Artest Addresses Rapper Stat Quo
November 20, 2008
NBA Star Ron Artest recently addresses Atlanta rapper Stat Quo on issues of swagg, Greg Oden, ect. If you read between the lines Ron actually makes some good points. Check out the video.
800 | WWE celebrating its 800th show
November 2, 2008
800. Just a number, right? Well take that number and spread it over 15 years on primetime television. Now take that number and add the fact that you do not have the luxury of having any repeats or reruns from week to week. Imagine all the man hours it must take on a weekly basis to come up with new and fresh ideas with an ever evolving and ever changing ensemble cast. Now couple with that the fact that you’re going up against the standard bearers of Monday Night primetime programming, the National Football League. And, along the way, another program, from the same genre of programming, comes and attempts to take some of your audience. How do you survive?
Well, if you’re the Simpsons, ER, or Seinfeld, you don’t have to factor all these things in. In addition, most of your stars are lauded as celebrities and not just butts of jokes and quick tongue in cheek references. So again, what is the significance of the number 800? When you are World Wrestling Entertainment, it says plenty. Since 1993, WWE has presented Monday Night Raw on a weekly first run basis. Its run is more than four times as long as Seinfeld’s. There have been more episodes of it than The Simpsons and ER combined. It’s the longest running weekly show in the United States. Despite the fact that it first aired more than 15 years ago, Raw today is as fresh and exciting as its first episode way back in 1993.
From its humble beginnings in the Manhattan Center to the arenas that it packs week in and week out, it has had its share of moments that have crossed over to mainstream media and has etched itself as a part of the fabric and culture of this country and others. Here are some quick highlights over the past decade and a half:
Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Mike Tyson have an in-ring face-off
On Jan. 19, 1998, WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon was in his glory because “Iron” Mike Tyson was on Raw and he had big plans for boxing’s controversial former heavyweight champion. But Stone Cold quickly rained on his parade, marching down to the ring and then announcing he wanted to cash in his Royal Rumble-earned title opportunity against WWE Champion Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania.
Of course, he only wanted to do that after he got “a piece of Mike Tyson’s a**.” Some “sign language” with his middle fingers sparked a brawl between The Rattlesnake and Tyson, and the Chairman was livid, screaming, “You ruined everything! You ruined everything, Austin!”
Tyson would briefly align himself with HBK and DX - but then show his true colors at WrestleMania XIV when he played a key role in Austin winning the WWE Championship. He provided WWE with some unforgettable moments, which began on Raw and his respect for Stone Cold showed that Austin was the “World’s Toughest Son of a Bitch.”
Mr. McMahon’s Limo Explodes
After Raw on the night of June 11, 2007, Mr. McMahon was quite literally the hot topic of nearly every major news source in the continental United States. His face blew up the front pages of newspapers, while his name could be found on most network news’ web pages - and the source of discussion surrounding the WWE Chairman had nothing to do with his adding more millions to his bank account, or backlash from berating high-profile public figures like Donald Trump or Bob Costas.
It was on that seemingly ordinary night in Wilkes Barre, Pa., that Mr. McMahon left the arena, stepped into a limousine and pulled the door shut. When the car door closed, that’s when things heated up.
A massive inferno lit up the sky as shrapnel from the limo - with the Chairman presumably caught inside -dispersed across northeastern Pennsylvania. The fans watching Raw live gasped as eyebrows raised and hands covered mouths. Even a tear may have been shed by the one lonely kid wearing a bad tie and ugly sports coat like his presumed deceased hero. (This incident also resulted in mass 911 calls to report incident even though it was a staged and controlled.)
The Monday Night War-DX Invades WCW
Breaching enemy lines for the first time ever, Triple H field-led a camo-clad quintet of D-Generates onto the turf of rival wrestling franchise WCW on April 27, 1998. Never before had any individual from a competing sports-entertainment promotion come so close to the frontlines, let alone acknowledge the competitor. That didn’t stop their sergeant, The Game, from leading the DX troop to The Scope in Norfolk, Va. - the arena hosting Monday Nitro that very evening.
“WCW, let my people go!” Triple H exclaimed, as he stood mounted atop a war-bound jeep with a cannon nestled between his army fatigue pant legs. With his subordinate DX soldiers at his side in their “X” labeled helmets, The Game corralled scores of supporters outside the arena and turned many WCW ticket holders into WWE diehards.
