Some Sunday morning thoughts to enjoy while sipping some good coffee…Oh yeah, that’s what I’m talking about!
- Summerslam goes down tonight live from the Staples Center in LA. No major news or rumors have seemingly come out that I have seen, however, Matt Hardy seemed to cause a slight stir on Twitter. According to Matt: “Here's an update for the "sheets"-Jeff & I might not team again due to pursuing singles careers. And Jeff will be with WWE after Summerslam.” Very interesting statement indeed don’t you think? Now there are a few ways to interpret this statement:
1. The whole contract speculation about Jeff Hardy the past few months has been a well orchestrated work by the WWE to make people think Jeff could leave at any point and you better watch him because he might not come back. All the while, Jeff could have quietly signed a new deal and he will be staying.
2. Saying that Jeff will be with the WWE after Summerslam could mean that he shows up at Monday Night Raw and the Smackdown tapings on Tuesday and THEN takes his time off. So really. Matt would be telling the truth, but he very well could be saying that it is only good for 2 more days.
3. The WWE realizes that Matt has a big following on Twitter and they flat out told him to not say anything of the sort that Jeff is taking a leave of absence after Summerslam.
I still am sticking with my prediction that Jeff will be taking time off because I believe that a contract signing would have somehow leaked to the internet and I have seen nothing. I am hopefully looking forward to a great TLC match tonight with CM Punk winning and becoming your new World Heavyweight Champion.
- Kyle Busch won last night’s Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The win pushed Busch up to 13th in the standings, just 34 points behind Matt Kenseth for the final spot in the Chase. I am a casual fan of NASCAR and have slowly grown to appreciate the sport over the years. I do think the Chase format has made the races more exciting and has given a better storyline to the end of the season. My favorite driver has always been Jeff Gordon. I remember how dominant and good he was early in his career and he was pretty much hated on because of it. So even though he was at the top of the sport, I guess it made it seem like he was an underdog to me and I became a fan. For this year’s Championship Chase, it is hard to argue that it won’t come down to a 2 man duel between Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson. Stewart has been the most consistent and has looked dominant at times, but Johnson seems to slowly be rounding into form and he knows how to get it done in the final 10 races of the season…should be fun to see how it plays out.
- The Red Sox finally got a little measure of revenge after 5 straight losses to the Yankees, whooping up on them 14-1 yesterday. As much as I hate to say it though, I believe the Red Sox can kiss the division goodbye and the Yankees will be AL East Champs. Looks like the money might pay off this year for the Yanks, but one can hope that history repeats itself and they fall short again. And here’s your Baltimore Orioles update…they STILL suck! I long for the final glory days the franchise had when Cal Ripken still roamed between 2nd and 3rd and the team actually tried to field a winner. I hear all this talk that the O’s are 2 or 3 years away and I laugh. I have seen it too often for the last decade. No money is spent, no big time free agents want to come to Baltimore, and when the prospects develop, they will leave for bigger money. It is a perpetual cycle of rebuilding the way I see it. The only way the Orioles will contend is if all the young talent and some of the prospects simultaneously have breakout and surprise years and they make a run before the team would collapse. I hate to be a hater, but O’s baseball has just gone way downhill for too long.
- From the NFL preseason last night: Jay Cutler looked very sharp in leading 3 scoring drives and helping the Bears beat the Giants 17-3. If Cutler can focus and stop whining, the Bears could have a good season this year. I think they lack enough offensive weapons though to make a real run at the Super Bowl this year…Matthew Stafford looked shaky as the Browns beat the Lions 27-10. Cleveland is still trying to determine if Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn will be the starting QB come week 1 and the Lions could be more likely to turn to Daunte Culpepper to start the year. Bottom line though, the Lions and the Browns will have mediocre seasons this year at best…Andy Reid continues to inch toward confirming that Michael Vick will see game action this Thursday when the Eagles take on the Jaguars. No question, all eyes will be on the highlights of that game come Thursday night and into Friday…sources are saying that Shaun Hill will be named the 49ers starting QB over Alex Smith after Smith looked very shaky in last night’s 21-20 victory over the Raiders. The 49ers should be respectable this year and could be a team on the rise. Would be nice if Michael Crabtree stopped crying and tried to help in the effort though…
- Sources are reporting this morning that the Colorado Rockies have signed veteran Jason Giambi for the stretch run. I'm not really sure if this signing will be helping them any. It would make more sense to me if an AL team signed him to help out in the DH role. A 38 year old who would be taking up a positional spot and who has not really been swinging a powerful stick this year does not seem like a recipe for success to me. But putting Giambi in a pennant race could rejuvenate him for the rest of the year. The Rockies' run has been impressive after everyone assumed the Dodgers would just run away with the NL West, so who knows.
- And finally a little hockey news for everyone...Ottawa Senators winger Dany Heatley reiterated his request for a trade from the team this weekend and said that he has been troubled by his "diminished role" on the team. What? You've got a guy who is close to being a perennial 40 goal scorer (he had 39 last year in his "diminished role") and still in the prime of his playing years and you are telling me the team is trying to reduce your role and not play you? Come on. The guy is Ottawa's most talented scorer so something is not right here. He already rejected a trade to the Edmonton Oilers saying he wanted more "options". Unfortunately for Heatley, I believe this all stems from the tragic car accident he was involved in back 2003 which caused the death of Atlanta Thrashers teammate Dan Snyder. He requested to be traded from Atlanta for a "fresh start" and now it seems like he wants another. I feel Heatley is sadly trying to run from his past and just can't get comfortable. Hockey is king in Canada, so maybe he can't take the scrutiny. Maybe he needs to be tucked away in a smaller market, who knows. But for a guy as talented as Heatley, it just seems odd and empty that he wants out of Ottawa and he really is just making an excuse to try and get it. If he is truly still troubled and dogged by his past, then one can only hope he somehow finds peace.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Random Thoughts
Just some quick hits today on the top stories to start the weekend:
- The defending National Champion Florida Gators made history by receiving the highest percentage of 1st place votes (96.7%) in the history of the AP Poll. This obviously was expected and some people speculated that Florida would be the first unanimous preseason #1 in history but they fell 2 votes short. Without question, I think Florida is the favorite to win the National Championship this year with all the starters they have returning and Tim Tebow coming back. Now I will admit, I really do not like Tebow all that much. I respect his toughness and all, but I see him as the prototypical college QB phenom who will have very little chance at making it big in the NFL. And the guy is just seemingly too perfect...at least that is how the media portrays him. But make no mistake, the guy is a hell of a college player and he has a burning desire to try and win it all again. I only see Texas or Oklahoma being able to make a run at them in the National Championship game. I think everyone else, including USC, will fall short. Getting pretty excited for the start of the season in two weeks. The AP Top 25 breaks down like this:
