WCL TALK

jmm1

NY Clash vs. New Jersey Tigers

Abraham Han 17, Tom Grimmer 1
Leo Valdivia 15, Radji Bryson-Barrett 14
Rami Ibrahim 15, Shennen Maceo 0
Patrick Barry 16, John James 8
Jaime Fletcher 3, Uriah Hall 15
Jennifer Santiago 15, Munah Holland 11

Abraham Han 15, Thad Campbell 0
Jason Quick 12, Lyman Good 16
Rami Ibrahim 6, David Gonzalez 15
Patrick Barry 12, Jarrell Miller 14
Brandon Banda 0, Uriah Hall 15
Ginny Baker 7, Melissa Bopp 15

Total: NY Clash 133, NJ Tigers 124

jmm1 · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 11:59 pm Post subject:

Oklahoma Destroyers vs. LA Stars

Anthony Njokuani 13, Jason Bourelly 14
Jesse Lawrence 15, Sebastian Lopez 0
Jeri Sitzes 12, Alicia Ashley 13
Patrick Smith 15, Donald Vickers 11
Thomas Longacre 15, Dan Rawlings 0
Chidi Njokuani 6, Raymond Daniels 18

David Taylor 10, Jason Bourelly 15
Randy Blake 16, Adrian Bio 9
Keri Ann Taylor 6, Alicia Ashley 16
Alex Beck 7, Chris Hawk 16
Douglas Edwards 13, Travis McRoberts 16
Scott Clark 9, Raymond Daniels 16

Final: Oklahoma Destroyers 137, LA Stars 144

jmm1 · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 10:52 am Post subject:

My Top 5 Observations from each match-up

New York vs. New Jersey
- Abraham Han is a really good fighter, he looked solid in both fights
- I was shocked by Ibrahim's knockout of Maceo, it was an excellent technique (maybe a bit lucky, but good)
- Not really sure what happened to Santiago, but she looked like she hurt herself (she is tough though, she won the fight) in the first round and did not return for the second
- Patrick Barry has the potential to be a fantastic WCL heavyweight, but Jarrell Miller matched him kick for kick and punch for punch (in a close Miller win)
- Uriah Hall was solid as usual, with one knockout and another dominating performance (Hall vs. Lawrence should be a great fight in Tulsa next month)

Oklahoma vs. Los Angeles
- Longacre and Lawrence looked fantastic in their first round fights, both with KO's
- I respect Coach Cook's "12 starter" strategy, but the top 6 fighter team lost the Conference Finals (in my opinion, and I am a big Stars fan) because of it, with Sitzes, Longacre, and Lawrence on the bench in the second half
- If I had to pick one MVP for Los Angeles I'd say it is Ashley (her fight against Taylor changed the momentum). Vickers (fought through a hurt knee to lock down 11 points that his team really needed), Hawk, and McRoberts (both came in as alternates and won) were also a huge help to their team. If someone were to have asked me if Los Angeles would win without a knockout from Bourelly or Daniels I would have said no way, but the alternates, Vickers, and Ashley were really impressive and showed why the team concept is so cool
- I do not knock how Smith "defeated" Vickers. I (and the majority of the rest of the crowd that booed the decision) thought Vickers won the fight.
- The Los Angeles team missed Jack Felton in the 147 lb weight class

A couple of not fight-specific observations
- It was great to see Jesse Vasquez at the event, he looked good and cheered on his team the whole time (the Stars dedicated the win to Vasquez)
- The Oklahoma/Los Angeles match-up was the best I have ever seen in the WCL

COOK · Joined: 05 May 2007 Posts: 26 Location: OKLAHOMA

FYI

JESSE, JERI AND THOMAS DID NOT WANT TO FIGHT IN THE SECOND HALF.

IT WAS NOT A COACHING STRATEGY.

ALL RESPECT TO THE LA STARS, BUT THEY DIDN'T BEAT US, MY DESTROYERS GAVE IT AWAY, AND IN DOING SO, THEY MAY HAVE LOST THE MOST PASSONATE COACH IN THE LEAGUE.

