Big Hits, Favre vs. Roethlisberger, Mickie in TNA, Horror Movie Power Rankings, The Gay agenda, and more!

These four things I know are true…

- The NFL reacting to huge hits is a double-edged sword.

- There is no better moment in baseball than seeing the New York Yankees fail in the postseason.

- It’s okay to be gay. But, still not okay to be poor, dumb, ugly or many other things according to Hollywood and the media’s most recent agenda.

- And, I’m Aaron Goins. All my thoughts on these topics and so much more (including the Top 10 Horror Movies of the 2000s)… in The Highlight Reel!

NEWS and NOTES
**The National Football League is America’s game. As much as baseball fans love to say that baseball is still America’s pastime, the reality is that football is America’s pastime. Yet, in the last edition of The Highlight Reel, I called for the demise of the NFL’s place on top of the American sports pyramid within the next three years because of the possibility of an 18-game regular season. Little did I know that the NFL may have accelerated their own demise as King of the Mountain with an overreaction to one weekend of hard hits.


During week six of the 2010 season, at least four major hits occurred that left players injured. Among the hits, Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather left Ravens’ tight end Todd Heap laying in a literal heap after a blatant helmet-to-helmet shot that caused Heap to suffer a stinger. Also, in the above image, Pittsburgh Steelers’ linebacker James Harrison laid out Browns’ receiver Mohamed Massaquoi with a helmet-to-helmet shot. That was one of two hits by Harrison that blatantly injured Browns’ players.

After week six, the NFL announced that it was cracking down on hard hits immediately. Harrison, Meriweather, and Atlanta Falcons’ cornerback Dunta Robinson were fined $75,000 and $50,000 each respectively for their hits during week six. Plus, the league informed players that they would be subject for suspension if these hits were to continue. While it can be said that the league is overreacting, the reality is that the league is finally enforcing a rule that has been in the books for years. Helmet-to-helmet contact is not allowed by the NFL rule book and has not been allowed for years. The basic art of proper tackling teaches players how to tackle without leading into the tackle with the helmet. So, you’d think that the league finally cracking down on these unnecessarily violent hits would be applauded, right? Wrong!

The public seems to be 50/50 regarding this topic. Some people are outraged and believe the NFL is literally turning into powder-puff football before their eyes. Others are saying that it is about time the league cracks down on the violence of the game. Personally, I’m torn. Yes, these hits are too violent and need to be cracked down on. But, how do you determine what hit is worthy of suspension and what is an okay play? It is quite the conundrum that the National Football League is going to have to deal with and deal with quickly. However, regardless of what the NFL does to protect the players, the precedent has been set that offensive players are to be protected above all others. There is the Tom Brady Rule that protects quarterbacks from the waist down among other rules that are designed to protect offensive players (especially the quarterback). This overreaction to one weekend of hard hits is only adding to that unpopular notion. The majority of fans hate that notion and they now are hating the hypocrisy from the NFL. The league has made its name on big hits, sells DVDs dedicated strictly to high-impact hits, and has never had an issue before now. Frankly, I believe this is an issue that nobody can win. If the league works to protect players from violent and life-shortening impacts, the fans will continue turning against the game for appearing weak. Yet, if the league allows these type of hits to continue going unpunished, the life-force of the game will be shortened as players will be unable to play lengthy careers and parents will urge their children to play other sports instead of football. Ultimately, there is no real winner in this issue because there is no right answer.

**Two of the NFL’s most popular players have had their off-the-field activities become hot button topics recently. What angers me is that it seems as though most sports fans can not tell the difference between the two stories. Ben Roethlisberger and Brett Favre are both currently involved in sex scandals. However, Pittsburgh Steelers’ fans and members of the “I Hate Brett Favre” fan club appear to be so unintelligent that they can not tell the difference between rape and adultery.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused of rape over the summer. It was the second consecutive off season in which Roethlisberger was accused of rape. He wasn’t accused of adultery like Brett Favre or Tiger Woods. He was accused for a second time of rape; forced and unwanted sexual activity. This was not the first time either I stress. If he has this happen only once and there were no charges, you tend to believe he was innocent. But twice? Come on, don't be naïve.

