The #duckfaceforjames Movement - or - The Worst Edition of The Highlight Reel Ever

On Thursday, January 24th at 8:47PM, a pop culture phenomenon blossomed and took the internet by storm. Using his sole Make-A-Wish wish to bring the ridiculous fad of “duck facing” to a new height, James Walsh asked for his Facebook friends to post an image of themselves in “duck face.” Was he dying? Was he insane? Was he merely bored? Nobody knows. However, within an hour of this initial request, #duckfaceforjames was trending among literally a handful of people. 

I dedicate this special edition of The Highlight Reel to James Walsh and the #duckfaceforjames movement. If #cutforbieber can exist and get media coverage the globe over, surely #duckfaceforjames can have one blog. 

The real surprise for James is that it was not Facebook friends alone who duck faced for him as also celebrities, athletes, and even a president broke out the duck face for our possibly dying boy of Gordo, Alabama. These “duck faces” are for you.

First, here is yours truly… 



Michelle Beadle



Steak Sauce



Carrie Underwood



Terry Sligar



Sir Paul McCartney



Paige Bagwell Nunnally



Jennifer Valez Yawn



Kobe Bryant



Christina Aguilera



Mic Grimsley



Kelly Clarkson



Kim Kardashian



Amber Hutchins



Stephen Hawkins



Taylor Lautner



Professional wrestling superstar Brad Maxwell



Charity Pinter Hendricks



Using a time machine to relay the message, Marilyn Monroe delivers one from the 1950s



Donald Trump



Eva Mendes



Michael Jay Smith



Stefanie Battle



Daniel “Cynical” Adams



Alex Trebek and his Asian lady friend



Beyonce 



Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and some chick



President Barack Obama



Samuel L. Jackson



Well, Mr. Jackson is putting an end to the #duckfaceforjames movement. Before we bid farewell, one last “duck face” from the man himself…

James Walsh

The Highlight Reel presents This Week's Recap for January 21st

THIS WEEK’S RECAP…

Superstar of the Week: The Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers 



Last year, then-Baltimore kicker Billy Cundiff missed a chip-shot field goal late to seal the deal for the New England Patriots. Last year, San Francisco wide receiver Kyle Williams fumbled two kick returns to gift-wrap a victory for the New York Giants. Thankfully, this is another year. With Cundiff gone and Williams injured, neither played a role (or a hindrance) in Baltimore and San Francisco’s efforts. The 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons, 28-24, in a come-from-behind victory in Atlanta. Then, the Ravens defeated the Patriots, 28-13, in a rematch from a year earlier in Foxboro. Super Bowl XLVII is set. On February 3rd in New Orleans, the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers will clash in a game that is more than merely the Super Bowl. It is the HarBowl.

For the first time in Super Bowl history, two brothers will be on opposing sidelines as head coaches. John Harbaugh, in his fifth season as Ravens coach, will face younger brother Jim Harbaugh, in his second season as 49ers coach. This story alone makes Super Bowl XLVII special. However, that is not the only major storyline coming from this match-up. The retirement of Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis, the emergence of 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Baltimore QB Joe Flacco’s battle for respect, and the return to glory of the once-proud 49ers franchise are all just a few of the many storylines that sports fan will talk about between now and kickoff on the biggest sporting event of the year. 

I have nothing but respect for both teams. My anticipation for this match-up is already at a fever pitch and there are still almost two weeks to go. Super Bowl XLVII is going to be a classic. Ravens vs. 49ers. John vs. Jim. The HarBowl. This is what the world will be watching.

Jerk of the Week: Lance Armstrong and Manti Te’o

It is a banner week for the Jerk of the Week honor as two men have earned the distinction of Jerk of the Week for very different means. 

As if anybody did not already know it, Lance Armstrong finally confessed to his sins in a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey that aired last week on television. Since we knew Armstrong cheated and now have a confession from him, why does he deserve Jerk of the Week again? Why can’t we just leave this story alone? I feel he deserves this honor because there are too many people still willing to call Armstrong a hero. Too many people believe Armstrong is a good man because of what he did regarding cancer research fundraising efforts and the Livestrong Foundation. These people need to separate Armstrong’s work with cancer research from Armstrong’s 15 years of lying, bullying, and heinous actions. Lance Armstrong drove opponents into bankruptcy through lawsuits. He slandered the good names of honest people who attempted to reveal Armstrong doped during his seven Tour de France victories. Lance Armstrong carried on the façade of an honest man accused of cheating for 15 years in the name of creating an iconic American hero and a spokesman for cancer research.

