- There will never be another “Macho Man” Randy Savage.
- The Hangover: Part II is awesome.
- The 2011 Indianapolis 500 was everything incredible about auto racing.
- And, I’m Aaron Goins. All my thoughts on these topics and more (including how the 2011 NBA Playoffs have confirmed to me that the league is rigged)… in The Highlight Reel!
NEWS and NOTES
**On May 20th, I woke up to shocking news. On that morning, one of the greatest to ever lace up a pair of boots and enter the squared circles had passed away as “Macho Man” Randy Savage was dead at the age of 58. Savage suffered a heart attack while driving in Seminole, Florida with his wife and crashed into a tree.
Randy Savage was one of the most well-known professional wrestlers of all-time. From his gravely raspy voice and catchphrases like “Ohhhh Yeaaah” to his colorful ring attire and outlandish hats, Randy Savage captured the attention of viewers all over the world every time he stepped in front of the cameras to either deliver one of his legendary promos or compete in-ring in a show-stealing match. Plus, Savage introduced the wrestling world to the First Lady of Professional Wrestling as his then-wife and valet, Miss Elizabeth, brought class, dignity, and beauty to ringside in an era when women in wrestling were as rough looking as their male counterparts. In a country where professional wrestling is looked at as a sideshow attraction, the American public mourned the passing of Randy Savage because the “Macho Man” was more than just a wrestler; he was a pop culture icon. His voice was heard on commercials (including those incredible Slim Jim ads of the 90s) and in cartoons through the late 2000s while Savage also made guest spots on television and movies (including an appearance in 2002’s Spider-Man). Randy Savage was a figure that people grew up with or associated with a great time in professional wrestling history when the business was fun to watch with the family and with adults.
While there are plenty of rumors and scandals surrounding why “Macho Man” Randy Savage is not currently in the WWE Hall of Fame, it can not be questioned that he’s deserved an entry into the Hall of Fame for far too long. His impact on the business during his career and legacy seen in the performers of today are simply unmatched.
If you find a Superstar, Diva, Wrestler, or Knockout who is in the business today and does not have a fond memory of the “Macho Man” Randy Savage from their youth, then you have found a performer who simply does not belong. From CM Punk (seen above with his Monday Night RAW tribute attire) to Mickie James, Jay Lethal to Ken Anderson, Wade Barrett to Kofi Kingston, and Madison Rayne to Matt Hardy, countless stars in the world of professional wrestling shared memories of how Randy Savage inspired them on their journey to becoming the stars they are today while other figures in sports and entertainment including ESPN’s Michelle Beadle and Linda Cohn, Tobey Maguire, sports stars Clay Matthews and Dwayne Wade, Jay Leno, basketball legend Dennis Rodman, and former NBC television executive Dick Ebersol all shared in the sympathy at the loss of an icon. Plus, the words from the men who worked alongside Savage simply brought tears to my eyes as guys like Dusty Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, Roddy Piper, and longtime friend/rival Hulk Hogan shared their pain in the loss of a brother in arms.
For me, Randy “Macho Man’ Savage was one of the central figures of one of my favorite years to watch wrestling: 1988. Every event and every show from that year was just fun, exciting, and something that I can still watch 23 years later with the same enjoyment that I had for the action during my childhood. That year was when Savage finally climbed to the top of the mountain as Savage won the WWF Championship for the first time in a tournament final over Ted DiBiase at WrestleMania IV. I loved watching Savage’s work in the ring from 1986-1991 as he was truly in his prime physically and mentally. Even though Savage saw plenty of success after WrestleMania VII, Savage’s match at that event against the Ultimate Warrior was truly a thing of beauty and the last night were Savage was on the tip-top of his game. I will always think of the pure athleticism, undeniable charisma, and raw machismo that Randy Savage brought to the ring every time he stepped into the squared circle. “Macho Man” Randy Savage was truly one of a kind.
God bless, “Macho Man.” Thank you for all of the memories.
