The 2011 Year in Review: Part 1 - Entertainment and Sports

One year. 12 months. 52 weeks. 365 days. 8,760 hours. 525,600 minutes. 31,536,000 seconds. It looks like a lot of time. However, looks can be deceiving as 2011 feels like it came and went in the blink of an eye. The only real difference between now and this time a year ago is that I’m writing about a brand new multitude of highlights, lowlights, rising stars, falling duds, glorious anthems, epic failures, and moments that will be forever associated with 2011.

2011 has ended and, for the most part, will be remembered as being an eventful year. In 2011, Tebowmania and Beadlemania replaced Hulkamania as the preferred Mania of the people. The Dallas Mavericks saved us from evil and egotism while the St. Louis Cardinals did the improbable. The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV and carried a winning streak deep into a season many thought would not happen. CM Punk saved professional wrestling in World Wrestling Entertainment for a cup of coffee while TNA and Ring of Honor established new stars and solidified their footing in the wrestling world. Tony Stewart was clutch during NASCAR’s Chase while Dario Franchitti won another IndyCar Championship as the heartbreaking loss of Dan Wheldon cast a shadow upon the entire season.

Country music dominated the airwaves as Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum achieved tons of crossover success. A girl from England achieved critical acclaim but I found her to be a younger Susan Boyle. Katy Perry and Bruno Mars continued riding waves of success started in 2010 while a trio of siblings from Alabama added to country music’s overall success as The Band Perry’s “If I Die Young” was everywhere. Rihanna spiraled out of control, Lady Gaga stayed weird, and Justin Bieber continued to astonish those with working ears by maintaining a recording career.

Dunder Mifflin said farewell to Michael Scott while zombies, throwback lawmen, crude comedians, and shocking mysteries captivated television viewers’ imaginations. Hollywood was able to put out a few gems in a year of duds, CGI-filled disasters, and remakes of films that did not need making in the first place.

The world said goodbye to Osama bin Laden, Kim Jong-Il, and Muammar Gaddafi with joy. In addition, we mourned the losses of such greats as Elizabeth Taylor, Steve Jobs, Andy Rooney, “Smokin’” Joe Frazier, Al Davis, Dan Wheldon, Amy Winehouse, Ryan Dunn, Peter Falk, Betty Ford, Harry Morgan, Bubba Smith, Pete Postlethwaite, Heavy D, Patrice O’Neil, Jack LaLanne, and “Macho Man” Randy Savage.

2011 was a year filled with a lot of loss and a lot of gain. There was joy and pain, heartbreak and redemption, and a lot of insanity that is best described as uniquely 2011. The following edition of The Highlight Reel is my attempt to sum up the best and the worst of 2011. Here is the only year in review that matters (to me): The 2011 Highlight Reel Year in Review. It begins… now.

The Highlight Reel: 2011 Year in Review

ENTERTAINMENT

Movie of the Year

4. The Adjustment Bureau - I do not normally find myself enjoying a movie with a primarily sci-fi storyline. That said I absolutely adored The Adjustment Bureau. Based on a Philip K. Dick short story, The Adjustment Bureau is the story of Senator David Norris (Matt Damon) and his struggle to find love and happiness with ballerina Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt). They continue to mysteriously get kept apart until Norris discovers that fate itself, in the form of men known as the adjustment bureau, are keeping the two apart because she is a deviation from Norris’ life plan. The struggle against fate and divine planning because of undying love is a wonderful story only enhanced by the terrific performances of Damon and Blunt. The Adjustment Bureau was a fantastic film about love, fate, and the lengths one will go in order to achieve happiness.

3. Warrior - Mixed martial arts is hotter than ever. However, filmgoers did not want a film about MMA yet. That said Warrior absolutely delivered in terms of creating an emotionally uplifting sports story inside the world of MMA. Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton play estranged brothers who enter an MMA tournament with a $5 million purse for different reasons: Hardy fighting for a fallen soldier’s family while Edgerton fights for his own family’s financial stability. Meanwhile, their father (Nick Nolte) tries to reenter their lives and finds both men fighting him because of his previous alcohol abuse that destroyed the family years earlier. While Warrior did not set the world on fire at the box office, critic acclaim and award nominations for Nick Nolte’s outstanding performance have shown that not all overlooked Warrior. Warrior was the best sports film of 2011 and will be looked at in future years as one of the best sports films of all-time.

2. Crazy, Stupid, Love - Love is a powerful theme in movies. I don’t believe a film has shown the various ways love affects us more perfectly in recent cinema than the romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love. With an all-star cast headed by Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling, Crazy, Stupid, Love is as charming and touching as it is funny. Cal and Emily Weaver (Carell and Julianne Moore) separate, leading Cal on a downward spiral of self-pity until new-found friend Jacob (Gosling) begins to turn Cal into a ladies man. Meanwhile, Jacob finally meets a woman (Emma Stone) who has him questioning his womanizing ways. The plot features many twists and turns that ultimately connect the various stories about love into one complete story that touches the heart as much as the funny bone. Crazy, Stupid, Love was a perfect romantic comedy.

1. The Help - “Change begins with a whisper.” Upon first glance, The Help looks like the fluffy, pointless film adaptation of a novel without a hint of entertainment for anyone outside of the 50+ female demographic. However, upon watching The Help, I saw this film as more than a chick flick. The Help is one of the most uplifting and powerful depictions of one of American history’s darkest periods. The Help is an amazing film. Set in Mississippi during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, The Help tells the story of an aspiring author (Emma Stone) and her endeavor to write a book from the point of view of the maids in southern Mississippi. Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer play two maids; one stoic and strong, one loud and feisty; who are the initial maids who join a list of storytellers providing Skeeter Phelan (Stone) with the stories that comprise her novel. The novel sets Jackson, Mississippi on fire with gossip and change begins in the lives of the main protagonists. Bryce Dallas Howard is incredible as the vile Hilly Holbrook and Sissy Spacek steals every scene she appears in as Missus Walters, the more compassionate mother of Holbrook. Earning over $170 million at the box office and countless award nominations (including seriously deserved Oscar buzz), The Help is a powerful film. In an age of 3D spectacles, remakes, and unoriginality, The Help is a shinning beacon that Hollywood can still produce amazing cinema. The Help was the best film of 2011.

TV Show of the Year

4. Parks and Recreation - While NBC’s Thursday night lineup has failed to bring the funny it brought in years past thanks to a declining Office, the addition of Whitney, and postponement of 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation remained one of the best comedies on television in 2011. Amy Poehler has emerged as one of the finest comedy minds of our time while the additions of Rob Lowe and Adam Scott permanently to the lineup have only bolstered an already impressive ensemble. Nick Offerman’s performance as surly, angry, everyman Ron Swanson is the performance of a genius creating an iconic television character. Parks and Recreation was one of NBC’s few bright spots in 2011. The outstanding show and cast have me yearning to visit Pawnee, Indiana every week.

3. Modern Family / ESPN SportsNation (TIE) - The Emmy winner for a second consecutive year, Modern Family is quickly becoming one of the great comedies of all-time. The talented ensemble cast of Ed O’Neil, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Eric Stonestreet have me wondering when the various awards shows are just going to hand out multiple honors to every actor for his/her performance on this show. Choosing one over the other is almost criminal when the cast is this talented and performs so well together. The third season of Modern Family has shown that there are no signs of stopping their comedic excellence so I suspect 2012 to be just as hilarious and entertaining from the Dunphy, Pritchett, and Pritchett-Tucker clans. Meanwhile, ESPN is host to the best show in sports television thanks to the wit, charm, and sass of a lady named Beadle. SportsNation continues to shine as a perfect example of sports television done right: informative, opinionated, fun, and not too serious. Michelle Beadle’s star continues to shine as she carries co-host Colin Cowherd on a daily basis through debates and videos spanning the gamut of the sporting world. In the midst of their third season, SportsNation already has clones coming in the form of other sporting shows while Michelle Beadle has clones popping up in the form of blonde sports reporters with attitudes that are as phony as Colin Cowherd’s sincerity. If that is not a sign of SportsNation’s success, nothing is.

2. Justified - Timothy Olyphant deserves an Emmy for each episode of Justified. As US Marshall Raylan Givens, Olyphant delivers a tour de force performance second to nobody else on television today. Justified follows Givens, a modern-day 19th century lawman, through the ins and outs of his return home to the rural coal-mining towns of Eastern Kentucky. One constant thorn in the side of Givens has been the “frenemy” relationship between Givens and former childhood friend-turned-criminal Boyd Crowder (played wonderfully by Walter Goggins). The various townspeople and criminals of Harlan County give Justified a comic book feel as Givens is like a superhero encountering a different criminal weekly while in pursuit of the ultimate goal: peace and quiet in Harlan. Justified is what every police procedural should strive to be.

