Cheech Tremendous

Finally had a chance to watch this last night, and it was the first wrestling program I had watched since the first few weeks of ECW last summer. Here a few thoughts: - The production, as I predicted, was fantastic. The ring, arena, camera cuts, music, etc. made this thing seem legitimate instead of a two-bit indy promotion (which it essentially is). - The announcers are average. The ring guy with the mic is annoying, as is the guy who says "dude" and "bro" after every sentence. Bringing Zak in was a nice touch. - The wrestlers can't work a lick. Man were they awful, but in the context of the show they seemed to fit. I doubt any MTVers are concerned about pyschology and transition moves. - Normally I'd say half an hour is a crime for a wrestling show because you can't get over characters or storylines in that timeframe. Well, since its apparent they won't have any storylines or character development, the time is fine. I don't think I could handle anymore than 30 minutes of non-stop flipping, spots, and weapon shots. All in all, it was enjoyable if utterly ridiculous and forgettable. When this thing goes belly up after 12 episodes, WWE would be wise to hire the producers behind it and incorporate some of their ideas in the programming,

Everyone has been hailing the return of Bob Sanders as the miracle of the Colts' defensive recovery. Now, as a Safety, doesn't Sanders have to commit to playing deep or staying in the box to stop the run? Since those are the only two things Chicago can do on offense, won't one of them be open all day (deep ball or run up the middle)? I don't think one guy can turn around a subpar defense in a matter of weeks. You are who you are.

A beautiful Roger Clemens quote: You know Roger, maybe the team wouldn't have come up a game short if you'd have bothered to show up before June. What an ass*. *I totally take all this back if he signs with the Red Sox.

Carmelo Anthony, Josh Howard, Deron Williams in the West... any others who are snubs?

I'm pretty sure there were lawsuit threats out the ass from WWE, to the point where I don't think it'll ever see the light of day.

Defensive Efficiency measures the number of points surrendered per 100 possessions. The Phoenix Suns allow 102 points per 100 possessions, which is sixth in the league, about 0.1 points behind Dallas and ahead of a lot teams with good defensive reputations (Detroit).

Honestly, I pay almost no attention to the product and probably couldn't name more than one or two tag teams. I just figured the card needed one of those "throw everyone in the ring so they can get a WM paycheck" type matches. It's not like the tag belts mean anything. EDIT: Winner gets a shot at their brand's tag champs at a later date.

where would you put battle of the billionaires? I really hope the fatal four way happens... In the corners of Hogan and Khali.

Taker/Batista (World) Cena/HBK/Edge/Orton (WWE) Hogan/Khali Booker/Kane RVD/Lashley (ECW) Benoit/Finlay (US) Umaga/Jeff Hardy (IC) Kennedy/Matt Hardy/Dykstra/Flair/Holly/Punk MITB Melina/Mickie Tag Team turmoil (Raw & Smackdown teams)

To be honest, it's awful. Nothing follows current storylines, it's overbooked with way too many gimmick matches and multiple-person matches and there's nothing particularly redeeming or interesting about it.

You can back order any issue for $4 directly from Meltzer's site. If you aren't a subscriber already, I think you get a couple classic issues thrown in with a new subscription.

I'm glad I stayed out of the predictions arena for the most part this year. I just didn't have a feel for the teams coming into the year and I still don't. I think things are really wide open. I wouldn't be surprised to see any Phoenix, Dallas or San Antonio win it, and I wouldn't discount Houston, Miami, Chicago, LA or Utah entirely. Crazy stuff.

As of last weekend, I was leaning slightly towards a Colts victory, but after hearing everyone and their mother pick the Colts in a landslide, I'll go with the Bears. Whenever the masses lean this strongly on a team when there's no justifiable reason to do so, things usually swing the other way. This isn't Bears-Patriots of 85, or 49ers-Chargers in 94. The Bears had a better team most of the season and have all the tools to win on Sunday.

Phoenix has a top 10 defense, if not top 5. Don't be fooled by the points allowed.

There's no way that's right.

I started giving him the benefit of the doubt after breaking the Matsuzaka story, but Olney has a way of oversimplifying things to death. There is no way that the Helton-Sox deal fell apart over Manny Delcarmen, and it's misleading to portray things that way.

Buster Olney mentioned in his blog that the Helton to the Sox deal fell apart over the Rockies insistence on having Manny Delcarmen included in the deal. Now, I like Manny Delcarmen as much as the next guy, and I know the Red Sox are gunshy about letting go of prospects after the mess with Sanchez, Ramirez and Meredith last year, but come on. The Rockies were willing to kick out $50 million in subsidies and part with their franchise player, but only if they could get an underachieving middle reliever? The Red Sox were ready add their power hitting first baseman at a reasonable cost, but not at the expense of an average prospect? Seems like Buster's back up to his ignorant ramblings.

The Memphis Grizzlies reached a buyout with G Eddie Jones. Once he clears waivers he's expected to re-sign with the Miami Heat, a team with which he spent five years with earlier in his career.

I can understand that. In fact, my first name is Seabiscuit.

Roth, and I don't think it's particularly close.

At last year's trade deadline, the Red Sox were trying to acquire Andruw Jones from Atlanta for Coco Crisp and Craig Hansen. They supposedly had a deal in place to immediately flip Jones to Houston for Roy Oswalt. Atlanta kept insisting on the inclusion of Jon Lester in any deal for Jones. The deal fell apart, Roy stayed in Houston and got his nice contract extension.

Alright Czech, since you requested it: The All-Red Sox Trade Rumor Team! C- Jarrod Saltamacchia 1B- Mark Teixeira 2B- Julio Lugo SS- Miguel Tejada 3B- Aubrey Huff LF- Pat Burrell CF- Andruw Jones RF- Ichiro SP- Roy Oswalt, Jake Peavy, Ervin Santana, Brad Penny, Chad Billingsley RP- Brad Lidge, Chad Cordero, JJ Putz, Taylor Tankersley, Brian Fuentes, Jonathon Broxton, Aaron Heilman BN- Lastings Milledge, Matt Kemp, James Loney, Todd Helton, Jeremy Reed *Each of these guys was prominently featured in a trade scenario with the Red Sox in the past year. I don't know what's sadder... the fact that these many rumors get started, or that I can remember them all.

I agree with SuperJerk. The thread is called "Let's edit bloated double albums." The White Album is NOT a bloated double album. Neither is Exile on Main Street or Physical Graffiti. These albums would lose all their mystique if edited to one disc. The sprawling mess is what made them special in the first place.

So what had Barbaro in the Death Pool?

I'm convinced that 90% of these so-called "analysts" don't even watch the games. They get there little media packet and regurgitate whatever they read in there. The book says Rex is awful and so that's the story they beat into the ground. There is little actual thought going into this analysis.