Archive for August, 2009

Bret Hart is what theatrical professional wrestling is all about in real life.  He has seen triumph and tragedy, has been screwed by the boss, has overcome a life-threatening scare, and he has still preserved a legacy during the boom years of the WWE.  He remains one of the biggest sports icons in Canadian sports history, and earned the right to be called “the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be“.

Hart was born in Calgary, Alberta on July 2, 1957.  Hart was born into wrestling, as his father, the legendary Stu Hart, was very active in the early Canadian promotions.  Hart was one of seven brothers, all who were involved in one way or another with pro wrestling.  Hart grew up with a wrestling training facility right in the basement of his home, commonly called “The Dungeon”.  Stu Hart worked with stars such as Superstar Billy Graham, as young Bret observed and took in what he could.  Hart was an accomplished amateur wrestler winning the 1973 Calgary City Championship. 

At the age of 19, Bret began working for Stampede Wrestling, which was his father’s Canadian promotion in Calgary.  Bret broke in as a referee, but was asked to step in when a wrestler was unable to perform.  Eventually, Bret became a full-time wrestler in the promotion and won the tag-team titles with his brother, Keith Hart, four times.  Hart stayed with Stampede, riding his father’s wave of success, and eventually broke out as one of the top guys and a title-holder within the promotion.  He stayed with Stampede until 1984, when he chose to sign with Vince McMahon’s WWF promotion.

Originally, the WWF wanted Bret Hart to be a cowboy character, but the idea was scrapped.  He ended up teaming with a brother-in-law, The Dynamite Kid, in his first WWF television taping in August of 1984.  In 1985, McMahon used Hart to team with a different brother-in-law, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, forming the legendary Hart Foundation team, managed by who else, but Jimmy Hart (no relation).  The Hart Foundation won the WWF Tag Team Titles twice by beating The British Bulldogs to start their first reign.  The second reign began when The Hart Foundation beat Demolition members Crush and Smash in a two-out-of-three falls epic contest.

Hart focused more on his singles competition when he and Neidhart split in 1991.  Hart won the Intercontinental Championship by getting Mr. Perfect to tap to his ‘Sharpshooter’ at Summer Slam 1991.  He then became involved in a feud with The Mountie after being shocked with a cattle prod.  Hart eventually lost that title to The Mountie.  Roddy Piper beat The Mountie at the Royal Rumble, only to lose the title back to Hart at Wrestlemania VIII.  “The excellence of execution”, as Hart was referred to by WWF Commentator Gorilla Monsoon, fought in the first ever ‘ladder match’ against Shawn Michaels in July of 1992.  Hart won the inaugural ladder match, which ironically would become a Michaels trademark, but it was Hart who originally introduced the concept to the wrestling world.

On October 12, 1992, Hart defeated Ric Flair at Saskatchewan Palace in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in an untelevised match to capture his first ever WWF Championship.  Hart held the title for a few months before losing to Yokozuna (with interference from Mr. Fuji) at Wrestlemania IX.  At the 1993 King of The Ring, the first ever King of The Ring PPV, Hart defeated Razor Ramon, Shawn Michaels and Bam Bam Bigelow.  After the victory, Hart was attacked by Jerry “The King” Lawler, who claimed he was wrestling’s only true king.  Hart and Lawler faced off at 1993 Summer Slam where Hart won the match with his Sharpshooter, but was disqualified for not releasing the hold.

Later in 1993, Hart entered into a feud with his youngest brother, Owen Hart.  The feud started when Bret and Owen teamed with two other Hart brothers to face Shawn Michaels and his knights.  Owen was the only Hart eliminated and blamed Bret for ‘holding back his career’.  At the Royal Rumble (1994), Bret and Owen were teamed up to face the Quebecers for the WWf Tag Team Titles in which Bret suffered a staged knee injury.  Owen attacked Bret saying that he cost him a chance to be a champion.  At Wrestlemania X, Bret lost to Owen, but went on to later beat Yokozuna to reclaim the WWF Championship.