**One of the biggest stories in the world of professional wrestling has been the debut and departure of Kia Stevens from World Wrestling Entertainment. Stevens, best known the world over as Awesome Kong, was hired by WWE in December 2010. Given the ring name of Kharma, she was supposed to debut for months before finally debuting on WWE on May 1st. For weeks, she attacked every Diva in sight and looked like she was going to get a fair chance to shine in the ‘E. But, her momentum suddenly stopped on May 23rd with a nervous breakdown in the ring. Also, there was a breakdown in her birth control because the reality of the situation is that Stevens recently discovered that she’s pregnant.
Frankly, I think that we have seen Stevens in a WWE ring for the final time. She is already on thin ice with management because of the fact that she is not a prototypical Diva. She is 6’2” and almost 300 pounds. Considering that this is the same company that degraded Mickie James for being 5’2” and 130 pounds, Stevens really has never stood a chance. Now that she’s had a pregnancy ruin her one chance to impress, I think that her days in the WWE are over. Not numbered but over. Kudos to her and the baby daddy on their future co-dependant though.
**The 100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 will go down as one of the most exciting and memorable finishes in the history of auto racing’s biggest spectacle. While the Borg-Warner Trophy will have Dan Wheldon’s imagine engraved on it for winning the 95th running of the event (there was no race run in 1917-18 or 1942-45), everyone will remember rookie J.R. Hildebrand coming oh-so-close to the sweet taste of victory.
The majority of the Indy 500 was dominated by three men: pole sitter Alex Tagliani and Ganassi teammates Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti. Dixon led a race-high 73 laps but had to pit late for gas. Franchitti, who led 51 laps, worked on a strategy to save enough gas to last until the end. However, both ran out of gas in the closing laps and finished 5th and 12th respectively. Danica Patrick was leading with ten to go but also had to pit for gas and ultimately finished 10th. In the final laps, rookie J.R. Hildebrand looked primed to win the Indy 500 in the #4 National Guard Panther Racing machine when a twist of fate changed everything. Hildebrand struck the wall coming out of turn four on the final lap. Piloting his crashed machine down the front-stretch, Dan Wheldon passed a limping Hildebrand with 1,000 feet to go to capture his second Indianapolis 500 victory by only leading one lap: the last lap.
The race was outstanding. But, for me, I will never forget that finish. It was the living example of the phrase “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” as Dan Wheldon’s shocking and emotional victory was matched on the spectrum by Hildebrand’s frustrations with coming so close but being so far away from glory. As much as I ride NASCAR for helping to kill my love of auto racing, it is events like this from the biggest event in the IndyCar Series which help me remember why I love auto racing. There is nothing quite as shocking, sudden, or moving in sports as the feeling that victory is at hand and the reality that it truly is not over until the checkered flag drops.
**While they have been a college football superpower for a decade, I think that it is safe to say that THE Ohio State University is about to suffer from some hard times in the aftermath of the resignation of head coach Jim Tressel and the scandal that ended the era of the Sweater Vest in Columbus.
Head coach Jim Tressel resigned on Memorial Day amid scandal as Ohio State University is being investigated for multiple infractions. Student-athletes have been linked to allegations of selling autographs in exchange for cash, tattoos, and other favors. Meanwhile, star quarterback Terrell Pryor has been spotted driving luxury vehicles for three years and has drawn the eyes of investigators on the Buckeyes also. Under the pressure of these investigations and possible sanctions coming from the NCAA, Jim Tressel ran when the fire got hot and resigned from his job of a decade.
Personally, I think that Jim Tressel should never get another job in the college football ranks again. Tressel is no stranger to controversy or illegal activities occurring at the universities he is at the helm of. While head coach and athletic director at Youngstown State, Tressel allowed student-athletes to accept money from boosters despite being in clear violation of the NCAA rulebook. Now, more than 15 years later, Tressel has allowed more misdeeds from student-athletes to occur under his watch while at Ohio State. A man who acts so holier than thou in the college coaching ranks that he’s written a book about character and morals, Tressel is now in the center of a second investigation that is bringing down a university and tarnishing a football program’s legacy. It seems to be that Tressel is quite hypocritical. Jim Tressel may not be the student-athlete who is getting the tattoos or driving the ill-gotten vehicle. But, he is the man who is supposed to watch these young men and guide them from making these terrible decisions instead of simply looking the other way as long as they are winning him football games.
