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!

First Impressions of Lucha Underground

To coin an old phrase, "you only have one chance to make a good first impression."  As I sat down and watched the first hour long episode of Lucha Underground I was pretty impressed. Although I had to listen to all the Spanish Commentary it didn't take away from the action or presentation. There are faces I have never seen before and those I haven't seen in quite awhile. The most notable names on the show are John Morrison(Johnny Mundo), Chavo Guerrero, Konnan, Vampiro and Puma(known as Ricochet on the indy scene). They also have female masked wrestlers that I think will add another dimension that you don't see on WWE, TNA or ROH. Those female wrestlers from time to time will fight a male wrestler which isn't done on TV anymore. 

Even though it's not the powerhouse that WWE is, it could be in the mix of where ROH, and TNA are at. They have notable names, a unique presentation and a solid storyline that is not confusing to fans. I would love to see some more notable lucha wrestlers join this promotion. I think guys like La Parka, Psicosis, Juventud Guerrera and others who became famous in America would be a plus for this new TV show. 

With what I saw in the first week I am curious to see more. I love how the first show left you wanting to see more. I think this could be a successful promotion if it's done right. The fact it's only an hour show makes it a good thing. If it was three hours I don't think I could sit through it. An hour long program keeps your attention and doesn't make you get bored with the product. I think that's where WWE's downfall has been. If you're a wrestling fan I would keep an eye on this promotion. Keep tuning in to the El Ray for more of Lucha Underground. You don't want to blink because you might just miss it!