My four-week trial at the Cleveland Dungeon for pro wrestling training is over. This Thursday I start my real training. This has been a blast so far, and I am excited for what’s ahead.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Comics: Reviews for 4-17-13
Wow. What a Wednesday. Godzilla #11, Cable and X-Force #7, Nova #3, and Daredevil #25 all came out today. Four books in one week are the most I have purchased in a long time. The most shocking part is that ALL of them were good!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Wrestling Training: Part 3
My body is sore. I haven’t gotten a lot of sleep the past few nights because I have two kids sick with the flu. That’s probably not it though. I think it has more to do with the fact that I started my professional wrestling training yesterday and threw myself on to the mat close to a hundred times. Yea, that’s it.
Comics: Reviews for 3-27-13
Originally written 3-27-13
This is such a tough week to pick which comic to review. I only got two this week though, so I will review them both: Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy #1 and Image’s East of West #1.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Wrestling Training: Part 1
I'm in the middle of my first week of Insanity training... it's tough. I threw up during my fit test on the first day of the 60-day training schedule. There's some sort of comfort in knowing that my mind is pushing my body beyond what it feels capable of. My desire to do Insanity training correctly, without cutting corners is greater than my body's desire for comfort. No, that's not right. Completing Insanity training is not my end goal. My end goal is to be a professional wrestler.
Comics: Guardians Of The Galaxy #0.1
I usually work 2-10pm. So on Wednesdays I get to the comic shop right when they open, before I go to work. Today was different. I was at a seminar for work from 8-4:30, so I just hit up the comic shop on the way home. To pass the time during the seminar, i hopped on www.comicbookroundup.com to see if any reviews were already posted for this week's books. At that point Guardians Of The Galaxy #0.1 had an overall rating of 8.0. I read the review.
Comics: Nova #1
As far as origin issues go, this one is good. It doesn’t do much to blow you away, but it doesn’t turn you away from the series either. I really enjoy Ed McGuinness’ artwork, but even that doesn’t amaze. It gets the job done. I feel like all this first issue does, is introduce you to the characters, and prepare you for the real story. Which is all that is expected from a first issue.
... I liked all the characters so far. Sam Alexander, the soon to be title character: Nova, is kinda a cliché comic book teen who is about to get super powers. He’s a little rebellious but ultimately has a good heart.
The thing that drew me to the previous Nova series was that Richard Rider (that series’ Nova who met his demise in the final issue) was a journeyman B-list hero. So to see him ascend to the level of cosmic hero that he became was a great adventure. Rider had years and years of storytelling behind him to get readers to connect with him. Sam Alexander has had one issue so far.
I like where the story is going, but like I said, it’s nothing phenominal at this point. I’m more than confident that this series will amaze once they get the formal introductions out of the way
Sidenote: I’m usually not big on getting variant covers, but the variant by Skottie Young is awesome. Glad I got it.
... I liked all the characters so far. Sam Alexander, the soon to be title character: Nova, is kinda a cliché comic book teen who is about to get super powers. He’s a little rebellious but ultimately has a good heart.
The thing that drew me to the previous Nova series was that Richard Rider (that series’ Nova who met his demise in the final issue) was a journeyman B-list hero. So to see him ascend to the level of cosmic hero that he became was a great adventure. Rider had years and years of storytelling behind him to get readers to connect with him. Sam Alexander has had one issue so far.
I like where the story is going, but like I said, it’s nothing phenominal at this point. I’m more than confident that this series will amaze once they get the formal introductions out of the way
Sidenote: I’m usually not big on getting variant covers, but the variant by Skottie Young is awesome. Glad I got it.
Comics: Daredevil #23
This is the first issue I have bought of Daredevil. Ever. The book got amazing reviews while Ed Brubaker was writing, and the trend has continued with Mark Waid helming the series. I’ve thought about picking it up many times, but always thought, “I don’t have any room in my comic budget right now… maybe another time.” That time is now. With Orchid, Punk Rock Jesus, Godzilla: The Half-Centruy War, and Amazing Spider-Man all ending, I have a little bit of wiggle room. I heard this was a great jumping on point, so I pulled the trigger. I got home, set my 2 year old daughter on my lap, and we began to read Daredevil #23.
...
“Smy-Man!”
“No, that’s not Spider-Man, that’s Daredevil. Say Daredevil.”
“Drrrdevil.”
(Open the front cover, only to see an ad for the Deadpool video game.)
“Smy-Man!!!”
“Umm… sure, that’s Spider-Man. But we’re gonna read about Daredevil.”
“Drrrdevil.”
“Yes.”
...
“Smy-Man!”
“No, that’s not Spider-Man, that’s Daredevil. Say Daredevil.”
“Drrrdevil.”
(Open the front cover, only to see an ad for the Deadpool video game.)
“Smy-Man!!!”
“Umm… sure, that’s Spider-Man. But we’re gonna read about Daredevil.”
“Drrrdevil.”
“Yes.”
