Bored

I'd also point out that Zito's record is........8-6. Yes...with a better ERA...the A's run support has been horrendous this season...just ask Tim Hudson. Hell Zito pitched eight shut out innings yesterday and gets a no decision. Oh and to add to this subject go to espn.com and they have a poll on did Clemens deserve to take Zito's spot on the roster....nearly 85% say no. In a Jack Black voice: "Woo hoo! I win one to nothing!" Wait I thought the fans wanted Clemens in the game? That's what the east coast media keeps telling us.

Seriously is Rush even a relevant politcal personality anymore? Certainly not as much as was say 10 years ago. Don't see how he'll really draw any ratings. Also isn't he going deaf? Maybe Berman will do sign language for him.

Wait I'm taking it too seriously? Wait isn't Fox and MLB telling everyone that "this time it counts"? Now who's really taking it too seriously? If it really counts put Mike Mussina or Gil Meche on the team.

8-6 with a 3.68 ERA and zero shut outs and zero complete games = All-Star? Oooookaaaaay. If this had been any other pitcher besides Zito getting the shaft I would argue just as strong against Clemens although Zito IS having a better year than Clemens. Hell Tim Hudson has probably been the A's best pitcher this year. Now also if it had been Mike Mussina or Gil Meche taking Zito's spot I again would have no issue as they would be deserving and I even selected both to team in the All-Star voting topic over Zito. But the real issue here is Fox Sports said they wanted Clemens, Selig caved as usual, and Zito ends up getting the shaft by using the he pitched yesterday excuse. Yes because NO pitcher has ever pitched in All-Star game on two days rest. Nope, none. Oh and the Dontrelle Willis point is that someone on the NL should get his spot now if Zito has to give up his spot. No I'm not saying that's the way it should be but if they are gonna hide behind the pitched yesterday excuse then it shoud apply to all pitchers.

Treat a Hall of Famer? Isn't Clemens going to boycott it??? Clemens has been one of the biggest assholes to play the game and is generally not liked and not just by Red Sox fans. Oh also Clemens is one of the worst big game pitchers ever and a classic choke artist. Ya he's a great pitcher and a 1st ballot Hall of Famer (if he shows up) but he isn't the best ever and since when did every year MLB honor some guy for retiring? This was just a power play by Fox Sports and the usual cave job by Bud Selig to get Clemens on the team because of perceived ratings he'll draw. Gee I thought this game counted so I've been told that'll draw ratings by themselves? What a crock. Also please explain to me why Dontrelle Willis gets to keep his spot over Barry Zito with out using the word "ratings" or "draw"?

Just like Clemens he didn't deserve to make the team. This isn't the All-Time Active Players Game, its the All-Star Game. Mike Mussina was a legit snub off the team and deserves to be on it more than Clemens.

Nope as said I got if off espn.com: http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2003/0714/1580339.html

Ya Willis has what 15 career starts if that? Zito has a Cy Young but is forced off the team. Hey Willis is forced off too for pitching yesterday then whatever I guess its a fair position to take but just to force off a guy so you can someone they perceive will draw ratings and get a good reaction is bullshit. Roger Clemens is not Tony Gwynn and he is not Cal Ripken when it comes to fan admiration.

Uh again Zito pitched on Sunday last year and pitched in the game and told Joe Torre he could have pitched one full inning but Torre only let him pitch to one batter and indireclty caused the tie. Ripken was voted the starter in 2001 so doesn't count. Gwynn was an extra addition to the team and didn't play so again different situation. ALSO AGAIN WHEN HAS ROGER CLEMENS SAID THIS IS OFFICIALLY HIS LAST YEAR?????????????? Someone get me a fuckin direct quote that says it. Oh and not pitching? Hey what was all that shit about Roy Halladay not wanting to pitch in the game but he keeps his spot? Dontrelle Willis pitched yesterday but he gets to keep his spot? Oh wait he draws ratings because ever black person in America is gonna watch just because of Dontrelle Willis if you believe ESPN. Go get me a quote that says Macha didn't want him to pitch. Zito already said he could go an inning this year. Fuckin' 100% bullshit. Roger Clemens isn't even the most deserving pitcher on his team!!!!!! But its the Yankees players own fault they didn't Clemens or any other pitcher on the team because only half the Yankee players voted the least of any team.

