These four things I know are true…
- Miranda Lambert is awesome for more than just joining CM Punk in hating Chris Brown.
- Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus should have top billing for WrestleMania XXVIII.
- Kate Upton is the human incarnation of “Giggidy.”
- And, I’m Aaron Goins. All my thoughts on these topics and so much more (including the 2012 Oscars and Grammy Awards)… in The Highlight Reel!
NEWS and NOTES
**The Road to WrestleMania XXVIII is well underway with tons of familiar faces finally making their first appearances since last year’s WrestleMania. Frankly, we all know where I fall in this discussion. I hate it. Some of the greatest WrestleMania events of all-time featured the Superstars and Divas who perform night in and night out having the biggest match of their year on the biggest stage of them all. Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant did not disappear for a year between WrestleMania II and III. Steve Austin and The Rock did not disappear between WrestleMania 2000 and X7 (Austin was out because of injury and not filmmaking or old age). Sadly, the current WWE would rather reward names from the past that only show up for one night than reward the men and women who break their bodies nightly so that there is a business to have WrestleMania in the first place.
The main event for WrestleMania XXVIII is John Cena vs. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Set almost one year ago, Dwayne Johnson finally returned to the WWE on February 27th to discuss the match up after taking time away from the ring to promote his latest film. No, let’s rephrase that with the truth and not the WWE rhetoric. Dwayne Johnson appeared on RAW, taking time away from his Hollywood career, to pander to his former wrestling fans in hopes that they will see his next film and believe that he still cares about their support and not just their money. I have adamantly trashed John Cena and the “Super Cena” for years. However, I respect John Cena as a man and I respect Cena’s dedication to the business that has made him millions. That seems to be the basis for this feud. While it works for a match, should it be the main event? Hell NO! A feud based on tweets because one of the participants is a Hollywood actor should not be the main event for the biggest event of the year. Of course, that is a better basis than the co-main event.
The Undertaker will go 20-0 after he defeats Triple H, again, at WrestleMania as they meet inside Hell in a Cell on April 1st. Nobody wants this match. Hell in a Cell makes the match more appealing. However, the gimmick is taking a dead horse and standing it up. The horse is still dead and it will not run. I do not care for a bloodless, neutered WWE PG-version of Heck in a Cell featuring the Son-in-Law and Old Man Callaway. The only buzz surrounding this match is how The Undertaker shaved his head and his hair did not return for WrestleMania. Nobody cares for this match but the promotion machine will push it as if it has fans on the edge of their seats. Again, I am sure it will be entertaining. However, is this match between a semi-retired wrestler and a guy who works one night a year really a main event? No.
This illogical booking mindset has even tarnished the WWE Championship CM Punk will defend the gold against the returning Chris Jericho at WrestleMania. While this will be an outstanding match, the sad truth is that the match should not be happening because Chris Jericho, who returned on January 2nd, will be leaving for his musical endeavors in April. Chris Jericho is taking the main event spot that should belong to Dolph Ziggler, Alberto Del Rio, or anybody else who has worked more than a handful of dates since 2010.
The only match currently on the WrestleMania card that should be a main event is a match in danger of becoming a “DVD exclusive.” Don’t believe me? It happened last year so why wouldn’t WWE pull World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus in favor of Dwayne Johnson delivering a 20-minute monologue. The World Heavyweight Championship and winning the Royal Rumble clearly do not matter in the WWE anymore so anything can happen concerning this match, the only legit main event on the card, being disrespected beyond belief.
As the Road to WrestleMania XXVIII continues, I have little to no doubt that WWE will waste men like Dolph Ziggler, Cody Rhodes, The Miz, Mark Henry, Alberto Del Rio, Jack Swagger, Christian, Kofi Kingston, and even Randy Orton at WrestleMania. They are too close to a consistent performer to grace the main event of the biggest show of the year. They perform until injuries (or failed drug tests, right Randall?) force them from the lineup without taking time off for music, Hollywood, or vacation. They are the professional wrestlers who should be in the main event spots. Yet, Vince loves his relics from yesteryear. WrestleMania XXVIII will stand as testament to that.
**At February’s Against All Odds pay-per-view, the major story to come out of TNA’s event was that former head writer/booker Vince Russo was no longer a part of TNA Wrestling. For years, Russo’s inept booking held TNA back. However, Russo’s final days with the company became a much bigger story than they really should have been because Russo has not booked TNA Wrestling since last Fall. When TNA removed Russo from the head booker position, Robert Roode and James Storm became main event players while Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff moved into sideshow roles within the company. Honestly, I had no clue Russo was even contributing to the company in any form or fashion when news broke of his release.
What should have been the biggest story to come out of Against All Odds is that World Champion Robert Roode has firmly established himself as one of the premiere heels in the industry today. Roode defeated James Storm, Jeff Hardy, and Bully Ray to retain the TNA World title despite the wishes of Guest Referee and TNA “official” Sting.
Shortly after Against All Odds, Storm became the number one contender for the TNA World title on Impact and will receive his championship match on April 15th at Lockdown in Nashville, Tennessee. Meanwhile, Roode and Sting’s conflict will come to a head on March 18th at Victory Road in a non-title match. I love that Storm and Roode’s rivalry will come to a head on the Lockdown stage. That event is one of the marquee events of the TNA year and a perfect battleground for the collision of Beer Money. In addition, if Roode can score a victory over Sting, it will only help establish Roode as a main event star even more. TNA continues to move in a positive direction in the Post-Russo Era that began shortly after Bound for Glory 2011.
Of course, not all is well in TNA Wrestling. With Gail Kim still as Knockouts Champion, the Knockouts Division is stuck in a lull that will remain until Kim drops the title to anyone else. While I would prefer Mickie James as champion, I like the idea of Madison Rayne battling Kim at Victory Road. With both as partners in crime and Knockouts tag Team Champions, the animosity and professional jealousy make for a great angle. If the payoff is that Kim drops the title to Rayne, everything about this is a win.
I do find myself watching TNA and wondering when some of their singles stars will find their way back into the shuffle. Abyss, Devon, and Elijah Burke have all disappeared over the last month. Thanks to the AJ Styles-Christopher Daniels feud, Frankie Kazarian and Ken Anderson have spots on TV again. Robbie E is slowly bringing back some credibility to the TV Championship. Samoa Joe and Magnus are now Tag Team Champions after defeating Matt Morgan and Crimson while Austin Aries continues to dominate the X-Division title picture. Meanwhile, the main event picture has guys like Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, and Bully Ray participating in main event angles without being in the main event. They are talents stuck in limbo without anything meaningful going on right now. Hopefully they will find themselves in a meaningful angle soon enough because TNA needs more solid main event angles without involving Garret Bischoff, Hulk Hogan, Gunner, Eric Bischoff, or Ric Flair.
