Steve J. Rogers

Here is one that I never knew how it got started, WTF was the deal with Savage not knowing who Diamond Dallas Page was during their feud in the early days of Savage in the nWo? Did Savage really butcher Page's name in a promo or something and they decided to make it an angle Or was it just another "Heel doesn't have a clue about non-main eventers" situation Steve

Basically "Loser Leaves Town," "Loser never seen on TV" ect. I'm thinking its Ric Flair and the WWF from loosing the "Loser Leaves Town" match against Perfect to his buying the company in 2001. Of course when Mr. Perfect returned for a brief nostaliga run early in 2002 it was nevr brought up (or even their history in WCW) So is that the longest a wrestler actually went keeping his (or her as the case might be) promise before breaking it? Steve

Speaking of Sullivan, he lost a Loser Leaves WCW to Benoit in 97ish and shows up without explaination with the new Varsity Club after Benoit jumps to the WWF in 2000! Steve

There was a funny error on Mike & Mike ESPN Radio show the other day, not funny in terms of what was said (but it speaks to a greater issue I have with national sports radio hosts) but who actually said it. Mel Kiper Jr was on Mike & Mike In The Morning on Thursday previewing Saturday's USC-Notre Dame game and Mel wondered if there was ever a game featuring 4 possible Heisman Trophy finalists and he honestly could not come up with one. This is Mel Kiper Jr. A GURU when it comes to major college football. Granted he subscribes to Mel Allen's (or maybe it was Red Barber) theory on calling horse racing where you block out everything about past racing so you can concentrate on the race at hand (except of course horses are generally forgoten by the masses after the race usually, here Mel is talking about something that is followed greatly and passionatly by millions all over the USA, I'd think remembering past events is key to talking about the sport) but how in the BLUIEST OF HELLS did he forget that all FOUR of the 2004 top canidates played in the BCS Championship game IN JANUARY! What I mean in terms of the greater issue of Mel's gaffe is that ESPN's national hosts (and this is a TV thing as well) have a thing where they seem to want to be the first to anoit something as the best ever, or the most exciting ever, ect. Almost like they won't let history do the judging, they want to be right there saying that what we are witnessing is the absoulte best. Perfect example, every September now Mike Greenberg keeps saying that he can't remember a more exciting pennant race, or that the current races are among the most exciting in recent memory. What I'd love to hear is an actual breakdown of what these hosts do think is the top 5 or so of whatever they are being so hyperbolic about when it comes to the current situation, but that would mean that hosts would have to admit that something DID HAPPEN BEFORE LAST MONTH! Its getting to the point where these commentators are getting pro-wrestling annoucer bad with hyperbole, and at least in pro-wrestling you can use the excuse that the announcer is trying to promote the upcoming PPV, or he wants you to buy the replay or the DVD when it comes out. Sure its way too over the top most of the time (Tony S of WCW was the biggest culprit with his "...in the history of our sport!" lines that seemed to border on self parody by the end) but at least it has a legit purpose These commentors on radio and TV, aren't really doing that, or at least thats not really their job description. Steve

Kiper considers himself a causal baseball fan, Kiper is a general sports host on a national sports radio network. That point there was, he should have at least said "I don't know, Larsen?" as any one with passing knowlege of sports history, or at least one working in the business should know. You are not in the business (if you are then I apologize) and you seem very football orientated so if you were, then there is no reason why you would be having a rational discussion of baseball from a historical perspective. Look, the argument isn't "They shouldn't be qualified to talk about other sports" The point is their tendancy to overhype the here and now without real evidence that what they are overhyping does in fact belong in the discussion of top, whatever they are calling one of the best ever. Just happens that Kiper made a gaffe here with something that happened back in Jan, and its just a gaffe, I mean its hard to remember something that happened last week. The point was more the discussion of how there were 4 potential Heisman canidates out there in South Bend Saturday and the fact that in Kiper's opinion it must be one of the greatest assemblages of talent in recent memory. The problem is more with the overhyping of the game, of the moment rather than just letting it happen. "USC undefeated and #1, ND having a great year, hey we have several possible Heisman canidates on both sides as well, NBC 3:00, this should be a classic" THATS how its done, no hyperbole, no felettos to any of the players, just some soild anaylsis with some opinions about how you think the game is going to go Steve

