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(04/11/01 5:51am)
The first XFL game at Soldier Field in Chicago, the IDS sports editors were unable to get credentials for us to attend the game. Apparently there were too many "big-time" publications attending the event.\nThis past Sunday, my editors were able to obtain the press passes for the Eastern division showdown which would determine whether or not it would be the Chicago Enforcers or the NY/NJ Hitmen taking the final spot in the playoffs.\nThere were 17,195 people in attendance. If you know anything about Soldier Field, you realize there was plenty of room in the stands. When I was there for a Dave Matthews Band concert, there was at least four times that many people. \nThe press box was not crowded as the Enforcers took on the Orlando Rage. In fact, I think there were enough open seats for all the guys in my fraternity to sit up there.\nThey even gave us free hot dogs and roast beef sandwiches. And since I didn't have to beat the crowd, I was able to get a second helping. \nAs the XFL columnist, I was able to take advantage of these perks. The lack of attendance and media attention let me roam more freely around the stadium.\nAfter fighting my way through the hellacious crowd (I love sarcasm), I was able to make my way to the gate where the Enforcers go into their locker room. \nThe game ended and we went in a little white tent where Enforcers coach Ron Meyer held a press conference. I realize Bob Knight was not holding the press conference, but I could count the reporters on my fingers. Meyer was a very nice man, and I even got to interview him.\nFor those who read this for the XFL portion of the column, Chicago defeated Orlando 23-6. It is now on the quest for what has been coined "The Million Dollar Game." But I just had an epiphany. They should call it, "38 players on the active roster get to split up a million bucks if they win the championship" -- because that's what it really is.\nOrlando dropped its record to 8-2 but should still be considered a front-runner for the extra cash.\nBut as we can see, anyone can pull an upset. Chicago bounced back from an 0-4 record to finish 5-5.\nAnd did I mention they give you free roast beef sandwiches?
(04/05/01 5:11am)
While covering the Xtreme Football League might not be the most exciting or prestigious position the Indiana Daily Student has to offer, I have learned something through this position.\nI would have liked to keep my wrestling column.\nWhen I wrote a column for the World Wrestling Federation, I would receive e-mails. People would write me saying they liked the fact that professional wrestling was an issue for the school newspaper. Even when the editors terminated my WWF column, they received e-mails in dismay from those who read the column every Wednesday.\nI am not sure if anyone even reads this column.\nWell, if you are reading, that means either you are a friend of mine, you are very bored sitting in that lecture hall or you are truly an XFL fan.\nThe first two options seem more realistic.\nWhat I first thought was going to be something cool and a good alternative to the NFL has turned sour. It seems that people do not want to watch prime time football on Saturday nights. Even the NFL knows this. While ratings are not terribly disappointing for UPN and TNN, NBC is probably taking turns kicking each other for such low ratings.\nMarch Madness has taken away a lot of viewership, but it seems as if people must not get NBC on their televisions Saturday night. \nI believe all the games should be shown on Sundays. This is a day for people to go to church, play intramural softball and watch football. Why do you think the NFL has never decided to go with "Saturday Night Football" on a major network?\nPeople do not even tune in for the cheerleaders anymore. I see prettier girls when I go to Kilroy's after the game.\nAnd while Vince McMahon will not be going broke anytime soon, I am sure he is thinking of ways to get the XFL to work. He has already said that he plans to stick with the XFL. He now holds a monopoly on professional wrestling after purchasing World Championship Wrestling. But I do not feel that he will be able to compete against the Final Four.\nSeeing as how I do watch the games, I feel the quality of football has met its expectations. While the Orlando Rage seems to be the dominant team of the league with an 8-1 record, they are the only team in the Eastern division with a winning record. And with this being the first season of the new football league, the draft might have been somewhat lopsided. \nSunday's Chicago Enforcers game against the Orlando Rage is important for them to get a playoff berth.\nAlthough ratings might be down, XFL officials claim that they will stick to the league. This means that I might still have a column for next year. Since I am a junior this year, this means two things. While I would rather be writing about the WWF, the XFL and I might both finish at the same time.
(03/22/01 5:11am)
I wanted to see football in the spring. I wanted something to watch before I went out Saturday nights. I wanted to pick a favorite team and talk trash to my buddies.\nI haven't even found somebody who likes the XFL. Even all my wrestling buddies don't think it will make it. Now it gets harder even for me to defend it. \nVince McMahon and Dick Ebersol, owners of the XFL, are determined to make it work. McMahon assures he is not going to give up on the new football league.\nSomething that needs to change in these prime-time football games is the announcing. We need people who know football. Not all of us understand the plays different teams run, and we are curious. What the XFL needs is somebody like John Madden who can explain football by using a white marker on the television screen. This would get people focusing more on football, rather than the idea that the game is just a hoax. \nPlayers in the XFL get to pick a nickname on the back of their jerseys. Unfortunately, the announcers don't wear jerseys. Once Jesse "The Body" Ventura, I think a more appropriate name would be Jesse "The Annoying Commentator" Ventura. Unless he is reading from a script, he has no excuse to be such a bad announcer. The "feud" he has going with Rusty Tillman is nothing more than a feeble attempt at a ratings boost. Here is an idea, Jesse; look at the ratings. \nVentura already went too far by becoming governor of Minnesota. Now he's trying to swim against the current as an XFL announcer. If he continues, he is going to drown.\nJim Ross also gets bothersome to listen to when I try to enjoy a football game. The enthusiasm is great -- when I am watching Monday Night Raw. But when I am trying to watch a game where "He Hate Me" is running down the field, I feel like a chair just hit "The Rock." I admire the love you have for football, Mr. Ross; you are a wonderful WWF announcer. Although I agree that commentators need to be enthusiastic, Ross needs to take a chill pill.\nA lot of the games are nail biters. The only problem is that less and less people are watching them. So far ratings have dropped 75 percent since week 1. Although my stats teacher will kill me if he reads this, my calculations show that at the rate these ratings drop, there will only be about 10-15 people watching the championship game. \nAs the XFL columnist, if this league disappears I won't have a job -- I already got fired from my WWF column. Since my fan club doesn't send me any money (I don't even know anyone in my fan club), I will need to find another way to make $6 every other week. \nAs I did by tuning in every Saturday morning as a kid to watch Hulk Hogan, I will save the XFL with this letter: \nDear Vince McMahon,\nThis is Eric Talbot. I write a bi-weekly column for the Indiana Daily Student on your XFL. You had a good idea in the beginning. But you are not marketing the product as expected. You should never have hired wrestling gurus to announce football games. Let Dick Butkus do all the games; he is the greatest of all time (GO BEARS!). Oh, and by the way, your television ratings are slipping a little bit, but I bet you noticed that. Oh, and by the way, if you don't keep this league afloat like you say you will, I demand you hire me to work for the WWF.\n-- Eric Talbot\nHopefully, I will be able to talk about the players in my next column, but let's take it one step at a time.
