Styles

Hmm, I must have missed where he said that. I thought he just accused the officials of being told to call more on Yao. I'll read it over again.

Maybe I don't quite understand the situation. So, supposedly a source from the league office told Van Gundy the officials were instructed to call more on Yao to appease Marc Cuban and stop him from complaining, and so the league completely overreacts giving him a record fine and threatening a league ban? Doesn't that just make them look more suspicious and almost prove their guilt if they're reacting in such anger like there cover's been blown or something? You'd think they'd want to play it down, give a more typical fine for speaking out and then deal with the issue privately...

Talk about ruining the integrity of the game. What's next? Pitchers don't bat? The season is extended? Leagues playing each other?

So am I. I'm one of the good guys! God bless the color blue for absolving my racist, homophobic state of all blame. You beautiful beautiful color blue. Delaware: Don't like gays, don't like different races, but dammit it voted Kerry! Awesome! I split my time between 2 blue states so I guess that makes me TWICE as tolerant, unlike all you other insensitive racist monsters.

Hah, Gil has his shorts hiked up John Stockton style to comply with the inane shorts warning...

Watching that punk Nucioni fall smack on his back after hanging on to that slam, made the 2 points worth it...

Yeah, he needs to work on his "people skills". He probably has more talent then Metallica but they know how to be media friendly while Dave always comes off as a bitter malcontent...

Yeah that Bonds trade was a real "hindsight is 20/20" type thing.

Wow, no Bigbie? You're either really generous or just desperate to rebuild (I can guess which). Ok, so how does the round pick trade work? Does Harley just keep track of it or something because there's no way I'll remember next year...

Wow, I can't decide between Matos or Cameron. One has the lowest expectations and could surpass them while the other is surpassing expectations and will likely fall off...Hmm...Could you swing me both for Branyan and Bigbie (plus the 3rd for 6th round swap), since you are blowing it up anyway? EDIT: Tried offering this, but it said Max trades allowed.

OK, this might sound silly, but can anyone offer me a spare outfielder for Russel Branyan? With Kenny Lofton going on the DL, I'm in pretty big need of a backup outfielder, unfortunately the pool is really empty so I picked up Branyan who's putting up good stats, but he's a 3B and I already have 2 3B. So, would anyone like a to trade a backup 3rd baseman for a backup outfielder? Nothing fancy, just make me an offer. Please.

I've been thinking about asking someone else to host the league itself on OOTP. Is anyone interested? Does anyone else have OOTP?

Hadn't heard that. Hope they don't fine the players *Dr. Evil* ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS~!

I don't get it.

I think we'll do everything we can to retain Hughes. Hopefully he gives us the old "home town discount" too...

So, do we start mentioned the "C" word again?

You're preaching to the choir and this is from someone who blindly defended him against the haters and hoped he'd mature into a player. Forget it. He's an "restricted" free agent, meaning we can match any offer and retain him. I agree we shouldn't waste the resources. Use that money to sign Larry Hughes. While you and that other guy we're arguing over whether Arenas or Jamison is the best player on the Wiz, I forgot to correct both of you, it's "Boogie"!

So...tonight at 7 on TNT is game 5 of the Wiz/Bulls, back in Chicago. This is the most important game in Washington franchise history of the last 20 years. If we lose this one, winning 2 in a row (especially with the last game in Chicago which we've proven to be incapable of winning at) would be nearly impossible. If we win, it's back to the Phone Booth on Friday for a chance to advance. Re: Kwame. Good riddance. I (and almost all Washington fans) have tried for 4 years to justify him and make excuses for him. Too much pressure, Michael Jordan and Doug Collins are too hard on him, he's a late bloomer, he'll be like O'neil, it's ok, he's still maturing. No more. He's a bust and he obviously has no intention of playing up to his capabilities here in DC. If he wants to do it with another team, more power to him. The rest of this team has tremendous chemistry and is in the most critical games of the team's past 20 years. Here's an excellent article from Michael Wilbon that sums it up perfectly:

TITO ORTIZ ON THE JIMMY KIMMEL SHOW ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT! To discuss appearance at the upcoming Hard Justice Pay-Per-View TNAwrestling.com has learned that former UFC champion and special referee for the Hard Justice World Title Main Event – Tito Ortiz – will be the special guest tonight (Wednesday) on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live”. Ortiz will discuss his role as the special referee in the Jeff Jarrett vs. AJ Styles NWA World Title Match on May 15, as well as his thoughts on his future in No Holds Barred fighting. On Thursday, TNA superstars Jeff Jarrett, AJ Styles and Abyss will appear on the hit WB comedy show “Blue Collar TV”, featuring Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry The Cable Guy. In addition, Tito Ortiz will also be the special guest on Best Damn Sports Show Period next Friday, May 13! TUNE INTO JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE TONIGHT TO SEE TITO ORTIZ’S FIRST COMMENTS ON TNA WRESTLING!

