Bored

I'll refuse comment on the comment on Ramon...oh fuck it...he's an excellent defensive catcher and does a great job of handling the pitching staff. I don't disagree with people being upset that Varitek (who I picked on my final all-star picks) didn't make it but saying Ramon doesn't deserve to go no matter what is a little unfair. Giles definently deserved to go over Williams. He's been hurt but still has put up decent numbers. I'd also go with Jason Kendall and maybe even Kenny Lofton over Williams.

Benitez gets put under the microscope because he plays in New York. He isn't THAT bad and seriously what other Met would you take? Maybe Cliff Floyd but beyond that there was no Met that even deserved one second of consideration and that's why I didn't list Benitez. Burnitz for one. Ty Wigginton could have been a possible choice Actually other than Floyd those would be the ONLY ones I'd consider. Maybe select Piazza to keep his game selected streak alive. Hey he was in a groove when he went down And yes Benitez IS THAT DAMN BAD! Put it this way, if I was an ALer in one of the cities fighting for a playoff spot, and I have a great home record this year, I am ROOTING for Dusty to bring him in in the 9th okay, this could go as badly as Atlee Hammaker 1983 grand slam to Fred Lynn. Steve Well if its an consolation I woudln't have put in an "other" vote choice but I put in Zito at the end because I had Wood on there and didn't want to be accused of being biased.

Well Bonds being Bonds won't play the whole game anyways and might not even be in the stadium by the end of the game. I'm sure though some players will be asked to play the whole game this year and in the case of Carlos Delgado might have to play the whole game. The starting catchers probably won't be asked to play the whole game and not including them, Bonds, Delgado, and Edgar Martinez since anyone can be put in the DH spot let's look at the starters in comparsion to their back-up: AL 2B: Alfonso Soriano, Bret Boone Boone is having the better year so it could be considered an upgrade to put Boone so Soriano probably won't play the whole game. 3B: Troy Glaus, Hank Blalock Blalock is definently having the better year and Glaus has had some nagging injuries so he won't play the whole game. SS: Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra Nomar is having the better year so again might be an upgrade. OF: Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui, Manny Ramirez; Melvin Mora, Garret Anderson, or Vernon Wells Matsui won't play the whole game and Anderson having his manager will definently get in there and deserves too. Ichiro might be asked to play the whole game since he was the leading vote getter and his speed and defense could be an asset late if the game is close. Ramirez I don't imagine will want to play the whole game so it will between Mora or Wells to see who gets in. So here is what the AL line-up will likely look like the second half of the game: C-Hernandez, 1B-Delgado, 2B-Boone, 3B-Blalock, SS-Garciaparra, OF-Suzuki, Anderson, Mora/Wells, DH-Martinez? NL 1B-Todd Helton, Richie Sexson Being Sexson wouldn't make the team without the one player per team rule I think Helton will play the whole game. 2B-Marcus Giles, Jose Vidro Giles wouldn't have made the team without the fan vote and Vidro is having a great year so he'll be in there early I think. 3B-Scott Rolen, Mike Lowell, Aaron Boone I think Rolen may go the whole way as my prediction is that Lowell will the NL starting DH. Boone is one a player per team guy so he might not get in. SS-Edgar Renteria, Rafael Furcal Renteria having the better year but not really a drop off to Furcal so Furcal will get in. OF-Albert Pujols, Gary Sheffield; Jim Edmonds, Andruw Jones, Preston Wilson, Luis Gonzalez, Rondell White Already covered Bonds. Pujols being the top hitter in the game right now will probably be asked to play the whole game. Sheffield probably will choose not to. For their defense I think Edmonds and Jones will get in there. Maybe Wilson or Gonzalez goes in the DH spot. White is a one player per team guy and probably won't play. Okay now here's the likely second half of the game line-up for the NL: C-Lo Duca, 1B-Helton, 2B-Vidro, 3B-Rolen, SS-Furcal, OF-Pujols, Edmonds, Jones, DH-Wilson/Gonzalez?

Benitez gets put under the microscope because he plays in New York. He isn't THAT bad and seriously what other Met would you take? Maybe Cliff Floyd but beyond that there was no Met that even deserved one second of consideration and that's why I didn't list Benitez.

