It's with a heartfelt nod to Sam Vasquez's family and friends that I open this week's column. As pretty much everybody who follows the sport knows by now, sanctioned MMA yielded its first death when Mr. Vasquez passed away on the night of Nov. 30.

It's still uncertain whether his fight against Vince Libardi was the direct cause of his untimely death. He underwent two surgeries to remove blood clots in his brain, with the first clot not resulting from initial injuries suffered in combat, said his wife, Sandra. A few days after the second surgery, Vasquez suffered a stroke and succumbed several weeks later.

What we do know is that it is a tragic loss for the sport of MMA and, most importantly, for the family and friends of Sam Vasquez, who is survived by his wife and 7-year-old son.

Libardi will have to live with the fact that Vasquez was rushed out of the Toyota Center in Houston on a stretcher immediately after taking several hard punches. He'll also know that could have led directly to the fighter's death.

I've covered too many boxing matches that involved death, one arguably being avoidable, and it's always a shame when a fighter dies. I'm not going to launch some sort of crusade to strengthen pre-fight exams across the globe for MMA contests because it's uncertain whether Vasquez entered the realm of combat already stricken with injury, and it's also unclear if he passed every test with flying colors.

But if he did enter the ring with a blood clot and if his death could have been avoided, then all hell will probably break loose.

My condolences go out to everybody who was a loved one to Sam Vasquez.

Taktarov is Back

"The Russian Bear" has finally made his return to mixed martial arts action and did so in moderately spectacular fashion.

Oleg Taktarov, one of the legends of the UFC in its infancy, hasn't fought in a professional MMA bout in almost a full decade. That didn't stop him from scoring a slick submission over John Marsh (Pictures) early in the second round of his Bodog fight this past weekend in Moscow.

However, before everybody starts salivating at the thought of the bruising heavyweight ripping apart foes inside the Octagon and regaining his lost glory, people should stop and take a few deep breaths.

I have absolutely nothing against Taktarov whatsoever. If he wants to fight again, more power to him. But the Russian mauler is pushing 40, and if anyone thinks he'll be putting King Fedor to sleep anytime soon -- you should see some of the e-mails I've received -- said individuals should be plucked out of society and dropped violently into some sort of mental institution, shacked up with Billy Bibbitt.

The way I see this unfolding is simple: Taktarov will steamroll a few fighters the caliber of Marsh and then fight Fedor. Taktarov will then retire once said fight has ended.

Here's to seeing Taktarov back in action, but here's also to wondering what could have been, had he not opted out of pro MMA -- before McGwire and Sosa broke Maris' record -- and into Hollywood.

Tito Ortiz (Pictures) Trumped?

Yes, the former UFC light heavyweight champion will be a participant on this year's "The Apprentice" reality series, which kicks off in early January. Tito Ortiz (Pictures) will try to win challenges and advance into the next stages in order to become a fictional "apprentice."

Unlike previous seasons in which the winner actually does become one of Donald Trump's apprentices, the winner of this year's appalling "Celebrity Apprentice" will win money for charity.

How fun.

To be honest, as usual, the show has been my absolute favorite form of entertainment on television ever since I got into it. Aside from watching the fights and some mainstream sports on TV, "The Apprentice" is without question the best thing on the old boob tube. Unfortunately this year's show will be unwatchable.

Or at least I thought it would be until I saw a TV ad featuring both Tito Ortiz (Pictures) and former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis. Other "celebrities" on the show are reported to be Gene Simmons (front man of hands down the most overrated rock band of all-time), Vincent Pastore, Carol Alt, Marilu Henner, Pete Rose, a few others and Omarosa from … "The Apprentice."

This year's season will be arguably the lousiest piece of filth to ever hit primetime TV, but since Ortiz is a part of the cast, I'll watch every episode -- at least until he and Lewis are booted off.

Misc. Debris

If there ever was some sort of positive spin that can be attached to the terrible death of Sam Vasquez, it's that his fight didn't take place on a UFC, WEC, IFL or EliteXC card in front of millions of viewers. Had Vasquez been a fighter under the Zuffa banner or had his battle been aired on a major network, it's unclear as to how damning it would have been for the sport. It's a tragic event, the passing of an MMA fighter following his bout, but to be rather morbid, it certainly won't be the last. …

Luckily, charges were dropped against Din Thomas (Pictures) for arranging an illegal cage-fighting event. How ridiculous would it have been if Thomas was sent to the slammer for conducting a smoker in a warehouse? At least the prosecutors in Florida and every other authoritative figure working on the case came to their senses. My only question is how much of the taxpayers' money was wasted on such a meaningless investigation? …

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