1. The Walking Dead - The premise is simple: bloodthirsty zombies have overtaken the world and a group of survives try to survive in this apocalyptic setting. However, beyond the simple clichéd horror movie setting lies a truly deep, moving, and powerful television show about life. The Walking Dead is a metaphor for how people have evils constantly eating away at them and how every day is a fight for survival against obstacles. Andrew Lincoln plays police officer Rick Grimes, the leader of the ragtag brigade of survivors who are fighting themselves as much as the zombies who lurk in the shadows. The performance of Jon Bernthal as Shane Walsh, Rick’s best friend and fellow officer, shined brightly in 2011 as Shane’s turn from charismatic hero to militant, survival at all costs, antihero captivated me like few characters on television were able to do in 2011. The Walking Dead is a show with legs that could go for a decade without losing freshness. Powerfully written and acted, The Walking Dead mixes the thrills, chills, and gore of horror films with the emotional connection of fully developed characters to make a perfect show. The Walking Dead was the best show on television in 2011.

SPORTS

Sports Moment/Story of the Year

4. Joe Paterno’s legacy drowns in the wake of sexual abuse allegations at Penn State - In the fall of 2011, the winningest coach in college football history became the face of one of the darkest stories in the history of college football when the Penn State sex scandal became front-page news. Former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was indicted on 42 counts of sexual misconduct with a minor between 1994 and 2009. The molestation committed on campus by Sandusky may date back to the 1970s when he first joined the university. Joe Paterno’s legacy was irreparably damaged when it became public knowledge that Paterno reported misconduct to his superiors in 2002 and did not follow up on his reports or take the information to police. Instead of celebrating his wins and legendary career, Paterno was fired midseason and the 84-year old will never have the respect he once had from the nation. As this story continues to develop, the initial shock and disgust remain as intense as when the allegations of Sandusky’s conduct first surfaced. Joe Pa was one of the greatest coaches ever. Sadly, he will be forever remembered as an accessory to one of the vilest scandals in college athletics.

3. Japan defeats America in the Women’s World Cup Final - On July 17th, the world was captivated by the finals of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup as Team USA faced Team Japan in Frankfurt, Germany. Japan was playing in remembrance of the many lost in the March earthquake and tsunami that devastated most of the nation. Meanwhile, America was riding a wave of momentum that began with Abby Wombach’s miraculous header against Brazil a week earlier and the hype surrounding the beautiful goalkeeper Hope Solo. For a nation that does not care about soccer, America was embracing soccer like never before as our hope for victory rested on Hope in the net. The roller coaster ride of a game ultimately saw Japan score a late goal to take the match to overtime. Then, Japan scored another late goal to take the match to penalty kicks. Hope Solo crumbled under the pressure and Japan won the match in penalty kicks, 3-1, and the 2011 World Cup. In defeat, Team USA gave soccer a much-needed boost in the arm in America for a second straight year. It was a magical moment and an incredible game.

2. The unlikeliest of unlikely champions: St. Louis Cardinals and Dallas Mavericks reign supreme (TIE) - With a month remaining in the baseball regular season, the St. Louis Cardinals were 8.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card race. Thanks to a choke job of epic proportions (ultimately overshadowed by Boston’s choke job), the Cardinals earned the NL Wild Card and an opening round date with the Philadelphia Phillies. St. Louis eliminated the Phillies and then dispatched their rivals, the Milwaukee Brewers, to earn an improbable berth in the 2011 World Series against the Texas Rangers. It was one of the most competitive and entertaining World Series in recent memory. David Freese achieved baseball immortality with a heroic performance as he saved the day twice for St. Louis in their 10-9 11-inning victory. The Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers, four games to three, to win their 11th and most unexpected World Championship. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks had history against them going into the NBA Playoffs. They were the poster children for underachievement. In a bizarre postseason, the Mavericks defeated the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder to advance to the NBA Finals and a date with the much-hyped Miami Heat. Game one made things look like a paved road to glory for the self-proclaimed Dream Team as Miami defeated Dallas while Dirk Nowitzki suffered an injury in defeat. Trading wins in the next two games, Dallas capitalized on LeBron James’ usual horrible play in meaningful games with key plays from Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, JJ Barea, and Nowitzki to win the next three games and their first NBA Championship. It was a win for decency, integrity, and good people as Dallas shut the door in the face of the self-proclaimed champions from Miami.

1. The triumph and tragedy of Dan Wheldon - On May 29th, Dan Wheldon celebrated the thrill of victory at the expense of J.R. Hildebrand’s defeat. Dan Wheldon won the 95th running of the Indianapolis 500 when Hildebrand crashed in turn four on the final lap. Wheldon, competing in a one-race deal from Bryan Herta Autosport, capitalized on the mistake of the rookie and passed him for the victory with a mere 1,000 feet to go. It was the human incarnation of the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. After the victory, Dan Wheldon did TV work and saw his popularity grow as his charming personality shined. Wheldon accepted the IndyCar Series challenge for the season finale in Las Vegas that stated he would start last and collect $2.5 million dollars if he won. On October 16th, Wheldon started 34th at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. On Lap 11, a horrific 15-car accident occurred in turns one and two that ultimately claimed the life of Wheldon. His car flew an estimated 325 feet into the catch fence, cockpit area first, at speeds of over 220 mph. Hearts were broken all over the sporting world as Dan Wheldon, a man in the prime of his career and a man with two your children and a young wife at home, left this world. I will always think of the emotions I felt courtesy of Dan Wheldon in 2011. The pure adrenaline rush that came with his thrilling Indy victory was matched only by the heartbreaking sadness that came with his death. I will never think of 2011 without thinking of the late, great Dan Wheldon.

Athlete of the Year

4. Drew Brees - 2011 was a historic year for the quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. While Brees and the Saints started 2011 with a playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the 2011 regular season was a brand new day. With still one game to go in the regular season, Brees has already broken the 27-year old record of Dan Marino for most passing yards in a single season while leading the Saints to a 12-3 record and NFC South Divisional title. Drew Brees has performed spectacularly in 2011 while rewriting the history books for quarterbacks in the NFL. Many site the rule changes and the league being a passing league now to account for Brees’ performance but the fact is that only one QB is playing at this impressive level right now: Drew Brees.

3. Justin Verlander - Justin Verlander had an astonishing 2011 season. The Detroit Tigers right-hander started 2011 in a big way with his second career no-hitter as he walked one and faced the minimum 27 batters in a victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on May 7th. Verlander ultimately ended the 2011 season by winning the triple crown of pitching as he went 24-5, threw 250 strikeouts, and had a 2.40 ERA. Earning the American League Cy Young Award was a given. However, Verlander also earned the American League Most Valuable Player as he just edged out Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury for the honor. Justin Verlander had one of the single most dominant seasons in the history of baseball in 2011.

2. Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, JJ Barea, and coach Rick Carlisle did the unthinkable when they defeated the “Dream Team” in the NBA Finals as the Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat. Going into the playoffs with a 57-25 record, the Dallas Mavericks were not a threat in the eyes of most because of a decade of underachieving. Dallas used the doubt as motivation and this team of role players surrounding one superstar played the game with the fundamentals not found in Miami. More importantly, Dallas played the game with a humility and dignity not seen in their opposition from Miami. That made the Mavericks America’s Team for a two-week period. The Mavericks saved us all from a celebration the likes of which we would have never survived. LeBron’s ego would have deprived the atmosphere of the space required for the much-needed oxygen we all use for survival. Not only were the Dallas Mavericks an amazing team in 2011, they were heroic lifesavers.

1. Green Bay Packers - The Green Bay Packers enter the NFL Playoffs as a #6 seed. Playing with a majority of their stars injured, Aaron Rodgers captained the Packers to wins over the villainous Philadelphia Eagles, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Chicago Bears to take them to Super Bowl XLV. Green Bay defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-25, to win their fourth Super Bowl and 13th NFL Championship. The Packers did not let up when the 2011 regular season began as they started the year with a 13-game winning streak that ended in an upset loss to Kansas City in December. The Green Bay Packers have a superstar QB in Aaron Rodgers and emerging star players in Clay Matthews, III, Greg Jennings, and Jermichael Finley. However, they play the game as a team where no one man is bigger than the team. That is the way champions play. That is how the Green Bay Packers conducted business in 2011 and is why they were the top team in 2011.

To be continued...

Tebowmania, Lady Antebellum and ROH experiences, NFL at Week 15, Survivor Series/TLC recap and buzzkill, Sporting news, more!

These four things I know are true…

- Despite the air of change in World Wrestling Entertainment, nothing is going to change.

- Lady Antebellum and Ring of Honor Wrestling are worth the price of admission.

- Tebowmania has no end in sight.

- And, I’m Aaron Goins. All my thoughts on these topics and so much more (including the end of the NBA Lockout)… in The Highlight Reel!

NEWS and NOTES
**The final two pay-per-view events of 2011 have occurred for World Wrestling Entertainment as the Survivor Series emanated from the historic Madison Square Garden in New York City while TLC took place in Baltimore, Maryland.

The 2011 Survivor Series came and went with history made in a new WWE Champion while a relic from the WWE’s past outshined the present in a main event that did more damage to the current product than the powers that be could imagine. Of course, it is World Wrestling Entertainment so they will never see that because the company does not look at anything in terms of “long term.” If the company booked in the 1980s as they book currently, the 2011 Survivor Series would not have been the 25th Anniversary (24th Anniversary for the rest of us who can do math) of the Thanksgiving tradition.