1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. USC
5. Alabama
6. Ohio St.
7. Virginia Tech
8. Mississippi
T9. Oklahoma St.
T9. Penn St.
11. LSU
12. California
13. Georgia
14. Boise St.
15. Georgia Tech
16. Oregon
17. TCU
18. Florida St.
19. Utah
20. BYU
21. North Carolina
22. Iowa
23. Notre Dame
24. Nebraska
25. Kansas
- Brett Favre made his debut with the Vikings last night in a 17-13 Minnesota win. He only played 2 series and was 1-4 for 4 yards. It was definitely weird seeing Favre in Vikings purple, but I am a bit annoyed reading about how he looked rusty and a little shaky...what the hell do you expect?!? He only joined the team on Tuesday and it was his first action! This leads me to believe that the expectations might be too high for him and the Vikings and they could just be destined to fail. Regardless, people should be saving this "rusty" talk until after week 1 of the regular season and see how he looks then. But whatever happens, it should be fun to watch and the Minnesota fans are damn excited judging by the reaction they gave Favre last night.
- There is a report out that Michael Vick has not yet partnered with any animal rights groups in the Philadelphia area to help with anti-dogfighting efforts. Honestly, it seems like we are searching for a juicy story now because it has only been a little over a week since Vick signed with the Eagles. This quote raised an eyebrow for me though: In talking about a Monday meeting between leaders of Philadelphia-area groups and senior Eagles officials, one of the co-directors of one group stated, "There is no guarantee that anybody who goes into that room will be a partner in this." HUH? So all these groups want Vick to be sincere and show remorse and try to make change, but no one wants to give him an opportunity and partner with him? Does that make real sense to anyone?
- Former Indiana Men's Basketball coach Bob Knight will be inducted into the University of Indiana athletics Hall of Fame. Nothing big to talk about here, just wondering if he will throw a chair across the room at the ceremony...hehehe...
- An update to the Ben Roethlisberger injury story from yesterday...it seems that he injured his achilles tendon but there is no major structural damage reported. Damn again LOL...sorry, can't help it! But seriously, the Steelers could be dodging a major bullet because a torn achilles would have finished Big Ben and Pittsburgh's Super Bowl chances for the year. I would hold the guy out until they are 100% sure it is healed because that could be a painfully nagging injury all year if they aren't careful.
- And finally, anyone watch the Cowboys/Titans preseason game last night? It was the debut of Jerry Jones' new $1.2 BILLION Cowboys Stadium and also his gigantic HD screen that hangs over the field. Now there is a debate going on as to whether it will need to be lifted after Titans reserve punter A.J. Trapasso booted a ball into the screen during last night's game. Of course Jerry says it is a non-issue and that a person would have to deliberately kick the ball "straight up and hard" (hehehe) to hit the screen. But talk to someone else...I don't know...say maybe a punter who actually PLAYS the game and they are saying that it could be a major issue with some punters in the league and they are amazed that the screen is not higher. Jerry Jones...always trying to provide shenanigans to the NFL...HOW BOUT DEM COWBOYS! LOL
- The defending National Champion Florida Gators made history by receiving the highest percentage of 1st place votes (96.7%) in the history of the AP Poll. This obviously was expected and some people speculated that Florida would be the first unanimous preseason #1 in history but they fell 2 votes short. Without question, I think Florida is the favorite to win the National Championship this year with all the starters they have returning and Tim Tebow coming back. Now I will admit, I really do not like Tebow all that much. I respect his toughness and all, but I see him as the prototypical college QB phenom who will have very little chance at making it big in the NFL. And the guy is just seemingly too perfect...at least that is how the media portrays him. But make no mistake, the guy is a hell of a college player and he has a burning desire to try and win it all again. I only see Texas or Oklahoma being able to make a run at them in the National Championship game. I think everyone else, including USC, will fall short. Getting pretty excited for the start of the season in two weeks. The AP Top 25 breaks down like this:
1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. USC
5. Alabama
6. Ohio St.
7. Virginia Tech
8. Mississippi
T9. Oklahoma St.
T9. Penn St.
11. LSU
12. California
13. Georgia
14. Boise St.
15. Georgia Tech
16. Oregon
17. TCU
18. Florida St.
19. Utah
20. BYU
21. North Carolina
22. Iowa
23. Notre Dame
24. Nebraska
25. Kansas
- Brett Favre made his debut with the Vikings last night in a 17-13 Minnesota win. He only played 2 series and was 1-4 for 4 yards. It was definitely weird seeing Favre in Vikings purple, but I am a bit annoyed reading about how he looked rusty and a little shaky...what the hell do you expect?!? He only joined the team on Tuesday and it was his first action! This leads me to believe that the expectations might be too high for him and the Vikings and they could just be destined to fail. Regardless, people should be saving this "rusty" talk until after week 1 of the regular season and see how he looks then. But whatever happens, it should be fun to watch and the Minnesota fans are damn excited judging by the reaction they gave Favre last night.
