Brown Bag All Stars; ready for 'Rock Steady' show.

Mainline Nation’s newest hip-hop group takes the stage with the likes of Big Daddy Kane, EPMD and DJ Eclipse for the 33rd annual “Rock Steady For Life” concert in Lincoln Park, Sunday — and we’re going to be there.

Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, Kurtis Blow, Black Sheep, Lords of the Underground, Mickey Factz, DJ Eclipse, Scratch, JS-1 and host End of the Weak. — You name ‘em, they comin’.

“Being able to share the stage with Big Daddy Kane and EPMD is a dream come true,” said J57, member of BBAS. “It’s pretty much like, all legends plus a few new guys like Homeboy Sandman, Bishop Lamont and us – it’s really a blessing.”

The best part about the show — it’s free. “Rock Steady” is an annual free outdoor concert and food drive.

Mainline Nation’s film crew will be backstage with the crew documenting this big day for the band and their followers.

“I would say it’s like Christmas for us, even for Soul Khan, and he’s Jewish. It’s THAT exciting though, honestly,” J57 said. ” We’ve been preparing for the past month, since we got word that we’re rocking.  We have some serious treats in store that you haven’t seen at any past Brown Bag All-Star performances.”

You wouldn’t want to miss out would you? Mainline Nation isn’t. Come join us — it’s free.

For subway directions into Newark go to www.hopstop.com. Take the PATH, Amtrak, or NJ Transit to Newark Penn Station. Buses #70, #62 #39 will take you there. Cab fare to Lincoln Park from Newark Penn Station is roughly $4.

See you there!

Check out BBAS’ sick video, “Undeniable.”

Faragon trains for big night in Saratoga.

Their match will headline the bill for Pugnacious Promotions’ annual “Night of Future Champions.”

“This is my biggest fight to date,” said Faragon. “I’m ready to rise to the occasion and show that I keep getting better.”

Mikey will face his toughest opponent yet. Eddie Soto began his career in ’05. Similar to Faragon, he was undefeated in his first twelve pro fights before falling in a rematch to Sean Ecklund.

Faragon has been training for months. The fight tonight will culminate a year of success and dedication for Mainline’s most promising prospect.

“I just want to give my fans a good show,” said Faragon. “I’m excited to head-line Saratoga this year.”

According to WNYT’s website::

Tickets and VIP tables, including dinner by Brindisi’s Restaurant and table service throughout the evening, are available from Pugnacious Promotions at 518-527-0160 or www.pugnaciouspromotions.com.

Check out Mike Faragon’s trailer here.

The Today Show outside The Beekman Arms Thursday.

Nestled down along the Hudson River – Rhinebeck is home to a few amenities most people don’t know about.. well until about a month ago when it was leaked that Chelsea Clinton would be wed on the Astor Court estate.

Take The Beekman Arms for instance – shut down this weekend for the Clinton’s stay, the oldest Inn in America is on everyone’s radar now, no longer just our claim to fame.

Hell, I used to sport the tavern’s name on my T-ball jersey.

Anybody and everybody has kept this wedding in their tweets and at the dinner table for weeks.

Who’s on the guest list? What kind of dress is she wearing? Can I catch a glimpse of the wedding party getting their nails done in town? Basically – who in the realm of entertainment and politics was cool enough to get an invite; like Wonka’s golden ticket.

I stopped at CVS to pick up props for a commercial shoot and had to wait for two TV crews to cross the street.

The Today Show was out in front of the Beek shooting interviews and collecting tags and b-roll for (I’m assuming) an edited package to run on tomorrow’s show.

Oh – and did I mention it’s only Thursday?

As long as I’ve called Rhinebeck my hometown, the one pet peeve of most “Rhinebeckians” are the tourists who flock to our town on the weekends. Imagine that ten-fold with a few secret service agents thrown in the mix to ruin our walks in the woods.

As I conjured up a way to get a secret service agent to take me down on camera, it hit me. All the other times I’ve steered clear of town – it was for no real reason; just some swanky city dweller with their chin up and loafers on.

But this weekend – people are putting their homes on Craigslist and hightailing it out of town because America’s wedding of the century is coming for a visit.

The Today Show, CNN, ET and others on the streets of Rhinebeck.

For America – this is our Princess Diana wedding. And I guess at a time when most of the news only further propels people into depression – I’ll be “ok” with it taking over my town.

