Wilkommen bei den Schatten » HHe saved us from getting swept.

CLEVELAND -- CM Punk lost Saturday night at UFC 203, but Phil Brooks walked out of the Quicken Loans Arena as the real winner.Brooks MMA debut, which came nearly two years after he announced he had signed with the UFC on Dec. 6, 2014, ended with a rear-naked chokehold at 2:14 of the first round at the hands of 24-year-old Mickey Gall, who is now 3-0 in his young MMA career.The result, however, was nothing more than a footnote to what should be viewed as an inspirational example for anyone unhappy with where they are in life and unsure if its too late to rewrite their story.Brooks, who has fought under the name CM Punk since he broke into professional wrestling in the 1990s, will turn 38 next month. No one gave him much of a chance to win his first MMA fight, which didnt take place in some nondescript gymnasium as many debuts do, but in front of a sellout crowd of around 20,000 fans on a UFC pay-per-view he co-headlined.The mere fact Brooks was able to step into the Octagon was enough to call his two-year journey to this point a success. He admitted as much after arriving in Cleveland earlier this week for the fight.There are a lot of victories here, Brooks said. Just doing this, I won... Just stepping foot in the Octagon, thats a victory.Of course, not everyone will agree. Those who labeled Brooks foray into MMA as misguided and viewed the UFCs promotion of him as undeserved will point to the expected result as confirmation of their steadfast opinion,?but theyre missing the point. Brooks journey was more than just about a check mark in the win-loss column -- its about taking control of your life, regardless of how old you are, and doing what makes you happy.I dont put any stock into starting earlier or starting later, Brooks said. To me its never too late to start anything you want to do, and if you think so Im sorry your dreams are so small.Brooks couldnt contain his smile as he walked to the Octagon on Saturday night while Living Colours Cult of Personality, the song that became synonymous with CM Punk the wrestler, played over the arena sound system. It was a smile we hadnt seen from him in years. Quicken Loans Arena erupted as if LeBron James hit a game-winning basket as soon as his song started to play. It was the moment his fans had been waiting for since CM Punk walked away from the WWE for good in the same arena almost three years ago.As soon as the fight started, however, Gall put Brooks on his back, and it was over two minutes later when he was forced to tap. But the loss didnt erase Brooks smile. If anything, the loss made him want to get back into the gym and train for his next fight.In life you go big or you go home, Brooks said as he stood in the Octagon after his first fight. I just like to take challenges. It was a hell of a mountain to try to climb, and I didnt get to the summit today, but that doesnt mean Im going to give up. It doesnt mean Im going to stop. I will be back, believe it or not. This is the most fun Ive ever had in my life. Its the second-best night of my life, besides marrying my wife.The sellout crowd didnt get to see Brooks on his feet for long or throw any punches while he was on his back, effectively sucking the life out of the building, but hearing him talk after the fight gave them an opportunity to give him a standing ovation on his way out of the Octagon.I know there are a lot of doubters, but lifes about falling down and getting up. It doesnt matter how many times you get knocked down, its about getting back up. So if theres any kid out there thats told by parent or a coach or a teacher or somebody they look up to thats supposed to push them and believe in them and theyre told, no, dont listen to them. Believe in yourself. Sometimes the outcome isnt what you desire it to be, but the true failure in life is not trying at all. I know it sounds preachy and kind of weird coming from a guy who just got beat up, but f--- it, this is the time of my life.Brooks would have liked to have made his debut earlier, but a shoulder injury and a herniated disk in his back which required surgery pushed his first match all the way to UFC 203 in Cleveland, and to the same arena where he walked into WWE chairman Vince McMahons office on Jan. 24, 2014, and told him he was done with professional wrestling for good. He walked out of the Quicken Loans Arena, got in his car and drove about five hours on Interstate 90 west to his home in Chicago and never looked back.I think I jokingly might have said Im cursed in this building, but I actually truly believe one of the best things that ever happened to me, happened in this building, Brooks said. It was a breaking point on both sides and something that needed to happen, and it needed to happen dramatically. Things happen for a reason, and Im here now. Theres a little bit of a thought of how poetic that is.Brooks married April Jeanette Mendez, better known to wrestling fans as AJ Lee, on June 13, 2014. April followed in her husbands footsteps and left the WWE last year, and they live in Chicago with their dog, Larry. The fact that the couple is able to lead a normal life now, while Brooks follows his dream of being a UFC fighter, is one of the biggest reasons Brooks has no regrets about his decision, regardless of what his record in the Octagon ends up being.Traveling sucks, and I just got burnt out on it, he said. No matter how frustrated, beat up or bad a day I had in the gym, I would always go home, see my wife, see my dog and sleep in my own bed and take a shower in my own shower ... I