- There is a report out that Michael Vick has not yet partnered with any animal rights groups in the Philadelphia area to help with anti-dogfighting efforts. Honestly, it seems like we are searching for a juicy story now because it has only been a little over a week since Vick signed with the Eagles. This quote raised an eyebrow for me though: In talking about a Monday meeting between leaders of Philadelphia-area groups and senior Eagles officials, one of the co-directors of one group stated, "There is no guarantee that anybody who goes into that room will be a partner in this." HUH? So all these groups want Vick to be sincere and show remorse and try to make change, but no one wants to give him an opportunity and partner with him? Does that make real sense to anyone?
- Former Indiana Men's Basketball coach Bob Knight will be inducted into the University of Indiana athletics Hall of Fame. Nothing big to talk about here, just wondering if he will throw a chair across the room at the ceremony...hehehe...
- An update to the Ben Roethlisberger injury story from yesterday...it seems that he injured his achilles tendon but there is no major structural damage reported. Damn again LOL...sorry, can't help it! But seriously, the Steelers could be dodging a major bullet because a torn achilles would have finished Big Ben and Pittsburgh's Super Bowl chances for the year. I would hold the guy out until they are 100% sure it is healed because that could be a painfully nagging injury all year if they aren't careful.
- And finally, anyone watch the Cowboys/Titans preseason game last night? It was the debut of Jerry Jones' new $1.2 BILLION Cowboys Stadium and also his gigantic HD screen that hangs over the field. Now there is a debate going on as to whether it will need to be lifted after Titans reserve punter A.J. Trapasso booted a ball into the screen during last night's game. Of course Jerry says it is a non-issue and that a person would have to deliberately kick the ball "straight up and hard" (hehehe) to hit the screen. But talk to someone else...I don't know...say maybe a punter who actually PLAYS the game and they are saying that it could be a major issue with some punters in the league and they are amazed that the screen is not higher. Jerry Jones...always trying to provide shenanigans to the NFL...HOW BOUT DEM COWBOYS! LOL
Friday, August 21, 2009
Vick the Slick
No really major stories out there in the sports world or beyond for that matter, so I thought I would share a few thoughts about Michael "Ron Mexico" Vick. Once Vick was conditionally reinstated to the NFL by commissioner Roger Goodell, everyone knew it was only a matter of time before some team out there took the plunge and signed him. However, it seemed to be a pretty big surprise that the team who took the chance was the Philadelphia Eagles. Although they never formally said they were not interested, speculation did not follow the Eagles and it was an intriguing signing indeed.
Immediately after Vick signed, there was pretty much outrage in Philadelphia. Philly has some of the most passionate and vocal fans in the world and hey, they even booed Santa Claus, so the reaction was loud as expected. I hear initial reaction was about 75-25 against the signing. From my perspective though, I have no problem with them signing Vick.
Now make no mistake...I do not condone in any way what Michael Vick did. I am a dog lover and I have 2 dogs myself, so I feel that his actions were disgusting and reprehensible. However, this is why we have a legal and justice system in America, even if it seems to be broken sometimes. For the crimes that Vick committed, he pretty much got a full sentence. He did not catch a break because he was an athlete and his life as he knew it was pretty much destroyed. The man paid his debt to society and he did his time. With that, he has every right to try and pick up the pieces and try to rebuild his life.
Of course after the news broke, there were tons of people complaining and even some small protest groups that were outraged. Those people are entitled to their opinions, but I think that some of their anger and frustration is misplaced. I thought people for the most part are willing to give others a second chance in America. I also thought that the prison system is supposed to rehabilitate people and offer them a chance to come back to society as changed people who can then productively contribute to this great country. Michael Vick has every right to go back to his profession, which is an NFL player.
I think people are pissed that he is able to come back and make millions of dollars. Well guess what...tough. Vick should not be expected to come back to society and then go be a janitor and disappear. He was a football player and should be allowed to go back to that. In our society, athletes are paid huge amounts of money because they bring in huge amounts of money and people want to be entertained and that's how it is. Protest athlete's salaries in general if you want to protest something then.
I have also heard that this sets a bad example for children. Now how is that? The man paid the price for his actions and served his time. Now if you believe that he did not pay enough of a price, then that is fine. But if that is the case, then you should be angry at the justice system and go protest that. Try to change things so that Vick would have had a longer sentence. Again, all he is doing is going back to his profession and is asking for a second chance. If your child made a mistake, would you want society to make them an outcast and not give them another chance? I don't think so. If you want to teach your children, then make it clear that what Michael Vick did was disgusting and wrong and not something you would want them to do. But then also make it clear that Vick paid the price for what he did and now he has a second chance to do the right thing this time and that is what should be done if you make a mistake.
So the bottom line here is that Vick should be given a shot to make amends for his actions. If he can use his celebrity status to now do good for animal rights and continue to show genuine remorse for his actions, then it will be a good story in the end. But if you want to waste your time hating on the man just because he is going back to football and making money again, then I think you are trying to twist things too much. Be mad and disgusted at what he did. Don't cheer for him. Don't support the Eagles or give them your money if needs be. But make sure you have a clear sense of logic when you think about it. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and I just choose to not blatantly hate on the man for the sake of trying to complain or be mad about something. He should at least be given a shot to make amends and if he doesn't, then I will be right there with the people who feel the outrage.
The Game's Quick Hits
- Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger left practice yesterday after injuring his ankle, although it does not appear to be serious. Not serious...damn, that sucks LOL. Sorry, I do not wish an injury on anyone, but when you are a Ravens fan, it is hard not to wish a little ill to a hated divisional rival, especially Pittsburgh.
- The Bills finally signed their first round pick DE Aaron Maybin. This now leaves OT Andre Smith of the Bengals and WR Michael Crabtree of the 49ers as the only unsigned first round picks. The Bengals troubles are to be expected, but what the hell is up with Crabtree? I'll tell you what it is...more of the same with WRs wanting to be divas. Crabtree is pissed that WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, who went #7 to the Raiders, is getting more money than he is. Well guess what Mike, tough crap. You went #10 and you should only get #10 money. Since the #9 and #11 picks are now signed, Crabtree looks to be boxed in. I say stop complaining and get your ass signed and be happy that you are on a better team and getting the opportunity to play football for a living.
