What could be worse than pouring your heart, soul and body into something you love, only to have people mock your endeavor?
On top of that, having some of the closest people in your life simply not understand your passion.
I'm not sure how many people could handle this, but for up-and-coming mixed martial arts fighter Emily Dubas it is what it is.
"I get mixed reviews," Emily told me tonight, just days after winning her first match. "I mean like at the fight, my friends who came... one of them was shouting and he was like, 'Rip her head off,' [jokingly]. And then the people behind them were like, 'Rip her shirt off.'"
Emily realizes that the latter comment sums up the way the recreational fan is going to look at her, but she claims it doesn't even faze her.
"It's just one of those things," she said of people looking at it as just girl-on-girl action. "There's gonna be people who are gonna say it. They obviously aren't in the sport and don't understand what you go through and everything like that, so it doesn't even bother me."
Like any good fighter, Emily has the ability to drown out any surrounding distractions while she's in the cage or training at the Mixed Martial Arts Institute in Harrisonburg.
After only about six months of training in Tae Kwon Do and a variety of other disciplines, the 20-year-old sophomore at James Madison University was able to forget about the naysayers and dominate in her debut against Mary Scott.
Scott, a sophomore at Christopher Newport University, definitely looked the part. She packed on at least 10 more pounds than Dubas — and let me say, it was definitely muscle.
Emily entered the cage with her hair loosely tied back — a stark contrast to Mary's tightly woven corn rows. (Somehow I knew that her ponytail was going to come undone; luckily for her, by the time it did, she was in firm control).
Consider me part of the problem. I honestly didn't think Emily had a chance when they first touched gloves. How wrong was I!
After taking a couple punches to the head, Emily woke up and dominated through the last 2 1/2 rounds. Credit Mary for hanging tough as her nose bled profusely, while right jab after right jab connected cleanly. The Tae Kwon do came into play in the second round when Emily cracked her right foot squarely against Mary's jaw.
They call it Martial Arts for a reason. It's about mastering technique and being able to channel aggression and strength through that technique.
The lankier-looking Emily managed to keep her technique despite never being in the cage before. Mary admitted losing control.
"Any person in their first fight will say your nerves get to you, you get excited and technique's out the door and you just wanna brawl and that's what I did," Mary said.
Brawling is probably the last word people who love the sport, would like associated with it. Emily's parents haven't come around to the idea and her father Larry declined to comment on his daughter's fighting.
"They still don't really like the whole idea, but they said that they were proud and everything," Emily said. "They just don't really like violence or hitting or anything."
Consider convincing her parents just one of a number of obstacles that accompany a female in mixed martial arts.
Emily has already overcome her first fight, as well as gained the respect of the rest of her gym, where she is the only consistently attending female.
She said she prefers training with the guys because it's more challenging and that when new girls show up, it almost seems to easy.
"It's kind of hard," she said,"when you go to a gym full of guys, you have to prove yourself to them and show that you can do everything that they can do.
"... They'll try to like baby you and be like, 'We'll you can do girl push-ups if you want,' or something like that, but like no I'm gonna do the regular push-ups like everyone else."
Two obstacles down, many more to go. But as is the sport of mixed martial arts.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Unexpected... yet expected with No. 7
Custodians and star athletes aren't exactly synonymous.
Today, star athletes are known as much for their off-field antics and complaining as they are for the behind-the-scenes hard work they put in.
Custodians are probably just as visible in our daily lives but we often just pass by them without the appreciative "Thank You," or a warming "Hello."
The two became one Friday night at the James Madison University Convocation Center.
Rodney Landers, the Dukes' record-shattering dual-threat quarterback of the past two years and soon-to-be graduate, was humbly sweeping the lower level stands at close to 11 p.m.
Landers could be seen on press row at most men's and women's home basketball games this season as he was working on a practicum for his sport management major. He helped with media streaming and keeping track of play-by-play.
But when his practicum duties were done on Friday, after the women's team beat Northeastern in the quarterfinals, he quietly picked up a broom and started helping the Convo's custodial staff — a responsibility often reserved for students needing community service after earning a strike or some other reprimand.
Landers wasn't in trouble though.
That's just the type of guy he is.
Repeatedly, a manager of the clean-up crew thanked Landers for sticking around and being so selfless. He politely said "your welcome" and "no problem."
He should be used to saying "your welcome" after JMU's superfans had plenty of gratitude to show after two years of dominating football the NFL hopeful played.
It's moments like this that you'd wish more athletes could be seen participating in. At the same time it's nice that only a few people will likely read this because it seems like few would really appreciate it.
Hopefully, this week, scouts will embrace his character, as much as his athletic ability, when he puts in more thankless work during JMU's Pro Day.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
It's Been Way Too Long
It's hard to believe my last blog entry was over a year ago at the CAA basketball tournament. I guess it took me going back to the Richmond Coliseum to remind me how much I like blogging.
