Jimmy Lange To Defend WBU Title Against Ruben Galvan February 11

Former Contender Star Headlines 14th Card at Patriot Center

Northern Virginia's Jimmy Lange (37-4-2, 25 KOs) will defend his World Boxing Union (WBU) junior middleweight title against veteran Ruben Galvan (27-20-4, 10 KOs) of Hammond, Ind., as the Main Event of the February 11, 2012 card at the Patriot Center.

Galvan is a Chicago-based Mexican American fighter boasting more than 50 pro bouts. Nicknamed the ‘Modern Day Warrior,’ he has faced such notables as Jorge Paez, Paul Spadafora, Dmitriy Salita, Zab Judah, Vernon Paris and current WBC middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. over his career. In his last fight, he lost a 10-round decision to Paul Delgado, in Atlanta on December 12, 2011.

Lange captured the WBU title with a crowd-pleasing six-round TKO over Raul Munoz at the Patriot Center on September 10, 2011. The turning point came in the fifth round with Lange’s solid right to his opponent’s chin. Lange’s left hook in round six took him down, and he finished Munoz by knocking him down two more times en route to his 25th victory by knockout.

The February 11 card also feature two additional world title bouts with Mike “No Joke” Stewart against Joe Wyatt for the vacant WBU welterweight belt and WBC middleweight champion Tori “Sho Nuff” Nelson of Ashburn, Va., facing Vashon “Lady V” Living for the vacant WIBA women’s middleweight crown.

Also added are top regional welterweight prospects, Richie “The Rock” Andrews (2-0-3) and Juan “Savior” Rodriguez (4-1-1, 4 KOs), who will square off again in a four-round rematch.

The rest of the undercard will feature two dominant local fighters, both undefeated. Chantilly, Va. junior middleweight Zain “Tiger” Shah will face his toughest test to date with highly regarded “Lightning” Harry Joe Yorgey, while junior welterweight Todd “White Lightning” Wilson of Fairfax, Va., vies for his 12th win opposite Fernando “The Whip” Basora.

A heavyweight battle between pro debuting Duane Mobley of Upper Marlboro, Md., and Dennis Benson of Norfolk, Va. is also scheduled.

Devin Thomas Is "Goin' To the Super Bowl!"

"First off I must thank the man up stairs for blessing me and keeping me humble and faithful thru all the adversity in my career. This Is why I wanted to make it to the NFL to have a shot at a world championship. I love my brothers on this team and the moment is now! ALL IN BABY! Shout out to everyone that has wished for my success. ONE LOVE to my people back home and my Spartan Dawgs! GMEN fans... We Goin to the SUPERBOWL!"

That's a quote from the Facebook page of New York Giants' wide receiver, Devin Thomas who had to significant plays to help his team gain rights to another Super Bowl.

Play No. 1.

Thomas took off with the bowl into the 49er endzone after seeing the ball just barely graze the leg of San Francisco's Kyle Williams and later bounce onto the field.

It was the perfect move in a perfect storm.

Said Thomas after the game, "When they missed the call and said it was their ball, I told Coach right away, ‘Throw the flag, throw the flag.’ ”

Thomas would prove his worth again, (Play No. 2) this time, securing the ball late in the fourth quarter after Jacquian Williams stripped the ball from Kyle Williams where it would bounce to ground.

Guess who was there to recover?

"And when I saw the ball on the ground, I didn’t want to try to do too much, just make sure I fell on the ball", explained Thomas who, just year, was cut from the Washington Redskins.

The Giants gained the victory, and Thomas gained a game ball worth remembering.

“This ball I’m not giving up.”

New York defeated the 49ers 20-17 in a game that saw the DC area's favorite San Franciso 49er, Vernon Davis scored two touchdowns on the day.

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The neighboring Baltimore Ravens saw their Super Bowl hopes dashed after losing 20-23 to the New England Patriots.

“We were definitely a better team this year than we were by far the past two years,” linebacker Jarrett Johnson added. “We’re a more complete team, more mature team, more talented. It’s disappointing.”

Fans across the DMV feel the same way.