To those I know involved – the rehearsal dinner chefs, valets – I’m happy. They will get to be a part of something this country will talk about for a long time. You know – until Lindsay Lohan gets out of the slammer.

And as for myself – you guessed it – I’m steering clear of anything with a ‘12572’ zip code ‘til Sunday.

Follow @ArbuckleTV on Twitter or on his youtube channel.

Crowd pours out after exciting premiere.

No analysis, no over-thought, no need to look into things that aren’t there. “Salt” is nothing more and nothing less than an entertaining spy thriller.

It’s easy – all you have to do is show up and enjoy the ride. Throw in a few twists and a couple chase scenes and you’ve got yourself one of the better spy movies since the “MI” days.

Tom Cruise was an original thought, but according to OkMagazine.com — Angelina did some better convincing and took it from him. And if you can take anything from comparing “Salt” to “Mission Impossible” – Sony made the right choice.

Beautiful, sexy, cunning and tough as nails. Evelyn Salt is the new “Bourne,” or for gender purposes – the new “La Femme Nikita.”

But what made this movie more than just 100 minutes of over-the-top stunts, unlikely twists and Bond-like escapes from peril, was its setting.

To the greater Capital Region – this movie was more. I stood there, an hour and a half prior to the screening up a block and around the corner from The Palace — in line.

People were desperate for seats. Asking anyone and everyone if they had extra tickets.

You could sense the excitement in the silent masses as the movie began. How long would it take?

Luckily – we didn’t have to wait long. It was like a kid hearing the ice cream truck off in the distance. That grungy, blue tanker started rolling along the highway underneath her. Surrounded by authorities – backpack and hat on, we all knew what was next. And as quickly as she hit the top of the big rig – the crowds cheered. A seemingly normal high-action chase scene had The Palace Theater entranced. For five minutes cars crashed and characters launched themselves off overpasses with Albany as the backdrop.

It was more than just a movie to us. And yes, perhaps the excitement led people to give a skewed; over exaggerated review of the film and how good it actually was — but what do you expect?

Once everything settles and you take “Salt” for what it is, it’s simply an exciting story that I assure you – won’t leave you bored.

Combine that with a good supporting cast with the likes of Liev Schreiber (Defiance) and a story that – though unfathomable, is certainly entertaining, and you’ve got yourself what the biz deems a summer blockbuster hit.

Nothing more; nothing less. Just enjoy.

**Review also on CBS6′s website here.**

*Special Thanks to Sean Ribet for Tipping Us Off About the Interview!

(Blackledge in action in the M-1 Challenge)

It came to light yesterday that another spate of British fighters had earned their way into the UFC. Products of the famous Wolfslair academy in the gloomy North West of England, Rob “The Bear” Broughton, Tom Blackledge and Curt Warburton will enter the heavyweight, light-heavyweight and lightweight divisions respectively.

With a solid roster of fighters already battling in the UFC’s Octagon including Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Michael Bisping and Cheick Kongo, the new additions will be able to gather some solace in the fact that their training partners are already experienced in this arena and can share their wisdom.

“There’s the guys already there, us that have just signed and some guys trying out for the TUF series,” Tom Blackledge (10-6) noted of the Wolfslair takeover. “It’s because of the quality coaches and management we’ve got here. It’s a constant thing and we’ve got all the support we need from one another.”

Blackledge has been with the gym for a number of years and has seen it grow from a small number of domestic athletes to an international cast of well-known athletes. The rise of the gym almost mimics that of his own, a slow and turbulent start that has now reaped the rewards.

“We all train together and are constantly there to help each other,” he continued to tell FIGHT!. “The guys getting signed is just a by-product of the quality set-up we have down here.”

Blackledge himself has earned the spot on the UFC roster through years of toil and hard work, culminating with an undefeated season in the M-1 Challenge in which he added two wins to his resume; an emphatic eight-second head kick KO over Spain’s Enoc Solves Torres and a slick rear naked choke submission over Japan’s Tatsuya Mizuno.
His other comrades have made great strides in the past year in order to make the UFC take notice.

