SB Nation DC: All Posts by Chad Dukes

John Beck May Be Washington Redskins' Starting QB, But He's Not Taking Them To Playoffs

2011-05-19T12:22:23Z

John Beck. Seems like a hell of a dude. Great interview. Great talker. Might as well be talking about Rowdy Roddy Piper. The problem is, he has about as much business starting at quarterback for the Redskins next year as John Beck does.

When you work in sports talk radio, you have to resign yourself to the fact that lots of the sports fans that call in are not objective. Whatever their team does will be defended, no matter how ludicrous it may be. Nine times out of 10, I am proud of my fellow Redskins fans for suffering through this losing spell that has plagued the franchise. I admire their optimism and celebrate their loyalty. In an era where most people seem to just pick whomever won the last Super Bowl and root for them, thousands of Redskins fans stay true to the team in the face of the adversity. That doesn't mean they are always correct in their beliefs.

I understand that Mike Shanahan is doing everything he can to sell this glacier to us eskimos. He is STEAMED UP for John Beck. He sees something that no one else seems to. Case in point:

Shanahan's post-draft news conference was practically a coronation of Beck, who hasn't played in a regular season game in four years.

"When John Beck did come out, I had him as the top-ranked quarterback coming out that year," Shanahan said. "I didn't think it was close, so I've got a lot of confidence in John Beck."

Shanahan, though, said Beck is "everything you look for in a quarterback," from work ethic to foot speed.

"He has not disappointed me since he's been here," Shanahan said.

Hmm. Well that's great, Shannerpus. Wonderful. I believe that you love him. The problem is that the numbers are saying the exact opposite thing that you are. My pal Brian Murphy over on the always entertaining Homer McFanboy pulled up the less-than-Montana-like numbers on D.C.'s newest prodigal son:

In fact, if you add up Beck's numbers for the three preseason games (with the redskins) he completed 20 of 39 passes for 235 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. That's good enough to earn a 59.2 quarterback rating, although a 59.2 and the word "good" should never appear in the same sentence.

Look at his career numbers - 60 completions in 107 attempts for 559 yards with one touchdown, three interceptions and five fumbles. That's good enough for a QB rating of 62.0.

This seems pretty obvious to me. Beck seems like a great guy. I like him. I'd have a beer or 10 with the guy if he wanted. In no way does that translate to the ability to lead one of the most prestigious franchises in NFL history onto the field every week.

If I understand that, why doesn't Shanahan? Furthermore, If I understand that, why are so many of my fellow Redskins fans buying into this hot mess?

The only thing I can think of is desperation. How many quarterbacks have come here and come up short? Veterans, first round picks, late-round picks, journeymen and pro-bowlers have all come here and fail. Sometimes, epically in the case of Donovan McNabb.

Look, I get it. There is no consistency in the most important areas of an offense. The line and the scheme for the Redskins is constantly in flux. That directly effects the field general. None of that changes the fact that more venerable players than John Beck have tried their hand in FedEx Field and come away with nothing. The result of which is desperation in the fan base. McNabb is on the first bus out of town. Rex Grossman has shown the NFL the limit of his ability, and it's not enough. We know less about Beck. So does that gives us an excuse to expect more? I'm not buying it.

The boys over at Hogs Haven don't pull any punches. They floated a theory out there and it seems to be the only thing that makes sense. They coined it the "Andrew Luck in 2012 plan."

With every snap John Beck takes in 2011, the prospect of Andrew Luck in 2012 becomes more real. With every missed block by our patchwork offensive line in 2011, we take one step closer to the "Andrew Luck Era" that would hopefully also include a high second round offensive tackle selection.

Not only is this the only thing that makes sense, I endorse it 100 percent. Mention the word "tanking" on the air in Washington D.C., and you're likely to catch some choice words out at the bar that weekend. I don't think that's what this is. I think it's a rebuild. A multiyear plan.