The most memorable moment of the 2011 Survivor Series for me will be the crowning of CM Punk as WWE Champion for a second time. CM Punk defeated Alberto Del Rio in a terrific 15+ minute match via Anaconda Vice to win the gold in front of a packed Madison Square Garden that worshiped at the altar of Punk. While this should have been a major high point in the show and in 2011 as a whole, the match was overshadowed by a main event that pushed a Hollywood action star over three current WWE Superstars.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena defeated The Miz and R-Truth in a tag team match when Johnson pinned Miz after hitting the Awesome One with all his familiar moves last seen regularly in 2002. After the match, Johnson caught his tag team partner for the night and WrestleMania XXVIII opponent Cena with a Rock Bottom to send the New York City fans home happy. This was the second marquee event of 2011 to end with Dwayne Johnson standing tall before heading off to a movie set the following afternoon.

While this adds a hint of long-term booking in terms of Cena and Johnson having a hot feud heading into WrestleMania, it completely shows a lack of long-term booking in terms of the future after WrestleMania XXVIII. After WrestleMania, Dwayne Johnson will be gone. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. So, who is going to be there for fans to watch regularly? Who are the stars who will put butts in the seats? Management would have you believe that the other three men in the Survivor Series main event are among those stars. Other than Cena though, do the other two really have that kind of power? No.

I have a constant tug-of-war regarding my feelings on John Cena. I like John Cena when he is a main event star who sells and puts over his opponents. I like Cena when he is not booked as the unstoppable machine known as Super Cena. However, John Cena is decked out in Super Cena gear and crushing every adversary in sight more times than not. I hate that John Cena with every fiber of my being. All of that said, John Cena is an established main event star. On the other hand, The Miz and R-Truth are not main event stars. The Miz may have a WWE Championship reign under his belt but he is not a draw. R-Truth definitely is not a draw. Truth was over with fans for months as a crazy heel, got a WWE title chance, and had his momentum crushed by the aforementioned Super Cena. The Miz and R-Truth both could have benefited from a win over John Cena and Dwayne Johnson. Instead, Dwayne Johnson received both Miz and Truth on a silver platter. Then, Truth received a 30-day vacation for smoking fake marijuana.

Dwayne “The Action Star” Johnson could not put over a single professional wrestler in his Survivor Series appearance in much the same way he will not put over a professional wrestler at WrestleMania XXVIII. What does this get the WWE ultimately? Money on April 1st, 2012 followed by a lack of star power and drawing power on April 2nd, 2012. I just do not see the logic in appealing to fans who left in 2002 when The Rock left for Hollywood by pushing him over the stars of today knowing full well Dwayne will be gone along with these fans’ money after WrestleMania XXVIII. Instead of building for the future and creating a better product, WWE is killing the long-term gains in favor of a short-term score. That is stupidity at its finest and another example of how Vince McMahon is a millionaire when he could be a billionaire.

As for the rest of the Survivor Series, the card sounded like an okay event. The Big Show defeated World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry by disqualification after a low blow in a match that screamed fast-paced action the likes of which we have not seen since Rey Mysterio-Eddie Guerrero. Beth Phoenix beat Eve Torres to retain the Divas Championship and Dolph Ziggler defeated John Morrison to retain the United States title. In addition, Team Barrett (Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler, and Hunico) defeated Team Orton (Randy Orton, Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, Mason Ryan, and Sin Cara) when Barrett and Rhodes survived a match that saw Sin Cara continue to earn the name Botch Cara by injuring his knee. Also, my girlfriend (only she doesn’t know it) Michelle Beadle had front row seats for the event. Therefore, the audience offered something wonderful to watch when the booking failed to deliver.


Michelle Beadle on WhoSay

Meanwhile, people will remember the 2011 edition of TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs for two things: Zack Ryder’s biggest victory ever and Ring of Honor Wrestling’s greatest night ever.



TLC 2011, from all accounts, was a tremendous pay-per-view event. It went alongside Money in the Bank in terms of praise and popularity from wrestling fans all over the internet. Real wrestling fans too and not mere sports entertainment fans. After Money in the Bank, I showed a tremendous amount of cynicism towards the notion that World Wrestling Entertainment was making a move for the better. WWE proved me correct. Therefore, that is why I have the same message to every fan overreacting to this event too: this means nothing.

I hate being the buzz kill. I do. I hate the buzz kills and Debbie Downers of the world as much as the next person does. However, I have a dose of truth for all the fans losing their minds with excitement: the 2011 TLC event sounded like a great show. However, so was Money in the Bank in July. What happened next? TLC was a glimmer of hope, a taste of what could happen weekly, followed with four months of GARBAGE called the Road to WrestleMania. Enjoy it now, kids. This was the ’E throwing you a bone before you are bludgeoned with Cena-Dwayne and Undertaker-Triple H III crap! It happened when the Summer of Punk turned into the Summer of Triple H and Kevin Nash while John Cena got another title reign. It will happen now when Daniel Bryan drops the title to Randy Orton and Zack Ryder’s title win means he will hold a strap while working matches on Superstars.

At TLC, CM Punk retained the WWE Championship in a Triple Threat TLC match over Alberto Del Rio and The Miz. Meanwhile, The Big Show defeated Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship before Daniel Bryan cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to win his first World Heavyweight Championship. More on Bryan’s big win in a moment. Also at TLC, Triple H defeated Kevin Nash in a Sledgehammer Ladder match. Randy Orton defeated Wade Barrett in a Tables match. Cody Rhodes retained the Intercontinental title against Booker T (yeah, Booker T). Zack Ryder won the United States Championship from Dolph Ziggler in a title change that should have occurred two months ago. Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne (the Mid-Card Express) retained the Tag Team titles over Primo and Epico (Puerto Rican America). Beth Phoenix avoided Kelly Kelly’s “roll-up of doom” to retain the Divas title. Plus, Sheamus pinned Jack Swagger in a match we have seen 45 times in three months. After summing the event up, it does not sound anywhere near as good as people say it was. Maybe the absence of John Cena made it enjoyable. Who knows?

As for the new World Heavyweight Champion, let me start by saying I like Daniel Bryan. I do. However, this reeks of panic by the WWE booking staff. You see, Bryan could not cash in Money in the Bank on Mark Henry when he was down a month ago on SmackDown yet, in the same predicament at TLC, Bryan can cash it in on Big Show. Why? It is because the booking team needed to get the Money in the Bank option away from Bryan before WrestleMania rolled around and his promise of cashing in at WrestleMania might become a realistic expectation from fans. If Daniel Bryan were a serious and legit world champion in the WWE’s eyes, he would not have spent the last four months as a constant jobber to Mark Henry, Alberto Del Rio, Dolph Ziggler, Cody Rhodes, Wade Barrett, Christian, or even Sin Cara.

I know that fans are excited. In World Wrestling Entertainment right now, the two world champions are CM Punk and Daniel Bryan: two of the greatest professional wrestlers ever to come from Ring of Honor. However, while Punk has remained true to form even with all of his career-elevating and business-changing momentum destroyed, Daniel Bryan is not the same man who set the world on fire in Ring of Honor. I am in the minority in this belief but Daniel Bryan DOES NOT belong as a World Champion in even the WWE today. He has been a jobber the likes of which we have not seen since Duane Gill and is now World Heavyweight Champion because of the Money in the Bank gimmick that grows staler with every new, undeserving champion. Everyone is celebrating Bryan Danielson, the American Dragon of Ring of Honor, winning the strap in WWE. Bryan Danielson did not win. He was replaced with a joke more undeserving to hold a world championship than Tommy “Wildfire” Rich was in 1981. This all makes for a heart-warming story but the truth is that Daniel Bryan will not hold that title six weeks and will not be in a marquee match at WrestleMania XXVIII in April. It is sad but true.

**There are two weeks left in the 2011 NFL season and we have a logjam at the top of both the NFC and AFC standings. Also, in true NFL fashion, we have many teams battling for the final Wild Card spots in the upcoming playoffs. As Green Bay showed last season, it does not matter how you get into the playoffs. It is all about how you play once you’re in the postseason.

In the NFC, the Green Bay Packers had their quest for perfection come up short with a 19-14 loss at Kansas City. The Packers still appear to be the team to beat in the NFC though with their 13-1 record and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. The New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers are battling for the #2 seed in the NFC. The NFC East is a three-team fight with the Dallas Cowboys leading the New York Giants by a game with the disappointing Philadelphia Eagles still having an outside chance despite a 6-8 record. The Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions own the wild card spots currently but have pressure from the NFC East teams and the 7-7 Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals who all have long shot chances.

Meanwhile, the AFC is loaded at the top. The New England Patriots appear primed for one more run as they sit atop the conference with an 11-3 record. The Houston Texans will make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and are fighting with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens of the AFC North for the #2 seed. Tebowmania has the Denver Broncos now leading the AFC West with both the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers still in the hunt for the division. The AFC wild card picture is a little less crowded as only one spot is available. The New York Jets currently hold the spot but have the Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, and AFC West teams all in the fight for that spot.