Meanwhile, Brett Favre's deal is simply a case of adultery. However, it is different from Tiger Woods’ much-maligned saga in many ways. Within the first 48-72 hours of the story breaking, Tiger Woods had over 10 mistresses come forward. Brett Favre has had one person come out: Jenn Sterger, a former New York Jets employee. Unlike Woods’ mistresses however, Sterger did not come out willingly. This story came out when Favre and the Minnesota Vikings were about to play the New York Jets. Sterger didn’t break the story; Favre’s former team did. This adulterous relationship, which is bad, was used as a distraction thrown out by the bitter Jets management that saw Brett fail in New York before succeeding the next year in Minnesota.

Brett Favre didn’t do a good thing by committing adultery. However, comparing Brett Favre to Tiger Woods is a reach. Comparing Brett Favre to Ben Roethlisberger is not ever a reach; it is a stretch by leaps and bounds. Comparing those two men’s sex scandals would be like comparing apples and the Grand Canyon. They are nowhere near being in the same league of discussion. I just wish most sports fans were smart enough to understand that.

**As speculated in the last edition of The Highlight Reel, Mickie James has debuted in TNA Wrestling. Mickie debuted with a promo on the live edition of Impact on October 7th and refereed the Knockouts Championship match at Bound For Glory (Tara defeated then-champ Angelina Love, Madison Rayne, and Velvet Sky). Mickie had her in-ring debuts on Xplosion and Impact recently with successful victories against Sarita while wearing new ring attire that is absolutely amazing.


If that girl is fat, call me a chubby chaser. Mickie James in TNA is going to continue to show the wrestling world what WWE had and lost because of arrogance. Mickie James is the best female wrestler in the world and one of the sexiest women to ever grace the squared circle. “Piggy James” was one of the stupidest, most offensive, worst examples of McMahon-led pettiness I’ve ever seen in wrestling history. I’m glad that TNA signed Mickie James and have given her a place to show the world (and WWE) that she’s the best and not going to let pettiness hold her down.

**Matt Hardy finally got what he wanted on October 15th when he was released from World Wrestling Entertainment. Over the last month, Matt Hardy has strived to be fired from WWE after finally growing tired of his booking and treatment from the powers-that-be in the company. Taking his drive to Twitter, Matt Hardy finally ticked off the company enough to where they gave him is freedom.

It is an obvious conclusion that Matt Hardy will head to TNA as soon as his 90-day no-complete clause ends in January. TNA would be foolish to not take one of the most controversial-yet-popular wrestlers in the world and add him to the roster while he still has plenty left in the gas tank. A failed heel turn in 2009 that was mismanaged by WWE’s PG nonsense doesn’t negate that Matt Hardy was one of the best in the entire industry in 2008.

**NASCAR has announced the second class of inductees for the Hall of Fame. As with everything NASCAR, there is something wrong with this too. David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett, Lee Petty, and Bud Moore were announced as the second class in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Yes, I have no problem with any of these five men being inducted into the Hall of Fame. They deserve to be there. However, does Lee Petty or Bud Moore deserve to be in the Hall of Fame before Cale Yarborough or Darrell Waltrip? It might be unpopular but Hell to the NO!

This is all because of NASCAR’s horrible idea to only allow five people into the Hall of Fame at a time. Bud Moore is clearly worthy of being in the Hall of Fame as he was a legendary car owner and crew chief. But, does he belong over a driver with 84 career wins or another driver with 83 career wins? Not close. Lee Petty was a great driver in his own right. But, does his stats and the fact his seed later became “The King” make him more worthy of the Hall of Fame over Waltrip, Yarborough, or plenty of others? Not close. Only NASCAR could screw up something that should be a surefire success. The Hall of Fame should have opened with 25 members and exhibits instead of five. At the rate they are going and with current Hall of Fame worthy talents eventually retiring, NASCAR will never have a Hall of Fame close to being complete in my lifetime (even if I live to be 130). Only NASCAR could screw up something so simple.

