- The Summer of Punk was more like the Month of Punk.
- Michelle Beadle’s star is bigger than most at ESPN. Her integrity and honesty is making her bigger and better than the entire damn place.
- Even free agency talk in football is better than on-the-field action in every other sport in America.
- And, I’m Aaron Goins. All my thoughts on these topics and so much more (including an ode to a beloved beverage)… in The Highlight Reel!
NEWS and NOTES
**So, I thought that 2011 was the Summer of Punk. Apparently, only late July through mid-August was the Summer of Punk. SummerSlam has came and went with Alberto Del Rio finally cashing in the Money in the Bank contract he earned last month to win his first WWE Championship after CM Punk defeated John Cena in a controversial WWE Champion vs. WWE Champion match while CM Punk simply has become the latest in World Wrestling Entertainment’s annual “potentially great, revolutionary angle turned into nothing” series.
CM Punk has been on fire the last month. His promos take me back to an era when professional wrestlers were allowed to speak on the microphone without having every world scripted for them in advance. His words are always unpredictable and are usually controversial. His promos, along with his in-ring skills, are finally giving adults a reason to be interested in professional wrestling again while he hasn’t done or said anything vulgar to take away from the PG initiative that WWE has used in recent memory. CM Punk has been professional wrestling from the 1980s with a late 90s edge placed smack dab in the middle of 2011. You would think that Punk would remain the focal point of World Wrestling Entertainment, right? Oh, but then that would mean you haven’t watched WWE in the last decade. They never push anyone new or deserved for long.
At SummerSlam, Punk survived the return of the status quo as he defeated John Cena to become the Undisputed WWE Champion. But, he defeated Cena with Cena having his foot on the ropes allowing Cena to have a gripe. Also, Triple H was the referee of the match so he can take credit for the success of the match if buyrates went up. Then, Kevin Nash attacked CM Punk. Yes, 52-year-old Kevin Nash, “best friend of Triple H” Kevin Nash, “desperate for a job and attention” Kevin Nash, attacked Punk and left him laying and vulnerable for Alberto Del Rio to attack and win the WWE Championship. Punk’s time on top is over already and the leaves aren’t even turning yet.
Meanwhile the status quo of same old mediocrity in WWE continued to return to form at SummerSlam as Randy Orton won the World Heavyweight title again from Christian in a No Holds Barred match. Kelly Kelly defeated Beth Phoenix to retain the Divas title and further showed that Punk’s time on top was fleeting as his girlfriend (Phoenix) could not become champion. Mark Henry defeated Sheamus by count-out, Wade Barrett defeated Daniel Bryan, and an unannounced six-man tag saw Rey Mysterio, John Morrison, and Kofi Kingston beat The Miz, Alberto Del Rio, and R-Truth in a “we’re better than Orton and Cena but will never be the focal point of the company” match.
Frankly, SummerSlam looked like a great wrestling event. I mean, other than Mark Henry-Sheamus, everything on the card looked really good. But, it also appeared to be more of the same old, same old that WWE has been offering us all since 2007. The event essentially proved my point coming out of last month’s Money in the Bank event even more: Money in the Bank was a one-time deal thrown out to pacify us longtime fans who expect better and know that it can be delivered. Christian’s second title reign ended within a month. Punk’s title reign ended within a month. Del Rio finally has the strap but Cena is more angry than Punk. The status quo has returned. Nothing changed.
**The NFL Lockout finally ended at the end of July and one positive has come from all of the talk of litigation and collective bargaining agreements and legal mumbo-jumbo that bored us to tears for months: free agency in the fast lane.
Within the first two weeks of the NFL season being underway, free agency saw players moving faster than we’ve ever seen before and it was a tremendous time to be a football fan. Every team got in on the action with some looking more successful than others. But, as training camps started, new faces were in new places and the eternal optimism of the football fan was at an all-time high thanks to the threat of a lack of football created by the 2011 NFL Lockout.
The Philadelphia Eagles have arguably came out of the free agency bonanza as the biggest winner. The Eagles swooped in and picked up the biggest name on the market in CB Nnamdi Asomugha and added CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in a trade with Arizona that sent QB Kevin Kolb to the Cardinals. Plus, Philadelphia added former Tennessee Titan QB Vince Young to back-up Michael Vick, RB Ronnie Brown from Miami, WR Steve Smith from the Giants, and DE Jason Babin from Tennessee. With so many moves, some are already calling the Eagles “the Miami Heat” of the NFL. Frankly, until they hold a victory parade for themselves before the first preseason game, I’ll refrain from cursing them with that label.