Rob Broughton was also a member of England’s M-1 team and recorded an undefeated season himself, going 3-0 with the trinity of victories – a TKO, a submission and a decision. That wasn’t the most impressive moment of the past year for “The Bear”, however, as he cemented his place as the UK’s top heavyweight in the ZT heavyweight tournament. In one night he dispatched UFC vet Neil Wain via guillotine, knocked out Pride FC veteran James Thompson and went to the judges to register a decision over former Britain’s strongest man Oli Thompson in a gruelling fifteen minute battle that proved he has the heart and cardio to last.

The powers that be in the UFC were obviously taking note as that was his last outing before being signed.

Warburton was something of a wildcard. Although his impressive 6-1 records includes a stoppage win over TUF 9 winner Ross Pearson, Broughton and Blackledge held much higher domestic rankings than the North East striker. Back to back victories over Toon Van Thielen and Tom Maguire highlighted his increasingly well-rounded skillset and proved that his short tenure at the Wolfslair had seen him progress rapidly. He will take to the task at hand with vigour and aim to prove that he can compete with some of the world’s best fighters.

Although none of the men have fights lined up imminently, it will be interesting to see how they fare in the most prestigious battleground in MMA. It is a fabulous opportunity for all of the fighters, another achievement for the Wolfslair and a positive step for UK MMA as more and more fighters get signed to the elite level.
To the naysayers, Tom asserted:

“It’s been shown time and time again that we can compete. Just look at the TUF show and guys like Etim, Mike [Bisping], Kelly, Hardy and all these guys. They’re going in there and doing well.

“Fair enough we might not be able to wrestle like they can as they do it from school age, but it’s just one facet of the game. We have good Boxing, Thai boxing and more and more good BJJ over here.”

He was quick to reiterate that the scene and level of the fighters was rising in the UK and, who knows, one of these men may just become your new favourite fighters. Always ready to lay it on the line in exciting fights, there’s no quit in the Brits.

According to Fighters Only, all three fighters signed four-fight deals and are expected to make their UFC debuts later this year, while two more Wolfslair fighters are set to appear on upcoming seasons of The Ultimate Fighter.

A jiu jitsu black belt, Blackledge (9-6) appeared as an assistant coach with “Rampage” on The Ultimate Fighter 10 and is coming off back-to-back first-round stoppages in 2009 in M-1 Challenge.

Broughton (14-5-1), also an M-1 Challenge veteran, is coming off winning an eight-man heavyweight tournament in January with a submission of Neil Wain, KO of James Thompson, and unanimous decision over Oli Thompson in the finals.

Warburton (7-2-1) earned a unanimous decision over Thomas Maguire in October in his most-recent bout and has gone 1-1-1 in three matchups against TUF 9 lightweight winner Ross Pearson.

The UFC has signed light heavyweight Tom Blackledge, welterweight Kurt Warburton, and heavyweight Rob Broughton from the UK’s Wolfslair MMA Academy, which also includes current UFC fighters Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Michael Bisping, and Cheick Kongo.

According to Fighters Only, all three fighters signed four-fight deals and are expected to make their UFC debuts later this year, while two more Wolfslair fighters are set to appear on upcoming seasons of The Ultimate Fighter.

A jiu jitsu black belt, Blackledge (9-6) appeared as an assistant coach with “Rampage” on The Ultimate Fighter 10 and is coming off back-to-back first-round stoppages in 2009 in M-1 Challenge.

Broughton (14-5-1), also an M-1 Challenge veteran, is coming off winning an eight-man heavyweight tournament in January with a submission of Neil Wain, KO of James Thompson, and unanimous decision over Oli Thompson in the finals.

Warburton (7-2-1) earned a unanimous decision over Thomas Maguire in October in his most-recent bout and has gone 1-1-1 in three matchups against TUF 9 lightweight winner Ross Pearson.

*Reposted from Kris Karkoski’s article at MMAFrenzy.com

The 60-second film launches February 12th in the United States and features Oscar Pistorius, Sergio Aguero, Deron Williams, Maria Sharapova, Mike Spinner, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, LaDainian Tomlinson and Lance Armstrong alongside many other athletes as they all connect in one continuous chain of motion.

The athletes used in this spot were chosen because they represent a wide variety of sports and athletes at all levels. It is a message that harkens back to Nike’s “Just Do It” mantra and our mission to inspire and motivate all athletes to great performances 24/7, 365 days a year.

“Everybody gets knocked down, how quick are you going to get up?”

Human Chain from NikeSportswear on Vimeo.

*features excerpt from http://slamxhype.com/art-design/nike-human-chain-short-film/