Mike Shanahan can't come out and announce they are going to win four games. What he can do is laud Beck copiously in front of all of us so he doesn't have to go spend money on a real quarterback. A real quarterback that would most likely get beaten to a pulp behind a horrendous offensive line. A line which has added only one new player during the course of the NFL draft. We must not kid ourselves, my fellow Redskins faithful.

John Beck will be the quarterback. Not because he should be, but because he is cheap and less offensive than Rex Grossman. He will take a beating the likes of which we haven't seen since ... well, since Jason Campbell. The Redskins will then go into next years draft and grab two high-level offensive players with their first two picks. The exact opposite of what they did this year. They will do this and it's the right thing to do.

What we must to is not kid ourselves. John Beck is not taking us anywhere. Well, that's not fair. He's taking us into the Andrew Luck era of Washington football, and for that, we should be grateful. Not delusional.

2011 NFL Draft: Washington Redskins Begin Rebuild, So Why Is Everyone Criticizing Them?

2011-05-02T13:33:27Z

Nearly universally, most agreed the smart play for the Washington Redskins was to trade back in the 2011 NFL Draft, acquire more picks and fill more of the holes created last year when this team tried to compete too early. I agreed with this philosophy whole heartedly.

It seems, though, that several members of the national media are taking umbrage with Washington's decision to not address their need at quarterback in this year's draft. SB Nation D.C.'s very own Mike Prada and others have done an excellent job of compiling a list of everyone who is outraged that the Redskins would dare pass on the likes of Blaine Gabbert. For example, Nate Davis from USA Today:

Washington Redskins: After years of moving up and mortgaging picks, they reverse course and amass them -- but in a year when the draft may have been thinner on talent than usual. Their top two choices, Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan and Clemson DT Jarvis Jenkins, would fit perfectly -- along with DT Albert Haynesworth, ILB London Fletcher and, arguably, former college defensive end Brian Orakpo -- if the Washington was still running a 4-3 defense. More importantly, with QB Rex Grossman a free agent and the bridge with Donovan McNabb blown, it seems John Beck remains the nominal starting quarterback unless the Redskins go after yet another veteran signal caller post-lockout.

First of all, the notion that the Redskins can't bring back Rex Grossman if they choose to is ridiculous. No one who is not named Shanahan is beating down the door for Sexy Rexy.

More importantly, what Davis and the rest of the national media do not seem to understand is that this is not a one-year project. It may not even be a two year project. There is plenty of complaining about the condition of the offensive line as well. Those criticisms are just. What these "talking heads" need to realize, if they are panning this draft, is that even if the Redskins had 20 picks this year, they just couldn't get it all done.

I am not an apologist. This team arrogantly thought they could compete last year. A first-year offense, first-year defense, first-year quarterback and first-year coach and general manager. Ludicrous. Absurd. They should be held accountable for that error. Knowing that, the only thing this team can do now is try and start the rebuild that we all knew needed to happen. That's exactly what they are doing. The defensive line has been addressed. Skill positions have been addressed.A veritable gaggle of young players are going to come marching into Ashburn when this lockout lifts, and that is crucial and necessary.

So why is everyone killing this team? Why are they being smashed nearly universally for not selecting quarterbacks that were overvalued the second Andrew Luck decided he need one more year at Stanford? They are going to struggle next year whether John Beck, Cam Newton, Donovan McNabb or John Elway was quarterbacking them.Why all the animosity? The answer is clear if you live here.

Mike Shanahan is not nice to the media. Dan Snyder is horrible to the media. They treat us like idiots at best and enemies at worst. We are stonewalled, threatened, bought out, spoken down to and sued by this team. Is it any wonder that the Redskins don't get the benefit of the doubt? It's the same thing I said on the radio when Mike Shanahan was getting accused of racism after the benching of McNabb. Do I think Shanny is a racist? No. The problem is, that when you conduct yourself the way this team has, people assume the worst.