**Ring of Honor Wrestling celebrated 10 years in business on February 23rd. In conjunction with that anniversary, ROH returns to pay-per-view on Sunday, March 4th with their 10th Anniversary Special: Young Wolves Rising from New York City. The more I look at this card, the more I believe that Ring of Honor is the best company that nobody is watching today. Also, I believe that Ring of Honor could benefit from a change within the booking staff to prioritize the World Championship over the Tag Team titles.
The main event at Young Wolves Rising is a tag team match where World Champion Davey Richards and his Team Richards training partner Kyle O’Reilly take on Eddie Edwards and O’Reilly’s former Future Shock partner Adam Cole. Instead of having a World Championship match on this important card, the main event is a tag match based on petty squabbling that spilt up two tag teams. The World Champion is in the match but the feud is about training partners, tag teams, and desires to win the Tag Team Championships more than anything. As important as tag team wrestling is, and ROH emphasizes this, the World Championship should be the ultimate prize in any promotion. Ring of Honor says this but their booking does not enforce what is said.
Meanwhile, the Tag Team Champions Mark and Jay Briscoe defend against Matt and Nick Jackson while former champions Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin face Kenny King and Rhett Titus of the All Night Express. TV Champion Jay Lethal will defend against the undefeated Tommaso Ciampa and Kevin Steen, one of ROH’s most polarizing figures, will battle Jimmy Jacobs in a Fight Without Honor.
I’m sure that the event will be a terrific show for fans of professional wrestling. I wish that the main event featured Davey Richards defending the ROH title. Even more so, I wish he were losing that ROH title to someone else. However, soon enough, the Richards Era in ROH will end and perhaps the ROH title can become as interesting and important as a world title should be.
**I went with the Beavis to the historic Greensboro Coliseum on February 19th for one of the most awesome concerts I have ever attended. We saw Chris Young and Jerrod Niemann join country superstar Miranda Lambert as Miranda Lambert’s 2012 On Fire Tour hit Greensboro. This concert seemed almost destined never to happen. Originally scheduled for January 19th, I did not have the money to get tickets for the show on its original date. Then, Miranda’s husband, Blake Shelton, lost his father so Lambert postponed the concert for the funeral. I was able to get tickets and everything seemed fine until February 19th rolled around. That is when winter finally occurred in 2012. We traveled to Greensboro in snow, sleet, and conditions normally found in northern Canada. Still, driving by four crashes and making the one-hour journal in almost two hours, we arrived for the concert without a second thought of the dangers coming home.
The show itself was fantastic! If you ever have the chance to see Miranda Lambert live in concert, do not pass it up! Miranda’s set was energetic and on fire (as the tour was billed) from the opening numbers of “Fastest Girl in Town” and “Kerosene” through “Baggage Claim”, “Only Prettier”, “Gunpowder and Lead”, and “White Liar.” Miranda included covers of songs from Lady Gaga, Tom Petty, Aretha Franklin, and Waylon Jennings in her set. It was a phenomenal show. Chris Young continued to show that he is one of the brightest stars of country music’s future with an outstanding set full of hits like “The Man I Want to Be”, “You”, “Getting’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)”, and “Tomorrow.” Plus, Jerrod Niemann started things off in a rocking way with a terrific set including “What Do You Want” and “Lover, Lover.”
As for the journey home, it could not have gone smoother. Miranda Lambert was truly on fire because that show warmed the atmosphere enough to have the roads clear, the snow gone, and the North Carolina sky clear as a crystal. For a concert that seemed destined never to happen for me, it turned into one of the best concert-going experiences of my life. Miranda Lambert, Chris Young, and Jerrod Niemann put on one hell of a show.
**The 2012 Daytona 500 had a fiery crash that delayed things for over two hours after rain delayed the start of the race for 36 hours. Danica Patrick finished 38th. Jimmie Johnson crashed on Lap 2 and finished 42nd. Ratings were up 22% from last year for the race despite it airing on Monday night.
With all of these stories though, I had one question: Who won? I guess that was not important enough to crack the major media outlets. That is more of a testament to NASCAR’s place than anything else is.
**Since the last edition of The Highlight Reel, the music world lost one of the great voices of a generation when Whitney Houston passed away at the age of 48 on February 11th. Houston battled drug abuse and alcoholism for almost two decades. Her struggles, and denial of her demons, made her passing comedic fodder for many (including yours truly) because Whitney ultimately wasted her talents and her life on her own terms.
When I think of Whitney Houston, I will always think about her drug abuse first. The sad truth is that, as much of a talent as she was, drugs and alcoholism dominated her life more than music. However, that is not to say that I will forget her music. Her version of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” from The Bodyguard soundtrack was one of the vocal performances in R&B history while her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner before Super Bowl XXV in 1991 will go down as one of the greatest performances of our national anthem in sports history. Whitney Houston was an amazing performer. Sadly, her personal demons lessened her gifts and ultimately claimed her life much too soon.
**The 2012 Grammy Awards were the Night of Adele. Yeah, I do not understand why either. I have listened to the music of Adele enough to say I have given the British vocalist a fair chance. I don’t like her. I just don’t. Her vocals are too loud and unintelligible at times. I am not a fan. However, the Grammy voters certainly were fans as Adele walked away with five awards including all three of the major awards: Record, Album, and Song of the Year.
Despite having a majority of the top selling albums and tours in all of music over the last year, the Grammy voters ignored the country genre in the major categories. Therefore, my focus on the 2012 Grammy Awards solely went to the country genre awards. Taylor Swift left with two more Grammy Awards as she won for Best Solo Performance and Best Country Song for “Mean.” In addition, Lady Antebellum won their second consecutive Grammy for Best Country Album as they won for Own the Night. I support those awards wholeheartedly.
**I think that everybody with a shred of common sense and decency inside themselves hates Chris Brown. Not only is the R&B singer worthy of hatred because of his God-awful music, Chris Brown deserves hatred for his lack of remorse stemming from an incident in 2009 where Brown brutally assaulted Rihanna before the 2009 Grammy Awards. There are many stars who have been accused of domestic abuse and survived the scandal by begin apologetic and showing genuine remorse over the incident. Chris Brown is not one of those men. Yet, Brown is celebrated again in his musical genre and it is rubbing many people the wrong way. Thank to Twitter, two celebrities lashed out and have created two celebrity feuds as country singer Miranda Lambert and WWE Superstar CM Punk have both taken Brown and the music industry to task for celebrating the man.