(02/22/01 5:41am)
I like the XFL. I don't think this means that I have a moral dilemma. Whether I am out on a Wednesday night at the Bluebird or just sitting around my house, some people think the XFL is not going to last. I decided to do some scientific research of my own.\nSenior Jon Kabrud said, "I don't feel the XFL has lived up to its preseason expectations. However, I do appreciate the cheerleaders' busts."\nThere you have it, my friends. Sex sells. Like it or not the cheerleaders of the XFL bring ratings. Are these women more raunchy than the women of the NFL? While I haven't dated any of them yet, I would have to say commercials are to blame for the perception. The outfits they wear are more revealing than the bikinis the women wear on FOX's "Temptation Island." By the way, the people who think the XFL is too worried about selling sex are the same people who are taping "Temptation Island," where the point is to break up people in serious relationships.\nFurthering my in-depth research, I asked senior Angelo Grecco what he thought. \n"I like the fact that after college and the NFL I can still watch football," he said. "But I would like to see it get a little more rough and dirty." \nWith cameras in the players' helmets and in-your-face interviews, I don't know how it could get any rougher. I have seen some hard hits, and people getting knocked over.\nWhile ratings have dropped drastically since the first week, the XFL still has more viewers than the NHL All-Star game, and the NBA on NBC. So for those of you who don't think it's a sport, just remember it's beating one of your favorites.\n Some people even like to knock the talent the XFL offers. Well, it's week four of the season now, and teams have continually improved. While I would say there are few players of NFL caliber, these guys could play on any Division-I team in the nation.\nThe players are what's left over from the cream of the crop. How do I know? I applied online this summer for an XFL tryout. Apparently they were not looking for a 5-foot-9, 200 pound, out-of-shape, high school defensive end.\nAnd while I did make my impact for the Munster Mustangs, I do not believe my talent would carry me very far in the XFL.\nI will get the chance to see an up close and personal view this weekend as I travel to Chicago to watch the Enforcers take on the New York/New Jersey Hitmen. Both teams will be vying for their first victory in the new league.\nRight now, the XFL is still here. After three weeks, the league has yet to fold. Don't expect it to any time soon -- I need to hold onto my column.
(02/19/01 6:55pm)
After day one of the Big Ten Swimming and Diving championship, the Hoosiers are sitting in second place trailing only to Michigan. Eleven swimmers set personal records; five shattered school records.\nIU started the Big Ten meet at Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center by setting a school record in the 200-yard freestyle relay. A time of 1:31.07 was good enough to earn the Hoosiers first place, beating Michigan by nine-tenths of a second. \nThe four Hoosiers could not have been more excited. \n"We wanted to come out and make a statement, and we did," junior Susan Woessner said. "I can't believe we actually did it; this is a great feeling." \nThe pace was set by senior Jenn Cristy who swam her split in 22.45. This set a new school record, one which Cristy broke in the hours earlier in the preliminaries with a 22.52. Penn State finished third in the relay at 1:31.17.\nEllen Stonebraker won the 500-yard freestyle, being the lone Wisconsin swimmer in the event. Stonebraker is now a four-time champion in the 500 free. A big surprise was the finish by IU freshman Sarah Fiden. Fiden set a school record with a time of 4:50.37. The 500 time was the oldest Hoosier record, dating back nearly 20 years. \nFormer record-holder Jennifer Brinegar said she was excited to see someone so young accomplish such a feat. \n"I think it's awesome that she came out so intense," Brinegar said. "Coming out of lane eight it took a lot of guts. I hope Sarah considers this a stepping stone for her, as she will continue to improve."\nIn the consolation bracket of the 200-yard individual medley, sophomores finished first and second. Tina Gretlund, second place in the consolation bracket, was especially surprised. \n"I usually am not as good in the 200," Gretlund said. "I consider it a warmup for the 400 IM, so this came as a big surprise." \nUniversity of Minnesota senior Katy Christoferson won the event with a time of 2:00.22, earning an automatic spot into the NCAA finals.\nCoach Dorsey Tierney said the team has a saying, "Hear nothing see nothing. Put yourself in a bubble." \nCristy heard nothing but a crowd on its feet after shattering a school record in the 50-yard freestyle, which she had broken for the third time in the same day. Her time of 22.32 has gotten her an automatic bid into NCAA finals. Anne Williams of the Hoosiers also has a chance of earning her way into the finals with a finals time of 23.40.\nTo round out the evening in the 400 medley relay, the Hoosiers finished fourth at 3:42.82. Woessner started the event in the backstroke, while Cristy once again made a solid finish in the freestyle. Michigan set a pool and Big Ten record at 3:38.78\nTwo days are left to decide who will reign as the Big Ten women's swimming and diving champion. As the Hoosiers enjoyed signing autographs before they left for dinner, they sat in second place, 22 points behind Michigan.