Dave McKenna from the Washington City Paper (yes, THAT Dave McKenna) called me the other day on this very subject. I think it still applies here:

Yes, with the 2011 NFL draft almost upon us, the racial angle of the 2010 Redskins quarterback's saga remains a top story among fans. Chad Dukes, co-host of WJFK's "LaVar and Dukes," says that he personally sees no racism in the Skins' handling of the star quarterback. But he hears day after day from an audience that begs to differ.

"If you bench a QB of the caliber of Donovan McNabb for a QB of the caliber of Rex Grossman, you leave yourself open to those charges," says Dukes. "The move was so baffling. Nobody understands it. And Shanahan's explanation makes no sense, so [some callers say] he must be a racist."

That's what is happening here. People are assuming the worst. This administration already has a reputation of lying, mismanagement and poor planning. They have completely devalued players they have up multiple draft picks for. They have put petty, personal squabbles before what's best for the team. They started players that were clearly hurting the team based on personal bias. These are the men trusted to LEAD this franchise, and they did all of this in one year? No wonder no one is willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

It sounds like I'm killing the team. I'm really not. I think they drafted well, considering they needed everything. Including O.J. Atogwe, they have brought in three defensive starters that can make a difference right now, and that's with no free agency. Laudable.

We are looking at a team that needs more than one offseason to be fixed and the Redskins seem to realize that and are conducting themselves accordingly. What I would tell my fellow Redskins fans is this. Don't be surprised when the national media remains dubious of this team's moves. Considering the way the brass for Washington conducts itself at times, it's a wonder we get any coverage at all.

Donald Brashear Wants To Drop The Gloves For Good, And MMA Fans Should Embrace Him

2011-04-27T18:04:49Z

Former Washington Capitals enforcer Donald Brashear has signed with a Canadian MMA promotion to take a stab at a new athletic career. It could be a good fit; Brashear established quite a name for himself in the NHL with his ability to inflict violence on his opponents in various ways.

But, there is a good portion of the MMA community online that groans every time an athlete from another sport tries their hand at MMA. I have heard all the arguments, from Kimbo Slice to Dave Bautista, from Bobby Lashley to Herschel Walker. Every time one of these guys tries their hand at our favorite sport, there is a plethora of grumbling from different pockets of Internet. The mentality that mixed martial arts (especially the UFC), is a professional sport and shouldn't be treated as some sort of side project is understandable. The problem is I believe that mentality is short-sighted at times.

Now, I'll admit: It sounds like Brashear is looking at MMA as a backup plan:

After playing his last NHL game back in January 2010 with the New York Rangers, he was demoted to the minor leagues where he stayed until he was traded to Atlanta and then released. Since then, Brashear's been making his home in a low level Quebec professional league. With that not being anywhere near as glamorous as the NHL or even the AHL, Brashear is taking his bare-knuckle skills to an arena that's much more befitting his skill set.

Let me also admit that I don't care. I won't even mention fighters like Matt Mitrione and Brock Lesnar, guys who have made the transition to the biggest promotion in the sport and proven they are credible fighters. What we as MMA fans need to acknowledge is that this sport is not mainstream. Not by a long shot. It's rabidly popular in certain demographics and it's profitable. Its fanbase is informed and motivated. But the sport is in no position to turn down new sets of eyes.

In a previous piece I wrote for SB Nation regarding Brock Lesnar potentially working a match at WrestleMania while under contract with the UFC, I made the following point:

For the same reason I love the impact Herschel Walker has on MMA, I relish Lesnar's influence. Get new eyes on MMA; That is the goal. Get the word out to fans of similar sports. If Dana White allows Lesnar his space, including a match at Wrestlemania, does that help or hurt his bottom line? Barring a catastrophic injury to the big man, it will undoubtedly work as a three-month long commercial for Lesnar and UFC.

