Dangerous A

I'm not going to challenge the legitimacy of Smother's toughness and ability to hold his own in a street fight since it's been confirmed by a ton of wrestlers, but challenging someone via video just screams lame. He's got connections in the wrestling business, so he isn't going to be hard to find. If he really wants a piece of JBL, just go find him and take care of business. No need to grandstand a challenge.

Thank God the NBA learned from the mistake the NHL made... League to announce agreement prior to Game 6 NEW YORK -- NBA owners and players agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement Tuesday, averting the possibility of a lockout. The league called a news conference in San Antonio prior to Game 6 of the NBA Finals, with commissioner David Stern and union director Billy Hunter announcing their agreement, ESPN Insider Chad Ford has confirmed. The deal came on the fourth consecutive day of talks between the sides. The league's old seven-year agreement is due to expire on June 30. The league and its players' association on Monday night were close to agreeing on a new CBA that would institute a new 19-year-old age minimum, reduce contract lengths and raise the salary cap, according to sources close to both negotiating committee. Among the main items the players were seeking was a reduction in the so-called escrow tax under which 10 percent of their salaries are withheld if the amount of revenues devoted to players salaries exceeds a specified percentage. Owners had already offered to raise the salary cap from slightly more than 48 percent of revenues to 51 percent, thereby increasing the amount of money each team can spend on player salaries. The NBA has a system known as a "soft" salary cap, allowing teams to exceed the cap threshold to retain their own free agents, and to sign free agents under the so-called midlevel exception that was added to the labor agreement in 1999 after the sides went through a 7½-month lockout. Another lockout could have begun July 1. The agreement will still need to be ratified by the league's Board of Governors and by the members of the players' union at their annual meeting in Las Vegas next week. A source close to the NBA negotiating committee and a source close to the union's negotiation committee claim that all of the major issues between the sides had been agreed to in principle as of Monday night. Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider and contributed to this report. Information from The Associated Press was also used in this report

I know that there is discussion on this in the OAO Raw thread, but IMO it warrants it's own thread. "I see Sand People." Are you for real? I cannot believe WWE gets away with this. For the life of me, I just wish mainstream media would get their hands on this and call WWE on it. I'm for WWE's freedom to say whatever, but I don't like their freedom from the criticism of what they are saying, particularly when it's race baiting garbage. Even if Austin was acting on his own and not from a script, WWE should've bleeped it out or something. Alas, no one in the mainstream will know and it won't be covered and Austin and WWE won't have to apologize or at least try to justify what was said. It's sad. The whole Hassan thing was sad. Believe it or not, the Hassan character would be fifty times worse if WWE would've gone through with their orignial plans of teaming Hassan with Deuce Shade from OVW as a tag team called "The Mad Terrorists". Nothing good can come from this race baiting angle. It doesn't sell tickets and just smears wrestling fans some more. LOTC had a great point in that this angle helps fascilitate racism, because while WWE will try to point out that Hassan's intentions are he is wronged and has valid points, the reaction they are going for is one that is covered in racism and WWE knows it. This is cheap heat at it's ugliest. Unfortunately, I have tickets to the 7/4 Supershow and I really sincerely plan on turning my back on whatever skit or angle they have Hassan in. I'll just stand up and have my back facing the ring. It's disgusting and has no place in wrestling, or any entertainment venue for that matter. If a professional sports athlete were to say what Austin did to the face of an Arab American, he'd get crucified. If this were a Hollywood actor, same thing. WWE should be held accountable as well. And they wonder why their ad rates are the pits. Perhaps it's because you are entertaining to the lowest common denominator and insulting my intelligence. Here's to hoping someone, anyone, everyone in mainstream media gets a hold of last night's Raw show and calls WWE on it.

When I visit my Mother in Ohio, I make it a point to hit up Steak n Shake. Those burgers are the bomb as well.