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Comics: Looking at Nova and Hypernaturals
One of my favorite series over the past few years was Nova (Vol. 4) written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. I always had a soft spot for the character in the '90s. When I first began collecting comics, I got Nova (Vol. 2) issue #3. While at the grocery store I saw this issue and thought that Nova looked like a really cool hero, and it guest-starred the Amazing Spider-Man. As I got older, I picked up random issues of various Nova series here and there. Fast forward to 2006. When Annihilation came out, I didn't have the budget at the time to start picking up a new series, but I kept a close watch on the spoilers and reviews, especially since it seemed like Nova was going to be a pivotal character. Was this B-list hero I've watched for years finally getting an upgrade in status? After Annihilation ended, Nova got his own ongoing series once again. After all the acclaim of Annihilation, I had to start getting this new series. Regretfully, I had to stop buying at about halfway through the run, along with every other comic I was buying at the time, after getting laid off work. Once I got back on my feet, Nova was the first comic I started hunting down back issues for. I even got the 3 book hardcover set of the Annihilation series, so I could sit down and enjoy it from beginning to end myself. (Holy crap! So many "wow" moments through the entire series.) For whatever reason, I've always been drawn to the character of Richard Rider as Nova, especially through the storytelling of Abnett and Lanning.
So, what was the point in telling you that? Two reasons...
The first, is because this past year on Free Comic Book Day a new series launched by Abnett and Lanning in an all new creator owned universe called Hypernaturals by BOOM! Studios. I made it a point to check it out. I actually had to go to 3 different local comic shops before I could get my hands on the free issue. I figured if Abnett and Lanning could take a B-list hero with a history in obscurity, and transform him in to one of the most relatable, heroic characters in the Marvel Universe, then I couldn't miss seeing what they could do with a completely blank slate to work with. At the begining there is a ton of information, and backstory, and characters thrown at you. It really can be overwhelming at times figuring out what is happening now, what happened 50 years ago, and what happened 5 years ago, but on the other side of the galaxy. As someone on a limited budget, I nearly dropped the book around issue #4 or 5. I felt like I was just buying it to buy it. It was entertaining, but there were so many unanswered questions after every single issue. I stuck it out. Partially because I try to be loyal to a series, and at least give it a full story arc before casting it aside, and partially because I didn't want to be wrong about taking a chance on this series. I just put down issue #8. Wow. This series has picked up so much steam. I am especially stoked for the character Shoal. He is a young recruit working with the seasoned veterans, and his own powers keep surprising him. Every time he makes a suggestion out in the field, the hyperintelligent member of the team just tells him how to use his own abilities to do the very thing he suggested. I'm excited to see how this character grows. And then there's Clone 34; a primary example of a cliche character at its finest. He's an old washed up hero, forced out of retirement for just one more mission. Issue #9 is shaping up to be a great defining moment for Clone 34, or it could be his swan song. That's the thing with an independent creator made universe: there is absolutely nothing off limits, uncertainty fills every issue. I will definitely be getting Hypernaturals for the long haul.
The second reason for my lengthy intro: a new Nova series is launching soon. Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness are the creators behind this latest entry, Vol. 5. Richard Rider is no longer Nova, as the new "human rocket" is a young man named Sam Alexander. This new Nova has had one of the strangest debuts I've ever seen. First, he has been appearing in the animated series Ultimate Spider-Man, which is entering its second season. Also, last year he appeared in the bookend issues of the crossover event AvX (Avengers vs X-Men). But this new series takes place BEFORE his appearance in AvX or the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series. Regardless, the mythos surrounding Nova have mehooked, as well as the eventual return of Richard Rider. The writers that captured me on the previous series are not back this time around, so there is some hesitation. But, I have faith that Loeb and McGuinness will carry the torch well, as Marvek continues to invest talent in to its cosmic titles. Now, if only we can get Black Bolt on a monthly basis...
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have continued to impress, even outside of Marvel Comics with their Hypernaturals series, and the groundwork they laid with Nova is about to be used to usher in a new hero in a new series. Let's see if this new Nova can live up to its predecessor.
So, what was the point in telling you that? Two reasons...
The first, is because this past year on Free Comic Book Day a new series launched by Abnett and Lanning in an all new creator owned universe called Hypernaturals by BOOM! Studios. I made it a point to check it out. I actually had to go to 3 different local comic shops before I could get my hands on the free issue. I figured if Abnett and Lanning could take a B-list hero with a history in obscurity, and transform him in to one of the most relatable, heroic characters in the Marvel Universe, then I couldn't miss seeing what they could do with a completely blank slate to work with. At the begining there is a ton of information, and backstory, and characters thrown at you. It really can be overwhelming at times figuring out what is happening now, what happened 50 years ago, and what happened 5 years ago, but on the other side of the galaxy. As someone on a limited budget, I nearly dropped the book around issue #4 or 5. I felt like I was just buying it to buy it. It was entertaining, but there were so many unanswered questions after every single issue. I stuck it out. Partially because I try to be loyal to a series, and at least give it a full story arc before casting it aside, and partially because I didn't want to be wrong about taking a chance on this series. I just put down issue #8. Wow. This series has picked up so much steam. I am especially stoked for the character Shoal. He is a young recruit working with the seasoned veterans, and his own powers keep surprising him. Every time he makes a suggestion out in the field, the hyperintelligent member of the team just tells him how to use his own abilities to do the very thing he suggested. I'm excited to see how this character grows. And then there's Clone 34; a primary example of a cliche character at its finest. He's an old washed up hero, forced out of retirement for just one more mission. Issue #9 is shaping up to be a great defining moment for Clone 34, or it could be his swan song. That's the thing with an independent creator made universe: there is absolutely nothing off limits, uncertainty fills every issue. I will definitely be getting Hypernaturals for the long haul.