Owen and Bret would again feud.  Jim Neidhart returned and was seemingly saving Bret match after match.  However, it was later unveiled that Neidhart was only keeping the strap around Bret’s waist to aid Owen in winning the championship.  Bret defeated Owen in an epic steel cage match at the 1994 Summer Slam event.  Hart lost the title to Bob Backlund when Owen convinced Hart’s mother Helen, to throw in the towel as Backlund had Hart trapped in his ‘chicken wing’.  Bret recaptured the title by beating Backlund in a submission match at Wrestlemania XI.

At Wrestlemania XII, the historic 60-minute iron man match with Shawn Michaels took place.  The wrestler with the most victories in 60 minutes would be declared the winner.  With nobody having a pinfall, Gorilla Monsoon, the acting president of the WWF, declared the match will continue in sudden death.  Michaels won with a super kick.

Bret took an eight month break and weighed his options to re-sign with the WWF or to latch on to fast-rising rival promotion WCW.  He eventually decided to sign with WWF.  He would feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin for almost a year.  As Austin went from heel to face, and Hart went from face to heel, the title was passed around.  Hart would berate American fans and reunited with Owen, Neidhart and Davey Boy Smith forming a heel Hart Foundation stable which feuded with The Nation of Domination for a few months.  Hart caught plenty of legit heat when he referred to Michaels and Triple H as ‘homos’.

The infamous “Montreal Screw Job” took place with Bret thinking he would beat Shawn Michaels and retire the title the next night on Raw.  McMahon, who signed Hart to a 20-year contract just one year earlier, asked Hart to renegotiate with WCW because the WWF could not afford to honor the big dollar contract Hart had signed.  Michaels put Hart in a Sharpshooter and Earl Hebner, the ref, immediately called for the bell, saying that Hart submitted.  Hebner later revealed that McMahon instructed him to handle the match that way.  Hart went nuts as he spit in McMahon’s face, destroyed television equipment, and punched McMahon backstage.  Michaels, when confronted, told Bret he knew nothing about it, but later revealed that he knew a whole day before what was going to happen that night in Montreal.

Hart went to WCW in 1997.  He strated out a hot commodity there, but would fade into mediocrity.  In my opinion, Hart was never promoted the way he should have been with the exception of his WCW arrival.  There were just too many big names with bigger egos in WCW, the eventual demise of that promotion.

In 1999, Owen Hart tragically died when he fell practicing a descent to the ring via cables and harnesses.  Bret took some time off from wrestling to be with his family during the tough and tragic time.  He held a few championships while in WCW, but eventually tired of the travel and wear of his body.  Hart retired from pro wrestling in 2000.

Hart was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.  He thanked everyone, even McMahon, but later said he was uncomfortable in the company of his former employer.

Hart suffered a stroke in 2002 when he hit a pothole while riding his bike and landed on his head.  He has since recovered and only suffers from occasional emotional trauma, common in stroke victims.  He is currently inactive with wrestling and says his life is ‘in a good place’.

Things do not look very promising for a 2010 Mahoning Valley Thunder season.  All office positions were laid off this past week and the word I have received is that the only way the Youngstown-based AF2 franchise will return is if they are sold.

I started questioning the future before the last game when I saw a 50% off of all Thunder merchandise.  I was told by everyone I asked that the 50% off merchandise was standard for the last home game every year since the team started.  Having attended last years final game, I distinctly remember only certain items being 50% off, whereas other items were either discounted less or even full price.  Foam fingers do not deteriorate in the offseason.

The ownership trio comprised of Dr. Michael Slyk, Tim Chesney, and Dr. Jon Saadey have yet to come forward and officially announce whether or not the team will be back or not.  These three guys are respectable Youngstown-area businessmen who were passionate about their product.  The product lacked several things over the past couple of seasons including two key ingredients – wins and profit.

The lack of wins were accounted to several factors including injuries, poor coaching, and the lack of one quarterback to lead the team.  Look at a successful program like Wilkes-Barre in AF2.  Ryan Vena has been there, they have chemistry without shuttling guys on and off the roster hoping to strike lightning in a bottle.  The combination of Chris MacKeown and Tom Zetts could work over time.  Mad respect for MacKeown, I never met a coach who was so hell-bent on winning.  Zetts is wrapped up in his real-life world of teaching and coaching to consider making AF2 money, and I can’t blame him.