Of course, I think the biggest moves were made in the AFC East as both the New York Jets and the New England Patriots attempted to match each other move-for-move in their rivalry for supremacy. The Patriots grabbed DE Albert Haynesworth and WR Chad Ochocinco in moves that shocked the NFL to its core while the Jets re-signed CB Antonio Cromartie (after losing in the Asomugha sweepstakes) and WR Santonio Holmes and added receivers Plaxico Burress (fresh from prison) and Derrick Mason (fresh from Baltimore) while letting receivers Braylon Edwards and Brad Smith go to the 49ers and the Bills respectively. Also, the Jets allowed DE Shaun Ellis go to the Patriots in a move deemed by many Jets faithful as “treason.”
As for my favorite teams, the Dallas Cowboys made smart moves by releasing receiver Roy Williams and RB Marion Barber as soon as they were able to. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers shocked me by re-signing LB Jon Beason and RB DeAngelo Williams while also adding TE Greg Olson out of Chicago. I was disappointed to see that longtime kicker and the last original Panther John Kasay was released. But, grabbing veteran Olindo Mare was a smart move. Not enough to ultimately make Carolina anything special this season but enough to show that Carolina isn’t going to completely give up during Ron Rivera’s first season.
There have been a lot of tremendous moves by other teams in the league. The Miami Dolphins added former Saints RB Reggie Bush while losing Brown to the Eagles and RB Ricky Williams to the Baltimore Ravens. New Orleans replaced Bush with RB Mark Ingram via the draft and RB Darren Sproles from San Diego. The Minnesota Vikings now have Donovan McNabb at QB while the Tennessee Titans signed longtime Seahawk QB Matt Hasselback. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks have become the land of back-up quarterbacks with Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst on their roster. And, those are just a touch of the mass exchange of talents throughout the league as the acceleration of free agency has been the one major perk to come from the 2011 NFL Lockout.
**A few weeks ago, ESPN took over Los Angeles with the 2011 ESPY Awards. There was a lot of fun and relaxation had by all while celebrating the best in sports. Sadly, the 2011 ESPY Awards have been tarnished for SportsNation host and my sporting Goddess Michelle Beadle as a lot of petty, catty, slanderous gossip recently came out that led Michelle to fight back against the negativity.
Rumors came out that Michelle was drunk and using drunks while hopping around various parties during ESPY week. Also, it was said that Michelle said, “I just want to get f*cked” to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers before being rejected and settling for Packers linebacker Clay Matthews. These rumors were based on the fact that Michelle was spotted talking to both men at an after-party after the awards. Plus, a video showed Beadle walking alongside Matthews towards a hotel after the awards. Of course, “alongside” in this connotation means that Beadle and Matthews walked together in a group of almost 50 people and three respective groups. But, facts shouldn’t be allowed to get in the way of a juicy story, right?
Michelle did not find out about the rumors until she returned to Connecticut and was called into the offices to speak with ESPN higher-ups. These nasty rumors did not sit well with Michelle and Beadle went on the offensive quickly. Between a Twitter remark addressing hateful rumors and a call to her lawyer to question suing for slander, Michelle Beadle is not taking this ugly allegations laying down. And, in hearing about her fire and her desire to clear her name, I found myself loving Michelle Beadle even more.
Michelle Beadle’s rise to fame (known as BeadleMania) has seen her appearing on Late Night with David Letterman, co-hosting Live with Regis and Kelly, hosting red carpet events for ESPN, hosting a popular pod cast, and becoming one of the most popular personalities in all of sports in a little over two years. She has done it while not changing herself one iota as Beadle is still the same loud, opinionated, nerdy, fun girl who may not have the most popular opinion in the room but she will stick to her guns regardless of who may hate what she’s got to say. She hasn’t had a sex scandal or posed for Maxim (Erin Andrews, anyone?) but she’s stolen the hearts of guys all over because Michelle is really the girl next door. She’s the hot girl who is relatable, friendly, and would fit in either in an evening gown drinking champagne or rocking faded jeans drinking a PBR. So, that is why the rivalry and animosity between her and the formerly rising star at ESPN, Erin Andrews, has captured the imagination of gossip rags everywhere. Also, that is why the rumors are that it was Andrews, who watches her time on top slip with every accolade Beadle achieves, who spread the ugly rumors about Michelle Beadle during ESPY week.
Regardless of who is ultimately guilty of these rumors, Michelle is not going to take the garbage lightly and heads will roll for these lies. Nobody (fans or a majority of co-workers) seem to believe Michelle would do these kind of things. Also, the fact that Michelle is fighting back proves to me that I am justified in my love and admiration for the Beadster. Michelle Beadle is a tremendous sports analyst, host, and an all-around great person who is not a pushover and not one who plays the gossip game. Knowing that, I will be celebrating BeadleMania for a long, long time to come.