Out at Redskins Park (Abbreviated Version)
Redskins hired Raheem Morris as Defensive Backs Coach.

The Redskins have also hired Ike Hilliard as the team’s Wide Receivers Coach. In addition, the team announced that Bob Slowik will move to Linebackers Coach after having coached the team’s secondary for the past two seasons.

At The White House: 2011 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals

The Greatest Comeback Team In History of MLB?

The President and First Lady (on her 48th birthday) hosted the 2011 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals at the White House today.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle receive their official World Series jerseys and baseball bats.
"Last August, with just 31 games to play in the regular season, the Cardinals were 10 and a half games out of the playoff race", said the president. "At one point, they had a less than 4 percent mathematical chance of making the playoffs. In Las Vegas, they were 500-to-1 longshots to win the World Series. And when Chris Carpenter pulled the team together for a meeting, his message was simple: Let’s not embarrass ourselves. (Laughter.) But through skills and guts, and I think the team would agree just a little bit of luck -- just a touch -- this team made the playoffs. And even though they trailed in each of the series that followed, they somehow had the spirit and the determination and the resolve to survive."

Click arrow to view video.



The Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers 6-2 in Game 7 of the World Series.

A Washington Kastle In Sydney

Bobby Reynolds of the Kastles is making quite the splash in Sydney, where he's advanced to his first ATP World Tour quarterfinal since the summer of 2008.

Coming off a successful season on the USTA Pro Circuit, the Kastles' closer gained entry into the Sydney singles main draw by winning three matches in the qualifying event.

Reynolds hasn't stopped there, defeating world No. 61 Sergiy Stakhovsky 7-5, 6-3 in the first round and upsetting No. 2 seed John Isner of the Boston Lobsters 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals.

After splitting the first two sets with the 6-foot-9 Isner, Reynolds raised his game when it matted most. The Kastle made 81 percent of his first serves and won 69 percent of his second serve return points in the final set, taking it to the much taller Isner. With precise passing shots off both his forehand and backhand, Reynolds broke Isner twice in the third set before serving the match out at love.

In terms of rankings, Reynolds' win over the 17th-ranked Isner is the biggest victory of his career.

"I'm happy to get it done," Reynolds said during a video interview on ATPWorldTour.com (click on the thumbnail below to watch the interview). "It was a tough match for both of us today with the conditions being really windy. But I felt like I served well and I returned well when I needed to, and I took advantage of the break points that I got."

We're not suprised on the success of Reynolds. We witnessed his tennis prowess this summer during a Washington Kastles home game.

Take a look see!

Twice Is The Charm for Redskins' London Fletcher

Pro-Bowler (Heck of a Baller) and Bart Starr Award Recipient.

Redskin linebacker, and on-the-field threat, London Fletcher can add a new accolade to his arsenal this year after being named the recipient of the 2012 Bart Starr Award.

Redskin London Fletcher (#59) 2012 Pro-Bowler/Bart Starr Award recipient.
The award recognizes one (just one) NFL player for outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community. Other finalists for the award were Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.

Fletcher tweeted: "Truly humbled by this award."

He will be honored during the 25th Annual NFL-Sanctioned Super Bowl Breakfast, presented by Bob and Kathy Andersen and Companies with a Mission, on Feb. 4, 2012, at 8 a.m. ET at the Exposition Hall of the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis (1202 East 38th Street).

In his 14th year in the NFL, Fletcher, one of the Redskins’ captains, has been active in charitable projects across the country. He founded the London’s Bridge Foundation in 2003, through which he has impacted underprivileged children in his hometown of Cleveland, as well as Washington, D.C., Buffalo, N.Y., and Charlotte, N.C. The foundation runs mentoring programs and charitable giving to support health and fitness, education and leadership programs. He has been involved in the Redskins’ Harvest Feast, the “Stuff a Backpack” School Supply Drive, The Children’s Inn and visits to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, among many other projects.

The winner of the Bart Starr Award is voted by NFL players and is named after NFL Hall of Famer Bart Starr. The award honors the player who best exemplifies Starr’s commitment to family, teammates and the community. Past winners include Drew Brees, Kurt Warner, LaDainian Tomlinson, Darren Woodson, Reggie White and Mike Singletary. Fletcher is the second member of the Redskins to receive the honor, following in the footsteps of Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Darrell Green, who won the award in 1997.

