont get me wrong. It makes sense for Silva to be on the UFC 200 card. He is arguably the greatest mixed martial artist ever. He holds the longest title streak in UFC history and had an unprecedented 16 consecutive wins and 10 title defenses at the height of his career.But that doesnt negate the fact that Silva is winless in his last four fights, with three losses and a no contest since he tested positive for drostanolone and androstene after his fight with Nick Diaz.Silva hasnt won a fight since beating Stephan Bonnar in 2012, and The Spider wasnt even training for an upcoming fight when he called UFC president Dana White after the Jones news to ask about fighting Cormier.As great as it is to see a UFC legend back in the Octagon at a signature event like UFC 200, the fact is that Silva is 41 years old and had gallbladder surgery in May. He was probably planning to watch UFC 200 on television less than 24 hours before signing a contract and weighing in to fight on the card. While Jones and Cormier are bitter rivals who were going to fight to unify the UFC light heavyweight title on Saturday, Anderson and Cormiers fight will be a nontitle, three-round bout.Silva said Thursday he wasnt ready to go five rounds, and who could blame him? Its hard to imagine any fan who was planning to not buy the UFC 200 pay-per-view suddenly jumping on board to see a past-his-prime Silva get into the Octagon to face Cormier on 48 hours notice.Perhaps hard-core fight fans who were already planning to buy the pay-per-view, regardless of the Jones news, are excited about Silvas surprise return, but his addition is far from a bandage that will be able to save a card that has been beaten and bruised since Conor McGregors fight with Nate Diaz was scrapped after McGregor and White engaged in a public dispute over McGregors contractual obligations.A rematch between Jones and Cormier became the new main event until Jones was ruled out on Wednesday, making Brock Lesnars comeback fight against Mark Hunt the new main event for 24 hours before White changed course and made Tates title fight with Nunes the main event of the companys signature pay-per-view.Its a long fall from the much-hyped McGregor-Diaz rematch that was supposed to headline UFC 200. As great as Silva is, not even his last-minute addition to the card will stop many fans from saving their money for UFC 202. Jim Kelly Youth Jersey . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Devin Singletary Jersey . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. http://www.shoptheofficialbills.com/Elite-Doug-Flutie-Bills-Jersey/ . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field.ARLINGTON, Texas -- Manny Ramirez is apparently cutting his long dreadlocks for another shot at the major leagues. The Texas Rangers said Wednesday they had agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the 41-year-old slugger, who hasnt played in the big leagues since 2011 with Tampa Bay. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said part of the deal was Ramirez, twice suspended for testing positive for banned drugs, agreeing to cut his hair and "comply with our minor league rules on appearance and discipline." Ramirez was set to report to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, and he will be a designated hitter whenever he is activated. He played for three months in Taiwan before leaving the Rhinos on June 20. "Its kind of a no-risk flier," said Daniels, indicating there was no time frame for him to be called up to the majors. "We like giving guys second chances. We know on and off the field the good and bad in Mannys career. But were inclined to give him an opportunity here." Ramirez hit .352 with eight homers and 43 RBIs for the Rhinos. The team tried to keep the 12-time All-Star, but he wanted to return to his family in New York. Ramirez was suspended for 50 games in 2009 while with the Los Angeles Dodgers after testing positive for a banned drug. He retired in April 2011 instead of serving a 100-game ban for a second positive test while with Tampa Bay, but later agreed to a reduced 50-game suspension and played in the minors for Oakland in 2012. A lifetime .312 hitter, Ramirez is 14th on the career home runs list with 555. The Rangers didnt see Ramirez play in Taiwan, nor were they among the teams that worked him out in Florida recently, Daniels said. The Rangers GM said Ramirez was looking for an opportunity either in the U.S. or Japan. "Were really just kind of going off the resume here a little bit," DDaniels said. TreDavious White Bills Jersey. "If hes productive and we feel he fits our culture here in the clubhouse, well give him an opportunity. If either of those ends dont pan out, then kind of no harm, no foul." Ramirez won two World Series with Boston, including 2007 when Rangers hitting coach Dave Magadan was in his first year in that job with the Red Sox. But he had a stormy end when he forced his way out of Boston in a trade a year later, a point that Magadan made to Daniels when they discussed Ramirez. "There were some bridges that were burned in Boston," Magadan said. "It was unfortunate the way it ended up there because he did a lot of good things while he was there. But in the end it wasnt pretty." Ramirez hit 17 homers in the final 53 games of 2008 after the trade to Los Angeles, but he has just 28 since then because of injuries and the suspensions. He was 1 for 17 without a homer with Tampa when the second drug suspension hit two years ago. "I think its a guy who loves the game and just wants to continue to play," New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said before Wednesdays game in Minnesota. "You dont ever want to feel like you took your uniform off sooner than you shouldve. So good for him." The Rangers entered their game against Seattle without a home run in four straight games, their longest streak in more than two years. They need a right-handed power bat with switch-hitter Lance Berkman struggling through a knee injury and hitting just .198 in his past 25 games. "I havent really seen him on video, just a couple of highlights Ive seen from some of his home runs in Taiwan," Magadan said. "Well see how it goes when he gets to Round Rock and see what kind of shape hes in and see if he can still swing it." He apparently wont be swinging any dreadlocks, though. 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