Time to pull out some olllllld CRZ (slashwrestling.com) recaps for the above matches: Crush v. Yokozuna for the WWF Championship - Yokozuna's not being too kind to the flower girls anymore. Perhaps he's angry that he had to come out first, no, he's angry from being slammed by Lex Luger. Vince: "Can Crush do the job?" Crowd: "USA...USA..." Lockup, Crush pushed away. Lockup, 'Zima pushed away. Crush with lots of punches, 'Zima counters with bodyslam. Crush makes the champ miss, then puts a boot to the head. Yokozuna falls out of the ring. Lockup...ten minutes later, shoulderblock attempt by Crush, no one moves. Second shoulderblock, no one moves. The third time Crush tries, 'Zima puts up an elbow. Crush responds with a flurry, but ends up elbowing the cornerpost. The champ takes Crush down, and keeps him there with general pounding and shots to the throat, both with his hand, and with the ropes. Crush is thrown out, dragged back in. Knife edge chop. Yokozuna slaps on a nerve pinch as we take an ad break. When we come back, Crush is moving around again, but ends up in the same hold (some progress). Luckily, the "USA" chant starts up again, and just in time for Crush to stand up. Yokozuna, with repeated chops, flattens the big Hawaiian once again. Finally, 'Zima attempts the banzai zplash, but Crush moves out. Crush takes the momentum and down goes the champ. Crush with flying clothesline from the top. Only 2. Crush keeps hammering, but makes the mistake of climbing the one corner that Mr. Fuji is standing near. Somehow, the Japanese flag strikes Crush in the back, and he falls to the floor. 'Zima exits and zlams Crush. Taken back into the ring, the champ hits a belly-to-belly zuplex, and then a legdrop to the face. Crush gets dragged to the corner, and the big buttdrop isn't far behind (get it? get it?). 1, 2, 3, no matter how hard the crowd chants "USA," Crush ain't gettin' up from *that*. 'Zima goes up and drops the BUTT a second time. He goes up a third time, and...hits another BUTT drop (haha, bet you thought Crush was going somewhere). Despite the repeated protests by referee "Blind" Joey Morella, Yokozuna shows no signs of stopping. And who comes out to make the save? Tatanka. One chop from the champ and the Indian is history. Buttdrop #4. Out come jobbers Maggs, Riggins, and Apollo. Chop, chop, chop. Three jobbers down. There's no saving the big Hawaiian...no, wait! Apparently violating some sort of Tunney edict, Savage goes into the ring and drags Crush away. While Savage fends off the Japanese superstar with a chair, the stretcher boys take Crush away. The host of WWF officials arrive, much too late. The damage is done. Bret Hart v. the 1-2-3 Kid for the WWF Title - Cue Owen and Jim, who come out after the entrances. Owen wants the belt, you know. Referee "Blind" Dave Hebner won't start the match until the pair of Harts leaes. Two more refs come down to ringside and escort the gentlemen out. Does this mean we WON'T get a screwjob? I can only hope. I mean, this ain't the WCW (see last Saturday Night). Lockup, the Kid takes him down. Hart is surprised. Test of strength lockup, nothing. Repeat, Hart with arm wringer. The Kid coutners into a wristlock and armbar. Hart counters with a slam. Kip up by the Kid (Is that a Kid up?). Lockup, Kid with headlock into hammerlock (thank God Ross knows all the names of these moves). Hart tries to throw the Kid over, but he rolls with it and keeps the hammerlock on. The Kid with an arm wringer, and Hart elbows the Kid in the jaw off the ropes. Hart snaps him over and applies a headlock. The Kid gets up and powers out. Hart with a