Posted in: Hustle Is Posting Right Now Hustle Is Posting Right Now: Volume 43 ("Bracketology 6" Edition)
By Hustle
Apr 24, 2009 - 10:19:12 PM
That's just gangsta, Ro.
"This is my product, and I gotta move it.."
Talib (lyrics stick to ya rib) Kweli delivers this week's intro line to us. Once a salesman, always a salesman, folks. That's just how it goes. Welcome back, one and all, to yet another edition of the column that packs one helluva right hook, but can still get down with the get down when it comes to the left.. Hustle Is Posting Right Now. Like Marcellus Wiley, I'm "Dat Dude", and I go by the name of Hustle. Thanks for being here this evening. I've got a lot a lot a lot a lot on my plate today, so I'm not going to waste any more typing space. I think it's about that time. Shall I proceed? (Yes, indeed.)
I finished my Triple H column, but after looking it over.. and looking it over again.. I decided that it would be for the best if I kept working on it, beefing it up a bit, so you'll have to wait another week for it. Hopefully, I can make it worth your time. There's a lot of venom being put into it, that's for sure. I may even try to come up with a different presentation style for it, but either way, it's still being put together. This week, however, will be yet another edition of my "go-to" when I don't have anything else to write about, for one reason or another.. "Ask Hustle". There's some pretty good questions in this feedbag, if I may say so myself. Let's open it up..
How much "street cred" can you possibly have when you admit to watching shit like The Backyardigans? (John Doe)
Hmm.. that's a very good question. You later went on to question just how "gangsta" it is to watch TV shows like that, so I'll say this right here and now..
To me, one of the main things that shows a person's "gangsta" is how much they do their own thing, regardless of what the "in" thing is, or what conventional wisdom might be. Are there TV shows I enjoy that aren't necessarily "hot in the streets"? Sure. Are there musical acts and/or songs I enjoy that won't be getting heavy rotation in hoods across the country? Without a doubt. I've just never been all that concerned with what other people's opinions of me are. I watch what I want to watch, listen to what I want to listen to, do what I want to do, all without worrying about whether or not I'll be ridiculed for my decisions. Yes, I watch "The Backyardigans". Yes, I listen to slower R&B music. So what? I'm not afraid to be myself.
It even branches out to wrestling, where my favorite wrestler clearly isn't the "in" name as far as the IWC goes. Some of my favorites from years gone by weren't exactly the greatest of all-time, either, as Sid Vicious, Papa Shango, Yokozuna, and New Jack have all gotten praise from me. You could even turn it around and look at the fact that I absolutely can't stand Matt Hardy, and have been difficult on Chris Jericho for years (pretty much his entire WWF/WWE career until his most recent heel turn). I don't let other people dictate what I like and dislike, unlike some of the sheep (no, not you, sheepster) out there that will ba-a-a-a-a at anything they're "supposed to".
Come on, folks.. it's 2009. We shouldn't be afraid of standing up for ourselves. As the saying goes.. "Do You". People are going to hate on you, one way or another, so you might as well enjoy yourself while they do it.
Don't you ever get tired of having to defend John Cena all the time? (John Doe)
Short answer.. no.
Long answer.. no, not really.
Seriously, though.. I'm a pretty argumentative person by nature, so this is nothing new to me. What brings me back to the table again and again on this subject, though, is my view that most of the anti-Cena arguments are fucking ridiculous and are usually hypocritical to the umpteenth degree. I like guys like Kofi Kingston and MVP, too, but the people that dislike those two can usually formulate a good argument as to why they feel that way. I don't mind those types of "haters" at all. Even though I've said it time and time again, some people just haven't caught on, so I'll say it yet again.. if you can come up with a logical argument as to why you dislike John Cena, I'll basically leave you alone. The argument needs to make sense, needs to be free of hypocrisy of any type, and needs to be something legit (for example, you can't hold things against him that are the writers' fault, etc). For every one argument like that, I see at least 20 that are packed to the brim with doodoo.
While I'm on the subject of defending John Cena, I figure this is as good a time as any to get something out of the way.. the discussion of Cena only having "5 Moves", that is. Because I like to put in work and perform a service for the IWC, allow me to list every single move that Cena did in his WrestleMania 25 match. Let's see if I can come up with more moves than the haters say he has..
- Punch
- Blockbuster
- One-handed Bulldog
- Fameasser from the top rope
- Double Suplex (with Edge)
- Kick
- Shoulderblock
- Clothesline
- Schoolboy rollup
- Twirlymajiggy Slam leading into the Five Knuckle Shuffle
- Five Knuckle Shuffle
- Attitude Adjustment
- Drop toehold
- STF
Damn, that's nearly three times the number of moves that the haters say he has, and that was in a match that three men involved in it, so he wasn't even in the ring and fighting for a portion of it. Just for shits and giggles, I'm also going to look at his match with Chris Jericho from this past week's episode of Raw..
- Punch
- Kick
- Irish Whip
- Leg toss
- Shoulderblock
- Back elbow
- Twirlymajiggy Slam leading into the Five Knuckle Shuffle
- Five Knuckle Shuffle
- Drop Toehold
- Attitude Adjustment
- STF
That's more than twice the number of moves that the haters say he has, and he was getting dominated for a good 75-80% of the entire match. Those were the only two matches of his that I had readily available to me (I deleted the other episodes of Raw on my DVR, and I don't have any of my DVDs with me), otherwise I'd keep this going, but I think I've proven the ridiculous "ZOMG FYVE MOOVEZ" point incorrect. Haters, everyone has their set moves that they pull out in every match, and they all dumb down their moveset when they reach the "big time". Watch Cena's matches now, then watch his matches when he was the "Doctor Of Thuganomics", then watch his matches when he was in his "RUTHLESSSSS AGGRESSSSSSIONNNNNN" phase, then watch his matches when he was in OVW.. you're going to see way more moves in his arsenal when he was in OVW. The point of doing moves, whether it's five or five hundred, is to draw the fans in, and that's exactly what John Cena does in his matches. Hell, he already has them drawn in before the opening bell rings, and before he's even attempted a move. All the "greats" have that ability, from Hulk Hogan to Steve Austin to The Rock to The Undertaker and so forth. You'll notice that those men didn't exactly have a Dean Malenko-like moveset when they were at the tops of their games. Some people need bigger movesets, and some people don't. You'll learn to deal with that.
Why the fuck did Hornswoggle change brands in the Draft, but not with Finlay by his side? (Steve)
You know, I've thought about that several times since the Supplemental Draft was completed, and I've yet to come up with an answer that makes any sense at all. No, really.. I have absolutely no idea why Lil Horny was drafted by himself. It's not like he'll blossom into some sort of a singles star on Monday nights. Realistically, there isn't anybody on the Raw roster that would be a fit for Horny to manage or "team" with. It just boggles (or "swoggles", in this case) my mind. Don't be surprised to see him join the "Future Endeavours" club sometime in the next couple of months. Sure, he's still over with the younger fans, but there isn't exactly a long list of people he can compete with, and he's definitely not going to be the mouthpiece for a worker that doesn't have the greatest mic skills around.
