Wednesday News Update, From the Observer Options

[Hektik]

From the Observer Website

--No word regarding Bob Backlund and the WWE Hall of Fame other than his name wasn't released by the company when all the names were announced yesterday so he's not being inducted.

--The Pete Rose Hall of Fame deal got a decent amount of publicity, particularly on ESPN and TSN in Canada. TSN's Sports Center last night at 6:30 p.m. covered it in the opening tease as one of the major four items. It was also mentioned on ESPN's Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption. Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon noted that it's a Hall of Fame where dignity is not a part of it. Of course, I don't know a Hall of Fame where dignity is a part of it. Neither ESPN show mentioned Wrestlemania XX. ESPN Sports Center mentioned it as well as a light-hearted news note. Jim Rome's web site has a column ripping on Rose, making fun of the fact the WWE Hall of Fame is such a prestigious deal that they are paying him to show up. "What says, 'honor', 'dignity' and 'respect' quite like a paid appearance at the Wrestling Hall of Fame?" thanks to Adam Lebow, Jeff Rozner and others)

--ESPN's Outside the Lines had a mention of pro wrestling in a steroid piece last night. I didn't see the piece but apparently they had two people talking about it and one said they weren't that dangerous and the other pointed to pro wrestling's early deaths saying that they might be. (thanks to Scott Ret)

--Newsday in New York will be doing a major history of Wrestlemania story in Sunday's newspaper.

--For the U.K., Sky at this point has scheduled Velocity from 11 p.m. until midnight on 3/14 followed by Wrestlemania listed from midnight to 5 a.m. on Sky 1 (thanks to Ian Hamilton)

--After Raw, Rock (who is scheduled for Raw this coming Monday in Bridgeport, CT) left for the U.K. He did the Richard & Judy show on Ch. 4 promoting "Welcome to the Jungle," (The Rundown), which is being released on 3/26 in the U.K. Richard the host talked about Rock's days in college and his first date (all covered in his autobiography). There was no mention of Wrestlemania

--The WWE web site is reporting Randy Orton has a virus and won't be making his scheduled guest appearance for an autograph session in Bridgeport on Friday night.

--Bobby Heenan will be doing a book tour for "Chair Shots and Other Obstacles," which has just been released. He will be at Walden Books at the Walt Whitman Mall in Huntington Station, NY on 3/12 at 7 p.m. He will be at Bookends in Ridgewood, NJ on 3/13 at 1 p.m. He will be at Barnes & Noble in Carmel, IN on 3/18 at 7 p.m He will be at Borders in Schaumburg, IL on 3/19 at 7 p.m. He will be at Barnes & Nobles in Maple Grove, MN on 4/2 at 7 p.m. and at RVD's 5-Star Comics in Lakewood, CA at the Lakewood Mall on 4/13 at 7 p.m. Heenan will also be our guest this coming Sunday night on Wrestling Observer Live. Heenan will also appear on Mancow's show between 8 and 10 a.m. on 3/19

[Guest_JumpinJackFlash_*]

I'm getting a little pissed off about ESPN bashing pro wrestling...in general. Here's a message to ESPN:

"You're a bunch of pussies for cancelling Playmakers! You must like it being the NFL's bitch!"

Edit: Then again, the WWE can sometimes be rather pathetic with some of its storylines.

[Hektik]

Almost all of media bashes pro wrestling. I watched Jimmy Kimmel yesterday and he said Pete Rose was being inducted with Abdullah the Butcher, Haystacks Calhoun, and a midget tag team.

[RavishingRickRud...]

Yeah, cause it's not like wrestling deserves any of this...

[Mole]

I understand why ESPN bashes wrestling. Wrestling isn't a real sport, even though it takes atheltism to wrestle.

If you showed Tony a really good match, and talked him through it, I think he would appreciate it.

[Guest_Anglesault_*]

I understand why ESPN bashes wrestling. Wrestling isn't a real sport,

They don't bash auto racing.

[Guest_BillyTheStud_*]

Wretlers deserve a hell of alot more respect than baseball players (IMG:http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/style_emoticons/default/throwup.gif)

[Mole]

I understand why ESPN bashes wrestling. Wrestling isn't a real sport,

They don't bash auto racing.

Yeah they do.

On PTI, they did mail time. There was a question about Nascar, and Tony said something about who cares about Nascar, and they went back to the last question.