Machiavelli said, “The ends justify the means.” In this case, I do not agree with that at all. Lance Armstrong riding again period would help raise money for cancer research. Armstrong, as a cancer survivor riding in the most grueling endurance event in cycling, would be an American hero and a symbol necessary for Livestrong to be successful in raising funds for cancer research. The cheating was not necessary. The lying was not necessary. The destruction of lives left in Armstrong’s wake was not necessary. The fact that many are still too blind to recognize the evils perpetrated by Lance Armstrong are why it is important to continue dragging his name through the mud for a change.

Thankfully for Armstrong, he received a reprieve from the public’s scorn on Thursday when a new story shook the sporting world: the story of Manti Te’o’s girlfriend. Like something out of a Lifetime Movie of the Week, the story of Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o has reached mythical levels of stupidity, bewilderment, and pure absurdity. 

At the beginning of the 2012 college football season, it became public knowledge that Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o played with a heavy heart as his girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, battled leukemia. On September 11th, Te’o announced the death of both his grandmother and girlfriend within a six-hour span just before Notre Dame played Michigan State. Instead of attending his girlfriend’s funeral, Te’o played in the game and every game throughout the Irish’s magical season. Te’o played like a champion, finishing runner-up to Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel for the 2012 Heisman Trophy. As he played to such a high level while overcoming the grief from losing both his grandmother and girlfriend, the legend of Te’o reached mythological status alongside the Gipper and the other legends of Notre Dame Football. Then, the wheels came off.

Oh January 16th, Deadspin reported that Lennay Kekua, the late girlfriend of Manti Te’o, never existed. A day later, Te’o finally admitted that Kekua, his girlfriend of three years, was not real in an interview with ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap. Te’o revealed that he was the victim of an online phenomenon known as “catfishing” - where a person is duped into a relationship with another person online only to later find out the person online was never real. A family friend or acquaintance, the relationship is yet to be fully determined, of Te’o named Ronaiah Tuiasosopo portrayed Lennay Kekua throughout the three-year relationship of Te’o and Kekua. 

The truth regarding Te’o’s involvement in this situation is still up for debate. Manti Te’o is either a manipulative genius who played on the sympathy of the media and Heisman voters with the story of a fake dead girlfriend and a real dead grandmother or Te’o is a complete moron who believed that a figure he chatted with online and over the phone for three years was his girlfriend. In either case, I believe that Manti Te’o is a jerk in this story. If Te’o was a part of this ruse alongside Tuiasosopo to play on the sympathy of the media, he is an evil jerk. If he simply was the clown fooled by a catfish situation, Te’o is a naïve jerk who honestly deserves all of the shame and mockery he will get from this story.

Lance Armstrong and Manti Te’o - two men worthy of Jerk of the Week and frontrunners for 2013 Jerk of the Year. The element of truth is missing in both men’s lives. They manipulated people and played on the emotions of others for their own gain - either callously or through youthful ignorance and naivety. That is the definition of a jerk move in my book.

Babe of the Week: Jessica Chastain



A Melancholy Happy Trails to…
- Stan Musial, 92 - American Hall of Fame baseball player and St. Louis Cardinals legend (January 19th)
- Earl Weaver, 82 - American Hall of Fame manager and Baltimore Orioles legend (January 19th)
- Pauline Phillips, 94 - American columnist and voice of “Dear Abby” (January 16th)
- Conrad Bain, 89 - Canadian-born actor best known as Mr. Drummond on Diff’rent Strokes (January 14th)

Wrestling Wednesday -- The State of TNA Wrestling Address

Wrestling Wednesday…

TNA Wrestling - The State of TNA Wrestling Address - or - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Impact Wrestling



The first two weeks of 2013 for TNA Wrestling have been a microcosm for the entire wrestling industry itself. Within two weeks, TNA fans have watched the company make drastic changes to their pay-per-view structure, hold an outstanding pay-per-view event, and have two weeks of television full of bright spots ultimately get tarnished by the same thing. Big announcements, lots of potential, and ultimately a repetitive fixture appearing to ruin it all. It is the same regardless of what promotion you watch. After watching this start for TNA in 2013, I felt the need to look in-depth at TNA in a critical manner with the State of TNA Wrestling Address.