(02/19/01 5:07am)
Claire Tousley of Zionsville said her mom decided it would be a good idea to take her to the Women's Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships. Tousley, an elementary school student and swimmer, said she likes going fast.\nTousley was likely smiling Saturday night, the final night of the three-day event. She did get to see quick swimming -- IU raced to a third-place finish, Penn State jumped to a quick lead but couldn't swim fast enough to hold on for the win and Michigan took the title.\nAfter Friday night in Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center, Penn State had a 10-point lead. But Michigan would not be outdone, coming back to win on the meet's final night.\nIn the first event Saturday, Michigan freshmen Emily Fenn and Lori Eberwein finished fourth and fifth respectively in the 1650-yard freestyle, giving the Wolverines a 451-425 advantage. They never trailed again, and won the Big Ten Championships with 582 points. Defending champion Minnesota finished sixth.\nHighlights for the Wolverines included a victory in the 400 freestyle relay. Seniors Jennifer Crisman and Missy Sugar teamed with freshmen Anne Weilbacher and Samantha Arsenault to win the race. The time might earn them a shot at the NCAA Championships at Nassau County Aquatic Center in Long Island, N.Y., March 15-17. Arsenault, an Olympic gold medalist in the 800 free relay, said you can't really compare the two experiences. \n"Our win was a whole team effort," she said. "Michigan has a whole lot of pride. Lots of alumni come to watch us swim, and we feel proud to represent them."\nIU finished with 460.5 points -- the best finish for the Hoosiers since 1982. Coach Dorsey Tierney was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, and said the Hoosiers' success can be attributed to a solid work ethic and leadership. \n"This is a year when the team really came together as a group," Tierney said. "Our senior class has great leadership. Now we have to get back to work and get ready for nationals. This is a goal-oriented team. Our goal was to get 450 points."\nIU exceeded Tierney's goal, setting 16 school records. IU also had four All-Big Ten selections, and set 36 personal records. \nSenior Jenn Cristy was selected as Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships. \nPenn State's Kristen Woodring was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Woodring swam the 400 medley relay for the Nittany Lions, then swam on Penn State's NCAA-qualifying 200 medley relay squad. She also made her way to the NCAAs individually in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 59.77, shattering the Big Ten record, and qualifying for the NCAAs by an impressive 2.56 seconds. She also made her way to Long Island with teammate Corrie Clark, also a freshman. \nNorthwestern senior Tashy Bohm made her presence known by winning the 200 backstroke for the third time in a row. \n"I went out there to win it. It's my senior year, and I wanted to go out with a bang," she said. "When I saw my time I couldn't believe it. I can't wait for nationals."\nAlso making noise was Wisconsin senior Ellen Stonebraker. She was named Big Ten Swimmer of the Year, winning both the 200- and 500-yard freestyles. \n"I was very surprised to be named swimmer of the year," she said. "I wanted to finish the Big Tens strong; it will help us get ready for nationals." \nAthletics Director Clarence Doninger, who made an appearance at the meet Saturday, said he was happy with the way the three-day event unfolded. \n"Overall, the meet went very well," he said. "Dorsey (Tierney) did a fantastic job. I am very pleased"
(02/15/01 6:03am)
Anne Williams does not believe in setting goals for herself. Her hard work takes the place of goals.\nWilliams, a sophomore from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., has made a smooth transition from the prep level to college level. A four-time All-American at Seaholm High School, 1999 Michigan Swimmer of the Year and an academic All-American, Williams is a member of IU's record-holding 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams. \nAlthough Williams said she doesn't like to set goals, she aspires to help the relay teams swim its way into the NCAA tournament.\nMaking the NCAA tournament is no easy task. Training is intense, with dry land workouts being part of a daily routine. This is something Williams has taken seriously, said junior Susan Woessner. \n\"Williams is a very intense competitor with a tremendous work ethic," Woessner said. "As a freshman, she elevated the sprint group to another level. Whatever she takes on, she gives it all she's got." \nBy giving it her all, Williams has also been successful in the classroom. As an Alpha Beta honorary member, Williams is majoring in mathematics education with hopes of becoming a teacher.\nCoach Dorsey Tierney said she believes Williams' work ethic in the classroom and pool set a solid example for the swim team.\n"Anne is a joy to coach on a daily basis," Tierney said. "She is consistently focused, and always challenging herself." \nTierney attributes Williams' success to her being somewhat of a perfectionist.\nWilliams attributes it to the ability of the swimmers to work well in a group. With the addition of four freshmen who swim freestyle, the atmosphere has become more competitive. Each swimmer works harder, not trying to beat the other person, but to make that other person work harder, Williams said. Williams keeps a positive outlook, and said she believes it has made each swimmer reach her maximum potential. \nWith Big Ten Championships starting today, Williams is focused on the meet. \n"I'd like to make the NCAA (Championships) in the relays," Williams said. "The team has been working really hard at this, and it would be a great accomplishment"
(02/02/01 5:39am)
NBC will kick off the season for a new football league at 8 p.m. Friday. The New York/New Jersey Hitmen will travel to Las Vegas. \nIn Sin City, the Hitmen will take on the Las Vegas Outlaws. These teams are part of the new Xtreme Football League. Better known as the XFL, this 10-week season is ready for liftoff. \nFor those of you who haven't heard, World Wrestling Federation Chairman Vince McMahon announced Feb. 3, 2000 that the season would begin exactly one year later. I am sure the big question running through everybody's mind now is whether it will be real. Everyone knows the WWF follows a storyline. The XFL does not. \nHow can I prove this? Call up your bookie and tell him you want to find out the spread on Saturday night's game of the Chicago Enforcers and Orlando Rage. Get the hint: Las Vegas does not make lines for something that has a predicted outcome. Now call your bookie and ask him how much you can bet Stone Cold Steve Austin will win the Federation title at Wrestlemania. I would like to hear him laugh in your face.\nAlthough the XFL will not be staged like the WWF, some of the antics will be the same. McMahon said he would like to see players and cheerleaders date. Pyrotechnics for these games will be as glorious as they are when WWF superstar The Rock makes his way to the ring.\nSome rules will be different from college and professional football. \n"We haven't really invented any totally new (rules), but have incorporated certain rules from other professional and collegiate leagues, past and present, to create a faster-paced, higher-excitement brand of football," XFL Vice President of Football Operations Mike Keller said. \nThese rules consist of changes mostly in special teams and defense. The defensive backs will be allowed to bump-and-run a receiver all the way down the field, as opposed to only 10 yards from the line of scrimmage in the NFL. During kickoffs, a player may not down the ball in the endzone for a touchback. After a punt, the receiver may not call a fair catch.\nI know what you're thinking: why doesn't he just let it bounce so he doesn't get killed? Because the ball becomes live after 25 yards. Although this might seem like eventual suicide, the receiver will get what the XFL calls a five-yard "halo" to protect the punt returner from getting his head ripped off. In another effort to save the punt returner, members of the kicking team may not release from the line of scrimmage until the ball is punted. \nA big difference from the NFL and NCAA is that kicking extra points after touchdowns will not be allowed. After scoring, the ball will be placed on the two-yard line and will either be run or passed in for a point. An interesting aspect of this is the opportunity for the defense to score one point. \nLet me draw up a scenario to explain. \nThe Chicago Enforcers have a big game against the Memphis Maniax. Memphis scores a touchdown to tie the game. Going for the extra point with the game winding to an end, 1994 Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam fumbles. Enforcers linebacker and IU graduate Jamie Beasley picks up the ball and runs it 98 yards. The Enforcers are winning by one point. \nGoing along the lines of college football, the XFL has decided a receiver must land with only one foot in bounds.\nWhile this is different than the NFL, nothing differs more than salary. With every XFL player making $40,000 per season -- quarterbacks slightly more -- the payroll is low. Incentives are provided for teams, most importantly for winning. Players receive a $2,500 bonus for winning a game, and about $25,000 for winning the championship. What New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan brings in each year ($8 million) could pay for an entire 45-man XFL roster.\nI am interested to see how this XFL season develops. While the players are not as talented as those in the NFL, a match-up between the Birmingham Bolts and the national champion Oklahoma Sooners would be too close to call. With a twist to traditional rules, there will be a lot more drama in the XFL. Along with the creative mind of McMahon, this new league has been marketed well. Just wait until the season starts.
