Monday, May 10, 2021
No Holds Barred: Canelo Stops Saunders, Stop the Tokyo Olympics, on the WAAR Room with Chris Baldwin
We spoke with her by phone Sunday, May 9.
On Saturday, May 8, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez stopped Billy Joe Saunders with an eighth-round TKO in front of a reported 73,000+ fans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Canelo displayed devastating power to defeat the previously unbeaten Saunders and cause multiple fractures to his orbital bone, necessitating surgery. With this win, the immensely popular Canelo, who already held two of the four major super middleweight belts, captured his third and cemented his status as the consensus top pound-for-pound fighter.
We discussed controversies emerging from this fight, including how the fight was progressing at the time of the stoppage, why it was correct for Saunders's corner to stop the fight when they did, why Saunders did not quit, how the view of some in boxing that fighters must "go out on their shields" is barbaric and antiquated, what might be next for Canelo in his quest to capture all four major super middleweight belts, and much more.
This past week also saw major developments in the fight to cancel the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to begin July 23. A highlight was the posting of a petition in both Japanese and English, started by Japanese lawyer Kenji Utsunomiya, entitled "Cancel the Tokyo Olympics to protect our lives".
With much of Japan, including Tokyo, under its third state of emergency since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, as of Sunday, May 9, this petition has gotten well over 300,000 signatures, a record pace.
The petition notes that "as numbers show, the widespread outbreak of COVID19 has not at all been under control. While vaccination started at the end of last year, its distribution is limited to economically developed countries and thus the pandemic is far from over."
Japan is currently in its fourth wave of the pandemic. Coronavirus infections have been rising of late, including a record number of severely ill patients with severe symptoms due to the spread of more contagious variants. There has also been a very slow rollout of the vaccine in Japan. Dr. Kentaro Iwata, a physician, professor, and infectious diseases expert at Kobe University, was quoted as saying that "even thinking about the Olympics is just ridiculous" while he
lth workers in Japan's over-burdened medical system "are really fighting a life-and-death situation."
We discussed the growing international opposition to the Tokyo Olympics, how this is a defining moment for sports activism, how the IOC oligarchs' plans endanger the health of both the people of Japan and the Olympic athletes, how the athletes will be screwed by the IOC's machinations whether the Tokyo Olympics go on or not, how plans to vaccinate Olympic athletes ahead of the elderly and ill in countries with limited or no access to vaccines is unjust and unfair, why athletes should plan their careers outside the failing and corrupt Olympic movement, and much more.
Please also subscribe to the No Holds Barred page on Patreon for much more No Holds Barred content.
(Photo of Canelo Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders by Matchroom Boxing.)
You can play or download No Holds Barred on Podomatic and the Internet Archive. If one link does not work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on these sites and apps:
The Podomatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is sponsored by:
LenneHardt.com, the home of Lenne Hardt, the legendary MMA and sports announcer, voice actor, singer, actress, and comedienne. Lenne is also known for her jazz vocals with her Lenne Hardt Jazz Cabaret Band. For more information, to book her, or to order a custom message from her, go to LenneHardt.com.
Skullz Fight Shop, home of the Skullz Double-End Bag, the perfect punching bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve speed, distance, and timing skills. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. Skullz Fight Shop - Advancing combat sports equipment for the next generation of fighters. For more information, go to https://skullzfightshop.com.
Adolphina Studios. Original art prints and handcrafted fine jewelry. For more information, go to https://www.etsy.com/shop/AdolphinaStudios.
Friday, May 07, 2021
"Canelo vs. Saunders and the DAZN Dilemma" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
My latest piece, "Canelo vs. Saunders and the DAZN Dilemma", is up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page. A subscription is required to read it, so subscribe today to support independent journalism. The article is at https://www.patreon.com/posts/canelo-vs-and-50971964.
Labels: Billy Joe Saunders, boxing, DAZN, Eddie Goldman, No Holds Barred, Saul Canelo Alvarez
Sunday, May 02, 2021
"Waiting for the Heavyweights, May 2021 Edition" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
My latest piece, "Waiting for the Heavyweights, May 2021 Edition", is up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page. A subscription is required to read it, so subscribe today and support independent journalism. The article is at https://www.patreon.com/posts/waiting-for-may-50752932.
