Dangerous A

My turning my back on the angle is my own personal protest towards the entire Hassan debacle. I never said "Smarks, join me and do what I am doing." I choose not to spew off "USA" chants or join in. Again, that's just me. I never said I am going to change the way this is being handled. Another thing is since I don't have a media outlet to vent my displeasure through, I do it here in these forums while at the same time trying to stimulate some convo. Until a mod says I am overstepping my boundaries, I will continue to do so. Am I over reacting over 3 little words Austin said? Sure, but it's the way I feel and I am voicing my opinion on how things went down monday. I love how I am supposed to just take what WWE gives me and shove it down my throat with a spoonful of sugar and just say" Thanks WWE. Thank you very much. Can I please have more!" Again, I didn't have a problem with most of the segment, just the racist name calling part that slipped by. I wonder if this is more favoritism towards Austin. I mean, there'd be more people calling for blood if HBK or HHH were the ones calling Hassan and Daivari "sandpeople". And RRR, what you proposed is very interesting and in a perfect world, I think it could really work. However, with WWE creative at the helm, well, these guys can't handle angles handed to them on a silver platter (Invasion, Puder deal, etc) so I think they would botch this as well. Oh by the way, I bought my tickets before monday's show. Had this occured before monday, I might have considered not going. Since I already shelled out the money, I'll go. However, anything Hassan related will either get my back or me sitting in my seat in silence.

One of the things that helped with ECW in regards to it having that really intense connection with it's fans was the smaller venues. Fans were much closer to the action and the setting is way more intimate in a building that holds max 2,000. WCW in it's prime 95-98 were doing around 5,000-10,000 for regular arena attendance and well over 30,000 for some of their big Georgia Dome shows. ECW's ultraviolence, while a huge selling point, was also a reason they couldn't go mainstream. Advertisers aren't too fond of wrestling in the first place, so a hyper violent promotion that also advocated violence against women 10 times worse than WWE ever could isn't likely to get much needed money to stay alive in a marketplace where it's competition had millions to burn. I wonder how much the fanbase may have hurt ECW in terms of revenue streams. ECW fanbase is hugely internet based and a lot of them aren't cool with paying for shit. How could ECW make money from video sales when most of their fans are busy bootlegging the stuff? Why pay for the PPV when you can black box it. I'm not saying that was all of the ECW fans, but the question is was there a large enough percentage of them that it hurt the company in terms of much needed revenue? Sure they attended shows live and bought T-Shirts, but the revenue from that wasn't enough to compete with WWE and WCW.

Looks like the series is getting more competitive with the Pistons win, although the games are not.

Since you are not counting workrate, count Sean O'Haire as one of the most athletic. (not that I liked him, but he had a ton of athleticism)

From a historical point of view, this show is important. However, it cannot touch WMX7 in terms of overall entertainment and the in ring work. It's good as a stand alone show and more entertaining than most of the ppv's WWE has put on the last 5 years. I liked ONS, but I wouldn't even say it was better than WM21 when I look at the show from an overall POV.

I'd really like to see the Kings package Peja and whoever else (Bibby and Miller are the only untradeables IMO) to Boston for Paul Pierce. I figure with Bibby and Pierce in the backcourt along with Miller in the middle, we can find some good work around pieces and make a decent run.

I agree that VX is a level headed Laker fan (along with Spicy McHaggis). I just had to straighten out the bit about the Kings. I just figure it's only fair to write us off when we actually fall off. We've stumbled a bit from being an elite Western Conf. powerhouse to just a Western playoff team, but until we start playing losing basketball, I figure we're not that bad.

With the Kings demise? When was this? If you mean our playoff exit, yes we fell hard to a good Sonics team. However, our team went through many changes this year and still secured a 6th seed in the West. Now, we didn't have homecourt in the playoffs unlike previous years, but until we actually fail to make the playoffs, like your ball club, I find it hard to write us off just because of some off season moves or potential of other ball clubs i.e. Golden State. Remember, potential still means you haven't done shit yet.