- Chad "Don't call me Johnson" Ochocinco kicked a PAT in the Bengals' 7-6 preseason win over the Patriots last night. He had some good form and it was interesting to see. Let's hope that he can shut his mouth though and stay focused this year because Cincy needs all the help they can get and Ochocinco still has some juice left if he can tone down the "diva" I believe.
- Tiger Woods has committed to play in next week's The Barclays, the first FedEx Cup playoff event. Knowing how competitive Tiger is and how much he must be stewing about what happened at the PGA Championship, I would not be surprised if he dusted everyone else and cruised to winning the FedEx Cup.
- About 2/3 of the way through the "Greatest Stars of the 90's" DVD from WWE. It is a pretty good set but not one of their elite level collections. The documentary part was well done as always and it was a nice trip down memory lane. The 1st half of the matches was pretty good, highlighted by Bret vs. Owen at Wrestlemania 10. I recommend the set all in all.
- And finally, "The Rise and Fall of WCW" is on pre-order and I am looking forward to getting it. I will be very interested in seeing the documentary part and then read up on how much revisionist history might be in it. It is about time WWE put out a good set on WCW and I will enjoy seeing some of the classic matches. I have always been a bigger fan of WWE, but make no mistake, WCW did have some magic going when the NWO was getting hot back in the day.
Immediately after Vick signed, there was pretty much outrage in Philadelphia. Philly has some of the most passionate and vocal fans in the world and hey, they even booed Santa Claus, so the reaction was loud as expected. I hear initial reaction was about 75-25 against the signing. From my perspective though, I have no problem with them signing Vick.
Now make no mistake...I do not condone in any way what Michael Vick did. I am a dog lover and I have 2 dogs myself, so I feel that his actions were disgusting and reprehensible. However, this is why we have a legal and justice system in America, even if it seems to be broken sometimes. For the crimes that Vick committed, he pretty much got a full sentence. He did not catch a break because he was an athlete and his life as he knew it was pretty much destroyed. The man paid his debt to society and he did his time. With that, he has every right to try and pick up the pieces and try to rebuild his life.
Of course after the news broke, there were tons of people complaining and even some small protest groups that were outraged. Those people are entitled to their opinions, but I think that some of their anger and frustration is misplaced. I thought people for the most part are willing to give others a second chance in America. I also thought that the prison system is supposed to rehabilitate people and offer them a chance to come back to society as changed people who can then productively contribute to this great country. Michael Vick has every right to go back to his profession, which is an NFL player.
I think people are pissed that he is able to come back and make millions of dollars. Well guess what...tough. Vick should not be expected to come back to society and then go be a janitor and disappear. He was a football player and should be allowed to go back to that. In our society, athletes are paid huge amounts of money because they bring in huge amounts of money and people want to be entertained and that's how it is. Protest athlete's salaries in general if you want to protest something then.
I have also heard that this sets a bad example for children. Now how is that? The man paid the price for his actions and served his time. Now if you believe that he did not pay enough of a price, then that is fine. But if that is the case, then you should be angry at the justice system and go protest that. Try to change things so that Vick would have had a longer sentence. Again, all he is doing is going back to his profession and is asking for a second chance. If your child made a mistake, would you want society to make them an outcast and not give them another chance? I don't think so. If you want to teach your children, then make it clear that what Michael Vick did was disgusting and wrong and not something you would want them to do. But then also make it clear that Vick paid the price for what he did and now he has a second chance to do the right thing this time and that is what should be done if you make a mistake.
So the bottom line here is that Vick should be given a shot to make amends for his actions. If he can use his celebrity status to now do good for animal rights and continue to show genuine remorse for his actions, then it will be a good story in the end. But if you want to waste your time hating on the man just because he is going back to football and making money again, then I think you are trying to twist things too much. Be mad and disgusted at what he did. Don't cheer for him. Don't support the Eagles or give them your money if needs be. But make sure you have a clear sense of logic when you think about it. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and I just choose to not blatantly hate on the man for the sake of trying to complain or be mad about something. He should at least be given a shot to make amends and if he doesn't, then I will be right there with the people who feel the outrage.
The Game's Quick Hits
- Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger left practice yesterday after injuring his ankle, although it does not appear to be serious. Not serious...damn, that sucks LOL. Sorry, I do not wish an injury on anyone, but when you are a Ravens fan, it is hard not to wish a little ill to a hated divisional rival, especially Pittsburgh.
- The Bills finally signed their first round pick DE Aaron Maybin. This now leaves OT Andre Smith of the Bengals and WR Michael Crabtree of the 49ers as the only unsigned first round picks. The Bengals troubles are to be expected, but what the hell is up with Crabtree? I'll tell you what it is...more of the same with WRs wanting to be divas. Crabtree is pissed that WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, who went #7 to the Raiders, is getting more money than he is. Well guess what Mike, tough crap. You went #10 and you should only get #10 money. Since the #9 and #11 picks are now signed, Crabtree looks to be boxed in. I say stop complaining and get your ass signed and be happy that you are on a better team and getting the opportunity to play football for a living.
- Chad "Don't call me Johnson" Ochocinco kicked a PAT in the Bengals' 7-6 preseason win over the Patriots last night. He had some good form and it was interesting to see. Let's hope that he can shut his mouth though and stay focused this year because Cincy needs all the help they can get and Ochocinco still has some juice left if he can tone down the "diva" I believe.
- Tiger Woods has committed to play in next week's The Barclays, the first FedEx Cup playoff event. Knowing how competitive Tiger is and how much he must be stewing about what happened at the PGA Championship, I would not be surprised if he dusted everyone else and cruised to winning the FedEx Cup.