**TNA Wrestling’s pay-per-view event, Hardcore Justice, has came and went with the face of TNA Wrestling changing again as Sting’s TNA World Championship reign came to an end at the hands of Kurt Angle. But, in what is one of the main hang-ups with TNA, that title change came courtesy of some booking that can only be referred to as “Russorific.” For those not in the know, Russorific means bat-shit insanity created by head booker Vince Russo.
At Hardcore Justice, Hulk Hogan (because we all need more of him *rolling my eyes*) entered the ring during the Sting-Angle main event and provided Angle with a steel chair which Angle used to defeat the Stinger for his fifth TNA World Championship. While Kurt Angle did not become the latest member of the TNA roster to join the Hogan-Bischoff faction Immortal, Kurt Angle’s seemingly ill-timed heel turn reeks of Vince Russo booking at its very worst. Whenever TNA takes one step forward, they go two steps back with the ineptitude of their booking team and the way the main event picture is constantly mismanaged. Jeff Hardy, who was the biggest face in the entire business, was turned heel when he became TNA World Champion. Then, Ken Anderson, who was a terrific face, was turned heel when he became champion the last time. As soon as Anderson dropped the strap back to Sting, he began feuding with his fellow heels in Immortal in a sign that Vince Russo clearly had no clue what to do with Anderson. Now, Kurt Angle is a heel after defeating Sting as TNA tries to make the Stinger their version of John Cena (i.e. the one and only major face allowed). The mid-card and Knockouts move the company one step forward; the main event moves the company two steps back.
As for the rest of Hardcore Justice, TNA Wrestling again showed why they offer the best in professional wrestling in America with another loaded card that delivered. Winter, formerly Katie Lea Burchill in World Wrestling Entertainment, defeated Mickie James for the Knockouts Championship in a terrific match between two of the premiere women in the business today. Also, Brian Kendrick successfully defended the X-Division Championship over Alex Shelley and Austin Aries while Beer Money retained the Tag Team Championships against Mexican America (before losing the straps to the duo at a TV taping two nights later). Bully Ray defeated Ken Anderson in a heel-heel match while the team of AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, and Kazarian beat Immortal’s Abyss, Gunner, and Scott Steiner. Also, Crimson picked up points in the Bound for Glory Series with a win over Rob Van Dam and D’Angelo Dinero scored points over Devon. And, Tara and Miss Tessmacher successfully defended the Knockouts Tag Team Championships against Rosita and Sarita (What? Two women’s matches? Surely you jest.).
The thing that kills me in writing about those results is that, other than the convoluted main event picture, TNA Wrestling is doing everything right. A three-hour PPV with nine matches, none of which was a squash, is so much better that WWE offering five matches over a three-hour span most months with one of those matches being a 90-second squash. Hell, WrestleMania featured two squashes and only eight matches in four hours. Yet, TNA can’t get even a sliver of respect from the majority of the Internet Wrestling Community. Shameful. Just shameful that they call themselves professional wrestling fans when they are so blind to Vince McMahon’s shenanigans that they refuse to give any other promotion a fair shake.
**World Wrestling Entertainment’s annual “Spring Cleaning” didn’t come until August 5th in 2011. But, with five moves, WWE shook things up and made roster changes that may have an impact on their roster months from now as well. WWE wished Vladimir Kozlov, Chris Masters, David Hart Smith, and Melina well on their future endeavors on August 5th while Gail Kim walked away from the company. While none of these talents were setting the world on fire at the time of their release, all four are talents who have a lot to offer to any promotion they work for and all four should have been used better during their final months within WWE.
I will forever say Vladimir Kozlov should have been the man to face The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25 and not Shawn Michaels. While HBK-Undertaker was a classic, Michaels’ feud with John Bradshaw Layfield would have perfectly culminated at WrestleMania. Meanwhile, Kozlov and Undertaker (both on SmackDown at a time when the WWE somewhat believed in brand separation) worked as a main event battle between two of their top guys. Even in defeat, a great outing against The Undertaker would have kept Kozlov as a monster heel. Sadly, he was dropped off the card and later because a comedic sidekick to Santino Marella. Shameful fall for one of the nicest guys in the locker room.
Chris Masters has been one of the hardest working guys in the business over the last two years. Tremendous physique, rapidly improving in-ring skills, and a work ethic rarely seen in this generation of sports entertainers, Chris Masters was released for the second time in six years. Frankly, I question why they even brought him back in 2009 if they were going to do absolutely nothing with him. And, in doing nothing with him, I question why the WWE broke up the Hart Dynasty if they were going to waste Tyson Kidd and Natalya Neidhart while ultimately firing David Hart Smith. Or, why did they rehire Gail Kim in the first place if they were just going to let her sit around backstage for two years before she ultimate quit? Just a series of crazy moves from a company known for illogical moves.
