Kurt Angle Mark

Petra Nemcova, cover girl for the 2003 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, barely escaped with her life but unfortunately for her, her boyfriend is still missing. "Nemcova told the New York Daily News that she survived the tsunami, which has killed at least 33,000 people, by clinging to a palm tree for eight hours, despite a broken pelvis and internal injuries." http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/more...nami/index.html

NBA Trade announced today Rockets get David Wesley from New Orleans for Jim Jackson and Nachbar

Great Game Dwayne Wade is the man!! If I could pick any guard for my team it would be him. To bad he has been stuck with team mates that I absolutely hate (Odom last year and Shaq this year) or else I'll be a fan of the Heat. EDIT: Would also like to say that Hubie Brown is without question the greatest color commentator in the history of sports.

Well it looks like DC Vice President Dan Didio might have given away the character Batman is holding in the cover Wizard: Who's going to be your breakout character of 2005 and why? Dan Didio: Blue Beetle. Integral to everything that's going on in the DCU, and definitely the CATALYST for all the big events of the year.

Here is a really fun article by Bill Simmons of ESPN Page2, suggesting that Kobe Bryant should follow the career path of Hulk Hogan http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...=simmons/041222

Here is an interview with Grant Morrison discussing All-Star Superman. Looks like he has some crazy stuff up his sleeve. http://www.newsarama.com/DC/AS/AllStarSuperman_Morrison.htm

Damn Clippers blew a 21 point lead against the Hornets and escaped with an OT win Well any hope I had for the Clips went out the door when I came across this stretch of games for January Sat 08 Phoenix Tue 11 @ Seattle Wed 12 Seattle Fri 14 Miami Sat 15 @ Sacramento Mon 17 Sacramento Wed 19 @ San Antonio Thu 20 @ Dallas The way they are playing now, they would go 0-8

From the latest Wizard(due out Wednesday) DC ALL STARS An exclusive preview of DC's exciting answer to Marvel's Ultimate line ----------------------------------- It looks like an Ultimate line. It smells like an Ultimate line. But when you actually get a taste of what DC Comics has in store this year, you might start craving the All-Star alternative. Spearheaded by VP Executive Editor Dan DiDio, DC shakes up the industry yet again by unleashing DC All-Stars -- a brand-new line of books separate from their main line and dedicated to, in DiDio's words "All-star writer and all-star artists working on all-star characters to tell an all-star comic story" Fill in those blanks, and you'll get the first major ongoing launch from the line this June. Jim Lee, the superstar artist behind Batman's record breaking "Hush" storyline, returns to Gotham City on All-Star Batman & Robin (DC remained secretive about the book's writer at press time.) Later in 2005, look up in the sky for All-Star Superman #1, created by critically acclaimed collaborators Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely of New X-Men and JLA:Earth 2. According to DC, these books define what All-Stars is all about: giving the best creators in the business access to the biggest characters in the DCU -- and then watching the titles fly off the rack. I CAN'T BELIEVE ITS NOT ULTIMATE For years, fans have anxiously awaited DC's version of Marvel's successful Ultimate line of books launched in 2000, while Marvel consistently crowds the top10 sellers list with titles like Ultimate Spider-Man. All-Stars takes aim at Marvel by twisting the idea of an "Ultimate" story into something that preserves the long history of the DC Universe and also presents brand-new, not re-interpreted, tales. And, contrary to speculation, the All-Stars books will not create a new or alternate continuity like the "Ultimate" books do, but will instead contain stories told in present day but utilizing what could be described as timeless, iconic, Pre-Crisis versions of the DCU's top characters. Just don't expect any dated, cornball flavor associated with the Silver Age of comics. "These are the versions of characters that everyone who is a civilian would know and recognize immediately," says Jim Lee. "I think Marvel's Ultimate line goes a little further in terms of changing things. We're not going to do a new origin of Batman where he's got two brothers. It's not that. There should be some other creative hook, and I think this is really a cool one." Still, All-Star books won't neccesarily worry themselves by beginning with drawn-out origin sagas either -- the modus operandi starts and ends with telling a good story. To really grasp the concept of DC All-Stars, DiDio points to Alan Moore's 1986 Superman two-parter "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" - contained in Superman $423 and Action Comics #583 - a Silver Age-style long considered to be one of the greatest Superman stories of all time. DC states that Moore's story is the model for what its trying to accomplish with All-Stars, and cites the way the fabel takes nearly 50 years of Superman lore and gives it a fresh and contemporary spin exciting for both first-time and long-time readers. The idea is to present a line of comics that's instantly accessible using the core concepts that made the characters successful. "It's funny, when I first came onto these books, Batman and Superman, they had already changed a lot of the status quo," says Lee. "Things I really associated with the characters were no longer there - like the Fortress of Solitude and the giant penny in the Batcave. And yes, it seems hokey, but I still think you can pull it off today. It's all in the presentation. I think the more you get away from that stuff, the less interesting [the characters] become." BEST OF THE BEST The caliber of characters and creators attached to this line gives All-Stars and amazing potential for success, but DiDio makes it clear that, as tempting as it may be, he nevere intends to flood the market with All-Star titles. The company plans to take its time and get the stories right while actively pursuing the best talent to make it happen. "I think DC is doing it smart by not doing eight books at once," says Lee. "But obviously, it always comes down to the stories and how well you tell them. If people love the idea and pick up the book and say 'Ugh, this doesnt do anything for me' then you're sunk." In many ways the new line will replace DC's "Prestige Format", as All-Stars will strive to become and exclusive club of sorts where only DC's most well-known characters (sorry, Gentleman Ghost), and comic's most talented writers and artists need apply. "All-Stars is all about delivering on the expectations of the characters," says DiDio. "These will be versions of the characters that people expect to read if they havent read a Superman or Batman comic in a while. These are the things they'll want to see, and this is us delivering to the fans exactly what they want in a great format with great talent so they can truly enjoy the characters they know and love. Simple as that." __________________

I HATE the Eagles and I am a huge Falcons fan, and I'm totally bummed by T.O.'s injury. I wanted the Eagles to be at full strength so that there would be no excuses if they choked again, and now any intrigue that the NFC playoff picture had is out the window.