Excellent assessment of Returns. I will say that Returns boasts my favorite Batman theme song by Siouxie and the Banshees, "Face to Face." I don't know why, but I'm a huge mark for that song. "Hold me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" was also a great song as well. I really wasn't feeling "Batdance" or that one Smashing Pumpkins song for Batman and Robin. (the title escapes me right now)

Vince only "gets it" when challenged. That is why WCW and ECW going under are such huge events. Vince now doesn't have any reasonable opposition that can provide an alternative when Vince's show gets stale, forcing him to adjust even the slightest.(sorry TNA fans, but your show isn't viable competition)

I'd venture more towards deluded and hilarious. He had a vision for Batman, it's just the majority of people didn't like it. I remember an interview he had promoting Batman and Robin where he said he was tired of Batman being so brooding and dark and that is why he changed the mood up. Right there and then I knew he didn't get it.

True, but it's going to make enough now and has enough critical praise that it'll get a sequel or two greenlit.

I'm trying to see it again before I start getting War of the Worlds hype in my system.

It's one of many huge plot holes in the saga of Kane.

You're thinking too much. Common sense isn't supposed to figure into this equation. I also question how basically Kane forced Lita into marriage and sex, now Lita gets out of it, but she is a "damn jezebel" according to JR. Did JR even pay attention the last 7 months. What starts hurting my head is that Lita all of a sudden is cool with Kane when she loses her baby, which I guess was Kane's face turn, although it sucked. I also find it funny they had the "Big Red Machine" crying, figuring or not figuring it will kill him in the crowd's eyes, yet they think he'll be right back to normal "Big Red Machine" status by chokeslamming someone a bunch of times. There was a thread in this folder about Jericho not being seen as credible ever again. Kane has now surpassed Jericho.

While it will take me a bit to recall all the great moment The Wire has provided me, I know the one that comes to my mind right now is Season 1 where Wee Bay is being questioned and starts ponying up for all the murders the Barksdale gang has committed just to take them because of the deal he brokered with the cops, then saying he'd tell them where one of the bodies was hidden if he could get more horseradish for his sandwich! Classic! Levy, Barksdale's attorney was also very effective throughout the series.

I'm all about tradition and the NWA Belt has tons of it. Put me down for that one.

Out of the Flair-Steamboat trilogy, the Clash match is the best IMO, followed by WrestleWar. Chi-Town was a solid ****'s, but the other 2 were solidly better. Chris Jericho is more relegated to recognition pop than anything. People know who he is and acknowledge it. Since we are pretty much at a point where the base fans are the majority watching, they still pop when he comes out. Doesn't mean they are behind him ME'ing or believe he'll be anything other than a transitional champ or credible challenger.

Agreed. Pippen should be ranked somewhere in the 30's.

I'm not a Matt Hardy fan or anything, but I'd like to see him interrupt the wedding and then feud with Edge, if only to get his whining ass away from the internet.

I know this is a stretch, but I sort of liken Guevara to Anakin/Darth Vader. Here is a guy who seemed like he had great intentions for the world, but on the way to trying to make change through revolution, he became absolute in his ways and lost compassion for anything and anyone that he felt would stand in the way. His vision could not be executed without becoming cold. However, because of his strong belief in what he was doing, it felt justified to him.

I think if the series were to go 7 and games 6 & 7 resemble game 5, it would help save face to how this series is being percieved by the public a little.

Forgot all about Fuddruckers. I love their Buffalo Burgers, cooked medium well.

That won't be a problem, Roy. That's why I'm here.

Also, I wouldn't mind seeing Haas go over to Raw to start up a summer long feud with Shelton over the IC title. Hopefully some heated matchups for the ol' IC will help give it a little more prestige. Then the winner of that feud or person who is hopefully elevated the most can graduate to a natural feud with Kurt Angle.

You'll probrably be able to tell how prestigious the pick is by how much they push the pick tonight. If you don't hardly hear about the pick up until they are revealed, it will be a lower-mid carder.

That reads hilarious!! It's fake as hell, but damn funny.