[snuffbox]

I understand why ESPN bashes wrestling. Wrestling isn't a real sport,

They don't bash auto racing.

Yeah they do.

On PTI, they did mail time. There was a question about Nascar, and Tony said something about who cares about Nascar, and they went back to the last question.

(IMG:http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Austin3164life]

Both Nascar and baseball are horrible sports. The only thing I respect about baseball players is the ability to hit an 85-90 mph ball. That's it.

[EdwardKnoxII]

I understand why ESPN bashes wrestling. Wrestling isn't a real sport,

They don't bash auto racing.

Yeah they do.

On PTI, they did mail time. There was a question about Nascar, and Tony said something about who cares about Nascar, and they went back to the last question.

I'm not a NASCAR fan in anyway but, it is very popular and gets great ratings. So, alot of people care about it.

[Guest_Your Olympic Hero_*]

-The WWE web site is reporting Randy Orton has a virus and won't be making his scheduled guest appearance for an autograph session in Bridgeport on Friday night.

MILLIONS WILL BE TURNED AWAY!

[Guest_Your Olympic Hero_*]

Both Nascar and baseball are horrible sports. The only thing I respect about baseball players is the ability to hit an 85-90 mph ball. That's it.

How about throwing one? Or diving to catch a line drive coming at you faster than the pitch?

[Guest_Anglesault_*]

I understand why ESPN bashes wrestling. Wrestling isn't a real sport,

They don't bash auto racing.

Yeah they do.

On PTI, they did mail time. There was a question about Nascar, and Tony said something about who cares about Nascar, and they went back to the last question.

I'm not a NASCAR fan in anyway but, it is very popular and gets great ratings. So, alot of people care about it.

So was WWF in 1998.

God willing, it's a fad.

[Lil' Bitch]

Poor Backlund and Randy got infected!!! (IMG:http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[The Tino Standar...]

Both Nascar and baseball are horrible sports. The only thing I respect about baseball players is the ability to hit an 85-90 mph ball. That's it.

As you should. Hitting a baseball pitched by a major leaguer is the hardest thing to do in all of sports.

[Scroby]

Whats Heenan's new book about?

[Guest_Choken One_*]

I understand why ESPN bashes wrestling. Wrestling isn't a real sport,

They don't bash auto racing.

Yeah they do.

On PTI, they did mail time. There was a question about Nascar, and Tony said something about who cares about Nascar, and they went back to the last question.

(IMG:http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

That was last year...Two weeks ago the day after the daytona 500...

Tony realized admitted he was wrong and broke down and pretty much declared that he was converted to NASCAR and ranked Dale Jr just behind Tiger Woods in Mainstream appeal.

[Guest_Anglesault_*]

He was wrong in the sense that technically, for Lord knows what reason, it's appeal has extended well past it's core redneck audience.

He was probably trying to convey that he thought it was a stupid ass fake "sport." In that sense, he's probably right.

Honestly, I hope this ends up being a wrestling like "fad" and dies back down to the core group in five years.

[AndrewTS]

"- No word regarding Bob Backlund and the WWE Hall of Fame other than his name wasn't released by the company when all the names were announced yesterday so he's not being inducted."

You mean he's not in already? There's little reason for him not to be, unless WWE Revisionist History blames the disasterous Nash run on him.

[Guest_Choken One_*]

mmm...Nope. Not going to happen.

It's GROWN every season since it's inception in 1949.

It's not a fucking fad, You dumb ass.

FACT: The Average Nascar fan? ISN'T A trailer Park redneck. The Average income for Nascar fans? $48,000+, which is more then the National Average. FACT. Corporate America and all it's Elite have embraced NASCAR more then anyother sport.

Dale Earnhardt Junior makes nearly more money off Corporate Sponsership and endorsments as Tiger Woods and unlike "superstars" like Shaq, he has actually SOLD products, Drakkar Noir produced a 50%+ profit since Earnhardt Jr became the primary sponser, too to mention his countless other sponspers (Bud, Enterprise, 'Nilla, Gillete, etc) whom all reported good business after his endorsement ads hit air.

[Guest_Anglesault_*]

mmm...Nope. Not going to happen.

It's GROWN every season since it's inception in 1949.

It's not a fucking fad, You dumb ass.

I said that's what I wanted. We both know I never get what I want.

