The Corner of Controversy and Criticism- 12/28/2014

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and had a great time around their family and friends. This week I want to focus my attention on a couple of matters from my own home state of Michigan. Earlier this past week the Detroit Pistons released Josh Smith who ended up going to the Houston Rockets. I cannot understand for the life of me why you would release a talent like that and get nothing out of it. The Pistons claimed that they couldn't find anyone to trade for him. I call that a bunch of bull. I am sure teams really willing to give the Pistons something, just not what the Pistons wanted. If you're wanting to get rid of a player that bad take what you can get and try to rebuild. Don't get rid of him and get nothing in return. That's is just plain logic and common sense. The Detroit Pistons have been nothing but a toilet bowl since 2006. They have made a lot of stupid moves and failed to build a caliber team. The current owner Tom Gores either needs to start putting money into the franchise or sell it to someone who will. The Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings all have competitive teams right now so they need to get it together and make Detroit a complete winning city.

Not too far from Detroit is Ann Arbor and in all I've been hearing about Jim Harbaugh is going to the University of Michigan to become the head football coach. For the last month all I've heard on ESPN 96.1, WBBL 107.3, various Detroit sports reporters is that he has signed with U of M. My advice to all these professional sports is unless you have clear cut proof don't report about it. The reporting has gotten so irresponsible that sports journalists are launching personal and professional attacks on each other.  You have Jeff Moss and Gregg Henson attacking The Huge Show Bill Simonson and vice-versa. Instead of sound like a complete bunch of idiots how about you all pool your resources together and give us the best information possible. The problem with some of these "professionals" is they like to hear themselves talk and stoke their own egos. It makes me wonder how any of them still have a job. With all the crap out of the way I do hope Harbaugh will come to Michigan and get the program back on track. The Wolverines need someone that is tough and bring out the best in the players. They don't need a coach who is going to baby the players like past coaches have. If Jim Harbaugh does officially become the Head Coach I will give my thoughts then. For now I am leaving it alone so I don't look like an idiot like the rest of the reporters out there.

Speaking of looking like an idiot, Johnny Manziel has to rank right up there. He threw a party that got he and Josh Gordon into some trouble and have caused my turmoil for the Cleveland Browns. The sad thing is if Josh Gordon cared about the game a little more the Browns probably could have made the playoffs. Brian Hoyer and the Browns made some great steps of improvement this year but also have had a lot of problems because of Manziel and Hoyer. I personally believe that Johnny Football will have a short career much like Tim Tebow did. Manziel is overrated and has no business in the NFL. Maybe he can go join Tebow and be a color commentator on the SEC Network. All his career will be known for is trying to compete with Lebron James for most popular athlete in Cleveland. Sorry Johnny but even when Lebron went to Miami he was still more likable and popular then you.

This coming Saturday one of the biggest fights in the UFC will take place at UFC 182. Jon Jones is fighting Daniel Cormier and there has been nothing but bad blood since the fight was announced. I've seen bad blood between in the past with Ortiz/Shamrock and Lesnar/Mir and those fights were fun to watch. The UFC needs to more bad blood and rivalries because the fights are so much better when the two guys fighting absolutely hate each other. I am looking forward to starting the new year with this fights and all the other fights on UFC 182.

I hope everyone has a Happy New Year and has a fun time celebrating on New Years Eve. May 2015 be your year of happiness, health and hope. Be safe, be strong and believe in yourself. Controversy Doesn't Come Without Criticism!

The WWE Superstars You Should Support

I've been going to live wrestling events since I was 11 years old when the first WCW Nitro came to Van Andel Arena. Back then I was just a kid and enjoyed just being at the show. Over the last five years I've stood by the fence behind Van Andel Arena where the loading area is and have had some great encounters. There have been other places where the encounters were not so great. Let me tell you about my first encounter in Hooters in Grand Rapids in 2008. Smackdown was in town and I ended up being locked in Hooters with 90 percent of the Smackdown roster. I didn't want to make a scene or be disruptive but Matt Hardy was nearby and he was more then happy to take a picture with me. He was very cool and friendly about it. I always had huge amounts of respect for Matt Hardy since that day.

In 2014 guys like Cody Rhodes, Kofi Kingston, Dolph Ziggler, Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods and Adam Rose took time out of their day to sign autographs and take pictures. Some of the Divas included Renee Young, Nattie Neidhardt, and the Bella Twins. It's these performers that really care about the fans and take time out of their days when their schedules are crazy busy. Well all have our favorites like John Cena, Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, etc. I have even my favorite which is Cesaro. Although I will root for Cesaro I will hope that performers who took time out of their day for me get the spotlight and get even more successful. 

Now there is one incident that wasn't so friendly. I was in Buffalo Wild Wings right after Smackdown was taped in Grand Rapids at Van Andel Arena. I was there with a friend and we were the only two in the place with the exception of The Uso's, Naomi, Los Matadores, Vickie Guerrero, and Alberto Del Rio. I understand they were tired and didn't want to be bothered but The Uso's were just straight up jerks about the whole thing. They didn't even want us getting a picture with Naomi when she offered. The others were nice about it and politely declined but the impression The Uso's left on me will always standout. There's two sides to this situation. One side that says the show is over so you shouldn't bother them but the other side says that you got into this business to be famous so you better deal with the price of the fame you have. I've been on that back fence with little kids in their Uso shirts and they don't even acknowledge it. They keep on walking like the fans aren't there. I am guessing daddy was the same way and that's why he never made it to heights that Austin, The Rock and Triple H did. 

Like said as a wrestling fan we all have our favorites but maybe we start cheering for those who take the time and give back to everyone. I think the landscape of wrestling would change. To those stars past and present who gave me the time of day just to sign something or take a picture I want to say thank you. Your kindness is what makes me continue to want to be a wrestling fan. The entire roster can learn from you because the more people you touch the more they will want to support you. So if you are at an arena and you get pictures and autographs make you sure cheer and support those who took time out of their day for you. To the ones who walk away and don't acknowledge you. Well they'll eventually fade away and not have a fan base. Support the WWE stars that give back to their fans, not the ones who are shoved down your throat on TV. 

If you have any encounters with any WWE, TNA, or ROH stars that you would like to share post them in the comments section below.

The Corner of Controversy and Criticism- 12/21/2014

Over the last two weeks the UFC has put on some great fights with all of it being on a free TV but now they are the center of a controversial antitrust lawsuit involving hundreds of fighters claiming that because the UFC is the only big MMA promotion in town their pay isn't what it should be. Some of the fighters feel they should be making the type of money boxers make. This lawsuit is being fought by all former fighters in hopes to protect the future fighters of UFC. The UFC has also screwed fighters out of sponsorship deals with their deal that they made with Reebok. Even UFC's website says:

 "Athletes will no longer be permitted to have outside sponsor logos on athletic apparel during UFC fight week official events, including fight night, UFC-produced content or other official UFC events.And individual sponsor banners will no longer be permitted for the walkout or inside the Octagon beginning with the UFC event on July 11, 2015, coinciding with International Fight Week in Las Vegas, Nev. The new policy will start the week of July 6, 2015.Athletes can continue to maintain their individual apparel and non-apparel sponsors outside all UFC events, and existing or prospective sponsors may use an athlete’s name and likeness. But they cannot use UFC trademarks unless they have a direct commercial relationship with UFC."