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
WAAR Room with DJ Tribal and Eddie Goldman: Why Sumo?, on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
We discussed the potential for sumo to gain worldwide popularity as a form of real professional wrestling, the sport's strengths and weaknesses compared to other styles of wrestling, some of sumo's history in the U.S. including the roles of Manny Yarbrough and Kevin Carter, and more.
A subscription is required to listen to the complete episode of this show, so subscribe today to support independent journalism on the No Holds Barred Patreon page.
Thanks to Angry Afro Radio.
Sunday, April 25, 2021
No Holds Barred: Kevin Carter on the Rise and Decline and Rise of Sumo in America (Part Two)
We spoke with him by phone Wednesday, April 14.
In the 1990s, sumo in Japan began to reach a wider international audience, including in the U.S., with the emergence of several stars who were not Japanese.
"You had Akebono, Musashimaru, Konishiki," Kevin Carter recalled.
Konishiki, an American born in Hawaii, was the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to reach ozeki, the second-highest rank in sumo. Many believed that he would have been promoted to yokozuna, the highest rank, had he been Japanese.
In 1993, Akebono, also an American born in Hawaii, became the first non-Japanese-born wrestler and the first American to be promoted to yokozuna.
Musashimaru, born in American Samoa and who grew up in Hawaii, became in 1999 the second foreign-born wrestler to be promoted to yokozuna.
"And then you had a few other Hawaiians who were in juryo, which is the second top professional division. So these guys were also in the top 50. You had those three top guys, and you had maybe three, four, or five guys who were one step below. And they were all thriving. The Hawaiians were really thriving. The Americans were really thriving," he said.
But that success, though increasing sumo's worldwide appeal, did not sit well with many who ran the Japan Sumo Association, which governs the sport in Japan. The result was a blanket decision which reverberates today.
"And then they banned all foreigners from coming in."
With that, sumo's popularity, and where it was practiced outside Japan, radically changed.
"When that happened, that basically put the kibosh on Hawaii. There was nothing for the Hawaiians to aspire to anymore. They really, they were basically told, 'We're not taking any of you for any reason.'
"There was like a ten-year period where very few foreigners were coming in. They let a few guys in from Mongolia. They let a few guys in from China. But they had cut off other parts of Europe for a little while."
And for some, this discrimination persists.
"They still have an unspoken ban on Hawaiians, just like they have an unspoken ban on Africans and other Black people," he noted.
At the same time, his own active participation in sumo competition was coming to an end. His last match was in 2002, but he still kept up with the sport.
In 2005, it appeared that sumo would take a major step forward as an international sport with the emergence of the World Sumo Challenge. Their inaugural event was held October 22, 2005, at Madison Square Garden, and was shown on tape delay on ESPN2 that December. This was a professional event featuring top sumo wrestlers from around the world, planned to lead to a worldwide tour the following year.
Some of the same people who organized the 1998 "Night of the Giants" sumo event in Atlantic City, New Jersey, were also involved in the World Sumo Challenge. One of them was Kevin Carter's old sumo coach, Yoshisada Yonezuka, who ran the Cranford Judo Karate Center in Cranford, New Jersey, and who also had trained Manny Yarbrough, who also was retired from sumo by this time.
It would have seemed logical for the organizers of the World Sumo Challenge to have brought in Kevin Carter, with his experience and record in many areas of sumo. He also lived reasonably close to New York City. But, surprisingly to him, the call never came.
With that snub, it was the end of the line for him in sumo. He said his attitude then was, "Fuck sumo."
While the World Sumo Challenge drew some 8000 mainly enthusiastic fans to Madison Square Garden, their 2006 tour was a bust. Now called the World Sumo League, they had no TV deal, fan attendance in the arenas was quite low, and the tour was abandoned midway, never to be resumed.
All these blunders drove one of its most serious devotees, Kevin Carter, from the sport. He no longer even followed it closely or watched sumo events.
The appeal of the sport, though, and his love of sumo, were still lingering. In more recent years he has done some refereeing and judging, and was asked to be a referee at the 2020 U.S. National Sumo Championships, organized by the U.S. Sumo Federation. He wanted to do this, but was only unable to do so because of job commitments. In the meantime, he also became a black belt in judo.
As we have noted many times, there has been a marked and recent revival of sumo in the U.S. New clubs have been formed and new tournaments have been held, a growth impeded mainly by the coronavirus pandemic. With mass vaccinations going on in the U.S, expect sumo to thrive even more, and, unlike in Japan, among a very diverse cross-section of people.