The D-Generates even tried to infiltrate the sports complex and ride their vehicle into the rear entrance of the arena, so that they might come face-to-camouflage painted face with their competitors. Though locked out, Triple H and his pack continued to bellow war cries that were undoubtedly heard by the athletes in the WCW locker room mere yards away.
Brazenly confronting the enemy and extinguishing the excitement for that night’s edition of Nitro - for fans and WCW’s roster alike - DX managed to “fire the first shot” in the Monday Night Wars. Not just the first shot, but also one of the most potent; this invasion proved to be a critical turning point in the clash for sports-entertainment supremacy in the late 1990s. And if WCW wasn’t down with that, DX had two very specific words for them.
Shane McMahon purchases WCW
March 26th, 2001.The evening of irony started in Cleveland, Ohio, where the WWE Chairman opened Raw and WCW Monday Nitro, which had been emanating from Panama City Beach, Fla. In a first-ever simulcast on both programs, WWE’s billionaire Chairman made the shocking announcement that he had acquired WCW. One could argue that WWE had long ago won its ongoing “Monday Night War” with the Ted Turner-owned competition; however, there was no debating that Mr. McMahon, with less than a week before WrestleMania X-Seven in Houston’s sold-out Astrodome, now believed that he was sitting on top of two worlds.
But the boss was a tad premature with his blockbuster proclamation. Inside the ring midway through Raw, Mr. McMahon clarified for our fans how Time Warner had “practically begged” him to buy WCW. He agreed - with the caveat that he would only seal the deal on pay-per-view, “when Ted Turner himself walks down the aisle at WrestleMania and delivers the contract to me!” Evidently, the victor of the “Monday Night War” felt no need to exhibit compassion for the vaunted “Billionaire Ted,” or for a brand he planned to forever “bury” - much like he intended to do to his own son, Shane, in their upcoming WrestleMania Street Fight.
Suddenly, the billionaire Chairman’s vitriolic tirade gave way to startled surprise as his entrance music kicked in, and the face of his offspring filled up the entire TitanTron. Shane, it turned out, was in Panama City Beach for WCW Monday Nitro, and he had just entered the ring to make a special announcement of his own:
“Dad, the deal is finalized with WCW, and the name on the contract does say ‘McMahon,’” he said. “However, the contract reads ‘Shane McMahon.’ That’s right - I now own WCW!”
Our fans were beyond elated; based on the raucous cheers coming from both venue audiences; one can logically presume that many parties took place in Cleveland and Panama City Beach that night. As for WWE’s Chairman, we’ve seen him register utter shock and disbelief many times over the years. But the expression on his face as Shane declared himself the owner of WCW… well, let’s put it this way: It was as if his entire world was a limousine, and it just blew up. Just as Shane would kick his father’s posterior at WrestleMania X-Seven, his invading WCW - allied with a Stephanie McMahon-led ECW - would get the better of Mr. McMahon for much of 2001, until WWE’s Superstars emerged triumphant in a winner-take-all match-up at Survivor Series. WCW and ECW’s rosters would become integrated into the WWE locker room, creating an elite mix of Superstars that to this day entertains our fans around the world under the Raw, SmackDown and ECW brands. Needless to say, the result of what transpired that March evening on Raw forever altered the face of sports-entertainment.
Now that’s just four memories. But anyone who has even watched RAW in passing could pick and choose at least something that intrigued or, better yet, entertained over the years. And the show has arguably produced more household names than any other primetime entity as names like The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, John Cena, and Shawn Michaels are firmly engraved in the minds of millions of fans nationwide and the world over. So tune in and witness history.800…and counting. Late
Emtional State | Sports and Emotion
October 8, 2008
Let’s be honest. Those of us passionate about our sports teams curse the maker when certain players from our favorite team fail to take our team to the brass ring and a championship. I’m sure Boston Red Sox fans(pre 2004) still lament why first baseman Bill Buckner “let” New York Met outfielder Mookie Wilson’s ground ball elude him in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, allowing the Mets to force Game 7 and eventually win the title. It is something to this day still is a sore subject with Red Sox fans and Buckner himself. Fortunately, Buckner didn’t go off the deep end and is still with us today.