Do you think Mick Foley will be in the WWE Hall Of Fame one day? (Mitchell)
Through the years, Vince McMahon has disliked a lot of people in the wrestling industry. Through the years, a lot of people in the wrestling industry have disliked Vince McMahon. However, time and time again, Vince has been able to do business with a lot of these people, and even with those who, at one point or another, really had drama with the guy. Eric Bischoff and Bret Hart immediately come to mind there.
With that said, yes, I do think Mick Foley will eventually find himself as a member of the WWE Hall Of Fame. Sure, he's with the "enemy" right now, and sure, his exit with WWE wasn't exactly the smoothest of all-time, but Mick has been very public with the close relationship that he and Vince McMahon have had through the years.
Anti-Foley folks will argue that he isn't deserving of HoF status, and that all the "glorified stuntman" talk is nothing but the truth, and while some of that has validity, there's no denying that Mick Foley is one of the biggest names in the professional wrestling industry over the last 15 or so years. Unfortunately for him, the peak of his career took place during the same time frame as the peaks of the careers for Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, and more, but that's nothing you can hold against Foley himself. He was dealt a certain hand of cards, and he turned that hand into one of the biggest careers of the 1990's, without a doubt. It's nearly impossible to deny and overlook that, even if you wanted to.
What would Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness do if they were signed by WWE? (Don J.)
Wrestle, hopefully.
With Danielson, he'd be an absolute perfect fit on the ECW roster. He's a tad on the small side, in comparison to a "normal" WWE wrestler, but that hasn't stopped ECW-ites like Evan Bourne, John Morrison, Chavo Guerrero, Tyson Kidd, etc from being successful to varying degrees while on the "C" Brand. Hell, it didn't stop Chris Benoit and Rey Mysterio from becoming World Champions, for that matter. Danielson would do just fine on Tuesday nights, and would be a contender for the ECW Title within a few months.
With McGuinness, he'd be a nice fit for both ECW and Smackdown, as well. Size-wise (no homo), he's someone that Vince McMahon would love (hopefully no homo). With Raw's current direction of favoring "name" wrestlers over "worker" wrestlers, Nigel would become lost like Hurley and Kate if he were to show up on Monday nights. Smackdown focuses much more on the "worker" guys, and he could do quite nicely for himself on Fridays. He's got that old-school European vibe with a nice mix of the new-school, as well, from his time in Japan and America. He's a definite IC Title-level guy on Smackdown, and there's no doubt in my mind on that.
Bottom line, they both have their little quirks that may take some getting used to for those of you that are only fans of the "Big Two" companies, but trust me when I say that they'd be fine additions to the WWE roster if they're signed sometime in the future. I've said it before, and I'll say it again.. Vince McMahon isn't stupid. He sees the success that former RoH guys like CM Punk and Evan Bourne have had since being signed, and he knows that there is a large pool of talent out there that are just waiting for their chance at the "big time". He may not be looking at the talent pool himself, but he definitely has a team of people doing it for him. The right talent will get the right chance at the right time. Right?
How often do you head out to a theater to watch movies? (Alexander The Great)
Not that often, actually. Unless I'm forgetting something, the last few movies I've seen in theaters were "The Wrestler", "The Dark Knight", and "Iron Man", so that should give you a bit of a time frame. I used to go watch movies pretty frequently. It was damn near a weekly thing for my friends and I to make the trek to see something on the silver screen. In this day and age, though, it's hard to justify spending $20 or so ($10 for a ticket, plus food and drink) on a movie, no matter what it is. For that price, I could just buy the DVD of that movie when it comes out, and then I could watch it as often as I like, complete with fast forward, rewind, pause, and slo-mo options.
Times are tough. The economy is in shambles. Ticket prices need to go down, in my opinion. It would give more people a good reason to actually go out and do something if movie tickets were in the $5-$7 range. Families would be able to spend time together without having to take out a second mortgage on their house. Sounds like a good idea to me. I dunno.. more companies, businesseseseses, and products need to take a short-term hit to help ensure a long-term success. I guess that's a discussion for a different column altogether, though.
As a wrestling columnist, do you find yourself having a hard time with just sitting back and watching a wrestling show, instead of having to analyze everything? (21)
Nice name, first of all. That happens to be my favorite number.
Anyway, when I watch wrestling, whether it be TV shows or on pay-per-view, I try my gosh-darnedest to be able to sit back and watch without having to be overanalytical of everything going on. I'm not always successful, but fucking fuck, I really do try. The "catch" there is that, as a wrestling columnist, it's basically my duty to analyze everything that is going on, whether it be so-and-so's lack of a push, such-and-such and their rumored backstage "stroke", or whatever the case may be. I try to be as "normal" as possible, but again, I can't always be successful in that regard.
I do find myself enjoying more things than the "normal" IWC fan, though. Most members of the IWC have an incredibly long list of things they dislike about the different promotions they watch, and they're very vocal about them. I tend to have more of a positive attitude about things, even when things are going on that I wouldn't personally "approve" of. WrestleMania was a good example of this, as I had more of a glowing review of the event that damn near everyone out there. The good was really good, in my opinion, and the bad was merely "skip-worthy" to me, while most ranted and raved about how piss-poor certain matches and/or booking decisions were. I pride myself in my ability to view wrestling as just that.. wrestling.. and not some life or death thing where my entire week is ruined if something doesn't go my way. Obviously, there are wrestlers and matches (as well as promotions) that I don't necessarily care for, but I don't get my panties into a bunch when Matt Hardy is wrestling like some people do when their most hated wrestlers.. whomever that person may be *ahem*.. are on TV.
I'm not one of those people that use the internet to curse the internet and how it has ruined their enjoyment of pro wrestling through the years. As a matter of fact, I find myself enjoying it just as much, as a whole, now as I did when I was growing up. I seriously recommend that you folks give it a try. Just focus on the positives and the good things about the business, and don't spend all your time focusing on the shitty stuff, like some people, including some columnists, do. It'll make things so much better for you. I promise. Hustle, changing lives.. one person at a time.
What do you think of Mick Foley winning the TNA World Title? (Lorenzo Respert)
I was one of the most outspoken critics of giving Sting the TNA World Title because of his age, diminished abilities, and for the fact that he's failed to really put over any of TNA's younger talent. Time and time again, I'd shake my head at the fact that he was the guy in a company that was filled with better options.
Now that I've said all that.. putting the belt on Mick Foley was one of the dumbest decisions TNA has ever made, but only from an actual wrestling point of view. He's proven, on multiple occasions, that he brings in ratings for TNA, and putting the belt on him can only help in that regard, as more people will tune in to see where he goes next, but hot diggity.. his matches are all going to be terrible. Hopefully, this isn't a very long title reign, as it just isn't all that believable if he goes over on much of the younger talent.