And while just what Kevin Carter will do in sumo today is not clear, he wants to, and certainly should, return to playing an important role in the sport.
"I really would enjoy seeing that revival and being part of that revival," he stressed.
So this story of Kevin Carter and his love of sumo is not yet over. There hopefully will be some more fond chapters to come, because, as the late Teddy Pendergrass sang:
"So good, so good, so good,
"When somebody loves you back."
Please also subscribe to the No Holds Barred page on Patreon for much more No Holds Barred content.
You can play or download No Holds Barred on Podomatic and the Internet Archive. If one link does not work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on these sites and apps:
The Podomatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is sponsored by:
LenneHardt.com, the home of Lenne Hardt, the legendary MMA and sports announcer, voice actor, singer, actress, and comedienne. Lenne is also known for her jazz vocals with her Lenne Hardt Jazz Cabaret Band. For more information, to book her, or to order a custom message from her, go to LenneHardt.com.
Skullz Fight Shop, home of the Skullz Double-End Bag, the perfect punching bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve speed, distance, and timing skills. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. Skullz Fight Shop - Advancing combat sports equipment for the next generation of fighters. For more information, go to https://skullzfightshop.com.
Adolphina Studios. Original art prints and handcrafted fine jewelry. For more information, go to https://www.etsy.com/shop/AdolphinaStudios.
Labels: Eddie Goldman, Hawaii, Japan, Kevin Carter, No Holds Barred, sumo, wrestling
Thursday, April 22, 2021
"As Crises Mount, IOC Says To Athletes: STFU", on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
Another blockbuster piece is up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page: "As Crises Mount, IOC Says To Athletes: STFU". A subscription is required to read it, so subscribe today to read it and the exclusive No Holds Barred content on this page.
The article is at https://www.patreon.com/posts/as-crises-mount-50343541.
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
WAAR Room on Triller Sideshow, Racism in Sports, Tokyo Olympics, Sumo Revival, on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
The complete audio from the April 18, 2021, edition of the WAAR Room on Angry Afro Radio, with DJ Tribal AKA Chris Baldwin and Eddie Goldman is now up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page.
We discussed the Triller Fight Club sideshow farce, how boxing's marginalization has opened the door for such spectacles, the continuing battle against racism and white supremacy in sports, the prospects for cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics, the revival of sumo in the U.S., and more.
A subscription is required to listen to this complete episode of the show, so subscribe today for this and more exclusive No Holds Barred content on the No Holds Barred Patreon page.
An edited video of this show will also be posted soon on Angry Afro Radio.
Sunday, April 18, 2021
No Holds Barred: Kevin Carter on the Rise and Decline and Rise of Sumo in America (Part One)
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with sumotori, judoka, writer, and intellectual Kevin Carter. This is the first of a two-part interview.
We spoke with him by phone Wednesday, April 14.
For Kevin Carter, sumo has been a lifelong passion.
While growing up, "I would come home after school, and the only thing I really watched on TV was sports," he said. "I watched a lot of baseball, football, basketball. I also played hockey, too. But I was watching every Saturday that I could, and very occasionally they'd put on sumo.
"I immediately fell in love with sumo. It was like, 'this is great, man!' These are guys who are obviously athletes."
This was in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and many of the greats of Japanese sumo at that time were sometimes featured on the sports highlight shows of that era.
"I just totally fell in love with sumo."
He still had not competed in sumo, though. When he was at Harvard, he played football. He had developed an affinity for Japanese culture by the time he began a career in journalism, covering sports for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Later he began writing about culture, music, and arts for that newspaper.
One day while watching Philadelphia's channel 10 (WCAU-TV, which was a CBS station at that time), he saw a feature on a huge African-American wrestler named Manny Yarbrough. He immediately resolved to do a story on him. That led him to interviewing both Manny Yarbrough and his judo and sumo coach, Yoshisada Yonezuka, who ran the Cranford Judo Karate Center in Cranford, New Jersey.
It proved to be a life-changing moment. "I want to do this, too," he said, and so he did, in both sumo and judo.
Among the sumo events in which he competed, he recalled, was a special U.S. vs. Canada tournament in 1993 in Hamilton, Ontario. He finished with a record of 9-6 and won a technique prize.