You really think fans love and care about Roger Clemens like they did Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn? I woudln't even be shocked if he was booed. Also when has Clemens officially said this was his last year???? This 100% bullshit and I hope Clemens injures himself.

Fuck Clemens. Fuck Selig. Fuck Fox. They forced Barry Zito off the team. He isn't injured folks. He pitched yesterday but he did last year as well and appeared in the game and was quoted as saying he could go an inning. Dontrelle Willis pitched yesterday as well. And fuck ratings, I don't give two flying shits about what the east coast or Fox thinks we want to see. FUCK THIS SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

July 13, 2000 Too Cool & Rikishi def. T&A & Val Venis Road Dogg & X-Pac def. The Hardy Boyz Dean Malenko def. Al Snow Eddie Guerrero & Chyna def. Chris Benoit by DQ in a handicap match Faarooq def. Christian Kane def. Kurt Angle Steve Blackman def. Crash; HC Title Match Triple H def. The Undertaker in a No-DQ Match July 19, 2001 Diamond Dallas Page def. Chris Jericho by DQ Christian def. Lance Storm The Undertaker, Kane, & Tajiri def. The Dudley Boyz & Tazz Bradshaw def. Sean O’Haire Torrie Wilson def. Trish Stratus in an Arm Wrestling Match Rob Van Dam & Billy Kidman def. Jeff Hardy & X-Pac Steve Austin & Kurt Angle NC Booker T & Rhyno July 18, 2002 John Cena def. Chris Jericho by DQ Chavo Guerrero def. The Hurricane Hardcore Holly & The Big Valbowski def. Billy & Chuck Hulk Hogan, Edge, & Rikishi def. Lance Storm, Christian, & Test Billy Kidman def. Tajiri The Rock def. Kurt Angle by DQ

I remember this match, it was where Angle ran in and hit Undertaker with his King of the Ring septor, right? Angle did run in but he hit him with a sledgehammer...well at least according to CRZ's recap of it : THE NEW MAN (with Stephanie Ono) v. UNDERTAKER in a No Disqualification match - watching Triple H's entrance video, it hits me: he NEVER wears those fruity berets anymore! Don't you miss them, too? Monday, Mick Foley will be back and he'll have more to say about Fully Loaded. Don't let the fact that the show is unopposed keep you from thinking they won't be in full-on shill mode for the pay-per-view, baby! There's nothing so scary as seeing Undertaker ride his motorcycle around the ring! Triple H fails to put a stick in his spokes to get the upper hand. He DOES try to rush him, but fails. Clothesline by Undertaker, right, head to the buckle, right, pause, tape break, head to the buckle, H falls. Big clothseline when he's back up, elbowdrop, 1, 2, no. Back elbow, right hand, into the opposite corner, H puts up an elbow - but runs into a sidewalk slam for 2. Right hand. Into the ropes, H ducks a clothesline and hits a neckbreaker. Golly, for a no DQ match, they're sure not doing anything interesting, are they? Right, right, head to the buckle, kick, kick, kick, right, into the ropes is reversed, big boot by the Undertaker. Gutshot, powerbomb attempt? But Triple H escapes and goes outside. Undertaker follows - there's a clothesline. Right hand - Triple H rolls down the ramp. Back to the ringside area - head to the (set up on end) STEEL steps. Right hand. Head to the commentary table. Right hand, choke, Stephanie is over to break it up with a hairpull - Undertaker turns around and gets HER in a choke. Triple H spins him around - and eats a punch. Undertaker continues to stalk Stephanie...but H has a chair - chair to the gut, chair across the back. H puts 'Taker in the STEEL steps (sitting on end over HERE, too), then takes his head to the (overdub "ding!") bell. Right, right, referee "Blind" Tim White pushes him back. H puts Undertaker in the ring and follows. Right hand, kick, right, right, off the ropes, clothesline. Undertaker comes back - right, left, right, left, right, uppercut - all from his knees. Back up - into the ropes is reversed, clothesline ducked, but not the high knee. Undertaker kicks out with authority after 2. H back to the right hand, right, kick, right, right, right, right, right, words for White, right, right. Lawler tells him to hit the ref, since it's no DQ. Too bad he didn't hear him, I guess. Right hand. Right. Undertaker fires back with a right. H with a right. Right by Undertaker. Boy, punches are fun. H, Undertaker, H, Undertaker, H, Undertaker, left, right, left, right, left, right, Yang-like body work, off the ropes, powerslam, 1, 2, no. Wow, did I just compare Undertaker to Yun Yang? Give me an award! H put into the ropes, head down, facebuster by Triple H. Gutshot - trying to set him up for the Pedigree as we see KING KURT ANGLE come down to the ring. Undertaker backdrops him. H in a choke...Angle has the sledgehammer, swinging for Triple H...and hitting Undertaker by mistake. Angle's just got some bad luck, yo. H covers for the pin (7:29) and I guess NOW we know why it was "no DQ" - that outside interference is fine 'n' dandy. Angle expresses shock and surprise in this replay. The Helmsleys walk back up the ramp, victorious AND triumphant, while Undertaker is just coming to as the credits are up - and we're out.