Some people are saying that, due to his interaction with him in RoH, this could be Mick's opportunity to help put Samoa Joe over as a legit guy, but even as one of the bigger Joe fans out there, I don't want to see that right now. I still think Joe is being misused, and to turn that around like nothing happened wouldn't make much sense. Call me crazy, but I think now is a great time for Hernandez to get a sniff at the TNA World Title. Hernandez has a style that Mick Foley could make look even better than it already is. Foley could take a Hernandez mollywhopping and make it look like a million bucks. TNA, even more now than ever, needs to create new stars, and Foley is a good choice to help them with that. If Foley drops the title to either Jeff Jarrett or anybody in the Main Event Mafia, then they're completely hopeless and deserve all the bad things in life to happen to them. We shall see what takes place, I guess.
Are you a "Sneaker Freak"? (John Doe)
As a matter of fact, yes, I am. I've been somewhat deep into the sneaker culture for the last few years now, going back to having friends that worked in the industry, and then taking a job in the industry myself. Admittedly, I'm not as big a "Sneaker Freak" today as I was a year or two ago, but that has more to do with focusing my financial situation on other things, and not due to my love for sneakers being diminished. I still keep myself up to date on the new joints that are out, all of the upcoming releases, and rumors of things such as different colorways, etc. I just don't go out and collect shoes like I did in the past.
I really do need to get myself a new pair of Air Max 95's, though. They're like walking on pillows, folks. I think I'm going to wait until the.. wait for it.. 2nd Annual LoPForums.com WrestleMania Weekend Wrestling (W)Extravaganza to get some new joints to wear. Might as well be extra fresh for the week, especially considering some of the fresh bastards that will be there with me. I'll be outshined, but I don't want to be outshined that much.
Did you read Shad Gaspard's MySpace blog about internet news sites such as LoP? (Kim)
For those unaware.. in his "Q&A", Cryme Tyme's Shad Gaspard was asked a question about internet news sites and some of the phony news/rumors that get posted on them. Most of his venom was directed towards another site, but he did have one passing remark about Lords Of Pain. Now, although I post my columns on Lords Of Pain, I'm not going to automatically sit here and put Shad down for what he said about this site. Hear me out, but I totally get the points he was trying to make.
Wrestling news and rumors on the internet are damn near incorrect every single time you read them, so it seems. Shad's problem stems from the fact that it was reported, around the time of the Royal Rumble, that he was on the chopping block, and that he might be getting released due to the company's "disappointment" in his lack of improvement in the ring. Well, here we are, over three months later, and Shad is still employed by World Wrestling Entertainment. People read the rumors and took them as gospel, and people then took the opportunity to put him down, either in blogs, columns, chat rooms, or just on message boards. That really needs to stop. The "inside sources" that are usually involved in the news and rumors we read on the internet don't exist. "Reporter A" sits there and will post his own personal opinion and try to pass it off as actual factual, then "Reporter B" will see it, then copy and paste the news to his own site, where "Reporter C" will see it, and so on and so forth. It leads people to have fucked up opinions on things and particular wrestlers, when sometimes those opinions are based on complete bullshit. Call me biased, but thankfully, this site isn't one of the biggest suspects in the "Art Of Fuckery", but because this site is so big and reaches out so far, everything that happens on LoP becomes magnified. If one false report shows up here, it's the same as a dozen or so false reports on "lesser" sites, which is why various wrestling personalities have mentioned LoP in their anti-IWC rants.
The sad thing about all of this is the fact that it probably will never stop. The only advice I can give is the same advice I've given you fine folks on several occasions in the past.. don't believe every single thing you read on the internet, because it'll give you syphillis. You don't want syphillis, do you? I know I don't.
Where do you think WrestleMania 27 will be? (Craig Atkins)
That's a pretty random question, considering we've only known where WrestleMania 26 will be happening for about a month or so. It's almost impossible to guess where Mania 27 will be, but since you asked, I'm going to take a guess and say that it'll be in one of the following cities:
- Atlanta
- Philadelphia
- Minneapolis
- Boston
- New Orleans
There's really no rhyme or reason to why I chose those cities. I've seen some people predict New York, but I think it's clear that WrestleMania 30 will take place in Madison Square Garden (look at the Manias that have taken place there already, and you'll see why I say that). I've also seen some people predict that it'll take place outside of North America, but I don't see that happening, either. It's just too difficult a thing to accomplish, with the time differences for the company's "main" market and all those types of things. Again, there's no real reason why I chose Atlanta, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Boston, and New Orleans. I just think each of those cities would be a good host, for one reason or another. Philly and Boston haven't hosted Mania in a while. New Orleans has a huge domed stadium that could pack in the people for an event like WrestleMania. Atlanta and Minneapolis are both cities rich in pro wrestling history, and they both deserve a shot at hosting the "Granddaddy Of Them All". Perhaps WrestleMania 27 can take place in Honolulu? No? I'm the only one that wants that? Alright. Moving on.
Will Jack Swagger main event a WrestleMania before his career is over? (Alan)
Seeing as how that could be 15 years or so in the future, it's tough to say, but it's clear to me, at this point, that he's being groomed for bigger and better things in the future. He skyrocketed towards the top of the ECW brand, winning the title in what seemed like his fourth match with the company. He's got a great look (no homo), has a great combination of size (no homo) and speed, and also has a very nice amateur wrestling background to help him out. His mic skills aren't really bad, either, outside of his lisp, which is something he can't really do much about, I'm sure.
It's really hard to say, for sure, but if you put a gun to my head and forced me to choose, I'd say that, yes, Jack Swagger, will main event a WrestleMania before his career ends. It won't be for another few years, at the very least, though. Last week's match between John Cena and Swagger could've been a possible preview for WrestleMania 30, ladies and gentlemen. In March of 2014, remember that I said that.
Do you miss writing daily columns? (Juwan)
On some days, the answer to that is "absolutely 100% yes". On other days, the answer to that is "eh, sort of". Overall, I do miss writing The HIPE, but there are just some days where not much is going on, and things happen to have my writing time get smaller and smaller. If I had my way, I would definitely write a daily column, instead of the weekly format that I currently deal with.
Weekly columns are fine and all, but there are plenty of times that I'll post my column on Friday afternoon, and then there will be something that takes place by the end of the weekend that I really want to write about, and by the time I get around to mentioning it in my next column, 40 other columnists have already talked about it. This happens more for pay-per-view discussion. I'm usually one of the last people to share my opinions on pay-per-views and whatever takes place on that week's episode of Raw.
When the time is right, though, I will definitely return to writing a daily column. I really appreciate that most everyone seems to want The HIPE to return. Again, when the time is right, it'll be time to Believe once again.