- About 2/3 of the way through the "Greatest Stars of the 90's" DVD from WWE. It is a pretty good set but not one of their elite level collections. The documentary part was well done as always and it was a nice trip down memory lane. The 1st half of the matches was pretty good, highlighted by Bret vs. Owen at Wrestlemania 10. I recommend the set all in all.
- And finally, "The Rise and Fall of WCW" is on pre-order and I am looking forward to getting it. I will be very interested in seeing the documentary part and then read up on how much revisionist history might be in it. It is about time WWE put out a good set on WCW and I will enjoy seeing some of the classic matches. I have always been a bigger fan of WWE, but make no mistake, WCW did have some magic going when the NWO was getting hot back in the day.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Celebrating Summerfest: WWE Summerslam Thoughts
Well it is just about that time for the "biggest party of the summer" according to the WWE. That's right, it's time for WWE Summerslam...or Summerfest if you are recent Raw guest host Jeremy Piven. I have been a WWE fan for the longest time and Summerslam has always been a solid card and it should be considering that it is one of the "Big 4" PPVs along with the Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania, and Survivor Series.
Now in recent times, the direction of WWE storylines and angles have left some things to be desired. However, I am not one of those people who will constantly bash the product. I recognize wrestling for what it is. It is an escape. It is meant to be fun and over the top. It is meant to provide entertainment and mix in some great athletics and at times, really stir your emotions and provide some great memories. My opinion has always been that if you can't just sit back and try to enjoy what you can, then don't watch! It makes no sense to watch something and all you do is criticize it and say "this sucks". Do I like everything I see on WWE programming? Absolutely not. Creative drops the ball numerous times, match outcomes seem utterly stupid sometimes, and the comedy/humorous angles sometimes fall woefully flat. However, I still enjoy seeing great matches and there are great laughs and enjoyment to be had if you just allow yourself to let it happen.
So with that said, let's take a look at Summerslam coming up this Sunday. I think the card has some potential to deliver some good matches, although I will have to say that it does not feel like it is something extremely special. Cena/Orton has been done before...DX returning has been done before...much of the under card does not have a great amount of heat and build. I still expect some good wrestling and fun matches though and the TLC match between Jeff Hardy and CM Punk has the potential to be a great match. Here is a match by match rundown of the card and my thoughts on the outcomes:
Kane vs. The Great Khali - Ugh...I have absolutely no interest in this feud since it was seemingly thrown together for no apparent reason. It just feels like one of those things to satisfy Vince McMahon's "big man" fetish. Kane always has the potential to be higher up the card and he has deserved more than he has gotten over the years. He has always been a reliable worker and maybe a win at one of the "Big 4" will be his "reward". It is Kane's first big match back on PPV and considering that Khali is the face and they probably want to drag this feud on longer, I think Kane will get the win. Or we could get one of those wonderful DQs...
Prediction: Kane
Jack Swagger vs. MVP - This has the potential to be a great match if Swagger and MVP are given time for it. I unfortunately think it will be shorter than it needs to be, but both men are talented enough to give a good performance with what they will be given. Obviously, Swagger is one of the future players in the WWE and will most likely be given a run with a major belt in the future. MVP has continued to improve and has gotten much better in the ring and is entertaining on the stick. The feud has centered around Swagger wanting to fight on "his terms" and it seems the bright lights of Summerslam will fit the bill. It seems like these two have been jawing for a good 2 months or so at this point, but it feels like the feud has not run it's course yet. That usually has me leaning toward the heel getting the victory. I think MVP could be in danger of getting lost in the shuffle and it seems like something creative would do, so I give the nod to Swagger in this one.
Prediction: Swagger
DX vs. Legacy - I'm not sure it is worth going into any type of analysis for this one. Shawn Michaels is returning to PPV and the WWE and reforming DX with Triple H and you think they will lose at Summerslam? Yeah right LOL. I assume that Legacy got the bone thrown to them on Raw when they beat down DX during their usual antics. Honestly, I think Legacy needs to win this match to be seen as a more serious threat because WWE blew it by not making them the Unified Tag Champions and letting them "run the show" with Randy Orton. Rhodes and Dibiase are still treated too much like lackeys and I can only assume the plan is for one (most likely Dibiase) or both to finally get tired of it and turn on Orton. So anyway, DX cruises in this one.
Prediction: DX
ECW Championship: Christian (c) vs. William Regal - Again this match seems rushed out there and came out of the blue, but fortunately Regal is extremely solid and a bad ass and he should be able to have a good match with Christian. Christian's 2nd run with the ECW Title has not lasted that long yet and I don't think they will be taking the title off of him so soon. I could easily see this match ending in a DQ to extend things. I can also see a Christian victory and instead, Regal continues to come after Captain Charisma with his new henchmen, Vladimir Kozlov and Ezekiel Jackson. It just seems like Christian will drop the belt to one of those two and Regal is there as a placeholder to have a few solid matches and guide the two younger guys.
Prediction: Christian (or a DQ)
Unified Tag Team Championship: Chris Jericho/Big Show (c) vs. Cryme Tyme - Well the pairing of Jericho and Big Show has been interesting and I think it was a pretty good decision by the WWE after Edge went down to injury. Jericho is allowed to be even more cocky considering the back up that he has. Cryme Tyme has been solid and have done a good job to get themselves over with the fans and they deserve the match at Summerslam as much as anyone. However, I don't think that they should be getting the win. Jericho and Big Show still have room to run with this angle I believe and they should not drop the belts yet. There needs to be more tension between the two at some point and Chris Jericho being the Unified Tag Champ means more of him on both Raw and Smackdown and that is a good thing.
Prediction: Jericho/Big Show
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler - Well I am as shocked as anyone that Ziggler has been able to get this character over. He seems to getting more heat with the crowd and his in ring work has gotten better and better. He showed he could hang with Mysterio in their last PPV encounter and it seems like now is the time for him to take the belt at a big PPV like Summerslam. I really have nothing against Mysterio, but I feel his character really has no room to develop and he will always be over as a popular superstar. Ziggler could really benefit from getting the title and it will continue to move him up the ladder as a major player.