He continued training with Manny Yarbrough, who was having greater success than him. In 1992, the first amateur sumo world championships were held. Manny Yarbrough won a silver medal that year in the open weight division, the first of five world medals he would win. In 1995, Manny Yarbrough won a gold medal at the amateur sumo world championships, still the only American to win a world championship at this event.
Many members of the U.S. team at that time were Hawaiian. Kevin Carter described that period as a "dynasty of Hawaiians in amateur sumo." Sumo had become popular in Hawaii at least as early as the 1960s, and was a school sport there as well. In 1995 and 1996, he did his graduate work in Asian history at the University of Hawaii, and had a chance to train and compete in sumo while there.
After a brief foray into MMA, Manny Yarbrough went from amateur sumo into a venture trying to establish professional sumo in the U.S. In 1998, an event called "Night of the Giants" was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, at what was then the Trump Taj Mahal. It was taped for delayed showing on ESPN, and Kevin Carter worked with the show's promoters as a TV commentator and in helping run the tournament.
But many things went wrong with the show. First off, the promoters wanted to build it around Manny Yarbrough, who by that time had built a following, especially in that region. But Manny lost in the first round of the tournament, which was eventually won by Mark Robinson, who had already defeated him in the 1996 amateur sumo world championships. In addition, there was no agreement on how this show and event would be positioned. Many of the people running it wanted it to be a spectacle, a la the WWF of that time, while others, like Kevin Carter, wanted it run like a sport. With all these problems, he said, the show was "one and done."
That failed event and what was happening in general with American sumo would also prove to be the beginning of the end of Kevin Carter's involvement in the sport, at least for some time. We will discuss that more in the upcoming second part of our interview.
Please also subscribe to the No Holds Barred page on Patreon for much more No Holds Barred content.
You can play or download No Holds Barred on Podomatic and the Internet Archive. If one link does not work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on these sites and apps:
The Podomatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is sponsored by:
LenneHardt.com, the home of Lenne Hardt, the legendary MMA and sports announcer, voice actor, singer, actress, and comedienne. Lenne is also known for her jazz vocals with her Lenne Hardt Jazz Cabaret Band. For more information, to book her, or to order a custom message from her, go to LenneHardt.com.
Skullz Fight Shop, home of the Skullz Double-End Bag, the perfect punching bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve speed, distance, and timing skills. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. Skullz Fight Shop - Advancing combat sports equipment for the next generation of fighters. For more information, go to https://skullzfightshop.com.
Adolphina Studios. Original art prints and handcrafted fine jewelry. For more information, go to https://www.etsy.com/shop/AdolphinaStudios.
Labels: Eddie Goldman, Kevin Carter, Manny Yarbrough, No Holds Barred, sumo, wrestling
Monday, April 12, 2021
No Holds Barred: Fury vs. Joshua, Saudi Arabia, and the #JusticeForJamal Campaign, with Chris Baldwin
We spoke with her by phone Sunday, April 11.
It was just confirmed a few days ago by both fighters' camps that Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have been made several concrete offers for where and when their heavyweight title unification fight might be staged this summer. The reported favorite location is Saudi Arabia. One reason for this is the difficulty of holding this fight in a large venue in the U.K. or U.S., which usually holds such events, because of pandemic restrictions. Another is that the monarchs in Saudi Arabia are willing to overpay to host this fight in order to claim to the world that they are building a modern, tolerant country, despite their horrific record on human rights.
When Joshua first fought in Saudi Arabia in December 2019, and Fury performed on a WWE show there in October of that year, there was limited and muted criticism of them for bringing their business to this despotic monarchy. But much has changed in the world since then.
In February of this year, the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, now under the Biden-Harris Administration, released a report on the 2018 assassination of the dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The report concluded:
"We assess that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey, to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi," who was a long-term resident of the U.S. and wrote for the Washington Post. Muhammad bin Salman is the de facto ruler of this monarchy.
In 2020, a documentary on the assassination of Khashoggi entitled "The Dissident" was released. It was directed and produced by Bryan Fogel, who also directed the award-winning documentary "Icarus" on the Russian state-sponsored doping scandal. "The Dissident" has already won several film awards and been nominated for others, but is now only available on video-on-demand because of the refusal of many large streaming sites to buy it so as not to upset their business dealings with the Saudi monarchy.