 Most fighters have stated that sponsors are pulling out of this deal and they are losing a substantial amount of money because they make more money on their sponsorships then they do on their fight contracts. I think being a monopoly in an industry like that is bad. The WWE and UFC were at their high points when they had legitimate competition. A lot of these fighters are screwed because you either stay in UFC or you go to Bellator which in my opinion is the minor leagues. Just like TNA Wrestling is the minor leagues in comparison to the WWE. The WWE and UFC have a lot more in common than most people think. I will be curious to see how this lawsuit turns out and how it could change how the UFC is ran in the future. Only time will tell.

Speaking of money, this year the Dodgers have ended the Yankees 15-year streak as MLB's biggest spenders and now owe more than $26.6 million in luxury tax. They have been making deals left and right over the last week. Their division rival the San Diego Padres have also been building a team to make a run for the upcoming season. In the American League you have too look at the Boston Red Sox as the front runners on paper. They have made some great moves this off-season to try and put them back into the playoff picture again. A lot of wheeling and dealing has taken place in December so far. Before we know it Spring Training will be here and we'll be talking baseball on a regular basis but for now were in the heart of winter where football, hockey and basketball get the majority of the attention.

The playoff picture in the NFL is becoming more clearer with only one week left.  Here is what it looks like if the season ended right now:

Now I am a huge Carolina Panthers an but there needs to be some changes because there are several teams who have better records then Carolina that will not make the playoffs. I believe that you should have your four division winners then four wildcards that way some of these teams in tougher divisions have a chance to be in the playoffs. The other option is have a seeding system like the NBA. Take the top eight teams and rank them by record. If that were the case in the NFL, the Panthers would still be in the playoffs but they would be the eight seed.  I think that's the fair to do it so that way the best overall teams are in the playoffs. There is always going to be an argument of who deserves to go and who doesn't The one through eight seeding would solve that problem and make it fair for everyone.

One argument that will always be among basketball fans is who is the best. The three names you often hear are LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. This past week Kobe passed MJ on the all time scoring list which puts Kobe third all time and Jordan fourth all time. Many still believe MJ will always be the greatest no matter if someone breaks his records or passes him on lists. Others say that Kobe has had a long career and deserves to be compared to Michael Jordan. I am on the opinion that MJ has done more for the sport than other player has. Look at the marketing an sponsorship that the NBA and it's players have had since Michael made his presence felt 30 years ago. A lot of players make more money off sponsorships and marketing then they do their contracts. MJ deserves a lot of credit for that and it's because of what he brought to the game that makes him the greatest of all time.

This coming week we celebrate Christmas and I hope everyone has a safe and Merry Christmas as well as a Happy New Year. Hollywood's World of Sports is going to be bigger and better in 2015. There will be more controversy and more criticism in 2015 so get ready. As always be safe, be strong and believe in yourself. Controversy Doesn't Come Without Criticism!

Recap, Review, Results of 2014 WWE TLC

Tonight was the annual WWE Tables, Ladders, and Chairs pay-per-view and as always before I begin my rant and thoughts here are the results

-Bray Wyatt def. Dean Ambrose (Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match)
-Rusev (c) def. Jack Swagger (United States Championship Match)
-Ryback def. Kane (Steel Chairs Match)Nikki Bella (c) def. AJ Lee (Divas Championship Match)
-John Cena def. Seth Rollins (Tables Match)
-Big Show def. Erick Rowan (Steel Stairs Match)
-The Usos def. The Miz & Damien Mizdow (c) by disqualification (WWE Tag Team Championship Match)
-Dolph Ziggler def. Luke Harper (c) (Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match)
-The New Day def. Gold & Stardust (Kickoff Match)

The mindset going into tonight was the main roster wanted to put on a good show because of how well the NXT special did on Thursday. The absolute brutal truth is that even with the gimmick matches, they didn't even come close to what NXT REVOLUTION did on Thursday. The best match of the TLC PPV was Dolph Ziggler and Luke Harper in the Ladder Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. It was a great match full of blood, sweat and tears with the emphasis being blood. I think it made the match even more brtual then what it was. I am glad to see Ziggler getting the recognition he deserves. It was definitely the match of the night.

The tables match between Rollins and Cena was very solid and it made for a nice return for Roman Reigns. His return made it have a little itty bitty epic feel to it but not epic enough to make it a great pay-per-view. The TLC match between Ambrose and Wyatt could have been better. I felt like it they were repeating the same moves over and over. As usual the Divas match sucked, Rusev fighting Swagger was pointless and the tag matches were the same as all the other WWE tag matches are. Overall the show wasn't as impressive as it could have been.

When wrestling fans look back on this they won't remember WWE TLC, they will be remembering NXT REVOLUTION. They will be talking about Adriann Neville, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Charlotte, Sasha Bank, Hideo Itami, Finn Balor and The Ascension. All of them out performed what was seen on TLC. The difference between WWE and NXT right now is that the main roster has gotten complacent and the NXT roster is hungry and wants to go balls to the wall. The main roster should feel threatened and worried about the pressure that's coming their way. At the end of the night I will give TLC a 6.5 out of 10. The blood, and brutality helped but the epic feeling of a show full of great matches wasn't there. 

The next stop is the Royal Rumble in six weeks which marks the Road to Wrestlemania 31. We already know two things. Roman Reigns is the first participant in the Royal Rumble match and John Cena will take on Brock Lesnar for the third time in a five month period. I honestly hope these are Lesnars last few months in the WWE and that he will go back to UFC. The WWE needs a full time World Champion to draw interest and make the title worth something again. On January 25th, it's time to rumble. It's time for the Royal Rumble.

The Corner of Controversy and Criticism- 12/14/2014

Before I begin I just want to Thank God for keeping Cam Newton from being crippled after his car accident on Tuesday. I know I sound like I am crazy but when you have been a fan of a team for so long you get emotionally invested in it's players. Now I have always been one of those people who feel that once you turn 70 years old you should be tested every year to make sure you can handle driving a vehicle. This accident involving one of my favorite players to fueled my reasoning. A 76 year old woman ran a red light and hit Newton's truck and it flipped three times. Some folks are saying he's lucky to be alive and walking. He could have been crippled or killed. Initial reports are saying he has two fractures in his back and probably won't start for the rest of the year. I am glad he will be able to eventually return and go on to have a stellar career.

One person whose NFL career might be over is Adrian Petersons. His appeal to be reinstated into the NFL was denied. Now I don't agree with what Peterson did but here is what bothers me. They reinstated Ray Rice after videos showed what he did. What Ray Rice did was in a public elevator and what Adrian Peterson did was in the privacy of his own home. How is that justified by punishing one but not the other? If Adrian Peterson does retire it will be sad because his career won't be remembered what he did on the field. It will be remembered for the off field situation that forced him to retire. His numbers are Hall of Fame worthy but will his personal conduct off the field cost him that too? Adrian Peterson can still go and if someone were smart they would offer him a contract for next year. He could make a huge difference for some team that needs a little extra push to be a Super Bowl contender. I am sure this story isn't over yet and we will have to see if Peterson willing to fight to keep his legacy alive.

Speaking of fighting, the UFC had two nights of great fights. Friday featured mainly the women's division with a new champion being crowned in the Women's Strawweight Division. I love watching the women fight because they are just as aggressive as the men if not more. Saturday night featured the heavyweights. Junior Dos Santos had a great fight against Stipe Miocic. It's a fight that could have gone either way. Alistair Overeem and Matt Mitrione also won their respective fights. The one thing I kept thinking to myself is they better enjoy the spotlight while they can because if Brock Lesnar comes back after his WWE contract expires every thing is going to be shaken up in the UFC. It's been widely reported that Lesnar has expressed interest in returning to the UFC which boost them even more now that CM Punk is there. The UFC needs star power and no one has drawn people into UFC like Lesnar did in the past.