shoulderblock. Leapfrogs. The Kid with a sunset flip. Hart catches the Kid, so the Kid gives him a ghetto blaster, and follows it up with another thrust kick. Hart goes outside, and we take an ad break. When we come back, the Kid has Hart in an arm bar. Make your own Steamboat joke. The commentators speculate on whether the pair of Harts will make a return appearance. The Kid has a counter for every one of Hart's attempts to get out of the arm bar. The Hitman pushes out and after going off the ropes, Hart drives a knee into the Kid's stomach. Hart plants a boot to the abdomen. Hart with scoop slam followed by a legdrop (not o' doom though). The Kid struggles to get up. Elbow by Hart...or is it a forearm? Ross calls them European uppercuts, and they look pretty painful. Hart delivers about five of them. Hart with...well, something. Elbow to the back of the head. Another elbow. And a kick. All these moves are legal, sayeth Ross. Swingin neckbreaker by Hart for 2. Hart goes to the reverse chinlock. Elbow to the temple by Hart. Head into the turnbuckle. Repeated kicks. (all legal!). Back to the European uppercuts. Whip into the corner, and the Kid lands hard. Whip into the ropes, Hart misses an elbow, and the Kid manages a high cross body for 2. Hart with a headbutt. Whip into the corner, the Kid was supposed to try a victory troll, but it didn't work, so Hart sat on him for 2. Hart whips him into the ropes, the Kid goes under and tries a crucifix. Again Hart sits on him. 1, foot on the ropes, 2, 3. Hart tries to tell Hebner that there was a foot on the rope. Referee "Blind" Tim White comes out and tells Hebner the same thing. Apparently, Hart's an idiot, he wants the match to continue. He gets his wish. Let's take an ad break. Segunda caida - Well, it didn't work for Jeff Jarrett last week, but maybe Hart knows something. When we come back, they're at it. Let's go to the double feature. During the break. The Kid tried a sneaky rollup and got 2. Meanwhile, Hart gets a 2. Hart has a chinlock on the Kid, whose arm falls twice. The Kid somehow gets up and elbows out. Backslide by the Kid for 2. Hart with an elbow to the back of the head. Legdrop for 2. Hart with a DDT! 1, 2, no! Hart with a bodyslam, and he climbs the ropes. Hart meets up with a boot for his troubles. Hart comes back first, and kicks the Kid in the ribs. Hart misses a clothesline, and the Kid lands a martial arts kick. The Kid manages to get up, and kick Hart on the way in. BIG martial arts kick. Whip into the corner, BIG dropkick with Hart having nowhere to go and absorbing ALL of it. The Kid climbs the ropes and lands a quasi-moonsault for 2. The Kid with a powerbomb (Ross calls it a jackknife, ick). The Kid climbs the ropes again and drops a leg, from the top, for 2. Both men get up and the Kid clotheslines the Hitman over the top to the outside. The Kid tries a moonsault from the top to the floor, but doesn't quite make it. They're both down. Hart gets in the ring first, and the Kid goes in, and climbs to the top AGAIN. He misses ANOTHER moonsault when Hart rolls away. Hart manages to get up and apply the Sharpshooter, but the Kid is too close to the ropes. Hart goes back to the European uppercuts. Hart sits the Kid on the corner. Superplex city...no! The Kid lands on Hart for 2! The Kid whips Hart into the ropes, and misses a victory roll start. Hart drags the Kid by the hair into a corner. Bulldog for Hart. Hart decides he'd better go up to the top, too. The Kid grabs him and throws him into the centre of the ring. Then the Kid goes up. Hart blocks the dropkick and puts on the Sharpshooter. The Kid gives up.

