September 18, 2008

WrestleMania is obviously the greatest event in the history of proffesional sports. Until the past summer, though, I had only watched the first 14 (plus a few random matches from the rest of them).  This summer that all changed as I went through the Mania marathon watching every match of every Mania (and by watching I mean it was at least on while I was in the room).

In recognition of this event I am going to express, for your viewing pleasure, my 10 favorite WrestleMania Matches of all time.  Most of these matches come the first Mania’s before the turn of the century, but there are a few exceptions.  So without further ado…

#10. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels w/ Special Guest Referee Mike Tyson: World Heavyweight Championship: WrestleMania XIV

This is the last WrestleMania before my hiatus from wrestling. Stone Cold and Michaels had a good match, but the most impressive memory from this match was in the aftermath when Tyson laid out Michaels with a vicious right hand. It brought back memories of Mike Tyson’s Punch out; the greatest video game ever!

-Who would trust Bad News?

-Who would be dumb enough to think a battle royal could end with 2 winners?

Oh, wait…I guess Bret did figure that one out (see Royal Rumble ‘94)

Anyway the image of Hart destroying that 6 foot trophy (Which reminds me of the High School Tennis MVP trophy from my freshman year) is etched into my mind as a great WrestleMania moment.

#4. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage: Intercontinental Championship: WrestleMania III

Considered by many the greatest match ever, Savage and Steamboat stole the show from Andre and Hulk in what was by far the biggest wrestling event in history.  Two tremendously gifted athletes with absolutly incredible work ethics put on one of the most precise and smooth flowing matches in history.  This match revolutionized the “near fall.”

#3. King Kong Bundy/Little Tokyo/Lord Littlebrook vs. Hillbilly Jim/Little Beaver/Haiti Kid: WrestleMania III

Most people would probably be shocked to see such a match this high.  But as far as a match I think about when I just think about a fun story, it was this.  Usually gimmick type matches make me cringe, but the contrast between Bundy and the little guys he pumbled was so stark it was impossible to not laugh at the outcome, especially as Bundy Slams and drops the elbow on the little man.

#2. Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin: Submission Match: WrestleMania 13

Hart is the excellence of execution.  Austin is as tough as they come.  This match was a beautiful massacre.  The images of this match have been branded into my mind.  Who could ever forget Austin lying in a pool of blood being help in the sharpshooter.  Especially after seeing his mouth dripping blood.  More impressive than anything else, this match really proved Hart was not only a great tactical wrestler, but could adapt and entertain in any way necessary.

#1. Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels: Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match: Wrestlemania X

Around the turn of the century ladder matches became a staple in professional wrestling.  It hasn’t always been that way.  In fact when Ramon and Michaels competed in one at WM X it was probably the first such match that most fans had ever seen.  Michaels put on a typical quality show, while Ramon retained the belt.  This match really did revolutionize the ladder match.

September 3, 2008

Found this, This was an awesome remake of of Photograph by Nickelback… this is the only time I will make that statement…

August 24, 2008

In this video, Crazy Legs Conti of Major League Eating attempts to eat a Michael Phelps breakfast in 5 mintues.  This is much more impressive than Phelps’ 8 gold medals…

August 16, 2008

So I went to a wedding of some transy friends a couple of weeks ago and right before the bride made her way down the aisle, my date nudged me and asked why I was singing Green Day to Pachelbel’s Cannon…

This is why…

August 8, 2008

By: Clark Howell

In light of my first ever trip to Shea Stadium today, I have decided to the major league parks I’ve been in order of just how outstandingly awesome they are.  So, I’m lame and have only been to 8 parks.  This list will includ a large variety of parks…2 that are no longer in existance, 2 that will be going down shortly, 3 that have gone up in my lifetime, and 1 that will liveforever!