As the playoff picture becomes clearer, I think that it is easy in saying Green Bay and New England will be the top seeds. In the NFC, I see Green Bay joined by San Francisco in receiving first round byes. New Orleans and the New York Giants will receive home games for the first round while Atlanta and Detroit will be the wild card representatives. In the AFC, Baltimore will join New England in receiving first round byes. Houston and Denver will play at home in the opening round while Pittsburgh and… the Cincinnati Bengals. Sorry, Michelle Beadle. The New York Jets cannot win games that matter in 2011. I think they will lose out and the AFC North will send three representatives to the postseason. One thing that I am sure of though regarding the NFL Playoffs is that I believe these playoffs have an air of unpredictability about them that will lead to a lot of spectacular football.

**In the last edition of The Highlight Reel, the Penn State sex scandal was just beginning to unravel. As I feared, the truth came out that Joe Paterno indeed knew more than he let on. Joe Paterno fulfilled his legal obligations by reporting the sexual abuse committed by assistant coach Jerry Sandusky to superiors at Penn State. However, when Paterno failed to report these crimes to the police after seeing that nothing was did in the first place, Joe Pa failed his moral obligations and became an accessory to these heinous crimes. Penn State removed the winningest coach in college football history from his position on November 9th while Penn State students lost their minds with riots and demonstrations that occurred in the aftermath of Paterno’s firing. Even weeks later, these supporters still are putting football first over the safety of children and consider anybody who does not follow that mindset to be an enemy. That is extremely sad considering the graphic, unsettling, and disturbing testimony released about what Mike McQueary reported to Joe Paterno in 2002. Sadly, this is not the only major sexual abuse story in college athletics.

A similar scandal has rocked college basketball as accusations of sexual abuse committed by Syracuse University assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine have emerged. Fine, an assistant under head coach Jim Boeheim for 36 years, was fired on November 27th after allegations came out that Fine had sexually abused Syracuse ball boys from the 1970s through the 1990s. Just as with the Penn State scandal, Jim Boeheim has denied knowledge of Fine’s wrongdoings at Syracuse. Thus far, no evidence has surfaced stating Boeheim knew anything. However, Paterno destroyed my faith in the innocent and naive head coach completely. I doubt that Boeheim did not know what his friend and assistant coach was doing all these years. Transcripts of taped phone calls between one of the accusers and Fine’s wife have shown that this sex scandal involves elements of blackmail and prostitution too. Without a doubt, this story is just as heinous and ugly as the Penn State scandal.

I just do not understand it. There are so many beautiful adults, women and men, in the world. Somewhere out there is an adult willing to participate in the most lewd, depraved sexual acts one can imagine. So, why would someone do these things to children? It’s just mind-boggling and stomach turning that a grown-up, especially one in such a position of power in a community, would do this to children. Alas, we have watched this story unfold for years as church officials, public school teachers, and elected officials were involved in sexual situations with minors. The arena is now college athletics. I do not understand why. I just only hope that these allegations end soon as I hope that world runs out of despicable and evil deviants stealing the innocence of children. My hopes will not come to fruition. We are more likely to have another university join Penn State and Syracuse. It is just disgusting to see these stories unfold time and time again.

**December 25th is not just Christmas Day in America; it is also Opening Day for the NBA after owners and players agreed to end their petty squabbling over millions with the end of the NBA Lockout. Lasting over five months, the 2011 NBA Lockout resulted in the regular season reduced from 82 games to 66. Sadly, there was no elimination of a month of the seemingly endless NBA postseason.

I will be glad to see the NBA return to my television and my stream of consciousness in April when I start following pro basketball again. I used to love basketball when I was younger. However, as I got older, an 82 game schedule just wore me out. The NBA has the same problem going against it that Major League Baseball has regarding the schedule: less is more. I may sound like an NFL sycophant but 16 games is a lot easier to watch than 82 or 162. Less is more. When the season does kick off though, I am pretty sure that barring a major We Are Marshall type of tragedy, the NBA Playoff picture will be set in stone by January 30th so I will have missed nothing when I finally tune into the NBA after March Madness. At least the NBA is getting part of the season in though since I was sure they would be stupid enough to lose an entire year over greed. Nice job proving me wrong there, NBA.

One major change in the NBA upon their return is guard Chris Paul taking his talents to Lob City. After having David Stern attempt to create the New York Knicks “dream team” he wanted by disallowing a trade that sent Paul from New Orleans to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a three team and eight player deal, Paul was traded from the Hornets to the Los Angeles Clippers last week. This pairs Paul with Blake Griffin in LA. Meanwhile, the Lakers lost Lamar Odom to Dallas, coach Phil Jackson to retirement, and have Kobe Bryant’s life falling apart in front of his eyes (Divorce + No Pre-nup = DISASTER!). We could be on the verge of a changing of the guard in Staples Center.

Dwight Howard is still in Orlando despite his wishes to play for a championship contender (sorry Magic fans, it’s not happening). The New York Knicks did not land Chris Paul but have added Tyson Chandler from Dallas as the defending champion Mavericks have also lost JJ Barea (to Minnesota) and Caron Butler (to the Clippers) while gaining Odom from the Lakers and Vince Carter, Delonte West, and Brendan Wright through free agency. Throughout the brief but furious free agency period, I think a couple of teams have improved themselves greatly. I think the Chicago Bulls are going to do well again in 2011-12 after adding Richard Hamilton (from Detroit) despite losing Keith Bogans (released) and Kurt Thomas (to Portland). The rich get richer in Miami as I like the additions of Eddy Curry and Shane Battier (from Memphis) and the re-signings of Mario Chalmers and James Jones. The losses of Mike Bibby (to New York) and Jamaal Magloire (to Toronto) will not hurt the Heat much.

With Opening Day a little under a week away, I still think some big moves may occur. Outside of the Chris Paul transaction, many little moves have occurred but only one landscape-changing move has happened. I believe the landscape will change again before the abbreviated 2011-12 season tips off on Christmas.

**The final pay-per-view of the 2011 for TNA Wrestling occurred on December 11th when Final Resolution emanated from Orlando. In an outstanding 30-minute Ironman match, TNA world Champion Bobby Roode continued to establish himself as a premiere heel in the business today by milking the clock and taking a 3-3 draw against AJ Styles. Meanwhile, Jeff Hardy continued his comeback with a victory inside a Steel Cage match over Jeff Jarrett that earned Hardy the number one contendership and got both Jeff and Karen Jarrett fired. In other action, James Storm defeated Kurt Angle while Rob Van Dam defeated Christopher Daniels. Gail Kim successfully defended the Knockouts Championship against Mickie James with help from Madison Rayne while Robbie E retained the TV title over Eric Young. Crimson and Matt Morgan retained the Tag Team Championships successfully over Devon and D’Angelo Dinero and Austin Aries defeated Kid Kash to retain the X-Division title.

Final Resolution was a fantastic event full of high quality wrestling action featuring many fresh faces. I continue to enjoy the metamorphosis of Bobby Roode as a cutthroat heel obsessed with retaining the World Championship. As long as Roode defeats Hardy at January’s Genesis PPV, I have no problem with Jeff Hardy getting a title shot. I believe Hardy has the name recognition to put Roode over more even though Jeff still lacks the trust needed to warrant actually getting a chance with the strap again. Also, I love the removal of Jeff and Karen Jarrett from television for the time being. Karen Jarrett was horrible as the Knockouts VP while Jeff Jarrett was actually too good to be doing what he was doing: nothing. I am a fan of Jeff’s in-ring work and persona. I believe he still has a lot of good years in him. He needs more than just Immortal fodder to do in TNA. The time away from television can allow both, but especially Jeff, to create an idea worthy of a return.

Heading into 2012, I know most of the Internet Wrestling Community are still calling the death of TNA as “three months away, tops.” I see a lot of the future of the business working alongside some of the premiere talents in the wrestling business not currently in the WWE or Ring of Honor. In addition, I see some veterans proving that you can give back to the business without having to be the focal point of the show (I am looking at you, Dwayne; Undertaker; Triple H). Hulk Hogan is off-screen, which is a huge plus, while Ric Flair is in a managerial role doing wonders for Gunner in the same way he gave a young Randy Orton and Dave Batista a rub almost a decade ago. Kurt Angle still brings a ton to the table while making James Storm look like a star. I feel like Ken Anderson and Bully Ray are currently treading water but 2012 will give both men chances to shine. The X-Division is loaded with talent as Austin Aries leads a brigade including young talents like Jesse Sorenson, Zema Ion, Anthony Nese and veterans like Shannon Moore and Kid Kash. The Knockouts are still the best women’s wrestling in the world today with a rejuvenated Gail Kim showing great chops as a heel. Mickie James, Tara, Madison Rayne, ODB, Sarita, Winter, and Angelina Love are all stellar while Brooke Tessmacher, Rosita, and Velvet Sky are still developing their craft (and are already overqualified to be mere WWE Divas). The possible addition of Melina in the near future only improves an already stellar group of women. I think 2012 is going to be a huge year for the “little wrestling company that could.”

**On January 9th, 2012, the BCS National Championship Game will take place at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. This game is usually one of the most exciting nights of the sporting year for me. I will not be watching the BCS National Championship Game though because I have already watched this SEC match-up once and it stunk to high heaven. The #1 ranked LSU Tigers (13-0) will face the #2 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1) in a rematch from their over-hyped 9-6 overtime stinker on November 5th. I am a firm believer that the #3 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-1) should be in the National Championship Game and LSU should prove their worthiness of the title “Champion” by defeating all comers and not merely beating Alabama for a second time.