Hey he just did it to take away from the All-Star picks today! Anyways probably bullshit but either his shoe sales are gonna go up!

What on earth is so bad about Giambi? Have you seen his stats lately? .373/.554/.819 in June. He doesn't deserve to make it over Byrnes, Thomas, or Varitek...ya I am EXTREMLY biased towards Giambi but he shouldn't be rewared for playing like shit first two months of the season. On the other subject...Hasagawa has great numbers but good lord Donnelly is enough for middle relievers. Carter making it over Aubrey Huff for the D-Rays is mind boggling.

My guess, although I'm biased, is Foulke will be the A.L. closer and he's unstoppable when he's not blowing a save for Tim Hudson. Smoltz probably gets the nod over Gagne but shit could flip a coin there. Either way the game is pretty much over if the N.L. is leading in the 9th.

Bite your tougne...I may boycott the game if Giambi makes it. Besides odds are increased this year that some starters may go the whole game so Delgado can play nine innings. Yes please vote for Byrnes although my early guess is Varitek will win since Red Sox fans got Damon in last year.

32nd player voting...sorry Varitek fan...VOTE BYRNES!!!!! I'd vote Patterson or Cabrera on the N.L. side...damn where is Alex Gonzalez? There is no direct link to the 32nd player ballot but just go to mlb.com and there is a pop-up link on the front page. A.L. Eric Byrnes Jason Varitek Frank Thomas Jason Giambi Bengie Molina N.L. Benito Santiago Luis Castillo Orlando Cabrera Geoff Jenkins Corey Patterson

Whoops forgot about Meche...wow that is a bigger snub than Mussina. Sorry Willis hasn't pitched enough to be picked in my view. The 32nd player voting is just position players.

A.L. reserves...honestly I'm shocked Ramon Hernandez made the team, happy, but shocked and there were a couple more deserving catchers. Nomar Garciaparra Garret Anderson Melvin Mora Dmitri Young Mike Sweeney (injured might not play) Ramon Hernandez Bret Boone Hank Blalock Vernon Wells N.L. reserves...hmmm not really anything too shocking here except Alex Gonzalez being snubbed. Richie Sexson Jose Vidro Mike Lowell Aaron Boone Rafael Furcal Andruw Jones Preston Wilson Jim Edmonds Luis Gonzalez Rondell White Paul Lo Duca

N.L. pitchers with one HUGE shocker...Mike Williams makes the team with an ERA over 6...WTF??? I know the Pirates need a rep but Brian Giles, Kenny Lofton, and Jason Kendall all deserve to make it more than Williams. I don't care how many saves you have you don't deserve to make the team with an ERA (6.29) that high EVER. I'm wondering if that was a player voting pick. Russ Ortiz John Smoltz Mark Prior Kerry Wood (replaces injured Shawn Chacon) Billy Wagner Kevin Brown Eric Gagne Armando Benitez Randy Wolf Mike Williams Jason Schmidt Woody Williams A.L. pitchers...some surprises here. First off SIX relievers including two set-up men and apparantly D-Rays closer Lance Carter is chosen over Aubrey Huff and the much hyped Rocco Baldelli. Also Mike Mussina gets snubbed. Brandon Donnelly Esteban Loaiza C.C. Sabathia Mike MacDougal Eddie Guardado Mark Mulder Barry Zito Keith Foulke Jamie Moyer Shigetoshi Hasegawa Lance Carter Roy Halladay

N.L. starters and some how Albert Pujols is the leading vote getter. I'm glad he is in and not Sosa but this is bizarre and I think some shennagins are involved here but whatever. Only Marcus Giles doesn't deserve to make the team IMO. C-Javy Lopez 1B-Todd Helton 2B-Marcus Giles 3B-Scott Rolen SS-Edgar Renteria OF-Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, Gary Sheffield A.L. starters, no surprises. Matsui, Glaus, and maybe Posada don't deserve to make the team. C-Jorge Posada 1B-Carlos Delgado 2B-Alfonso Soriano 3B-Troy Glaus SS-Alex Rodriguez OF-Ichicro Suzuki, Manny Ramirez, Hideki Matsui DH-Edgar Martinez