Prediction: Ziggler (New IC Champion)
TLC Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Jeff Hardy (c) vs. CM Punk - I have thoroughly enjoyed Punk's heel turn and it has been the best piece of work that the WWE has been doing over the past few months. These two have delivered some great matches in the ring and this match should be no different. However, the outcome of the match seems to be a foregone conclusion. It seems that there has been no news to break that Hardy has signed a new deal with WWE and he seems determined to take some time off. They ran the "injury" angle on Smackdown and are speculating that he might not be at 100% for the match. So to me, all the pieces are in place for Punk to really "injure" Hardy in this match, take the title, and then Jeff just disappears for a while and takes his time off. A Punk wins allows him to transfer into a title feud with John Morrison (more matches between those two would be welcomed) and possibly a feud with a returning Matt Hardy. All evidence points to this and it is what I would have to go with.
Prediction: CM Punk (New World Heavyweight Champion)
WWE Championship: Randy Orton (c) vs. John Cena - I'm not sure this match needs much analysis either. I expect Cena to be superman again and win the title. I like Randy Orton's character and think the half-psycho gimmick fits him great. He has gotten really good on the stick and can deliver a good match in the ring. I still believe he has more room to run with the belt and terrorize the rest of the roster. John Cena on the other hand...I just can not stand. Granted, I know Cena works hard and is a model employee and he always delivers when it comes to enthusiasm and interacting with the fans. But to me, his whole schtick is just so bland and feels old. I really would like to see a heel turn because it would freshen him up and be a shock and that would make for some interesting TV. That seems like a dream however, so expect Cena to "hulk up" and become Superman Cena by the end of the night and beat Orton to give the fans their "go home happy" moment.
Prediction: John Cena (New WWE Champion)
The Game's Quick Hits:
- Plaxico Burress reached a plea agreement and was given a 2 year jail sentence. Well good to see he was smart enough not to take this to trial and get the mandatory minimum of 3 and 1/2 years slapped on him. Just another case of bad judgement costing someone millions of dollars and it could have easily been avoided.
- Memphis Tigers are forced to vacate their 38 win Final Four season from 2007-2008. More stupidity and bad judgement. The sad thing is that this is now the 2nd time that John Calipari has had a Final Four trip vacated and yet he skips away to his cushy job with Kentucky now. So much for caring about your players being "student" athletes right John?
- Usain Bolt breaks his own world record again with a 19.19 in the 200m at the World Championships. Damn...is this guy human or did he mutate and escape from that District 9 compound?
- Fran Tarkenton has been running his mouth and calling the whole Brett Favre scene in Minnesota an "absolute circus". That's all well and good but the guy seems to be going out of his way to rip on Favre. Seems like someone still craves a little spotlight and attention, right Mr. Tarkenton?
Now in recent times, the direction of WWE storylines and angles have left some things to be desired. However, I am not one of those people who will constantly bash the product. I recognize wrestling for what it is. It is an escape. It is meant to be fun and over the top. It is meant to provide entertainment and mix in some great athletics and at times, really stir your emotions and provide some great memories. My opinion has always been that if you can't just sit back and try to enjoy what you can, then don't watch! It makes no sense to watch something and all you do is criticize it and say "this sucks". Do I like everything I see on WWE programming? Absolutely not. Creative drops the ball numerous times, match outcomes seem utterly stupid sometimes, and the comedy/humorous angles sometimes fall woefully flat. However, I still enjoy seeing great matches and there are great laughs and enjoyment to be had if you just allow yourself to let it happen.
So with that said, let's take a look at Summerslam coming up this Sunday. I think the card has some potential to deliver some good matches, although I will have to say that it does not feel like it is something extremely special. Cena/Orton has been done before...DX returning has been done before...much of the under card does not have a great amount of heat and build. I still expect some good wrestling and fun matches though and the TLC match between Jeff Hardy and CM Punk has the potential to be a great match. Here is a match by match rundown of the card and my thoughts on the outcomes:
Kane vs. The Great Khali - Ugh...I have absolutely no interest in this feud since it was seemingly thrown together for no apparent reason. It just feels like one of those things to satisfy Vince McMahon's "big man" fetish. Kane always has the potential to be higher up the card and he has deserved more than he has gotten over the years. He has always been a reliable worker and maybe a win at one of the "Big 4" will be his "reward". It is Kane's first big match back on PPV and considering that Khali is the face and they probably want to drag this feud on longer, I think Kane will get the win. Or we could get one of those wonderful DQs...
Prediction: Kane
Jack Swagger vs. MVP - This has the potential to be a great match if Swagger and MVP are given time for it. I unfortunately think it will be shorter than it needs to be, but both men are talented enough to give a good performance with what they will be given. Obviously, Swagger is one of the future players in the WWE and will most likely be given a run with a major belt in the future. MVP has continued to improve and has gotten much better in the ring and is entertaining on the stick. The feud has centered around Swagger wanting to fight on "his terms" and it seems the bright lights of Summerslam will fit the bill. It seems like these two have been jawing for a good 2 months or so at this point, but it feels like the feud has not run it's course yet. That usually has me leaning toward the heel getting the victory. I think MVP could be in danger of getting lost in the shuffle and it seems like something creative would do, so I give the nod to Swagger in this one.
Prediction: Swagger
DX vs. Legacy - I'm not sure it is worth going into any type of analysis for this one. Shawn Michaels is returning to PPV and the WWE and reforming DX with Triple H and you think they will lose at Summerslam? Yeah right LOL. I assume that Legacy got the bone thrown to them on Raw when they beat down DX during their usual antics. Honestly, I think Legacy needs to win this match to be seen as a more serious threat because WWE blew it by not making them the Unified Tag Champions and letting them "run the show" with Randy Orton. Rhodes and Dibiase are still treated too much like lackeys and I can only assume the plan is for one (most likely Dibiase) or both to finally get tired of it and turn on Orton. So anyway, DX cruises in this one.