**This weekend, NASCAR visits Martinsville Speedway for the 124th time with the Tums Fast Relief 500. I remember a time when I used to be filled with anticipation for this race weekend as I knew I’d get a BBQ and a couple of Martinsville hot dogs while cheering on Jeff Gordon and a couple of others during Friday’s qualifying. Now, Martinsville race weekend is sadly just another race weekend I’ll work hard to ignore. Sad to have lost a love that special but the idiots who run NASCAR have done just that.

One of the ways they have done this is with the worthless attempt at manufactured drama known as the “Chase for the Championship.” I am a huge supporter of Jimmie Johnson. But, I wonder how many championships Jimmie would really have if the entire season was what constituted a champion like in the era of Richard Petty, David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt, and even Jeff Gordon. I think Jimmie Johnson would still be a champion, a multi-time champion in fact, but he wouldn’t be only five races away from being a five-time, five-time, five-time, five-time, five-time WCW Champion. I mean, NASCAR Cup Series Champion. I got carried away channeling Booker T. Anyhoo, back to the story, Jimmie Johnson leads the Chase standings once again and NASCAR’s current chosen one, Kyle Busch, isn’t in the hunt once again. Talladega is still looming on the horizon and anything can and will happen there. But, as of right now, it looks like 2010 is going to be just like 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009: Jimmie’s world filled with haters who can’t stop him.

**The big story in TNA Wrestling for months was “Who is They?”. For months, Abyss had been screaming that “they” were encouraging his violence in TNA. At Bound For Glory, TNA’s version of WrestleMania, “they” was finally revealed. Instead of bringing in a new star, TNA rehashed an angle that could have set TNA back and accelerated the company’s demise. However, after a week, it appears as if TNA may actually be on the verge of something good. Who was “they”? : Abyss, TNA founder Jeff Jarrett, TNA management Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan, and new TNA World Champion Jeff Hardy.

In a move that reeked of WCW’s rehashing of the nWo in 1999-2000, TNA created their own nW-oh with Hogan, Bischoff, Jarrett, Abyss, and an awkwardly-turned Hardy. At first, I questioned everything about this. Why devote even more time to Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff when fans can’t stand them as it is? Why turn the most popular wrestler in the entire industry, Jeff Hardy, heel? But then, TNA used logical booking and got me interested in an angle I was expecting to turn me off of TNA in the way too much Vince McMahon / The Undertaker / John Cena / Randy Orton / stupid mindless booking has turned me off World Wrestling Entertainment. Why did these men join forces?: Mutual hatred of TNA owner Dixie Carter.

Dixie Carter, in reality, appears to be one of the biggest marks to ever own a company. She seems loyal to her employees to a detriment. She hires anybody that she is a fan of regardless of if they can help TNA Wrestling as a whole. The angle almost works as a worked shoot. Jeff Jarrett had his power taken away from him in the company he founded because of his personal relationship with now-wife Karen Angle. Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff were brought into TNA to shake things up and have been used as promotional pieces with little-to-no input not including Dixie Carter and her “wealth” of wrestling knowledge. That is being used as motivation for Jarrett, Bischoff, and Hogan joining forced. Hardy and Abyss add the needed in-ring talent to the group. Plus, Jeff Hardy showed a surprising amount of talent at cutting a heel promo and actually had me questioning why nobody has used him as a heel before. I don’t know if I’m going to love this angle a month from now. But, the group, now known as Immortal, had a great start using simple logic: a lost art in the world of professional wrestling.

**I may be in a minority but I am thrilled that Bobby Cox is no longer the manager of the Atlanta Braves. After 21 years as manager and 14 consecutive divisional titles (1991-2005), Bobby Cox has finally faded off into the sunset after another late-season collapse that can only be called Cox-ian. The Braves collapsed in September and lost the divisional title to the Phillies. Then, with the Wild Card spot, the Braves were absolutely owned by the San Francisco Giants in the first round of the playoffs. Another year with talent and promise turned into another Fall with bitter disappointment. Frankly, I think Cox should have been canned years ago.