First, the GOOD in TNA Wrestling. Contrary to what many in the Internet Wrestling Community would have you believe, there are many good things in TNA Wrestling. Of course, you have to stop believing that wrestling begins and ends with Vincent Kennedy McMahon but that is an argument made regarding the IWC for a decade now that will never be heard over the “Bah! WWE! Bah!” from the IWC. However, I digress.

The good in TNA is all around the company. First, TNA features one of the best collections of talent on a wrestling roster in the world. Anyone who denies this has not watched the in-ring product in TNA because the in-ring action is second-to-none in the business today. Even the matches rushed for television purposes still feature competitiveness and excitement as this current roster of performers bring something special to the ring every night. Nothing comes off as a pointless 90-second match in TNA. In signifying specific examples of the TNA roster’s greatness, I stress that fans look no further than Austin Aries, Bobby Roode, Christopher Daniels, James Storm, or TNA World Champion Jeff Hardy. Each one of these men put on outstanding matches and has not missed a step in the ring in over a year. Like them or hate them, and I know many hate Jeff Hardy especially, I emphasize that respect has to be given when it is due. Hardy, much like his peers on the TNA roster, raises the bar every time he steps in the ring. 

Another example of the good in TNA is the character development of two long-term members of the TNA roster: AJ Styles and Abyss. Styles, coming off the worst year in his TNA career, has shown a backbone and an edge with his current departure from the company. Styles wants respect from the company he carried on his back in the early years of TNA. I like the development as Styles finally looks like a man with an edge after the Claire Lynch debacle. Meanwhile, the evolution of Abyss continues with the comical work of lawyer-turned-wrestler Joseph Park. While Abyss is still missing, his brother Park (same guy for the one person who still does not get it) has went from searching for him to fighting the bullies of TNA Wrestling. The vignettes showing Park’s training in Ohio Valley Wrestling with “Nightmare” Danny Davis wee wrestling comedy gold. 

Finally, Christy Hemme is working her way up the ranks to become my favorite ring announcer of all-time. Howard Fink may have the voice. Michael Buffer may have the catchphrase. However, Hemme has the sex appeal of Lilian Garcia trumped and does not botch every other introduction either.

Ho Chi Mihn!  Love me some Christy Hemme...

Now, there are a few things in TNA Wrestling that I consider BAD. First, TNA has allowed Aces and 8s to go from one of the most interesting angles in the wrestling world to one of apathetic feelings by dragging it out too long without any major revelations. After almost seven months, fans should have a main event figure unmasked and serving as a face for the group - not a mid-carder named Devon. Their motivation should be public knowledge by now. Even if my wishes for this came true tomorrow and Jeff Jarrett was unmasked and revealed as the leader, this angle would struggle to do anything more than limp to the barn. TNA has wasted too much time on revealing information and turned Aces and 8s into the wrestling equivalent of Lost - a lot of questions, a lack of answers, and a loss of interest. 

Another bad part of TNA Wrestling is the misuse of both the Knockouts and X-Division. While the matches in both divisions are good, I find myself annoyed with some of the roster developments. Current Knockouts Champion Tara does not need Jesse Godderz as her boy toy. It makes for an annoying paring and he is a detriment to her character. Meanwhile, Brooke Tessmacher, as sexy as she may be, is growing more unbearable by the week with her constant pelvic thrusts and booty shaking. The “Texas Tough” fighter is gone and a party girl is in her place. Finally, TNA needs to stop letting Mickie James, Gail Kim, and Madison Rayne sit on the sidelines because all three are more over and more talented in the ring than the returning poster-child of the Knockouts: Velvet Sky. As for the X-Division, Rob Van Dam’s title reign breathed fresh life into the division. However, with only Kenny King and Christian York as real challengers to RVD, the division can only do so much. TNA needs to use Zema Ion, Doug Williams, Kid Kash, and Sonjay Dutt more often while also reintroducing Joey Ryan to this division.