(01/31/01 4:05am)
The biggest controversy has hit the IU campus since the departure of former basketball coach Bob Knight. This will be my last column in the sports section of the IDS. After receiving my "zero-tolerance policy" at the beginning of the semester, the sports editors deemed the idea of the World Wrestling Federation an inappropriate concept for the IDS. \nI have a solution to this problem. I am asking everyone who reads this paper to cancel his or her subscription in protest. Realizing that the paper is free, it will be difficult to ban a paper that is, in essence, subscribed to by everyone who chooses to read it. Maybe there is an outside chance that another section of the paper will decide to run my column, considering that professional wrestling is both sports and entertainment.\nNow let me talk about what I used to get paid the big bucks to do -- the WWF. Here is the latest news:\nA contract signing was held on "Monday Night Raw" between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H. This signing booked a match between the two at the next pay-per-view, "No Way Out." A stipulation under this contract states that neither of the two can engage in physical contact before "No Way Out." If Triple H does, he will be suspended for six months. Should Austin initiate physical contact, he will lose his title shot at Wrestlemania. Triple H pulled a fast one on Raw by hitting Austin with a briefcase before signing the contract. \nIn main event action, a four-way match took place to determine who would face Kurt Angle for the belt on Smackdown. Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, The Big Show and The Rock were set to make a bid for the title. Benoit and Jericho immediately went at it, and soon enough there was melee in the ring. I thought Angle would interfere in the match like Wild Bill in a T-Bone vs. Hart Forrest extravaganza, but surprisingly he did not. The Rock then got the Rock Bottom on Jericho to get the pin and a chance at Angle. Surprisingly, more people have been watching the WWF Thursday, which recently changed the title of its show to "Smackdown X-Treme" (certainly an advertising measure for the XFL). A title change cannot be ruled out this Thursday, but I deem it to be very, very unlikely. And now back to the controversy.\nSome people ride in the Little 500. Some people play on the Internet. Some people go to the bars.\nI party the week of the Little 500, occasionally surf the Web and make my way to Kilroy's every now and then.\nBut one thing I have been doing since before I came to IU, before I had a computer and before I was 21 (or had a fake ID) was watch wrestling. This year I was hired by Pete Newmann to write about the WWF. Today I am writing my last words. The sports section can take away my column, but the one thing they can't do is stop me from watching wrestling.\nI would like to thank everyone who takes time out of his or her days to read this column. It has been a pleasure to write. Whether you read it to get a quick laugh or because you are a true wrestling fan, the bottom line is, I really appreciate it.
(01/24/01 5:17am)
Stone Cold Steve Austin has earned a chance for the title at Wrestlemania. At the Royal Rumble, Austin survived the 30-man fiasco to deserve a shot at the belt. Kurt Angle is still the champion after Austin interfered in the title match Sunday, but this does not mean he will be the one to face Austin, as the belt might change hands in the interim. \nAngle has had the title for quite a while now, and with turning him face, a loss to a heel would make him even more popular. Slowly, Angle is gaining respect from the fans by poking fun at Triple H. Having Trish Stratus by his side is also winning him over with the more "macho" crowd. The main event at the Rumble was Angle and Trish versus Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and Triple H. Austin decided to rain on the main event parade by stunning Triple H — big surprise (notice a hint of sarcasm there). This was more predictable then a backyard match between T-Bone and Hart Forrest, where T-Bone always gets the last laugh. But all laughing aside, I find it is time for a match between Triple H and Austin to be in order. \nSo, who does Angle fight then? I think the millions of people who read this article, or at least the guys in my fraternity, would agree that The Rock should get into title contention. The Big Show has made his return, and should definitely be a big timer, but he needs to get back in the swing of things a little more. Undertaker has not impressed me in the past few weeks, and I think the alliance with Kane is a good thing. These two together are more dangerous than a freshman with a fake ID. What these two scenarios have in common is that they raise hell, whether on Kirkwood or in the wrestling ring.\nAnd speaking of raising hell, where has Shane McMahon been? He has been out of the picture for quite some time. With Shane-O-Mack in the picture, it is worth more than a thousand words. Shane is known for bringing wrestlers to the top, and an alliance with him is almost guaranteeing controversy. So here is a controversial scenario I have come up with: Shane comes back at the next Raw and aligns himself with Angle. Angle then gets to hold his title until No Way Out. A family feud sparks up with Stephanie being "married" to Triple H. Shane then turns on Angle at No Way Out, bringing the family back together and giving the title to Triple H. \nAt the following Raw, The Rock works his way back to the title hunt. Wrestlemania then cards a triple-threat match between The Rock, Triple H and Austin. This scenario might not work, but I think it would be cool to see.\nIn other news, who do you think the masked man is that is helping Raven? I sense a flock coming, but I could be wrong. E-mail me with your guesses; I am curious to know your opinions. If a flock does come about, I think they could greatly rival Right To Censor.\nI wanted to finish this column today by talking about the ladder match at the Royal Rumble, featuring Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit for the Intercontinental Title. In all my years watching wrestling, this was one of the greatest matches I have seen. It is right up with Hulk Hogan versus Andre the Giant. Jericho won, but not easily. These two took bumps and bruises like no other. This is all I have for the week. If it were up to me, the whole Sports section would cover wrestling news. But I am not the editor, and probably never will be. Besides, I think the basketball team played some state school last night.