There was a brief mention in the San Francisco Chronicle today that the A's are one of the teams in the Gonzalez sweepstakes.

I only caught the very end of them as ESPN did a great job of promoting the game...as in no promotion at all. Sad thing too because Rich Harden of the A's started the game. The Royals will get to the see the next big thing in A's pitching a week from today in Harden's debut.

You know considering Sosa has suddenly gone homerun crazy again and he hit one today that just barely went out I'm surprised Bobby Cox or some other manager doesn't ask to have his bat checked at this point. Is it just they want to be polite? If anything I'd do it just to get in his head and when your out to win you need to do what you can, within the rules, to win. I'm not trying to say Sosa is corking but what really do you have to lose?

I lost all interest in the event after McGwire retired so I won't be watching.

July 17, 1998 Konnan def. El Dandy Ultimo Dragon def. Lizmark Jr. The Public Enemy def. Disco Inferno & Alex Wright by DQ Jim Duggan def. Roadblock Saturn def. Kanyon Eddy Guerrero def. Psicosis Scott Norton def. Ciclope Stevie Ray def. Damien Rey Misterio Jr. NC Juventud Guerrera The Barbarian & Hugh Morrus def. Marty Jannetty & Chris Adams Scott Hall & Curt Hennig def. Diamond Dallas Page & Konnan July 14, 1999 Vampiro def. Van Hammer Rick Fuller def. Sick Boy Brad Armstrong, Chase Tatum, & Swoll def. Fit Finlay, Steven Regal, & Dave Taylor David Flair def. Bobby Eaton; U.S. Title Match Kidman def. Mikey Whipwreck The Triad NC Curt Hennig & Barry Windham; Tag Title Match July 19, 2000 Mike Sanders def. Crowbar Lenny Lane def. The Wall in a Tables Match Lt. Loco def. David Flair; CW Title Match Tank Abbott def. The Great Muta Kronic def. Rey Misterio Jr., Juventud Guerrera, & Disco Inferno in a handicap match Big Vito def. The Artist; HC Title Match Lance Storm & Kanyon def. Mike Awesome & Buff Bagwell Harlem Heat def. Jeff Jarrett & Rick Steiner

The All-Star stadiums go NL/AL, NL in even-numbered years, AL in odd-numbered years. Upon further investigation I notice that I forgot the important words "either" before the sentence and "one of" before "the next 3." Anyhoo, Comiskey is a shithole. 2004: Minute Maid Park I propose: 2005: Kaufmann Stadium 2006: Great American Ballpark 2007: Arlington Ballpark 2008: Pacific Bell Park If Wrigley makes it to 2014, knock on wood, there's NO other place to put the All-Star Game. It'll be the park's centennial. No way Arlington gets the game in 2007 as they hosted in '95. Comerica will definently have it then if it doesn't get 2005. After 2007 though I have no clue where they will put in the AL since there are no new parks on the horizon in the league so probably go to like Yankee Stadium since I can't remember the last time they hosted it. As for future options for the NL: Pac Bell (SBC starting next year) - San Francisco hosted in '84 PNC - Pittsburgh hosted in '94 Bank One - Arizona has never hosted Great American Park - Cincinnati hosted in '88 New Philadelphia Park - last hosted in '96 New San Diego Park - last hosted in '92 Wrigley - last hosted in '90 Dodger Stadium - last hosted in '80

Well not for another five days but here ya go: Chris Benoit vs. Matt Hardy Ultimo Dragon vs. Jamie Noble Rey Mysterio & Billy Kidman vs. Two Masked Men (original spoilers didn't know who so probably just jobbers) Rhyno vs. Sean O'Haire Billy Gun vs. Eddie Guerrero Kurt Angle vs. Big Show, Charlie Haas, & Shelton Benjamin Oh and for the two people who might care, here is Velocity: Spanky & Funaki vs. Chuck Palumbo & Johnny Stamboli Orlando Jordan vs. A-Train Basham Brothers vs. Johnny Jeter & some other guy Dawn Marie vs. Nidia

Is this where Brock F-5ed Undertaker at the end? See my second post as it has the recap to that match...and yes.