Say hello to the Las Vegas Gamblers!

It's going to be released as a DVD, with Joey Styles doing commentarry. If it sells well, Douglas wants to do more shows in the future...

They don't resign him. They have Lita turn on Kane and do the on air storyline with Edge, using Kane in Matt's spot. It's a win-win for them as they don't have to give in and rehire Matt, and they can deflect Edge and Lita's heel heat towards Kane in the storyline...

Here is a recap of the Shane Douglas interview which was 27 minutes long. -Shane Douglas pays respect to his fallen friend who was his partner in ECW with the "Triple Threat" stable. -Shane was asked about Hardcore Homecoming and Shane said there would be a memorial to Chris and several other wrestlers from ECW that have died over the last few years. A special video package had already been edited for the event featuring Rick Rude, Big Dick Dudley, Pitbull #2, Louie Spicolli and others, but now it will be reedited with Candido included. Shane announces that Candido would have taken on 2 Cold Scorpio at the show in a one-on-one match. Sadly now we can only wonder what a great match that would have been. -Shane says Chris was the practical joker of ECW and would make himself and Bam Bam Bigelow be laughing for hours backstage at ECW events. -They discussed the injury to Candido at the Lockdown PPV and Shane put Chris over for how much pain he went through and how he still gutted out a performance two nights later at the TNA TV tapings. -Shane says Candido was worried about losing his spot in TNA when he got hurt. Shane says he told Chris the only way Chris would lose his spot is if he let the demons back into his life (referring to the personal problems Chris had a few years ago). Chris said he wouldn't let that happen because there was to much good in his life right now. -Shane said that when Chris started with TNA, Dusty Rhodes wanted everyone to keep an eye out on Chris and make sure he didn't allow those demons back in his life. -Shane says he had been touring with Chris for several months and he is positive Chris had stayed clean. -Shane talks about Sonny Siaki and how Chris did not want Sonny to feel guilty because of Chris' injury at Lockdown. Shane says Chris said this in the hospital after the PPV. -Shane talks about how Chris started in wrestling at the age of 14 and was only 33 when he died. Shane says the age of 33 is still a baby in this business and that Chris was still just starting. Shane mentions great wrestlers like Ric Flair and how much stuff they did from the age of 33 up. -Shane talks about driving through upstate NY with Tazz one night and how the nickname "No Gimmicks Needed" was invented for Chris. Chris was so talented that he didn't need a gimmick to get over. -Shane discusses the "Triple Threat" and how it was the "Four Horseman" of the 90's. Shane says Chris was the glue of the stable. -Shane says when he thinks of pro wrestlers he doesn't think of the build of a Randy Orton as a pro wrestler, he said Chris looked like a pro wrestler. -Shane talks about becoming the head of TNA talent relations and how recently Candido had helped him with some of the responsibilities. Shane said Chris wasn't making alot of money in TNA but he was just happy to be involved. -They discuss how Chris Candido and Tammy Sytch had a relationship that was strong and stayed strong in a business where you don't see that often. -Shane says there will likely be a ton of Chris Candido tribute events at indy shows all over the U.S. -This was a portion of the interview, the whole interview is now playing on the AudioWrestling.com site. The entire three hour show which also featured Mick Foley, Dr. Tom Prichard, Big Vito, Lance Hoyt and others will be available later in the week on AudioWrestling.com http://www.audiowrestling.com