Prediction: DX
ECW Championship: Christian (c) vs. William Regal - Again this match seems rushed out there and came out of the blue, but fortunately Regal is extremely solid and a bad ass and he should be able to have a good match with Christian. Christian's 2nd run with the ECW Title has not lasted that long yet and I don't think they will be taking the title off of him so soon. I could easily see this match ending in a DQ to extend things. I can also see a Christian victory and instead, Regal continues to come after Captain Charisma with his new henchmen, Vladimir Kozlov and Ezekiel Jackson. It just seems like Christian will drop the belt to one of those two and Regal is there as a placeholder to have a few solid matches and guide the two younger guys.
Prediction: Christian (or a DQ)
Unified Tag Team Championship: Chris Jericho/Big Show (c) vs. Cryme Tyme - Well the pairing of Jericho and Big Show has been interesting and I think it was a pretty good decision by the WWE after Edge went down to injury. Jericho is allowed to be even more cocky considering the back up that he has. Cryme Tyme has been solid and have done a good job to get themselves over with the fans and they deserve the match at Summerslam as much as anyone. However, I don't think that they should be getting the win. Jericho and Big Show still have room to run with this angle I believe and they should not drop the belts yet. There needs to be more tension between the two at some point and Chris Jericho being the Unified Tag Champ means more of him on both Raw and Smackdown and that is a good thing.
Prediction: Jericho/Big Show
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler - Well I am as shocked as anyone that Ziggler has been able to get this character over. He seems to getting more heat with the crowd and his in ring work has gotten better and better. He showed he could hang with Mysterio in their last PPV encounter and it seems like now is the time for him to take the belt at a big PPV like Summerslam. I really have nothing against Mysterio, but I feel his character really has no room to develop and he will always be over as a popular superstar. Ziggler could really benefit from getting the title and it will continue to move him up the ladder as a major player.
Prediction: Ziggler (New IC Champion)
TLC Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Jeff Hardy (c) vs. CM Punk - I have thoroughly enjoyed Punk's heel turn and it has been the best piece of work that the WWE has been doing over the past few months. These two have delivered some great matches in the ring and this match should be no different. However, the outcome of the match seems to be a foregone conclusion. It seems that there has been no news to break that Hardy has signed a new deal with WWE and he seems determined to take some time off. They ran the "injury" angle on Smackdown and are speculating that he might not be at 100% for the match. So to me, all the pieces are in place for Punk to really "injure" Hardy in this match, take the title, and then Jeff just disappears for a while and takes his time off. A Punk wins allows him to transfer into a title feud with John Morrison (more matches between those two would be welcomed) and possibly a feud with a returning Matt Hardy. All evidence points to this and it is what I would have to go with.
Prediction: CM Punk (New World Heavyweight Champion)
WWE Championship: Randy Orton (c) vs. John Cena - I'm not sure this match needs much analysis either. I expect Cena to be superman again and win the title. I like Randy Orton's character and think the half-psycho gimmick fits him great. He has gotten really good on the stick and can deliver a good match in the ring. I still believe he has more room to run with the belt and terrorize the rest of the roster. John Cena on the other hand...I just can not stand. Granted, I know Cena works hard and is a model employee and he always delivers when it comes to enthusiasm and interacting with the fans. But to me, his whole schtick is just so bland and feels old. I really would like to see a heel turn because it would freshen him up and be a shock and that would make for some interesting TV. That seems like a dream however, so expect Cena to "hulk up" and become Superman Cena by the end of the night and beat Orton to give the fans their "go home happy" moment.
Prediction: John Cena (New WWE Champion)
The Game's Quick Hits:
- Plaxico Burress reached a plea agreement and was given a 2 year jail sentence. Well good to see he was smart enough not to take this to trial and get the mandatory minimum of 3 and 1/2 years slapped on him. Just another case of bad judgement costing someone millions of dollars and it could have easily been avoided.
- Memphis Tigers are forced to vacate their 38 win Final Four season from 2007-2008. More stupidity and bad judgement. The sad thing is that this is now the 2nd time that John Calipari has had a Final Four trip vacated and yet he skips away to his cushy job with Kentucky now. So much for caring about your players being "student" athletes right John?
- Usain Bolt breaks his own world record again with a 19.19 in the 200m at the World Championships. Damn...is this guy human or did he mutate and escape from that District 9 compound?
- Fran Tarkenton has been running his mouth and calling the whole Brett Favre scene in Minnesota an "absolute circus". That's all well and good but the guy seems to be going out of his way to rip on Favre. Seems like someone still craves a little spotlight and attention, right Mr. Tarkenton?
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The Cheese Has Gone Bad!
So the drama is finally over and Brett Favre is back once again and he has signed with the Vikings. I can't say that I am surprised. In fact, I was surprised when he said no to Minnesota 3 weeks ago. I sensed that when he had the surgery to repair his biceps tendon that it was a lock he was coming back and going to the Vikings. Love him or hate him, I still think the guy deserves respect. Obviously this "drama queen" stuff is not that fun to follow, but the guy has a burning passion to play the game still and he is still better than half the QBs in the NFL even at 40 years old. Let's face it, Tavarus Jackson and Sage Rosenfels are NOT an answer at QB...even when the question becomes are they better than Favre in the last twilight of his career. Favre knows Minnesota's system and if his arm can remain healthy, then the Vikings are headed toward a good season.
For those people who want to criticize Favre and are sick of him, then just don't watch a Vikings game or tune into the coverage. So the guy just can't pull himself away from something that he loves and still feels he can do at a high level. We should all be so lucky. I will still enjoy seeing one of the greatest QBs of all time play for one more season (at least) and I am pretty thrilled that the Vikings are on the schedule this year for my hometown Ravens. That should be a really fun game to watch and we know the Vikings/Packers games this year will be crazy.