July 19, 1993 Shawn Michaels def. Marty Jannetty; IC Title Match Men on a Mission def. Rich Myers & Hank Harris Bastion Booger def. Scott Despres The 1-2-3 Kid def. Chris Duffy July 18, 1994 Diesel NC Lex Luger; IC Title Match Mabel def. Austin Steele Owen Hart def. Reno Riggins Sparky Plugg def. George South Bam Bam Bigelow def. Gary Sabaugh July 17, 1995 Owen Hart & Yokozuna def. Jim Dimitri & Gus Kantarrakis Jean-Pierre LaFitte def. David Thornberg Shawn Michaels def. I.R.S. Kama def. Billy Mack July 15, 1996 Ahmed Johnson def. Bart Gunn; IC Title Match Marc Mero def. T.L. Hopper Shawn Michaels def. Billy Gunn; WWF Title Match July 14, 1997 Ivan Putski & Scott Putski def. Jerry Lawler & Brian Christopher Taka Michinoku def. Yoshihiro Tajiri Miguel Perez & Jose Estrada Jr. def. The Headbangers Ken Shamrock def. Jim Neidhart Vader def. Flash Funk Steve Austin & Dude Love def. Owen Hart & The British Bulldog to win the Tag Team Titles July 13, 1998 The Undertaker def. Vader Bart Gunn def. Bob Holly in a Brawl for All Match Hunter Hearst Helmsley & X-Pac def. The Rock & Owen Hart Steve Blackman def. Marc Mero Kane & Mankind def. The New Age Outlaws to win the Tag Team Titles Kaientai def. Taka Michinoku & Too Much Dan Severn def. The Godfather in a Brawl for All Match Kane & Mankind NC The New Age Outlaws; Tag Title Match; Special Guest Referees, Steve Austin & The Undertaker July 19, 1999 Road Dogg NC Chyna in a Dogg Pound Match The Hardy Boyz def. Prince Albert & Droz (1st elimination), The Acolytes (2nd), and Val Venis & The Godfather (3rd) in an Elimination Match for the Tag Titles Jeff Jarrett def. Christian; IC Title Match Mr. Ass def. The Rock Al Snow def. The Big Bossman by DQ Edge & D’Lo Brown def. Gangrel & Mideon Test def. Steve Blackman by DQ Kane & X-Pac def. The Big Show & Hardcore Holly by DQ Triple H def. The Undertaker by DQ July 17, 2000 The Dudley Boyz NC The Hardy Boyz Road Dogg & X-Pac def. Too Cool Chris Benoit, Edge, & Christian def. The Rock & The Acolytes Dean Malenko def. Chyna by count out; LHW Title Match Rikishi def. Test The Undertaker & Kane def. Triple H & Kurt Angle July 16, 2001 Chuck Palumbo def. Faarooq Mike Awesome def. Edge Tazz def. William Regal by DQ Booker T def. Chris Jericho; WCW Title Match Kurt Angle def. Raven in an ECW Rules Match The Dudley Boyz def. The Hardy Boyz Trish Stratus def. Terri The Undertaker & Kane def. Diamond Dallas Page & Rhyno by DQ July 15, 2002 Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, & William Regal def. Jeff Hardy & The New Dudleyz in a Six-Man Tag Elimination Match Tommy Dreamer def. Steven Richards in a Singapore Cane Match Molly Holly def. Trish Stratus; Women’s Title Match Booker T def. The Big Show by DQ Hardcore Crap Segment: Bradshaw wins back title from Johnny Stamboli after Stamboli pinned Bradshaw in a match with Christopher Nowinski The Undertaker & Brock Lesnar def. Ric Flair & Rob Van Dam