Earlier in the week, the NFL announced that Fletcher, a second-team All-Pro selection by the Associated Press in 2011, will appear in his third consecutive Pro Bowl after amassing a league-leading 166 tackles this season, his highest single-season total since the NFL began independently tracking tackle data in 2001.

The Redskins coaching staff credited Fletcher with 209 tackles (123 solo) for the season, matching his career-high for coach-awarded tackles, established as a member of the Buffalo Bills in 2002. In addition, Fletcher also added 1.5 sacks, 14 quarterback pressures, 11 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Hunter to Khan Camp: "We Will Continue To Fight For What is Just and Proper"

The Peterson/Khan saga has taken on, yet another, dimension.

The Amir Khan camp is continuing its process of appealing the judges decision in the December 10th fight where Khan lost both his IBF and WBA belts to DC boxer Lamont Peterson.

Ameen Mustafa (foreground) and Peterson trainer, Barry Hunter in a battle of their own. Collage/CD Brown.
Khan's handlers are now suggesting that Ameen Mustafa, the self-proclaimed "helper to retired boxers" somehow influenced the judges' decision on that fateful night when a crowd of more than 8,000 people flooded the DC Convention Center to witness boxing history in the making.

Why was Mustafa around the judges table at the fight? That question, and more, will be addressed in an upcoming IBF hearing which Mustafa is said to attend.

Meanwhile, Lamont Peterson's trainer, the one and only Barry Hunter, has issued a statement addressing the ruling appeal and the 'Mustafa issue'.

In a statement from Hunter's PR team, ProImage, Barry emphatically states:

"Unfortunately, we are in this process of dealing with these unfounded protests. It would be an understatement to characterize Lamont as being disappointed in the unprofessional manner in which Khan is attempting to discredit his performance in the ring and victory. We were raised to conduct ourselves where Champions display professionalism, both in victory and defeat. Lamont previously tasted defeat and handled it the way it should be handled: he worked harder on areas that needed improvement to maximize his performance in the ring. Now, he is World Champion.

Khan blames everyone and everything but his performance and lack of ability to make adjustments in the ring for his loss. He claims that the Ring Announcer privately stated he won, then that the referee’s discretionary actions should be overruled, then a mystery man in a black hat with no association to the Peterson Camp somehow affected the outcome of the bout, and also that the judges did not score the Bout correctly. Each claim is boldly false, but because Golden Boy and Khan have the financial resources to file protests and lawyers to create questionable accusations we are forced to address these issues.

We will not let these foul tactics take away from Lamont's hard work, dedication and monumental victory. Furthermore, since Khan continues to focus on a man at ringside I want to be very clear: Mustafa Ameen is in no way, nor has he ever been affiliated or associated with anyone within Team Peterson. That includes myself, Lamont and Anthony Peterson.

If the media reports are true, the WBA President personally believes there should be a direct rematch of the fight. This was oddly stated before an official review had taken place, as well as an official response or decision from the WBA review committee had been presented regarding the various protests and our formal submission. That makes me wonder what procedures were actually followed before the WBA President made these public statements? The Rules should be followed by everyone.
Khan complains that the referee’s decisions should be overturned even though he continued to push Lamont throughout the fight. We believe the knockdown against Lamont was questionable but the rules give the referee that discretion on that call and we respect it.

When Zab Judah filed protests for Khan's repeated low blows in their July 2011 bout Golden Boy and Khan argued that a referee's decisions should be honored. Now, Golden Boy and Khan are flip flopping on the referee’s decision when it’s not favorable towards them not the actions of a true champion.

Immediately following our bout Golden Boy and Khan requested a meeting among us with the sanctioning organizations and the Boxing Commission. When we left the meeting Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins and I agreed with the commission that the scorecards were correct and Lamont won the fight. Real Champions don’t continue to come up with various excuses and false accusations in hopes that something will stick to cover up for a loss.