Here ya go from CRZ on slashwrestling.com: THE NEW MAN (with Stephanie Ono) v. ? in a handicap elimination match - well, who haven't we seen tonight? Perry Saturn? Is he hurt? Mean Street Posse? I know Foley likes THEM a lot...Patterson & Brisco? My, my, this is a long-ass entrance. Road Dogg & X-Pac? Wouldn't make sense, but we haven't seen them at least. Lawler mentions the Acolytes...that would work. Well, nope - it's KAI EN TAI. Triple H brightens right up seeing THEM - yeah, but Taka almost won the WWF title from him a few months back...but the men from Japan have a partner: THE BROOKLYN BRAWLER. Hmmm. Why not bring out some Los SuperAstros minis while we're at it? Anyway, Brawler directs Michinoku and Funaki to other sides of the ring - then, from three sides they swarm on Triple H - tripleteam beatdown actually works despite the fact that the three are Kai En Tai and the Brooklyn Brawler. Funaki puts H in the ropes, reversed, but Funaki manages a 'rana to take H to the mat. Swinging neckbreaker by the Brawler - for 2. Missile dropkick by Michinoku for 2. Into the ropes, two heads down, Michinoku eats a kick, Funaki's swing ducked and HE'S put outside with a right. Brawler clotheslines H to the outside (!) and Taka is onto the apron - ASAI MOONSAULT!! But unfortunately he lands on Funaki instead. H in the ring, Brawler...brawling with him. Chop! Chop! Right, into the ropes, head down, facebuster by Triple H - leg hooked - 1, Taka dropkicks him in the face. Uppercut thrust, another, karate chop, off the ropes but H sidesteps it and puts him outside. Running at Funaki, who puts the boots up - on the second rope, right, right, right, tornado DDT attempt is shrugged off. Pedigree! 1, 2, 3, Funaki is out. (2:16) Michinoku tries a top rope plancha - but H ducks it. Another Pedigree puts Taka out. (2:31) Brawler with a gutshot, chop, backhand, right, H with a gutshot, kick, kick, kick, stomp, standing on the neck despite the protestations of referee "Blind" Earl Hebner - oh oh, looks like it's shoving match time - Hebner pulls H off by the hair, H shoves him into a backwards somersault. Setting up Brawler for the Pedigree...but CHRIS THURSDAY JERICHO is out - bulldog! Lionsault! Keep in mind this is in PLAIN view of Hebner - maybe he's the fourth partner or something? Brawler covers - 1, 2, 3! (3:21) Wow, I haven't seen Brawler win since that Challenge match with Brady Boone back in '91. Anyway, Triple H goes ballistic after the match and annihilates his three opponents. Brawler actually blades for the benefit of selling. Triple H finally DOES hit that Pedigree on the Brawler...time to cue his music.

Ya Bagwell didn't keep that look very long after getting off to a bad start. When he grew that out I had that same look for about a year. Problem with the look though is guys would always come up to me and tell me how cool it looked but would never get the same compliments from women so I eventually shaved it off.

Well every Sunday...

