Just John

You mean aside from the fact that he's a carpetbagger and a gravy-trainer? I thought he did something specific in game 2 to cause those reactions. And Damaramu: I can assure you Detroit has less of a chance of winning those games in LA than in Detroit. I'm sure they'll win one game in their homestand. Winning two isn't unlikely, but they won't win all three.

I missed the game, but what are all the "fuck Karl Malone" sentiments about? I think Detroit could win 2 games at the palace, but then they have to go back to LA for decisive games 6 and 7. The more I think about it, the more I like the 2-2-1-1-1 format over the 2-3-2.

The 10 punch in the corner

Hogan vs. Taker (JD 02) Stevie Ray vs. Vincent (Uncensored 99) Mark Henry vs. Viscera (NWO 2000)

That was an impressive win for Detroit in Game 1. Only Kobe and Shaq even bothered to show up for LA and the Pistons had a solid team effort. Still, I can't stress enough, this does not mean anything. Absolutely nothing. Ask San Antonio what happens when you think you have the Lakers out of it and proceed to quit playing. If there are 4 games left in the series, don't count LA out.

Yeah, I like the idea of an alternative to WWE. I should get a job so I could buy more TNA shows.

Probably not, but that doesn't reflect on the quality of the show, just the fact that I don't have enough money. I could see myself ordering one every once in a while, but not weekly. I've only ordered 2 WWE ppv's this year, but I still watch Raw and SD every week.

Having never watched TNA before, I thought this was a great show. The style was radically different and more exciting than the WWE style. Some of the moves were awesome and reminded me of WCW cruiser action. The flipping pile driver, styles clash, wheelbarrow into a neckbreaker, and corkscrew moonsault were my favorites. They seemed to focus mainly on wrestling and not so much on sports entertainment. The announcers and info bars gave it a sense of legitimacy as well. I'll definitely watch next week.

For one or two games, yeah. No way they win a best of seven, though. Everyone (myself included) doubted the Lakers against the Spurs, many still doubted them against the Wolves. I'm not falling for that again. The Lakers will turn on the switch whenever they please and put Detroit away in 6. If you think the Pistons will beat the Lakers scoring less than 70 a game, you're crazy. If Ben Wallace gets into foul trouble, who guards Shaq? Mehmet Okur? Darko? Ha! What answer do they have for Kobe? That man has scored at will throughout most of the playoffs. And it doesn't stop there. Just ask Minnesota how easy it is to beat the Lakers, even if the "Big 4" are in trouble. I'd like to see the Pistons win, but I'm not putting any money on it.

Simple question. What is the best or worst WCW ppv during the NWO era? I defined NWO era as their formation at BATB 96 to Hall turning on Nash at Slamboree 98, but I'm lenient. I don't think anything post 98 would get many votes anyway. My votes: BEST Uncensored 97 - Awesome opener: Eddie vs. Dean (No dq) - Good cruiser action (Ultimo/Psychosis, Mysterio/Iaukea) - Glacier vs. Mortis was surprisingly good - Replay of the wrestlecraptacular Steiner car crash - Unintentional comedy of Dusty Rhodes - Fun main event - Mark out moment with Sting returning Halloween Havoc 97 - First 3 matches are as good as any string of matches I've seen (Ultimo/Nagata, Jericho/Gedo, Mysterio/Eddie) - Flair vs. Hennig - DDP vs. Savage (Last man standing) - Decent main event considering who was involved - Unintentionally hilarious ending Worst: WW3 96 - Outside of Ultimo vs Rey, this show had nothing. - Jericho vs. Nick Patrick - 2 boring tag matches - Unexciting ME

I hate the Lakers as much as the next guy, but I won't kid myself. LA is going to do to the East winner exactly what they did Minnesota. They'll slack in a couple games, but they'll hit the shots that matter in the end. Indy or Detroit should take their EC championship trophy and go home, because they have no shot against the Lakers. I hate LA, but I recognize what they can do, and they most certainly can defeat the East winner. I'm hoping they won't, but after LA beat the Texas teams, I realized I shouldn't give myself false hope. Houston was 2 shots away from being up 3-1 after four games. Although, the Lakers again did exactly the bare minimum to win. However, next year the Lakers won't be as dominant.

Well, I had reasonably low expectations going in, but it really wasn't too bad. The plot is cheesy and predictable and the political message is as blatant as it could possibly be, but if you go in expecting the opposite, you're an idiot. The acting was ok, but the story was really sappy. The special effects and unintentional comedy are enough to slightly redeem the movie. If you want in to the overly corny type diaster movies that have happy endings, then go see it.