The bottom line is that after we decided not to accept Golden Boy's offer for a rematch only days after the fight and said that Lamont wanted to enjoy the Holidays with his family and have time to make the best decision for his career and the future of his family; they started filing protest letters and trying to spin the media as some form of retaliation. If the media reports are true, then the actions of a few will put every close decision in boxing in jeopardy of being overturned. We will not let that happen. We will continue to fight for what is just and proper."

The saga continues.

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Related
Khan Appeals Fight Decision

Capital Showdown Fight Pictures

King Pete Reigns Supreme

Dallas Mavericks Honored at the White House

Former Wizard comes 'home'.

The Dallas Mavericks were recognized by President Obama on Monday for winning the 2011 NBA Championship. (Relive the excitement here).

Dallas Mavericks' head coach Mark Cuban with President Obama at the White House on Monday. Photo/CD Brown.
The Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat, 105-95, in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, winning their first NBA title in franchise history.

"Some called them the Bad News Bears", joked President Obama who predicted that his beloved Chicago Bulls would be standing in the Mavs' place next year.

The president continued to quote the 'naysayers' who had counted the team as down and out.

"Some said Jason Kidd was too old. Some said Dirk Nowitzky was too slow."

Looking around for Dirk, President Obama said to a room full of laughs, "They did say that Dirk. I'm sorry".

The Mavericks' championship team included three former Washington Wizards on its roster: DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler (who sat out with an injury), and Brendan Hayward. Of the three only Hayward remains. He joined his fellow teammates on stage in the White House East Room.

Former Washington Wizard Brendan Haywood (rear) with President Obama at the White House on Monday. Photo/CD Brown.
The newly acquired Vince Carter and former LA Laker Lamar Odom were also in attendance.

"It's an honor", said Carter on getting the chance to visit the White House. He described the opportunity as "second to none".

The Mavs currently rank 'second' in the Southwest division with a 4-5 record.

Carter said the team is doing fine. "We're right in the mix of things. Once we start jelling together we're going to be okay."

While the visit to the White House was Carter's first experience, it Lamar Odom's second. He visited the White House as an LA Laker, along with former teammate Kobe Bryant (view here), and again as a Dallas Maverick.

"It's always great", said Odom. "It's a tremendous opportunity to be around tradition. It's a blessing."

Odom was traded to the Mavs after expressing his dislike of the Lakers' desire to trade out of LA in return for Chris Paul. Paul is now with the Sacramento Clippers.

Ironically, Odom, speaking of the Mavs record, told us "life is full of second chances."

For now, Odom's 'second chance' comes in the form of being a Dallas Maverick.

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Note: While visiting the White House the Mavericks visited with wounded warriors.

Related: View photos of the Mavs' White House visit.

Charles Barkley's "Post Game Translator" App

The Straight-No-Chaser Commentator Translator

If there was ever a person thought to shoot it straight (cut the bull- say what's on his mind), the world knows it's Charles Barkley.

To that point, this brash (and sometimes crass) NBA analyst has gone high tech with his new App (as introduced on Saturday Night Live this past weekend) that gets to the meat of what coaches and players really mean (and want to say, but often do not) during their post game interviews.

Redskin coach Mike Shanahan gets 'translated' by Charles Barkley.
Barkley deciphers (and translates) the rhetoric of the mostly PC speaking coaches and athletes, giving us the straight dope (telling it like it T-I-S, in case you were wondering), even taking a shot at a few of the NBA, MLB and NFL's standouts - including Redskin coach Mike Shanahan.

[Scroll to the :52 mark for the Shanahan translation, however, the entire segment is worth watching].



Can't view the segment? Click here.
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No 'translation' is needed for what Barkley said about Weight Watchers, the outfit he claims helped him lose more than thirty pounds. No translation needed. Barkley called WW "a scam".

“I have to lose two pounds a week. I’m at 38 pounds now. They come and weigh me every two weeks. I’ve never missed a weigh-in. I’m never going to,” Barkley begins. “I’m feeling much better. But I ain’t giving away no money. … I’m not giving away no free money. I thought this was the greatest scam going — getting paid to watch sports — but this Weight Watchers thing is a bigger scam.”

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Before Barkley's PGT, there was this.