(01/17/01 5:42am)
A sold-out crowd was in attendance for Monday Night Raw in a prelude to this Sunday's pay-per-view: No Mercy. Eddie Guerrero set the stage by entering the ring first and bad-mouthing Chyna. Look for these two to stay broken up, as Guerrero will face Bad Ass Billy Gunn this Sunday. In my opinion, you will see Gunn with the Intercontinental Title come next Monday's Raw. \nRikishi gave an interview about his feelings about Stone Cold Steve Austin. His feelings were hurt in that The Rock did not appreciate Rikishi for running over Austin, a move that launched The Rock's career last year. \nLater in the show when Austin came out to address the crowd, Rikishi came on the big screen. Because Rikishi had tendinitis in his knee there was no physical contact between the two, but Rikishi dragged Austin to the back parking lot, then sped away after trying to run Austin over a second time. \nThis will be one helluva brawl this Sunday. Anticipate Austin to lay the smack down on Rikishi, but look forward to a great match between the two, as this will be Austin's first match since returning from his injury.\nWilliam Regale defeated Al Snow to become the European Champion. Regale will probably hold this title for a while, because he is a newcomer and also a British native.\nTriple H and Kane went at each other on Raw. It was quite a physical match up, with Triple H putting the pedigree on Kane outside the ring. Benoit then interfered with the match by getting Triple H in the cross face. These two are going at it at No Mercy, and I am imagining a good match, with Triple H being the fan favorite, and also my favorite.\nY2J Chris Jericho and X-Pac are set to face each other in a steel cage match at No Mercy. Pray this will be the last of the feuds between these two, because it's becoming stale. Y2J's predicted victory will help him move into a different angle where he faces some more big time competitors.\nThe Dudley Boys faced Los Conquistadors on Raw. Los Conquistadors defeated The Dudley Boys because Devon Dudley was getting a table from under the ring. Now that you are wondering who the Los Conquistadors are, they are simply supposed to be Edge & Christian dressed in gold.\nStephanie McMahon-Helmsley introduced Kurt Angle for the main event on Raw. Stephanie now accompanies Angle to the ring as Angle's manager. Angle was at Joe Louis Arena where he made his debut at Survivor Series last year. The main event was with Angle and Edge & Christian vs. The Rock and The Hardy Boys. The Rock immediately attacked Angle once he got to the ring, and was ready to pin Angle when Stephanie interrupted the match. With The Rock distracted by Stephanie, Angle was able to get Jeff Hardy pinned for the victory.\nI believe the main event at No Mercy is going to be an interesting one. With Stephanie now accompanying Angle to the ring, I would not be surprised to see a title change. The Rock has held the title for quite some time, and this would be a good spin off to have Triple H launch his career again without Stephanie. By giving Angle the title, fans would dislike him even more, which is not a bad thing in the good-guy, bad-guy scheme of professional wrestling. Also, this would open up a lot more possibilities for different champions. \nRikishi and Stone Cold will not be disputing for long. But, everyone would love to see The Rock and Austin go at each other. The only problem is that the fans would not know who to cheer for. By launching Angle's career with the title, The Rock can try to find his niche as the bad guy. This might be difficult for the WWF, but in the world of wrestling the good guy always has to face the bad guy.
(01/17/01 5:39am)
A sold-out crowd was in attendance for Monday Night Raw in a prelude to this Sunday's pay-per-view: No Mercy. Eddie Guerrero set the stage by entering the ring first and bad-mouthing Chyna. Look for these two to stay broken up, as Guerrero will face Bad Ass Billy Gunn this Sunday. In my opinion, you will see Gunn with the Intercontinental Title come next Monday's Raw. \nRikishi gave an interview about his feelings about Stone Cold Steve Austin. His feelings were hurt in that The Rock did not appreciate Rikishi for running over Austin, a move that launched The Rock's career last year. \nLater in the show when Austin came out to address the crowd, Rikishi came on the big screen. Because Rikishi had tendinitis in his knee there was no physical contact between the two, but Rikishi dragged Austin to the back parking lot, then sped away after trying to run Austin over a second time. \nThis will be one helluva brawl this Sunday. Anticipate Austin to lay the smack down on Rikishi, but look forward to a great match between the two, as this will be Austin's first match since returning from his injury.\nWilliam Regale defeated Al Snow to become the European Champion. Regale will probably hold this title for a while, because he is a newcomer and also a British native.\nTriple H and Kane went at each other on Raw. It was quite a physical match up, with Triple H putting the pedigree on Kane outside the ring. Benoit then interfered with the match by getting Triple H in the cross face. These two are going at it at No Mercy, and I am imagining a good match, with Triple H being the fan favorite, and also my favorite.\nY2J Chris Jericho and X-Pac are set to face each other in a steel cage match at No Mercy. Pray this will be the last of the feuds between these two, because it's becoming stale. Y2J's predicted victory will help him move into a different angle where he faces some more big time competitors.\nThe Dudley Boys faced Los Conquistadors on Raw. Los Conquistadors defeated The Dudley Boys because Devon Dudley was getting a table from under the ring. Now that you are wondering who the Los Conquistadors are, they are simply supposed to be Edge & Christian dressed in gold.\nStephanie McMahon-Helmsley introduced Kurt Angle for the main event on Raw. Stephanie now accompanies Angle to the ring as Angle's manager. Angle was at Joe Louis Arena where he made his debut at Survivor Series last year. The main event was with Angle and Edge & Christian vs. The Rock and The Hardy Boys. The Rock immediately attacked Angle once he got to the ring, and was ready to pin Angle when Stephanie interrupted the match. With The Rock distracted by Stephanie, Angle was able to get Jeff Hardy pinned for the victory.\nI believe the main event at No Mercy is going to be an interesting one. With Stephanie now accompanying Angle to the ring, I would not be surprised to see a title change. The Rock has held the title for quite some time, and this would be a good spin off to have Triple H launch his career again without Stephanie. By giving Angle the title, fans would dislike him even more, which is not a bad thing in the good-guy, bad-guy scheme of professional wrestling. Also, this would open up a lot more possibilities for different champions. \nRikishi and Stone Cold will not be disputing for long. But, everyone would love to see The Rock and Austin go at each other. The only problem is that the fans would not know who to cheer for. By launching Angle's career with the title, The Rock can try to find his niche as the bad guy. This might be difficult for the WWF, but in the world of wrestling the good guy always has to face the bad guy.