The main event of the upcoming BCS Bowl season is the epitome of a college football season that was boring and uneventful for the most part. I believe a few of the BCS games will deliver on the entertainment level. The Rose Bowl between Wisconsin and Oregon (both 11-2) looks like a great match-up on paper. The Fiesta Bowl match-up between Oklahoma State and Stanford (both 11-1) also looks like it will an outstanding game. The Sugar Bowl between Virginia Tech (11-2) and Michigan (10-2) could be a very well played game also. I hate the National Championship match-up though and I loathe the Orange Bowl match-up between West Virginia (9-3) and Clemson (10-2). Those two schools do not belong on one of the biggest stages in all of college football’s bowl season as Arkansas, Kansas State, South Carolina, Houston and Boise State sit on the sidelines in lesser games.

I hope that college football will give us a playoff format before the end of my lifetime. I hope for many things though and they rarely come true. Alas, I believe that is to be the case with my yearnings for an end to the BCS system. I hope that next year will not be an SEC rematch though because that is lame to an unwatchable proportion.

**Baseball normally does not make headlines after the World Series. This year was different thought because one move shook the world of baseball. The landscape of the American and National League was shook. The heads of fans and journalist were shook… well, more like shaking in disbelief. St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols signed a 10-year, $254 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Long Beach of Southern California.

Albert Pujols is one of the greatest baseball players of all-time. In 11 years in St. Louis, Pujols has earned three Most Valuable Player awards and two World Series rings with the Cardinals. Also, he earned an All-Star appearance nine times. Pujols is currently 37th all-time on the home run lists and leads all active players in career batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage. Pujols earned Player of the Decade (2000-09) from ESPN. Fans, journalists, and athletes consider Pujols one of the most elite athletes in all of athletics. With all of those accomplishments, the deal Pujols signed with the Angels shocked most because of the amount of years and money. Considering Pujols has began to show signs of wear and tear because of age (he is 31), the Angels signed a first baseman for three years and a designated hitter for seven. It just does not make sense to give Pujols that much money for what little they will get in return overall. Good for Pujols though. A man who has accomplished so much in the game and, seemingly, is clean in an age of HGH and PEDs is a man I have no problem seeing get paid.

**The 2011 NASCAR season is over. I witnessed through Facebook and Twitter that the Chase for the Championship came down to a thrilling finish between Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards in Homestead. In fact, Stewart and Edwards ended the season tied in points with Stewart claiming the title on a tiebreaker (five wins compared to Edwards’ one win).

On paper, that sounds like the recipe for excitement. I loved watching in 2006 when Sam Hornish, Jr. and Dan Wheldon ended the season tied in points with Hornish winning the tiebreaker (four wins to two). Also, close championship finishes in NASCAR history have excited me over the years. I remember vividly following every lap of the 1997 season finale where Jeff Gordon beat Dale Jarrett by 14 points and Mark Martin by 29 points. More importantly, I remember the greatest championship finish of all-time when Alan Kulwicki outlasted five other drivers to claim the 1992 Championship from Bill Elliott by 10 points. What made these three championship races different from the 2011 championship race? Every race counted.

It is a tired argument, I know. However, I refuse to acknowledge that NASCAR currently crowns a champion on par with champions before 2003. NASCAR went the route of other sports and created a postseason to determine their champion: the Chase for the Championship. That is cool. However, NASCAR needs to acknowledge how champions before 2003 represented the entire season and not a 10-race stretch. I’m not even going to call for the abolishment of the playoffs because it will never happen. I just want the officials to call a spade a spade and admit that the Chase winners won the playoffs to become champion. Acknowledge the difference between Winston Cup Champions and Chase for the Championship winners. Until that happens, NASCAR can have more dogfights like the one between Stewart and Edwards that will go without acknowledgement by traditionalists.

Oh, congrats to Tony Stewart for winning the Chase for the Championship. Stewart had a great ten-race performance.

**On October 16th, Dan Wheldon died in an accident during the season finale of the IndyCar Series at Las Vegas. The IndyCar Series announced a few weeks ago that they would not return to race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2012. I personally believe that should have just said they were not going to return to the speedway ever in the aftermath of the tragic accident. Also, I believe this is a major overreaction to a tragic accident that could have occurred anywhere.

The official at IndyCar need to realize that many factors created “the perfect storm” that ultimately ended Dan Wheldon’s life. First, there were too many cars on the track. A typical IndyCar event consists of 26-28 cars. Las Vegas had 34 cars on the track. Second, it was early in the event. The crash happened on Lap 11 with the field still bunched up from the start. You have that kind of racing on road courses as well as ovals. It is simply unavoidable. Third, it was just his time. We all come with an expiration date. In the case of Dan Wheldon, his date read October 16th, 2011.

The loss of Dan Wheldon was tragic. That said, this is an overreaction bordering on ridiculous. What will IndyCar do when the next on-track death happens at a road course? Do we start removing them from the schedule too? Obviously, I do not like this move. Many variables, not just the track, led to the passing of Dan Wheldon.

**Kurt Busch made headlines on December 5th when the 2004 NASCAR Chase for the Championship winner was “wished well in his future endeavors” by Roger Penske. Busch saw his tumultuous tenure at Penske come to an end after a verbal beatdown on Dr. Jerry Punch and obscene gestures to fans (and allegedly Michelle Obama) at the season finale at Homestead. These were the final straws for Busch at the organization. He had already run crew chief Steve Addington, a survivor of another Busch temper tantrum at Gibbs Racing with Kyle Busch, to Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing for the 2012 season. Rumor is that Busch had no crew chiefs anxious to join him for 2012 and Pennzoil rumbling about wanting a better representative for their brand so Roger Penske let the elder Busch go.

I think NASCAR would be a better sport without either Kurt or Kyle Busch. Both men have immense amounts of talent. However, both men are also poster-children for selfish, egotistic, petulant crybabies everywhere. If the NBA owners had NASCAR drivers, the Busch brothers would be the owners’ choice. Both men are symbols of everything wrong in sports, entertainment, and life in the 21st century. Talent may win accolades but it never wins fans or respect. Kyle Busch lost that respect from me a long time ago. Kurt Busch has, with his second “future endeavorment” from a marquee NASCAR organization, lost every iota of respect from me also. I wonder how long it will be before he wares out his welcome wherever he lands next.

**Since the last edition of The Highlight Reel, we have lost some tremendous talents in the world of entertainment.

Rapper and actor Heavy D, real name Dwight Myers, passed away on November 8th after a bout with pneumonia. Patrice O’Neal, a tremendously funny stand-up comedian, passed away on November 29th at the age of 41 after complications from a stroke. Harry Morgan, of MASH and Dragnet fame, died at the age of 96 on December 7th from pneumonia. On December 17th, one of the greatest golfers in the world passed away as North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il died of a heart attack at the age of 69. Jong-Il shot an 18 under with five hole-in-ones in one of the first rounds he ever played. If only he did not have the responsibility of holding down a nation, Kim Jong-Il could have gave Tiger Woods competition in the prime of Tiger’s career. The Highlight Reel wishes all four figures a melancholy Happy Trails.

CHEERS and JEERS
Superstar of the Week: Tim Tebow

Ignoring the loss on Sunday to the New England Patriots, it is safe to say that Tim Tebow has been the face of the National Football League over the last two months. Without the flash of 400+ yard passing performances or the sizzle of exciting on-field play, Tim Tebow has captivated America through his character, his person, and his polarizing nature. Tim Tebow is a devout Christian and the closest thing to Ned Flanders in this world currently. He is also starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos despite having a coach (John Fox) and management (namely John Elway) who hate every success the kid achieves. He wins football games and is clutch more times than not yet critics constantly criticize his unique, uncharacteristic playing style. With that said, Tim Tebow is more than just a mere football player. Tim Tebow is a pop culture phenomenon.

Tebowmania has captured the imaginations of America and the world. Some of his come-from-behind victories have crashed Twitter. The act of Tebowing (taking a knee and saying a quick prayer like Tebow on the sidelines) replaced planking as the newest social media trend. Michelle Beadle joined John Parr in performing “Man in Motion (Tim Tebow’s Fire)” on SportsNation while DJ Steve Porter created a music video based on Skip Bayless’ love of Tebow. Shows like 60 Minutes featured his story while Saturday Night Live parodied him. Tim Tebow has been everywhere.

I am a fan of Tim Tebow. He is not a prototypical quarterback. However, regardless of what his critics say, Tebow is also not a horrible quarterback. Tebow is 7-2 this season as a starter for the Denver Broncos. He took a team 1-4 under Kyle Orton from the cellar to the top of the AFC West. He is a football player in every sense of the word. Moreover, for the time being, Tim Tebow is a pop culture phenomenon the likes of which have not occurred in the NFL or sports in ages. That is awesome.