As bad as the bad things are, they are not the UGLY in TNA Wrestling. I can sum up the ugly in TNA Wrestling in five letters: H - O - G - A - N.

If it's not about me, nobody cares, Brother.

After spending a majority of 2012 away from the spotlight, Hulk Hogan has claimed the spotlight for himself on Thursday’s Impact Wrestling shows both weeks of 2013 in ways that nobody outside of the Hogan bloodline would find enjoyable. Hogan, the current GM of Impact Wrestling, has watched as his daughter and not-so-secret desire Brooke has started a relationship with Bully Ray. Yeah, the same Bully Ray who was the best heel in a generation is now a part of this garbage. Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan are set to wed tomorrow night in what will be the third week of a great show tarnished by Hogan DNA.

Bully Ray must have a lot of gambling debts to put up with this.

Garbage like this does not belong on wrestling anywhere. Period. End of story. Of course, Hulk Hogan and the brain trust at TNA who will not say “no” to the Orange Menace believe this is what fans want: Hogan as an angry dad, Brooke as the “virginal” daughter, and Bully Ray as the misunderstood bad boy with the heart of gold. However, the only people who want to see any of this either have a last name of Hogan or eat paint chips and still wet the bed well into their 40s. Tragically, this appears to have no end in the foreseeable future, as rumors are that Hogan and Bully Ray will actually have a match. Goody.

Another ugly thing in TNA Wrestling is their dependence on Orlando, Florida and growing dependence on pre-recorded programming. The story remains the same for another year in TNA - they need to get away from the Impact Zone. The longtime home base of TNA Wrestling, their dependence on hosting events in the Impact Zone has kept travel costs at a minimum but also limited their exposure to the rest of the world hungry for wrestling action. Many moments that would bring huge pops from an audience in Texas, California, New York, or Illinois instead appear less than exciting thanks to an Orlando audience witness to everything. Last week, TNA Management announced a change in their PPV structure that I will go more in detail on later. The gist of it though is that TNA will produce eight pay-per-view specials throughout the year taped months in advance. TNA will record the entire month of Impact Wrestling in February during their European tour next week. This is coming off a three-week stretch of Impact in December that featured taped programming. After a wildly successful summer of live TV, TNA is taking a major step back with their growing dependence on taped programming. People read spoilers and judge their interest on program viewing based on what they read in the spoilers. I am positive many will not watch these monthly pay-per-view specials, even if they are interested in the action, strictly because the event is already spoiled. That is a problem TNA could eliminate by refraining from returning to taped programming time after time.

A final ugly thing in TNA Wrestling sits at the commentators table weekly. Taz is the worst commentator in professional wrestling today. Yes, I know Michael Cole is still alive and working. I stand by my statement. Taz does nothing but work to confuse Mike Tenay and Todd Keneley while they call the action. His mockery of Keneley’s knowledge of wrestler’s names for signature moves - something Taz benefited in with every cry of Tazmission or Taz-plex - reeks of professional jealousy since Taz himself does not know the moves. Taz only works to put himself over with lame jokes and references to red Hook - both of which are pointless. Tenay and Keneley could work commentating duties by themselves. Jeremy Borash would work well and even Al Snow would be better suited for the position than Taz. The Human Suplex Machine needs to go away and go away fast.

The future is unknown for TNA Wrestling. While the company will never replace WWE on top of the wrestling totem pole because sport entertainment fans refuse to give TNA a chance, TNA itself may have accelerated their own demise with the recent change in their pay-per-view schedule. TNA reduced their live PPV schedule from 12 to four events - Genesis, Lockdown, Slammiversary, and Bound for Glory. They will have eight additional pay-per-view specials under the banner of “One Night Only” that will premiere on the first Friday of each month without a Sunday event. 