COOK · Joined: 05 May 2007 Posts: 26 Location: OKLAHOMA

PSS. WHEN SMITH DROPPED VICKERS THE FIRST TIME WITH A LOW KICK, HE RECIEVED AN 18 COUNT FROM THE REFEREE.

BUT THAT'S JUST SOUR GRAPES.....

swank(nwk) · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 5:58 pm Post subject:

Great fights to every team that competed last night... My stars are in the finals... Lets go win in L.A....
_________________
Jake "The Tank" Shanks
NwK #39

jmm1 · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject:

Coach,

Sorry for mis-stating the facts, I just remember reading your earlier post about having 12 starters and no alternates and assumed that it was a strategy. I have nothing but respect for you, though I may have lost some respect for your fighters after your post (I can't believe they did not want to fight with a trip to the finals on the line). And for what it is worth from a Stars fan, I think you are a great coach (I enjoyed watching you on Turf Wars and at live events) and I hope you stick around.

COOK · Joined: 05 May 2007 Posts: 26 Location: OKLAHOMA

no offense taken sir, and thanks for the kind words.

just to clarify, the "12 starters" comment i made was meant to imply that all 12 of my fighters were good enuff to start and that none of them deserved the label "reserve fighter".

Lawson · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 15 Location: San Diego

sorry again coach.

it sounds like you had the stars, and i was rooting for you guys. you can't blame yourself for the loss, the fighters have to live with that. i think you're the best coach in the league and it shows through your passion for winning and getting the best team out there. i can't think of any good fighter that wouldn't want you on their side. keep your chin up!!!! if you need me i'll be there.

Cheatwood · Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Moore, Oklahoma

Mr. Cook, I would do anything to be on your team just let me know what i have to do to prove myself. I would be honored for you to be my coach.

-Chris

lykensrule · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 39

Coach Cook,

As a fan of your coaching and of your team I sincerely hope to see you around for much longer. You seem like one of the only truly genuine coaches out there. I thought you did a stand up job on the Turf Wars show too.

I hope to see you out there in Tulsa giving NJ hell.
_________________
The shortest and surest way to live with honour in the world, is to be in reality what we would appear to be; and if we observe, we shall find, that all human virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the practice of them.
Socrates

lykensrule · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 39

Frankly I thought that there were some unusual calls or non-calls by the referees in San Antonio. During David Gonzalez's (NJ) fight he knock his opponent down 3 times, 2 of which were certainly knock-downs but only one of them was called by the ref.

There was a lot of running away and stalling (holding too) that did not seem to be getting noticed, especially by those who are obviously "favorites" in the league. This is the third time I have seen the show live and the refs seem to be getting worse, sometimes they get right in the middle of the action and seem to be getting in the way.

Maybe it's just me but I thought it was suppose to be about the fighters?
_________________
The shortest and surest way to live with honour in the world, is to be in reality what we would appear to be; and if we observe, we shall find, that all human virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the practice of them.
Socrates

Destroyer Fan · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 37

Coach Cook,

I hope this does not make you quit as i dont think quit is in you. As far as the fighters not going in i feel as a coach its your decesion to make that not them. I understand if they are hurt but just to say they dont want to go in thats hard for me to believe. They must of felt the fighter behind them was just a capable of handleing the fight. But again i feel that should be your call. But if there is blame its on them so i say come to Tulsa with fury in your eyes with all wanting to fight and do their best to ready their selves.

Destroyer Fan

Shep · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 11

Mr. Cook,
Please don't let this get you down. We all know of your passion for the game. You and your team will grow from this experience and will be stronger in the future. Things are going to get much better in the WCL. I cannot imagine the league without you. Just remember that character is build in times like this. You are a huge part of the WCL's foundation and I know you know a thing or two about character. Plus, I want you to be there when I knock out the Bodyrocka next season! Now get back on the horse and get the Destroyers ready for New Jersey.
"Lighning" Mike Sheppard

Rade · Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Southern Minnesota

Coach Cook,

I like your last name.
_________________
Relax, breath, flow, destroy.