Matt McGovern and I had a blast covering the tournament and decided to stay through the championship game before we knew JMU would be ousted on Saturday. Blogging throughout almost every game and talking to various coaching staffs was quite rewarding, despite the fact that we knew nobody was reading.
The Tourney
The tournament saw its championship played out on Sunday in the first semifinal game between Virginia Commonwealth and Old Dominion. The rivalry saw VCU pull away for a 61-53 win that trumped the competitiveness of the Monday's final with George Mason.
VCU guard Eric Maynor was ridiculous all tournament and made sure that sophomore forward Larry Sanders got involved early and often. Sanders took down two tournament records and tied a third — all of which were held by future Hall of Famer David Robinson.
Sanders scored 18 points, ripped down 20 rebounds and blocked seven shots. The 20 rebounds in a game nudged Robinson and three others, and his 40 rebounds for the tournament beat Robinson's mark of 39.
Maynor scored 25 points to go with eight assists. A ninth assist would have come on a lob to Sanders, but an offensive foul negated the powerful slam.
Non-basketball highlights from the tournament included meeting a number of accomplished columnists throughout the state (including Dave Fairbank and Paul Woody) and story time with JMU play-by-play announcer Mike Schikman.
I'm hoping to make this a daily thing again and probably more frequent than that.
Keep in touch and let me know if you'd like to get an e-mail whenever I blog.
Matt McGovern and I had a blast covering the tournament and decided to stay through the championship game before we knew JMU would be ousted on Saturday. Blogging throughout almost every game and talking to various coaching staffs was quite rewarding, despite the fact that we knew nobody was reading.
The Tourney
The tournament saw its championship played out on Sunday in the first semifinal game between Virginia Commonwealth and Old Dominion. The rivalry saw VCU pull away for a 61-53 win that trumped the competitiveness of the Monday's final with George Mason.
VCU guard Eric Maynor was ridiculous all tournament and made sure that sophomore forward Larry Sanders got involved early and often. Sanders took down two tournament records and tied a third — all of which were held by future Hall of Famer David Robinson.
Sanders scored 18 points, ripped down 20 rebounds and blocked seven shots. The 20 rebounds in a game nudged Robinson and three others, and his 40 rebounds for the tournament beat Robinson's mark of 39.
Maynor scored 25 points to go with eight assists. A ninth assist would have come on a lob to Sanders, but an offensive foul negated the powerful slam.
Non-basketball highlights from the tournament included meeting a number of accomplished columnists throughout the state (including Dave Fairbank and Paul Woody) and story time with JMU play-by-play announcer Mike Schikman.
I'm hoping to make this a daily thing again and probably more frequent than that.
Keep in touch and let me know if you'd like to get an e-mail whenever I blog.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
William & Mary??????
RICHMOND — Wow! The William & Mary Tribe in the CAA championship?
Yeah they were the No. 5 team in the tournament and crazier things have happened in March, but this is truly memorable stuff.
Not only has the Tribe never won the CAA tournament in 22 years, but it's never even played in the title game.
After winning the tournament last year and beating Duke in the first round of the NCAA tournament, it seemed a foregone conclusion that VCU would repeat after going 22-6 in the regular season. Well at least I was pretty sure they'd be playing tomorrow night on ESPN.
But the Rams will now have to wait it out and see if the committee thinks they're worthy enough for an at-large bid. Non-conference wins over Maryland, Houston and Bradley might help, but a semifinal loss to No. 161 W&M in the RPI — who is 0-5 against the top 100 — could dash any hopes and send them to the NIT.
And it all might be because of the clutch play of W&M senior forward Laimas Kisielius. The 6-foot-8 Lithuanian native, who made only third-team All-CAA, played like a first-teamer with his game-high 23 points including the game-winner on a runner with three seconds left in the game.
Sophomore Danny Sumner chipped in 19 points for CAA Head Coach of the Year, Tony Shaver, and gave VCU's Eric Maynor, the conference player of the year, some of the toughest defense he could handle.
Maynor finished with a team-high 16 points including four 3-pointers, but was unable to get his hands on the ball for the game's last shot.
The Tribe will try to continue its impressive run with a fourth win in as many games tomorrow night against the winner of George Mason and UNC-Wilmington. At halftime Mason leads UNCW 31-25.
Yeah they were the No. 5 team in the tournament and crazier things have happened in March, but this is truly memorable stuff.
Not only has the Tribe never won the CAA tournament in 22 years, but it's never even played in the title game.
After winning the tournament last year and beating Duke in the first round of the NCAA tournament, it seemed a foregone conclusion that VCU would repeat after going 22-6 in the regular season. Well at least I was pretty sure they'd be playing tomorrow night on ESPN.
But the Rams will now have to wait it out and see if the committee thinks they're worthy enough for an at-large bid. Non-conference wins over Maryland, Houston and Bradley might help, but a semifinal loss to No. 161 W&M in the RPI — who is 0-5 against the top 100 — could dash any hopes and send them to the NIT.