At the 2012 Grammy Awards, Chris Brown won a Grammy and performed twice. Miranda Lambert, a Grammy winner in her own right, showed her dismay with this by tweeting about her disgust with him performing twice. Brown’s naïve fans supported him while Lambert’s fan showed support to her by suggesting Brown listen to “Gunpowder and Lead” before thinking of beating another woman.
Then, CM Punk entered the fray. The WWE Champion tweeted about a desire to curb stomp the R&B singer at WrestleMania. Brown replied that Punk was a steroid user unable to please a woman because of steroid-damaged private parts. The war was on. The two have bickered on Twitter for weeks now with most siding with Punk. However, the victim of Brown’s rage, Rihanna, has sided with her former beau in a sign that she perhaps does not deserve the sympathy she has received before of her sheer stupidity.
I think it is hilarious that Chris Brown bit when CM Punk trolled him. Brown has argued with Punk on Twitter and Punk has received some of the best mainstream press of his career from it. Meanwhile, Brown showed himself a coward by refusing to acknowledge Miranda Lambert. Lambert, a counterpart in the musical world, is a woman offering more of a physical threat to Brown than Rihanna so Brown is afraid and his fear is comical. CM Punk comes out with more fans and fame, Miranda Lambert comes away with more press and fans, and Chris Brown remains the jerk while Rihanna stays the fool by her jerk‘s side.
**The 84th Academy Awards took place on February 26th. It was a night all about The Artist. The silent French film took home Best Picture, Best Director (for Michel Hazanavicius), Best Actor (for Jean Dujardin), Best Original Score, and Best Costume Design. While I have not watched the film, I just don’t see how a black and white, silent film could be the best film cinema had to offer in 2011.
The Academy robbed The Help regarding Best Picture. However, the film did receive some recognition as Octavia Spencer won Best Supporting Actress. Meryl Streep won Best Actress for her performance in The Iron Lady while the most popular awarding of the night was The Muppets winning Best Original Song for “Man or Muppet.”
For my money, I said The Help was the best film of 2011 in my Year in Review edition of The Highlight Reel and I stand by it. I would add though that Drive, a movie I did not see until the end of January, was a film deserving of nominations overlooked and under-appreciated by the Academy. It was all about The Artist though at the Academy Awards this year. Good for it. Bad for us because the movie-going public is about to be inundated with knockoffs as silent, black and white, foreign films are going to become the rage in Hollywood.
**On April 7th, 2013, World Wrestling Entertainment will tempt fate once again with a WrestleMania seemingly destined for failure. WrestleMania XXIX will emanate from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. WrestleMania will be in an outdoor stadium in New Jersey at a time of year when the average high is 50, average low is 35, and snowfalls of outstanding proportion occur regularly well into the second week of April. This could be an outstanding venue for WrestleMania. However, it could be one of the greatest disasters in the history of the industry too. I think we all know what I am rooting for.
**The 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition hit newsstands a week or so ago. For the first time in a long time, Big A is full of interest for this magazine and it is because of the cover girl.
Kate Upton. That is all. Seriously, she is just… wow!
CHEERS and JEERS
Superstar of the Week: Jeremy Lin
On February 4th, Jeremy Lin outplayed Nets’ guard Deron Williams in a 99-92 New York Knicks victory over the New Jersey Nets. Little did we all know then that this game would be the beginning over a movement that swept the nation called Linsanity.
Thanks to injuries, New York Knicks benchwarmer Jeremy Lin received an opportunity to play major minutes for the Knicks. Lin took this opportunity and sparked a media-created movement that has taken the sports world by storm. Lin led a turnaround of the 8-15 Knicks, turning them into a .500 team at one point and a legit quality team in the Eastern Conference (currently 17-18, 7th in the conference). With this, the media jumped on the chance for Jeremy Lin puns in headlines and New York fell in love with their Asian American underdog.
While I agree with some sports personalities like Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd that Linsanity has grown out of proportions already, I can not take away a bit of the talent shown by this young man over the span of a few weeks. Jeremy Lin made the most of his opportunity and that is all you can ask for in life: an opportunity. Lin got his chance and made the most of it. I have nothing but respect for the man behind Linsanity.
Jerk of the Week: Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Over the last month, Floyd Mayweather has run his mouth off at levels even absurd for the man called “Money.” From showing cowardice by ducking the one fighter that could save his sport to playing the race card regarding a phenomenon he cannot understand, Mayweather’s mouth has made him an early contender for Jerk of the Year.
Repeatedly in February, Floyd Mayweather took to Twitter to call out rival Manny Pacquiao repeatedly. Mayweather continued to duck Pacquiao, using disputes about fight payments and other merely outrageous claims, through ridiculous tweets. Then, in the height of Linsanity, Floyd Mayweather took to Twitter to say that Jeremy Lin was only a popular news story because Lin was Asian-American. Really, Floyd? Did you need to say that at all?
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is one of the greatest boxers of all-time. That is a fact. However, Mayweather is a complete tool in the game of life. His fear of Manny Pacquiao has reached ridiculous proportions. It is only a matter of time before he runs out of insults or excuses to duck PacMan. More importantly though, Mayweather had no right to criticize Jeremy Lin by playing the race card. The kid is winning basketball games and enjoying his moment in the sun. Similarly, Floyd would not have taken a cheap shot like that if Jeremy Lin was African-American either. Who looks like the racist? You do, Mayweather. Another great adjective to add to a list that includes greedy, cowardly, and jerk.
POWER RANKINGS - Favorite Miranda Lambert Songs
5. “Baggage Claim” off the album Four The Record
4. “Over You” off the album Four The Record
3. “The House That Built Me” off the album Revolution
2. “Kerosene” off the album Kerosene
1. “Only Prettier” off the album Revolution
BIG A RECOMMENDS…
Taco Bell presents the Doritos Locos Tacos - coming this March 8th
Normally, I recommend something that everyone can get immediately because I believe it is awesome. In this case, I am recommending an item in advance because it is going to be awesome. Case in point: the Doritos Locos Tacos. Taco Bell taco + a shell made from Doritos = Win, win, a thousand times WIN! March 8th will be one of the greatest days in the history of junk food. If you don’t have one on that day, I pity you.
WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK…
On February 27th at around 10PM, Rich Brenner passed away of a massive heart attack at the age of 65. While that name does not mean much to many, here in this neck of the world, Rich Brenner meant sports. Brenner was the long-time sports director and lead sports anchor on WGHP 8 for Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, and the surrounding Piedmont Triad. Brenner worked for WGHP for 21 years before retiring in 2008. His Sports Sunday telecast after the Sunday evening news was appointment television for many (including myself) while his commentaries on the biggest stories in sports always gave insight and a human touch to the outrageous and sometimes outlandish world of sports in America. Rich Brenner was one of my favorite sports personalities growing up. I loved the energy, excitement, and genuine enjoyment that he took with the world of sports and displayed on every broadcast.