Yes this week it is the one year anniversary of Raw is Quad which featured two memorable moments. First the recap of the Jackie Gayda match by CRZ and then Kevin Nash's quad tear match recapped by Scott Keith: TRISH STRATUS (Toronto, Canada) and BRADSHAW (Hardcore champion - Sweetwater, Tejas - with RAW is brought to you by Stacker 2, JVC's Tower of Power HX Series, and Honda!) v. CHRISTOPHER NOWINSKI & JACKIE GAYDA in a mixed tag referee: JACK DOAN Lawler proudly demonstrates the poster included in the latest copy of WWE Magazine (I'm guessing that's what they call it now?) and Ross calls him "Pootie Tang." I wonder how long Nowinski is gonna have that shiner, anyway. Looks like the men are gonna start. Nowinski assumes a three point stance and dares Bradshaw to do the same - then, when he does, Nowinski hits the Heisman pose - ha! Bradshaw is not amused and lunches for him, so Nowinski tags out and hits the floor. Doan demands Bradshaw tag out, so he does. Gayda runs into the new women's division showcase manoeuvre, the Japanese armdrag. Stratus with a dropkick, elbow, elbow, elbow, into the ropes is reversed, clotheslined down by Stratus - 1, 2, Nowinski breaks it up ALMOST too late but Doan lets it slide. Bradshaw wants in but Doan holds him back - behind his back, Stratus runs at Gayda and...nothing happens, so she kinda plays with the top rope. I have NO idea if Gayda was supposed to shove her over the top or what, and Trish can't come up with a good improv, so she bounces back to the ring - tries a drop toehold but Gayda utterly fails to figure it out, ending up falling on top of her - they roll a bit and the Philly crowd wastes no time turning on them. Boooo! Gayda settles on a choke and Trish decides she can work with that. Bottom rope choke. Stomp. Another stomp. And, as you all know, once you have the advantage in a mixed tag - it's best if you tag out. Nowinski decides to ignore the rules and attempts an elbowdrop on Stratus - but she rolls out of the away. Another elbowdrop misses and Bradshaw gets the tag. Shoudlerblock by Bradshaw. Into the ropes, big boot - into the ropes, clothesline ducked, Nowinski tries a crossbody - well, shit, you KNOW Bradshaw's gonna catch you for the COFS but go ahead. Nowinski manages a tag. Gayda climbs Bradshaw's back but he won't fight her - throwing her off and tagging Stratus. Stratus attempts to grab and hold a headlock as Bradshaw goes outside to chase Nowinski around the ring - they eventually go over the barricade and away through the crowd. Back in the ring, Stratus snapmares her over - in the corner and you can see her trying to run down the spots for her - chop - chop - chop - whip is reversed, clothesline by Gayda - kick, kick, foot on her neck. Gayda sits her on top - forearm, forearm, climbing to the second rope - Trish is all "the hell you are, I don't trust you with NOTHIN'" and shoves her off. Gayda flails around in the centre of the ring, completely cluess, while Stratus patiently waits - Gayda runs into a boot - Stratus off the top with a - well, I'm sure it was *supposed* to be a bulldog, but Gayda doesn't figure out what's happening until she sees Stratus hit the canvas, having completely passed her by. In what seems like an eternity of moments, Gayda finally falls to the mat, having seemingly suffered a delayed reaction on Trish's hand grazing her hair. Crowd boos again. Stratus covers - 1, 2, looks like Gayda kicked out but Doan hits 3 anyway. Ross: "Mercifully, it's over." (3:15) Stratus looks incredibly pissed off, ha ha. GOOD OL' JR quickly makes sure we all know he had *nothing* to do with that by dropping his infamous "bowling shoe" bomb. Not to suggest that it wouldn't be a good idea to put Jackie back on the taped show, but there's *gotta* be better ways that live burial on nationwide television.....? Chris Benoit, Eddy Guerrero, X-Pac, Big Show & Kevin Nash v. Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Goldust, Bubba Dudley & Spike Dudley. RVD starts with X-Pac and gets a monkey flip. Heel kick and standing moonsault get two. Goldust comes in with an atomic drop and powerslam. Bubba pounds him and drops the elbows for two. Spike comes in but gets suplexed, and Benoit does some damage. Front suplex and Eddy slingshots in and pounds away. Rob comes back in and monkeyflips Eddy, but Benoit suplees him and Show headbutts away. Suplex and X-Pac drops a few knees to set up the kick combo in the corner. This match is going nowhere. Rob superkicks him and goes up, but gets crotched by Michaels. Bubba comes back in, but Shawn trips him up. Rob valiantly chases HBK back to the entrance, but gets jumped by Brock Lesnar and beaten up. Back in the ring, Benoit whips Bubba around the Vanilla Midgets work him over. Nice to see Nash making his big comeback like this. Hot tag Booker, and he sidekicks X-Pac, but Nash cheapshots him and earns his $700,000 a year with a big boot before tripping over Booker and tearing his quad ala HHH. Nash, karma, karma, Nash. Big brawl as everyone runs around in a tizzy and Show chokeslams Booker for the pin at 9:26. This was no Dallas 10-man. ** I’d say “Oh woe is Nash”, but here’s a guy who spent a year on the sidelines collecting his Time-Warner money and lobbying for Scott Hall to come into the WWF, watched as Hall destroyed himself and got canned, took another three months off to rehab an arm injury despite not actually doing anything in the ring to warrant an arm injury, came back as a mouthpiece and had the finish of a couple of matches changed to protect his friend X-Pac, and finally made his triumphant return, only to trip and rip his leg apart. I guess this is the metaphoric “stake through the heart” that’ll get rid of you, eh Kev? On the bright side, you always have your hair.

July 8, 1998 The Public Enemy def. Tokyo Magnum & Shima Namanonga The Cat def. Villano IV Juventud Guerrera def. Judo Sawa Konnan def. Stevie Ray by DQ Raven & Horace def. Saturn & Kanyon Steve McMichael def. Rick Fuller Chris Jericho def. Ultimo Dragon; CW Title Match July 8, 1999 Lenny Lane def. Eddy Guerrero Van Hammer def. Al Greene Fit Finlay def. Brian Knobbs by DQ Disco Inferno NC Kidman Chris Benoit def. Kanyon Curt Hennig def. Konnan July 12, 2000 The Great Muta & The Jung Dragons def. Tank Abbott & 3 Count Demon def. Maj. Stash Mark Jindrak & Sean O’Haire def. Lance Storm & Billy Kidman Big Vito def. David Flair; HC Title Match The Perfect Event def. Gen. Rection & Cpl. Cajun The Franchise & Torrie Wilson def. Crowbar & Daffney Billy Kidman def. Lance Storm Mike Awesome def. Rick Steiner Jeff Jarrett def. Kanyon