'96 recap by Kevin James Podsialik on www.otherarena.com and '99 recap by CRZ on www.slashwrestling.com: Billy Gunn (w/Sunny) vs. Shawn Michaels (w/Lethargio) for the WWF title Lawler expresses his disappointment at Cornette's promise not to get involved in this match, but Vince detects a note of insincerity in Lawler's words. Then again, that more the rule than the exception in Lawler's case. While Shawn dances, we cut to Shawn's PR move of the week, attending a charity tennis tournament, and letting a bunch of junior Cornette fans pelt him with their vicious overhand serves. And in a move perhaps calculated to get a certain someone off of sabbatical, McMahon expresses his condolences at the death of a young Hart family member, while Lawler, for once, shuts up. Lockup, and it is Bart Gunn with the headlock. After all attempts to gain a handhold on the situation fail, Shawn eventually resorts to flinging Billy free, but gets knocked for a loop by the shoulder block on the rebound. Billy takes the opportunity to do his impression of Shawn's hip gyration routine. Lockup #2, essentially a replay of the first lockup, except the hip gyrations are replaced by a little moonwalking on Billy's part. Shawn pulls himself up, shoos away the double-breasted golddigger tormenting him with her song, and it's on to lockup #3, but first this word from Ahmed Johnson. Unfortunately, just what that word was will remain forever unknown. At any rate, Ahmed continues to beat on the theme of watching Shawn's back, as Shawn watches his back, and they watch each other's back. Sid, I suppose, will just have to watch his own back. Well, thank you for whatever that was, Ahmed, and now, getting back to the match, Shawn had Billy in a headlock, but Billy manages to reverse the situation somehow, and Shawn has to once again fling him off. This time, Billy ducks as Shawn leaps over, and on the next pass, Shawn hip tosses Billy clean over the top rope and down to the floor. And with the blonde male Gunn out of the picture for the moment, Shawn turns his attention to the screaming thing at the other end of the ring. Clearly, the only problem with her is what is coming out of her mouth, and thus Shawn attempts to correct the problem by sealing that opening with his own mouth. Sunny, sadly unappreciative of Michaels' magnetic personality, takes a swing at him, but Shawn is ready for that, ducks, and resumes his lip lock on Sunny immediately thereafter. By this time, though, an unamused Billy has arrived on the scene, and moves in for the attack. But Shawn is just so on a roll, he breaks contact with Sunny, ducks Billy's punch, comes off the ropes, and slaps on a flying head scissors! Well, very nearly one, anyway, but Shawn can't quite manage to lock on, and instead it turns into a sunset flip and a quick two-count for Michaels. Continuing on the roll, Michaels with a hip toss, and, eager to finish things before the moment passes, Shawn starts up the old leg. Billy, of course, reacts to that as if it were a rattlesnake's tail, and quickly exits the ring, thus spoiling the moment. Disappointed, Shawn surveys the scene of Billy and Sunny attempting to comfort one another, and decides to see if he can't just pick off one of them. And so, sliding kick, square into Billy, who hits the railing, and then once again Shawn turns his attention to Sunny, who has had quite enough of Shawn's antics, thank you, and runs off. Shawn turns his attention back to Billy, lowering the boom a few times before rolling him back in, and then entering himself via the top turnbuckle. But Billy, quick on the draw, turns Shawn's double axehandle into a flying gut drop onto Billy's fist, not a memorably successful move. Billy capitalizes on the stooped over Michaels with one of those moves I wish I knew the name of, involving looping one's leg over the back of one's opponent's neck, then dropping down, taking your opponent's head with you to the mat. Vince called it a Rocker Dropper, I wonder if that means Shawn used to do that move. Billy covers but gets only two, then punches away at Shawn's head until the referee tells him to knock it off. Billy pulls Shawn up, sticks him in a corner, softens him up a bit more, then goes for a cross corner whip. Shawn reverses it, Billy lands pretty softly, and Shawn decides to charge in after. Billy gets the boot up, but Shawn has a counter even for that, diving under the boot, exiting the ring, and then grabbing Billy's feet and tripping him up. Since one of Billy's feet are on each side of the local ring post, and since Shawn still has a firm grasp on both feet, this leaves Billy in a highly awkward position. After about five seconds of tormented anticipation, Shawn goes through with the maneuver, and now Sunny looks to be fresh out of dates tonight. Shawn reenters the ring in style, slingshotting himself into a flying clothesline of Billy. Michaels repays Billy's earlier head shots, and then goes back up to the top turnbuckle. Unfortunately, Sunny is quite on the ball, and furthermore is very capable of making herself heard over the crowd. As such, Billy is duly warned about Shawn's intentions, and is able to stagger over and pluck Shawn down from his perch and toss him on his back. A well-measured clothesline sends Shawn a-tumbling over the top rope, and this time he has no fancy rope-grab-and-pull-up move to save him this time. Billy poses in the ring, then decides enough time has been wasted, and he joins Shawn on the outside. As Billy lays out Shawn with one mighty blow, Vince poses the question, "What does sex have to do with the WWF championship?" A fine question, with many possible answers, which we can ponder over during the -- ad break -- On the replay, it is shown that Billy went on to drop Shawn's nose