After he retired, I contacted Brenner on Facebook and spoke with him a couple of times over the years. Primarily speaking about NASCAR and how the sport lost its way, it was nice to find a sports anchor in the heart of NASCAR country who called out NASCAR concerning the way the sport sold its soul. It was his refreshing honesty in those brief conversations that showed me his commentaries on the local news were as genuine as they appeared. Rich Brenner was never a gimmick; he was genuine from day one.
Rich Brenner inspired me, as a young child, in the same way I was inspired by Bobby Heenan, Jim Ross, Pat Summerall, Mike Hogwood, Gordon Solie, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons, and Gorilla Monsoon. The men who reported the sporting news and performed the commentary for the events were just as important as the sports themselves. From a young age, I loved the discussion about the action as much as the action itself. It is why I love sports television today. The names and faces may have changed. I have Michelle Beadle, Colin Cowherd, Skip Bayless, Tony Kornheiser, Dan Le Batard, and Michael Smith now but it all started with the local sports man who perked my interest as a kid.
Thank you, Rich Brenner, for that. Thank you and RIP.
- Aaron Goins
This is a special edition of The Highlight Reel. With Super Bowl XLVI still fresh on all our minds, let’s look back at the day every sports fan looks forward to as if it is Christmas morning. In many ways, Super Bowl Sunday indeed is Sports Christmas. You get up early for pre-festivities. You indulge in overeating with friends and family. The game finally begins and it is truly a blessed time for all. Even the commercials are little gifts from corporate heaven.
This edition of The Highlight Reel is my running diary of thoughts throughout Super Bowl XLVI as composed on Facebook, Twitter, and on paper. A lot of it may not make sense. A lot of it may not be funny, smart, or meaningful out of the context of the moment. However, this is a special edition. Something new. This is Super Bowl XLVI through the eyes of yours truly.
SUPER BOWL XLVI by the Minute
1:25pm - Started watching SportsNation with Michelle Beadle from the DVR. Herm Edwards is in instead of Colin Cowherd. Also, Beadle has puppies on the show. She’s so happy and that makes me happy.
1:47pm - Super Bowl Sunday!!! Wooo! Kicking things off with SportsNation’s Puppy Bowl. Michelle Beadle, Herm Edwards, breaking news, and puppies! Check out that tweet and tell me you don’t love her... and I’ll call you a liar, Good Sir.
2:19pm - Michelle’s taking Giants. Jett, the puppy, is taking the Giants. I’m pulling for the Giants but still think Patriots win big. Beadle is 2-0 though.
3:15pm - Pizza and sub from Jerry’s Pizza is here. Beer is cold. Super Bowl Sunday is now officially ON!
3:30pm - NBC is trying to make the Patriots less villainous by interviewing owner Bob Kraft about the death of his beloved wife, Myra Kraft. It has worked... almost.
3:37pm - The Hunger Games can’t get here quick enough!
3:55pm - What in the bluest of blue hell was that song and dance from the NBC employees? Wow. Just, wow. It was charming though.
4:04pm - F*ck Madonna! Worst Halftime Show Ever! Calling it already.
4:06pm - Madonna, you were chose for halftime because the people booking the show think it's 1985. Shut your hole, you filthy, diseased, overrated hack!
4:11pm - It’s time for the David Tyree Story.
4:26pm - Lenny Kravitz is performing. In a couple of months, he’ll be known only as a character in The Hunger Games film.
4:34pm - President Obama is talking. NOOOOOOOO!
4:45pm - Alex Flanagan is just mmm, mmm, good.
4:46pm - Alex Flanagan sighting. @TheSauce66 is fapping. - via Twitter
4:56pm - The Steve Gleason story is breaking my heart right now. God bless him.
5:40pm - Took a break from pregame and came back to Optimus Prime and Megatron taking over. I’m not drunk either.
5:41pm - Okay, it’s almost game time. Here’s the $64,000 question - Who You Got?!?
5:43pm - My heart screams “Geaux Giants” (See what I did there? Pandering.) But, I’m picking the Patriots, 31-17. Hopefully my girlfriend (yeah, I said it) Michelle Beadle is right and it’ll be the Giants
5:47pm - Aaron Rodgers looks bitter while praising Eli and Brady. Discount Double Check the attitude, man. You lost.
5:49pm - My father is taking “The Giants over... ahhh... arghhh. Dem, dem, dem other boys.” I think he’s taking the Giants because he can’t say Patriots.
5:54pm - And, The Beavis is taking the Giants. Her quote, “F*ck Tom Brady.” My mom is pretty damn cool, LOL.
5:58pm - Did they just run an ad for Meredith Vierra interviewing an intern who banged President John F. Kennedy?!? WTF, NBC!
6:00pm - Faith Hill is on! Oh, Shucky, Ducky, Quack, Quack!
6:04pm - “Here. We. Go. Giants by 3. And pay attention to the commercials right after 1st and 3rd quarters. Might just blow your mind (lessons taken)” - Michelle Beadle via Twitter. Now, I’m stoked!
6:09pm - The Patriots should come out to the music of the Black Eyed Peas… only way to make them more hated.
6: 15pm - Blake and Miranda! Loving it! Why are they not playing halftime?
6:18pm - Again! Oh, Shucky, ducky, quack, quack! Kelly Clarkson!
6:26pm - New England draws first blood and wins coin toss.
6:31pm - CM Punk, Jim Ross, and Michelle Beadle should be calling this game. Just saying.
6:40pm - Why can’t Jason Voorhees show up and kill all of these hipster vampire posers? #Audi Commercial
6:41pm - 2-0 Giants. Tom Brady just f’ed up!
6:51pm - 12 men on the field? New England is killing themselves early with mistakes. Belichick should have coached them up instead of lurking under an Indianapolis bridge this week.
7:02pm - MICHELLE BEADLE IN A COMMERCIAL!!! Ahhhhhh! *Marked out for a moment* Troy Aikman there too was a bonus. Aikman is a God.
7:04pm - Uh-oh! @MichelleDBeadle just stole the show. Best Super Bowl commercial yet. - via Twitter
7:10pm - Nothing makes me want to do my taxes like swimming in my own urine. Lame job, TaxAct.
7:15pm - Howard Stern is on America’s Got Talent? Shouldn’t the judges have talent? #OverratedHack
7:48pm - Danny Woodhead has come to play! Great drive from the little man. TD Pats.
7:51pm - 10-9 Patriots at halftime and New England gets the ball first in the second half... the momentum may be in the Evil Empire’s favor.
8:02pm - Holy sh*t! Was Madonna wearing Triple H’s “Gonad the Barbarian” attire from WrestleMania 22?
