I don't post much about wrestling, because that's what Grantland is for.
But this is worth a quick post. ESPN's "E:60" show is doing a piece on former WWE/WCW star Scott Hall, who wrestled under his real name, as well as being Razor Ramon in WWE before that. He was in some great matches, including some with Shawn Michaels in WWE, and he was part of the original NWO invasion with Kevin Nash and eventually Hulk Hogan in WCW in 1996.
Hall is also famous for the demons he's battled. Addiction slowed and pretty much destroyed Hall's career before it really needed to be over.
For those who saw the Mickey Rourke movie "The Wrestler," you might notice a resemblance between the character Rourke played in that film and the path Hall's life has taken.
(That's one of the ten most depressing movies ever made. I'm convinced of it. I watched it once, was mesmerized on the couch for a while after it ended, and will probably never watch it again.)
ESPN posted a preview of the Hall piece, which includes a sound bite from Hall, and one from former WCW boss and current TNA producer Eric Bischoff.
The show airs Wednesday night on ESPN. It looks like a must-see.
Showing posts with label not about sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label not about sports. Show all posts
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tim Pawlenty Trips On Own Rhetoric
Sunday, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, now running for President, appeared on the always-friendly Fox News Sunday to rip fellow Republican candidate Mitt Romney.
Well, I'm sure he was there to rip the current President, because that's how Fox News Sunday rolls, but it turned into an opportunity to rip Romney. Since they're rivals for the right tolose the election earn the Republican nomination next year, Pawlenty couldn't turn down a chance to take a shot at Romney's health care plan when he was governor of Massachusetts.
Then the two appeared together for a Republican debate on CNN. Hilarity ensued, as Pawlenty tried to explain his shot. He didn't do well.
Enjoy Jon Stewart breaking down the debate.
This is why you have to be careful with your rhetoric. You can hear Pawlenty backpedaling while trying to tap-dance at the same time, and he's lucky he didn't fall and hit his head. That might have required care from a doctor.
Well, I'm sure he was there to rip the current President, because that's how Fox News Sunday rolls, but it turned into an opportunity to rip Romney. Since they're rivals for the right to
Then the two appeared together for a Republican debate on CNN. Hilarity ensued, as Pawlenty tried to explain his shot. He didn't do well.
Enjoy Jon Stewart breaking down the debate.
This is why you have to be careful with your rhetoric. You can hear Pawlenty backpedaling while trying to tap-dance at the same time, and he's lucky he didn't fall and hit his head. That might have required care from a doctor.
Monday, May 02, 2011
Osama bin Laden is Dead, and WE DID IT!
You don't root for or cheer death very often, but this is one of those rare exceptions for most people.
Terrorist mastermind and long-time most-wanted fugitive Osama bin Laden was killed by United States forces Sunday (U.S. time) in a raid in Pakistan.
Instead of spitting out all the details myself, because you've probably seen them already, here are some smart people presenting the information they've gathered.
First, here is Jake Tapper on ABC.
Now, another report I found interesting on this Monday morning. This one comes from NBC News' Jim Miklaszewski.
It's a fascinating day in American history, no doubt about it.
Terrorist mastermind and long-time most-wanted fugitive Osama bin Laden was killed by United States forces Sunday (U.S. time) in a raid in Pakistan.
Instead of spitting out all the details myself, because you've probably seen them already, here are some smart people presenting the information they've gathered.
First, here is Jake Tapper on ABC.
Now, another report I found interesting on this Monday morning. This one comes from NBC News' Jim Miklaszewski.
It's a fascinating day in American history, no doubt about it.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
'You Wonder Sometimes How Our Government Puts On its Pants in the Morning'
Our latest "Daily Show" video comes from Tuesday's presentation, when Jon Stewart harpooned Congress for a proposed amendment to the Zadroga bill that calls for those applying for 9/11 benefits to be checked first to make sure they aren't terrorists.
Yes, they want to check the 9/11 first responders to make sure they aren't terrorists.