Jerk of the Week: Ndamukong Suh

I am a fan of the Detroit Lions’ defensive tackle and his style of play. Suh is a beast on the field. He is a throwback to the glory days of football when defensive players were headhunters who crushed quarterbacks. Despite being a fan of Suh on the field, I am growing tired of his attitude. Over the last month, Ndamukong Suh’s actions have hurt his career, his team, and his image in ways I believe are not easily repairable.

On Thanksgiving Day, Suh slammed offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith’s head into the turf three times and stomped the Packers’ lineman in front of a national television audience. Suh earned an ejection from the game and two-game suspension without pay because of the action. This was the latest in a long line of plays viewed by some as old-school football and some as overly aggressive and dirty. While I think the stomping of Dietrich-Smith was ridiculous, Suh’s actions later that week were far louder in screaming that Suh is a jerk. While returning home from an Oregon Ducks football game, Suh crashed his vintage 1970 Dodge into three parked vehicles and a tree. Alcohol was not involved. However, two women in the car who were injured in the accident refuted Suh’s claims that he swerved to avoid a cab. Both women said that speed and recklessness were the cause of Suh’s accident.

Ndamukong Suh is a great young football player. Sadly, he appears to have the maturity of a stereotypical young jock also. He is reckless, carefree, and believes in all of the hype telling him that he is unstoppable. I hope that a suspension will be enough to deter this streak in Suh’s on-field aggression and a car accident with no fatalities will serve as a wake-up call to Suh that he is indeed a mortal. Ndamukong Suh is a talent player but he is also a major league jerk in need of a serious attitude adjustment.

POWER RANKINGS - Top NBA Championship Contenders
5. Boston Celtics
4. Dallas Mavericks
3. Chicago Bulls
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
1. Miami Heat

BIG A RECOMMENDS…
Attending Ring of Honor Wrestling and Lady Antebellum in Concert

Over the last couple of weeks, I have enjoyed two of the most incredible live event experiences I have ever had in the form of Ring of Honor Wrestling and Lady Antebellum’s Own the Night Tour.

On December 4th, I ventured out alone for my first Ring of Honor Wrestling experience. Without a doubt, it was one of the best experiences of my life. The card itself was one of those events that make me proud to be such a diehard fan of professional wrestling. The six-match card saw some of the brightest young stars in the business tear the house down inside the Special Events Center of the Greensboro Coliseum (a.k.a. the basement). Mike Bennett pinned TJ Perkins in a hot opening contest. The All-Night Express defeated Eden, North Carolina’s contribution to ROH, Harlem and Lancelot Bravado in the only weak match of the night. ROH Television Champion Jay Lethal pinned Adam Cole in a Proving Ground match. Nick and Matt Jackson defeated North Carolina natives Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander in an outstanding match. Andy Ridge defeated a lummox named Samson. The main event saw history made when “Diehard” Eddie Edwards, El Generico, and ROH Tag Team Champions Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin defeated Roderick Strong, Michael Elgin, and Mark and Jay Briscoe in an elimination tag team match that lasted for a record one hour, 20 minutes, and 33 seconds. I was in person to witness the longest match in the history of the historic Greensboro Coliseum.


However, the great wrestling action is not the only reason I loved Ring of Honor. The people were so nice to every fan they encountered. When I walked in the door, I saw commentator Kevin Kelly. I called to him and just wanted to shake hands when Kelly pulled me out for a fan interview. It was awesome on so many levels. I did not get any autographs (way too pricey) but shook hands with El Generico, Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas, Eddie Edwards, and ROH producer Jim Cornette. In the case of Edwards and Haas, I became a fan for life as they did not have to take time from their busy day to speak with me but did. I appreciate kind gestures like that. I cannot recommend attending a Ring of Honor show enough.

On December 17th, I ventured up to the Roanoke Civic Center in Roanoke, Virginia for Lady Antebellum’s Own The Night Tour with the Beavis. As a major, diehard Lady A fanatic, I was excited to get to see Hillary, Dave, Hillary, Charles, and Hillary live. I love Hillary Scott. I was not disappointed either.


Opening for Lady Antebellum, new country trio Edens Edge blew me away. The trio from Arkansas, whose hit “Amen” has climbed the charts since April, have a bright future ahead of them. I had low expectations for Josh Kelley. His set showed that he was not on the tour simply because he’s Charles Kelley’s brother. Kelley’s “Georgia Clay” and “Gone Like That” were among the highlights of the night. In addition, his prank during Lady Antebellum’s show made him unforgettable as he arrived during a group medley dressed as a whoopee cushion.


Lady Antebellum’s set was outstanding. No, not outstanding. Amazing. Incredible. Unbelievable. Their set was one of the greatest concert experiences I have ever had the privilege of enjoying. The sold-out Roanoke Civic Center was full of screaming fans of all ages and genders enjoying the hits that have made Lady A one of the most successful acts in the last five years. I felt myself getting chills during “Hello World” and lost my mind with excitement during the performances of “We Owned the Night,” “Stars Tonight,” “Our Kind of Love,” and “Lookin’ For A Good Time.” Hillary absolutely stole my heart with her performance of “As You Turn Away.” The set closed with “Need You Now” and 6,000 fans joining Lady A in singing their biggest hit.


It was an amazing show. I recommend anybody who loves great music and a great show check out Lady Antebellum when they roll into your town.

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK…
There is a reason why it has been over a month since I wrote an edition of The Highlight Reel: school, School, SCHOOL! I recently finished my first semester back at Greensboro College. I did fairly well in my classes: one class with a 99 while the other class has yet to reveal my grade. I am not worried though because I brought nothing but awesome to that class on a weekly basis.

I learned a lot over the course of the semester. The sad truth is that a majority of my lessons learned were not from textbooks, lectures, or in-class assignments. I learn from observing people. I learned things not to do to students when I am in control of a classroom like scoff at their suggestions and ideas because I am not familiar with the text. I learned that, despite your best intentions, having an open-mind and a desire for change makes you an outcast among your peers. I learned that there is far more bureaucracy and promotion of technology over basic teaching when basic teaching would work so much better. Most important of all, I learned that the journey to obtaining a teaching license is far harder than I imagined because the journey is full of obstacles, challenges, and challenging people. I think that it is a challenge I am ready to step up and face though. One semester down, one year to go. I can’t quit now.

Can’t quit. Won’t quit. My chance to shake up the future is waiting.
- Goins… OUT!

Survivor Series hype, Roode Reaction from the IWC, Penn St. Scandal, NFL @ Week 9, Stronger, 2011 World Series thoughts, and more!

These four things I know are true…

- The Penn State sex scandal is sickening on so many levels.

- The Internet Wrestling Community can never, ever be pleased.

- The 2011 World Series was the kind of series that turns a nation of apathetic fans into diehard fans.

- And, I’m Aaron Goins. All my thoughts on these topics and so much more (including Vince McMahon’s dreams of being First Lady)… in The Highlight Reel!

NEWS and NOTES
**The 2011 Survivor Series will emanate from Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 20th. While I normally don’t find myself interested in an WWE event anymore, I have a slight bit of interest in this event because the Survivor Series is one of the traditional “big four” events that helped shape my childhood as a wrestling fan. Even when the card is atrocious, the Survivor Series generally pulls out something special to make the card tolerable. The 2011 edition is attempting to have a decent card but all of the hype and promotion is surrounding one man - a man not even an active wrestler. The 2011 Survivor Series, much like WrestleMania XXVII is all about Dwayne Johnson.

Dwayne Johnson, known by his blind sheep-like followers as The Rock, will team with John Cena to face The Miz and R-Truth in the main event. Why the two men who will oppose one another in the WrestleMania XXVIII main event would team together is beyond me. Why John Cena would need a partner considering that he has single-handedly squashed both Miz and R-Truth repeatedly is, again, beyond me. But, this is the main event for the 25th edition of the Survivor Series.

I’m interested in seeing how good of a match we’ll get when WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio faces CM Punk one-on-one for the title and how horrible it will be when World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry faces Big Show. While both titles are world titles, one match is exponentially grander than the other. Also, the Survivor Series will have at least one traditional Survivor Series match up when Team Orton (Randy Orton, Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, Sin Cara, and Mason Ryan) do battle with Team Barrett (Wade Barrett, Christian, Jack Swagger, Hunico, and Cody Rhodes). While Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes are the men involved in a feud, WWE continues to follow their agenda of nonsensical booking by not even giving Rhodes the spotlight in a match that Randy Orton will obviously win. Also, Zack Ryder will finally win the United States Championship as Santino Marella 2011 will face Dolph Ziggler for Ziggler’s title. Considering how hard the IWC is pushing for Ryder, the ‘E will through people a bone with this one.

With a few weeks to go, the WWE will put together a few more matches for the 25th annual Survivor Series. I would bet my bottom dollar that Michael Cole vs. Jim Ross will find its way onto the card because, while wrestling is on the marquee and people pay to see wrestlers, the WWE brain trust can’t have an event without Michael Cole in action or Jim Ross being humiliated. That is more of a tradition than even the Survivor Series.