The second reason for my lengthy intro: a new Nova series is launching soon. Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness are the creators behind this latest entry, Vol. 5. Richard Rider is no longer Nova, as the new "human rocket" is a young man named Sam Alexander. This new Nova has had one of the strangest debuts I've ever seen. First, he has been appearing in the animated series Ultimate Spider-Man, which is entering its second season. Also, last year he appeared in the bookend issues of the crossover event AvX (Avengers vs X-Men). But this new series takes place BEFORE his appearance in AvX or the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series. Regardless, the mythos surrounding Nova have mehooked, as well as the eventual return of Richard Rider. The writers that captured me on the previous series are not back this time around, so there is some hesitation. But, I have faith that Loeb and McGuinness will carry the torch well, as Marvek continues to invest talent in to its cosmic titles. Now, if only we can get Black Bolt on a monthly basis...
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have continued to impress, even outside of Marvel Comics with their Hypernaturals series, and the groundwork they laid with Nova is about to be used to usher in a new hero in a new series. Let's see if this new Nova can live up to its predecessor.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Comics: Orchid Series Review
Here is the thing about Orchid: despite its flaws, I absolutely
enjoyed this series. Since this is a review of the entire series, there are
some spoilers. You have been warned.
As most of you know about this series by now, it’s
written by guitar legend Tom Morello. The writing is good. Not great, but good.
The characters have their distinct voices, which is something I put a very high
value on. Scott Hepburn provides the artwork, while Massimo Carnevale takes
care of the covers. I was not familiar with Hepburn or Carnevale prior to
Orchid, but they are now names I will remember. Especially Carnevale. Some of
this covers (3, 6, 12) look stunning, and I would love to just have a framed
print on my wall.
My first problem with this series is the shipping dates.
12 issues in 16 months. There were some gaps in between issues shipping.
However, when rereading the series, this is a moot point. If I had to pick
between monthly releases or high quality product, I will choose the high
quality product every time. It was a little annoying waiting for the next issue
while I received 2 or 3 issues of the other titles I purchase, but in the grand
scheme of things, I would rather have this than a sacrifice in quality. While I
can say this is a complaint now, when I reread this series down the road, I doubt
I will even remember.
For better or worse, this series feels like a fairy tale.
The story is epic, on a grand stage that alters the course of history. But like
many fairy tales, we are an outside observer to the whole thing. You never
really get “sucked in” to the story. It’s merely a series of events unfolding
in front of you. There isn’t a character that demands the reader to feel a connection
with. Simon and Orchid are our constant characters from beginning to end. While
Simon doesn’t change at all, Orchid does a complete 180. I would say that most
readers would fall somewhere in between. Our life events do have an impact on
how we think and act, but as adults, we have the same core personality over
time. I understand that big life events can change a person, but Orchid goes
from wanting to commit suicide to wanting to lead the rebellion army instantly.
I’m not new to comic books… I understand that the power of General China’s mask
had effect on her, but I just didn’t see any of those leadership qualities
before she tried to kill herself. It felt like a reach.
The ending seemed too easy. Orchid succeeded where Opal
had failed in the past, and freed the people. Morello did acknowledge that
there was a bit of a power vacuum in his epilogue with new groups rising up,
but this story still got the “happily ever after” treatment. Tomo Wolfe is
dead, and suddenly the people are living in an idealistic utopian society? That’s
fine… I just expected more realism somehow. Like I said, this IS a fairy tale.
On a personal note… Anzio and Simon are gay!?!? Did I miss some important point
along the way? It doesn’t really matter to the story, but it would have been
worth mentioning at some point during the story instead of on the last page.
And Orchid, former prostitute turned rebel leader is now a paragon of peace and
tranquility.
I feel like I’m just spewing out all these negative
opinions on this series and I hated it. That’s not true at all. This series was
fun. From our first meeting with Opal, to learning the backstory of Barrabas (which,
by the way, I think was the coolest character in the whole series), to the
battle in Stadia Penuel, to the return of Yehzu… it rocked. Reading through the
series again, I can’t help but feel like we were reading the story of “How
Orchid saved us from the tyranny of Tomo Wolfe” and the stage is now set for
the REAL story. I know the ending was left open, with the reappearance of
General China’s mask, but I would be surprised if this story had any sort of
sequel.