(01/10/01 7:41am)
Welcome back to another great semester. \nClasses have started, books haven't been bought and Monday Night Raw starts an hour later -- because of time zones -- than the time I became accustomed to during break. Unfortunately, those in the dorms who had the luxury of watching Raw at home during break now need to find another place to get their Monday dose of wrestling. \nI will use the power of words to plead to the University: PLEASE BRING TNN TO THE DORMS! Maybe this plea will at least get them to ponder why they are depriving the proud students of IU from what they all love, the World Wrestling Federation. \nTo those of you who do not watch wrestling all the time but simply love the article, let me bring you back up to speed with what is happening on Raw. \nStone Cold Steve Austin got a title shot against WWF champion Kurt Angle. Angle has now held the belt for a long time, and I thought he would lose the title Monday simply because it would be a big ratings boost for the upcoming Royal Rumble. Triple H made his return and spoiled Austin's title hopes. When Triple H gets back to 100 percent, expect to see him make a run for the title. But, do not count out Austin.\nStephanie McMahon Helmsley has made quite a presence on Raw. Her "daddy's little girl" routine and snobby attitude make it easy for fans to bring that love-to-hate-her feeling into the arena each week. With Trish Stratus also appearing to play the role of Vince McMahon's secret fling, expect to see Stephanie play an even more important role in the story lines. \nTriple H and Stephanie have not been together much on television, so something big could happen here soon. It would be fitting that a television marriage should end the same way most marriages do -- a divorce. Vince has asked for a divorce from his wife on national television. Stephanie might be the next.\n The Rock was forced to team up with two referees and fight Rikishi and Kane. The actual match ended in a disqualification when Kane tried using a chair. Rock was down and almost out before Undertaker came to his rescue. The Rock and Undertaker seem to be getting along well right now, but I have a feeling they will be fighting one another in the near future. \nRikishi is the top heel in the federation right now, and this could only last so long. Ideally, I would like to see The Rock turn heel to set up a big match between him and Austin at Wrestlemania.\nExpect for next Monday's Raw to be hotter than the dance floor at Ground Zero. The Royal Rumble is right around the corner, and Angle will not be the champion by the time the illustrious pay-per-view rolls around. A title change is coming soon, if you smell what I'm cooking.
(01/10/01 5:48am)
Welcome back to another great semester. \nClasses have started, books haven't been bought and Monday Night Raw starts an hour later -- because of time zones -- than the time I became accustomed to during break. Unfortunately, those in the dorms who had the luxury of watching Raw at home during break now need to find another place to get their Monday dose of wrestling. \nI will use the power of words to plead to the University: PLEASE BRING TNN TO THE DORMS! Maybe this plea will at least get them to ponder why they are depriving the proud students of IU from what they all love, the World Wrestling Federation. \nTo those of you who do not watch wrestling all the time but simply love the article, let me bring you back up to speed with what is happening on Raw. \nStone Cold Steve Austin got a title shot against WWF champion Kurt Angle. Angle has now held the belt for a long time, and I thought he would lose the title Monday simply because it would be a big ratings boost for the upcoming Royal Rumble. Triple H made his return and spoiled Austin's title hopes. When Triple H gets back to 100 percent, expect to see him make a run for the title. But, do not count out Austin.\nStephanie McMahon Helmsley has made quite a presence on Raw. Her "daddy's little girl" routine and snobby attitude make it easy for fans to bring that love-to-hate-her feeling into the arena each week. With Trish Stratus also appearing to play the role of Vince McMahon's secret fling, expect to see Stephanie play an even more important role in the story lines. \nTriple H and Stephanie have not been together much on television, so something big could happen here soon. It would be fitting that a television marriage should end the same way most marriages do -- a divorce. Vince has asked for a divorce from his wife on national television. Stephanie might be the next.\n The Rock was forced to team up with two referees and fight Rikishi and Kane. The actual match ended in a disqualification when Kane tried using a chair. Rock was down and almost out before Undertaker came to his rescue. The Rock and Undertaker seem to be getting along well right now, but I have a feeling they will be fighting one another in the near future. \nRikishi is the top heel in the federation right now, and this could only last so long. Ideally, I would like to see The Rock turn heel to set up a big match between him and Austin at Wrestlemania.\nExpect for next Monday's Raw to be hotter than the dance floor at Ground Zero. The Royal Rumble is right around the corner, and Angle will not be the champion by the time the illustrious pay-per-view rolls around. A title change is coming soon, if you smell what I'm cooking.
(12/06/00 5:54am)
Monday Night Raw was hotter than a frankfurter from the Kilroys hot dog man in preparation for Armageddon, Sunday night\'s pay-per-view. Gearing up for a long week of finals, I still manage to find time to watch wrestling. For those of you who did not find the time or already began cramming for the big finite exam, this column for keeping pace with the wrestling gossip saves you. \nRaw did not have many matches, but Vince McMahon did make his presence felt. William Regal beating Crash Holly was the only title change of the evening. A change in persona may take place in the Dudley Boys, seeing as they made their way out on Raw in Right to Censor attire. If this effort to turn them into heels does take place, I expect it to be short lived. \nFor the most part, Raw focused on promoting the Hell in the Cell match. Let me break everything down for you to give you my perspective on what is going to happen at Armageddon.\nBilly Gunn vs. Chris Benoit -- Gunn will win this match. He has Chyna with him and that makes him too strong and gives him a big edge against Benoit.\nThe Godfather & Bull Buchanan vs. a tag team to be announced on Smackdown -- This will end up being a three-way with Edge & Christian and K-Kwik & Road Dogg. A title change will take place here, and I am rooting for the Road Dogg. He has always been one of my favorites, and the titles would give them a real push. Also, with the possibility of the Godfather coming back soon, Right to Censor would have to give up the tag-team titles.\nChris Jericho vs. Kane -- A last man standing match. Expect Y2J get a victory here. After this match, I expect the feud between these two to end. I think Kane will form an alliance with The Undertaker.\nHell in the Cell Match -- Kurt Angle, Triple H, The Undertaker, The Rock, Rikishi and Stone Cold Steve Austin face each other for the WWF title. This match will have a lot of twists in it. My guess is that Austin will make a title run after Armageddon. Triple H and Angle will feud after Stephanie reveals she will be carrying Angle's baby. With Vince returning to television, a feud between he and Austin would be a lot more popular if Austin held the title. By doing this, an opportunity would be created for The Rock and Austin to begin preparation for a big match at Wrestlemania. Although this angle might not happen for a while, Austin is a good man to have everyone in the federation gunning for. \nBut there will be no karaoke in the WWF. Some beer drinking from Austin, some hilarious skits from The Rock and some change in personas to increase ratings are very likely to occur. Make no mistake about it; there is no Dogma happening at Armageddon. But, there will be an entourage of good matches and lots of action.