When it comes to fighting there is no more recognizable fighter on the planet then Floyd Mayweahter Jr. He recently said he'd be ready to fight Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd, 2015. This fight has been talked about for five years with a lot of trash talk and a lot of dirty tactics to try and lure each other into a fight. I personally think Pacquiao is the greatest threat to Mayweathers undefeated streak but in order to beat him you have to knock him out. You can't let it go to the judges because they always favor Floyd even when he's been out matched. I personally hate judges. I think a fight should go into someone gets knocked out or doesn't want to continue. I think that would solve a lot of the problems and controversy boxing has had in the past. In my opinion a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight would bring boxing back to the forefront and give it the boost that it needs. Even though boxing holds most of the pay-per-view records, I think the UFC has more popularity and a bigger fan-base that boxing does at this point. Hopefully the fight happens and it happens soon because I for one am sick of waiting and hearing about it. Let's make it official.

The feel good moment of the week comes from Lauren Hill who has been an inspiration to many. She started and scored the first basket on the home court for her team Mt. St. Joseph. She has an inoperable brain tumor but she has continued to fight, live her life to the fullest and be a role model for a lot of people. The fact that she took a break from home hospice care to show up to play a basketball game is amazing. She is sending the right message to people by continuing to show a fighting spirit. She doesn't parade around telling people when she's going to end her life and then change her mind about. She's going out and doing what she loves which is a pretty powerful thing. She even said that, "God has the last say."

With it being the Christmas season it's nice to see some inspirational stories because after that's what Christmas is all about. It's about inspiration, family, friends, and giving back. Until next time be safe, be strong and believe in yourself. Controversy Doesn't Come Without Criticism!

Thoughts on NXT Takeover: Revolution

Tonight the WWE showcased another NXT special dubbed Takeover: Revolution. I can honestly say this was one of the best shows all year and I am not talking just WWE. This show matches up with any where pro wrestling is televised. The show started off with Kevin Owens who is known all over the world as Mr. Wrestling. He made his debut by crushing CJ Parker and being bloodied up in the process. I think the blood on Owens made the debut even more memorable. I am glad they are letting Owens keep his style and persona because I think the more you let talent be themselves the more successful they will be. Just ask Stone Cold Steve Austin about. Speaking of keeping personas, I loved the way Finn Balor came to the ring tonight. He came out wearing war paint like he use to in Japan. He and Hideo Itami had a great match against The Ascension.

The two things WWE lacks that NXT doesn't is a great tag division and Divas division. The match with Itami/Balor against The Ascension and the Lucha Dragons against the Vaudevillans really stood out to me. I kept thinking about all four of these teams on the main roster and how they could ignite the tag team division. Every Diva on the roster should take notes on what Charlotte and Sasha Banks did in their match for the NXT Women's Title. No one on the Divas division can hold a candle to what these two did in the ring. WWE needs talented women, not super models. I believe it was the first time I ever heard a "this is awesome" chant in a Divas match. That was awesome to hear in itself.

When it comes to awesome you should watch the main event of this show. Adrian Neville and Sami Zayn tore the house. It was a great match with great psychology and storytelling. Sami Zayn won the NXT Title and at the end had a huge celebration. Before the show went off the air it looked like Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens were headed to the back to celebrate some more. Well Owens made his mark and took out Zayn to end the show. For WWE fans who don't know the history of these two go and YouTube El Generico vs. Kevin Steen. They have teamed and feuded all over the world most notably in ROH and PWG. This feud will ignite the WWE and it's future. This will be a Wrestlemania main event someday but for now we get to enjoy it in NXT. 

This is the fourth NXT special and it delivered again. The NXT show that airs every Thursday is the best product in the pro wrestling business right now. I like to call it WWE's version of ROH. I mean look at the talent. A lot of wrestlers from ROH who have went to WWE have become very successful. Look at Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan, Cesaro, Hideo Itami, Sami Zayn and now Kevin Owens. I believe that you will see some great things out of the top-tier NXT guys within the next few years. Triple H and his team are doing great things with NXT and it makes me look forward to the future. I tip my hat to the NXT stars who put on a great show for the true wrestling fans. The concept of NXT is definitely best for business. 

Boycotting Athletes Who Wear "I Can't Breathe" Shirts

Before I begin my thoughts and feelings on this I want to state in no way am I a racist, nor do I hate any other ethnicity. Over the past weeks I have talked about how things like Michael Brown, and Eric Garner do not have a place in sports and that it should be dealt with by the people who make the laws in this country. In regards to the Eric Garner situation. I watched the video multiple times and in my opinion the police could have handled the situation better. The man did not have a weapon and didn't show any signs of aggression. He simply was pleading his case. I do think the police used too much force in this case but lets look at the real perspective from this.

Eric Garner was 43 and had a long criminal record that includes more than 30 arrests dating back to the 80's. He had charges such as assault, resisting arrest, and grand larceny. Now did anyone ever stop and think that maybe if Garner wouldn't have had all these arrests that he wouldn't have put himself in this position to begin with. These athletes think they are standing up to police brutality but really they are saying it' okay to break the laws and not have to be held accountable. The same thing goes with Michael Brown. I don't agree with him being shot and killed but look at the position he put himself in. He robbed a convenient store and assaulted one of the employees. Had he not done any of this he would probably still be alive and Ferguson would still remain a small town that no one has ever heard of.

With that being I am sick of turning on sports and seeing these issues on ESPN. If I were a ticket buyer to a sporting event I would be very upset because I don't go to a sporting event to have someones beliefs and views shoved down my throat. I go to a sports event to get a way from the negativity of this society. I will not watch any team or any player wearing shirts with "I can't breathe" on them. If I want to hear about these issues in society I would turn on CNN, MSNBC or Fox News. If these athletes really want to a make difference then they should go out into their communities and teach the young people whats right and whats wrong. They should teach them to obey the rules, respect the law and respect others around them. Let the police, and the politicians decide what needs to be changed. I will say that some police officers need to use better judgment and be trained not to kill an unarmed person. It's a different situation if they have a gun but going back to the beginning look at the positions that Michael Brown and Eric Garner put themselves in. By wearing a shirt or using hand gestures you're essentially saying you support the crimes the committed that led up to their controversial deaths. 

Before you wear a shirt that says "I can't breathe" or throw your hands up look at all the facts before you do. These athletes are not sending the right message to the young people who idolize and look up to them. If I turn on the TV to watch a game and an athlete is wearing one of those shirts I will turn the channel. They are paid to play a sport and entertain us, not push their beliefs and views on the fans that who support them. The NBA, NFL, MLB, or any other sports organization should make the rule that if you want to wear that shirt then you pay a certain amount of money to put into a fund for their communities to help troubled youth so they don't end up like Brown and Garner. That would be a perfect solution to give everyone the chance to be able to breathe!