Tom, Scott, Massimo, and everyone else that worked on
this book, thanks. It wasn’t perfect, but it was fun. If you decide to do it
again, I’ll be here waiting. Final grade: 7.5/10
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Comics: Prelude to Spider-Men
(Originally written June 14 2012)
Here's a small history lesson. Everyone knows Peter Parker: your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Peter has been a staple in comic books for 50 years now. I learned so many of life's lessons from Spider-Man, whether it was through the '90s cartoon series, or the comic books themselves. The importance of responsibility, giving people a second chance, and sometimes denying your own wants and needs for the sake of other. Maybe I did not learn these lessons from Spider-Man himself, however the character always reinforced these beliefs. I don't have life all figured out, and I struggle with daily choices and temptations... and that's the part of myself I see when I read Spider-Man. To a generation raised on the idea that you can get whatever you want whenever you want, and you can do whatever makes you happy without any repercussions, it's a wonder that Spider-Man is as popular as he is.
In 2000, in an effort to boost sales (like there's ever any other reason), Marvel Comics launched their Ultimate universe, with "Ultimate Spider-Man" leading the way. The Ultimate line was an outlet to reintroduce classic Marvel characters in a modern light, while giving some of their creative minds an avenue to write stories that simply could not exist in the original Marvel Universe. This Ultimate universe was a huge hit, with titles like Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Fantastic Four, and The Ultimates (their version of the Avengers). I never cared for the Ultimate line... while some interesting stories were being told, I did not need reimagined characters to be entertained. I do own a few issues of Ultimate comics, but nothing ever made a lasting impact. I just prefer my classic Marvel universe. 616 for life, home slice!
In 2011, the Ultimate universe's Spider-Man, the character that garnered enough attention and interest to spur on the creation of Ultimate comics, the character that so many people are able to relate to, died. After a long fought battle with the Green Goblin, young Peter Parker collapsed, dying in Mary Jane's arms. His identity was made public, as he inspired many through his death. One of those he inspired was a young man named Miles Morales. Miles gained his own spider-like abilities through a spider bite, and chose to become a new Spider-Man, dedicating his life to the legacy of the great fallen hero.
Now, for the first time ever, Marvel's classic 616 universe will crossover with the Ultimate universe, bringing the Spider-Man we've seen and grown with for 50 years face to face with the Spider-Man who has just recently put on the tights, and is still learning the ropes (webs?). This first issue was great. Artwork, writing, story progression... it's a very well done. As i mentioned before, everything in comics is done to increase sales... bottom line. It appears that Marvel is simply trying to get even more of the spotlight on their new Ultimate Spider-Man by crossing him over with one of the most loved characters of all time. I think it will work.
Here's a small history lesson. Everyone knows Peter Parker: your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Peter has been a staple in comic books for 50 years now. I learned so many of life's lessons from Spider-Man, whether it was through the '90s cartoon series, or the comic books themselves. The importance of responsibility, giving people a second chance, and sometimes denying your own wants and needs for the sake of other. Maybe I did not learn these lessons from Spider-Man himself, however the character always reinforced these beliefs. I don't have life all figured out, and I struggle with daily choices and temptations... and that's the part of myself I see when I read Spider-Man. To a generation raised on the idea that you can get whatever you want whenever you want, and you can do whatever makes you happy without any repercussions, it's a wonder that Spider-Man is as popular as he is.
In 2000, in an effort to boost sales (like there's ever any other reason), Marvel Comics launched their Ultimate universe, with "Ultimate Spider-Man" leading the way. The Ultimate line was an outlet to reintroduce classic Marvel characters in a modern light, while giving some of their creative minds an avenue to write stories that simply could not exist in the original Marvel Universe. This Ultimate universe was a huge hit, with titles like Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Fantastic Four, and The Ultimates (their version of the Avengers). I never cared for the Ultimate line... while some interesting stories were being told, I did not need reimagined characters to be entertained. I do own a few issues of Ultimate comics, but nothing ever made a lasting impact. I just prefer my classic Marvel universe. 616 for life, home slice!
In 2011, the Ultimate universe's Spider-Man, the character that garnered enough attention and interest to spur on the creation of Ultimate comics, the character that so many people are able to relate to, died. After a long fought battle with the Green Goblin, young Peter Parker collapsed, dying in Mary Jane's arms. His identity was made public, as he inspired many through his death. One of those he inspired was a young man named Miles Morales. Miles gained his own spider-like abilities through a spider bite, and chose to become a new Spider-Man, dedicating his life to the legacy of the great fallen hero.