8:06pm - I miss Halftime Heat.
8:10pm - Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert were all just there. Could they not have given them the spotlight to give fans a great show?
8:14pm - Sweet Baby Jesus, it’s over! Don’t ever let Madonna within 500 miles of Halftime ever again!
8:15pm - Betty White saves the day once again!
8:19pm - CLINT EASTWOOD IS KILLING IT RIGHT NOW! Love this ad from Clint... He’s giving Morgan Freeman a run for his money in voice-over greatness.
8:24pm - What?!? Was that Ochocinco?!? I thought he was dead!
8:28pm - Tom Brady just committed murder. He killed the Giants defense. 17-9
8:41pm - That Fiat commercial just gave me a boner that could club baby seals.
8:44pm - JPP is hurting. This may hurt NY more than anything. #GetUpMan
8:50pm - Oh Michelle is back in a commercial! Say it with me, y’all! SHUCKY DUCKY QUACK QUACK!!!
8:51pm - Well Aaron Goins, Jr. is gonna be happy, there’s his girl again. - via Chris Knight
8:52pm - Woo, woo, woo! You know it! - response to Chris
8:53pm - The smirk of @MichelleDBeadle during the baby test > any other SB46 commercial. Fact. - via Twitter
8:54pm - Did Al Michaels just say “Fondling some beads?” I know a Beads I’d like to be fondling but... I swore he just said that. LOL
8:59pm - Had to post the link. Best tweet of the night yet. Even had the smirk I loved in the commercial. Beadle is crushing the commercials.
Went to the bathroom. Came out. Boom. #obnoxioustweet #hadtodoit #wonthappenagain - via Michelle Beadle’s twitter
9:02pm - 4th quarter coming up. Pats up 17-15. New York has GOT to put the ball in the end zone. Field goals alone won’t win. This isn’t college.
9:03pm - Huge INT!!! Gronk got GRONKED
9:06pm - This Ferris Bueller commercial just killed a part of my childhood.
9:13pm - Here We Go! That dog might make me give up the cats, lol.
9:13pm - When are we gonna get the Coke Polar Bear ad where they get Type 2 diabetes from all the Coke?
9:17pm - What is up with this poor usage of the time outs, Stephen Matthew King? I know you got inside knowledge.
9:29pm - The first down may have been the ball game. Giants are letting New England eat too much clock away.
9:32pm - Eli’s time to prove his worth.
9:34pm - That’s a catch. Don’t overturn this for Rumpelstiltskin Belichick.
9:38pm - The dark lord is not pleased with that call. *Belichick puts his hood on*
9:41pm - Two minutes for the rest of your lives.
9:47pm - Touchdown!
9:47pm - Crazy, crazy moment. Trying to explain strategy to Frank is insane too. I should know better.
9:48pm - The drops are going to kill New England.
9:49pm - Justin TUCK! Crushing life and Tom Brady!
9:53pm - Congrats New York Giants!!! Great finish! 21-17 Giants win!
9:54pm - Eli Manning just punched his ticket to the Hall of Fame! FACT!
10:00pm - Eli Manning is ELIte but Mario Manningham is the most clutch man of the night. What a catch. Wow!
10:03pm - Would like to point out that in @SportsNation history: @MichelleDBeadle is 3-0 @ESPN_Colin is 0-3 in SBowl picks. @GabeTheWP get this on-air. - via Twitter
10:08pm - Eli Manning should be allowed to have Gisele Bundchen as his concubine for a month after this.
10:10pm - Well... 214 days until football season starts again. What do we do now, kids?
10:13pm - And @ESPN_Colin is working on his excuses now... long night for him. Give him hell tomorrow @MichelleDBeadle & @SportsNation crew. - via Twitter
10:14pm - The Walking Dead returns next week. Same level of excitement, right @theknightshift? - via Twitter
10:52pm - So, I have that for my profile picture for a week. Lesson learned. I will never, ever, got against Michelle Beadle’s prediction again. Mama tried to save me. #PatriotsFailed #LessoLearned
CHEERS and JEERS
Superstar of the Week: The New York Giants
In a competitive rematch of Super Bowl XLII, the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots for a second time in four seasons as the G-Men won Super Bowl XLVI 21-17. For a second time on the biggest stage of them all, Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin went into battle as underdogs against the much heralded and respected Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and came out victorious. The New York Giants were 9-7 in the regular season. In December, they were 7-7 with fans calling for the heads of Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin. Now, both men are Hall of Fame worthy after another miraculous run ending in victory over the Patriots. Congratulations to the New York Giants. Four Super Bowl Championships. Two Super Bowl MVP awards for Eli Manning. Immortality for the G-Men.
Jerk of the Week: Aaron Goins
Yeah, I am the jerk of the week. I know better than to pick against Michelle Beadle. I know better than to ever pick the New England Patriots for anything. Yet, I went against my gut, my heart, and my Amore as I selected the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl. Now, I have the following for a Facebook profile picture for a week.
Yes. I have a baby picture from Brian McNail as my punishment for selecting New England. I should have never picked the Patriots. Now, I am suffering. However, I have also learned a valuable lesson (known in some circles as a lesso): never doubt Michelle Beadle. Much like when you doubt El Dandy, bad things come to those who doubt the Beadster.
WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK…
It is simple. Never, ever, pick against Michelle Beadle on the Super Bowl. Bad things will happen if you do.
Also, I had the importance of the National Football League reconfirmed in the form of a Super Bowl experience that was simply magical. Even with two teams playing that I normally loathe, the game was an event that I would not miss. It was a happening like no other. I feel sorry for those who willingly missed the moment in American history as they missed sharing an experience with a record 111 million viewers at home and millions more watching around the world. Only the greatest in sports can create this… happening. The World Cup. The Olympics. The Super Bowl. The other two only come around every four years but the Super Bowl is a once a year moment that connects the country and the world. Regardless of social status, age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or any other way that divides us, Super Bowl Sunday is a day when we all are one thing: football fans. I love this game.
Until next season, be good to yourself and each other…
- Aaron Goins
These four things I know are true…
- The Patriots will get redemption for Super Bowl XLII on Sunday in Super Bowl XLVI.
- Irish eyes were smiling at the 2012 Royal Rumble while wrestling fans’ eyes were heavy from boredom.
- The passing of Joe Paterno was painfully awkward for more than just CBS Sports’ premature announcement.
- And, I’m Aaron Goins. All my thoughts on these topics and so much more (including the awesomeness that is Chael Sonnen)… in The Highlight Reel!