When is your birthday? (John Doe)
Yet another random question. There were a lot of those sitting in the Inbox since the last edition of "Ask Hustle". If you must know, my birthday falls on July 18th, so mark that date on your calendars, as I fully expect some swank gifts from all of you. Cash would be the perfect substitute if you can't figure out what to get me. I'm not very picky.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you? (John Doe)
Yeah, there are definitely a lot of random questions being asked of me. That's fine, though. I'm happily answering anything you people throw my way, even if I have to put myself on Front Street. Of the embarrassing things that I can actually mention in this column without getting angry e-mails from parents who don't want me corrupting their children, I'd say the most embarrassing thing would have to be.. hmm.. that's actually a tough question. Heh.. alright, I got it. Let me paint the picture for all of you..
I was in the third grade, and I was sitting in class one day, bored and tired. I don't remember what exactly we were doing, but I think it was taking notes, as I distinctly remember the teacher writing something on the board, and all the students writing something down on a piece of paper. I was sitting in the very back row, and I was falling asleep. Suddenly, my head dropped as I dozed off, and I fell onto my pencil, poking myself square in the eyeball with the eraser. Needless to say, it woke me up immediately, and I screamed as I fell out of my chair and onto the floor as I held my eye. I'm sure I cut a good 20 years off of the life of my poor old teacher, because she had no fucking clue what to make of me lying on the ground and yelling out in severe agonizing pain.
I was taken to the hospital, and I don't remember exactly what I did to myself, but I had some slight damage to my cornea and iris, and I had to wear an eye patch for the next two weeks or so, which made me ripe for ridicule in the cruel, cruel world known as elementary school. I'm just thankful that I jabbed the eraser into my eye, instead of having the lead do the job, as I may not have been the spectacular guy I am today otherwise.
That was a fun little story, wasn't it?
If the world of pro wrestling were to make a football team, using wrestlers as the players, who would play what position? (Rickey S.)
This is something I've discussed on multiple occasions, actually. It's been a thread more than once on LoPForums, it's been the subject of other people's columns, and it's been a conversation I've had with people when we're bored out of our fucking minds. Just for fun, I'll give my starting lineups on both sides of the ball, as well as a few backups sprinkled here and there. I'll be using proper size comparisons here, so if you're a 6'8" wrestler, you probably won't be a Cornerback on my team. Let's see what I can come up with..
QB - Triple H, Edge (backup)
RB - MVP, Evan Bourne (backup), Jay Lethal (backup)
FB - Finlay, Rhino (backup)
WR - Kofi Kingston, Jeff Hardy (backup), R-Truth (backup)
WR - Shelton Benjamin, Christian (backup)
TE - Jack Swagger, Nigel McGuinness (backup)
OL - Big Show, Abyss (backup), Bobby Lashley (backup)
OL - Kane, Mark Henry (backup)
OL - Umaga, Scott Steiner (backup)
OL - Matt Morgan, Ezekiel Jackson (backup)
OL - Shad Gaspard, Festus (backup)
DL - Samoa Joe, Brother Ray (backup)
DL - Mike Knox, Brother Devon (backup)
DL - Hernandez, Vladimir Kozlov (backup)
DL - The Undertaker, Batista (backup)
LB - John Cena, Matt Hardy (backup)
LB - Randy Orton, Kurt Angle (backup), Booker T (backup)
LB - Chris Jericho, Mr Kennedy (backup)
CB - JTG, Carlito (backup)
CB - John Morrison, Primo (backup)
S - Shawn Michaels, CM Punk (backup)
S - AJ Styles, The Miz (backup)
Triple H, as the "Cerebral Assassin", would be a nice fit for the position on the field that would require the most cerebral player to make all the decisions. MVP has the proper size/speed combination to make for a good RB, with the hard-nosed Finlay being a great blocking FB to lead the way for him. Kofi Kingston and Shelton Benjamin would make great WRs, as they both have nice size, but their speed and athleticism would make things very difficult on opposing defenses, as you could just throw jump balls to them and they could use their leaping ability to bring in the catch. Jack Swagger is already built like a TE, so that works for him. My choices for the OL and DL should pretty much speak for themselves, I would assume. The LB is usually the emotional leader of the defense, and that sounds like a job that John Cena could handle pretty well. Randy Orton's nerves of steel and assassin-like mentality would also fit in at LB, while Chris Jericho would be an overachieving playmaker for his size. JTG and John Morrison bring the speed and athleticism needed for the CB position. Shawn Michaels, while nowhere near as quick as he once was, still brings the overall intelligence needed for the S position, and AJ Styles bringing a Troy Polamalu-like ballhawk presence, flying around the field and always being where the ball is.
You know, now that I've actually completed this, I have a strange feeling that I've done something like this in a previous edition of "Ask Hustle", but I'm currently too lazy to go back and check to see if I have or not. Even if this isn't the first time, at least I put a lot of thought into it. Bah, I'm getting old.
What's your "type" as far as women goes? (John Doe)
I've always been partial to "ethnic" women, whether they're Asian, Latina, Hawaiian, etc. That's not saying anything negatively about my Caucasian ladies out there, but I've just grown up around "ethnic" women more, so I gravitated towards them much easier. That's one of the best things about living in Hawaii, though.. women of every ethnicity are here, and although I've been all over the world, I'd put the women of this state up against the women from anywhere on the planet. Females are just drop-dead gorgeous here. It's also nice that the weather here sets things up for bikinis and skimpy clothing to be worn outdoors, and natural tans to be kept 12 months out of a year. I love this place.
Will Tyler Hansbrough be a bust in the NBA? (UNCHeelz)
I don't think he'll become a first-ballot Hall Of Famer or anything, but no, he won't be a bust. He's as hard a worker as you're going to find, and that work ethic is part of the intangiables that Owners, General Managers, and Coaches fall in love with. If I were in charge of things, I'd bring him off the bench on my team, and he'd be able to come in for bursts of energy and a bit of a motivational lift for the rest of my guys on the court.
At best, he's a double-double candidate every night. At worst, he's like a Mateen Cleaves-type of player, where he's someone that can get the troops ready and riled up, whether it's pre-game, during timeouts, at halftime, or on off-days. There's already early buzz that he could wind up on the Lakers next season, and if that's the case, I'd be thrilled. It's not like he'd need to step into the Staples Center and be putting up MVP-like numbers or anything. The team would be just fine with a small contribution out of him.
What exactly do you dislike about Michael Cole? (Yi)
I can't think of anything I like about Michael Cole. He's the most disingenous sounding wrestling commentator in the entire history of the business. He sounds as if he never watched wrestling a day in his life before the day he was hired by the company. Jim Ross, for all his faults and things that people criticize him for, is clearly a huge fan of wrestling, and always has been. Cole sounds like this is nothing more than a job for him.