(11/29/00 5:11am)
I am sure everyone was upset that there was no IDS last Wednesday. Along with TNN not being available in the residence halls and a two-week drought between columns, this one should be highly anticipated.\nThis week's Raw was in front of a sold-out crowd in Ames, Iowa, and things looked promising from the start. WWF champion Kurt Angle was the first to make it to the ring. After rambling about the ludicrous behavior in the WWF, he claimed he is more of a wrestler than an entertainer. Commissioner Mick Foley and Debra made their way to the ring to discuss how things have gotten out of hand lately.\nFoley then let Angle put the title up on Raw and set a number one contender match between The Rock and Rikishi. Angle has a title defense against an undisclosed opponent.\nAs a fan, you start to guess at whom he will face. With The Rock and Rikishi fighting, it seems to make Stone Cold Steve Austin the frontrunner because Triple H is not completely healthy.\nImmediately, I begin to imagine my own storyline. I saw Angle facing Austin for the title. In a well-fought match, there seems to be clear advantage in the beginning. Then, as Angle seems to have an advantage, Triple H comes to interfere. Before he can even get into the ring, Austin knocks him out cold. While not paying attention to Angle, Austin turns around and becomes victim of the Olympic Slam. As the referee counts, Austin kicks out, the ref\'s hand inches from the ground. Frustrated, Angle grabs a chair. In an attempt to knock Austin over the head with it, Angle receives a kick to the midsection and obtains a stunner. Austin then gets the pin to become the new champion. The crowd goes wild. Triple H regains consciousness and attacks Austin. \nThe Rock finds his way to the ring in what appears to be defense for Austin. After throwing Triple H out of the ring, The Rock and Austin are left alone in the ring. Austin, confused, decides to grab a couple beers. After catching a couple of cold ones from the crowd he turns around and is shocked by a Rock Bottom. The Rock then delivers the People's Elbow and the crowd is left confused. Why would The Rock do that to Austin? The answer is simple...it would have made my night.\nIn reality, Austin did face Angle. Austin did give Angle the stunner. But as he was going for the pin, Triple H came out of the crowd and interfered, attacking Austin from behind as he was going for the pin. This meant that Angle would retain the title and I would not witness the title change I was hoping for. The Rock did attack Angle before the match, but this had no bearing on the main event. It was merely payback from Angle interfering in the number one contender match between The Rock and Rikishi. \nWhich storyline would have been better? I would have to go with mine on this one.
(11/15/00 5:18am)
On this episode of Monday Night Raw, matches were set for this Sunday's Survivor Series. Rather than tell you about all the events that happened, I am going to make my pre-pay-per-view predictions. I am a little tight for space this week, so I cannot cover all the matches.\nChris Jericho vs. Kane: With Kane throwing Jericho through a glass window on Raw, I expect Jericho to pull out a solid victory. I envision Jericho winning this one after knocking out Kane with the ring bell. No, I am not a psychic, I just watch too much wrestling.\nThe Rock vs. Rikishi: I have to go with The Rock on this one. Expect Rikishi to put up a great fight, but The Rock is too popular to lose this match. If Rikishi wins, the saga between the two continues. When The Rock wins, he can move on to fighting WWF Kurt Angle to get his title back.\n Triple H vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin: I expect this to be quite an interesting match. How physical of a match it is will depend on the state of Triple H's back. \n This is the one match where I would not be surprised if something big happens. Opportunities are endless. Stephanie, Shane or even Vince McMahon could make a big return on this match. Vince McMahon would love to screw Austin at Survivor Series. Being out of the loop for a while, I would not be surprised to see Vince make a triumphant return.\nWWF title match, The Undertaker vs. Kurt Angle: Speaking of returns, somebody is going to need to help Angle, but I would not be surprised to see him keep his title. A very good possibility is that Stephanie's arrival would cause enough distraction for Angle to hit The Undertaker with a couple chair shots. Without outside interference, Angle will lose the title.\nThis is all the space I have for my predictions. Those silly editors think that the presidential election is more important than this column. Sooner or later a president will be elected and we can get on with what really matters, the WWF.