Meanwhile, we continue to hand benefits to tons of other people without checking to make sure they aren't terrorists. It's apparently only the first responders we're worried about.
Great rant, as always.
Yes, they want to check the 9/11 first responders to make sure they aren't terrorists.
Meanwhile, we continue to hand benefits to tons of other people without checking to make sure they aren't terrorists. It's apparently only the first responders we're worried about.
Great rant, as always.
Friday, April 15, 2011
This Might Be My Favorite 'Daily Show' Video
Once in a while, I post videos from "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart."
Why? Because I think it's a funny show, and I enjoy posting the videos, in hopes that someday, someone who runs a major media conglomerate will start using some semblance of common sense and stop reporting with agendas and scare tactics.
Here's a classic from earlier this week, as an advertisement that features a boy with his toenails painted pink turns into a viral controversy. Apparently, our news outlets have nothing more important to talk about.
Why? Because I think it's a funny show, and I enjoy posting the videos, in hopes that someday, someone who runs a major media conglomerate will start using some semblance of common sense and stop reporting with agendas and scare tactics.
Here's a classic from earlier this week, as an advertisement that features a boy with his toenails painted pink turns into a viral controversy. Apparently, our news outlets have nothing more important to talk about.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Travel Misadventures: Running With Scissors
Once the plane lands, they unload the bags, stuff our bags in, leave a bunch of other bags here, and get us on board, we'll be heading to the Cities. An 11:10 flight (Mountain time) has already been pushed back to 11:49, and since the plane isn't here yet, I don't like our chances of leaving on time (even if you define "on time" in this case as being 39 minutes late).
I'm not here to bore you with stats about late flights, or drone on about the somewhat-frustrating 3-3 tie UMD settled for Saturday night.
Instead, here's a story to make you feel really safe when you fly again.
As you know, everyone who is a ticketed passenger has to go through a security check. They run your bags through the scanner, and then you take off your shoes (and belt if you have one), empty your pockets, and walk through the body scanner.
When a radio guy travels to call hockey games, he has to carry a bag full of microphone cords, headsets, and the necessary equipment to broadcast a game. Makes sense that TSA would want to go through the bag thoroughly, no matter how carefully it's packed. I've come to learn that they really don't care. They tend to let me go anyway.
On this trip, I traveled with a duffel bag-type thing for the gear. Carried a headset, a mic to get crowd noise with, and the equipment that I plug into to do the game. Since it was so light, I threw my pack of movies that I always bring on the road into it. I ran it and my laptop bag through the scanner, walked through the body scanner, and went to wait for my stuff.
When the TSA lady pulled the gear bag out and asked me if it was mine, I said it was. No worries. I actually think the process is working well when they look through that bag.
I gasped audibly when she pulled a pair of scissors out of the front pocket of the bag, a pocket I didn't even know existed.
And these weren't small scissors out of a sewing kit or something. These were big ones. Adult size scissors.
She ran them through some kind of check, then re-scanned the bag. After that, I picked up the bag, and was shocked again.
Why?
Because she gave me back the scissors.
Aghast, I went to the TSA website, wondering what's allowed and what isn't. Oddly, scissors are permitted, as long as they are "metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches."
This blade isn't shorter than four inches.
Maybe I just look like a nice guy or something. After all, I've always been told looks can be deceiving.
UPDATE/CLARIFICATION/CORRECTION: After I got home Sunday evening, I measured the blade of the scissors. They were less than four inches, and therefore legal. As my wife correctly pointed out, they could still do some serious damage.
Knowing that these things are actually legal might be more disturbing than thinking the TSA agent just let me keep them out of the goodness of her heart.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Let's Just Use the Homeless to Get Ratings, Instead of Actually Helping Them
You probably all know me well enough by now. If there is going to be a non-sports rant on this blog, there's a pretty good chance it will spawn off a Daily Show or Colbert Report bit.
Jon Stewart, take it away.
Words cannot describe this.
I mean, what kind of news director decides to do a story like this? Why?
Frankly, it's something I'd expect to see in a small market, where a news director and reporter at least have the excuse of "I'm trying to make a name for myself in a tough business."