The pay structure of AF2 is pretty bad.  A player can make $250 if their team wins or $200 if they lose.  No PERS, no cable at the apartment, and no cell phone allowance.  Don’t blame Thunder ownership, it’s not their scale, it is the league’s.

The lack of a profit can be attributed to a few obvious factors.  Winning creates a better opportunity to draw more fans.  I always felt that the early Thunder teams, which featured a local player or two, would draw you 1,000 more fans a game.  Mike Stanec, former Thunder linbacker and YSU alum,  had friends and family at every game that first season, I sat near them once.  Tom Zetts brought in at least 1,000 fans to the last game who probably would not have shown up had he not been suited up.  Coach MacKeown and I had the talk about local talent versus trying to win as to what would draw fans.  He seemed to think winning would be the better cure.  I think its an infusion of both.  Hell, let’s face it, I could have kicked better than Derek Shorejs did this season.  Why not sign a local kicker like Brian Palmer at the beginning of the season?

The other factor I thought that killed the Thunder was parking and concessions.  Granted, the Covelli Centre had the contract drawn up and management knew their hands were tied on promotions.  People paying $6 for a beer and $10 to park does not cut it.  A Scrappers Thursday game takes the same $16 and parks four cars and buys six beers.  Do the math.  It is not financially sound to have a sports team play at the Covelli Centre if they will not bend on parking and concessions.  I am curious to see if the Youngstown Phantoms will have the same problems with the “pricey” costs involved.

I’m not sure if, but rather when, the ownership group will announce the end of arena football in Youngstown.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers stayed hot with a 2-1 victory over the Tri-City ValleyCats giving then a sweep and running their win streak to eight in a row.  The pitching during the win streak has been unbelievable, despite an offense that has scored two runs for a few of those wins.  The Scrappers have yet to lose a day game this season.

In the top of the second, Kyle Bellows put the Scrappers on the board with a home run, his second in as many days.  Bellows’ sixth bomb this season gave the Scrappers a 1-0 lead.  This is the third game that the Scrappers have gone yard, best streak in that department this season.

The ValleyCats responded with a run in the bottom of the second.  In the top of the third, Kyle Smith hit a one out triple and later scored on a Greg Folgia RBI-single, increasing the lead to 2-1. 

The Mahoning Valley pitching staff took the one run lead and preserved it over the next seven innings to complete the sweep on the road.

Clayton Cook started and went 5 1/3 for the Scrappers.  Cook struck out 4, walked two and surrendered the lone ValleyCat run in the second.  Cook improved to 3-2 for the season with the victory.  Nick Kirk pitched the next three innings and turned in a stellar performance.  Guido Fonseca bailed Kirk out in the ninth.  Fonseca came in with runners on the corners and one out and got the final two outs to earn his second save of 2009. 

The Scrappers bus next heads to Vermont to battle the Lake Monsters.  Brett Brach will try to keep the Scrappers win streak going.  Game time is at 7:05 on Friday and you can hear the action on AM-1390 with Marc Means.

Poor fans.  You so have my sympathy.  If I were a lawyer, you would also have my business card to sue the Pirates for what they did this season, well, since 1992.

Here are some stories from other great sites:

• Steady Burn found a lawsuit a mother won when she sued the little league baseball people for not teaching her son to slide properly.  She raked about $125K.
• Motown String Music presents the Charlie Villanueva hairless wonder contest.
• That NBA Lottery Pick reports that the Memphis Grizzlies will use EA Sports NBA 2010 as their new scouting tool.
• The Friedly Blogfines has the comparisons of Cub Starter Randy Wells in the NL ROY competition as well as who else is going to be considered.
• NESW Sports has a video to prove that Lebron James has learned his lesson.  No more soft dunks for everyone.
• My Sports Rumors has the NFL power rankings – training camp edition.
• Babes Love Baseball finds the Seattle Mariners all pumped up because Adrian Beltre is back!
• Tony Blogs says that the traditional “side view” can make a comeback in Madden 2010.
• Steady Burn has video of Delonte West’s new KFC rap, shot in a KFC parking lot.
• Chicago’s MMA has a list of athletes that could be good MMA fighters.
• Outside The Boxscore asks :”Does anyone want Michael Vick?”
• Major League Jerk wants to know why the Mariners are trading for Pirates.
• Moon Dog Sports has a “Chris Mortenson goes to camp” fail piece. 
• Sharapova’s Thigh rates the Top 40 wide receivers for all of you fantasy football gurus.
• Fansided ran a poll to many bloggers called what twelve famous people would you have at your last supper?  which I participated in.  My #1 guest is Karen Carpenter so there would be more food for me and the other 11 guests.
• The World of Isaac posted a great picture of Eli Manning – drunk.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers had a perfect homestand adding four wins to their season total.  The Scrappers again defeated Auburn on Monday night, 4-1.  Preston Guilmet had yet another good start for Mahoning Valley.  Jason Kipnis, the #2 draft pick of the Cleveland Indians made his professional debut with the Scrappers.