Now, for the first time ever, Marvel's classic 616 universe will crossover with the Ultimate universe, bringing the Spider-Man we've seen and grown with for 50 years face to face with the Spider-Man who has just recently put on the tights, and is still learning the ropes (webs?). This first issue was great. Artwork, writing, story progression... it's a very well done. As i mentioned before, everything in comics is done to increase sales... bottom line. It appears that Marvel is simply trying to get even more of the spotlight on their new Ultimate Spider-Man by crossing him over with one of the most loved characters of all time. I think it will work.
Comics: Godzilla #2
(Originally written on June 21, 2012)
Wow. Talk about being blindsided. The first 4 pages put tears in my eyes. We see images of Godzilla, Kumonga, and Angurius destroying some cities. There are no sound effects or voices, merely caption boxes displaying text messages and tweets from people trying to talk to their loved ones during the chaos.
"HELP"
"pls send help I don't know the intersection don't know where i am"
"buried help"
"love you grace"
"@LexiUSA Where are u?"
"@LexiUSA cmon honey, where are you? Talk to me."
"So this is the way it ends... with a tweet. Love and luck to you all."
When I pick up a Godzilla comic, like any Godzilla movie, I expect a good time. Giant monsters fighting each other. Yea, the cities get destroyed, but the buildings are always empty, right? Apparently not this time...
Wow. Talk about being blindsided. The first 4 pages put tears in my eyes. We see images of Godzilla, Kumonga, and Angurius destroying some cities. There are no sound effects or voices, merely caption boxes displaying text messages and tweets from people trying to talk to their loved ones during the chaos.
"HELP"
"pls send help I don't know the intersection don't know where i am"
"buried help"
"love you grace"
"@LexiUSA Where are u?"
"@LexiUSA cmon honey, where are you? Talk to me."
"So this is the way it ends... with a tweet. Love and luck to you all."
When I pick up a Godzilla comic, like any Godzilla movie, I expect a good time. Giant monsters fighting each other. Yea, the cities get destroyed, but the buildings are always empty, right? Apparently not this time...
Sports: Growing Up With Cleveland
I love sports. I've been a Cleveland sports fan since birth. I once heard that being a lifelong Cleveland sports fan is like having a chronic illness. Yep, that sounds about right. There is no cure. You just get used to the symptoms; the simultaneous feelings of hope and hopelessness. In addition to my love of sports, I have a huge passion for writing. I write about comic books, professional wrestling, concert reviews, and my own fiction ideas. Not sports. I've thought about sports writing a few times, but every time I put pen to paper the words don't come out. Comics, wrestling, and concerts are all about being entertained and how I perceive the finished product. Sports are about competition with a clear cut winner and loser. Entertainment is based on the opinion of the viewer, while sports are facts. There will always be someone who knows more sports facts than I do. Specifics. Like this pitcher's ERA when facing lefties on Mondays and Thursdays, or this running back's yards after contact when coming off a loss of ten points or more. I'm ok with not having a wealth of knowledge like that. It's not the facts I don't know that keep me from writing about sports. It's the facts I DO know. I know my teams lose.
I was born in '86, so my memory of the Browns doesn't exactly stretch back to the glory days. My favorite Browns memory didn't have anything to do with the '64 NFL Championship or the Kardiac Kids. My Browns memory occurred during the regular season of the '94 campaign. I was only 8 years old, and my team was taking on "America's Team", the Dallas Cowboys. The game itself does not hold any significance in history, other than it was the first Browns game I watched by myself. I watched football with my dad, usually at his request. But if he wasn't home, or took a nap, then I had more important things to do involving Legos or Mega Man. Not this time. He fell asleep on the couch, but the omnipotent Sports Gods knew that I needed to see this game. The entire crux of my Browns fandom would rest on this game. With the clock winding down in the 4th quarter, the Cowboys were driving while my Browns held on to a slight lead. The explosive, championship caliber, Dallas offense was matched up against a vastly underrated Cleveland defense. Last play of the game, Aikmen drops back, throws a pass, it's complete, but he's DOWN AT THE 1! Browns win! MY Cleveland Browns go TO Dallas and knock off the Cowboys! Ever since then I've known that my team could beat any team out there. It happened. I saw it with my own eyes. They went toe-to-toe with the best team in the league and won.
Then they moved away. I was too young to realize the gravity of the situation. I guess I thought every team goes away at some point. Nothing is forever. It's not even worth mentioning anything that has transpired since the Browns came back in '99.