The Bank Shot: TNA News and Views On Tuesday afternoon, a contingent of TNA staff and wrestlers returned to Nashville after attending services for Chris Candido in New Jersey. Everyone I’ve spoken with who attended said it was a touching tribute. TNA President Dixie Carter presented Candido’s family with one of the NWA World Tag Team Title belts during the Tuesday service, which was draped across the casket in honor of Chris. On a personal note, I was extremely touched by Impact this past week, which featured Candido assisting The Naturals over AMW in the main event. You can’t help but feel that something else was at work with the way Impact ended. I can’t explain it better than that. A lot of others I’ve spoken to feel the same way. The wrestling world has taken this loss particularly hard, as Candido touched a lot of people over his career. If you’d like information on how you can donate to a scholarship set up in Candido’s name at his high school, PLEASE CLICK HERE: http://www.tnawrestling.com/news/2005/4/29/newscandido.html Despite the sadness over the lose of Candido, TNA did receive some good news on Monday night as we learned AJ Styles and his wife gave birth to a healthy baby boy, their first. Everyone at TNA would like to congratulate “The Phenomenal One” on becoming a daddy. Speaking of AJ, look for a special video package featuring The Phenomenal One that will air on Impact the week of the Hard Justice Pay-Per-View. TNA’s creative video madman David Sahadi spent a day with Styles in the Chattanooga mountains, filming various scenes with AJ training for his upcoming NWA World Heavyweight Title match at Hard Justice against Jeff Jarrett. The AJ video package will also feature comments on Styles from the likes of Jerry Lynn, Jimmy Hart, Terry Taylor, Mike Tenay and others. TNA also announced last week the signing of former UFC champion Tito Oritz, who will serve as special referee for the Jarrett vs. Styles bout at the Pay-Per-View. TNA cameras traveled to Los Angeles to film an interview with Ortiz about his upcoming job at Hard Justice. I got an opportunity to watch the raw footage of Ortiz that Jeremy Borash brought back, and I will say it’s obvious Ortiz is a big fan of wrestling and has been following it for some time. In the upcoming interview, set to air on Impact the week of Hard Justice, Ortiz talks about Hard Justice, Styles, Jarrett, as well as comments on the UFC. Don’t forget to catch Jeff Jarrett, AJ Styles and Abyss this Thursday night on the WB’s “Blue Collar TV”. Part 1 of the 2-part skit aired last week, with cameos by TNA announcers Don West and Jeremy Borash. This week’s episode will be highlighted by the arrival of Jarrett, Styles and Abyss. This Friday on Impact, we’ll be a little more than a week away from the Sunday, May 15 “Hard Justice”. On Impact, you’ll see Shocker take on Sonjay Dutt, Abyss vs. Cassidy Reilly, Konnan vs. The Outlaw and Michael Shane vs. Chris Sabin. In addition, there will be a one-on-one sitdown interview with Jeff Jarrett and AJ Styles conducted by “The Professor” Mike Tenay. TNA continues to roll out new DVD titles, with the Raven and Final Resolution DVDs recently debuting on the website. Destination X and The Best of Jeff Hardy are up next, and should be available for order by early June. After overcoming some early obstacles with our ShopTNA.com store, we’re happy to now guarantee that all in-stock orders will ship within three business days! Last week in Orlando, I had the opportunity to preview some of the future TNA talent who are training with Scott D’Amore at his wrestling school in Canada. Kudos to D’Amore, who has done an outstanding job teaching these prospects. We’ll be posting more information on the TNA trainees as they continue their learning process in the hopes of one day making it to TNA television. If you check out the online Impact area, take a moment to vote in the current poll which asks “If TNA were to introduce a new title, it should be…” Thus far, voting has been almost neck-and-neck between a Hardcore or Television Title. Representatives from the French sports network RDS were in attendance at the Impact tapings in Orlando last week. The relationship between RDS and TNA has resulted in major success and continues to grow on a weekly basis. RDS representatives taped over a dozen interviews with TNA superstars that will air over the coming weeks on the network during Impact. Last but certainly not least, plans for our big three-year Slammiversary Pay-Per-View are coming together, with some major announcements on the horizon in the coming weeks. Artwork for the big anniversary Pay-Per-View event is being finalized, which we hope to debut on the website next week sometime. We’ll also be announcing upcoming names and dates for future TNA Pay-Per-Views in the next few weeks. That’s it for this week’s TNA news and notes – enjoy Impact on Friday on Fox Sports Net! Bill Banks

bumped. Don't forget to set your VCRs or something.