Ryan Schimpf led off the game with a homer to right to put Auburn on top 1-0.  The next twenty-seven outs would yield nothing on the scoreboard for the Doubledays.  Preston Guilmet picked up his third win (3-0) against Auburn this season.  Guido Fonseca pitched two scoreless and Cory Burns pitched the last two to remain perfect in save opportunities this season converting all six of his chances.

Trailing 1-0, the Scrappers did not wait too long to rally as Jason Kipnis, in his first professional at-bat, singled home Jordan Henry.  Henry singled and stole second (photo above, courtesy of Nick Mays) before scoring on Kipnis’ first hit.  Kipnis then scored after he stole second on a Greg Folgia RBI double to put the Scrappers up 2-1.

Kipnis went back to work as he tripled in the third and scored on another Folgia hit to push the lead to 3-1.  Kipnis was pulled after he scored that run.  “It felt good to get into a game and contribute, I like it here, the players are all good people and I really like this coaching staff”, remarked Kipnis after the game.  If Kipnis keeps hitting that way, he may not return with the rest of the team for their next home game in a week.

The Scrappers start a six-game roadtrip in Troy, NY.  Tuesday’s game starts at 7:05 and can be heard on AM 1390 with Marc Means calling the action.

Marty Popham has to be close to leaving Youngstown and his Mahoning Valley Scrappers team for good reasons.  Going into the month of August, Popham is 3-1 with a 2.05 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched.  He has flirted with perfection and leads a pretty solid Scrapper staff loaded with potential.

Popham will be celebrating a birthday, his 22nd, on Tuesday.  The 235-pound rightie took a moment to grant me an interview which proved to me that he can handle success without losing his focus or acting bigger than the team.  He is a classy guy who always has a smile on his face whether he is charting pitches, running, or just talking with the fans.

Paneech:  Talk about the transition you are making from reliever to starter.

Popham:  Well, I had been a starter all throughout my high school and college career.  The first year going into professional baseball as a reliever was just about trying to get my feet wet at the profesional level.  Now I am starting again like I was in college where I had all of that success.

Paneech:  The day after you pitch, how much running do you do?

Popham:  The day after we pitch is usually our long distance day.  The strength and conditioning coach will change it up throughout the week just to keep our bodies guessing as to what type of running we will do.

Paneech:  After you are pulled out of a game, you disappear back to the locker room.  What is the postgame ritual?

Popham:  After the game when I come back to the locker room and I do twenty minutes on the bike, and then I’ll get some ice on my shoulder for about fifteen minutes.  I usually don’t get to watch the rest of the game because I have more work to do in the locker room and keep my body fresh.

Paneech:  Tell me when you realized you were good enough to do this.

Popham:  I guess it would have been when I was in college.  I went to a smaller school [Union] and had a lot of attention on me because I was having a lot of success at that level.  I never really thought about playing professional baseball until they started sending me letters, and after that I just kept working.  I worked my butt off, and it has paid off so far.

Paneech:  Talk about a host family and what it is like living with one.

Popham:  This is my third host family that I have been a part of.  Fortunately for me, I have paired up with some really good people.  My host family here, they are about fifteen minutes away, so we aren’t too close to the field but we are in Youngstown by Youngstown State University.  They treat me really nice.  They’ve got everything that you need, we got a pool and a hot tub, everything possible.  It’s just a blessing to be with such nice host parents.

Paneech:  Is it weird to be interviewed and have people solicit for autographs after games?