I wasn't a baseball fan as a kid. I mainly watched football and played soccer, but always rooted for the Indians if they were on TV. So many people talk about the '95 and '97 World Series, but really, to me, they didn't matter. Again, I was young and naive, and thought the Indians would always be good and didn't appreciate the importance of a World Series appearance. Sometime after I graduated high school, baseball just clicked. I became a real Tribe fan. I started paying attention to spring training and following the team's every move. I preferred listening to the radio broadcast with Tom Hamilton calling the plays opposed to watching on TV. 2007 was magic. I witnessed, in person, an incredible comeback against the Tigers in June. That comeback seemed to ignite the team for the rest of the season. The Tigers were good that year, but we had C.C., Fausto, Grady, Hafner, Victor... the lineup was solid from top to bottom. They finished with the best record in baseball, but still the national media ignored them. In the first round of the playoffs, they squared off with the hated Yankees. Most people remember this series for the game when it appeared the Sports Gods themselves were willing the Indians to victory by having small flying insects, midges, descend upon Jacobs Field. Those insects were everywhere. Sticking to the players' bodies. The Yankees were spraying bug spray out by the mound to get rid of the midges. It didn't matter. Fate had already intervened. The Cleveland Indians were on their way to the ALCS. It seemed like a storybook. First they defeated the evil empire that is the New York Yankees, then had a comfortable 3-games-to-1 lead on America's sweetheart, the Boston Red Sox, with Game 5 in Cleveland... but C.C. Sabathia couldn't close the deal. The series went back to Boston. The magic had run out. Adding insult to injury, releif pitcher, Paul Byrd's name was released the day of Game 7 to have allegedly used performance enhancing drugs and was under investigation. Who released his name? A fron office executive of the Boston Red Sox who just happened to also be involved with this investigation. The claims were false, but the Tribe lost Game 7. For me, that was so much more heartbreaking than '95 or '97 combined. I know Jose' Mesa blew it in '95.... but that wasn't MY team. This one was. 2007 will always be remembered with a smile and a tear. That season made me a lifetime Indians fan.
2007 also marked the year that LeBron James took the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals. I'm not a basketball fan. At all. I cheered for the Cavs, simply because they were from Cleveland. I remember Mark Price from back in the day, but basketball was never my thing. I have never told anyone this, but when the Cavs made the Finals, I secretly wished they wouldn't win. I didn't love them like I did my Browns or Indians. Why should they get to end the "curse"? I wouldn't enjoy it was much if it was the Cavs. Yes... I said it: for stupid, selfish reasons, I hoped that a Cleveland team would lose a championship. I got my wish. They got swept by a far superior San Antonio Spurs team. It's my fault the Cavaliers lost... the same Sports Gods that I had crossed paths with many times before were teaching me a lesson about being careful what I wished for. It wasn't LeBron's fault, his supporting cast's fault, or Dan Gilbert's fault. It was my fault. And you all know how that story ends. The Cavs haven't made a Finals appearance since, and someone thought their talents were better suited in South Beach. I'm sorry Cavs fans. My Bad.
So here I am in January of 2013. The Browns just named, to everyone's surprise, Rob Chudzynski their head coach. Terry Francona is the new manager of the Indians, and Nick Swisher seems like a great off season acquisition. Time will tell. Last year Kyrie Irving was rookie of the year, but it seems like the Cavs are well on their way to earning another lottery pick. Writing this has been a nice release of emotion, but ultimately depressing. Maybe I will write about sports again someday when my teams stop losing.
I was born in '86, so my memory of the Browns doesn't exactly stretch back to the glory days. My favorite Browns memory didn't have anything to do with the '64 NFL Championship or the Kardiac Kids. My Browns memory occurred during the regular season of the '94 campaign. I was only 8 years old, and my team was taking on "America's Team", the Dallas Cowboys. The game itself does not hold any significance in history, other than it was the first Browns game I watched by myself. I watched football with my dad, usually at his request. But if he wasn't home, or took a nap, then I had more important things to do involving Legos or Mega Man. Not this time. He fell asleep on the couch, but the omnipotent Sports Gods knew that I needed to see this game. The entire crux of my Browns fandom would rest on this game. With the clock winding down in the 4th quarter, the Cowboys were driving while my Browns held on to a slight lead. The explosive, championship caliber, Dallas offense was matched up against a vastly underrated Cleveland defense. Last play of the game, Aikmen drops back, throws a pass, it's complete, but he's DOWN AT THE 1! Browns win! MY Cleveland Browns go TO Dallas and knock off the Cowboys! Ever since then I've known that my team could beat any team out there. It happened. I saw it with my own eyes. They went toe-to-toe with the best team in the league and won.
Then they moved away. I was too young to realize the gravity of the situation. I guess I thought every team goes away at some point. Nothing is forever. It's not even worth mentioning anything that has transpired since the Browns came back in '99.
