Fight #4: Brady vs Tuukka

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The Matchup: Tom Brady vs. Tuukka Rask

Size: Brady stands at 6'4" and weighs 225 lbs. Tuukka Rask is a formidable 6'2", but he registers at just 171 lbs. Brady has 2 inches and over 50 pounds on Tuukka. Advantage Brady.

Speed: Especially after Brady's ACL injury, he's had trouble from time to time eluding the rush. He's not exactly Michael Vick when it comes to scrambling out of the pocket. Tuukka, meanwhile, is lightning quick and has been showing it ever since the day he stepped on the ice. His agility and elusiveness edge Brady's in my opinion. Advantage Tuukka.

Power: Tuukka stops the puck. That's his job. And he's amazing at it. But to be truthful, there's no way he has the power advantage over Tom. Brady is bigger by quite a large margin. That size translates into strength. Brady has taken plenty of hits before. He can hold his own. He's got the strength component on lockdown. Advantage Brady.
Smarts: Again, Tuukka, is a mastermind between the pipes. But Tom Brady might be the best field general of all-time in some people's eyes. He sees the little shit that you need to notice to be a champion. He knows how to exploit the weaknesses of his opponent. Those are the types of smarts that pay off in a fight. Child, please. Be real. Can't deny that one. Advantage Brady.
Intangibles: It kind of sucks that Tuukka has such a small sample size. His work is really cut out for him when he's got a 3-time Super Bowl champion on the other side of the octagon. And that experience is very valuable, which is arguably the biggest intangible factor. But I'll argue the other way. Tuukka Rask has a double-U and a double-T, both in his first name, right next to each other. You don't mess with that shit. Tuukka is a crazy bass and he's blood hungry. Because I love him so much, I'll give him the nod with intangibles. Advantage Tuukka.
Toughness: Get this straight. I would trust Tuukka Rask with my life in almost any situation. He is tough as nails. I just get that impression. But that's the problem. It's really just the impression right now. Ultimately, our sample size isn't that great. We've only seen Tuuk for 1 year. We've seen Tom Brady pour his blood and guts onto the field for the last decade. We've seen him get blasted by a linebacker and pop right back up. He takes the hits. It's not that Tuukka can't do it like Brady, but he hasn't had the time to show us yet. So I've got to default the category to Tom. He's still the warrior he always has been on the field, even if he's acting like a pussy in these planet Earth commercial things. Still a valiant soldier destined to win. Advantage Brady.


The Decision: It breaks my heart to send Tuukka Rask packing after the first round, but I gotta be real here. Brady would edge him in the octagon. Almost a guarantee. Too big of a size disadvantage for Tuukka to overcome. Rask would definitely win the loser's bracket. He's such a boss. But he drew one of the tougher first-round opponents out there. Tom Brady, man. Tough to find a modern day Boston athlete quite like him. Tom Brady wins a unanimous decision over Tuukka Rask.

Agree? Disagree? I respect that if you have a different view. They're both legendary in my eyes. Well, Tuukka might not be a legend yet. But he will be. Either way, it's the greatest QB of all-time who will move on to face Pedro Martinez in round two. That's going to be a phenomenal battle to the death. We'll have to wait and see who wins. Tomorrow's matchup stays just as intense, as Kevin Garnett tries to make Kobe Bryant pay a steep price in the octagon for raping that girl.