The Corner of Controversy and Criticism- 12/7/2014

This week I am in the Upper Peninsula where it can sometimes get cold and snowy. The one thing about the U.P. in Michigan is that their favorite teams are a little team. The best time to be around this area because the U.P. is split 50/50 with half being Lions fans and the other half being Packers fans. They are both die-hard. The thing a lot of people don't know is that towns like Green Bay and Milwaukee are closer then Detroit so they air a lot of those games in this part of Michigan. It's fun to watch the passion come out when they play each other. I personally love the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. When I cross the Mackinaw Bridge all of life's worries, stresses and problems seem to go away. If you ever want to see some beautiful parts of Michigan come up to U.P. and get away.

Earlier this week I talked about how racism, stereotypes and politics needed to stay out of sports. I was sick of hearing about Ferguson and all the other garbage coming a long with it. A few days ago Derrick Rose wore a shirt that said "I can't breath." The shirt was a reference to Eric Garner being choked out until he died on the streets of New York. There is now outrage that officer did not receive any punishment. Rose is not the only making statements about this because Reggie Bush wore won before the Lions game against Tampa Bay. I understand trying to take a stand but the best way to take a stand is to go out into the communities and teach young and old people the difference between right and wrong. Wearing a shirt and making gestures doesn't change anything and it doesn't make an impact. My advice to Rose, Bush and others is to go out in to the communities and teach these people about how to get ahead the right way.

On Saturday Night I talked about former WWE Superstar CM Punk signing with the UFC. One of the latest developments is Jason David Frank wants to be his first opponent. If you don't recognize the name you didn't grow up watching the original Power Rangers. Frank played Tommy who was the Green and White Ranger in the original Power Rangers. He also has a very heavy MMA background and has won four exhibition fights. He and Punk have talked about fighting each other for a couple of years now and now if Frank lobby's hard enough he might get it. Punk and Frank both have a huge fan base and it would probably draw some huge money for the UFC. Whether Dana White and the UFC sign this fight remains to be seen but it would be a huge attraction.

The College Football playoff has been decided and it looks something like this:

I am so glad that these playoffs were not all SEC teams. It's bad enough two of them are in there.I don't like how one conference gets all the glory. I personally think you should play every team in your conference and that one winner from conference makes it into the playoffs. I personally want to Ohio State vs. Oregon in the championship game. I am very anti SEC. All the coverage always seems to be on them when there are other teams out there doing just as great as they are. I am looking forward to seeing how this first playoff starts out. I am glad that there is more to fight for in a season now. It's good for the schools, and the athletes involved. 

It's been a relaxing week with the holidays kicking off in full gear. I love this time of year where you get together with friends and family. If you're lucky your friends and family love sports as much as you do and you get to watch some great sporting events and enjoy some holiday food. Until next week be safe, be strong and believe in yourself. Controversy Doesn't Come Without Criticism!

Thoughts on CM Punk signing with the UFC

At UFC 181, CM Punk announced his pro wrestling days were over and that he signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC in which he will debut in 2015. Their a lot of people out there with different opinions and feelings on this shocking announcement. Many people believe CM Punk stands no chance in the UFC and that he's too old to make a debut as an MMA fighter. Others say that this is a stunt to get back at WWE and possibly use it as a bargaining chip in the WWE. Pro wrestling fans who did not like CM Punk to begin with have even more reason to dislike him now. I've read a lot of angry reactions in social media about his decision.

The anger towards Punk is because of his two podcasts with Colt Cabana in which he went on for three hours about his mistreatment in WWE. He said he was working hurt all the time and certain wrestlers were working him stiff. The wrestling fan says if he doesn't like working hurt and getting punched in the face for real how will he last in the UFC? Well the difference between WWE and UFC is after a UFC fight you get 3 to 4 months off whereas you're working 300 days a year in the WWE. The point of him complaining about working hurt is totally invalid if you look at it from the scheduling standpoint. 

As a WWE fan, UFC fan and CM Punk I am excited about this. My anger when Punk first quit WWE was because of the thought of never seeing the talent again. People who are saying he will get killed are the same ones who doubted Ken Shamrock, Josh Barnett, Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar. All of them have had success in MMA. CM Punk has a background in kempo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He's been training with Rener Gracie for a couple of years now so when people are saying he has no background in fighting styles need to remember that he has more background then when Brock Lesnar started. 

CM Punk will be good for the UFC and the UFC will draw with him like they did Lesnar. The early reports indicate he will be in the Middleweight Division which is a division that includes the likes of Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, Luke Rockhold, Lyoto Machia, Michael Bisping, and champion Chris Weidman. CM Punk's mic skills, and attitude will be a great asset for the UFC. I am looking forward to watching his first fight. Everything about this situation is intriguing to me. There are so many things running in my head. What music does he come out to? What kind of sponsors will he get? Who will his first opponent be? I cannot wait to find the answers and I cannot wait to bust out my CM Punk t-shirts again during his fights.  CM Punk always says two things. "Luck is for losers," and "It's clobbering time." He better train hard and be prepared because he will need the luck if he doesn't want to get clobbered. 

Politics, Racism and Stereotypes Don't Belong in Sports

This past Sunday five St. Louis Rams decided to do a salute with their hands up that signified don't shoot, we have our hands up. This was a referral to the shooting in Ferguson back in August and the decision not pursue any further legal action against Officer Darren Wilson. There are so many sides to this story but I am not God, Darren Wilson or Michael Brown so I am not going to assume one side is right and the other is wrong. I wasn't there so I don't know what the truth is. Here is one truth and that is people destroying businesses, looting and setting fires are wrong. The other thing that is wrong is bringing this very sensitive and controversial topic into the sports world. 

I understand that the Rams were trying to defend their community but in hindsight they should have left it alone and not did the salute. People are trying to get things calmed down in Ferguson and around the nation where there has been protesting. This salute has got everyone all up in arms again with debates and arguing taking place on every sports stations and social media platform around the country. If the five Rams really wanted to support their community then they should be out volunteering and talking to the youth of America about the difference between right and wrong. Spectators did not pay a ticket to get involved with political view and stereotypes of the players they are watching. 

The other side to this is that the St. Louis police wanted the NFL to suspend and fine the five players who did the salute because they found it offensive. Let's be realistic about this and realize that if the NFL would have taken in any action it would have caused more outrage and probably more riots which is something that doesn't need to happen.  Some might say what the Rams did is no different then what the Miami Heat did when they honored Treyvon Martin. These teams felt they were supporting their communities by their actions and there is not a lot anyone could do about it because it was a peaceful response and they weren't harming anyone.

People that were not directly involved with what happen to Michael Brown need to move on and get back to their regularly scheduled life.  I am personally tired of hearing about racism, and stereotypes. People watch sports to get away from the negativity that situations like this bring to society. People go to sporting events to get their mind off all the violence and hate being shown on TV. How are we suppose to enjoy things like sports if politics, stereotypes and racism finds their way into sporting events? Let's leave the negativity out of the positive things we do have. Do I think there is racism in this country? Yes I do but it's not as big as everyone makes out to be. Yes we have people that hate and persecute against others but not everyone is a racist. If you want to talk racism go back to the 1960's when African Americans were peacefully fighting for equal rights. Go watch the move 42, which based on Jackie Robinson's early years or Remember the Titans and all the adversity they faced. Racism was horrible at one point in time but this country has come a long way since the 60's and 70's. 