We're talking about people who enjoy similar sports. Sports that bring some of the same things to the table that mixed martial arts does. Namely: speed, conflict and violence. Sounds like a description of hockey to me. Hockey fans have a plight similar to MMA fans. Both seem to have a chip on their shoulder. Both believe their sport has earned the right to sit at the table with the likes of the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball. Both like fist fights. Sounds like a match made in heaven to me.

Since Brashear announced his intentions, I've had dozens of people ask me about it and how they can watch. There is enormous value in that. This is not putting Snooki in the ring at WrestleMania. This is not making David Arquette your heavyweight champion. There are no pro wrestling shenanigans afoot. If Donald Brashear debuted on a UFC pay-per-view, I would be more wary of the motivations. But for the same reason I have no issue with Kimbo Slice, I have no issue with Brashear. I want my favorite sport to grow. I want people to see what I see: The remarkable athleticism it takes to compete; the blending of so many different styles and sports into one fluid product. MMA is unrivaled in its complexity but also retains its simplicity in what brought us all to the table in the first place: the desire to watch a good fight.

So you trained in grappling all your life? Great. Most people don't find the sport that way. The way you find something is to lay eyes on it. Handled the appropriate way, athletes from other walks of like can help grow the sport in ways that Jose Aldo or Marcus Davis never could (no disrespect to them). You keep your new viewers by having a quality product. If the MMA community could all take a moment to climb down from its collective high horse, we could all see how guys like Brashear can help more than they hurt. Hockey fans like a good fight just like the rest of us. They just haven't seen any REALLY good fights if they're just watch what's happening on the ice, and not what's happening in the octagon.

Reluctantly Defending The 'Philly Invasion' Of Nationals Park

2011-04-16T15:33:27Z

I've always supported the home team and my home is Washington D.C. During the period of time when we didn't have baseball, we did what we had to do. Most flocked to the Baltimore Orioles. Some hopped the nearest bandwagon to the New York Yankees. I chose the Chicago Cubs as I love an underdog and have family in Aurora, Ill. As soon as we had a team to root for here in the area, I dropped the lovable losers, bought the red and blue curly "W" hats from in Springfield Mall. I became a Nationals fan. It's the way I'm built. I'm also built like a man that loves funnel cake. I digress.

I mention this because I understand that some members of this community didn't sit around and wait for baseball to come back. They took it upon themselves to find another squad to root for, so they could take a more active role during baseball season. For that reason and several more, I am writing this to defend the influx of Phillies fans that saturated Nationals Park on Thursday night.

I had never seen it for myself. Our radio show broadcasted live from the main concourse on Thursday for the final game of the Nationals' first series against Philadelphia. I had heard the stories. Busloads filled with thousands of Philly fans creating a pocket of "brotherly love" in the Nation's Capital. I was still shocked at the sheer number of fans walking by our booth that were not rooting for the home team. It was staggering. I estimated 80 percent Phillies Phaithful.

I have been at Redskins games that were infested by terrible towels, Wizards games that were polluted with "Kobe Fans" and even a Stanley Cup Final where octopuses rained from the sky. All were annoying and disheartening. I'm not sure I have ever encountered that many fans of the opposition in my life.

The difference on Thursday was that these were not transplants from Pennsylvania living in Maryland. These weren't bandwagon fans driving in from Reston. These were folks driving three hours to watch their team because it's too damn hard to get a ticket where they are from. These are fans of a team that -- as repugnant as it may sound to Washingtonians -- we should aspire to be. Home-grown players. Smart free agent acquisitions. Dominant pitching. Sounds like a recipe for winning.

Do I like having our ballpark taken over? No. Do I like the way some of these Philly fans act when they are in our house? Certainly not. That said, I must acknowledge that they have what we hope to one day have. They are buying tickets to a game that we won't. My friends won't drive 30 minutes to support our hometown team. Can I REALLY be that angry at someone that would drive three hours to support theirs?