get to sleep in my bed every night. No matter how hard training was, I get to go home and kiss my wife. Thats a luxury in my world. I never used to get to do that.While Brooks didnt officially sign with the UFC until December, he knew he wanted to transition into mixed martial arts after leaving the WWE. This wasnt about him leaving one pro-wrestling promotion for another or leaving the WWE and returning in a year or two for a big pay day. He was looking to change his life forever.I knew this was going to happen, Brooks said. My wife and I are the same in every respect. Weve kind of visualized our lives unfolding, and aside from a few twists and turns, it happened exactly how we always thought. Did I know it was going to be in Cleveland? Did I know it was going to be in the UFC? No, maybe, maybe not, but I knew I was going to fight.Saturdays result doesnt mean Brooks is going to fade away and quit what he has just started. The journey to finally get to the Octagon has been too hard and too fun for him to give it all up now that he has started the next chapter of his life.Im happy. Thats all that matters to me, Brooks said. Im in this for the long haul for sure. Chuck Finley Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Zack Cozart Jersey . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. https://www.cheapangels.com/1353j-nick-adenhart-jersey-angels.html . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. Joe Garagiola Jersey . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. Dillon Peters Angels Jersey . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers were down to their final out with Matt Moore on the verge of throwing the Giants first no-hitter against them in more than 100 years.Corey Seager spoiled the attempt with a bloop single to right with two outs in the ninth in Los Angeles 4-0 loss to San Francisco.Seagers hit sent the sellout crowd of 53,297 into a raucous celebration. That clutch hit came on his bobblehead night. And Moores try ended on his 133rd pitch.Asked about his emotions of the hit, Seager said: Not much. Its one of those things where you dont ever want that to happen. Like I said, we won the series, and youre still happy about that.Moore just smiled after Seagers hit.Giving up a base hit right there is a part of the game, Moore said. It was a fun ride all the way up until that point ... theres not a lot to be angry about. I think the smile just kind of came out.It was a difficult and emotional day for the Dodgers as beloved teammate and backup catcher A.J. Ellis was traded to the Phillies earlier in the day.Ellis said he and Kershaw cried.To have been the longest tenured Dodgers was something Im extremely proud of, to have that gone now in the blink of an eye, without much time to feel finality to it, it rips your heart out, Ellis said.Moore retired 14 consecutive Dodger batters in one stretch. He struck out seven, walked three and gave up one hit in 8 2/3 innings. Seager and Yasmani Grandal both drew walks -- Grandal with two -- but the usually explosive Dodger offense was silent.I think it was just something where hes developing his cut fastball that he was using to lefties and righties which he just started throwing this year, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Moore. Actually, in the last couple of months. Changeup was good, and fastball command better than weve seen it.Had the Giants lost, they wouldve been swept by the Dodgers and fallen another game back. Instead, the Giants moved within two games of the Dodgers in the NL West.He had everything working tonight, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. HHe saved us from getting swept.dddddddddddd It was the biggest game all year.The Dodgers will move on with a new backup catcher in Carlos Ruiz from the Phillies. Hell join former Philadelphia teammate Chase Utley, whom he won the World Series with in 2008.Thats hard, Seager said. Youre losing a teammate, losing a friend. Hes been here a long time. Done a lot for this organization. Kind of next guy up. Were looking forward to Ruiz getting here and seeing what he can do.Ross Stripling allowed three earned runs on seven hits in five innings.I felt sharp, Stripling said. I was making some good pitches. Like I said, they had some good (at-bats). I think they had a hit every inning. Able to work out of a leadoff double in the second. Able to make some pitches when I needed to, but at the end of the day, Matt Moore, got to tip your hat to him. What an outing.The Dodgers remain tied with the Giants for the most consecutive years with a no-hitter -- all by Sandy Koufax -- from 1962-65.Chris Heston threw one last year for San Francisco, Tim Lincecum did it in 2014 and also 2013 -- with 148 pitches -- and Matt Cain had a perfect game in 2012.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: Andre Ethier (broken right tibia) began a rehab assignment at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday.UP NEXTGiants: Jeff Samardzija (10-9, 4.17) starts the series opener at home against the Braves. He took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Mets on Sunday, the longest such bid of his career. Samardzija is 2-2 with a 2.92 ERA in five starts lifetime against Atlanta. Braves starter Joel De La Cruz (0-6, 4.47) will be face the Giants for the first time.Dodgers: RHP Bud Norris (6-10, 4.69) will start the series opener against the Cubs. He is 5-5 with a 3.39 ERA in 12 career games vs. Chicago. He has a win against the Cubs when he was with the Braves earlier this year. The Cubs will start LHP Mike Montgomery (1-1, 2.77). ' ' '