on the apron (and somewhere, Hunter Hearst Helmsley is smiling). At present, Billy has Shawn in a resthold, the infamous reverse chinlock, it seems. Presently, Shawn elbows out of it, but runs right into Billy's elbow on the rebound. Billy gestures to Sunny, and only then goes for the cover, and a two-count. Back into the resthold, which proves to be a sort of chinlock, and in the meanwhile Vince and Jerry discuss just what Camp Cornette's actual plans are going to prove to be. Actually, it's a case of Lawler knowing and McMahon guessing, but that much is a fine point. Billy thwarts Shawn's escape attempt with an eye poke, then takes Shawn over to one corner for a taste of turnbuckle. Over to the opposite corner, but Shawn insists on serving this round. Another eye poke from Billy hampers Shawn somewhat, as he takes a swipe at Billy and misses cleanly. Billy now borrows from Marc Mero in a display of pugilistic talent, sending Michaels to the canvas with one particularly vicious head shot. Cover, but Shawn is not P. L. Hopper (thank goodness), and so he kick out at two. Billy with a cross-corner whip (four inches!) As an aside, the Free For All match will feature, believe it or not, Jim Cornette vs. Jose Lothario. Sounds like a match that will be worth every penny. After getting inspiration from Sunny, Billy scoops up Shawn and hoists him upside down from the top turnbuckle. This is of course a position the referee is obligated to step in and remedy, just as soon as Billy gets in a few choice kicks. Sunny, meanwhile gives Lawler a high ten and ignores McMahon entirely. Quite a sensible girl, Sunny. Billy is slow to press his attack, meanwhile, and Shawn lashes out with a punch that just catches Billy on the nose. Shawn catches him again, before Billy sets up an executes what is allegedly a flying clothesline. Meanwhile, Camp Cornette has Left the Building. Repeat, Camp Cornette has Left the Building. Or at least walked through some sort of door. Billy Gunn celebrates this with a bulldog which sort of lost contact midway, and we go to an -- ad break -- We return on the fly to Shawn Michaels leapfrogging Billy Gunn, and then nailing a cross body block on the next pass. Michaels kicks himself to his feet, which is usually a very bad sign for the opposition. Shawn works the crowd a bit, then starts on a series of head shots to Billy's nose. Next comes a dropkick, then a scoop and slam, up to the top rope for an elbow drop, and it's time for the most telegraphed move in wrestling today. And as usual, there's not a thing poor Billy Gunn can do to escape the Sweet Chin Music that is forthcoming. 1-2-3, thanks for coming, folks, Green Bay audiences are the best audiences in the world, and so on like that. ROCK (with RAW credits & TV-14-DLV ratings box) v. KING ASS (with That Slut Chyna) - I now have a macro that automatically types out "Finally, the Rock has come back to (name of city)" for me! The Rock says that Gunn is suffering from Rock fever, but he'll be happy to take his temperature by taking the thermometer, turning it sideways, and...hey, I think I've heard this before. Let Us Take You Back three weeks with the heinous club attack, two weeks with the henious post-cage match attack, and back to semi-real time as Rock rushes Gunn on the ramp pre-match. Rock throws him into the ring for the opening bell, and Gunn quickly gets on him as Rock tries to get in the ring. It's all Gunn now. I live to watch punches. Truly the scientific and technical excellence we've all come to expect - that IS a nice splash, though. Too bad Gunn posed - Rock comes out with a running clothesline. Right, right, right, whip into the opposite corner - clothesline is ducked and Gunn counters with a neckbreaker. Ross: "Look at Chyna, that wench." 2 count. Lawler: "Remember, what you say about others says a lot about you!" Gunn choking Rock on the second rope for 5, and referee "Blind" Earl Hebner has to get a little physical to break the hold. Right hand from Ass. Off the rope, Gunn leapfrog, Rock clothesline. But trying to follow up, Gunn steps aside and sends him over the top rope. Outside goes Mr. Ass - barricade shot here, STEEL steps shot there. Head to the ALSO STEEL ringpost. Ross says that doesn't taste good - not even with a little of JR's BBQ sauce. CRZ may occasionally be a mark for his own initials, but not NEARLY as much as Jim Ross is for his own barbecue sauce. Gunn breaks the count, then brings Rock back in the ring. Gutshot - vertical suplex into a powerslam - Ross says it's a jackhammer-like slam, and I'm confused, 'cause that's GOLDBERG'S move. Gunn with right hands. Rock punches back and comes off the ropes - into a back elbow from Gunn. 1, 2, no. Gunn to the rear chinlock. Arm falls, but not enough times. Rock back up, right, right, right, duck, go behind, off the ropes, Samoan drop. Both men down - count is on. Both men up at 8 - Rock ducks as Gunn comes off the ropes - right, right, head to the buckle, kick, kick, right, right, right, right, right, Rock makes Hebner flinch, right, right, right, another fake to the ref, Gunn manages a kick to the gut - off the ropes, Rock manages to counter by dropping him across the top rope. Rock off the ropes, floatover DDT, cover - but Hebner is trying to get Chyna off the apron. Rock spins Hebner around - and then gets spun around himself, by Gunn, with a right hand. Whip is reversed - Gunn takes Chyna off the apron - there's the Rock Bottom! While Rock makes a show of throwing his elbowpad to the fans, Chyna secures a steel chair. As Rock comes off the ropes to deliver the People's elbow, Chyna waffles him right in the rump (or, as Ross said "spine") and takes Rock down. The Fame'Asser follows and there's the pin. (7:25) Ross: "The Rock got JOBBED tonight."