The phoniness in his voice stretches from his speaking voice to that ridiculously forced laughter that he does whenever he sees something funny. He laughs as if Vince McMahon himself is in his headset threatening to rape him if he doesn't get the humor across to the viewers at home. To use Jim Ross again, when JR has the "phony" laughter, he'll give us a "heh" type deal, while Cole tries to push a "HA HA HA HAAAA" level of bullshit in our faces.
Seriously, Michael Cole is the bane of my existance. If I had my way, he'd have both of his legs broken and his vocal cords shredded beyond recognition. I'd rather watch Matt Hardy VS Matt Hardy in an Ironman Match, while Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard himself sits next to me and constantly pauses and rewinds the tape to show me the "big" moves, than have to listen to Michael Cole. It makes things really difficult for me on Monday nights.
Fuck you, Michael Cole. I'd tell you to eat a dick, but let's be honest, that's not a punishment for you.
Would you watch wrestling every day if it was on? (Simeon)
Although I may regret it if that actually happened, I think I'd really like it if there was wrestling on TV every day. Monday has Raw, Tuesday has ECW, Thursday has Impact, and Friday has Smackdown. There are other shows on TV, but I'm not really counting those, as they don't air here. I could deal with a few two-hour shows a week, with the rest of the days having one-hour shows. Hell, only a few months ago, I was spending a few hours every day watching wrestling online, and that's on top of all the televised shit I was watching.
It's an addiction.
The Hustle Madness tournament continues on, and I thank everyone for taking the time to vote in the Final Four. Less to vote on meant more time for everyone to give me their reasons for why they chose the matches they did. Good stuff. Let's get right to the results, though..
Red Bracket Winner VS Blue Bracket Winner Red #3 Steve Austin VS The Rock (WrestleMania 17) over Blue #12 The Undertaker VS Mankind (King Of The Ring 1998)
Well, "Cinderella" finally saw the clock strike midnight, folks, as Austin/Rock wins this by the score of 93-48.
Purple Bracket Winner VS Orange Bracket Winner Orange #1 Steve Austin VS Bret Hart (WrestleMania 13) over Purple #9 Shawn Michaels VS Kurt Angle (WrestleMania 21)
It was another down-to-the-wire battle, and it nearly came down to me needing to make some sort of a tiebreaker vote, but Austin/Hart pulls this one out by the score of 72-69.
In case you couldn't figure it out, that leaves us with only two matches left. Yes, we're finally down to the championship round of the Hustle Madness tournament, and here it is..
Red #3 Steve Austin VS The Rock (WrestleMania 17)
VS
Orange #1 Steve Austin VS Bret Hart (WrestleMania 13)
Damn, Steve Austin really is the biggest star in the history of the business, isn't he? It's interesting to see two Austin matches going up against each other here, especially with the fact that both matches involve Austin turning (face to heel at 17, heel to face at 13). This is going to be good, ladies and gentlemen. Get those votes in.
Just to add to the clusterfuck cornucopia that is this week's column.. BACKLASH PREDICTIONZ~!!!
CM Punk VS Kane
Yet another match that, at this point, has no business being on pay-per-view. I just don't understand why this match couldn't take place on television, but I guess that's why I'm only a wrestling columnist, and not the man standing behind a billion-dollar company. I look for this to be a formulaic match, with Kane dominating the match for a while, until Punk makes the comeback and picks up the victory. This won't be the last time we see Punk in the show.
Winner: CM Punk
Ricky Steamboat VS Chris Jericho
As I stated on LoPForums, this match really shouldn't be taking place here. The "Jericho VS Legends" storyline should've ended at WrestleMania, and if they absolutely needed the one-on-one match with these two, it easily could've taken place on Raw. As great a story as Steamboat has been, is he really worthy of a one-on-one match here? This needs to be the end of the storyline, in my opinion. I'm sure Steamboat will impress people with his showing, but Jericho needs to pick up the victory so that he can have some sort of momentum as he heads to Smackdown.
Winner: Chris Jericho
Jeff Hardy VS Matt Hardy - "I Quit" match
As much as I dislike Pudgee, I think this match could be pretty good. It will, undoubtedly, be the "blowoff" to this feud, so you'd have to expect some huge spot to take place, one way or another. If the rumors of Jeff Hardy possibly leaving WWE in the summer are found to be true (and, really, that's a 50/50 shot), I would think that he'd continue his losing streak here. He's proving that he can't be counted on, for one reason or another, and there's no need to sacrifice the push of someone that is dependable because of it. Look for Jeff to get in the majority of the offense for a while, then make another big mistake, and Pudgee escapes with the victory.
Winner: Matt Hardy
Jack Swagger VS Christian - ECW World Title
I don't see why it wouldn't be, but I just hope this match ends up faring better than Swagger's title defense against Finlay from No Way Out. I don't buy into the talk that Christian is being punished, or that Vince McMahon really dislikes him, but at the same time, I don't think he gets the win here. Swagger's building a bit of a momentum snowball right now, and that needs to continue here. The only way that I could see Christian winning is if the company really intends to have Tommy Dreamer win the ECW Title before he retires. If that's the case, Christian wouldn't be hurt by a loss to Dreamer anywhere near as much as Swagger would. Otherwise, look for Swagger to walk out of Backlash with the belt still over his shoulder.
Winner: Jack Swagger
John Cena VS Edge - Last Man Standing match for the World Title
Now this I like. I'm a fan of Cena (obviously), LMS matches, and the matches these two put on against each other. This has a shot at being a Match Of The Year candidate, folks. You should already know what to expect here.. a brutal match, and with both men taking big risks to end the match. I really can't see Edge winning the title back this soon (9 title reigns in such a short amount of time would be a fucking slap in the face to men like Ric Flair and even Triple H), so Cena should pull out a victory here, but the real news should take place once the match is over. Yes, I realize that Punk has hinted at cashing in his Money In The Bank title shot at next month's pay-per-view in his hometown of Chicago, but this is the perfect time for him to do so, and it's just screeeeeaming out for him to take advantage of the winner's beaten condition.. GTS.. *bam*.. new champion. Should be interesting to hear the crowd response of Cena losing the title in such a fashion.
Winner: John Cena, only to lose the title to CM Punk
Triple H, Batista, & Shane McMahon VS The Legacy
Sure, there's a lot of discussion about possible heel turns and a potential title change, but I really don't care about this match very much. The Super H/Orton feud had so much potential, and it has fizzled out worse than just about any "major" feud I can think of in all my years of watching wrestling. I'm so disinterested that I'm just going to say Shane McMahon turns heel, which leads The Legacy to win the match and has Orton walking out with the WWE Title. *yawn*
Winner: The Legacy, giving Randy Orton the WWE Title
Hustle Highlight Of The Week: I've got to give the HHotW to Santino this week. His entire segment on Raw was pretty funny, with him "interviewing" Santina. The video error was chuckle-worthy, and he has some top-notch comedic timing, as I've mentioned in the past. I'm really not looking forward to Santina and The Great Khali locking lips and swapping spit, though. It's a frightening thought.
