2007.12.06

Don't I look happy?

So, I ordered the replay of TNA Turning Point. Here are the things that stuck out to me:

1) The Motorcity Machineguns could quite possibly surpass the popularity of (1991) The Rockers. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin together are simply electric. I have not been this sure about anything since 1998 when I swore to my friends that midcard WCW TV Champion "Lionheart" Chris Jericho was a star in the making. Little did I know, Jericho would have to leave WCW to get his chance to shine.

2) Show me the money. (Over used clichˇ... I know) Go back and watch Jay Lethal matches from two years ago. Lethal has always been an acrobatic phenom. But, two years ago, Lethal was not selling any t-shirts or generating the crowd reaction he is today. Lethal slid into the "Black Machismo" gimmick and WOW. He is all kinds of over.

Is it any coincidence that the "Black Machismo" t-shirt sold out at the Slammiversary fan fest? Is it any coincidence that the "Motorcity Machineguns" t-shirt sold out at the Bound for Glory fan fest?

I just hope and pray that the "powers that be" will put some push behind these young wrestlers.

3) Awesome Kong is fantastic. Gail Kim.... ehh. Does Kim actually get a pop from the crowd? I hear plenty of chants for ODB. I never hear chants for Gail Kim. Is that just me?

4) I am not a big fan of LAX. But, they are CLEARLY over with the fans. Can someone explain to me why they have almost completely disappeared from iMPACT?

5) The Feast or Fired (PPV) match results will not be revealed until iMPACT? TNA is using a $30 PPV to push its free TV show? Are you kidding me?

6) Booker T got the pin on Christian Cage and not Robert Roode. That was great. Cage loses nothing by taking the pin. Roode would have looked like a second-class citizen.

7) Samoa Joe's promo was on the money. His promo alone was worth $10 of the $30 I paid. Everything he said needed to be said. He nailed it.

8) Eric Young in the main event... to use one of Les Thatcher's phrases "was like a fart in the wind."

Eric Young has been portrayed as midcard comedy. Eric Young got punked out by Pacman Jones. Eric Young, earlier in the evening, was battling James Storm for the "Beer Drinking Championship of the World" ... and now he is 'serious' in the main event? Come on. Really?

Over the weekend, my wife and I attended a play in Dayton, Ohio. We make it to one or two plays per year. We aim for comedies and light-hearted stories. Well, we had plenty of laughs before things turned quite dark. Description from the website:

The Eight: Reindeer Monologues
A Play By Jeff Goode
The Eight: Reindeer Monologues is a story about Santa's beloved reindeer and their issues with sexual harassment, alcoholism, homosexuality and the working conditions of Santa's toyshop. When one member of the sleigh team speaks out, the media wants answers to what happened that night in the toyshop. The dark comedy, set in the North Pole, takes you through each of the famous reindeer's thoughts on the outrageous claims against Mr. Claus. With all of this going on, will the spirit of Christmas survive?

In a more light-hearted vein, I would like to see "The Santaland Diaries", By David Sedaris. The play is being produced in Columbus, Ohio. Jonathan Putnam reprises last years holiday hit in Riffe Center Studio 3. Click here.

I have known Jonathan Putnam for about 16 years. As a teenager, I worked for CATCO as an assistant stage manager. I earned a professional theatre paycheck on such productions as Speed the Plow, Geater Tuna, and I also had a small role in Dial 'M' for Murder. But anyway...

I am so very grateful for the many experiences I have been blessed with.

The boy has started wrestling practice. I still do not know if we will allow him to wrestle in any tournaments this year. The tournaments are... long... loud... and sometimes excruciating to watch. I can handle getting hit in the head with a steel chair. I do not enjoy seeing my son get squeezed in a headlock as he tries to roll his hips through.

Speaking of the boy, the school just sent home the physical fitness testing results. The kids tested in sit-ups, pull-ups, sit & reach (flexibility), and shuffle (sprint + agility). The boy achieved "presidential level" in 3 of the 4 areas of testing. He achieved "national level" in the fourth area. What was the fourth area? Shuttle run.

We spend countless hours working on speed and agility drills and the one area he placed second was speed and agility. I questioned him... he reminded me that the gym floor is extremely slick and he was afraid he was going to fall.

It is what it is. I have seen him run suicides on that gym floor countless times in the past... and he has run 1/2 to 3/4 speed at best during those drills out of fear of falling on that floor. So, I will give a pass this time.

Last night, Cyrus Poe and Tommy Chill (The Black and Blue Crew) were supposed to meet square off against The Irish Airborne. I have not heard from either of them yet. Hmm...