Thank god the Lakers are playing as bad as the Clippers right now or I wouldn't be able to make through life. They lose to the Grizzlies 92-82, which is the first time the Grizzlies beat the Lakers in L.A.(they were 0-18) Kobe went a masterful 2/16 from the field. Lakers went 3-29 to end the game.

For Best Story I would like to recommend to everyone the best mini-series this year DC:The New Frontier by Darwyn Cooke The story is set in the 1950's as the silver age of heroes make their debut and unite to stop a threat that could destroy the world. This book will blow you away, there are just too many moments for me to list. The First Trade collecting the first three issues comes out this week and if you got $20 bucks to spare I recommend you check it out. Here is the cover for the first trade http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=33764

According to the tie-breaking rules the division record of a team has no bearing if the teams are not from the same division. The rules If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps. Two Clubs 1. Head-to-head, if applicable. 2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference. 3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four. 4. Strength of victory. 5. Strength of schedule. 6. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed. 7. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed. 8. Best net points in conference games. 9. Best net points in all games. 10. Best net touchdowns in all games. 11. Coin toss. Three or More Clubs (Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of applicable two-club format.) 1. Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants. 2. Head-to-head sweep. (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the others or if one club has lost to each of the others.) 3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference. 4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four. 5. Strength of victory. 6. Strength of schedule. 7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed. 8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed. 9. Best net points in conference games. 10. Best net points in all games. 11. Best net touchdowns in all games. 12. Coin toss

True However last year Miami/Ohio State for the BCS championship won game of the year and that was a crappy game with an incredible ending.

The NBA representative will surely be Lakers/Spurs game 5 the 00.4 game

Here is my ideal NFC Playoff situation Minnesota at Arizona(Just because I think it would be the greatest thing ever) Carolina at Green Bay Minnesota at Philadelphia Green Bay at Atlanta Atlanta at Philadelphia NFC Champion: Atlanta Falcons

This is not possible since the Green Bay Packers have clinched a playoff spot

I guess that means that the Packers have enough tie-breakers against the remaining teams that can finish 8-8 (Carolina,Minnesota,Rams, Saints) that they are guaranteed a Wild Card spot.

The Clippers are going to kill me. They lose to the Jazz 93-91 with another missed free throw costing the team the game. Before this game they had missed a free throw in the final minute of a game in 4 occasions that would have basically guaranteed a victory. Then they went on to lose those 4 games in OT. Clippers fall to 11-10 when they could easily be 17-4 if they would make their damn free throws in crunch time.

To me the one that really bugged me was the one when he said "The players are giving ME 110%" Uh..Last time I checked Rudy T is the coach of the Lakers not Kobe Seriously if I was his team mate I would have punched him by now

Damn Clippers lose a tough one to the Lakers 89-87. Maggette took a shot as time expired that went half way in and spun right out.

Was a big fan of "Get Shorty" and from the trailer I think the movie looks promising The trailer can be seen on this webpage http://movies.yahoo.com/movies/feature/becool.html

Not much is know at this time, however the next issue of Wizard will cover the event in great detail. This is what Jim Lee had to say about the cover "Soooooooo I guess the image is out. Been having to keep this under my hat for some time now. Yep, the second cover that I collaborated on with Mr. Alex Ross and once again, he delivers the goodies. I already like how the fans are speculating who Batman is holding...but good luck. This puppy has a million things built-in to throw you off. (Can't make it that obvious =duh=). Unfortunately the original was GIGANTIC and had to scan it in two parts. Our studio scanner was on the fritz so the lower half did not capture the gray tones for some reason (= D). Still, was fun to draw so many DC heroes assembled on one piece and of course, Alex shines an incredible light onto it all. Very ethereal. I like how he improved upon Green Lantern and Hawkman the best."

DEAR GOD WHAT A MOTHERFUCKIN BASKETBALL GAME!!!! Suns beat the Lakers 113-110 when Q hit a three with 6.9 seconds left. Lakers lead by 13 with 5 minutes to go and the Suns outscored them 19-3 to end the game. This was a straight out shootout.

WHEW!!!! Clippers escape with a win in Double OT against the Bobcats tonight. Clips played like crap the whole game. But more importantly Brand might now miss the game against Lakers after he literally snapped on Okafor. Brand just lost it after he lost the ball and swung his arms violently at Okafor, and the league could easily rule that those swings were punches. It is not surprising to me to see Brand lose it since he just gets killed inside during most games and he never gets the calls. It was more out of frustation than the actual play since he just appeared to lose the handle on the ball.

According to reports, the Lakers are going to trade Kareem Rush to the Bobcats for a second round pick tomorrow. Bobcats made room on their roster for Rush by releasing Eddie House who was scoring 11 points a game for them.