I wasn't a baseball fan as a kid. I mainly watched football and played soccer, but always rooted for the Indians if they were on TV. So many people talk about the '95 and '97 World Series, but really, to me, they didn't matter. Again, I was young and naive, and thought the Indians would always be good and didn't appreciate the importance of a World Series appearance. Sometime after I graduated high school, baseball just clicked. I became a real Tribe fan. I started paying attention to spring training and following the team's every move. I preferred listening to the radio broadcast with Tom Hamilton calling the plays opposed to watching on TV. 2007 was magic. I witnessed, in person, an incredible comeback against the Tigers in June. That comeback seemed to ignite the team for the rest of the season. The Tigers were good that year, but we had C.C., Fausto, Grady, Hafner, Victor... the lineup was solid from top to bottom. They finished with the best record in baseball, but still the national media ignored them. In the first round of the playoffs, they squared off with the hated Yankees. Most people remember this series for the game when it appeared the Sports Gods themselves were willing the Indians to victory by having small flying insects, midges, descend upon Jacobs Field. Those insects were everywhere. Sticking to the players' bodies. The Yankees were spraying bug spray out by the mound to get rid of the midges. It didn't matter. Fate had already intervened. The Cleveland Indians were on their way to the ALCS. It seemed like a storybook. First they defeated the evil empire that is the New York Yankees, then had a comfortable 3-games-to-1 lead on America's sweetheart, the Boston Red Sox, with Game 5 in Cleveland... but C.C. Sabathia couldn't close the deal. The series went back to Boston. The magic had run out. Adding insult to injury, releif pitcher, Paul Byrd's name was released the day of Game 7 to have allegedly used performance enhancing drugs and was under investigation. Who released his name? A fron office executive of the Boston Red Sox who just happened to also be involved with this investigation. The claims were false, but the Tribe lost Game 7. For me, that was so much more heartbreaking than '95 or '97 combined. I know Jose' Mesa blew it in '95.... but that wasn't MY team. This one was. 2007 will always be remembered with a smile and a tear. That season made me a lifetime Indians fan.
2007 also marked the year that LeBron James took the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals. I'm not a basketball fan. At all. I cheered for the Cavs, simply because they were from Cleveland. I remember Mark Price from back in the day, but basketball was never my thing. I have never told anyone this, but when the Cavs made the Finals, I secretly wished they wouldn't win. I didn't love them like I did my Browns or Indians. Why should they get to end the "curse"? I wouldn't enjoy it was much if it was the Cavs. Yes... I said it: for stupid, selfish reasons, I hoped that a Cleveland team would lose a championship. I got my wish. They got swept by a far superior San Antonio Spurs team. It's my fault the Cavaliers lost... the same Sports Gods that I had crossed paths with many times before were teaching me a lesson about being careful what I wished for. It wasn't LeBron's fault, his supporting cast's fault, or Dan Gilbert's fault. It was my fault. And you all know how that story ends. The Cavs haven't made a Finals appearance since, and someone thought their talents were better suited in South Beach. I'm sorry Cavs fans. My Bad.
So here I am in January of 2013. The Browns just named, to everyone's surprise, Rob Chudzynski their head coach. Terry Francona is the new manager of the Indians, and Nick Swisher seems like a great off season acquisition. Time will tell. Last year Kyrie Irving was rookie of the year, but it seems like the Cavs are well on their way to earning another lottery pick. Writing this has been a nice release of emotion, but ultimately depressing. Maybe I will write about sports again someday when my teams stop losing.
Sports: A Wrestling Fan's Journey
I've been an off and on wrestling fan my whole life. My first memory of pro wrestling was watching an old vhs of the first ever Clash of the Champions that my dad recorded off TV. The major highlights were the Road Warriors teaming up with Dusty Rhodes in a Texas barbed wire match versus Warlord, Barbarian, and Ivan Koloff; as well as a 60 min time limit match between Sting and Ric Flair that ended with neither man winning. That's where the bar was set from the very begining.
I began watching WWF around 1990 when I was 4 years old. I loved Hogan. Hulkamania was running wild, but the Hulkster was only really around for the major pay per views. I remember really starting to like this midcard guy who was always on TV: Bret "Hitman" Hart. His match at Summerslam against Mr. Perfect for the Intercontinental Title is probably on my "Top 5 Matches of All Time" list. Not only was one of my favorite guys starting to evolve into a major superstar, but it was damn good wrestling. I think it was during that match that the Hitman passed Hogan in my young and impressionable mind.
I floated back and forth between WWF and WCW through most of the early '90s, I was a huge fan of Sting's, and loved his matches with Flair, Cactus Jack, Vader, the Great Muta, and so many others. But, the WWF had Bret Hart, and his rivalry with his brother Owen in '95 was pure magic. By the time the Monday Night Wars rolled around, I was a full blown WCW fan. I loved the idea of Hogan as a bad guy, I loved all of the iconic figures like Sting, Flair, Macho Man, Luger, Piper and wondering if they could take down the nWo, and I especially loved the luchadors. Eddie Guerrero, Ultimo Dragon, Psychosis, and La Parka were all favorites. Even my beloved Hitman showed up in WCW.
Somewhere around '98 or '99 I started to lose interest. At the time, I thought I was getting too old for pro wrestling. Looking back, I think it just stopped being fun. I even tried to switch over to WWF at the time, and it just didn't seem fun either. I wanted my colorful, over the top, kid-friendly characters. Not beer-swilling, swearing, sexually driven characters. Despite my 8th grades hormones, I just wasn't drawn to what professional wrestling was selling. So, I stopped watching.