Let me ask this and I am sure people will be upset by these questions but they need to be asked and put into perspective. If this country is so racist and full of injustice why are the majority of NBA and NFL players African American? If we are so full of hate then why are the majority of MLB players Hispanic and come from different countries to play baseball? We live in a great country that is full of opportunities for all who live here or want to live here. As I said before sports are suppose to be a positive outlet for athletes and viewers a like to escape from the troubles and hardships of life. There is no room for political talk, racial slurs and unnecessary stereotypes in the world of sports. Leave all of that to CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. When I turn on ESPN or Fox Sports I want to hear about sports and nothing else. 

Let me end this by saying that I don't agree with racism, stereotypes or the violence that comes with it. This is why I love sports and write about sports. Too many people get hurt and upset when discussing matters of politics and issues in society. Lets start focusing on the positive and not the negative. Focus on what you can control instead of things out of your control. Instead of fueling the fire and causing more hate and anger go do something fun like watching a sport event, playing a video game or participating in sports. Our society would be so much better off if we didn't get so emotionally involved with situations that have nothing to do with our own personal lives. Peace not violence, love not hate, and stay positive not negative.

The Corner of Controversy and Criticism- 11/30/2014

Back in the late 90's Jim Ross would call Terry Funk middle aged and crazy and those sentiments ran through my mind when I learned that 62 year old Mickey Rourke had a boxing match in Russia against 29 year old Elliot Seymour. Seymour us former California Golden Gloves champion with a pro record of 1-9. I think it's safe to say Seymour's boxing career is over and he didn't do himself any favors. Rourke said he is going to fight four more times in Russia which makes me wonder  what their athletic commission is thinking. I personally think this fight was a publicity stunt and one has to wonder is Rourke has just lost his mind. Whats going to happpen when some young fighter destroys him to make a name for himself? Mark my words it will happen and Rourke will be the laughing stock of Hollywood. Rourke be smart. Go back and be apart of great films like The Wrestler, The Expendables and Iron Man. You're not Sylvester Stallone as Rocky.

Speaking of crazy, the Boston Red Sox spent a crazy amount of money on free agents this week. They have signed Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval. This is a huge bolster to their lineup and this will definitely put them back in the playoff hunt if everyone stays healthy. It's very rare that you have the playoffs without the Yankees or Red Sox competing for a championship. The Yankees and a lot of other teams have stayed quiet so far but look out for the month of December. I keep saying that teams like the Yankees, Tigers, Angels and the bigger market teams are going to make their moves right around Christmas time. It's always fun to see who makes trades and who signs where. Right now the Red Sox are winning the off-season and I don't see them being done yet. They need some pitching to go with that incredible lineup they have. If you don't have good pitching all across the board from starters to relievers you won't come close to winning a World Series Championship.

When it comes to signings I will be very curious to see who sings the reinstated Ray Rice. The NFL has reinstated Rice and he is now free to sign with any team he wants. I am not sure if at this point in the NFL season I would want the distraction on my team. On the other hand, he could be a very valuable asset to push a team into the playoffs. There are still nine teams in each conference fighting for a playoff spot and even though one man doesn't make a team, one man in Rice could make a huge difference. I honestly do not care about what Ray Rice does in his personal life but it is obvious that the NFL screwed up on how they handled the situation. I believe they did their best to cover the whole mess up like they have tried to do with other things in the past. A lot of people still believe Roger Goodell should be out of a job where as I believe he is human and humans make mistakes. He should be given an opportunity to learn from those mistakes and correct them. I think Goodell has done a fairly good job running the NFL and has implemented a lot of changes for the better. I would be curious to see who would replace him. For now, we don't have to think about that. Ray Rice is back and the focus is solely on him. Hopefully he can right his wrongs.

It seems Mark Cuban has been speaking out about a lot of different areas regarding the NBA. One thing that's interesting is that there might be possible realignment in the Western and Eastern Conference to make for a more equal playing field. I think this is smart because the Western Conference is so dominant where as the Eastern Conference is week. The eighth seed in the West could be a 4 or 5 seed in the East. I think in order for realignment they should rename the conferences because right now the teams in each conference are there because of there geographical location. Check out the current standings and I think you will see what Mark Cuban is talking about:

I think a realignment would do the NBA some good and the balancing of conferences would make it more competitive. Whether Mark Cubans idea will ever go anywhere remains to be seen but something should be done because basketball is getting boring and complacent. A shake up needs to happen in the NBA and make it fun to watch and make it more competitive again. The lack of competition has killed the sport. Listen to Mark Cuban for once, he actually maybe on to something. 

When it comes to competition the WWE, UFC, and Bellator are going to be competing for the contractual rights to Brock Lesnar after Wrestlemania 31 which takes place in March of 2015. It has been widely reported that Lesnar is going to return to MMA after his WWE contract expires. The fact is that Lesnar was a huge draw for the UFC. The fact is WWE fans hate the fact he is WWE World Champion. The fact is Bellator needs a big name to draw in more viewers to their shows. I personally would love to see Lesnar take on fellow pro wrestler Bobby Lashley who has been impressive in Bellator so far. Even though die-hard MMA fans hate professional wrestling, the idea of two pro wrestlers beating the hell out of each other has to be entertaining to them. Lesnar is no longer the next big thing like he was in 2002 but he could shake things up for one of these companies. At the end of the day I believe Brock Lesnar will return to the UFC. They have the money, and they have right strategy to put Lesnar at the top again. I guess once March 29, 2015 passes we will know the future of Brock Lesnar.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving full of lots of food, fun, football and family. The holiday season is here so remember that it's a time for family and friends not all the commercialized crap that's out there. Until next time be safe, be strong and believe in yourself. Controversy Doesn't Come Without Criticism!

Thoughts on CM Punks Interview and His Fans

After listening to Colt Cabana's Podcast The Art of Wrestling with CM Punk I have a lot I'd like to say to as a fan and as someone who loves the business aspect of pro wrestling. CM Punk told his two hour story of how things went down and why he will never come back. He said that doctors ignored his injuries and he was very upset about not being the main event of Wrestlemania 30 when he felt he should have been in the main event of Wrestlemania 27, 28 and 29, He said he was tired of being jerked around and that Vince didn't make good on his promises. He also stated that Triple H tried squashing almost everything Punk wanted to do in their feud. 

As to the interview itself I don't like how every other word of Punk's mouth was F this, F that. You can make your point clear without using expletives. I also feel bad that he threw Ryback under the bus because it's not Rybacks fault that the booking team put him in a feud with Punk. Ryback is known for being stiff so knowing that fact should have been on the writers and agents, not Ryback himself. Lastly I also noticed he never refers to AJ Lee by name. He just refers to her as wife. I am not sure if she was trying to protect her or not but I truly believe either way her career is going to be over sooner rather then later. My other concern is the guys who came from the same background that Punk did such as Cesaro, Daniel Bryan, Kevin Steen, and Seth Rollins. My worry is that WWE will mistreat them because they are not WWE made and they are all labeled the same way Punk was. Only time will tell to see if that's accurate or not.

Now after listening to what Punk said this is what I would have done differently. If I was so banged up I would have left after the Royal Rumble and came back for No Way Out. The storyline should have been since Kane eliminated Punk at the Rumble, if Punk beats Kane then he gets in at the main event of Wrestlemania 30. The main even should have been Punk vs. Bryan or even a fatal four way with Batista and Orton if Vince and Triple H wanted them in so bad. I would have worked the rest of my contract which was only a few months and then had a farewell match. If things would have been done that way it would have ended a high and happy note instead of the crazy mess that they got into and are still. Either way CM Punk isn't coming back and I choose to respect that. I didn't like it at first but I respect that he did what he had to do for his health and well being. 