Personally, I would like this idea if these events aired free on Spike TV as a Clash of the Champions-style event. However, the lower prices for these One Night Only specials at least make them a viable option for the wrestling fan on a budget. The idea of dropping to four main pay-per-event events is an attempt to please wrestling fans who have screamed for fewer events and more build-up for those events; a cry I have heard for years. TNA is trying to appeal to these fans. However, they are trying to reach a fan base they lost the minute the company opened. I am not optimistic about the new PPV strategy because of the wrestling fan base as a whole. The hypocritical fans who say, “I remember when there were only four or five PPVs and everything meant something because there was a lot of build to it. I want that back” are the same fans that reacted to TNA’s announcement with “Ha! TNA is going under! You f*cking suck! The Rock made a funny! I must pay $89.95 for Cookie Puss! AHAHAHAHA!” Is there anyone out there still wondering why I hate the majority of the IWC? 

The future of TNA is standing at a crossroad. With a few tweaks, TNA could return to how the company was in the summer of 2012 when the company hit on all cylinders. However, if the bad and the ugly are not corrected soon, TNA very well could plummet into a new abyss ultimately culminating in the 10-year rumor finally coming true - TNA could finally go out of business in two, three weeks tops. 

Wrestling Wednesday - 2013 starts off with me saying...

Wrestling Wednesday…

"It Stinks" – A Less-Than-Stellar Start to 2013 in Wrestling

Professional wrestling opened in a less-than-stellar way in 2013 with both TNA Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment making me feel like the legendary Jay Sherman. 



First off, TNA’s first Impact of the year opened with a live show worse than anything the company has offered in two months. Hyped for weeks, Sting returned to TNA in an anticlimactic appearance as he casually walked to the ring during an Aces and 8s attack to assist Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe. Meanwhile, TNA dragged their feet on revealing whether Mr. Anderson is with Aces and 8s or not. We did see the reveal of another Aces and 8s though – Mike Knox. Yup, Mike Knox. 

However, the worst part of the broadcast was sadly the highest-rated portion too – the Hulk Hogan Power Hour. It was not an hour but it sure felt like it. Over recent weeks, Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan have paired up as a couple. Papa Hogan, angry with one of the boys putting the screw to his daughter, made his displeasure public on Impact by kicking Brooke out of the ring and suspending Bully Ray from TNA. It was painful, tedious, and simply an unwanted soap opera angle in a company that can offer so much more.



I am sure that Hogan and his supporters in TNA management will justify this angle by pointing out the ratings. However, if any of them truly believe in respecting what draws the biggest ratings for the company, the Knockouts would have three segments weekly and the X-Division would not be far behind. The reality is that Hogan is, one again, working on making himself the center of attention while ruining another career in the process. Bully Ray was one of the hottest stars in TNA for most of 2012. Instead of sticking with what worked, management allowed Hogan to leech onto Bully Ray in order to get himself into the spotlight. Brooke getting a rub is purely coincidental. As long as management allows Hulk Hogan to do this, TNA Wrestling will never keep their momentum for longer than a few months because Hulk Hogan cannot and will not allow the company to shine based on the men and women in the ring. He needs to be the focal point.

Coming off the heels of that lackluster start to the TNA year, I allowed the anticipation of others to make me break a vow. Temptation got the best of me on Monday night and I tuned in for the first Monday Night RAW of 2013. Giving RAW 30 minutes to convince me to stick with it instead of flipping to the Alabama-Notre dame BCS Championship Game, WWE gave me more of the garbage that helped turn me off the company with an opening segment revolving around AJ Lee and John Cena’s superhero booking. The show opened with two recaps within the first three minutes and John Cena cutting Cena Promo #72 – the “I’m going to win the (insert event here) and prove I am the best” speech. Cena then faced Dolph Ziggler in a one-on-one match where Cena survived all three of Ziggler’s finishers, the finisher of Big E Langston, and the interference of AJ Lee to hit an Attitude Adjustment and win again in a match you have seen weekly since 2005.

Thanks to Alabama crushing Notre Dame and soul-crushing boredom, I tuned in again for the CM Punk-Ryback TLC match for the WWE Championship. Nothing short of mediocre, CM Punk scored another cheap victory thanks to the help of internet darlings The Shield in a TLC match fans would forget in another era with better matches offered regularly. At least Ryback’s main event push appears dead in the water now. Still, there was nothing in that match good enough to make me stay with the show. I quit and said, “See you in mid-April, WWE.” In that, I missed the magical verbal war between CM Punk and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.