This wasn’t the only instance where emotions played out and crossed the line. In 1994, a Columbian soccer player was killed upon returning home “simply” for scoring an ”own” goal against the United States, causing Columbia to be eliminated from competition that year and propelling the U.S. to the next round. Hell, let’s not even talk about team sports for a minute. What about Mike Tyson’s infamous “ear biting” incident against Evander Holyfield or the morbid, almost prophetic words scribed by UFC superstar Evan Tanner shortly before his death. Even Kevin Garnett couldn’t hide his emotions upon Boston winning the NBA title. The point is, have we put too much of a premium on the result and less on the spirit of the competition?
Why do I say this? Well, let me see. I think it might have something to do with the recent incidents with Cowboy wideout Terrell Owens (who made headlines with his ”alleged” suicide attempt. Or perhaps the talk of suicide surrounding Tennessee Titan quarterback Vince Young, who has been unable to digest and cope with Titan fans barbs and insults and contemplated retirement. I’ll go a step further. Anyone watch UFC‘s Ultimate Fighter series on Spike TV? Remember Season One? I do. And just as much as I remember the classic finale between future UFC light heavyweight champ Forrest Griffin and Stephen Bonnar, I remember the emotional basket case that was Chris Leben.
Leben was considered to be one of the most controversial and outspoken fighters on the show due to his tough guy attitude coupled with his propensity to shed tears. In the first episode he got drunk and urinated on future teammate Jason Thacker’s bed, stealing his pillow afterward. After a heated confrontation where Josh Koscheck and Bobby Southworth sprayed Leben down with a hose while he was asleep, Leben punched a window out as Koscheck ran away to hide. After the confrontation, UFC president Dana White set up a match between Leben and Koscheck. Leben ended up losing the two round fight by unanimous decision due to Koscheck’s ability to score points by controlling Leben on the ground. Leben was visibly upset, especially since Koscheck made no effort to advance his position, only holding Leben down. Needless to say, Leben’s emotions ran very high and any one of us put in that situation would surely have been just as distraught if we felt that we weren’t ”good enough”.
While on the subject of UFCfighters, what about Quinton ”Rampage” Jackson (who ironically lost his light heavyweight title to Griffin at UFC 86? On July 15, 2008, Jackson was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony reckless driving, and felony hit and run after striking several vehicles. He led pursuing officers on a chase while driving on the wrong side of the street and on city sidewalks in his lifted Ford F-350 with his picture painted on the side. During the chase one of the tires blew out on his truck and he continued to flee while driving on his rims and showering the street with sparks the day before his arrest, Jackson gave an interview and said he had become depressed after his recent loss by decision to Forrest Griffin. On July 16, 2008, someone in Jackson’s household flagged down police and reported that Jackson was acting unusually. Jackson was escorted to a mental health institution for observations. On July 18, 2008, UFC President Dana White gave an interview to Yahoo! Sports in which he said that Jackson had initially been detained for a 72 hour stay, but that had been extended. White was quoted as saying, “I think it’s going to be a while before we get him back.” White also claimed that before the detainment, Jackson did not sleep for four days and was not eating, but only drinking water and energy drinks. According to White, no drugs were found in Jackson’s system.
Want more examples? I got another (although I know many of you cynics would never consider it an “athletic “endeavor).How about the double murder suicide perpetrated by former World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Chris Benoit? On June 19, 2007, Benoit wrestled what was to be his last match, defeating Elijah Burke in a match to determine who would face CM Punk for the vacated ECW World Championship at Vengeance. Benoit missed the weekend house shows, telling WWE officials that his wife and son were vomiting blood due to food poisoning. When he failed to show up for the pay-per-view, viewers were informed that he was unable to compete due to a “family emergency,” and he was replaced in the title match by Johnny Nitro. Nitro won the match and became ECW Champion. On June 25, 2007, Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their 7-year-old son Daniel were found dead in their Fayetteville, Georgia, home at around 2:30 p.m. EDT. Lieutenant Tommy Pope of the Fayette County, Georgia Sheriff’s Department reported to ABC News that police entered Benoit’s home on a “welfare check” after several missed appointments, leading to concerns. Pope also stated the police were not searching for any suspects outside of the house, as the instruments of death were located at the scene of the crime. Detective Bo Turner of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department told television station WAGA-TV that the case was being treated as a murder-suicide. The station reported that investigators had discovered, and would eventually cite as an official ruling, that Benoit murdered his wife and son over the weekend and hanged himself sometime on Monday.Bednoit has since been literally erased from any WWE related private or public domain and is not even a footnote in the company’s extensive video archives(which includes footage from Benoit’s stints in World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling, both of which were purchased by World Wrestling Entertainment in 2001)
But erasing history doesn’t solve a problem. And clearly, there is a problem. The latest red flag (potentially) shows a distraught Terrell Owens after last weekend’s Cowboys “win” over Cincinnati. Owens, always known to be emotional, continues to deflect media criticism concerning his discontent with not being the focal point of Dallas’ offensive game plan after losing to the Washington Redskins the previous week. As I have spoken about before, media has a responsibility, as well as us as fans. Yet we continue to sherk it.