Besides focusing on the story of the Saudi activist and video blogger Omar Abdulaziz, the film includes an interview with Hatice Cengiz, who was Khashoggi's fiancee. She is an academic, researcher, and writer.
With the news that Saudi Arabia is the frontrunner to host the Fury-Joshua fight, which will be boxing's biggest fight in years and a major world sporting event, Hatice Cengiz has issued a statement to The Telegraph of the U.K. urging both fighters and their camps not to have this fight in Saudi Arabia:
"Sports should not be used for politics, nor to whitewash atrocities. Jamal was brutally murdered and it would be shameful if the man who stands accused of ordering it were allowed to benefit from this famous and profitable boxing match. I urge the organisers not to give him this reward for his crimes. We should instead stand together for justice and humanity."
Note also that The Telegraph regularly covers boxing.
At the same time, there is a "Justice For Jamal" global campaign being organized that calls for a boycott of events hosted or supported by the Saudi dictatorship: "Until there is #JusticeForJamal, no government or company in the world should do business with Saudi Arabia's criminal regime."
All of this, plus the silence of the boxing media on these issues, is the focus of this edition of No Holds Barred.
(Photo of Tyson Fury from Mikey Williams/Top Rank. Photo of Anthony Joshua from Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing.)
Please also subscribe to the No Holds Barred page on Patreon for much more No Holds Barred content.
You can play or download No Holds Barred on Podomatic and the Internet Archive. If one link does not work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on these sites and apps:
The Podomatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is sponsored by:
LenneHardt.com, the home of Lenne Hardt, the legendary MMA and sports announcer, voice actor, singer, actress, and comedienne. Lenne is also known for her jazz vocals with her Lenne Hardt Jazz Cabaret Band. For more information, to book her, or to order a custom message from her, go to LenneHardt.com.
Skullz Fight Shop, home of the Skullz Double-End Bag, the perfect punching bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve speed, distance, and timing skills. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. Skullz Fight Shop - Advancing combat sports equipment for the next generation of fighters. For more information, go to https://skullzfightshop.com.
Adolphina Studios. Original art prints and handcrafted fine jewelry. For more information, go to https://www.etsy.com/shop/AdolphinaStudios.
Friday, April 09, 2021
"As Time Goes By, Still No Fury-Joshua Date Or Venue" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
My latest piece, "As Time Goes By, Still No Fury-Joshua Date Or Venue", is up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page. A subscription is required to read it, so subscribe today to read it and the exclusive No Holds Barred content on this page. The article is at https://www.patreon.com/posts/as-time-goes-by-49817977 .
Saturday, April 03, 2021
"Waiting for the Heavyweights, April 2021 Edition" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
My latest piece, "Waiting for the Heavyweights, April 2021 Edition", is up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page. A subscription is required to read it, so subscribe today to read it and the exclusive No Holds Barred content on this page. The article is at https://www.patreon.com/posts/as-time-goes-by-49817977.
Monday, March 29, 2021
No Holds Barred: Dillian Whyte and the Heavyweights, Racism in Wrestling and Baseball, and Sumo Injuries, with Chris Baldwin
We spoke with her by phone Sunday, March 28.
Our topics included:
*** Dillian Whyte scored a fourth-round stoppage over Alexander Povetkin in their heavyweight fight Saturday, March 27, in Gibraltar, to avenge a knockout loss to Povetkin last year. We examined what this means for the careers of both Whyte and Povetkin, Whyte's notable act of sportsmanship right after the fight was stopped, what may be holding up the signing of the Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua fight to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, and what it all means for the heavyweight division in general.
*** At the 2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, held March 18-20 in St. Louis, history was made as five of the ten national champions were African-Americans, the most ever. But there are some in the American wrestling community who reacted negatively to pointing this out and celebrating this achievement. We discussed the ongoing saga of the battle against racism and white supremacy in wrestling.
*** The 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game is scheduled to take place July 13 in Atlanta, Georgia. But the State of Georgia just passed new voting regulations which many are calling racist and a thinly-disguised revival of Jim Crow-era voter suppression of the Black vote. Now a discussion has started in baseball circles about moving the All-Star Game out of Atlanta. Among those raising this possibility are Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts, who will manage the National League team since the Dodgers won the 2020 World Series, along with former player Tony Clark, who is now the Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, and Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees' slugger and designated hitter/outfielder, who was the National League's Most Valuable Player in 2017.