There have been two sets of fans out there in regards to Punk. One group who takes the side of Punk and is now deciding to bash WWE and all their decisions with the second group bashing Punk and supporting the WWE strongly. I personally think both sides are absurd and everyone needs to realize he is a human being names Phil Brooks and the man can make his own decisions. The only thing that should be done in the future is I do think Punk and Vince McMahon should apologize to each other for how everything went down. Both of them made mistakes and both are to blame for Punk's ultimate departure from WWE. CM Punk does not owe the fans his health or well being. No one forced any of us to buy CM Punk merchandise or buy a ticket to watch him perform. That was our choice and in the end he made his choice. I say let the man be and let him live his life. At the end of the day, the majority of us are going to continue to watch WWE and find a new superstar to cheer for. 

If you haven't heard the CM Punk interview with Colt Cabana check it out:

Results, Review, Recap of 2014 WWE Survivor Series

Tonight was the 28th annual Survivor Series and finally I can say WWE did not let me down on this one. Before I begin my thoughts here are the results:

-Team Cena def. Team Authority (Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team Match)

-Nikki Bella def. AJ Lee (c) (Divas Championship Match)
-Adam Rose & The Bunny def. Slater-Gator
-Bray Wyatt def. Dean Ambrose via disqualification
-Natalya, Alicia Fox, Naomi & Emma def. Paige, Summer Rae, Layla & Cameron (Divas Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team Match)
-The Miz & Damien Mizdow def. Gold & Stardust (c), The Usos & Los Matadores (WWE Tag Team Championship Fatal 4-Way Match)
-Jack Swagger def. Cesaro (Kickoff Match)
-Fandango def. Justin Gabriel (Kickoff Match)

Since this was actually a good solid show I will start off with the only two things I didn't care for. I am still angry that they are not using Cesaro properly. I don't think the guy has won a match in like two months. It's reasons why I think CM Punk left. I think deep inside he knew the guys who should be getting pushed weren't getting pushed. The other thing that was absolutely horrible was the Divas Tag Team Match. They need to consider bring Divas back like Beth Phoenix, Maryse, Eve Torres, Mickie James, and Melina. These are Divas who got it and could wrestle. I can honestly say those are the only two things I hated about the show.

For those out there who are saying AJ Lee and Bray Wyatt got buried tonight obviously don't know the psychology of pro wrestling very well. First if AJ Lee is leaving for a period time or all together what a great way for her to go against The Bellas. It was her kiss that cost Daniel Bryan at Wrestlemania 28 and ultimately began the Yes! Movement. I also love that the Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt is so intense that the match for TLC has already been made. Bray Wyatt didn't get buried at all. They simply made you want more brutality in the feud and that's what the fans are going to get at WWE TLC in three weeks. 

The Main Event had a lot of twists and turns. Mark Henry gets knocked out in 10 seconds, Big Show turns on John Cena and turns heel again for the 1000th time but the biggest shocker was at the end. No it wasn't The Miz and Mizdow winning the WWE Tag Titles. It was The Man They Call Sting showing up to cost The Authority the match and the power they had. Everyone on the internet thinks they know everything about anything to do with WWE and how they operate. Well for those of you who thought this was the setup for The Undertaker vs. Sting at Wrestlemania 31 you are sadly mistaken. This most definitely is the setup for Sting vs. Triple at Wrestlemania 31 because Triple H is going to be looking for revenge. It was a great way for Sting to show up and now it leaves us wondering what the heck is going to happen. Who will be in charge? Whats next for The Big Show? Who challenge Rusev and Harper for their respective titles? By the way Dolph Ziggler proved he was money again. He and Seth Rollins are perhaps the two best performers on the roster right at this moment in time. I was so caught up in the arrival of Sting I failed to mention the performances of Ziggler and Rollins. Really when you think about it, everyone involved in the match performed well tonight and they put on one heck of a match. 

It was a thrilling and epic main event. WWE TLC is in three weeks and WWE has a great chance to capitalize on the momentum of tonight. They have Roman Reigns, Wade Barrett, Randy Orton and a few others coming back so lets see what happens from here. I will rate Survivor Series 8 out of 10. The overall show was good, but the ending made it epic. 

The Corner of Controversy and Criticism- 11/23/2014

As a sports fan I always love hearing about the feel good moments and stories that you don't often hear about because our society and the media is based on negativity. There were two great stories that I saw this week that were touching in two totally different ways. This past week Lauren Hill gave Devon Still her jersey that she wore during her first basketball game. Lauren Hill is battling inoperable brain cancer and Devon Still's daughter Leah is also battling cancer. Both stories have shown how generous, courageous and compassionate people can be. I personally enjoy hearing about the courage and the fight rather hearing about a lady in Washington choosing to end her own and making it through the national media. Lauren Hill is fighting, and still proving dreams can come true no matter how bad the situation is. That is the right message to send to people who are struggling. Lauren Hill and Leah Still are giving people hope and a sense of pride and there is no greater message then that.

The other story I that caught my eye this week was the tribute that the Toronto Raptors gave Vince Carter when Carter came to town with the Memphis Grizzlies. The tribute really moved Carter and he was in tears when it was all said and done. Vince Carter was a huge part of the Raptors early on and I think it was super cool of the team to recognize his contributions to the team and city. I always felt that if Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady would have stayed together that they would have won multiple championships because they were good together and the players they had around them played well under their leadership. It's too bad that McGrady's ego got in the way because neither of them have ever won a championship. Ironically enough the Raptors and Grizzlies have the best records in the league with both teams being at the top of their conferences. Maybe we will see Vince Carter against his former team in the NBA Finals? That's something to think about. 

Something else to think about is legalization of sports betting. This week NBA Commissioner Adam Silver supported the idea of making sports betting legal across the whole United States. I personally agree with the idea. Think about if a majority of casinos got to have sports betting in their facilities. I think you would see the casinos be a little busier. Imagine if you could go to a casino and bet on your favorite team and then go to their sports bar to watch the game that you were betting in. It would be a dream for those who love to bet on sports. I personally don't gamble and would not put thousands or millions on the line for a sporting event but for some people it's a way of life. Why should betting just be limited to Vegas? Vegas is not the only town with casinos in it.  I say if your state has a casino then they should allow that casino to participate in sports betting. Adam Silver thinks it will happen in three to five years and I hope he is right because I would love to see if it impacts the economy or not. 

Earlier this week Jonathan Paul Koppenhaver who is now known as War Machine pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges including attempted murder, sexual assault, battery and coercion. All you have to do is look at the photos of Christy Mack's face and know that War Machine is anything but innocent. The guy is a low life thug who hopefully is convicted. If he is convicted he could face life in prison and that's where he needs to be. He used his MMA skills against two defenseless women and when you have skills and training like that your body can pretty much be a deadly weapon. I say give him life and let him rot in prison. 

One thing to keep an eye this coming week is where Pablo Sandoval is going to be headed for the future. Sources say the Giants want to keep him and the Padres and Red Sox are offering big bucks to sign him. There a lot of big name free agents up for grabs this off-season but most people are talking about Sandoval at the moment. One of the things I would do if I was a team trying to improve is getting pitching. There are big name pitchers like Lester, Shields, and Scherzer who would make great additions to anyone's starting rotation. There is a lot of time left for free agents to make their moves so keep any eye out in the month of December. That seems to be the month that has the most signings and off-season trades. There will much more news to report in the future. 