**On the November 3rd episode of TNA Impact Wrestling, Robert Roode defeated James Storm to win the TNA World Championship. At October’s Bound for Glory event, everyone who calls himself or herself a TNA fan cried foul when Roode was defeated by Kurt Angle in the main event for the title. They cried more when Storm won the championship two nights later. Even though a TNA Original was now champion, it was not Robert Roode so they pissed and moaned. So, what was the reaction from these same people when Roode defeated Storm for the title two weeks later? Pissing, moaning, and bitching of course!

Robert Roode, the man who everyone wanted to see as champion, is now the man that nobody wants to see as champion. Why? Did he change his impressive in-ring work? Did he stop cutting interesting and captivating promos? No. They don’t want him as champion because the majority of the internet wrestling community can’t stop bitching amongst themselves to enjoy a single moment of the product they claim to love.

I loved seeing Storm vs. Roode for the title. Storm defeated an injured and overconfident Kurt Angle with a super kick to win the title. Roode, turning heel in the process, did whatever it took to become champion over his former Beer Money tag team partner because the desire to become World Champion overshadowed any allegiance or friendship in the business. While there was a continuation of the hot potato booking with the TNA World title, the long term looks great with a heel Robert Roode as TNA World Champion. Roode is a natural heel. Roode vs. Storm is a money-making feud with great matches waiting to be had. And, both men will come out of this feud for the title looking like legit solo main event stars. So, I simply don’t see what there is to bitch about? Then again, I’m not the average mouth-breathing, dirty shirt-wearing, foul and putrid member of the IWC. I am a wrestling fan. Big difference.

**The NFL is at Week Nine and the 2011 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and bizarre seasons in recent memory. The great teams are flawed, the terrible teams are filled with fight, and only the Indianapolis Colts truly stink to epic proportions. I never knew Peyton Manning played defense for the Colts but apparently he really did do it all for them.

In the NFC, the Green Bay Packers appear to be the class of the field. That said, the Packers have a good defense on paper who are essential ineffective on the field. For a squad currently 8-0, Green Bay is one of the ugliest perfect teams I can remember seeing. They have given up over 30 points in multiple games this season and can not depend on simply winning a gunfight every week. Unless their defense wakes up, Green Bay is going to be this year’s version of the 13-3 Falcons from last season - one and one when it matters most.

Meanwhile, I know I would have lost money on this: the second best record in the entire NFL belongs to the 7-1 San Francisco 49ers. Under the tutelage of coach Jim Harbaugh, quarterback Alex Smith has finally looked competent. Frank Gore has remained healthy and a running machine while the 49ers defense has been as smash mouth and dominating as ever. The New York Giants (6-2) lead the NFC East by two games over their nearest competitors while the New Orleans Saints (6-3) lead the competitive NFC South by one over Atlanta and two over Tampa Bay. Detroit, sitting at 6-2, are also among the top teams in the NFC currently at the halfway point of the season.

In the AFC, it is a crowded field atop every division. The New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Buffalo Bills all sit atop the AFC East at 5-3 while the AFC West has a three-way tie for the lead as the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and San Diego Chargers all sit at 4-4. The AFC South belongs to the Houston Texans right now with a 6-3 record, two games over their nearest competition. I think everybody except for the most diehard of fans would have considered me insane to say the Cincinnati Bengals would still be in the hunt after nine weeks. Yet, the Bengals currently sit at 6-2 behind the leadership of the red Rifleman Andy Dalton and are in a tie with the Baltimore Ravens (6-2) atop the AFC North. The Pittsburgh Steelers sit at 6-3 right behind the Ravens and Bengals.

There are only a few teams that I really would say the 2011 season is over for right now. The Indianapolis Colts are currently in the lead for the number one draft pick with their tanking effort in full effect. The Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, and NFC West outside of San Francisco are finished. Other than those teams, I think that anything can (and probably will) happen with these teams as they jockey for playoff position in the next eight weeks. One thing is for certain though: it’s a great time to be a football fan. Every weekend has a playoff feel and I love it.

**The more I hear about the sex scandal at Penn State University, the more sickened I am by it. From 1994 to 2009, former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky allegedly abused eight young boys, with some of the abuse having occurred on the campus of Penn State. Sandusky, the one-time heir apparent to the head coaching position held by Joe Paterno, is currently out on $100,000 bond.

While Sandusky is the alleged guilty party in conducting these horrible acts, the entire incident makes Penn State University look back and could be a black eye on the legendary career of Joe Pa as these incidents occurred under the nose of the legendary coach. It has came out that Paterno did know of allegations made as he testified about a 2002 incident witnessed by a graduate student during a hearing. Paterno has said that he knew nothing of the incidents and did not have reason to suspect that Sandusky, who retired from his staff in 1999, would have been conducting these atrocious crimes. But, sometimes that just seems hard to believe.

I hope that Joe Paterno, a role model and beckon of greatness in college athletics, did not turn a blind eye to this abuse in favor of maintaining recruits and maintaining the pristine image of Penn State University. I hope that so much because it would be a shame to see the winningest coach in college football history end his career amidst a scandal far greater than any of his on-field accomplishments. Jerry Sandusky is the man who committed these heinous acts. It would be a tragedy if Joe Paterno is the one who ultimately carries the shame of the incident in the eyes of public opinion. But, if he knew something and did nothing abut it, the shame would be justified.

**Darren Young. Heath Slater. Evan Bourne. What do these three men have in common besides the fact that all are exponentially better than the way they are booked on WWE TV/WWE.com? These three men have failed drug tests and been suspended within the last 30 days. After the WWE went years without a failed drug test on the books, they now have three within 30 days. Why? Well, the fliers are out and the buses are hitting the campaign trail. It’s time to Stand Up for WWE again because Linda McMahon is ready to piss away another $50 million. The 2012 election season is starting up!

The only time Vince McMahon and company really seem to try to clean up their company anymore is when Linda McMahon is on the campaign trail. For some reason, Vince has a yearning to put on a frilly white sundress and play First Lady. Yet, he knows the media will kill his wife’s chances by exposing her connection to the blood money fueling her campaign and her lifestyle through World Wrestling Entertainment. So, Vince puts on his big boy pants and tries to clean up his company for every campaign season that Linda participates in. He can’t grip that the media will see right through this façade but that is because Vince McMahon is a moron.

I can only imagine how many others will fail drug tests over the next year as Vince McMahon tries to present his company as a clean and pure promotion. Oh, John Cena won’t fail one. Neither will Randy Orton, Triple H, Kevin Nash, The Undertaker, or the Superstar of the Year: Michael Cole. And, you better believe that Dwayne Johnson won’t even get tested when he shows up for his two days of work. Everybody else though will drop like flies if it’s necessary to make WWE look squeaky clean to have Linda look impressive by association. Nothing will deter Vince’s dreams of holding a tray of cookies while in a dress and pearls as Linda is sworn into office this time. Even if it means the entire company is suspended and every broadcast is one long Stand Up for WWE ad.

**I went to see Paranormal Activity 3 recently and found myself living the cinema with mixed feelings. Paranormal Activity 3 continued to raise the bar with regards to scares and violence within these supernatural-based horror films. However, the storyline within the Paranormal Activity universe got a little muddled for the first time in this series as glaring plot holes stood out for me almost as much as the best frights in the film.

I recommend Paranormal Activity 3 because it is a terrific film. Depending on my mood, it may be the best film of the series thus far. But, I do also have concerns moving forward. I know that there will be a Paranormal Activity 4 because the success of these films means a fourth installment must be made. I just hope that the storyline does not get so convoluted for the sake of sequels that more plot holes form as this simple story of a haunted family stretches for material to make more films. Paranormal Activity 3 is a terrific look at the beginning of the haunting that destroyed the lives of Katie, Kristi, and their families. Wonderfully acted and full of creepiness thanks to the young actresses, Paranormal Activity 3 is a must-see for fans of being scared. I just hope that, after three films that seemingly have gotten better and better, the next installment isn’t a massive let down.

**There is a rumor floating around the entertainment world that Justin Bieber is the father of a baby. Yeah, that Justin Bieber. The tooty fruity pop star who is allegedly dating Wizards of Waverly Place star Selena Gomez is allegedly the “baby daddy” of 20-year old Mariah Yeater’s three-month old son Trystan. If I was Bieber, I would not be suing for defamation of character. If anything, these allegations finally gave Bieber a shred of manliness in his otherwise “light in the loafers” image. Run with it, Justin. It’s the best thing about you since The Office’s Dwight Schrute labeled you “Justice Beaver.”

**On October 28th, WWE made another decision that showed why they are a million-dollar company in spite of themselves when they released WWE Diva Maryse.


They released that smoking hot blonde but still have the utterly worthless Rosa Mendes, the ghastly Tamina, and the charisma-less Kaitlyn on the roster.

I have been a fan of Maryse for a long time. When she first started, I hated her because she was a beautiful woman without a purpose. Then, she started learning to wrestle. While she was never going to be on the level of Mickie James, Trish Stratus, Lita, or Tara, Maryse brought some things to the ring that put her head and shoulders above 90% of the WWE roster: both male and female. Maryse had a charm and charisma about her that could get heel heat instantly. Her feud with Mickie James in 2009 was a thing of beauty. Maryse played her role to perfection and I believe WWE dropped the ball on her greatly with the way they misused her over the final 18 months of her WWE career. Whatever Maryse does with her freedom now, I believe she’ll be a success. Beautiful blonde with a winning personality and alluring charisma. She’ll be fine without the ‘E holding her back.