Then, there is the firing of Melina. Now, Melina is one of the most physically beautiful and athletic women to ever grace the squared circle. Of course, it has been said that she is also among the most egotistical bitches to ever enter a locker room. Also, it has been said that she would sleep with anyone that offered a stiff one (even in front of her loving boyfriend John Morrison). All of the gossip aside, Melina’s backstage attitude has led to her essentially being wasted in the Divas division for a year. It has also been said to be part of the reason why the uber-talented John Morrison has seen push after push crumble before his very eyes. Now, Morrison’s real-life love has been fired and all eyes are on how he responds. I believe that we’ve seen the last of John Morrison as a potential main event star in the WWE. Morrison’s love of Melina is going to lead him to ultimately take his talents wherever she goes. That is why I also believe John Morrison is a casualty of Black Friday 2011. His heart is not in the WWE anymore and he’s going to be TNA bound sooner rather than later.
The real disappointment that I took out of the WWE firings though is the obvious names who should be unemployed and yet remain gainfully employed. I mean, it is a sad day when people are fired and Santino Marella, Rosa Mendes, The Great Khali, and David Otunga remain employed.
**One big name to not be a part of the NFL Free Agency bonanza has been Randy Moss. On August 1st, Moss announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons in the league. Moss, who spent 2010 playing in New England, Minnesota, and Tennessee, retired after finding himself without any real suitors heading into the 2011 season. Frankly, I agree with most NFL analysts who believe that Moss will be back in the league before the season is over as injuries will create job openings even with contending teams. But, if this is the end for Randy Moss, let’s hope he lands with a TV job somewhere soon. With an ego rivaling the most egotistical in NFL history and a vernacular that’s given us “Straight cash, Homey,” I’d love seeing what words of wisdom Moss would give us from the studio.
**America’s favorite playboy, George Clooney, has added another notch onto his bedpost and, this time, that notch has a WWE flare to it. After ending his two-year relationship with model Elisabetta Canalis, George Clooney has been spotted enjoying a rebound fling with former WWE Diva and Dancing with the Stars alum Stacy Keibler. Yeah, George Clooney is balls deep in mediocrity.
I apologize for the crude remark but it is honestly the truth. I have never been a fan of the former Baltimore Ravens cheerleader and her 41-inch legs. Stacy was an okay manager in the wrestling business but she never belonged inside the squared circle as an actual competitor. Then, she continued to add to her mediocrity (in my eyes) with her post-WWE career. She has appeared on countless TV shows and been the kiss of death as five sitcoms have been canceled within six months of Keibler appearing on them. As nice as she may be on the eyes, Stacy Keibler simply hasn’t been worth the hype surrounding her whether it be in the wrestling business or the entertainment business.
Good for Clooney though. I bet she is fun for what she brings to the bedroom… I mean, table.
**The fourth major came and went in the golfing world with 25-year old rookie Keegan Bradley scoring his first major win at the PGA Championship. Bradley’s victory continued the streak of seven consecutive first-time major winners, 13 different major winners in a row, and he was the first American to win a major since Phil Mickelson won the 2010 Masters. But, nobody honestly cared. In fact, there were still more people wanting to talk about the previous week’s event in which Adam Scott won the Bridgestone Invitation at the Firestone Country Club in Ohio by four strokes over his nearest competitor and 18 strokes over Tiger Woods because that event featured drama, juicy gossip, and personality - all things that the game of golf desperately need to remain relevant.
I have never been one of those people who believe that Tiger Woods was bigger than the game of golf. In fact, he’s not. The game will remain on TV and remain one of the most covered sports on ESPN and in all of sports media. But, without Tiger Woods playing at a level where he is at least mediocre and able to make the cut and play throughout the weekend, nobody cares. Yes, the purest fans of golf will care but only those 27 people will care about a sport that was close to claiming the fourth sport on the Mount Rushmore of American Sports just a few years ago.
As for me, I don’t care about the rookie winning. It was a nice story and kudos to him on his victory. But, I’m going to be one of many who will not remember the name Keegan Bradley come next week but will remember the awesomeness that was Steve Williams, Tiger’s former caddy, celebrating Scott’s victory at Firestone in the face of his former employer. The break-up of Tiger and Stevie was a messy affair and very ugly. So, of course, the media has covered it. In their coverage, Woods and Williams have given us all plenty to enjoy too. Woods has made underhanded remarks. Williams has taken shots at Tiger’s crummy performance since Woods’ sexually-charged empire came crumbling down in November 2009. This has been a soap opera that the PGA should be embracing instead of ignoring. The notion of new stars emerging has not happened and a sport filled with complete parity is not a sport anyone is going to want to tune into. Until Rory lives up to the hype, golf needs to embrace the catfights between Woods and Williams. It’s not only good entertainment; it’s good for the game.