July 8, 1996 Rey Misterio Jr. def. Dean Malenko to win the Cruiserweight Title The Blue Bloods def. Hugh Morrus & Big Bubba Eddy Guerrero def. Psicosis The Steiner Brothers def. The Nasty Boys Ric Flair def. Jim Powers; U.S. Title Match Chris Benoit def. Sgt. Craig Pittman Sting def. Arn Anderson July 7, 1997 The Public Enemy def. Harlem Heat Konnan def. Joe Gomez Juventud Guerrera & Hector Garza def. Villano IV & Villano V Buff Bagwell & Scott Norton def. Eddy Guerrero & Chavo Guerrero Jr. Diamond Dallas Page (posing as La Parka) def. Randy Savage Glacier & Ernest Miller def. Psicosis & Silver King by DQ The Steiner Brothers def. Chris Benoit & Steve McMichael July 6, 1998 Booker T def. Dean Malenko; TV Title Match Raven def. Konnan by DQ Scott Putski def. Riggs Chris Jericho def. Ultimo Dragon by DQ; CW Title Match Chavo Guerrero Jr. def. Johnny Swinger The Public Enemy def. Disco Inferno & Alex Wright by DQ Goldberg def. Scott Hall; U.S. Title Match Juventud Guerrera def. Psychosis The Giant def. Jim Duggan Diamond Dallas Page def. Jim Niedhart Sting & Lex Luger def. Kidman & Sick Boy; Tag Title Match Goldberg def. Hollywood Hogan to win the WCW World Heavyweight Title July 12, 1999 Konnan def. Vampiro by DQ Ric Flair def. Dean Malenko Kidman def. Steven Regal Sid Vicious def. Kenny Kaos David Flair NC Sting; U.S. Title Match Booker T def. Diamond Dallas Page by DQ Hollywood Hogan def. Randy Savage to win the WCW World Heavyweight Title July 10, 2000 The Franchise def. Crowbar Jeff Jarrett def. Billy Kidman Booker T def. Mike Awesome; WCW Title Match Big Vito def. Norman Smiley & Ralphus in a hardcore handicap match for the HC Title Lance Storm def. The Artist Kronik def. Gen. Rection & Cpl. Cajun; Tag Title Match Jeff Jarrett def. Goldberg, Scott Steiner, and Kanyon (pinned) in a four corners match

I think it was a typo... they should be number one. or somewhere so high up there. From looking at the list I'd take a guess that it is based on acts that are still around and isn't an all-time greatest list.

I think taking three catchers is unecessary since it is the one position you can replace an injured player with the removed player. Koskie really has come on strong but Blalock has been there the whole way so he'll get the nod but Koskie has a shot as Sweeney's injury replacement since they wouldn't have to choose another first baseman automatically, if Frank Thomas is already on the roster or could play Delgado the whole game. Oh and I should have probably left one spot open on each team since the 32nd man is chosen by the fans. That's my only hope for Eric Byrnes to make the team as I assume he won't be chosen but we'll be on the list of four or five players to choose from. Koskie could end up on that list as well but if any Yankee or Red Sox player is on the list there will be no chance for anyone else.

Rodriguez has surged the last few weeks and actually still had a shot at being voted the starter going into the last week. It was a tough call but power numbers typically get more consideration when choosing an All-Star team and his are better than Lieberthal's or LoDuca's. Five probably is too many and I could see Billy Wagner getting squeezed out. Smoltz and Gagne are locks and then Benitez is the only deserving Met and then Worrell I could see getting picked since Dusty Baker is the manager so he may take some of his former players and that's also why I put Kent on the team. Oh and shoud also add on Kent is if he is voted the starter that will open up a spot on the roster because Marcus Giles numbers have dropped drastically in recent weeks and would not be chosen to the team as a reserve if he isn't voted the starter. Also in both leagues for whatever reason the last month or so a lot of the top pitchers have been taking a beating and there are very few locks in terms of starting pitchers. I personally wouldn't put Dontrell Willis on the team because he hasn't pitched enough but with all the hype around him Bud Selig (who has a voice in the manager picks) will make sure he gets picked and I could also see him stepping in and making Rocco Baldelli the D-Rays pick over the more deserving Aubrey Huff.