I know some of this falls on the shoulders of the Nats. In the past they have short-sightedly recruited other teams' fans to fill our park. They have failed to put a good product on the field and lost more than they have won. However, I do believe they turned over a new leaf and have shown they are moving in the right direction. Great young talent like Ryan Zimmerman and Jordan Zimmermann, Drew Storen, Danny Espinosa, Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg. Smart free agent aquisitions like Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche combined with the purging of those players that wouldn't buy in (Nyjer Morgan). This franchise has shown us that they want to win, and want to win the right way. With patience and intelligence, something that has worked for other teams in this area.

So the next time you find yourself cursing under your breath about the Phillies and their "invasion," take a moment to think about who is really responsible. Is it the passionate fan, following their winning franchise on the road? Is it the home team that is doing everything in its power to turn over a new leaf by the Anacostia River? Or is it the bourgeois, front-running attitude that seems to dwell in this area in regards to sports?

Do the Nationals have to win the division four years in a row to sell out all their home games like the Capitals? Do they have to win three championships in a 10-year span like the Redskins? Or are we as DC sports fans savvy enough to recognize there are some good things happening at Nationals Park? It's high time we were AHEAD of the curve on one of our teams, instead of always behind it.

ESPN's Deal With Texas, Redskins' Deal With WTEM Raise Ethical Questions

2011-04-05T16:09:04Z

I was perusing SBNation.com as I do every day to prepare for my radio show when I stumbled across an interesting tidbit of information. I remembered reading a few months back about ESPN partnering up with The University of Texas to start a television network. It appears that both parties are progressing with said relationship.

ESPN just released the Longhorn Network's logo and branding.

There's a Longhorn Network website, www.GetLonghornNetwork.com, which redirects to an ESPN site about getting Longhorn Network - and it's clear that the Worldwide Leader in Sports is throwing some money behind their efforts to make ESPN's massive 20-year, $300 million deal with Texas work from the start.

Troubling. This is different than ESPN doing a deal with an entire sports league. This is an enormous financial commitment to one university and enormous financial commitments have a tendency to influence people. College athletic programs are desperate for exposure. As a former student of George Mason Univeristy, one needs only walk around the campus to see what a large dose of exposure can do to help out a college. How much did the university benefit after their 2006 NCAA tournament run and all the media coverage that came along with it?

Obviously Texas has earned a high profile with their success in multiple sports. However, the idea of Texas being embedded so deeply with the biggest name in sports media raises the question of unbiased coverage.

Why does this matter to Washington D.C.? Well, we have our own little quagmire here. The Washington Redskins are deeply involved with the local media on virtually every front. Dan Snyder has aquired message boards, radio stations and sued newspapers that criticize him. Clearly, Snyder has a lot of energy invested in controlling the way his team is covered.

I'm not necessarily one of those guys that thinks that means coverage of the Redskins over on WTEM is influenced by this. Those guys generally do a good job. What it does do, though, is raise the question of whether a media outlet can have an enormous financial commitment with the team it covers and remain unbiased. Pro Football Talk has covered this in the past:

Redskins owner Dan Snyder's ownership of D.C. radio station WTEM continues to get him favorable coverage from the station's high-profile talk show host, Tony Kornheiser. And Kornheiser's refusal to talk about issues that could cast Snyder in a negative light is continuing to result in criticism of Kornheiser.
Although Kornheiser was a longtime journalist for the Washington Post, Feinstein pointed out that Kornheiser isn't a journalist anymore, he just plays one on TV - which some might argue makes it acceptable for Kornheiser to take a paycheck from Snyder, avoid criticism of Snyder and have a chummy relationship with Snyder.

I ran into Doc Walker at the Super Bowl this year and spoke with him. In no way do I think Walker is being told what to say and what not to say. In no way do I believe Doc would go along with that even if he were. But there are plenty of people lower down on the ladder at that station for whom I can't say for sure the same thing applies.