It's been a week of the good, bad, and ugly. We have survivors, criminals, inspiration and disgust all in one column. That's how crazy sports are and how crazy the athletes are as well. Until next week be safe, be strong and believe in yourself. Controversy Doesn't Come Without Criticism!

Review of Macho Man: The Randy Savage Story

The Corner of Controversy and Criticism- 11/16/2014

Saturday night was a night of violence this weekend. You had Wladimir Klitschko defend his title against Kubrat Pulev. Klistscho is a great champion  He currently has the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO and The Ring Heavyweight titles which I like. I personally think boxing needs eliminate some of these titles and have one title for each weight-class. Unfortunately that will never happen because there is too much money and political agendas in boxing.  Speaking of heavweight championships the UFC crowned a new interim heavyweight champion in  Fabrício Werdum. He will eventually meet Cain Velasquez who was originally suppose to defend the title against Werdum. Finally, we saw Tito Ortiz take on Stephan Bonnar in a heated contest. These two absolutely hate each other and it did not help matters that Ortiz only won by split decision. I love how Ortiz refers to himself as "The Peoples Champion" because most people don't really like him. The guy is very overrated and is only in Bellator because Dana White kicked him to the curb when he realized he wasn't worth UFC money anymore. Hopefully Ortiz fights someone in their prime and is knocked out of MMA all together.

One athlete who is worth money being spent is Los Angeles Dodgers Clayton Kershaw. He cleaned house by winning NL MVP and Cy Young for the 2014 season. He is proving to be a great pitcher and is the ace of any starting lineup. The guy is only 26 years old and is already building a legacy for himself. I don't think this is the last time he wins an MVP or Cy Young Award. Other notable award winners for the year are Mike Trout who is the AL MVP,  and Corey Kluber who is AL CY Young,  I will give Trout his due for not giving up or being discouraged after he's finished second multiple times in the voting. He's another young player who has a bright future ahead of him. The City of Angels always has it stars but will Kershaw or Trout ever lead their teams to a championship? Only time will tell

Will Brian Hoyer take his talents out of Cleveland like LeBron James did? Sources are saying that Titans and Texans are interested in him. If Hoyer keeps playing hard and leading the Browns to victories I think he could be a just as big as star in Cleveland as King James. The Browns are doing great this year and it has not a thing to do with Johnny Manziel. I personally think Manziel is another Tim Tebow and will be a commentator on some College Football Show. If Hoyer stays with Cleveland and makes them a playoff team I think that will do more for his career then is he goes to the Titans or Texans. Can you imagine if Brian Hoyer brought the Cleveland Browns to the Super Bowl and won? It would be historic and I think he's playing with the thought of putting that idea n peoples minds. The Cleveland Browns have never won a Super Bowl Championship but I think the management and coaching staff of the Browns are trying to change that by building a good nucleus of young talent on their team. Keep your eye on the Cleveland Brown for the next couple of years. I think they are going to surprise a lot of people. 

Speaking of never winning championships, that all came to an end today for Kevin Harvick. The final four of NASCAR'S Sprint Cup Series were Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, and Ryan Newman. None of the four drivers have ever won the championship. I still don't agree with the championship coming down to one final race. There are guys like Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. who have performed well all year long couldn't contend for the title at the end due to the new format. My hope is that NASCAR will look at rewarding the top 3 or 4 guys who win the most races throughout the whole year. There are so many arguments to how the Chase should be handled but hopefully someday we will get a clear cut way that will make the majority of the people happy. 

It's been a week of a lot of up's for a lot of different athletes. The football playoff battle is getting more intense by the week, the NBA and NHL seasons have a long way to go and the College Football Rankings seem to be changing every week. Until next week be safe, be strong and believe in yourself. Controversy Doesn't Come Without Criticism!

WWE Proved They Can Showcase Talent in Smackdown UK Triple Threat

As I watched Smackdown this week I couldn't help be overly impressed by the Triple Threat Intercontinental Championship Elimination match between Cesaro, Tyson Kidd and champion Dolph Ziggler. During this match I kept thinking to myself this is how you showcase talent. All three man are very underutilized and not given their proper due and respect. This match was definitely one of the best matches I've seen on TV in quite awhile. All three men had something to prove and even though there was one winner they all showcased their skills to the highest level possible.

The WWE creative staff, agents and producers need to look at this match and realize that matches like these is how you get past the Orton's and Cena's and build towards to the future. All three men in the match could have great futures in the WWE if given the right opportunities and showcased on a regular basis. I personally think Ziggler and Cesaro are World Championship material while Kidd could be a great Intercontinental Champion right now.  I think down the road Kidd would be a great World Champion and they could use the fact he trained in the dungeon and that his uncles and father in law were all champions in the WWE.

Dolph Ziggler has been WWE World Champion but was never given a good run as champion. He is Curt Hennig and Shawn Michaels rolled up in one. He is one of the hardest working performers that the WWE has ever had. He's got a good look and great work ethic and has all the makings to be the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. His multiple runs as Intercontinental Champion proves he has what it takes to a main event star in the company.

Then there is my personal favorite Cesaro. Cesaro is like William Regal, Fit Finlay and Frank Gotch put together in one. Cesaro is another hard working professional wrestler. If you watched his matches in Ring of Honor you could see that he should be a main event player from the get go in WWE. Cesaro has had some great matches with Sami Zayn, Sheamus, and Ziggler throughout this past year. There's a reason WWE made him the first Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal Winner. They just need to find that reason again and get him back on track.

Everyone I spoke with loved the triple threat match which is saying something because I haven't heard that much praise for a WWE Television match in quite some time. I am glad three of the best workers in WWE had a chance to shine and hopefully they will get the chance again. Keep an eye out for Ziggler, Kidd and Cesaro because I expect more great things from each of them to come in the future.

The Corner of Controversy and Criticism- 11/9/2014

The NFL has the Super Bowl, the NHL has the Stanley Cup, College Basketball has the Final Four but next week at Homestead-Miami four NASCAR drivers will compete to become NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion. The four drivers are Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman. This season has been quite intense and NASCAR has got what they wanted which is better ratings. I still don't agree with the the system. One race should not determine the championship. It should be based on all 36 races and how consistent you perform. Think about it from the point of view. Brad Keselowski had 6 wins, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had 4 wins, Jeff Gordon 4 wins, and Jimmie Johnson had 4 wins. None of these four have a shot at winning the title because of these elimination rounds. Then there is Ryan Newman who has been consistent all year round but hasn't won a race. I personally the four drivers who have the most wins during the season should get an automatic bye into the last race before the championship race. It's exciting that there will be a new champion but I think NASCAR needs to rethink how a driver should earn a championship. I have no doubt it will be a good race and that whoever wins the championship will have earned it in that race.

Speaking of earning things, both Adrian Peterson and Ray Rice are looking to get reinstated back into the NFL. I personally think that both of them should have to take some classes, and perform some community service before either of them have a chance to get back in the NFL. Playing a sport is not a right, it's a privilege that should not be taken lightly. Too many athletes have done wrong for too long so it's time to set and make an example out of these athletes that they are not above the law. If I was an NFL team owner I would not either player on my team at this point due to the distractions. I think for now the focus needs to be off of them and on the playoff races in the AFC and NFC. Once this season is over then they should talk about the returns of Rice and Peterson. It's sad that these two great football players have been a big disappointment.