Here are my final All-Star picks/sort of predictions, as in I didn't only pick players I think should go and did pick some that I think will go but shouldn't. Now since they are announcing both the starters and reserves tommorrow I have to just go by who was leading in the voting last week to determine the starters. There were still a few races in the N.L. that were too close to call but I'll just go with who was leading. Starters are in CAPS. With the new selection process of having the players vote for the majority of the reserves (A.L manager choose 5, N.L. manager 7), and considering the voting took place about 10 days ago, it is impossible to predict the selections although my gut feeling is the players will choose more established stars. PLEASE NOTE: Mike Sweeney is currently on the DL and odds are he won't be back in time for the All-Star game but I put him on the team because he is deserving and due to the fact as stated before that the player voting took place over a week ago so he might be chosen anyways and then later replaced. Same goes for Jeff Kent (who might be voted as the starter since he was less than 20,000 votes behind) but he is more likely to be of the DL to play. AMERCIAN LEAGUE C: JORGE POSADA, New York; Jason Varitek, Boston 1B: CARLOS DELGADO, Toronto; Mike Sweeney, Kansas City 2B: ALFONSO SORIANO, New York; Bret Boone, Seattle 3B: TROY GLAUS, Anaheim; Hank Blalock, Texas SS: ALEX RODRIGUEZ, Texas; Nomar Garciaparra, Boston OF: ICHIRO SUZUKI, Seattle; HIDEKI MATSUI, New York; MANNY RAMIREZ, Boston; Melvin Mora, Baltimore; Garret Anderson, Anaheim; Vernon Wells, Toronto; Aubrey Huff, Tampa Bay; Dmitiri Young, Detroit DH: EDGAR MARTINEZ, Seattle; Frank Thomas, Chicago Pitchers: Esteban Loaiza, Chicago; Jamie Moyer, Seattle; Mark Mulder, Oakland; Gil Meche, Seattle; Mike Mussina, New York; Roy Halladay, Toronto; David Wells, New York; C.C. Sabathia, Cleveland; Keith Foulke, Oakland; Mike MacDougal, Kansas City; Eddie Guardado, Minnesota; Brendan Donnelly, Anaheim NATIONAL LEAGUE C: JAVY LOPEZ, Atlanta; Ivan Rodriguez, Florida 1B: TODD HELTON, Colorado; Richie Sexson, Milwaukee; Ryan Klesko, San Diego 2B: MARCUS GILES, Atlanta; Jose Vidro, Montreal; Jeff Kent, Houston 3B: SCOTT ROLEN, St. Louis; Mike Lowell, Florida SS: EDGAR RENTERIA, St. Louis; Alex Gonzalez, Florida OF: BARRY BONDS, San Francisco; SAMMY SOSA, Chicago; GARY SHEFFIELD, Atlanta; Albert Pujols, St. Louis; Jim Edmonds, St. Louis; Luis Gonzalez, Arizona; Brian Giles, Pittsburgh; Austin Kearns, Cincinnati Pitchers: Kevin Brown, Los Angeles; Jason Schmidt, San Francisco; Mark Prior, Chicago; Woody Williams, St. Louis; Randy Wolf, Philadelphia; Russ Ortiz, Atlanta; Dontrell Willis, Florida; John Smoltz, Atlanta; Eric Gagne, Los Angeles; Billy Wagner, Houston; Tim Worrell, San Francisco; Armando Benitez, New York

If the Spurs get Kidd or Jermain O'Neal you can just hand them another title no matter what the Lakers do. I guess the Lakers are trying to put together a senior league team with Malone and Payton. Probably won't happen though as there won't be enough balls to go around and I doubt Malone will sign with a team where he'll probably only average 10-12 points a game especially since he wants to break Kareem's career scoring record.