Bottom line, millions of dollars made by one man does not by piece of mind. Sure we may not care for Owens antics or have no sympathy for Rampage Jackson’s actions. But clearly, we must temper our enthusiasm and be mindful of our misguided venom. I mean, I want the Dodgers to win the World Series. But I will not blame Manny Ramirez if they don’t even if he makes a bonehead play that contribute to it not happening. The emotional psyche of every human is very delicate. You don’t have to be an athlete to realize the high premium and pressure we place on ourselves in everyday life. Now imagine that with hundreds of millions of eyes glued to you, their life’s worth riding in the balance. I think you’d be a little emotional too. I’m not defending (especially in the Benoit case. There is truly no defense for that.).I’m just saying. Late
Kimbo VS Shamrock turns to Kimbo VS Petruzelli | Kimbo loses in 10 seconds [video]
October 5, 2008
I ended up not watching the Kimbo VS Shamrock Pteruzelli fight last night on CBS, and im glad i didnt. Apparently Shamrock had injured himself hours before the fight and couldnt get cleared by two different doctors so a replacement was found. The replacement was Seth “The Silverback” Petruzell.
The results as told by bloodyelbow.com:
Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson vs. Seth “The Silverback” Petruzelli - Round 1 - Kimbo refuses to touch gloves at the ref instructions. SLICE IS HURT! 10 SECONDS AND IT’S DONE! OH MY GOD! WOW! KIMBO WAS SHOOTING ON THE REF A GOOD 10 SECONDS LATER HE WAS SO HURT! Seth stunned him and then dropped BOMBS once Kimbo went down. Seth Petruzelli wins by KO (Punches) Round 1 (10 seconds). Front kick, right hand. The right dropped Kimbo and then Seth pounded him out with right hand after right hand. Seth is making excuses for Kimbo. Kimbo, to his credit, does not make excuses. He just says show the fighters some love, the after party is still on…and then leaves mid interview.
Someone else pointed it out in the comments so I rewound and watched. Jared Shaw was screaming at the cage when Kimbo was getting pounded out. It looked like someone who bet his life savings on one horse screaming at a jockey. I wonder if it was directed at Kimbo “get up!” or the ref “don’t stop it!” Actually. Looking a little further at a different angle it is clear that he seemed to be yelling at the ref after the stopage also…so I’m not sayin’ I’m just sayin’ that Shaw seemed upset that the fight was stopped as kimbo ate a LOT of unanswered shots. But maybe I’m wrong.
A dissapointment for the most part, but i am confident had it been Shamrock Kimbo would have been the victor. Not that i am making excuses for him, but i do believe that the switch up was what caused this loss. Again, Kimbo is a great street fighter, but being new to the ring, he has yet to get totally accustomed. That will take time and more training…
Philly Eagle’s Receiver’s Rookie Mistake
September 16, 2008
I am one to believe that rookies make mistakes but last night had to leave Desean Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver) extremely embarrassed.
The rookie made an unbelievable deep catch from a pass by Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and just before he crossed the goaline to get the touchdown he flips the ball behind him. He was clearly trying to show off! Now I am not against a little showmanship on the football field but at least score the touchdown first and
then pop your collar or do whatever it is that you do to stunt on the other team.
What made this moment worse was that it was on national tv and on monday night football, the first of his young career. And I am sure all his friends and family back in Long Beach California aka The LBC (see Snoop Dogg) were watching. They probably did what I did, got all excited to only see the replay and say “What the hell are you doing?”. But either way it all worked out because his team got the ball on the goaline and they eventually ran the ball in for the score but it took away the kids moment and his first touchdown on Monday Night Football.
But it is all good, Jackson is extremely talented and I am sure he will have many other opportunities in his career to cross the goaline on a monday night game and celebrate correctly. Check out the clip if you missed it.
TSS: Nominee For “The Stanford Band Award” 2008
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