The issue with the Redskins and the local media is the same as the issue with ESPN and Texas. Maybe there is no direct influence. It's possible not one ounce of censorship will ever be produced by either relationship. I fully acknowledge that. The problem is there will always be that doubt in people's minds. How can ESPN have 300 million dollars tied up with the Longhorns and not show them favor? Can Texas A&M get a fair shake anymore? How can a radio station cover a team whose owner has also purchased the radio station? I don't have the answers.

I get why the Yankees, Lakers and Cowboys are on ESPN all the time. They get ratings and ESPN is in the business of getting ratings. Like we all are. But where is the line? When does it cease to be a media outlet that covers all of sport and just become a bullhorn for whatever league, program or team has the most money tied up in the network. Do WNBA games garner big ratings for ESPN? No, but the games are still there. Is that acceptable to sports fans? So far, it has been.

We here in Washington D.C. are the poster market for this mentality. WTEM does well in the ratings and people seem to still post on Extreme Skins, the now "Official Redskins Message Board." It's possible that none of the potential influence Snyder has over the media is off putting to fans in this area. What is most certain is that doubt lingers in the back of the savvy sports enthusiast's mind. How can you you be so involved financially with something and still cover it without biased. Is it even possible?

Redskins Receiver Terrence Austin Loves MMA, Sees Similarities To Football

2011-03-26T16:48:10Z

A free UFC fight on Spike TV on Saturday night gives us a great excuse to talk MMA and fighting with Redskins wide receiver Terrence Austin. It's always fun to speak to one of D.C.'s professional athletes about one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Check out SB Nation's UFC Fight Night 24 predictions by clicking here.

This is Part II of an ongoing series where we talk to D.C. professional athletes about their love of MMA and combat sports. For Part I, check out Chad's interview with Capitals star Eric Fehr here.

Chad Dukes: We had you on the radio show a couple weeks back, and we talked about a few things, and you mentioned you liked watching UFC fights and Mixed Martial Arts. I'm just curious: what drew you to the sport? What first made you check out Mixed Martial Arts?

Terrence Austin: You know what, I think it was the physicality of it. I watch boxing a lot and one of my favorite boxers is Floyd Mayweather and how fast he is with his hands. I always wondered where he would be in a street fight. How would he fight if he just used his hands? Would it work with somebody who could actually use their feet too. And I thought it is a lot more complicated to do, fight with both hands and feet and have to defend that. When I started watching the fights, I began to see how physical it was and how much the guys were bleeding and all the submission moves that guys were using, and I just got attracted to it.

CD: A lot of people are drawn to the complexity of the sport. You play professional football and that is a pretty violent sport. As a matter of fact, most people think it is more dangerous than MMA. What similarities can you draw from Mixed Martial Arts to the sport of professional football? Are there any similarities between the two?

TA: I definitely think there are similarities. You probably have to sit down and think about it more. As me being a receiver, I have to go up against a defensive back in press coverage and I have to really learn how to use my hands. That can definitely work in boxing too. But I think for the most part, it's all about trying to learn how to use your quickness and prevent the guy from putting hands on you. That's definitely a good analogy you can use for football and MMA.

CD: Yeah, you mention that and you mention boxing and MMA. I've seen linemen train in Mixed Martial Arts to help them with the quickness of their hands. Would you ever consider training in Mixed Martial Arts? Is that something you would ever consider doing, maybe, either to help you be a wide receiver or when your NFL career is over?

TA: Oh yeah, definitely. My uncle was into Jiu-Jitsu and the guy that I trained with pre-draft was into it too. I am going to go back and learn. That is something that I am definitely going to be into and that's something I talked to some people about working with in the offseason. It's going to help me with a number of things: my balance, quickness and learning how to use my hands a lot more.

CD: You mentioned you enjoyed Floyd Mayweather in boxing. Do you have a favorite MMA fighter?