NEWS and NOTES
**We are only days away from the biggest game of the year as Super Bowl XLVI emanates from Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday with the rematch of the century as the New York Giants play the New England Patriots. Four years ago, the Giants crushed New England’s attempt at perfection and won Super Bowl XLII, 17-14. So, this game is all about Tom Brady and New England’s revenge, right. If you listen to certain members of the media, you would believe that to be true. However, I think that revenge is the last thing on this New England Patriots team’s mind heading into this game. There are only a handful of players left on either team from that game in 2008. This game is about winning in the here and now.
The New England Patriots have the talent. Tom Brady, love him or hate him, is the best quarterback in the league today. He is healthy, talented, does more with less than anybody else in the league does, and plays best with a chip on his shoulder. Bill Belicheck is football’s evil genius. His mind for game planning and desire for inflicting humiliating punishment on foes is second to none. The talk over the last four years of the New England dynasty being over have created a monster in New England that will only be satisfied when holding the Lombardi Trophy again. The New York Giants have the heart. Eli Manning is on the verge of his second Super Bowl ring while trying to emerge from the shadow of his superstar brother. They are loaded on both sides of the ball with role players who lack name recognition but have immense talent. Also, New York is rolling into Indianapolis with momentum on their side in a laundry list of improbable victories.
I want the New York Giants to win the Super Bowl. I am not a fan of the Giants. Being a Dallas Cowboys fan, I get physically ill when watching the New York Giants succeed. However, I am that much more ill and nauseous thinking of Tom Brady and Bill Belicheck winning a fourth Super Bowl ring. I hate the New England Patriots. The aura of smugness that comes from New England and the majority of their fans is enough to turn off anybody with a sense of self-worth. Yet, I am predicting the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XLVI. Tom Brady has been a man on a mission in the 2011 season. He has the two best weapons in the game today in tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob “The Gronk” Gronkowski at his disposal. Plus, Bill Belicheck will bring the level of evil in his game plan up another level for this game. As much as I believe revenge is not a factor for the players in this game, revenge is the sole motive for Belicheck. On Sunday, payback will be a… Belicheck.
Sorry Michelle. I believe in the movement. However, it will be New England holding the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the night. Patriots 31-Giants 17. I hope I am wrong. #PeopleAgainstThePats.
**One thing that I know is certain regarding Super Bowl XLVI is that the halftime show will suck on epic levels. For some reason, NFL officials believe that Madonna is a relevant halftime show in 2012. Either that or Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, and thousands of other acts were booked for the weekend. At least the National Anthem and pre-game music will be relevant and enjoyable as Kelly Clarkson will sing the “Star Spangled Banner” while the new power couple of country music, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, will perform “America the Beautiful.”
Meanwhile, I will be looking forward to commercial breaks more than usual during the big game. Michelle Beadle is part of a huge ad campaign for Bridgestone Tires. If Beadle is involved, I am totally there.
**Thanks to my hiatus from The Highlight Reel, I was unable to cover any of the NFL Playoffs. The 2012 NFL Playoffs were certainly a memorable postseason filled with unforgettable moments.
The magical run of the San Francisco 49ers ended in the NFC Championship Game with a 23-20 overtime loss to the New York Giants, thanks in part to the butterfingers and ineptitude of WR/KR Kyle Williams. However, San Francisco’s magical run included a 36-32 victory in the Divisional round over the New Orleans Saints in a game many are calling one of the greatest games in NFL history. Personally, I am one of those saying that too as the final five minutes of the game were among the most exciting in football history.
The Green Bay Packers showed, once again, why it is not wise to rest your starts for weeks heading into the postseason as the Packers were thoroughly dominated by the New York Giants in their Divisional round match-up. The 15-1 Packers, coming off a bye week and having not played their starters in Week 17 either, were crushed 37-20 by the Super Bowl-bound Giants. After seeing this with the Indianapolis Colts for years, you would think teams would realize you have to continue playing to stay fresh and mentally tough going into the playoffs. Sadly, the Packers now are another exhibit in the case for why you continue playing even after clinching everything.
The Baltimore Ravens almost stopped New England from returning to the Super Bowl. However, coach John Harbaugh forgot what time outs were for and kicker Billy Cundiff choked under the pressure as a rushed and botched game-tying field goal gave the Patriots a 23-20 victory in the AFC Championship. Surely a sign of black magic on the Patriots’ side, New England also had the devil in their back pocket when they destroyed the Denver Broncos in the Divisional round with a 45-10 victory. Despite the crushing defeat, Tebowmania reached a new pinnacle in the Wild Card round with a 29-23 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Tebow to Demaryius Thomas 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime caused many social media sites to crash as Tebowmania reached a new level of success.
While Super Bowl XLVI features two teams that most fans could care less about seeing, the road to the Super Bowl was paved with great games and legendary moments that will echo in the minds of football fans for years to come.
**One of the biggest stories in the National Football League currently does not even feature a man playing in the big game. The saga of Peyton Manning has taken center stage in Indianapolis as the Colts have imploded after their 2-14 season. Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano replaced former head coach Jim Caldwell. Vice chairman Bill Polian and general manager Chris Polian were wished well on their future endeavors. The Colts are primed to draft Stanford QB Andrew Luck with the top pick in the NFL Draft. The writing is on the wall: Peyton Manning is not going to be the quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts anymore. Peyton Manning is not taking this lightly. In an interview with the Indianapolis Star, Manning called the situation “depressing.” Colts owner Jim Irsay took to Twitter with comments that turned this into a spectacle.
Personally, I think Indianapolis is dumb for even considering the notion of letting Peyton Manning go to another club and starting fresh with rookie Andrew Luck. Luck, as gifted as he may be, is inheriting a dumpster fire in Indianapolis. There is nothing wrong with letting the young man learn from the sidelines for a couple of seasons while Peyton Manning, still one of the most talented quarterbacks in the game, finishes his legendary career. This idea appears to be foreign to the Colts though. Rumor flourish as to where Manning will play next as most of the league has interest in signing the first ballot Hall of Famer. I would love to see Peyton head to the New York Jets or the Dallas Cowboys but that is just the fan in me wanting improved situations for both of those teams. Wherever Peyton Manning goes though, I believe wholeheartedly that Manning will be better than the Colts.
**For the first time since 2008, I watched the Royal Rumble live when the 24th annual Royal Rumble (known in some circles as the 25th Anniversary) went down in St. Louis, Missouri on January 29th. I was entertained. It was not the greatest Royal Rumble card of all-time or the greatest Royal Rumble match of all-time. However, for the price I paid to see the show, I feel satisfied.
Sheamus won the 2012 Royal Rumble match and earned a World title match at WrestleMania XXVIII. Built up over the past month, it was easy to expect Sheamus to have a great showing in the Rumble match. However, there were only a handful of logical choices before the match to choose as potential winners. Sheamus was not one of them. The returning Chris Jericho seemed to be the odds-on favorite while hometown boy Randy Orton also looked like a lock for victory. In the end, Sheamus outlasted Jericho in an impressive duel reminiscent of Undertaker-Michaels in 2007 to win the Rumble.