Honorable mentions would go to the Cena/Jericho match from Raw, the Super H/Orton match from Raw, Big Show palming Rey Mysterio's head like a basketball as he pulled Rey into the ring from a standing position on the floor, Velvet Sky (just her appearance on Impact is enough for a nomination here), and Jack Swagger looking good in putting Christian through a table during their contract signing on ECW.
Writer's Note: I've been talking about it for the longest time, but the time to deliver my NFL Draft preview is right now. For the sake of column length, I'm only giving my first-round Mock Draft, as I can get a little carried away with this subject, and before I'd know it, I'd have more words dedicated to the Mock than for any wrestling subject I've ever written about. Here goes nothing..
1. Detroit Lions - Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, Georgia - Coming off of the very first 0-16 season in NFL history, the Lions clearly need help in more than just one position, but their piss-poor play last year started behind the Center. The team's QB play was average, at best, and atrocious, at worst. Stafford can be groomed for a year or two behind Daunte Culpepper, and then eventually become the real face of the franchise. They haven't had a true face since Barry Sanders retired. To be honest, though, Detroit could use just about anybody at this spot in the Draft, and outside of yet another Wide Receiver, I wouldn't be shocked if they went in another direction with the first pick.
2. St Louis Rams - Eugene Monroe, Tackle, Virginia - This could easily be the other top rated Tackle (Jason Smith out of Baylor), but Monroe is the more polished and NFL-ready of the two, so I think he gets the nod here. The Rams drafted Monroe's old teammate, Chris Long, in the first round last year, so they've probably seen more of Monroe, anyway, and can always use Long as a reference, both for Monroe's on-field work, as well as his character.
3. (just for shits and giggles) Kansas City Chiefs - Jason Smith, Tackle, Baylor - I've seen a lot of different names filling this spot on other Mock Drafts, but I simply feel that new Kansas City General Manager Scott Pioli will use this pick to help prevent his new QB, Matt Cassel, from being turned into hamburger meat several times a game. Pioli spent way too much effort trying to acquire Cassel to not surround him with the blocking he'll need to be a long-term success in the NFL.
4. Seattle Seahawks - Aaron Curry, Linebacker, Wake Forest - If Curry is available for the Seahawks here, they'll be thrilled, as, in my opinion, he'll be the best rookie of this year's class, as far as immediate impacts go. He's an extremely hard-worker and has all the physical tools needed to be a top-level LB in the NFL. There's an outside chance that Seattle could go QB here, but again, if the team is lucky enough to have Curry sitting there at #4, they should take him.
5. Cleveland Browns - Michael Crabtree, Wide Receiver, Texas Tech - And my heart breaks for the first time on Draft day, as I've made it clear on countless occasions that I would love my 49ers to land Crabtree. The Browns are, according to all reports, in the middle of shopping Braylon Edwards, and if they get rid of their top pass-catching target, they'll need to replace him somehow, which is where Crabtree steps in. I don't buy any of the talk that the Browns have removed Crabtree from their boards. Not for a second.
6. Cincinnati Bengals - Andre Smith, Tackle, Alabama - Smith might have some character issues, but let's be honest here.. that isn't going to bother a team that has had their fair share of head cases in recent years. As wild as his offseason has been, there's really no denying the talent he brings to the table. He was the #1 rated OT for a large portion of the season, so the Bengals can actually wind up with a steal here if he produces and doesn't wind up in an institution somewhere.
7. Oakland Raiders - Jeremy Maclin, Wide Receiver, Missouri - My heart breaks for the second time on Draft day with this pick. Maclin is just incredibly fun to watch, but there are some questions about whether or not he's worth drafting this high. Some don't feel that his receiving skills themselves merit a Top 10 selection, but his talents in the return game make him very interesting. The Raiders are such a shaky organization, though, that I wouldn't be surprised if they took a Punter with this spot, and then tried to trade him away for another Punter within moments.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars - BJ Raji, Defensive Tackle, Boston College - Now that the report of Raji testing positive for marijuana has been proven false, his stock is on the rise once again. He'd make a nice addition to the interior of Jacksonville's defensive line, and his combination with John Henderson will make things tough for opponents. Some think the Jaguars will look at getting Mark Sanchez here, but I think they'd like to give David Garrard another chance to prove himself, especially now that he has a true #1 receiver in Torry Holt to catch his passes.
9. Green Bay Packers - Brian Orakpo, Defensive End, Texas - The Packers could really use some help with their pass rush, and Orakpo fits that need pretty well. I've seen some refer to Orakpo as a bit of a "workout warrior", but that's unfair to him, as he had himself quite the productive collegiate career. He could also play a bit of Linebacker, so his versatility is definitely there. He's an incredible athlete at his position (as evidenced by the "workout warrior" label).
10. San Francisco 49ers - Mark Sanchez, Quarterback, USC - Part of this is what I hope will happen, but it's mostly what I think actually will take place. I like Shaun Hill, but he's not a "Franchise QB", in my opinion. One of the more accurate QBs to come out in the past few years, but he also has the arm strength needed to make all the throws. Some people are concerned over his lack of playing time, but I'd say Matt Cassel did just fine to squash that type of discussion last year.
11. Buffalo Bills - Aaron Maybin, Defensive End, Penn State - The Bills are another team that could really use some help on their defensive line. Maybin, by most accounts, is a prospect with tons of upside, but may be a year or two away from being a big-time contributor, but his athleticism is tough to ignore. If Buffalo's coaches can reign him in a bit, he'll be raising hell off the corner for years.
12. Denver Broncos - Rey Maualuga, Linebacker, USC - Let's be honest here.. Denver could use all the help it can get on the defensive side of the ball. This might be a bit high for him, but he's an extra-aggressive player that will strike fear into the hearts of offensive players. He's got a knack for coming up with a sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery, or even an interception when the game is on the line. Can't have too many guys like that on the field for you.
13. Washington Redskins - Tyson Jackson, Defensive End, LSU - Indeed, we have another time in dire need of some help on the defensive line. The Redskins could go in a few different directions with this pick, but I think Jackson would be a nice choice for them. He's probably deserving of being in the Top 8 or so, which makes him a bit of a steal here. He's got a nasty streak to him, and his size and aggression are coveted by teams in the NFL.
14. New Orleans Saints - Malcolm Jenkins, Cornerback, Ohio State - The Saints have nothing short of a complete mess in their secondary, and Jenkins should be their top target right now. It would be a bit of a steal to snag Jenkins towards the middle of the first round, in my opinion. He's versatile, so he can play Cornerback or Safety for New Orleans. He's also an extremely physical player, not afraid of laying his shoulder pads into a Receiver when he needs to.