That was not going to happen. First off, the Knicks personnel is just as bad, if not worse than the Lakers. Add to that Phil and Isiah aren't going to see eye to eye and today is the result. All those rumors of Phil going to coach in Cleveland, New York, Sacto(?) were just posturing to get the Lakers to pony up more cash and get a sweeter deal.

Which to me is the disappointing part of the whole thing. I remember when Austin was first feuding with NOD, and mainly Rock, he cut a promo saying "it's not a black thing, it's not a white thing, it's a me-whippin-your-ass thing". That is the mentality I had always held the Austin character to. It didn't matter what race, color, or creed (reference Jake) you were, Austin didn't like you and he'd whip your ass when he felt like it. If you cut out the sandpeople blast, the rest of the interaction is fine. It's just really sickening that racist namecalling had to come into play. Nice to see Austin still in character from Longest Yard, eh?

LOL @ Luc Longley. Back to the draft pick, the Lakers would be much better off with Deron Williams or Chris Paul, but neither are so great that they should trade down for the pick. I'm not sure of the Lakers salary cap situation precisely, but know it isn't good because of Kobe's contract as well as Odom and Grant's final year of his contract. Again, I propose you dump either Odom or Butler and someone like Slava to the Kings for Peja. (just saying this because I'm not a big Peja fan)

While I'm not a Laker fan, from draft scouting reports I've read, Felton would actually be potentially better than May. Felton is very long and athletic and while he does appear out of control at times, he's the fastest player from endline to endline in this draft. May is undersized and needs to drop the babyfat. He's also not very athletic and won't be able to push around in the paint in the NBA like he did in college. The Triangle isn't going to matter much with the current personnel. They'll still look to run first and then fall back into the triangle when the break isn't there. Phil may have Kobe be the player that recieves the trigger or deployment pass in the post a la MJ during the 96-98 Bulls run. The Triangle is an offense where you don't need a traditional point guard to penetrate to get guys looks, it's an offense where all the players on the floor need to know what spots to take and what pass to make dependent on what the defense does.

Coming from a Laker fan, Phil Jackson will NOT get them out of the first round, unless a miracle happens. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> My post wasn't really directed towards TSM Laker fanboys. TSM Laker fanboys are actually pretty smart and recognize the team needs another impact player or two before "championship" talk gets serious. I happen to know a lot of Laker fans who are as bad as Raider fans in that every year (even before Phil took over in 2000) was going to be a championship year, no matter who was on the team.

A question I have is whether Austin's comment was scripted or not. It really shouldn't matter since Austin isn't going to be punished whether it was or not, but obviously Austin had no problem saying it because if it was scripted and Austin didn't like it, he has enough pull he could have it changed or not say it. Just another thing Austin gets clear of. I know he has been scrutinized here by a few, but if this were HHH saying this or a person universally loathed by the IWC, there'd be people calling for blood. I guess I can add this to Austin also walking out of the promotion when he didn't get what he wanted, twice and sprinkle in some woman beating and we have ourselves, well, Steve Austin. This just tarnishes Austin more in my eyes. It's just like Flair tarnishing his legacy staying around being HHH's yes man and not hanging it up. Austin sticks around and goes over talent without even wrestling anymore.

It would definitely hurt comic/hero flicks that aren't estabished from getting off the ground (think Ghost Rider). However, sho nuff hits like Spiderman and Batman (at least I think it'll be great) should have no problem getting green lit.

I also think this says something about the "bubble" the writers and Vince live in. They never see real scrutiny or consequences for a lot of what they do, so they keep on trucking. When someone does call Vince out for what he does, he turns bully a la his interview with Costas a couple of years ago and his Real Sports interview where he knocked Armen Ketyeian's questions out of his hands.

From the writing ideas I've read from RRR, he doesn't use a bunch of cheap, race-baiting tactics to get things over. Sad part is, Hassan still isn't over, it's the racism part that is over. Once Hassan starts wrestling, the crowd goes quiet although that is more a commentary on how bad Hassan is in the ring.