*** While most attention in the sport of sumo has been on the top division wrestlers who competed at the March Grand Sumo Tournament, which concluded Sunday, March 28, in Tokyo, one of the wrestlers in a lower division suffered a frightening injury. Known as Hibikiryū, when he lost his match by being thrown to the ground, he landed on his head and then lay there motionless. It took several minutes before anyone attended to him, even though many people were around the ring at the time. Eventually he was carried out on a stretcher. Reports on his condition have been sketchy, with some saying that he is paralyzed below the neck. We discussed health and safety in Japanese professional sumo, and what those involved in amateur sumo in the U.S. and elsewhere can learn from this situation.
(Photo of Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing.)
Please also subscribe to the No Holds Barred page on Patreon for much more No Holds Barred content.
You can play or download No Holds Barred on Podomatic and the Internet Archive. If one link does not work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on these sites and apps:
The Podomatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is sponsored by:
LenneHardt.com, the home of Lenne Hardt, the legendary MMA and sports announcer, voice actor, singer, actress, and comedienne. Lenne is also known for her jazz vocals with her Lenne Hardt Jazz Cabaret Band. For more information, to book her, or to order a custom message from her, go to LenneHardt.com.
Skullz Fight Shop, home of the Skullz Double-End Bag, the perfect punching bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve speed, distance, and timing skills. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. Skullz Fight Shop - Advancing combat sports equipment for the next generation of fighters. For more information, go to https://skullzfightshop.com.
Adolphina Studios. Original art prints and handcrafted fine jewelry. For more information, go to https://www.etsy.com/shop/AdolphinaStudios.
Friday, March 26, 2021
"The NCAA Finals and the Marginalization of Wrestling" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
My latest piece, "The NCAA Finals and the Marginalization of Wrestling", is up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page. A subscription is required to read it, so subscribe today to read it and the exclusive No Holds Barred content on this page. The article is at https://www.patreon.com/posts/ncaa-finals-and-49221577.
In addition, there is a much shorter piece posted which is entitled "Birthweek Reflections, 2021" at https://www.patreon.com/posts/birthweek-2021-49139232.
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
No Holds Barred: The Birthday Show, with Chris Baldwin
We spoke with her by phone Monday, March 22.
We discussed the 2021 NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships which were held March 18-20, and some of the lessons from it, including problems holding back the sport of wrestling, and the potential of sumo. We spoke about the growth of LGBTQ sports, including the World Gay Boxing Championships, founded by Martin Stark, which will begin in 2023, and which will be featured on a virtual live event hosted this week by Unleashed LGBTQ. We also discussed the 2022 Gay Games in Hong Kong, some of the most memorable interviews conducted for No Holds Barred, this past weekend's knockout victories by Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Artur Beterbiev, how No Holds Barred has and always will combine analysis of combat sports competitions with critical views of the social issues and questions in these sports, and more.
Please also subscribe to the No Holds Barred page on Patreon for much more No Holds Barred content.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on these sites and apps:
The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is sponsored by:
LenneHardt.com, the home of Lenne Hardt, the legendary MMA and sports announcer, voice actor, singer, actress, and comedienne. Lenne is also known for her jazz vocals with her Lenne Hardt Jazz Cabaret Band. For more information, to book her, or to order a custom message from her, go to LenneHardt.com.
Skullz Fight Shop, home of the Skullz Double-End Bag, the perfect punching bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve speed, distance, and timing skills. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. Skullz Fight Shop - Advancing combat sports equipment for the next generation of fighters. For more information, go to https://skullzfightshop.com.
Adolphina Studios. Original art prints and handcrafted fine jewelry. For more information, go to https://www.etsy.com/shop/AdolphinaStudios.
Thursday, March 18, 2021
WAAR Room with Eddie Goldman and DJ Tribal on Joshua-Fury Fight "Announcement" and NCAA Wrestling
On this edition of the WAAR Room, DJ Tribal AKA Chris Baldwin once again spoke with Eddie Goldman.
We discussed the Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury fight "announcement", why not much is set about this fight yet, how the fight might play out if it happens, this week's NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships, and more.