After hearing about the magic that was the verbal bout between CM Punk and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at the end of RAW, I finally looked it up online. Already content with my decision to give WWE no more chances until after WrestleMania 29 when Dwayne Johnson returns to Hollywood, I felt I had to watch this promo to prove something to myself – I may not know a lot but I know professional wrestling.

I hear from people often the following statement: “You don’t watch WWE so you can’t talk about it. You don’t see it. You don’t know.” It aggravates me because these people also refuse to acknowledge that my criticisms mirror the criticisms they also have... and they do watch it. There is a difference between not watching something and not knowing about it. Thanks to the internet and many friends who cannot break that WWE addiction, I hear about everything in the company – news, angles, injuries, etc. – and I remain knowledgeable on the company through their comments. If not for these people and the internet, I might actually tune in more often because I would not know WWE is offering the same garbage that ran this fan of over 20 years away in July. However, I do know what is going on. I choose not to watch it. I do not have to tune in to Here Comes Honey Boo Boo or MTV’s Buckwild to know both shows are utter drivel. I heard about them and I know it is not for me.

Back to the Punk-Johnson promo, I found and I watched it. Before tuning in, I wrote the following as a prediction for what I was about to see:

CM Punk ranted about not being respected. He name-dropped some talent backstage and how they deserve better. He blasted Dwayne Johnson for waltzing back in from Hollywood (much the same way John Cena did a year ago). Then, Dwayne finally came out. He went through the same promo he’s done since 1999 -- catchphrases, something about butts or genitals, this Cookie Puss remark, “It doesn’t matter what…” etc. Then, it ended with a Rock Bottom, cue the music, good night folks.

As I watched it, I made the following notes on the promo: 

Opens with a recap video. Punk defined #Pipebomb. Punk justified himself while bashing ice cream bars, mentioned being disrespected, and explained his heel turn. Punk talked about the glass ceiling and name-dropped some boys in the back; especially how Bryan and Kidd deserved better. Punk trashed guys who wrestled ahead of him, stressing that he’s more important than people who sold more tickets or worked more nights than him, because he’s on TV. Punk stressed that he’s the bad guy while trashing the audience and more people who wrestled ahead of him. More name-dropping. Punk continued to cut a heel speech lined with truth while, scripted or not, showing a lot of Phil Brooks’ real attitude. Punk returned from commercial to repeat, practically verbatim, the beginning of his speech until Dwayne Johnson shows up (looking HGH-rific). Dwayne opened well with a break from his usual shtick. Dwayne put Punk in his place, said everything that Triple H proved when shutting down the Summer of Punk in 2011. There’s Cookie Puss… and the same old Dwayne nonsense that was funny in 1999 to teenage Aaron now annoys grown-up Aaron. “Finally The Rock came back…” happens 21 minutes in. Why didn’t Rock say the real reason he’s back - to promote GI Joe: Retaliation and get a lot of money? We all know it. Just be honest. I loved the Punkeye the Crackhead bit. Toot, toot. That was gold. Dwayne clearly played the face role well as he takes up for the fans. “It doesn’t matter…” is 24 minutes in. Punk should have said The Undertaker instead of Santa Claus when mentioning working one day a year. Punk ripped Dwayne’s shtick apart. Regardless of where he got the line, Punk’s line about your arm’s being too short to box with God was gold. Dwayne is serious, it’s great… and now he wants Punk naked. He’s addressed Punk’s butt cheeks and made a genital joke. Damn it! Rock Bottom. Good night, folks.

No, I did not call it 100%. However, I safely say I got 75% of it. Sadly, that means that most of this promo was part of the same redundant nonsense both men have spewed over the past two years (or, in the case of Johnson, 14 years excluding the seven years he wanted nothing to do with the wrestling business). I am not saying the promo was not good; it was a good promo. Despite running 30 minutes long, it was a good promo where both men had shining moments. However, it was not great or epic like the majority of WWE fans would believe. This was not a game-changer like so many fans stress. This was merely a good promo in an era where good is great, great is legendary, and horrible is the new normal. I am not undercutting CM Punk or Dwayne Johnson’s efforts. I just remember a time when standards were higher. Sadly, just like in practically every other aspect of life, the standards of wrestling fans today are lower than ever.