**The 2011 installment of American Idol has came and went with North Carolina’s own Scotty McCreary winning the whole shebang. For the first time ever though, I was not in full Idol-mania mode when the finale rolled around. Without Simon Cowell, I couldn’t watch the show as I just could not see Jennifer Lopez or Steven Tyler being as good as the departing Simon Cowell or Kara DioGuardi were. Also, I couldn’t see how Randy Jackson was allowed to keep a job at all. So, I did not watch American Idol.
While I’m sure that Scotty McCreary has good qualities and may make a big impact on the music world (his genre of choice being country music so he‘ll have a fair chance at getting long-term fans), I will be hearing Scotty’s music the same way I’ve heard many of my favorites for the first time: on the radio. He may have earned America’s votes but everything he did on American Idol won’t matter to me. I’ve lasted a year without American Idol and can safely say that I don’t see myself returning to the American Idol fandom I once had.
**For the second time in his mixed martial arts career, Brock Lesnar has been sidelined with a case of the intestinal disorder Diverticulitis. In 2009, Lesnar was sidelined and had surgery to repair damaged portions of his intestines from the disease. After a lot of rehab and recuperation, Lesnar returned to the Octagon and resumed his spot as the face of mixed martial arts despite suffering a loss to Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 in October 2010. However, with his first major fight of 2011 against Junior dos Santos only weeks away, Lesnar has been sidelined once again and recently had 12 more inches of his colon removed as result of this disease.
I have been a guy who has bashed Brock Lesnar for his lack of commitment to anything since his World Wrestling Entertainment ended suddenly for an NFL dream that went nowhere. However, in the last year or so, Lesnar’s rebound from suffering his first MMA loss to show real commitment to an MMA career has finally won me over as a fan once again of the man formerly known as “the Next Big Thing.” I hope that this second bout with diverticulitis will not sideline Lesnar for too long as Brock really has the talent, charisma, and (for the first time ever) drive to be a champion once again in the UFC. Godspeed, Brock Lesnar.
**Sadly, the NBA Finals are here and, sadly, I have been proven right with the Miami Heat on the verge of their first NBA Championship in the LeBron James Era (i.e. the only era that matters. Right NBA?). Of course, this title is not coming without me sounding like a conspiracy theorist for simply calling out the way these playoffs have played out. David Stern has channeled his inner Vince McMahon and Don King with these playoffs has the NBA has looked rigged from the opening tip of the playoffs.
The Miami Heat are set to face Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals after both the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls laid down like gagging dogs to LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and the NBA’s chosen ones: the Miami Heat. Considering that Miami had not been able to win in the clutch for an 82-game season and LeBron James has been unable to win in the clutch for eight years, it is awfully convenient now that this same team and this same guy are now absolutely unstoppable. I may have been born in the night but it wasn’t last night.
I just feel bad really for all of the people in the sporting world who have morals, self-respect, and dignity. Namely, Michelle Beadle and Skip Bayless of ESPN. They are the only two people who have not and I doubt will ever jump onto the Miami Heat bandwagon unlike so many of their colleagues and the millions of idiotic “fans” who have been frequenting Champs Sports for LeBron jerseys since the writing on the wall became clear and the fix was in. In this day and age of Twitter, anybody who was stood by their guns and not sucked up to the Heat will pay the price with harassment from plenty of morons who would have celebrated the Heat’s loss should the fix never been instigated. All I know is that I really can’t wait for the NFL to start so that sports can finally mean something again.