**If you had 72 days in the Kim Kardashian-Kris Humphries Marriage Pool, you won!

Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from NBA forward / nobody Kris Humphries on October 31st, citing irreconcilable differences. What a joke this whole marriage was. Seriously, anybody who believes that gays shouldn’t get married because they ruin the sanctity of marriage need to look no farther than Kim Kardashian for a reason to abolish the practice all together. They got married for the sake of a television special, a magazine spread, and millions of dollars from sick-o endorsers. There was nothing real about their marriage except for embarrassment as in everyone in the human race is just a little more embarrassed knowing that these people are allowed to live and prosper.

**I would like to wish a melancholy happy trails to journalist and former 60 Minutes correspondent Andy Rooney. Rooney, 92, passed away on November 4th from complications following surgery. Rooney retired from his weekly segment on 60 Minutes only a month earlier. Andy Rooney gave us cranky without being hateable, wit and humor without being an ass, and opinion without being a self-righteous blowhard. He was great in print, great on TV, and an inspiration to everyone who loves to express their opinion, controversial or not. Andy Rooney will be missed.

**Another melancholy happy trails to one of the all-time greats to ever grace the boxing ring. “Smokin’” Joe Frazier passed away Monday night at the age of 67 after a battle with liver cancer.

Joe Frazier was the first man to ever defeat Muhammad Ali when he won by judges’ decision over Ali in 1971. Frazier was world champion for five years before dropping the title to George Foreman in 1973. Frazier lost two additional matches to Ali but the trilogy of fights are considered among the greatest fights ever in the sport of boxing. Frazier went 32-4-1 in an 11-year career.

I wasn’t alive when Frazier was among the most well-known athletes in the sporting world. I learned of Joe Frazier for the first time from the Coliseum Video release of WrestleMania II. Frazier was the corner man for Mr. T during the Mr. T-Roddy Piper boxing match at the 1986 spectacular (or, should I say spectacle?). Frazier later had guest appearances on television shows and became an ambassador for the sport where he once was a king. Joe Frazier was a legend and truly one of a kind.

CHEERS and JEERS
Superstar of the Week: St. Louis Cardinals

With 32 games left in the season, the Atlanta Braves led the National League Wild Card Standings by 10.5 games over the St. Louis Cardinals. Then, the Braves completed the second worst collapse in Wild Card history while the Cardinals won 23 of their last 32 to earn the final spot in the National League playoffs. Once in the playoffs, the Cardinals were considered no match for the Philadelphia Phillies or the Milwaukee Brewers. Yet, St. Louis defeated both teams and earned a spot in the World Series against the Texas Rangers.

The World Series was terrific. St. Louis won Game One. The Rangers took Game Two before Albert Pujols hit three home runs in a single game to help St. Louis take Game Three. Texas took Game Four and Five before St. Louis played host to a classic. The Rangers were leading the World Series, three games to two, when the Cardinals went into comeback mode once again. David Freese hit a game-tying two-run triple in the 9th, Lance Berkman hit a game-tying single in the 10th, and then Freese hit a walk-off home run in the 11th that made him a St. Louis legend and all of America a baseball fan once again as the Cardinals won 10-9.

Game Seven was anti-climactic in comparison to Game Six. St. Louis defeated the Texas Rangers, 6-2, with David Freese taking home MVP honors and the Cardinals winning their 11th World Championship in franchise history. The St. Louis Cardinals were not supposed to even be in the playoffs. They certainly were not supposed to advance out of the first round. Yet, they overcame obstacles, benefited from the mistakes of others, and capitalized on every mistake put in front of them. Congratulations to the St. Louis Cardinals on winning the 2011 World Series and being simply a team of destiny.

Jerk of the Week: Kyle Busch

As we all know by know, I hate Kyle Busch. He’s a petulant, egotistical, psychopath who should be removed from any aspect of public life because he is a detriment to everything associated to him. Once again, Kyle Busch proved my assessment of him right on Friday night at the Texas Motor Speedway. For once, NASCAR finally manned up and earned a smidgen of respect from me for doing the right thing: punishing Kyle Busch.

While driving in the Truck Series event, Kyle Busch pulled a page out of Days of Thunder and intentionally wrecked Ron Hornaday, Jr. on lap 14 of the event. In Busch’s warped mind, it was retaliation for Hornaday making contact with Busch earlier in the lap. The incident crushed any chance Hornaday may have had at winning a fifth Truck Series Championship while Busch, a Cup driver who didn’t belong in the event to begin with, had nothing to lose and only a paycheck and ego boost to gain. Instead of adding to his bad boy / “I’m the next Earnhardt” persona though, Kyle got a cold dose of reality on Saturday morning when he was suspended from the Nationwide and Cup Series events. Excuse me while I applaud NASCAR for doing the right thing.

When 2010 began, NASCAR’s “powers that be” created a policy called “Boys, have at it.” This created a sense of lawlessness as drivers could settle things among themselves without repercussions. That ended when Carl Edwards was put of probation for the remainder of 2010 for taking things too far with Brad Keselowski. That action ended “Boys, have at it.” That act of punishment, however slight it may be, ended the notion of lawlessness. Kyle Busch should have been punished for his cowardly antics at Darlington. He should have been parked for doing this to Elliott Sadler at Bristol. Finally, the third time this season was the charm. Kyle Busch has the talent to be one of the all-time greats. But, actions like this will forever keep Kyle Busch as a race winner only. He will never be a champion nor an all-time great in the world of auto racing. He’s simply a talented jerk.

POWER RANKINGS - Top World Series Moments of My Lifetime
5. Kirk Gibson’s Walk-off Home Run in Game One - Los Angeles Dodgers over Oakland A’s - 1988
4. Boston Red Sox break the Curse of the Bambino - Boston Red Sox over St. Louis Cardinals - 2004
3. Atlanta wins it all - Atlanta Braves over Cleveland Indians - 1995 / Joe Carter’s Walk-off Home Run in Game Six - Toronto Blue Jays over Philadelphia Phillies - 1993 (TIE)
2. David Freese’s Big Night in Game Six - St. Louis Cardinals over Texas Rangers - 2011
1. Bill Bucker’s Error in Game Six - New York Mets over Boston Red Sox - 1986

BIG A RECOMMENDS…
Stronger by Kelly Clarkson - available in stores and on iTunes now


As many know, I am a huge Kelly Clarkson fan. For my money, there is not a better singer in the world than the sweetheart from Burleson, Texas who won the first American Idol and has been one of the biggest stars in music for the last decade. While I have enjoyed her last two albums, I found myself not enjoying either My December or All I Ever Wanted quite the way I enjoyed her 2005 smash-hit album Breakaway. I can safely say that Kelly Clarkson is back and in prime form with her latest album - Stronger.

The 13-song album is loaded with radio-friendly singles and energy from the first notes of “Mr. Know It All” to the last notes of “Breaking Your Own Heart.” It is hard to pick just a few tracks to recommend. If I had to name my favorites, I love the sassy, R&B vibe that is in the first single released, “Mr. Know It All,” and I love the energy and message behind the title track “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger).” If “Einstein” is not one of the biggest hits of the Summer of 2012, I will call shenanigans on Top 40 Radio for neglecting one of the best pop records of recent memory. Stronger is an absolute gem from beginning to end. I can not recommend this album enough.

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK…
Recently, I had an assignment in one of my Teacher Education classes that made me reflect on my life. More importantly, it made me reflect on those who have impacted my life. I was supposed to write a letter to a favorite teacher of mine and mail it to him/her. I immediately thought of three individuals who I learned from during my academic career to a point where I consider my time under their tutelage precious. On Friday, November 4th, I hand-delivered my letter to my 4th and 5th grade teacher: Mr. Steve Parker.

Now retired, Mr. Parker (I still can’t bring myself to call him Steve) battles with crippling pain from year of using crutches to overcome injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident when he was in his 20s. Mr. Parker deals with pain from his prosthetic leg and pain from back injuries as well. Though, his mind and spirit were just as sharp and charisma was just as infectious on that day as the first time I met him when I was a young man at Stoneville Elementary.

I learned a lot from Mr. Parker. I learned English, math, science, and history. More importantly though, I learned how to be a man from Mr. Parker. I learned that you don’t allow obstacles to stop you from living your life and maintaining what happiness you can take from every situation. Mr. Parker was a man who showed me value in a phrase news anchor Dan Rather said, “Take your work seriously. Don’t take yourself seriously.” I learned that the best way to reach an audience is through showmanship as much as it is through intellect and intelligence. Plus, I learned that sports can help teach almost anything. Using basketball and NASCAR for math, baseball for strategy building and geography, and other lessons I’m sure I’ve forgotten, Mr. Parker made learning more fun than I could have ever imagined. It made my heart warm knowing that I was able to let him know how much he meant to me 16 years after the fact. What I learned, I did not learn this week. But, those lessons I learned so many years ago are what have helped shape me into the man I am today. I hope that I can be half as good as he was in the classroom. If so, I know I will have done my job well.

- Aaron Goins