While the Rumble match was infinitely better than the last two years, the Rumble match also spotlighted everything wrong with today’s current WWE product. First off, there was too much comedy in the Royal Rumble match. Plenty of great Rumble matches have featured a comedy spot as well as the nitty gritty action we love. This year, the Rumble match saw Ricardo Rodriquez go from Alberto Del Rio’s ring announcer to a parody of his employer in a genuinely awesome segment. Santino Marella did his thing to less than stellar results. Jerry Lawler, Booker T, and Michael Cole all left the announce position at various times as they were entrants in the match. In addition, the return of Kharma occurred to comedic effects. There was simply too much comedy in the Rumble match. Of course, the comedy occurred because the current WWE roster is so weak. Sheamus, Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, The Miz, Wade Barrett, and Cody Rhodes were outstanding talents featured in the Rumble match (some better than others). Christian, Ted DiBiase, and Del Rio were noticeable absent because of injury. But, is the roster so weak that we needed Ricardo, Cole, Lawler, Booker, Jim Duggan, Mick Foley, Road Dogg, Kharma, and double duty performances from Dolph Ziggler and Big Show? Apparently so. Considering the way the WWE is booking WrestleMania and their creative mindset over the last two years, we should expect that the WWE will not correct this flaw anytime in the near future either.
As for the undercard, CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler stole the show. For 15 minutes, their battle for the WWE Championship captivated audiences worldwide as these two men put on a wrestling match. The added aspect of RAW GM John Laurinatis did not take away from the match as Punk and Ziggler clicked wonderfully. Daniel Bryan retained the World Heavyweight Championship over Big Show and Mark Henry inside a steel cage. Beth Phoenix looked dominant in an eight-Diva Tag Team match where Phoenix, Natalya, and the Bella Twins defeated Kelly Kelly, Alicia Fox, Tamina, and Eve Torres. Brodus Clay squashed Drew McIntyre in another match lacking substance to help establish Clay while also kicking more dirt on the burial of McIntyre. Plus, John Cena and Kane battled to a double count-out in a brawl that was tediously boring with both men merely going through the motions.
The 2012 Royal Rumble was a fun card to watch for free. I feel bad for anybody who paid good money for the show. It was a disappointment in terms of delivering lasting and meaningful action.
**Recently, I have hated watching the WWE bury three Superstars who should be main event talents for the company. I expected the burials. I knew that their respective pushes would never last. Yet, watching the burials take place absolutely sucks.
Dolph Ziggler should be a world champion. He has the look, athletic ability, verbal skills, and all-around marketability to be a lasting fixture in the main event picture. Over two days, Ziggler went from legit main event star bumping the glass ceiling to jobber to the stars suffering from a broken neck after hitting the glass ceiling too hard. Despite a great match with WWE Champion CM punk, Punk hit Ziggler with his finishers and beat Ziggler four times in the title match at the Royal Rumble. Ziggler entered the Rumble match later and the returning Kharma manhandled him. A woman who gave birth a month earlier manhandled him. Then, the next night on RAW, Ziggler was promptly fed to Randy Orton in a one-on-one match. Frankly, Ziggler deserves better treatment than this. He may remain in the title picture but, after the events of those two days, he does not have a chance of being a champion anytime soon.
Zack Ryder defeated Dolph Ziggler at TLC in December 2011 for the United States Championship. It appeared as though Ryder’s cult-like following was finally paying off as Ryder was getting a push in the WWE. Then, the wheels came off the Ryder train. Ryder lost the US title to Jack Swagger. Then, Kane crushed Ryder repeatedly. Ryder was eventually written off the program with a severe back and neck injury suffered after becoming a pawn in the John Cena-Kane feud. So much for a lengthy US title reign and a 2012 full of success for Long Island Iced Z.
However, the worst burial of them all is World Wrestling Entertainment kicked dirt on an already-covered grave as they bury Drew McIntyre on a weekly basis now. Spending the majority of 2011 on online-exclusive programming, McIntyre has now appeared on SmackDown for a month in jobber duties. Then, at the Royal Rumble, Brodus Clay crushed McIntyre in 65 seconds. McIntyre, a former Intercontinental Champion and Vince McMahon’s “Chosen One,” is now a sad example of everything wrong with WWE booking. He has all the attributes necessary to be a wrestling star minus the ability to politic his way into a major spot. The day Drew is “wished well in his future endeavors” is a day I will celebrate because Drew McIntyre deserves his freedom.
**Joe Paterno, the winningiest coach in NCAA college football history, passed away at the age of 85 on January 22nd after complications from lung cancer. Paterno, the head coach at Penn State University from 1966 through November 2011, was the figurehead of the Nittany Lion program and one of the most recognizable figures in all of college athletics. As we all know, Paterno lost his job at Penn State in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky sex scandal that rocked college sports in November 2011. The Sandusky sex scandal tarnished Paterno’s legacy and led to his untimely removal from the head coaching position at Penn State. Also, this scandal made reactions to Paterno’s death a touchy and uncomfortable subject. Yes, Paterno did do wrong but he was not the primary wrongdoer. Joe Pa took the brunt of the animosity when he simply did not do enough in reporting the crimes. Outside of his failure to go the extra mile, Paterno seemed like a great man.
He is at peace now though and that is all that matters. Joe Paterno’s legacy was tarnished because of scandal. However, he is still one of the most successful coaches of all-time. Love him or hate him, that is a fact that is not debatable. That is how I am going to remember Joe Pa: leading the Nittany Lions from the sidelines in Happy Valley. RIP Joe Pa.
**Nominations for the 84th Academy Awards have been announced and I can safely say that I have not watched, nor have interest in seeing, the majority of the nominated films. Martin Scorsese’s family adventure/drama Hugo led all films with 11 nominations while the silent French comedy/drama The Artist trailed with 10. Moneyball and War Horse scored six nominations, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Descendents earned five nominations, and The Help and Midnight in Paris had four nominations.
This year’s race for Best Picture is between nine films: The Artist, The Descendents, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Help, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, The Tree of Life, and War Horse. Among these films, I have only watched The Help. I thoroughly believe that it was the best film of 2011. However, if I had to put money on which film will leave with the Best Picture Oscar on February 26th, I would place my bet on The Artist. It won the Golden Globe for Best Picture - Comedy/Musical and is the critical darling heading into the biggest awards show of the season.