I'll throw in some NA votes. Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (Wrestle War 89) Wargames 92 Sting vs. Vader (Super Brawl 93) Eddie Guerrero vs. Ohtani (Starrcade 95) Rey Mysterio vs. Psychosis (BATB 96) Chris Benoit vs. Dean Malenko (Hog Wild 96) Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio (HH 97) Chris Benoit vs. Raven (Souled Out 98) Chris Benoit vs. Bret Hart (Owen Memorial) Royal Rumble 92 Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels (WM 10) Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (WM 12) Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (SS 96) HHH vs. Cactus Jack (RR 2000) HHH vs. Cactus Jack (NWO 2000) HHH vs. The Rock (JD 2000) Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit (RR 2001) Steve Austin vs. The Rock (WM 17) Steve Austin vs. Chris Benoit (SD 5-31-01) Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle (SS 2001) Edge/Rey vs. Angle/Benoit (No Mercy 02) Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit (RR 03) Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (WM 19) Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho (WM 19) HHH vs. Shawn Micheals vs. Chris Benoit (WM 20)

Thanks for refreshing me on those events, even though it was painful. I don't know why they butchered the VHS release. They cut Saturn/Lodi, Finley/Wright, and Wrath/Meng (which they actually mentioned later in the show). I don't think anyone misses those matches, but I always wondered why WCW cut some of their matches. Keep in mind, they did it to other shows too.

I'm surprised KC wasn't higher up on the list. The Royals won the WS in 85, but haven't done shit since. The Chiefs have been worthless for a while now. Every time they show potential in the regular season, they piss it all away in their first playoff game (with or without a bye). Also lost an NBA team in the 80's. Cleveland definitely should be number one. All of their sports teams are embarrassing to their respective leagues. And when they finally get close, they can't seal the deal (WS vs. Florida/Atlanta, Browns AFC title games).

I can't think of anything else. I remember Brian Adams jumped Rick with a bat and Rick disappeared for a couple months. When he came back, he wanted to fight Scott. I know they reunited before that because Scott and Rick helped each other at Slamboree 99 (a terrible show). I do remember that tag match at HH. The Giant did in fact do a missile dropkick. Also, Buff ran out during the singles match dressed as Bill Clinton (to which Tony Schiavone yelled "It's Bill Clinton!" in a serious tone). The NWO ref tried to cost Rick the match, but somehow Rick still won.

Not a great looking card this week. The last two matches could be good if done right. The rest looks mediocre.

After they broke up, they had a couple tag matches against each other, and then Rick suffered some injury which put the feud in deep freeze. That's why it took so long, but I have no idea on the repeated no contests. The first was at Road Wild (where Scott pretended to be injured), then Fall Brawl (where Buff pretended to re-injure his neck). They had a 5-minute match at Halloween Havoc that Rick won. Then another no contest at WW3 that degenerated into and NWO/Goldberg brawl. As far as I know, they stayed away from each other after that until they reunited in 99.

You could always bring a sign with a blatant political message contradictary to the conservative nature of WWE. - The war in Iraq is not cool - Legalize gay marriage Or just go with an obvious smark sign. - Kane is my dentist - Shawn Michaels fears marines - Jerry Lawler can't announce - Austin 3:16 says I just beat my girlfriend - Visit thesmartmarks.com However, if you want to get on TV, go the mark route. Make a colorful sign that supports a top face or some generic insult towards a heel.

Last week's card: So it's not late 2002, but this week's line up is definitely better looking than the rest of the post-shakeup cards.

I'm pretty sure there was no Eddie/Jericho at Bash at the Beach 98. Perhaps you're thinking Fall Brawl 97. I'm not too familiar with his international stuff, so here's what I'd include: vs. Dean Malenko (Uncensored 97) vs. Chris Jericho (Fall Brawl 97) vs. Rey Mysterio (Halloween Havoc 97) vs. Dean Malenko and Saturn (Judgment Day 2000) vs. RVD (ladder match, Raw 02) vs. Edge (No dq, SD 02) vs. Brock Lesnar (No Way Out 04)

This looks infinitely better than last week's terrible card. Every match has potential, although the 3-way CW title could be a clusterfuck.

I'm really looking forward to Game 7 tonight. Sacramento has proven they can win on the road, so it's anybody's game. Unfortunately, there's no rest for the winner because the WCF start Friday.

I called Patriots and Panthers in the Super Bowl about halfway through the regular season.

I don't think the Nets would win either, but I think it would be a lot more competitive this time around. Outside of having nothing on Shaq, they match up pretty well. They have good outside shooting and Martin and Jefferson can take it the hoop. Although, that may only work for one game, then LA would use the Tony Parker strategy. And there's no way LA keeps up with NJ's fast break.