I always kept tabs on my favorites. Bret Hart was done due to injury. Sting was in TNA. One half or the Road Warriors was dead, while the other one was the father of a starting linebacker of THE Ohio State Buckeyes. (Go Bucks!) Maybe worst of all, the luchador "fad" was over. Eddie was dead. Psychosis wasn't even wrestling under the name "Psychosis" anymore, and there was a new La Parka under the mask. Ultimo Dragon had all but disappeared. I decided there was no way I could ever enjoy wrestling again.
Fast forward to the Summer of 2011. My younger sister moved away and her new boyfriend was a big WWE fan. She told me wrestling was "good" again. I started looking in to it so I would have something to talk with her about. I was immediately drawn to CM Punk. Dolph Ziggler looked amazing in the ring, seeming to be a natural superstar. Cody Rhodes was so good at being an arrogant bad guy, I couldn't help but like him. Zack Ryder had a charismatic innocence that made him instantly lovable. My sister was right... wrestling was good again. None of the characters were flashy like they were in the early '90s, but they were fun and entertaining characters.
I will never forget the moment that made me a wrestling fan again. There were months of hype for this monster of a man to make his debut. His appearance kept getting pushed back for some reason, and they even worked it into the storyline, saying how angry these delays were making him. They even released a promo, with him talking about how he was the monster under your bed or the thing that goes bump in the night or something. He didn't seem like anything special to me. Then, he made his debut. Ladies and gentlemen... Brodus Clay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp-Zn9Gs0-k
I showed my wife. I showed my younger brother. THIS is what pro wrestling was about. I am now a WWE fan. I love Punk's promos, I'm excited for Ziggler's future, and I cannot describe how excited I am whenever there is a Tyson Kidd sighting.
Wrestling is fun again.
I began watching WWF around 1990 when I was 4 years old. I loved Hogan. Hulkamania was running wild, but the Hulkster was only really around for the major pay per views. I remember really starting to like this midcard guy who was always on TV: Bret "Hitman" Hart. His match at Summerslam against Mr. Perfect for the Intercontinental Title is probably on my "Top 5 Matches of All Time" list. Not only was one of my favorite guys starting to evolve into a major superstar, but it was damn good wrestling. I think it was during that match that the Hitman passed Hogan in my young and impressionable mind.
I floated back and forth between WWF and WCW through most of the early '90s, I was a huge fan of Sting's, and loved his matches with Flair, Cactus Jack, Vader, the Great Muta, and so many others. But, the WWF had Bret Hart, and his rivalry with his brother Owen in '95 was pure magic. By the time the Monday Night Wars rolled around, I was a full blown WCW fan. I loved the idea of Hogan as a bad guy, I loved all of the iconic figures like Sting, Flair, Macho Man, Luger, Piper and wondering if they could take down the nWo, and I especially loved the luchadors. Eddie Guerrero, Ultimo Dragon, Psychosis, and La Parka were all favorites. Even my beloved Hitman showed up in WCW.
Somewhere around '98 or '99 I started to lose interest. At the time, I thought I was getting too old for pro wrestling. Looking back, I think it just stopped being fun. I even tried to switch over to WWF at the time, and it just didn't seem fun either. I wanted my colorful, over the top, kid-friendly characters. Not beer-swilling, swearing, sexually driven characters. Despite my 8th grades hormones, I just wasn't drawn to what professional wrestling was selling. So, I stopped watching.
I always kept tabs on my favorites. Bret Hart was done due to injury. Sting was in TNA. One half or the Road Warriors was dead, while the other one was the father of a starting linebacker of THE Ohio State Buckeyes. (Go Bucks!) Maybe worst of all, the luchador "fad" was over. Eddie was dead. Psychosis wasn't even wrestling under the name "Psychosis" anymore, and there was a new La Parka under the mask. Ultimo Dragon had all but disappeared. I decided there was no way I could ever enjoy wrestling again.
Fast forward to the Summer of 2011. My younger sister moved away and her new boyfriend was a big WWE fan. She told me wrestling was "good" again. I started looking in to it so I would have something to talk with her about. I was immediately drawn to CM Punk. Dolph Ziggler looked amazing in the ring, seeming to be a natural superstar. Cody Rhodes was so good at being an arrogant bad guy, I couldn't help but like him. Zack Ryder had a charismatic innocence that made him instantly lovable. My sister was right... wrestling was good again. None of the characters were flashy like they were in the early '90s, but they were fun and entertaining characters.
I will never forget the moment that made me a wrestling fan again. There were months of hype for this monster of a man to make his debut. His appearance kept getting pushed back for some reason, and they even worked it into the storyline, saying how angry these delays were making him. They even released a promo, with him talking about how he was the monster under your bed or the thing that goes bump in the night or something. He didn't seem like anything special to me. Then, he made his debut. Ladies and gentlemen... Brodus Clay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp-Zn9Gs0-k
I showed my wife. I showed my younger brother. THIS is what pro wrestling was about. I am now a WWE fan. I love Punk's promos, I'm excited for Ziggler's future, and I cannot describe how excited I am whenever there is a Tyson Kidd sighting.
Wrestling is fun again.
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