In Ten years America's major "sport" is gonna be driving a car around in circles and I'll be forced to flee and seek refuge in third world carless countries.

I don't want it to come to that.

[razazteca]

--The WWE web site is reporting Randy Orton has a virus and won't be making his scheduled guest appearance for an autograph session in Bridgeport on Friday night.

Yup Orton has heat..........er........a fever.

[SamoaRowe]

mmm...Nope. Not going to happen.

It's GROWN every season since it's inception in 1949.

It's not a fucking fad, You dumb ass.

I said that's what I wanted. We both know I never get what I want.

In Ten years America's major "sport" is gonna be driving a car around in circles and I'll be forced to flee and seek refuge in third world carless countries.

I don't want it to come to that.

Oh, I whole heartedly agree with Anglesault on this one.


Geez, what a fantastic way to waste fuel.

[Guest_Choken One_*]

well...You actually make money(the corporate compaies and the towns that host them make over $10+ million in just those three day...so it's quite an ecnomic boost)

[Vyce]

mmm...Nope. Not going to happen.

It's GROWN every season since it's inception in 1949.

It's not a fucking fad, You dumb ass.

I said that's what I wanted. We both know I never get what I want.

In Ten years America's major "sport" is gonna be driving a car around in circles and I'll be forced to flee and seek refuge in third world carless countries.

I don't want it to come to that.

I never understood the outcry when Dale Sr. died.

The only reason I'd ever watch NASCAR would be to see one of those fucktards crash and burn.

--The Pete Rose Hall of Fame deal got a decent amount of publicity, particularly on ESPN and TSN in Canada. TSN's Sports Center last night at 6:30 p.m. covered it in the opening tease as one of the major four items. It was also mentioned on ESPN's Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption. Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon noted that it's a Hall of Fame where dignity is not a part of it. Of course, I don't know a Hall of Fame where dignity is a part of it. Neither ESPN show mentioned Wrestlemania XX. ESPN Sports Center mentioned it as well as a light-hearted news note. Jim Rome's web site has a column ripping on Rose, making fun of the fact the WWE Hall of Fame is such a prestigious deal that they are paying him to show up. "What says, 'honor', 'dignity' and 'respect' quite like a paid appearance at the Wrestling Hall of Fame?" thanks to Adam Lebow, Jeff Rozner and others)

Professional baseball has about as much honor, dignity and respect as the WWE these days.

In fact, with the recent steroid scandals, they're more like the WWE than ever before. America's pasttime my ass.

[MarvinisaLunatic]

From the Observer Website

--After Raw, Rock (who is scheduled for Raw this coming Monday in Bridgeport, CT) left for the U.K.

This Monday Night on RAW, according to a promo on Smackdown, we will be treated to...

drumroll please..

...

This is your life Mick Foley, hosted by The Rock

and Im not kidding

I think this deserves its own thread, no?

[Lightning Flik]

From the Observer Website

--After Raw, Rock (who is scheduled for Raw this coming Monday in Bridgeport, CT) left for the U.K.

This Monday Night on RAW, according to a promo on Smackdown, we will be treated to...

drumroll please..

...

This is your life Mick Foley, hosted by The Rock

and Im not kidding

I think this deserves its own thread, no?

...oh hell no.

I mean, Your Life Rock wasn't half bad at that time (nowadays, I'd cringe at it, so markish was I back then).

Foley??? I can't see that being any good...

[Hektik]

As far as Nascar is concerned, it is not really my type of thing. At the same time I don't want to bash it and come off as an elitist. It is one of the things that pisses me off when I go to MMA forums like Sherdog. To a lot of the posters there, Pro Wrestling is like the work of the devil. To them wrestlers are "phonies who would get owned in MMA." They also get enraged at the fact that PRIDE is promoting a Pro Wrestling cards and cross promotes between the two. I like both Pro Wrestling and MMA so I do not like people talking crap about either one (something ESPN does). So I get why Nascar fans get upset about the redneck thing and other comments.

[2GOLD]

Woody Paige uses Rock catchphrases all the time, but come on. The WWE runs angles with dead chicks and you want ESPN to give it respect?

ESPN MAY respect the wrestlers, but they have no respect for Vince and the WWE and I can't say I blame them.

Hell, I don't have respect for the WWE anymore. I lost the small amount I had at Wrestlemania last year.

ESPNNEWS mentioned the Pete Rose Wrestlemania appearances when they talked about it.