And it all might be because of the clutch play of W&M senior forward Laimas Kisielius. The 6-foot-8 Lithuanian native, who made only third-team All-CAA, played like a first-teamer with his game-high 23 points including the game-winner on a runner with three seconds left in the game.
Sophomore Danny Sumner chipped in 19 points for CAA Head Coach of the Year, Tony Shaver, and gave VCU's Eric Maynor, the conference player of the year, some of the toughest defense he could handle.
Maynor finished with a team-high 16 points including four 3-pointers, but was unable to get his hands on the ball for the game's last shot.
The Tribe will try to continue its impressive run with a fourth win in as many games tomorrow night against the winner of George Mason and UNC-Wilmington. At halftime Mason leads UNCW 31-25.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Northeastern 73, JMU 55
For final analysis of the game and JMU basketball check out my article and Matt McGovern's at thebreeze.org.
Friday, March 7, 2008
LIVE:In Game- JMU 25, NU 38 at Half
Northeastern is shooting 54 percent through the first 20 minutes to JMU's 39. Juwann James has seven and Terrence Carter and Abdulai Jalloh each have six, but no Duke has established himself as a clear threat to the Huskies' zone or man-to-man pressure.
NU's Manny Adako leads all scorers with 12 points with his 5-for-8 shooting from the field. Eugene Spates has also provided a spark of the bench for NU with two 3-pointers.
Like much of the season JMU has struggled to defend the perimeter. Both teams reached the bonus as James has picked up three fouls and four other Dukes have two. Adako and fellow post player Chris Alvarez have two for the Huskies.
JMU needs to create a turnover frenzy in the next 10 minutes to make this a capable ball game down the stretch.
NU's Manny Adako leads all scorers with 12 points with his 5-for-8 shooting from the field. Eugene Spates has also provided a spark of the bench for NU with two 3-pointers.
Like much of the season JMU has struggled to defend the perimeter. Both teams reached the bonus as James has picked up three fouls and four other Dukes have two. Adako and fellow post player Chris Alvarez have two for the Huskies.
JMU needs to create a turnover frenzy in the next 10 minutes to make this a capable ball game down the stretch.
LIVE: In Game Blog- CAA First Round No. 7 Delaware vs. No. 10 Drexel. Final.
Delaware 60, Drexel 51
In the end it was junior forward Jim Ledsome that made the difference on both ends of the floor for the Hens.
With 31 seconds left and Delaware only holding on to a three-point lead, the Dragons went to their star player Frank Elegar in the post. The big man's turn-around was blocked cleaning by Ledsome. Ledsome then converted a three-point play on a flagrant foul after Tramayne Hawthorne missed a 3-pointer -- Drexel's last shot.
Delaware will play No. 2 UNC-Wilmington in the quarterfinals.
In the day's previous two games, No. 5 seed William & Mary held seed over No. 12 Georgia State with a last second shot by the Tribe's David Schneider.
The sophomore hit a pull-up jumper from the top of the key with 1.5 seconds remaining. The 3-pointer gave W&M a 58-57 victory and quarterfinal matchup with No. 4 Old Dominion.
No. 9 Towson started the day with an 81-66 win over No. 8 Hofstra. The Tigers had to hold off a late rally by The Pride and senior Antoine Agudio. The first-team All-CAA selection scored 27 points in his collegiate finale.
Towson junior Tony Durant provided much-needed energy for the Tigers and finished 20 points just two behind team leader Josh Thornton's 22. Towson will play the No. 1 seed VCU in the quarters.
In the end it was junior forward Jim Ledsome that made the difference on both ends of the floor for the Hens.
With 31 seconds left and Delaware only holding on to a three-point lead, the Dragons went to their star player Frank Elegar in the post. The big man's turn-around was blocked cleaning by Ledsome. Ledsome then converted a three-point play on a flagrant foul after Tramayne Hawthorne missed a 3-pointer -- Drexel's last shot.
Delaware will play No. 2 UNC-Wilmington in the quarterfinals.
In the day's previous two games, No. 5 seed William & Mary held seed over No. 12 Georgia State with a last second shot by the Tribe's David Schneider.
The sophomore hit a pull-up jumper from the top of the key with 1.5 seconds remaining. The 3-pointer gave W&M a 58-57 victory and quarterfinal matchup with No. 4 Old Dominion.
No. 9 Towson started the day with an 81-66 win over No. 8 Hofstra. The Tigers had to hold off a late rally by The Pride and senior Antoine Agudio. The first-team All-CAA selection scored 27 points in his collegiate finale.
Towson junior Tony Durant provided much-needed energy for the Tigers and finished 20 points just two behind team leader Josh Thornton's 22. Towson will play the No. 1 seed VCU in the quarters.
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