As a Kings fan, I'm for dropping Peja as well. I think he's run his course here in Sac. If the Lakers were to offer Odom (as was rumored around the trade deadline) I'd do it now, even with Odom having 2 drug strikes. Hell, I'd even consider Butler and another player for Peja. This is all moot because the Kings and Lakers aren't going to ever pull trades with each other. I wouldn't give up on Mobley just yet, but I wouldn't break the bank on him either. The idea of getting a guy like Desmond Mason is one I like. I also hope Matt Barnes does come back. He's a playmaker who is long, and does the little things to make an impact. The Kings are ok in that they have and All Star caliber point guard (Bibby) and Center (Miller). However, those 2 players are not athletic, which are their weaknesses. I'd fill positions 2, 3, and 4 with athleticism.(this is where a guy like Mason and to an extent, Mobley make a difference) Small forwards and Shooting guards are easier to come by than the other positions. I'd also let Bobby Jackson go as well. He's a bit old now, injury prone, and not worth the risk. Then again, all this talk may go by the wayside if they lockout.

MikeJordan23, sorry to be a stickler for details, but your headline should read "accepts" Laker job, not "excepts". :: awaits Laker fanboys preseason declarations about now becoming a "championship team" ::

Che is a very interesting person in history. He is championed by a lot on the far left because he was martyred. He died trying to bring about Revolution. Also, there are accounts that he didn't beg for his life or anything and supposedly "went out like a man". Che is viewed as a guy willing to die for his principals. The man also killed or ordered the execution of anyone who was even remotely viewed as a threat to the Revolution. He is more of an icon to the militant left as opposed to the peace loving left. The man was also very much in favor of nuking the U.S. so that it would be easier to help establish a Communist government there. While I see how he is appealing and charismatic, he just doesn't do it for me. The guy was for killing people who had a difference of opinion and he actually went through and killed people. I have a problem with that. I don't have to see eye to eye with anyone, but it doesn't give me the right to murder them because they disagree. That goes for any and all people. I see how people who are into him appreciate his passion for his cause and all, I just choose not to celebrate him.

I wonder if Jacko will celebrate tonight with a sleepover?

With Heyman stating repeatedly that this is not a restart of the ECW brand, I started thinking about the One Night Stand title. *braces for Captain Obvious namecalling* I think with the WWE involvement, the ppv title means something different. One Night Stand, at first, I think was meant as a double entendre in regards to the excitement of a sexual One Night Stand. One Night Stand also was an appropriate title because so far as we know, this is a one shot deal. With WWE involvement now, the title One Night Stand could be meant to mean ECW's One Night Stand AGAINST the WWE. To stick up for ECW's principals and what have you. I think that is the theme. While I think it's proposterous to think they will relaunch the brand, I could see them forming a faction of some sorts and running with an angle on one or both main WWE shows. Thoughts? Insults?

I was living in Sac Town when Brotha Lynch Hung blew up. His second album, "Season of the Siccness" is flat out disturbing. For those of you not in the know, Brotha Lynch Hung's claim to local fame is he's a baby killing, atheistic cannibal. If you read that, he almost sounds like a death metal gimmick. Then you start hearing his lyrics. Just some really, really troubling stuff is all I'll say.

Excellent promotional interview by Heyman. When it comes to crunch time promotional work, Heyman really comes through. Remember his killer promo right before Survivor Series 2001? (Final Alliance v. WWF matches)

Sorry to oppose, but even if the Lakers would've made the playoffs, they would not have made it to the Finals. I could see them pulling a first round upset depending on where they seeded, but no way they beat SA, Phoenix, or Dallas in a 7 game series this year. To answer KNK, I think a lot of it has to do with the public perceptions of the sports you referenced. Baseball is America's "past time" and Football is just so damn popular, it gets a pass for just about any and all infractions. Basketball doesn't get that pass. While Basketball's officiating isn't perfect, no sport's is.