All pitchers who pitched today are out of discussion for starting since none will go more than one inning and that includes Willis. Jason Schmidt has all but been officially named the N.L. starter and Esteban Loaiza is the best bet for the A.L. but still a chance it will be Jamie Moyer.

Hey a reply! I'd thought of dumping the Nitro and Thunder reviews if I'd gone a second straight week with no replies. Anyways can't find a recap for the '98 show but here are the recaps to the matches mentioned from the 2000 show by CRZ: GREAT MUTA (not dotcom) v. JOBBED TO DAVID ARQUETTE - Schiavone reveals that Mike Tenay has once again strained his voice and won't be back tonight. Let Us Take You Back One Week where these two men had a spot of fun - or two. Muta trying to get a handle on him, but Abbott just muscles him into the corner. Knee, knee, elbow, "yeahbaby" - holy cow, he IS Jim Neidhart - Muta explodes out with a spin heel kick. Elbowdrop. Stomp. Trying for the side headlock, but Abbott picks him up and drops him with a belly-to-belly suplex. Muta motions to the back and the JUNG DRAGONS hit the ring. Abbott quickly makes mincemeat of them but Muta puts him down with a kick from behind. Now a tripleteam is on from the Dragons...now Muta holding Abbott for the Dragons. And *now* THE CAT is out and *he's* taking down the Dragons, one by one. But Muta's MAKING THE MUTA FACE!! RED MIST TO THE CAT!! Too bad he turned his back to Abbott - there's the *hand of stone*. Foot on chest - referee "Blind" Mark Johnson ignores the other four people out here and counts the pin. (1:32) RAYMOND STEREO & DE JUICY ONE & DISCO INFERNO (with Konnan & Nitro Grrl Tygryss) v. KRONIC in a handicap match - The Animals hit the ring wearing Kronic's vests, sunglasses, and instilling their eyedrops! Konnan speaks on this and I ignore him. Tonight's choice is "feel/that's enough." There's a whooshing logo for New Blood Rising and it's 25 days away. Konnan takes third headset and actually does a pretty decent colour commentary job...which is surprising, given that I hate him. Funny line from K-Dogg: "Now the guy over there without the mustache - he looks like a less expensive, better working, less problematic version of Kevin Nash...so let's get rid of Kevin Nash." "They're jarbones - that's what they are - just like Van Hammer." Konnan insists that all this squash going on is simply "Mexican strategy." Merciful finish is the "we'll kill someone doing this" Devastation Derivative on Disco Inferno that *scares the hell out of me,* but is actually a HELL of a selljob by Disco and not really him breaking his neck. Adams covers for the pin. (4:19 - hmmm)