There is no "postseason" in college football, the Bowl counts towards the official total record of the regular season Mel Kiper also does a regular sports talk show in Baltimore and on ESPN Game Day on weekends. Probably just to justify his most likely hefty salary for what would be a couple of weeks worth of work in and around the NFL draft Another example of Mel having no use for sports history (difference between use and knowledge) is that when asked when was the first time a Yankee ever pitched a perfect game at Yankee Stadium he simply said "I don't know, can't answer that" Even if you don't have a clue you should still offer up Don Larsen in the 1956 WS as a GUESS! A simple "I don't know, Larsen?" would have sufficed as it was one of the most famous, and to this day most talked about moments in baseball history Unbelieveable, his cohost that day couldn't belive it as well. Steve

My point is, they really aren't selling programing, so there is no real need to go "Boy, I don't remeber the last time 4 possible Heisman canidates were on the same field" since the game is on NBC I see your point if all they (talking just ESPN now) were hyping were soley seen on ESPN and/or ABC, but the events (or athletes themselves in come cases) aren't My point is, they seem to be kneejerk historians rather than developing an actual list and say "Boy, this race has to rank up there all time. Not quite 78 Yankees/Red Sox or 93 Braves/Giants, but it has to be in a top ten at least" The job is as an analysist or a commentator. There is no real need for hyperbole in these cases

Doesn't count since he I'm talking about wrestling again in the same promotion

Here's the sad thing, in reality the WWE/Vince and Linda would very well be within their rights to terminate JR based on constant berading of the McMahon family. Sure freedom speech/expression and all, but still And since when did Shane turn heel again? Last time I checked Shane was a face, Steph turned heel with her actions on Monday. Granted when Austin stunned a face Stacy Keibler JR was all "Well thats Austin for ya" If the comments are real I'm surprised no one mentioned the whole "guilt by association" thing as not being reason enough to terminate an announcer I would be impressed if Linda/Vince/WWE produced the laundry list of evidence that JR is so blantly anti-McMahon and over the top pro-Austin as justification for the "firing" in real life, I'd think THEYD win in the court of public opinion. Anxiously awaiting, and thats in NOT AT ALL, how JR will "return" to the booth Steve

Baltimore at Detroit (1.5) Chicago at Cleveland (3.5) Miami at Buffalo (2.5) New England at Atlanta (2.5) New Orleans at Green Bay (2.5) Seattle at St. Louis (3.5) (3.5) Tampa Bay at N.Y. Jets Tennessee at Houston (2.5) (14.5) Indianapolis at San Francisco (2.5) Carolina at Arizona (3.5) Philadelphia at Dallas Washington at Denver (6.5) Cincinnati at Jacksonville (2.5) Pittsburgh at San Diego (3.5)

You know, when you think about it, Professional wrestlers, even those currently gainfully employed by a major promotion, probably have amongst the least amout of equity built up to be jerks to the public. Them, Reality TV stars, Porn Stars, Professional Soccer players, WNBA players, ect Now, I'll buy a wrestler being a jerk because they are trying to "keep up apperances" in terms of staying in kayfabe 24/7 but come on. Put it this way, walk up to David Schwimmer do you expect him to be Ross? Walk up to Larry Hagman, do you expect him to be JR Ewing? You'd think wrestlers would be tired of "being a persona" and go to normal person outside of the ring. I mean thats what Iron Sheik and Hacksaw Jim Duggan did! Steve

The big tag match with the Hart family squashing Jerry Lawler and his "Knights" had Shawn Michaels substituting for The King as he had some legal issues Soooooooooooo was there given a straight kayfabe reason as to why HBK was inserted into the match? I don't think the HBK-Bulldog-Hart angle had started yet and the only "credible" reason I can think of is Shawn wanting to avenge his loss to Bret the year before one-on-one for the Heavyweight belt Speaking of which, was there any storyline to that match or did the then IC champ Shawn just win a Number One Contenders match or something for a "quick and easy" PPV title match? Steve

Tejada was mentioned in Canseco's book. I don't remeber what he was implicated for, wheither it was flat out doing it or just "interested in learning more about steroids" And yes they were briefly teammates during Canseco's final run in Oakland in the 1997 season as Tejada was a late season callup that year So there is allready implications with Tejada long before Ratty "fingered him" Steve

Atlanta at Buffalo 2.5 3.5 Carolina at Miami 2.5 Cincinnati at Chicago Cleveland at Indianapolis 13.5 Jacksonville at N.Y. Jets 2.5 New Orleans at Minnesota 4.5 Oakland at Philadelphia 8.5 3.5 Tampa Bay at Green Bay Tennessee at St. Louis 6.5 Arizona at Seattle 6.5 6.5 Dallas at San Francisco New England at Pittsburgh 3.5 N.Y. Giants at San Diego 5.5 Kansas City at Denver 2.5