8. Tropicana Field “The Trop”: Tampa Bay (No longer Devil) Rays: On Life Support!

This actually may be the park I’ve been to the most (although I’m pretty sure it’s #2) so I’ve had plenty of time to enjoy the most disgustingly awful park that has every existed.  From the outside it looks like an awful excuse for a psychotic art museum…and inside you feel like you’re walking into the depths of a dungeon.  The only thing to like is the fact that no one else likes the place, so you’re $5 ticket will allow you to sit pretty much anywhere in the entire stadium.  Lets just hope (for my sake) that doesn’t change with the teams recent domination of the New York Billionares, and the Boston WannaBes.

#7 Veterans Stadium “The Vet”: Philidelphia Phillies: Deceased

So I would love to give some love to a stadium that hosted the NFL’s Eagles, and often the classic Army-Navy football game…but this field is just terrible.  It was voted by the players of the NFL the worst field in the profession.  This does hold the distinction of the only field I have every personally been on, and has a special place in my heart as the place where I stold a very small part of the warning track…if only I knew where that plastic bag went?!?

#6 Shea Stadium: New York Mets: Taking it’s final breath

Shea is absolutely nothing special…except for the “Big Apple.”  The only problem with this is I: a). don’t like apples (actually they disgust me) and b). I didn’t get to see it.

#5 Great American Ballpark: Cincinnati Reds: Infancy

The home of my beloved Reds is a wonderful park with a decent view, full of memories that haunt me.  It’s hard for me to associate the park with anything but the losing seasons that it has been a part of every year.  It is actually a pretty cool stadium, but I’m gonna miss the Griffey home run count in the outfield.

#4 Riverfront Stadium: Cincinnati Reds: Deceased

So the park isn’t any thing special, except for nostalgia.  The site of my first game, and also the site of my Reds 3 most recent World Championships (So what if 2 of the were a decade before I was born, and the last one before I can remember)  I can certainly respect the past!

#3 Minute Maid Park (aka. Enron): Houston Astros: Homeschooled Infant

Minute Maid is the most comfortable park I’ve been in.  It is a dome…not a dungeon.  The view out the window (yeah…a dome with a window) of the city skyline is pretty awesome.  The train, while I don’t really understand it, is pretty cool too.  It’s too bad such a wonderful stadium is wasted on such a subnormal team.

#2 Turner Field: Atlanta Braves: Teenager

Turner field is just flat out awesome.  Downtown Atlanta, which is a pretty cool place.  Not far from the Varsity with is the only overpriced resturant I could ever want to eat at.  A very nice stadium that gives you a quality view of the action.  This place was even good enough to host the Olympics, which has to add some bonus points.

#1 Wrigley Field: Chicago Cubs: Legend

So Yankee Stadium is famous for the great things that have happened there, Fenway for the monstrocity in Left Field.  But Wrigley is truly the legend.  It is a symbol of where baseball came from.  Just a glorious place that represents all that is good and loveable (not the Cubs) in baseball.  And the brick fence covered by the ivy is something so unique and unmatched that it is impossible not to look on it with some form of awe.

August 6, 2008

Leroy and I went to a Ring of Honor wrestling show in late June.  We had front row tickets and will certainly be on the dvd… (I’ll be the guy getting the shaft while trying to high five wrestlers)  Here is a preview screen shot of us on the dvd.  When the dvd comes out next week I’ll be sure to post screen caps of me getting owned (read:Pwned i believe)

August 2, 2008

By: Clark Howell

So for those of you who care, and I’m certain all of you do, as a result of my furious fingers and the EA simulation for the third straigh year an SEC team defeated The Ohio St. University in the national championship game.

Last year it was LSU, the year before that: Florida.  This year that distinction belongs to the Auburn Tigers, who defeated the Buckeyes 24-15 behind the strength of a 4 cth, 180 yrd, 2 td day from WR Rodgeriqus (is that a real name?) Smith.

As a result of this game I propose that Ohio St. should be removed from the BCS standings for the remainder of my lifetime.  No, strike that: At this rate Kentucky will win a national championship at the expense of the Buckeyes within the next 10 years.  I’ll Take it.

July 31, 2008

In my first post, I could have written something witty, or I could have talked about something serious, but in fact, I’m lame so I’ll give you a video of a professional wrestler, wrestling an invisible person.

Watch to see if he wins…