Yes, Bobby Cox was a great manager… in the regular season. But, Bobby showed time and time again that he could not manager his teams to victory in the Fall. He could not win games when they really mattered. Bobby Cox leaves the Atlanta Braves with one World Series victory in 1995; one victory when there should have been four or five. In a world where “winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing,” Bobby Cox ultimately couldn’t win and couldn’t win for a long time when it counted. So, while it is nice and heartwarming that Atlanta remained loyal to a popular manager, it disgusts me to think of what might have been in Atlanta. I’m glad to see he’s gone and Atlanta can finally begin a new era with Fredi González as manager.

**Thank you Josh Hamilton, Cliff Lee, and the rest of the Texas Rangers. After 39 years of existence, defeating the New York Yankees and advancing to the World Series for the first time couldn’t have came at a better time. I could care less if it’s the Philadelphia Phillies or the San Francisco Giants waiting for them in the World Series. I’m just glad that the New York Yankees won’t be there.

**The divorce between Kasey Kahne and Richard Petty Motorsports is now final. Kasey Kahne is starting his time with Red Bull Racing (before ultimately going to Hendrick Motorsports) five races early after failed brakes and a huge argument at Charlotte let Kahne to get his release on Wednesday, October 20th. However, did anyone on the outside really see the release of Kasey Kahne to coincide with the implosion of Richard Petty Motorsports? I know I didn’t.

After Kasey Kahne was released, stories came out that one of my most legendary names in the sport was on the verge of bankruptcy. Crewmembers were owed back pay, car provider Roush Fenway Racing was repossessing cars because of non-payment, and the four-car team was going to close shop after Martinsville. While I know that Richard Petty personally wasn’t running the finances, I can’t help but question who was. Paul Heyman? Robby Gordon? Eric Bischoff? Darrell Waltrip? Those are the only people I can think of off the top of my head who’d take multi-million dollar organizations and turn them into bankrupt wastelands seemingly in the blink of an eye. It’s a sad day in NASCAR when “The King” can’t afford to be a part of the game anymore.

**October 23rd is a day I will celebrate forever. Why? It is the birthday of my beloved sports Goddess: Michelle Beadle!


Michelle Beadle turns 35 on October 23rd and, unlike many women who hide their age behind the clichéd “I’m turning 29 again” joke, absolutely owns her maturity. Well, maturity in numbers alone. Michelle is still as wicked awesome and immature as any good-natured fun person can be. That’s why I, along with millions of members of the SportsNation fandom, absolutely adore Michelle. Earlier this week, I gained a new level of love for Michelle when she announced her love of wrestling. During the Pop Culture game, WWE was brought up. Instead of making an easy reference even a non-fan could make (a Rock reference or a John Cena mention for example), Michelle said “if you’re not Nexus, you’re against us.” Considering the Nexus has not been mainstream in any sense of the word, Michelle Beadle knowing of them and supporting them shows that she is a wrestling fan and not just a poser. For that, I love the Beadster more.

CHEERS and JEERS
Superstar of the Week: The crew from Jackass 3D

Some may say it is a sign of the apocalypse. Others may say it is only because of the decline of western civilization as a whole. It may be inflated ticket prices or just pure insanity. But, the guys from Jackass just made $50 million at the box office in one week with the release of Jackass 3D. At a time when America needs something to laugh at, Johnny Knoxville and the boys have returned with the mindless hi-jinx and shenanigans that can make anybody with a sense of humor laugh out loud. And, while we’re laughing in the theaters, Knoxville and Co. are laughing all the way to the bank.

Jerk of the Week: Eddie House of the Miami Heat

Most people who are not bandwagon jumpers or “frontrunners” will either dislike the Miami Heat this upcoming NBA season or they will continue to have the same apathy for them they’ve always had. Sadly though, the Miami Heat’s profile has been raised because Miami is home for the “Big Three”: Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and the one-man ego-trip known as LeBron James. Now, while these three are the reason so many frontrunners will suddenly swear allegiance to the Heat, someone needs to tell benchwarmer / backup guard Eddie House that he doesn’t have the clout needed to run his mouth like the Akron Turncoat.