TA: I think, Rampage. Rampage is definitely my favorite. I just like how he is out there and the way that he looks. He looks intimidating to these guys, you know. Brock Lesnar is out there and he is one of those big time guys, even though he did lose a fight. I was a little bit surprised at that. I like both of those guys.

CD: You mentioned those two guys and those two guys are entertainers. Not only do they put on good fights, but they entertain the crowd. Is that important to you?

TA: It really is. I think it draws a lot more attention and excitement to the game. It's a lot more to it than just fighting. I just don't want it to turn into a WWE thing or, you know, wrestling, because when we were all kids we used to think that stuff was real. But it gives credit to see how real MMA is.

CD: You got a lot of Redskins fans out there and UCLA fans that talk to you. If they come up to you and said, ‘Terrence, you know, I'm a football guy, I don't really know anything about this MMA' and they were interested in it, what would you tell them? What would you tell a fan that came up to you and wanted to try out Mixed Martial Arts? What advice could you give them?

TA: I would tell them that they would have to be prepared for that, ‘cause it's going to be tough. And you know football is a tough sport, but you don't wear any gear in MMA. It's all about being tough, and if you're disciplined enough to be able to work that out, then you will be just fine. I would definitely encourage it.

CD: What would you tell a football fan that asked you, ‘Why would I like watching Mixed Martial Arts on TV? I like watching football, what is it about MMA that I would like watching?'

TA: It's contact, it's contact. Everybody likes the big hits in football, they want to see that big crack-back block, they want to see somebody run across the middle as a receiver and get taken out by a defensive back or a linebacker. Everybody likes those big contact hits, and in MMA you see that every single second of the fight.

To listen to the entire interview with Terrence Austin, click here! To listen to Fehr's interview, click here.

Capitals Star Eric Fehr Loves MMA, But He's Not Ready To Drop The Gloves For Good

2011-03-19T20:44:49Z

I do a radio show here in Washington DC on 1067 The Fan. While interviewing different athletes from our local teams, I often run across fellow mixed martial arts enthusiasts. It gives me a chance to figure out what drew someone who makes their living as a professional athlete to MMA.

Washington Capitals right winger Eric Fehr has always enjoyed talking about fighting whenever we get the opporuntity to have him on the air. Now, as we all get ready to watch UFC 128 on Saturday night, we get to find out why he likes the sport and what drew him to it.

Chad Dukes: You're a hockey player, what drew you to the sport of Mixed Martial Arts?

Eric Fehr: I just think that they are great athletes. I think that they go through a lot of training and you know it takes a lot to be a fighter so, it's a tough position that they are in and I respect how hard they work and it's something that has drawn my attention.

CD: You play a real physical sport too, what similarities between hockey and MMA?

EF: It's definitely, they're both pretty rough sports. I think, the hockey fights are obviously more comparable to the fight in the MMA ring but, it's a lot different when you're in the octagon I can only imagine.

CD: If MMA was as popular as it is now, back when you started playing hockey, do you think you might have given that sport a shot?

EF: Uh, I kind of don't, just because I'm not really a fighter on the ice to begin with, but you never know, I think it's really interesting how, how many different sports are kind of combined to become a good UFC Fighter.

CD: Is it something you ever talk about, maybe taking a jiu-jitsu class or a taking an MMA class?

EF: A couple of my buddies have taken it, but I don't really have the time and to learn as much as those guys have learned, they've put in so many hours I'd be too far behind to even start trying.

CD: If a hockey fan came up to you and said ‘Hey why should I watch MMA?' What would you tell them?

EF: I'd probably say, it's really exciting, I mean there are superstars in that sport like hockey or baseball or any other sport and you know the story lines are great, the fighters don't like each other and talk about how they're going to win the fight and everything. It's great entertainment.

CD: Who is your favorite Mixed Martial Arts fighter and why is that?