**Amy Winehouse, best known for her soulful vocals and her self-destructive drug addiction, passed away on July 23rd at the age of 27 after overdosing (naturally) in her London, England apartment. While Winehouse’s passing was comical fodder for fans of tasteless humor, myself included, her passing also should stand out as a shining example of what can happen living life in the fast lane. Hopefully her death helps the new front-runners in the celebrity death pool (Lindsay Lohan, I’m looking at you) realize their own mortality before their name goes into the obits too.
CHEERS and JEERS
Superstar of the Week: Emma Stone and Taylor Swift (TIE)
First, has there been an actress more on fire this summer than Emma Stone? She has been in two of the summer’s most successful films: Crazy, Stupid, Love and The Help. With both films making a combined $91 million and both receiving rave reviews, Stone continues to show that she knows how to pick films that connect with both critics and audiences. Besides being cute as a button, Stone is also a tremendous young actress who captures attention whenever she graces the screen. Her star is on the rise and isn’t going to be coming down anytime soon.
Then, there is Taylor Swift. Excuse me while my heart is aflutter for a moment. Taylor Swift has racked up a few more impressive accolades to a resume that is already among the all-time greats in the world of country music (and she’s only 21). Recently, it was announced that Taylor Swift has sold more tickets with her 2011 Speak Now World Tour than any other touring artist in music for 2011 as she passed the numbers being put out by Paul McCartney’s two overlapping tours in 2011. Also, at the recent Teen Choice Awards, Swift walked away with six awards including awards for the songs “Mean” and “Back to December” and the night’s ultimate honor of Ultimate Teen Choice.
Emma Stone and Taylor Swift are both incredibly talented ladies and both have been even hotter than usual in the last month.
Jerk of the Week: The bastards behind the deaths of members of SEAL Team Six
On May 1st, we all gained new heroes in the members of SEAL Team Six as they finally delivered a bit of closure with the death of Osama Bin Laden. The good guys finally caught the ringleader behind one of the darkest days in American history as they brought us the head of the Al Qaeda leader responsible for 9/11. On August 6th, the good guys suffered a tragic loss and America mourned. On that day, 38 people were killed in Afghanistan when a Chinook helicopter flown by B Company, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, was shot down by a Taliban-fired rocket-propelled grenade. Among those lost were soldiers responsible for the death of Bin Laden.
This war against evil is not over and will not be over as long as there is hate in the world. But hopefully, there will come a day when the sorry excuses for human beings that are responsible for the deaths of those brave men and women pay for their crimes. They pay for their sins. They pay for their contribution to the continuation of evil.
POWER RANKINGS - Most Intense Rivalries in Sports
5. Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Auburn Tigers - College Football
4. New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles - NFL
3. Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Longhorns - College Football
2. Duke Blue Devils vs. North Carolina Tar Heels - College Basketball
1. Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees - MLB
BIG A RECOMMENDS…
Pabst Blue Ribbon - Available at stores everywhere
I don’t drink beer often. But, when I do, I prefer it to be cheap, intoxicating, and able to take me to kinder and gentler times. I get that when I drink Pabst Blue Ribbon.
While I was not too close with my grandmother, Lilly, she was the only grandparent that I can remember vividly in my mind. My mom’s parents both passed away before I was born and my dad’s father was in a nursing home and passed away by the time I could remember him. The only memories I have of visiting my grandparents involve my grandma Lilly. When I think of her, I think of five things: Dale Earnhardt, junk, High Point, High Rock Lake, and Pabst Blue Ribbon. She loved Dale Earnhardt with a passion and was buried in one of his driving suits with a #3 on her casket. She ran a junk yard in Burlington. She lived in High Point, NC and had a residence at High Rock Lake in Davidson County. Also, she ran off of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.
There are many who say PBR is the beer of choice for the hipsters of the world right now. Maybe they are right. But, I know that I enjoy it because it takes me to a time when I was younger and my only worry was if I was going to make it home on Monday night in time for RAW. I wish I could go back to those days. With enough PBRs, I can.
WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK…
I’ve learned… um, not much. More than anything I suppose, I’ve learned that I really need to write more than once a month. Ha! I’ll try harder next time.
-- Aaron Goins