On Twitter last week, Eddie House tweeted, “Middle finger to all of the haters.” Really? Really, Eddie House? Who is hating on you? Nobody! People are hating on LeBron James because he acted like a tool with his hour-long special and his abandoning of Cleveland in favor of creating a super team. But, there isn’t a soul hating on Eddie House. If every mediocre back-up in Miami is going to come out with this kind of attitude because of an association with LeBron, I think we should suspend LeBron James from the league now because his childish, egotistical attitude is spreading like an unwanted plague. Eddie House is a nobody and needs to keep his ego in check.

POWER RANKINGS - Top 10 Horror Films of the 2000s
10. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
9. Wrong Turn
8. Hostel
7. 28 Days Later
6. Paranormal Activity 2
5. Saw II
4. Saw VI
3. The Descent
2. High Tension
1. Hostel Part Two

BIG A RECOMMENDS…
Paranormal Activity 2 - currently in theaters everywhere


Last Fall, Paranormal Activity was the talk of cinema. The supernatural horror film that used minimal effects, unknown actors, and a shoestring budget scared up over $200 million at the box office while being heralded as one of the scariest films of all-time. Personally, I thought it was a good movie but certainly not worthy of all the hype. Paranormal Activity 2, on the other hand, is worthy of that praise and then some.

Without spoiling anything, I must say that Paranormal Activity 2 takes everything good and smart about the first film and turns it up a notch. The story for the first film is expanded through the second film and, by the end of Paranormal Activity 2, you have a very well-told supernatural story told through two films. The scares are louder, the supernatural presence is more violent, and the tension is so thick it can be cut with a knife. I can not stress how much I enjoyed this film. Paranormal Activity 2 is definitely well-worth seeing during this Halloween season.

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK…
Since the last edition of The Highlight Reel, I have learned that it is okay to be gay. Okay, I knew that it was okay to be gay long before the last month. However, with the current push by Hollywood and the media, everyone is learning the importance of “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it” now more than ever. Now, let me stress that I have no problem at all with the homosexual or bisexual community. But, I must admit that I am growing tired of that agenda being showed down my throat on prime time television weekly in shows that are supposed “wholesome family entertainment.” Case in point: the second season of Glee.

Glee started off as a show about down-and-out losers on the high school food chain trying to better themselves through music. There was a homosexual character, Kurt (played by Chris Colfer), who made for some of the most interesting moments of the first season. While his sexuality was mentioned, it was not a focal point of the show. In season two however, Kurt being gay and proud has overshadowed any other storyline on the show. While that was rather tiresome as I think Kurt can be about so much more than just gay matters, Glee came out of nowhere with two cheerleaders/members of New Directions making out as Santana (played by Naya Rivera) and Brittany (played by Heather Morris) were seen making out momentarily. Glee is pushing the homosexual/bisexual agenda during a show marketed a “family entertainment” when the truth is that no sexuality should be pushed in a “family” oriented show. Glee started out as a simple show about music and the underdogs overcoming the odds and has quickly turned into a show pushing agendas down the throats of its viewers.

I know that many members of the gay community get bullied in schools. Glee, a family program, is a vehicle which children and teens struggling with their sexuality can find motivations to live proud as who they are without fear of judgment from their peers. But, there are many more reasons why children are bullied than just being gay. Fat kids, smart kids, poor kids, dumb kids, ugly kids are all among the children bullied on a daily basis in schools because children as a whole are jerks. Hollywood and the media need to stop using television shows like Glee to push the homosexual and bisexual agenda unless they are also going to push the agenda of “It’s okay to be poor, fat, dumb, smart, or ugly” too. As a group who cry for equality and fair treatment, I don’t see anyone from that camp also coming out regarding those agendas or the mistreatment that those children suffer from daily.

I’ve learned that it’s okay to be gay. But, apparently, at least according to the push from Hollywood and the media, it’s still taboo and terrible to be poor, fat, dumb, ugly, or smart. So, bullying those children is still fair game. That, in my eyes, is simply unfair.

- Aaron Goins