Labels: Anthony Joshua, boxing, Chris Baldwin, Eddie Goldman, Eddie Hearn, No Holds Barred, Tyson Fury, WAAR Room
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
"The Pinocchios of Pugilism and the Fury-Joshua 'Deal'" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
My latest piece, "The Pinocchios of Pugilism and the Fury-Joshua 'Deal'", is up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page. A subscription is required to read it, so subscribe today to read it and the exclusive No Holds Barred content on this page. The article is at https://www.patreon.com/posts/pinocchios-of-48856647.
Friday, March 12, 2021
"A Sumo Reset Around The World" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
My latest piece, "A Sumo Reset Around The World", is up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page. A subscription is required to read it, so subscribe today to read it and the exclusive No Holds Barred content on this page. The article is at https://www.patreon.com/posts/sumo-reset-world-48668573.
Monday, March 08, 2021
WAAR Room On The Shields-Dicaire Fight
Here is the discussion between Chris Baldwin and myself on the WAAR Room about the Shields-Dicaire fight in this Clubhouse edition of Angry Afro Radio.
Saturday, March 06, 2021
No Holds Barred: Our 15th Anniversary Show
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman marks the 15th anniversary of this podcast, No Holds Barred, with a monologue on the show's history, principles, and evolution. Where boxing and various styles of wrestling presently stand, the corruption embedded in the sports world, the banality of the combat sports, bright spots like the revival of amateur sumo in the U.S., and much more are assessed.
Please also subscribe to the No Holds Barred page on Patreon for much more No Holds Barred content.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on these sites and apps:
The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is sponsored by:
LenneHardt.com, the home of Lenne Hardt, the legendary MMA and sports announcer, voice actor, singer, actress, and comedienne. Lenne is also known for her jazz vocals with her Lenne Hardt Jazz Cabaret Band. For more information, to book her, or to order a custom message from her, go to LenneHardt.com.
Skullz Fight Shop, home of the Skullz Double-End Bag, the perfect punching bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve speed, distance, and timing skills. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. Skullz Fight Shop - Advancing combat sports equipment for the next generation of fighters. For more information, go to https://skullzfightshop.com.
Adolphina Studios. Original art prints and handcrafted fine jewelry. For more information, go to https://www.etsy.com/shop/AdolphinaStudios.
Labels: banality, boxing, combat sports, corruption, Eddie Goldman, No Holds Barred, sumo, wrestling
Saturday, February 27, 2021
"A Vaccine, A Laptop, and a Slew of Combat Sports" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
My latest piece, "A Vaccine, A Laptop, and a Slew of Combat Sports", is up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page. A subscription is required to read it, so sign up today. The article is at https://www.patreon.com/posts/vaccine-laptop-48094905.
Labels: boxing, coronavirus, Eddie Goldman, laptop, No Holds Barred, sumo, wrestling
Monday, February 22, 2021
WAAR Room with Eddie Goldman and DJ Tribal on Valdez KOs Berchelt
On this edition of the WAAR Room, DJ Tribal once again spoke with Eddie Goldman.
We discussed the spectacular knockout victory by Oscar Valdez over Miguel Berchelt Saturday night in Las Vegas to capture the WBC 130-pound title. We analyzed why and how Valdez won, what known factors there were before the fight indicating that Valdez would win, what is likely next for both fighters, why almost all of the boxing media made incorrect predictions for this fight, and much more.
You can watch it at https://www.patreon.com/posts/waar-room-with-47878411.
Thursday, February 18, 2021
"Los Guerreros Mexicanos - Berchelt vs. Valdez" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
My latest piece, "Los Guerreros Mexicanos - Berchelt vs. Valdez", the second posted today, is up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page. A subscription is required to read it. The article is at https://www.patreon.com/posts/los-guerreros-vs-47731280.
"Doubts and Criticisms Grow of Plans for Tokyo Olympics" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
My latest piece, "Doubts and Criticisms Grow of Plans for Tokyo Olympics ", is up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page. A subscription is required to read it. The article is at https://www.patreon.com/posts/doubts-and-grow-47725810.
Monday, February 15, 2021
WAAR Room Bloody Valentine Interview with Eddie Goldman on Boxing and Wrestling
On this Bloody Valentine's Day edition of the WAAR Room, DJ Tribal spoke with Eddie Goldman.
We discussed Sunday's Penn State-Michigan wrestling dual meet, the ongoing crisis in wrestling because of the Covid-19 pandemic, boxing's ongoing Kinahan scandal, Anthony Joshua's legacy, the first Joshua-Fury fight likely landing in a Middle East monarchy, and much more.