When it comes to disappointing you can't help but think about the Los Angeles Lakers who still have not won a game yet this season. For the longest time I remember when the Clippers were the 2nd team in L.A. and they couldn't win to save themselves. Now the roles are reversed and yet people still talk more about the Lakers losing then they do the Clippers winning. Kobe Bryant should have done more to lobby players to come play with him. This is embarrassing to the legacy of the Lakers and Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant is one  of those guys who should go out on top. It's pathetic, sad and heartbreaking at the same time. When Kobe goes it's going to be even worse to build a franchise without him there. It's going to take a lot of years for the Lakers to become a dynasty again. Los Angeles fans are just going to have to get behind the Clippers because right now they are the best thing in L.A.

This past weekend I was watching Ring of Honor Wrestling and I have to say I was very impressed with the progression and development of former NFL Player Quinn Ojinnaka aka Moose. This guy is such a naturally gifted athlete who moves around pretty well for a big heavyweight. He could join the likes of Ernie Ladd, Wahoo McDaniel, Lex Luger, Brian Pillman, and Goldberg who are transitioned from football to wrestling and were successful. There is a huge list of pro wrestlers with football backgrounds that are successful but Moose could be a huge standout if he is used properly. I am honestly shocked WWE did not sign this guy and made him the next big star in the company. If you do not watch Ring of Honor Wrestling then I highly suggest you do and keep an eye out for Moose. You will be just as impressed as I was. 

This time next week NASCAR will join Major League Baseball and be in their off-season. Not much takes place in the NASCAR off-season except for testing but you can bet a lot of free agent signings in baseball will start to take place and become very newsworthy. Until then be safe, be strong, and believe in yourself. Controversy Doesn't Come Without Criticism!

Rusev Winning United States Title is a Good Move for WWE

Anyone who knows my personality knows that I am a patriot at heart. Some of my favorite rivalries in pro wrestling revolved around the patriotism of the this country. Back then you had Sgt. Slaughter versus Iron Sheik, Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Nikolai Volkoff, and Hulk Hogan vs. Sgt. Slaughter when Sarge was an Iraqi sympathizer. You also cannot forget about when Bret Hart when anti-America in 1997. He booed in America and cheered in Canada. The patriotic feuds have always been some of the most heated and the most passionate. Lately fans have passionate again and this time it's been towards the "Bulgarian Brute" who defends Mother Russia. His name is Rusev and he a long with his manager Lana have been spewing propaganda for months about Russia being better then the United States. 

Many have tried to conquer Rusev including Jack Swagger, Mark Henry, Big E, and the Big Show. This past Monday he defeated Sheamus on the WWE Network to win the United States Title. Rusev and Lana remind me so much of Ivan Drago from Rocky 4.He killed off Apollo Creed and went to war with Rocky Balboa. I don't agree with airing this match on the WWE Network because it was a great payoff match that should have been at Survivor Series. I do agree with putting the United States Title on Rusev because right now he's one of the top heels and best performers on the roster.

The other reason this was a great move by WWE is because the WWE fans really have nothing to be passionate about these days. CM Punk is gone, Daniel Bryan might not return and Roman Reigns is injured. The fans are definitely passionate about their hatred for Rusev. The hatred for Rusev made Jack Swagger, Mark Henry, and Big Show relevant again. The fans really got behind each of them and wanted them to win. The fans are going to get behind whoever Rusev faces because they want to see who who is going to knock off Rusev. I personally hope it's someone that it will help build. It does not need to be someone like John Cena or a veteran who won't benefit from it. It needs to be someone that will skyrocket in popularity by defeating Rusev.

It remains to be seen who will defeat Rusev for the United States Title. I think it was the right move for WWE. Rusev is a monster, a beast and has one of the best in ring styles that I've seen in a long time. He's a part of the future for WWE and who ever defeats him needs to be a part of the future. For now we will have to put up with Rusev crushing people but eventually someone will rise to the occasion and take back the United States Championship and the glory of America. This is a perfect storyline filled with passion and patriotism. Who will be the WWE's Rocky and take down WWE's Ivan Drago? Stay tuned to find out.

The Corner of Controversy and Criticism- 11/2/2014

This past week the Major League Baseball season ended when the San Francisco Giants won the World Series in seven games against the Kansas City Royals. This was an intriguing series that was a lot better then I thought it would be. I was really hoping for a Kansas City World Series win because it's been far too long since they have won a title. What concerns me now is that this team will probably be broken up because they are a small market team and won't be able to afford the contracts that these guys are going to want to have after proving they can win. The Giants can now consider themselves a dynasty winning their third championship in five years. I was impressed with Madison Bumgarner and what he did in the series. He definitely deserved to be the MVP of the series. Baseball season has come to an end and now we have an interesting off-season to look forward to. 

Even though baseball ended, the NBA season kicked off this past week. The big story heading into the season is Lebron James coming back to Cleveland. I expect Cleveland to be a great team but it's going to take time. If people are expecting instant results of them blowing teams out they are sadly mistaken. It takes time to work together as a unit and develop some chemistry. The thing that has shocked me the most is that the Lakers have started off 0-4 and they really aren't doing much to help Kobe winning anymore championships. If I was Kobe I would start asking for some more help so I could end my career on a high note. The other winless teams are the Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, and Orlando Magic. Hard to believe that 10-15 years ago the four winless teams all had great teams who could compete for a championship. It's crazy how the NBA changes like that overtime. It is still a long season ahead so who knows maybe one of these four winless teams can turn it around and make the playoffs. 

It is a little over halfway into the NFL season and if someone would have told me that the top two teams in the NFC at this point were the Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions I would have called you a fool. There are teams like the Eagles, Cowboys, Chiefs, Bills, Dolphins and Browns who are surprising me this year by competing and keeping themselves as a playoff contender up to this point in the season. I really don't think there is a clear cut front runner to win it all.  I mean think of this possibility. What would happen if the Super Bowl happen to be the Cleveland Browns against the Detroit Lions? Could you ever imagine that happening? Well these two teams have been the laughing stock for a long time and they are winning games and building for the future. I think that's where teams like the Steelers, Saints and Patriots are having their struggles. They are not doing much to get younger and build for the future. They all have been coasting off what they have done for the last ten years. They have to make changes or it's going to take a long time for these teams to rebuild once certain players call it quits. With eight weeks left in the season the playoff battles in both conferences are tight. I am sure there will be some surprises when it is all said and done. 

Speaking of playoffs, the NASCAR playoffs have been wild, crazy and very unpredictable. I have not seen the drivers race this hard in a long time. Every race in the playoffs mean something but I still think the whole season should mean something. I know NASCAR is going for ratings and more competition but what about rewarding drivers that perform well the first 26 races. Jimmie Johnson's win a Texas Motor Speedway plays spoiler for the other eight drivers that are trying to fight for a final four spot in the championship race. After the race emotions boiled over between Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski. All I can say is Brad Keselowski  is not making any friends. He's been involved in multiple incidents this year so one has to wonder how much longer NASCAR is going to tolerate his behavior. I have a feeling that next week in Phoenix emotions are going to be higher then they ever been in the sport. Four drivers will move on to the championship and four drivers will be eliminated. Phoenix is going to be hot and the emotions will be too. 

One thing about professional sports is you can never go a week without something crazy happened. There is always a fight, there is always tempers boiling over and there is always something to talk about. This is why I love sports and discussing all that happens. Until next week be safe, be strong and believe in yourself. Controversy Doesn't Come Without Criticism!