CHEERS and JEERS
Superstar of the Week: The Hangover: Part II
In 2009, a comedy was released to theaters that changed the face of the “buddy/road trip comedy” with the release of The Hangover. Critically acclaimed and star-making, The Hangover will forever be listed among the greatest comedies of all-time. Sadly, critics were not so kind for The Hangover: Part II. But, their snooty remarks don’t mean a thing when the public is leaving the film with smiles from laughter and nothing but glowing reviews. Also, an opening weekend of $86.5 million dollars doesn’t hurt the legacy of the sequel either.
The Hangover: Part II is an absolute comedic gem and is a rare sequel in that it actually lives up to the lofty standards set by the original. This time, set in Thailand, the Wolfpack (played by Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper, and Zack Galifianakis) got together for Stu’s wedding when another forgotten night and missing man leads to more shenanigans and epic-ness on the big screen. The Hangover: Part II was hilarious from beginning to end with more chaos, lewdness, and hilarity that fans comes to enjoy from the original. Not only do I recommend The Hangover: Part II, I also give this film major props for having the highest grossing performance of a live-action comedy in Memorial Day Weekend history. Big achievement for a film the critics apparently love to hate.
Jerk of the Week: Kyle Busch
This guy can not go one week without me hating him even more. Seriously, he just can’t. It is almost like Kyle Busch has spies watching me and, when he hears that I don’t feel rage towards him, decides to do something stupid and immature with the sole purpose of pissing me off. Seeing as I don’t care about anything on the track in NASCAR anymore, Busch took to the North Carolina public roads for his latest example in prick-a-tude.
On May 24th in Iredell County, Kyle Busch was pulled over by police after being clocked at 128 mph in a 45 mph zone. While you or I would have been sent to jail and put underneath the facility, we are not a famous NASCAR driver. Kyle Busch joked about his reckless driving and speeding on a public road, signed a couple of autographs, and was sent on his merry way. While charges are still pending, the fact that he was allowed to go on about his business without even a minute spent in jail clearly shows that Busch will not be charged with anything or face any kind of punishment for his blatant disregard for the law.
Kyle Busch is a talented driver. I will never take that away from the man. But, his personality is one of an egotistical prick. He is a terrible human being on the inside and will be nothing more than a jerk in life. As long as his fame and wealth allow him to get away with crimes like this, Busch will never learn from these actions and gain a sense of humility or respect for his fellow man either. Such a shame as Busch could be one of the all-time greats but instead is nothing more than a petulant jerk who will never be respected.
POWER RANKINGS - My Favorite “Macho Man” Randy Savage Matches
5. “Macho Man” Randy Savage defeated “Nature Boy” Ric Flair for the WWF Championship - WrestleMania VIII on April 5th, 1992
4. Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat defeated “Macho Man” Randy Savage for the Intercontinental Championship - WrestleMania III on March 29th, 1987
3. “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan defeated “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase and Andre the Giant - SummerSlam 1988 on August 28th, 1988
2. Ultimate Warrior defeated “Macho King” Randy Savage in a Retirement match - WrestleMania VII on March 24th, 1991
1. “Macho Man” Randy Savage defeated “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase in a tournament final for the WWF Championship - WrestleMania IV on March 27th, 1988
BIG A RECOMMENDS…
The Mountain Three Wolf Moon Short Sleeve T-shirt - currently available on Amazon.com
There is no more powerful garment of clothing known to man than the (insert name here) shirt. Worn by some of the manliest of manly men including Dwight Schrute and Alan Garner, this shirt has intimidated men and thrilled the ladies since its inception in 2007. A known “panty-dropper,” I had to purchase one of these shirts for my very own.
Since breaking out his bad boy, I have been rolling in the ladies. Michelle Beadle, Mickie James, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, and Jenna Fischer are just a handful of the women who have traveled from far and wide because of the undeniable magnetism coming from yours truly while rocking this amazing garment. If you want the ladies to howl at the moon much like the wolves in this shirt, pick up one today and rock it with pride. I recommend it.
WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK…
I’ve learned… little to nothing. Sorry but its true. Maybe next time I’ll have some words of wisdom. Until then…
Be good to yourself and each other,
- Aaron Goins
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