So bottom line the question becomes: how good will the Vikings be this year with Favre? To say that they are Super Bowl bound is a little too much I think. I would say at this point, a healthy and productive Favre should deliver Minnesota an NFC North title and a top 4 seed in the playoffs. I do think the NFC is more wide open than the AFC and the Vikings do have a shot at making the Super Bowl if Favre holds up. My gut feeling though is that a "story book ending" will not happen and the Vikings will fall short to someone in the Divisional or Conference Championship round of the playoffs. But whatever happens, it should be fun to watch.
The Game's Quick Hits:
- Still shocked that Tiger Woods blew the PGA Championship and his 15th major this weekend. Just goes to show you that nothing in life is a guarantee
- John Smoltz has signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. Unlike Favre, I think Smoltz should have hung them up and waited for that Hall of Fame call. I suppose if they only ask him to pitch an inning of relief at a time though, he could still hang in there.
- What in the hell is up with Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks? He was indicted on misdemeanors today, so I guess that means he did at least rough up that cabbie. A multi-millionaire beefing over 20 cents...damn LOL
- Looking forward to WWE Summerslam this weekend. Hopefully the matches will deliver and it will be a good show. I am not looking forward to Superman Cena beating Randy Orton for the WWE Championship though. Please WWE Creative, can you give us something different for a change?
- Usain Bolt is a damn freak of nature...9.58 in the 100? That is beastly...but this talk of him making an impact in the NFL potentially is a little absurd.
- I need a good smack upside the head...looks like I am losing a 9 game winning streak on ESPN's Streak for the Cash on a soccer game. When will I learn? LOL
For those people who want to criticize Favre and are sick of him, then just don't watch a Vikings game or tune into the coverage. So the guy just can't pull himself away from something that he loves and still feels he can do at a high level. We should all be so lucky. I will still enjoy seeing one of the greatest QBs of all time play for one more season (at least) and I am pretty thrilled that the Vikings are on the schedule this year for my hometown Ravens. That should be a really fun game to watch and we know the Vikings/Packers games this year will be crazy.
So bottom line the question becomes: how good will the Vikings be this year with Favre? To say that they are Super Bowl bound is a little too much I think. I would say at this point, a healthy and productive Favre should deliver Minnesota an NFC North title and a top 4 seed in the playoffs. I do think the NFC is more wide open than the AFC and the Vikings do have a shot at making the Super Bowl if Favre holds up. My gut feeling though is that a "story book ending" will not happen and the Vikings will fall short to someone in the Divisional or Conference Championship round of the playoffs. But whatever happens, it should be fun to watch.
The Game's Quick Hits:
- Still shocked that Tiger Woods blew the PGA Championship and his 15th major this weekend. Just goes to show you that nothing in life is a guarantee
- John Smoltz has signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. Unlike Favre, I think Smoltz should have hung them up and waited for that Hall of Fame call. I suppose if they only ask him to pitch an inning of relief at a time though, he could still hang in there.
- What in the hell is up with Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks? He was indicted on misdemeanors today, so I guess that means he did at least rough up that cabbie. A multi-millionaire beefing over 20 cents...damn LOL
- Looking forward to WWE Summerslam this weekend. Hopefully the matches will deliver and it will be a good show. I am not looking forward to Superman Cena beating Randy Orton for the WWE Championship though. Please WWE Creative, can you give us something different for a change?
- Usain Bolt is a damn freak of nature...9.58 in the 100? That is beastly...but this talk of him making an impact in the NFL potentially is a little absurd.
- I need a good smack upside the head...looks like I am losing a 9 game winning streak on ESPN's Streak for the Cash on a soccer game. When will I learn? LOL
It's Time...
It's time...yes indeed, it's time that I start to share my thoughts with the world. Why you ask? Because I damn well feel like it! Seriously though, I thought it would be fun to just talk about whatever I feel like and to keep it mostly on a fun level.
What will you find around this blog? Mostly thoughts on sports since that is my biggest interest. I will also touch on thoughts about wrestling...maybe a little about video games...possibly some current events that I might want to touch on...who knows basically. I'm just a regular guy who will tell it like it is and try to do so in a thoughtful manner.
In case you were wondering, my nickname around Youtube and a few other sites is HHHGame99 or just Game for short. Yes, I am a fan of Triple H from way back and still tend to like him even though he has buried as much talent as the Undertaker! Yeah, that was a cheap one. So you can check me out on Youtube if you want. I am part of the best e-fed on Youtube, the DUI or Dangerous Underground Impact Wrestling (which sprung from the previous greatest e-fed on all of Youtube, the DWI or Dementia Wrestling Institute...shout out to my boy aDS! LOL). We basically run storylines generated from promos made by other users using Create-a-Wrestlers on versions of the Smackdown vs. Raw video games. It has been great fun and I have met some very cool people through it.
I will wrap up this "introductory" entry now and hope that you will stay tuned for more thoughts from my brilliant brain!
What will you find around this blog? Mostly thoughts on sports since that is my biggest interest. I will also touch on thoughts about wrestling...maybe a little about video games...possibly some current events that I might want to touch on...who knows basically. I'm just a regular guy who will tell it like it is and try to do so in a thoughtful manner.
In case you were wondering, my nickname around Youtube and a few other sites is HHHGame99 or just Game for short. Yes, I am a fan of Triple H from way back and still tend to like him even though he has buried as much talent as the Undertaker! Yeah, that was a cheap one. So you can check me out on Youtube if you want. I am part of the best e-fed on Youtube, the DUI or Dangerous Underground Impact Wrestling (which sprung from the previous greatest e-fed on all of Youtube, the DWI or Dementia Wrestling Institute...shout out to my boy aDS! LOL). We basically run storylines generated from promos made by other users using Create-a-Wrestlers on versions of the Smackdown vs. Raw video games. It has been great fun and I have met some very cool people through it.
I will wrap up this "introductory" entry now and hope that you will stay tuned for more thoughts from my brilliant brain!
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