Latest rumors from ESPN Insider. Paging Vitamin X and Spicy McHaggis.... It's crunch time. Just eight days until the NBA draft and everything still is in utter commotion. Picks two through seven are for sale. Workouts are going full steam. The deadline for underclassmen to withdraw from the draft is Tuesday. Among the top players, it sounds like the following early-entry guys are staying in the draft: Jarrett Jack, Andrew Bynum, Yaroslav Korolev, Ersan Ilyasova, Roko Ukic, Johan Petro, Louis Williams, C.J. Miles, Dwayne Jones, Von Wafer, Carl Krauser, Anthony Roberson, Drago Pasalic and Deji Akindele. Meanwhile, it sounds like these early-entry guys are withdrawing: Tiago Splitter, Nemanja Aleksandrov, Marko Tomas, Peja Samardziski, Dee Brown, Kevin Pittsnogle, Brandon Bowman, Torin Francis, James White, Olu Famitimi, Juan Jose Barea, Ivan Chiriaev, Paulius Jankunas, Miguel Marriaga, Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Dusan Sakota. Among those still on the fence: Ike Diogu, Randolph Morris, Martynas Andriuskevicius, Rudy Fernandez, Mile Ilic, Kosta Perovic, Marko Lekic, Marcin Gortat, Linas Kleiza, Eric Williams, Steven Smith, Brandon Rush and Amir Johnson. Check back with Insider Tuesday for a full breakdown of who's in and who's out of the 2005 NBA draft. And on Wednesday, look for our latest mock draft. Here's what's going on around the rest of the league: Blazers heating up the phone lines? Bobcats GM Bernie Bickerstaff has called the Blazers' No. 3 pick the key pick in the draft. Why? Because the Blazers are more than willing to trade it and a number of teams, including the Lakers, Bobcats and Jazz, are willing to offer a lot to get their hands on it. With Phil Jackson now running the show in Los Angeles, you can expect the Lakers to be pretty active over the next few weeks, retooling the team to Jackson's liking. That's led to whispers that the Lakers are talking to the Blazers about a deal that would give them the No. 3 pick in the draft and Ruben Patterson for Caron Butler, Chucky Atkins and the No. 10. There's also talk that the Lakers have been trying to resurrect talks with the Jazz for Carlos Boozer. If the Lakers do move up in the draft, who are they targeting? For months GM Mitch Kupchak has been hot on the trail of high school phenom Gerald Green. Green worked out for the Lakers and Jackson on Thursday. The workout raised more than a few eyebrows because Green isn't expected to slip past the Raptors (who are also very high on him) at No. 7. Meanwhile, Green and the Blazers continue to fight over his refusal to work out for the team in a group setting. Factor in that Portland just brought in another high school two-guard, Martell Webster, for a workout, and the dots are there, ready for someone to connect. Webster wouldn't be drafted as high as No. 3, but he would be draftable as the 10th overall pick. However, don't hold your breath just yet, Laker fans. This is just one of a number of different trade scenarios the Blazers apparently are working on. The ideal trade is to convince the Bobcats to swap Nos. 5 and 13 for No. 3 – a deal that GM Bernie Bickerstaff admits is on the table but says he isn't interested in. The Blazers are also talking to the Jazz about a deal that would swap No. 3 for the No. 6 and No. 27 picks. That deal could also include some players. Sources claim that Gordan Giricek and Kirk Snyder could be sent to Portland with Ruben Patterson and the draft rights to Russian 2-guard Sergei Monia headed back to the Jazz. The Jazz, who desperately need a point guard, would select Chris Paul or Deron Williams with the No. 3 pick. If the Lakers stay at No. 10, folks in the camp of high school big man Andrew Bynum are suggesting, pretty loudly, that the Lakers are leaning toward drafting him. Bucks work out Williams Bucks GM Larry Harris continues to assert that he still hasn't decided whether the Bucks will select Andrew Bogut or Marvin Williams with the No. 1 pick. While most in the league have assumed the Bucks will eventually choose Bogut over Williams, Harris gave his first real hint Sunday that Williams is truly in the running for the pick. Williams worked out with the Bucks on Sunday, and Harris and head coach Terry Porter came away raving about his post skills. "Early on, I see him more as a power forward and a guy who can play some three [small forward] as well," Harris told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after the workout. "His post-up game is a lot further along than people have seen. "Eventually, he's going to grow some more, so he's going to get bigger. He has the bulk to him to play the four, and it's going to be a very easy transition for him. He's definitely strong and solid in the post." Those statements are significant because on lottery