15. Houston Texans - Clay Matthews, Linebacker, USC - The Texans are a piece or two away from being a serious contender in the AFC, and a playmaking Linebacker like Matthews would be one of those pieces. It helps that his uncle, NFL legend Bruce Matthews, is on the Houston coaching staff, so they'll have plenty of scouting on the guy. Really, the team can't go wrong with this pick, or with Brian Cushing (USC's other caucasian Outside Linebacker). I think Matthews' overachieving style earns him points with Houston's bigwigs, so he's the pick.
16. San Diego Chargers - Brian Cushing, Linebacker, USC - There are no glaring holes on the Chargers roster, which is an extremely nice position to be in. Their Linebacking corps could use a bit of an upgrade, though, and Cushing is a nice fit for them. Some think the team could try and get a RB for insurance if/when LaDainian Tomlinson or Darren Sproles leave for greener pastures, but I think they can wait another year for that type of move. Cushing will fit in well on the Chargers, and his strength and intensity will really fit in well playing alongside Shawne Merriman.
17. New York Jets - Darrius Heyward-Bey, Wide Receiver, Maryland - I'm torn here, as I really think the Jets need a QB, but I don't think Josh Freeman is worth drafting this high. I think there's a really good chance we'll see the Jets try to move up and take Mark Sanchez, probably somewhere around Jacksonville's spot in the first round, but as it is, I have the Jets going WR here. With Percy Harvin testing positive for marijuana, I think his stock will drop a bit, but not much. Harvin would've been the choice here if not for the positive test, in my opinion. Heyward-Bey can step in and stretch the field for the Jets, who lost Laveranues Coles in the offseason, and has yet to replace him.
18. Denver Broncos - Michael Johnson, Defensive End, Georgia Tech - There was a time, not that many months ago, that Johnson was looked at as a possible Top 5 pick, with a few early Mocks having him as a #1 overall pick. Obviously, he's slipped a bit, and that's due to his performance not always matching up with his potential and ability. Again, though, Denver needs all the help it can get on defense, and new coach Josh McDaniels came from the "Bill Belichick School Of Coaching", so he can probably get Johnson to focus a bit more.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Ziggy Hood, Defensive Tackle, Missouri - With the signing of Byron Leftwich, Tampa no longer needs to look at a QB, although coach Raheem Morris is familiar with Josh Freeman, as he used to be a part of the coaching staff at Kansas State. This pick, one way or another, will be someone on the defensive line, in my opinion, whether it's interior help or someone on the outside.
20. Detroit Lions - Michael Oher, Tackle, Ole Miss - If the Lions really do take Matthew Stafford with the #1 overall pick, they'll definitely need to provide him with some help up front, which is where Oher comes in. Most people look back to last year's first round, where Atlanta took a QB (Matt Ryan) with a high first rounder, and then took a OT (Sam Baker) later in the first round to protect him. The success of those decisions should push the Lions to do the same thing this year.
21. Philadelphia Eagles - Knowshon Moreno, Running Back, Georgia - Brian Westbrook isn't getting any younger, and he isn't getting any sturdier, either. Moreno could step in immediately and make for a very potent one-two punch along with Westbrook in the backfield, and he'll be a very nice replacement for Westbrook once BW decides to retire. Moreno's agressive style will immediately win over the notoriously tough Philadelphia fans.
22. Minnesota Vikings - Eben Britton, Tackle, Arizona - Sure, the Vikings could go with a WR here, but they need the help on the offensive line, and Britton made a really good impression on Minnesota's coaching staff. He came out of nowhere to soar up the rankings, but he's a nice fit for what the Vikings are looking for. If they don't go in this direction, I'd fully expect them to go with someone like a Percy Harvin, although I wouldn't rule out Josh Freeman, either.
23. New England Patriots - Robert Ayers, Linebacker/Defensive End, Tennessee - The Patriots' Linebacker corps could use some fresh bodies (no homo), and with the success of last year's first round pick (Jerod Mayo, also a Linebacker from Tennessee), this pick just makes sense. They'll feel that Ayers' learning curve will be less than it would be if they chose someone from another school and defensive scheme.
24. Atlanta Falcons - Peria Jerry, Defensive Tackle, Ole Miss - Up to a couple days ago, I had the Falcons going for Brandon Pettigrew here, but their trade for Tony Gonzalez means they don't need to select a TE, especially not with this high a selection. Jerry is ultra-quick for his position (although he's a bit undersized), and can be an explosive pass rusher, which the Falcons are looking for.
25. Miami Dolphins - Everette Brown, Linebacker, Florida State - Joey Porter is 62 years old, and Miami doesn't have that many top-notch options other than him, so getting a nice fit for their defensive scheme only makes sense. Some say the team will look to get one of the first round rated WRs here, but that's just not something I can picture Bill Parcells doing, not when there are more pressing needs for the team. Brown is one of the top-rated pass rushers in this year's Draft.
26. Baltimore Ravens - Percy Harvin, Wide Receiver, Florida - The team is pleased with their first rounder last year (QB Joe Flacco), and now they need to focus on giving him weapons to use, and Percy Harvin is definitely a weapon. He's a legitimate threat to score a touchdown every time he has his hands on the football, and he can do it in several ways.. catching a pass, taking the handoff, returning kicks.. he'll provide an instant spark for Baltimore's offense, one they haven't seen in.. well.. ever.
27. Indianapolis Colts - Hakeem Nicks, Wide Receiver, North Carolina - If one of the top rated Defensive Tackles are still on the board by the time this pick rolls around, look for the Colts to head in that direction. As I have it, though, those DTs will be chosen already, and the next batch would be a reach at this spot, so the team tries to bring in another weapon for Peyton Manning to throw to, now that Marvin Harrison has been released. In my opinion, Nicks is a bit of a steal here, as I think he'll turn out to be a fantastic pro.
28. Buffalo Bills - Brandon Pettigrew, Tight End, Oklahoma State - With the signing of Terrell Owens, Buffalo is trying to bolster their offense, which is a good idea. They're satisfied with the Running Backs they have on the roster, even with the suspension of Marshawn Lynch, so TE is the logical choice here. Pettigrew isn't on the elite level that some of the previous first round TE selections have been, but he's a solid player and the definite #1 ranked player at his position this year.
29. New York Giants - Kenny Britt, Wide Receiver, Rutgers - Plaxico Burress shot himself out of New York, so look for the Giants to bring in a replacement with this pick. I think they'd probably prefer it if Hakeem Nicks is available, or if Percy Harvin falls into their laps, but bringing in a local prospect will be popular with the fan base. If the Giants are successful in trading for Braylon Edwards, they could go for Ohio State's James Laurinaitis (aka Road Warrior Animal's son) or Northern Illinois' Larry English.
30. Tennessee Titans - Vontae Davis, Cornerback, Illinois - This may or may not even matter, as there is buzz now that the Titans may be on the verge of trading for WR Anquan Boldin, and if so, this choice would definitely be sent to Arizona in return. As it is, Davis is a great physical specimen (no homo), and at a position that could really help the Titans out. Even if the Titans don't trade for Boldin, there isn't a WR on my board that could go here and not be a bit of a reach, so Davis it is.