(11/08/00 1:51am)
\"No chance, 'cause that's what you got" stands for two things. It stands for IU's shot at going to the Rose Bowl, and it means WWF chairman Vince McMahon is making his way to the ring. \nOn this Monday's "Raw," Vince made his first return in quite some time to wrestling. He wasn't scheduling matches or complaining about Stone Cold, but trying to convince people to vote. \nAlthough not as exciting as watching him get bashed over the head with a chair, we all need to remember McMahon is working on the XFL. \nBefore McMahon left, he had to answer some questions, from none other than Austin. Stone Cold wanted to know if McMahon happened to be the "mastermind" behind him getting run over by a car nearly a year ago. McMahon denied this random act of violence, and WWF champion Kurt Angle made his way to the ring. He ended up getting a stunned by Austin. \nD-Generation X made a triumphant return as well. Monday was the first sign of any possible alliance between Road Dogg, Billy G., Triple H and Chyna. The one thing they all have in common is that they hate the Radicals, consisting of Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn and Eddie Guerrero. DX was set to face the Radicals in a four-on-four match. I was excited to see both of these cliques in action together. A D-Generation X return would be huge for the WWF. There might be some hope for this, because DX did get the victory with a Triple H pedigree. But Triple H did not pedigree Malenko and go home happy. Angle, without business partner Stephanie for the evening, came out and did some damage on Triple H.\nLater on "Raw," The Hardy Boys lost their titles to Right to Censor. As much as it pained me to see it happen, I realized it is to get people to dislike RTC even more. I am a prime example, because I find myself frustrated at the Hardy Boys loss. What frustrated me is that the Hardys had the match won, but the referee was not paying any attention. Matt and Jeff did get some sort of revenge later in the evening when they interfered with the table match between the Dudley Boys and Edge & Christian.\nThe time and the match for the main event had been set up for days. Nothing could go wrong. Or could it? Anything can happen in the WWF, and sure enough, it did. The Rock made his way to the ring, and was mysteriously attacked in what appeared to be a random act of violence. The Rock suffered a concussion, and was unable to even make his way out to the ring. Now it was going to be Austin vs. Rikishi and Angle. Austin seemed to be handling himself pretty well, and actually controlled the match. Triple H then came out and tossed Angle out of the ring, helping Austin's odds. There just so happened to be a sledgehammer lying in the ring, and Triple H picked it up. Then, in a surprising move, he nailed Austin in the head and told him not to trust anybody. Rikishi and Triple H then assaulted Austin, leaving the impression it was Triple H, not The Rock, who was the mastermind behind Austin getting hit by a car. \nMonday night's "Raw" was the best I've seen in months. There was tons of action, and I liked most parts of it. I am not sure how those writers do it, but I cannot wait to see them do it again.
(11/01/00 4:24am)
The most anticipated match on Monday Night Raw, held in Boston, was a steel-cage faceoff between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Rikishi. \nAustin handed Rikishi the whooping he promised to all his fans. After repeatedly hitting Rikishi with the door to the cage, he tossed him side to side, flinging him into the cage. Finally, Austin gave him his patented "Stone Cold Stunner" and then captured the victory.\nThe coolest part of this match was after Austin pinned Rikishi and began pounding beers. Enough to turn any 11-year-old into an alcoholic. I hope that boy's mother put on the Disney channel while this match was occurring.\nThat was not the most exciting part of the evening, just the most anticipated. For the main event, The Rock faced Chris Jericho to see who would wrestle WWF champion Kurt Angle on Thursday's UPN Smackdown. This was not a straight up wrestling match. The referee was inadvertently punched by The Rock, which made it possible for chairs to become a factor. The match ended with a "Rock Bottom" and loss of a title shot by Jericho. \nThis is where the excitement began. Rikishi had made his way down to the ring before the match had ended, and surprisingly, did not interfere. Rikishi, evidently miffed that The Rock had not shown him any support, then took matters into his own hands by kicking The Rock in the jaw and squashing him like a late-night flapjack. \nMost important was the announcement Rikishi made. He announced that when he ran over Austin at last November's Survivor Series, The Rock was the one that gave him his keys. Yes, The Rock was the one that convinced Rikishi to run over Austin. That is a huge turn in the WWF story line. It is the first attempt to begin turning The Rock into a villain. With this change, The Rock and Austin will eventually square off. \nIt will be interesting to see how The Rock deals with Rikishi in the near future and how he responds to being accused of convincing Rikishi to run over Austin. In my opinion, The Rock can not turn bad guy in one episode, but this is the first big step. I am also interested to see how Austin responds.\nThe Undertaker made his return to Raw tonight with a swift power bomb to European Champion William Regal. I really hope The Undertaker is able to stay healthy so he can play a major role in the WWF. He has been around as long as anyone in the business and can still contribute to main event cards.\nIn a non-title match, Triple H kicked the crap out of Kurt Angle. He started by pedigreeing Angle through a table. Then, after getting disqualified for throwing around the referee, he pummeled Angle with a chair. Edge & Christian thought they could save the day, but instead they got bushwhacked, too. \nCommissioner Mick Foley, who right before the match named Debra as the lieutenant commissioner of the WWF, made this match.\nI was pleased with this week's episode -- the best I have seen in a while. With all the events that have occurred, I do not expect a dull moment in wrestling for the next couple weeks. I hope the writers do not prove me wrong.
(10/25/00 5:31am)
This week's episode of Monday Night Raw was pleasing to the fans in Hartford, Conn., thanks to the spillover of matches from Sunday's pay-per-view, "No Mercy." A new WWF champion fought, and Stone Cold Steve Austin continued to raise hell.\nCommissioner Mick Foley set up a triple threat match between Triple H, The Rock and new WWF Champion Kurt Angle. The match started with The Rock and Triple H teaming up against Angle. The next thing you know, Triple H was being carried out on a stretcher because Angle hit him with the ring bell. Triple H made his way back to the ring, but Rikishi interfered, causing a disqualification. \nI think Angle and Triple H will go head to head for a while, even though Stone Cold is probably going to get thrown in the mix. Austin can only kick the crap out of Rikishi for so long until all the fans get bored. What I would have liked to see is a quick title change on Raw from Angle to Triple H. This would have created controversy for Stephanie because her husband would have gained the title from her business associate, Angle.\nIn my opinion, the most exciting match of the evening was a "bra and panties" match for the WWF Women's Title. Trish Stratus faced Lita for the belt in a match where the winner was the first to get her opponent stripped down to their bra and panties. Trish was the first to get Lita down to her bra, but Lita then stripped down Trish to her naughty lingerie. Although the female viewers might not have liked this one, I am sure the 12-year-old who was watching while his parents weren't in the room loved it. \nOne of my personal favorites, The Road Dogg, faced Chris Benoit. The Road Dogg had Benoit right where he wanted him, until Dean Malenko came out to cause a distraction. Malenko then slapped Benoit a high five after the match. I wonder what this alliance could mean. Remember the Horsemen?\nY2J Chris Jericho had a brief chance for the European Title against William Regal. This shot was run short when Kane came out and choke slammed Y2J. It looks like these two will be feuding against one another, and I can't wait to hear the jokes that Y2J is going to crack on The Big Red Machine.\nFor a Raw following up a pay-per-view, I was not very impressed. I would have liked to see a winner in the main event, even if it would have been Angle. A disqualification does not bring satisfaction to the fans. One thing I did like about the main event is that Austin kicked some ass and drank some beer. A good end to any night happens when you are drinking beer.