night, when the Bucks got the top pick, Harris told Insider that what his team really needs is a power forward. Joe Smith plays the bulk of Milwaukee's minutes at power forward, with mixed results. Desmond Mason plays small forward, and a combination of Dan Gadzuric and Zaza Pachulia plays center. It's been assumed that Bogut is the pick because he's a big upgrade over Gadzuric and Pachulia in the middle, while Williams would duplicate a position played well by Mason. However, if the Bucks really believe that he'll be a power forward, Williams might have a much better chance at being the No. 1 pick than people are giving him. Bogut is scheduled to work out for the Bucks today. Magic focusing on May In Insider's previous two mock drafts, we've had the Magic taking Webster with the 11th pick in the draft. Expect that to change when we release our third mock draft Wednesday. Sources in Orlando told Insider this past weekend that if North Carolina power forward Sean May is on the board when the Magic draft, they're leaning strongly toward taking him. Why would the Magic draft May when they took Dwight Howard at the same position last year? "I think they're such different players that you play them together on the front line," the Magic source told Insider. "Howard has the size, athleticism and defense and May has the bulk and skills scoring in the low post. [Tony] Battie and [[Kelvin] Cato are role players. I think those two guys would fit great together." We'll see. This is the time of year when some NBA teams start to throw out misleading information to mess with other teams drafting below them. It could be a smokescreen to convince a team drafting a few picks behind the Magic to give up something in a trade to get May. Vazquez working out on Sunday Spanish stud Fran Vazquez is coming to New York on Friday and has scheduled a general NBA workout on Sunday and an NBA physical on Monday. Vazquez is widely regarded as the top international player in the draft and a likely top-10 pick. His team recently was ousted from the playoffs, where Vazquez put up solid numbers of 12.1 ppg and 7.8 rpg. Vazquez was scheduled to come over and do a handful of individual workouts with the Hornets, Jazz, Raptors and Bobcats; however, he's opted instead to do just one group workout. That news didn't please everyone. According to one team that was scheduled to work him out, the news isn't good. "He was seriously in the mix," the GM told Insider. "I'm not sure that we'd still consider him without a private workout." Marc Cornstein, Vazquez's agent, defends the decision. "He had a tremendous year in Spain," Cornstein told Insider. "Virtually every team in the league has scouted him extensively. I don't know how big of an issue it really is." Draft Cards • Croatian point guard Roko Ukic must have made quite an impression at the Reebok Eurocamp. After dominating in competition there, Ukic flew to the United States and worked out for the Raptors on Friday and the Celtics on Saturday. Raptors GM Rob Babcock and Celtics vice president Danny Ainge were both in Treviso at the camp and were impressed. They'll seriously consider him with the 16th and 18th picks, respectively. • Slovenian big man Uros Slokar has surprised a number of teams with strong workouts. Sources with the Pistons, Clippers and Sonics all claim that he was impressive when they had him in. "The report that we had on him from Europe was that he was a little on the soft side," one scout told Insider. "He actually looks much tougher than we expected. He could be an interesting second-round pick for someone." Slokar has been a well-regarded prospect for years but never developed for Benetton. This year, with Andrea Bargnani taking his playing time, Slokar was loaned to a smaller team in Italy and began to put up impressive numbers. • Arizona's Channing Frye refused to work out with the Charlotte Bobcats, fueling the fire that the Knicks have given him a promise at No. 8. • There are a couple of great workouts scheduled on Monday to keep an eye on: The Bobcats have Deron Williams, Rashad McCants, Raymond Felton, Julius Hodge and Monta Ellis coming in. Look for Williams to work out individually while the other four all go at it. Williams has been refusing to work out against anyone other than Chris Paul. The Nets also have a sweet big man workout planned with Hakim Warrick, Charlie Villanueva and Wayne Simien all scheduled. Whoever performs well there could be the No. 15 selection in the draft. Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

The puro head in me says Jumbo Tsuruta. That guy could just flat out work. For North America, I'd say Owen Hart. I really miss that guy. Jumbo and Owen were about as natural to the craft of pro wrestling that you will ever find in your lives.