I was disappointed in seeing Bridesmaids only receive two nominations, none of which was for Best Picture. Crazy, Stupid, Love also deserved a nomination or two in my opinion. The works of Ryan Gosling went unrecognized by the Oscar voters as his performances in Drive, Crazy, Stupid, Love, and The Ides of March did not receive a single nomination. This year’s Academy Awards is a ceremony that I will pay little attention to because the majority of the films honored lost my interest in the previews.
**On the other hand, I am extremely excited for the 47th edition of the Academy of Country Music Awards. Emanating from Las Vegas on April 1st, the country music world will be rocking Vegas like only America’s music can. Kenny Chesney led all nominees with nine nominations. Jason Aldean followed closely behind with six nominations, Lady Antebellum with five, Brad Paisley landed four, and Toby Keith, Eli Young Band, Grace Potter, and Taylor Swift all coming in with three nominations each.
Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, and Taylor Swift are up for Entertainer of the Year. While I like all five nominees and believe all are worthy of their nomination, I believe the omitting of Lady Antebellum from this award is just a huge mistake by the Academy of Country Music. For that matter, I can say the same for the omitting of Miranda Lambert from the award too. It is a huge statement though as to the current talent in country music when artists do not get a nomination and yet nobody nominated is there undeservedly. My vote, if I had one, goes to Taylor Swift. However, I believe the award will go to Kenny Chesney because his 2011 was outstanding.
It will be an outstanding show though. The best music in the world showcased on one of the biggest stages in entertainment. While WrestleMania XXVIII is destined to disappoint, the ACMs will bring it on April 1st.
**The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the LSU Tigers, 21-0, in the BCS Championship Game on January 9th in New Orleans, Louisiana. That is all. It was a garbage game and the worst possible National Championship match that could have happened. I still believe that Oklahoma State should have played for the National Championship and would have beaten either one of these schools.
**On January 7th, one of my dream girls officially went off the market as Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott wed Lady Antebellum drummer Chris Tyrrell in a small ceremony in upstate New York. Congrats to Hillary and Chris on their nuptials. I hope that boy knows how lucky he is…
… how very, very lucky he is.
CHEERS and JEERS
Superstar of the Week: Chael Sonnen
On January 28th, the second edition of UFC on FOX took place in Chicago, Illinois. On the three-fight telecast, Chael Sonnen stole the show when he got on the microphone for his post-fight interview. Going the full three rounds against Michael Bisping, I thought Bisping actually deserved the victory but Sonnen won by judges’ decision and earned a future Middleweight Championship fight with Anderson “Spider” Silva. While the decision of the fight was questionable, Sonnen’s dominance on the microphone was not. Channeling Roddy Piper, Ric Flair, and more recently CM Punk, Chael Sonnen cut a promo on his competitors and set the sport on fire in the process. Sonnen did more for the UFC on the microphone in sixty seconds than three fights going the distance did on Saturday night. Sonnen was awesome from the first word to the last. I’m a fan of this guy and will be watching what he does next inside the octagon.
Jerk of the Week: Francesco Schettino
On January 13th, the Costa Concordia partially sank after hitting a reef off the Italian coast and running aground at Isola del Giglio, Tuscany. Requiring the evacuation of the people on board, at least 17 people died, including 15 passengers and two crew members. Sixty-four others were injured (three seriously) and 16 remain missing today. In the moments following the collision with the reef, ship captain Francesco Schettino refused to assist passengers. He was restrained as he tried to escape the ship.
While Schettino is a jerk for showing such cowardice in the initial moments of the disaster, he earned the jerk title even more as this disaster is 100% Schettino’s fault. Liking to show off for his passengers, Schettino deviated from the ship’s computer-programmed route to treat people on Giglio Island to the spectacle of a close sail-past. His recklessness resulted in deaths, injuries, and damage to the cruise business in his country for years to come. Arrested on preliminary charges of multiple manslaughter, failure to assist passengers in need, and abandonment of ship, I hope that Schettino never sees the controls of a ship again. In all honesty, he never deserves to see a day of freedom again. Mistakes happen. However, abandoning your post and refusing to help those dying because of your mistake make you a world-class jerk worthy of freedom no more.
POWER RANKINGS - Most Highly-Anticipated Movies of 2012
5. The Avengers - opens May 4th
4. The Gangster Squad - opens October 19th
3. The Hunger Games - opens March 23rd
2. Django Unchained - opens December 25th
1. The Dark Knight Rises - opens July 20th
BIG A RECOMMENDS…
Once Upon A Time - airs Sundays at 8PM on ABC
When I first heard the concept of Once Upon A Time, I smelled a colossal flop. Then, I watched the show. For a show revolving around fairy tale characters in a modern day setting, Once Upon A Time is anything but childish nonsense. The premise of the show is that Storybrooke, Maine is home to the cursed fairy tale characters of the Enchanted Forest. In Storybrooke, the mayor’s adopted son Henry holds a storybook revealing everyone’s true identities. With help from his biological mother, Emma Swan, the two attempt to stop the mayor / Evil Queen and restore everyone’s memories while breaking the curse.
Jennifer Morrison is terrific as Emma Swan, Henry’s biological mother and currently the town’s sheriff. She is the perfect foe to the Evil Queen / Mayor Regina Mills, played by Lana Parrilla. Ginnifer Goodwin is the other major foe of the Evil Queen as she plays Snow White / schoolteacher Mary Margaret Blanchard. The performance that hooked me on the show though is that of Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin / pawnshop owner Mr. Gold. Every scene he appears in is captivating.
Once Upon A Time has the potential to be a show with the charm of a fairy tale and the mystery of a Lost without the utter disappointment that came when Lost turned to a pile of nonsense. I recommend this show to anybody not already indulging in the weekly happenings from Storybrooke.
WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK…
Friends are a wonderful thing to have. I like to think that I have many friends. It is a blessing. Recently though, a discussion occurred online where some of the guys I regularly speak with on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter tried to label what exactly we were. I mean, everybody considers their friends to be the people they are close with; people they see and hang out with regularly. However, what do you call those people who know through mutual interests that you happen to speak with only on social media? Are they friends? Acquaintances? “Online” friends that always need that qualifier? Or, some other term I do not know yet?
I believe that my “online” friends, who I have never met personally and only correspond with through Facebook and Twitter, are friends in the same vein as the people I have known over a decade. When they feel joy and share it with the world, I am happy for them. I feel their pain when they have lost a loved one or encounter difficulties in their lives. Even though we are all thousands of miles away, the internet allowed us to become friends through mutual appreciations. As much as I complain about technology and the dependence upon it we have created, I am thankful for technology allowing me to meet like-minded people to share thoughts, debates, and jokes with on a regular basis. Life is better with friends. Whether they are online or in person, I consider them all one thing: my friends.
Until next time, be good to yourselves and each other…
- Aaron Goins