While I will not tune in to WWE again anytime soon, I do hope that TNA Wrestling can get itself back on track. With this weekend’s Genesis pay-per-view looming with another stacked card including a main event between TNA World Champion Jeff Hardy, Bobby Roode, and Austin Aries that will not disappoint, I want to believe TNA can correct the ship quickly. However, if Hogan is allowed to have his way, 2013 will see more Papa Hogan in the spotlight – something nobody wants to see.

The Highlight Reel presents This Week's Recap for January 8th...

THIS WEEK’S RECAP…

Superstar of the Week: Alabama Crimson Tide

Look at Angry Saban.  Even in victory, he's miserable.  I can relate.

For the third time in four seasons, the Alabama Crimson Tide are college football’s national champions. On Monday night in the BCS National Championship Game, the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide destroyed the #1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a 42-14 victory that was not even that close. From the opening drive where Alabama went 82-yards in under three minutes, Nick Saban led his Crimson Tide as they gave the Fighting Irish a beating that would make Chris Brown proud. 

After this national championship, I have to give nothing but props to the Alabama Crimson Tide. I hate the BCS system. I cannot wait for the college football playoff system to begin next season. That said, this current Alabama Crimson Tide dynasty led by Nick Saban would win titles in a playoff, in a round-robin tournament, or against a third of the NFL because this Alabama Crimson Tide dynasty is one of the greatest ever in the history of college football. This team, regardless of whom Saban puts on the field, is one of the great assemblies of talent in all of football. The majority of these college kids make it on the pro level too so I do not think it is a far-off assumption to say the Crimson Tide would beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Kansas City Chiefs, or even the New York Jets.

I do know one thing - there is not a better college football program in America today than the Nick Saban-led Alabama Crimson Tide. Three national championships in four seasons, an accomplishment only achieved by only a select few universities and not since Nebraska from 1994-97, is an accomplishment worthy of earning a team the title “Dynasty.” Congratulations to Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide on a 12-1 season worthy of the 2012 National Championship. 

Jerk of the Week: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

On New Year’s Eve, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West announced to the world that Kim was three months pregnant. As 2012 ended, a frontrunner for Most Overrated of 2013 was established with the announcement of The Kimye. I try not to hate on children because children are innocent. However, much like the celebrity spawns of Anna Nicole Smith, Jessica Simpson, Kate Middleton (because it is coming), and the Octomom, this baby is going to be shoved down our throats until the majority of us hate this child simply because of the hype. Of course, it is not the child’s fault. It is not even the media’s fault really. The blame falls upon the parents because the hype is what Kim and Kanye want more than the baby itself.

These two saw New Year’s Eve as the perfect time to announce this pregnancy simply because of the spotlight. Kim Kardashian is three months along. Could they not wait another day or do it a couple of weeks earlier? No. New Year’s Eve was the perfect time. Nothing else important was going on in the pop culture world. Thus, we had the ball drop in New York City and the Kimye unleashed upon the world. The Mayans may have missed on December 21st, 2012. However, between the ego of Kanye West and the over inflated sense of importance surrounding the Kardashian brood, their collaboration - the Kimye - maybe indeed be the death of us all in 2013.

Babe of the Week: Katherine Webb - AJ McCarron’s girlfriend

This is the hottie who made Brent Musburger lose his mind... 

... and I can understand why.

A Melancholy Happy Trails to…
- David R. Ellis, 60 - American stuntman and film director; best known for Snakes on a Plane and Final Destination 2 (January 7th)
- Patti Page, 85 - American singer best known for “Tennessee Waltz” and “(How Much is) That Doggie in the Window?” (January 1st)
- Norman Schwarzkopf, 78 - American general and Commander-in-Chief of US Central Command (1988-1991) best known as “Stormin’ Norman (December 27th, 2012)
- Harry Carey, Jr., 91 - American actor best known for work in the westerns genre (December 27th, 2012)
- Jack Klugman, 91 - American actor best known for The Odd Couple and four appearances on The Twilight Zone (December 24th, 2012)
- Charles Durning, 89 - American actor best known for The Sting, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Dark Night of the Scarecrow (December 24th, 2012)
- Rip Hawk, 82 - American professional wrestler (December 22nd, 2012)
- Ryan Freel, 36 - American baseball player (December 22nd, 2012)