BTW, did they ever get far in the expansion of the themed restaurants? In terms of actually getting locals planned and such? Well anyway, maybe this should be moved to General/Old School but since it hasn't been THAT long since The World closed its doors. Well in NYC The Hard Rock Cafe closed up shop on 57th street and is now officially in Times Square. It just opened couple of weeks back but should start having events and such starting in September Was there last weekend, obviously no mention of the former tennants, but interesting factoid about a long ago tennant, the Paramount Theatre, that sort of makes the Hard Rock being there seem appropriate, The Beatles played there one night in 1964, in attendance a man who would meet them backstage later that night, a moment that changed the course of pop-music history in this country. That man, Robert Zimmerman, aka Bob Dylan Steve

Was 2-1 last week (8 wins overall) By the way, the line I used, the league where they play...for pay I got from Mike Francessa of WFAN, NYC radio Anyone know if anyone before Mike ever used that phrase, maybe a Jimmy The Greek Snyder (who Mike was good friends with at CBS) or a Howard Cosell? Steve

You know, since the start of the "Attitude Era" the WWF/WWE has treated all its venues pretty much the same. Except for whatever cheap pops/heat a wrestler is trying to garner with what team gear he/she wears or cuts a promo about, or if the person announced is from that city/state/country the programs are really generic looking. With the exception of MSG of course which is still referred as the "Home" Wouldn't be surprised if they stopped referring to arenas as "homes" or "home away from home" if they had more shows in Boston/LA/ect And the only other way locals get mentioned (except on top when they are saying where the broadcast is coming from or the aforementioned heat/pop attempts) is in distance to Stamford, CT in Boston, NYC, Providence and Hartford Steve

Whats even more pathetic is how American Express built this whole campaign called "Where's Andy's Mojo Now" While the ads are still running (and poping up on the Net) its funny how the real Andy apparantly did lose his "Mojo" BWHAHAHA MWHAHAHA HAHAHAHA (does Dr. Evil pinky to lips thing)

I want to say the MSG Raw where he got stunnered for the first time in the Fall of 1997 Or that may have been the first bump McMahon took as on-screen owner because now I think I remeber during Diesel's heel run he took shots at "McMahon" in terms of not fitting his image of what a champion should be When did the whole Moonson as commish and the last apperance of Tunney happen? Maybe thats when McMahon revealed himself. You know, you'd think this would have been some mega event moment in kayfabe world, (that the WWF was an owned promotion rather than the gimmicked "league" that it tried to pass itself off as) but then again I think national expousure with the steriod trials and various mainstream mentions about the McMahon heritage with the Fed that it really was one of the "worse keept secrets" in wrestling history Steve

I guess since it was the first UK PPV in the "post Hogan" era they wanted A) to drum upn support and treat it like a normal PPV and B) Be able to get the most out of eventual VHS release of the PPV so it got a good amount of run as a "serious PPV" rather than what the UK PPVs eventually became Steve

Been on DirecTV since the beginning BTW whats the latest on YES (Yankee Entertainment and Sports Network, local sports network with an obvious Yankee bias) and Dish, during the whole mess with Cablevision 4 years ago that was one of the under-reported stories Last I heard from the media that it had to do with either DirecTV or Dish about to buy the other or something or other, and last I heard from a Dish Cold-Call Sales rep the other day was that "negotiations were still ongoing" Uh, still ongoing for 4 years?

Uh, last time I checked the Dixie Chicks are still alive and performing Ditto Bruce Springsteen and his troupe of Rockers for Kerry from last fall Unless you mean that gansta rappers have a huge ultra-right wing conservative sect that will be gunning for him, I highly doubt Kanye West's life is in danger from retaliation based on his comments

There are people still on 8-tracks There are probably still people on vynil! Then again, they are still making those records, 8-tracks and cassettes I believe are no longer in print Steve

Beltran catches the final out and the Mets have won the ball game 6-4. We'll be back with the "Happy Recap" in just a few moments... Steve

Easily one the worse is Triple H's "The Game" as a face, which is funny because alot of buzz on the net through his 2000 run was "turn him face" and they had plenty of opportunities to do so but Hunter actually turned them down (he knew the character was a better heel) I'll give them credit for trying in 2002, but "The Game" just doesn't come off as smoothly as other gimmicks can (Stone Cold, Rock, Undertaker, ect) in the versatility department "The Game" is a whiner, complainer, guy that has it all but still has massive chips on his shoulder, plus way to old to be this much of a "its MY TIME NOW DAMN IT!" guy, hence it doesn't come off well as a guy fans should be cheering Good tweener though to be fair Steve