EF: I'd have to say two. I got to go with Georges St. Pierre, obviously, he's Canadian, but I just like the fact that he's so respectful and that he's a real professional, like the way he wears a suit and tie to his fights and he's all business. And on the other side, a fighter I really like, Jon "Bones" Jones, who probably is one of the most underrated really super exciting fighters and I think he's going to have a good title shot coming up in the next couple years.

To listen to the entire interview with Eric Fehr, click here.

This interview with Eric Fehr of the Washington Capitals is the first of several interviews Chad Dukes plans to do with professional athletes in Washington, D.C. regarding their love for mixed martial arts.

Between Jake Shields And Dan Henderson, Which MMA Promotion Got The Better Deal?

2011-03-11T13:41:59Z

Like most of you, I was very entertained by Dan Henderson's fight with Rafael 'Feijao' Cavalcante. Immediately following his win, comparisons between Hendo and Jake Shields sprang up all over the Internet. Over on Bloody Elbow, they called it "MMA's Big Trade." And, since they swapped promotions, both fighters have faired well. In the UFC, Shields won a questionable decision over Martin Kampann and was awarded a title shot against Georges St. Pierre. In Strikeforce, Henderson defeated Babalu Sorbral in a rematch that took 10 years to make. He followed that up by upsetting the much younger Cavalcante to become a 40-year-old Light Heavyweight Champion.

Here is a little description of the contest from the very informative MMAMania.com:

"Feijao" hurt "Hendo" early, but was unable to finish the job and surrendered his belt after getting hit with an "H-Bomb" late in the third frame. Fortunately, the Brazilian doesn't offer the usual litany of excuses and instead credits his "clever" opponent for the defeat.

It sounds like a great fight, doesn't? A come-from-behind win.The wily veteran using patience and prowess to bomb on his younger opponent.

Which brings me to the gist of my argument: You don't need to look at ratings or pay-per-view buys to decide who got the better end of the Jakes Shields-Dan Henderson exchange. The bottom line is one fighter is entertaining and one fighter isn't. It's not about not being able to appreciate the ease at which Jake Shields uses wrestling in mixed martial arts. It's not about understanding the complexities of a grappling master like Shields. It's that Shields is in no way entertaining to watch.

I'm sure Jake Shields is a hell of a guy. I agree he's one of the best fighters in the world in two different weight classes. As a fan of mixed martial arts and not "bad kickboxing," I can acknowledge and appreciate those things. That said, I hate watching his fights and would rather watch Dan Henderson 10 times out of 10. Shields is a great fighter and it ends there. Henderson is a great fighter, an exciting fighter, a knock-out artist and an icon.

If your goal is to simply have the best fighters in the world square off, Shields is your man. If your goal is to have the best fighters in the world square off AND entertain your viewers, Henderson is more qualified. Admittedly, I am somewhat obsessed with exposing the sport to new fans. I try to do it on the radio and in my personal life. If you were in my shoes and you had to sell a skeptical listener on MMA by showing them Henderson's last fight or Shields', which would you use? How about their last five fights? Here's a hint: Shields has had three decisions in a row. (No KOs since 2007.) In his last five contests, Henderson has three finishes, all by by knockout. That includes this timeless classic:

I can watch Jake Shields fight and understand his talents and abilities. He just doesn't make it fun to watch his talents and abilities. That's not on Shields, but it is on the promoter that decides to sign him while passing on Hendo. Dana White knows more about promoting MMA than I ever will. He has gotten over on many of his adversaries. When the Shaws were hitching their wagon to Kimbo Slice in EliteXC, White was hitching his wagon to Brock Lesnar. When Slice flamed out, Dana scooped him up to boost ratings on the Ultimate Fighter while losing no credibility. He didn't give in to M1's ridiculous demands to sign Fedor Emelianenko and looks like a genius because of it; The Last Emperor seems more human after two straight losses.

Dana usually makes the right call. He did not here. Jake Shields is Ambien and Dan Henderson is Xenadrine. Which one do you use to get your heart rate up?