31. Arizona Cardinals - Beanie Wells, Running Back, Ohio State - Edgerrin James will not return, Tim Hightower was a disappointment, and nobody else on the team is NFL quality at the RB position. Yeah, Arizona would be ecstatic if any of the Top 3 RBs are available for them to choose. When Beanie is healthy, he has an elite combination of size and speed, and is a real game-changer. He'll take a lot of pressure off of Kurt Warner and the rest of the Cardinals offense.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers - Max Unger, Center/Guard, Oregon - Being the defending Super Bowl champions, it's not like the team has a bunch of "needs" that they're searching for. They're just drafting for depth, for the most part, and due to that, Unger is the smart choice, due to his versatility and how many spots he can play on the line. They may also be looking at Alex Mack (no, not Larissa Oleynik) out of California for the same position.
This Mock Draft can, and probably will, get blown to bits if/when teams start to move up and down through trades. Teams are already jumping all over each other to inquire about moving up to get Mark Sanchez, so we'll see what unfolds this weekend, but for this particular Mock, I just went straight ahead with the picks, and left out all the trades that could/would/should take place. It made things a lot easier on me, which was nice. Another name to look out for is Josh Freeman. I have him dropping out of the first round here, but with trades, if he slips past the Broncos at #18, I think some teams may trade up to get him, as he might be sitting on the board for a while after that. There's bound to be a team or two willing to package up to move from the top or middle of the second round, up into the latter half of the first round, to get him.
Writer's Note Part Deux: Another week, another update on next year's 2nd Annual LoPForums.com WrestleMania Weekend Wrestling (W)Extravaganza. An idea was recently tossed around to rent a vacation home (or more than one, depending on how many people are going) in Phoenix, instead of getting hotel rooms. That particular idea is still in its embryotic stages, but I figured I'd share it with everyone, anyway.
One example of a house I've researched is a four-bedroom place, with six beds total (one of the rooms has two twin beds in it, and there's a sofabed in the living room), living room that "seats ten comfortably", pool and hot tub in the backyard, two-car garage, and it's 15 miles away from the airport. That's going for $1600 a week. Split that up between six people (perhaps even more if there are folks who want to use a sleeping bag or an air mattress, or even at houses where an extra bed can be purchased), and that's less, per person, than most of us would be spending on hotel rooms, anyway.
There are plenty of home options, and I've even seen ones that have ten bedrooms. As of this very moment, there are between four and eight tentative "count me in" declarations from people, so we'll have to see what happens from here. As always, if you have any questions about anything, feel free to hit me up. If enough people are going to be a part of this, more than one house can be rented. It's still far too early to have anything set in stone.
Oh, and just because I can.. if you show up in Phoenix for all this shenaniganery, you'll be a part of a future edition of HIPRN, as I fully intend on having daily video columns while I'm there. Well, I suppose that means you'll be a part of a future edition of The HIPE, but you get the point. The video columns will be simple things.. showing what we're all up to (both in Phoenix and on the road trips), various roundtable discussions with the members of the house, event predictions, and things of that nature. Hell, just to up the "Cornball Factor", I may film the very first episode of "LoP Cribs" once we're all at the house. Obviously, it's all just a tad bit into the future, so we'll see what's poppin as time goes by.
Finally, for those asking, last week's "schedule" that I posted was nothing more than an example, and isn't what has been discussed. I just wanted to show the types of things people can look forward to should they decide to show up in Phoenix next year. I had a few people who e-mailed me about trying to schedule their vacations around what I posted. Please don't do that, folks. When the time comes, I'll post all the information you'll need about dates, locations, and all that jibberyjoo.
Writer's Note Part Ekolu: Happy Trails, DaveyBoy. You've been an inspiration to every columnist in the current crop of LoP writers, both on the main page, as well as in the forums. I applaud you for everything that you've done for this site. To have been a part of 300 columns is an incredible feat, and you never trailed off in quality, even as your love for the wrestling industry waned.
I, along with the rest of the main page writers of this here site, will do everything in our power to pick up the slack left by your departure, although that's like asking an art student to step in for Michaelangelo if he decided to stop his art. I can't make you any promises. Ha.
Just like I said in the forums, I tip my cap to you, good sir.
What Hustle Is Listening To Right Now: "I Wanna Know" by The Foreign Exchange.. "I'm Bo Yo" by Bo Burnham.. "Get Em Up" by Ace Hood.. "All Bets On Ace" by Ace Hood.. "You're The Only One" by Eric Benet.. "Birthday (Remix)" by Flo Rida, Rick Ross, & Brisco.. "Spotlight" by Jennifer Hudson.. "Part Of The List" by Ne-Yo.. "Wicked" by Ice Cube.. "You Know How We Do It" by Ice Cube.. "The Best Is Yet To Come Undone" by Lit.. "Closing Time" by Semisonic.. "Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger.. "Hustlin" by Rick Ross.. "Lifetime" by Prophet Jones.. "What We Do" by Freeway, Jay-Z, & Beanie Sigel.. "Pistol Pistol" by D12.. "Pistol Pistol (Remix)" by Obie Trice.. "Here I Am (Come And Take Me)" by UB40.. "Here I Am (Come And Take Me)" by Al Green.. "The Essence" by The Lox.. "I Put On" by Young Jeezy & Kanye West.. "Roller Skates" by Steel Pulse.. "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy, 112, & Faith Evans.. "Gettin It" by Too Short.. "Lucky Me" by Jay-Z.. "Ridin (Remix)" by Chamillionaire, Papoose, & Jae Millz.. "The Way That You Talk" by Jagged Edge, Jermaine Dupri, & Da Brat.. "What The Beat" by Eminem, Method Man, & Royce Da 5'9.. "Honestly" by Ekolu.. "Play Your Position" by Panama & Skyzoo.. "All Night Long" by Slo Mo, C-Gutta, & Kaipo Kapua.. "3AM" by Eminem.. "Lost Without You" by Robin Thicke.. "Deep Cover" by Dr Dre & Snoop Doggy Dogg
Yet another one is in the books. This one was jam packed, to say the least. Once I get started, it's pretty difficult getting me to stop. Thank you to everyone for riding with me once again. Next week will be another somewhat packed edition, with the results of the Hustle Madness tournament, as well as my Super H "Hustle Original", along with my mini-review of Backlash and the after effects of the event. Keep your peepers peepin for that, fa sho. Until then, however, I must dip like a tortilla chip, nah'mean? From the 808, I bid you farewell. Aloha and Mahalo Nui Loa.
”I'm exceedin expectations, you barely meetin quota.. I give it to em straight, you cut it with baking soda..”
"I don't walk in fear. I walk as fear."
"See, that's the difference between you and I.. you get money, and you get crazy.. I get crazy, and I get money..”
"The same reason y'all could love me is the same reason y'all condemn me.."
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