This is freaking Indianapolis. Not a small market in any way.
It's every bit as exploitative and stupid as you think it is. Not only that, but it manages to confirm most stereotypes you hear about today's news media.
Yeah, we have freedom of the press in this country. That doesn't mean the press has a right to do stories like this, instead of chasing real news that actually matters to people.
Jon Stewart, take it away.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Indianapolis Homeless Talent Show | ||||
| ||||
Words cannot describe this.
I mean, what kind of news director decides to do a story like this? Why?
Frankly, it's something I'd expect to see in a small market, where a news director and reporter at least have the excuse of "I'm trying to make a name for myself in a tough business."
This is freaking Indianapolis. Not a small market in any way.
It's every bit as exploitative and stupid as you think it is. Not only that, but it manages to confirm most stereotypes you hear about today's news media.
Yeah, we have freedom of the press in this country. That doesn't mean the press has a right to do stories like this, instead of chasing real news that actually matters to people.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Hey, Look What Day It Is
No, it's not 1990.
But we're going to pretend it is. Just for a few minutes.
Enjoy.
But we're going to pretend it is. Just for a few minutes.
Enjoy.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Non-Sports Post: This is Justice?
We usually talk sports here, but this story caught my attention. Watch the video, and then read the newspaper account below it, and tell me how there is any justice in this "agreement."
This is from the Duluth News Tribune.
It's noble to think that this story will stop people from getting behind the wheel when they've been drinking, but we have no evidence that this will actually happen.
I get that we don't need to treat first-time offenders worse than repeat violators, but can we do more than just whack someone on the wrist for taking the livelihood of someone else away with behavior that was selfish, careless, and incredibly stupid?
Call it "bad judgment" if you want, but it doesn't take away the fact that Alex Baluff's life was practically ruined on this night, and the person who did it isn't going to spend one hour in prison.
That's not justice. That's wrong.
Do me a favor. Think about this story every time you make plans to go out with your friends.
This is from the Duluth News Tribune.
Gronski started the night of Oct. 30 drinking at the establishment where she worked as a waitress and then drove to a nearby bar. She said the volume of alcohol she drank that night was what she would drink on a routine weekend night.
She said she didn’t recall getting into her vehicle. She remembered being behind the wheel for a split second and remembered something hitting her windshield. She didn’t remember anything else.
She said she thought she hit a deer.
Balluff had a smile on his face and talked to just about anyone who came his way Monday in the courthouse. But he turned serious when asked to talk about the accident and how his life has changed.
“It is a tragedy in my family because they don’t have a normal life now because I have to have 24-hour supervision,” he said.
His feelings toward Gronski?
“I want her to sit in jail for life even though she won’t get that because she didn’t kill me,” he said.
When told that Gronski has expressed her remorse to her attorney and to others for what she did, Balluff said:
“She was drunk so I don’t care how she feels. If she was drunk and didn’t drive then I wouldn’t care. If I was hit by a non-drunk person then it’s not really their fault, it’s probably mine.”
Balluff’s aunt, Katherine Taylor, a home builder from Loretto, Minn., said a drunk driver destroyed her nephew’s dreams.
“The Alex that we knew before was every parent’s dream teenager,” Taylor said. “The Alex that we have today is impaired for life. He has no memory. He cannot retain current conversations or activities. He will require parental care for the rest of his life and the career that he once dreamed of cannot be.”
It's noble to think that this story will stop people from getting behind the wheel when they've been drinking, but we have no evidence that this will actually happen.
I get that we don't need to treat first-time offenders worse than repeat violators, but can we do more than just whack someone on the wrist for taking the livelihood of someone else away with behavior that was selfish, careless, and incredibly stupid?
Call it "bad judgment" if you want, but it doesn't take away the fact that Alex Baluff's life was practically ruined on this night, and the person who did it isn't going to spend one hour in prison.
That's not justice. That's wrong.
Do me a favor. Think about this story every time you make plans to go out with your friends.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)