Tuesday, February 09, 2021
"Chaos in Wrestling as Pandemic Persists" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
Monday, February 08, 2021
"The Kinahan Scandal and the Downward Spiral of Boxing" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
Wednesday, February 03, 2021
WAAR Room with DJ Tribal and Eddie Goldman
On Sunday, January 31, Eddie Goldman spoke with DJ Tribal AKA Chris Baldwin on the WAAR Room about Covid-19 and the vaccine rollout, the anti-vaxxers, and the traitor Trump.
Monday, February 01, 2021
"Fury vs. Joshua, and BBC's Panorama Documentary 'Boxing and the Mob'" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
Thursday, January 28, 2021
"Why I Cancelled My Free Subscription to The Athletic" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
My latest piece, "Why I Cancelled My Free Subscription to The Athletic", is up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page. A subscription is required to read it. The article is at https://www.patreon.com/posts/why-i-cancelled-46808604.
Labels: Eddie Goldman, gambling, No Holds Barred, sports journalism, The Athletic
Sunday, January 24, 2021
No Holds Barred: Declan Hill on Russia, Qatar, and the Many Faces of Sports Corruption
We spoke with him by phone Friday.
It is well-known that there is widespread cheating and corruption in world sport, including state-sponsored doping. But corruption in world sport is so deep-rooted that state-sponsored organizations and media sites are popping up that claim to be anti-corruption, but which actually promote the corrupt activities of their sponsors.
"Follow the money," advised Declan Hill.
"This has been going on for almost a decade now. And it's linked, listeners, to two of the greatest geopolitical scandals in sports. And when I say geopolitical, I'm not exaggerating. This is like John le Carré, those international spy thrillers, meets 'Chariots of Fire'. This is big-time, major politics, and it's about the survival of states," he said.
"We're moving beyond sports corruption. We're moving beyond match-fixing. We're moving beyond doping," he noted.
"The two classic actors, the ones that are head and shoulders above everyone else, are of course the Russians, and the Qatar people. And they are into sports for two diametrically different reasons, but it is both conditional on the existential strength of their current governing regimes."
We discussed the reasons Russia and Qatar are among the world champions of sports corruption today, with the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups as prime examples, and how they each are spreading propaganda to obscure this.
For real exposures and reporting on sports corruption, he said that the "gold standard" is Play the Game, with its biennial international conferences and web site packed with informative analysis.
We discussed some of the dirty details of how sports corruption and spying on journalists are carried out; how a giveaway that something is not genuine anti-corruption analysis is if it puts the main blame on individual athletes rather than countries' sports systems for doping; how Qatar has used a system of "modern-day slavery"; how the spread of legal sports gambling is making many sports like horse racing, where people watch not for entertainment or to see who wins but mainly for betting purposes; the continued "sports-washing" of tyrannical regimes which overspend to attract major sporting events; the challenges facing honest journalists as much of the media and in particular sports media are in decline; the importance of organizations like Human Rights Watch in fighting sports corruption; and much, much more.
Please also subscribe to the No Holds Barred page on Patreon for much more No Holds Barred content.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on these sites and apps:
The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is sponsored by:
LenneHardt.com, the home of Lenne Hardt, the legendary MMA and sports announcer, voice actor, singer, actress, and comedienne. Lenne is also known for her jazz vocals with her Lenne Hardt Jazz Cabaret Band. For more information, to book her, or to order a custom message from her, go to LenneHardt.com.
Skullz Fight Shop, home of the Skullz Double-End Bag, the perfect punching bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve speed, distance, and timing skills. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. Skullz Fight Shop - Advancing combat sports equipment for the next generation of fighters. For more information, go to https://skullzfightshop.com.
Adolphina Studios. Original art prints and handcrafted fine jewelry. For more information, go to https://www.etsy.com/shop/AdolphinaStudios.
Friday, January 22, 2021
"The Death Rattle of the Tokyo Olympics" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
My latest piece, "The Death Rattle of the Tokyo Olympics", is up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page. A subscription, for the suggested monthly price of US$10, is required to read it. The article is at https://www.patreon.com/posts/death-rattle-of-46529758.
Labels: cancellation, coronavirus, Eddie Goldman, IOC, Japan, No Holds Barred, Patreon, Thomas Bach, Tokyo Olympics, Yoshihide Suga