Popham:  It’s not weird at all.  I love it.  If I wasn’t being asked for an autograph or an interview, I wouldn’t be doing my job.  I’m here to compete, I’m here to put on a show for people and it’s a good feeling for people to want to know your name and for them to want to talk about you.

Paneech:  How did it feel to be named New York Penn League pitcher of the week?

Popham:  I really didn’t even know until the trainer told me a couple of days after.  It’s a good feeling.  It makes me feel like the work I have put in on the field and the work I have put in off of the field are paying off.  It’s getting me places where I want to go.

Paneech:  Talk about Coach Fryman and the direction he is taking this team.

Popham:  Fryman, he is a great coach, great guy on and off of the field.  He really listens to his players and tries to help everyone out and gives everyone equal opportunity to succeed on the field.  He’s a manager, he’s well respected for paying his dues in the Major Leagues.  He’s one of the better managers I can say I ever had.

One Word Answers

Paneech:  Favorite Meal                      Popham:  Breakfast

Paneech:  Favorite Music                    Popham:  Little of everything, Lil’ Wayne

Paneech:  Watching on TV                  Popham:  That 70’s Show

Paneech:  Video Games                      Popham:  Tiger Woods Golf

Paneech:  Favorite Athlete                 Popham:  Josh Beckett

Paneech:  Favorite Vegetable             Popham:  Celery

Paneech:  Closest Friend On Team    Popham:  Don’t have one favorite, like ’em all

Paneech:  Favorite Holiday                Popham:  Christmas

Paneech:  Favorite Area Restaurant    Popham:  BW3

Popham is enjoying his time in Youngstown.  He respects all of his coaches as well as fellow players.  He enjoys digging deep to make himself better and works hard to attain his success.  I look for Popham to rise through the organization, he is really proving himself as a worthy prospect.  The birthday he will celebrate Tuesday will definitely not be his last in a baseball uniform.

Dave Grohl has seen plenty in his days as a drummer for Nirvana and the frontman of the Foo Fighters.  Warren, Ohio paid tribute to Grohl by renaming Market Street Alley.  The new name is David Grohl Alley.  Grohl was born in Warren in 1969 at Trumbull Memorial Hospital, which was in perfect view from the Trumbull County Courthouse lawn, the setting for Saturday’s festivities. 

My path to meet Grohl was awkward and lucky at the same time.  I was in a small shed-like building interviewing one of the event coordinators, Jennifer Campbell of an organization called Main Street Warren.  Luckily for me it was too loud to capture her answers as bands were playing in a closed-off area.  Campbell led me into the building where we sat and discussed how Main Street Warren could pull off such a fete.  As I neared the end of a ten minute interview, the door opened and in came Grohl with his father, Jim, and his stepmother Renie Grohl.

Jim and Renie are still residents of the area.  Jim seemed unphased by the gathering of people and Renie was more concerned that her friends and family had refreshments.  Before anyone else got in, I was able to snap many good photos and catch a few quotes.  If shaking hands with an icon like Grohl doesn’t put chills up your spine, nothing will – you may not have a spine. 

Dave was cordial with everyone who approached him.  A group of the organizers children swarmed for autographs and Grohl responded by signing every single item handed to him.  He posed with young and old.  The thing that impressed me most about this guy was how much of a normal person he ended up coming across as.  He talked with the young fans about getting his start playing in clubs and not losing sight of his dreams.

The direct dialogue I had with Grohl was brief.  I shook his hand before I had to exit the building and thanked him for being as cool as it gets.  “No, thank you for being here to cover something that means so much to me”, Grohl replied.

“When I was a kid, I used to love to come here”, Grohl said about the big park atmosphere, “This is one of my favorite places in the world.”

About an hour later, Grohl came out to a nice response and played with a local band Love Turns Hate.  He sat at a second drum kit, and jammed with a band whose song he never heard before.  He then collaborated with the band to cover a Led Zeppelin classic, Rock & Roll.  He can still smack the skins pretty well.

A formal presentation followed with Grohl getting a key to the city and thanking many people.  “This means a lot to me.  I’m very, very proud to have this, and you guys”, Grohl remarked.  Grohl also talked about his roots to the Mahoning Valley and how his grandfather worked at Republic Steel. 

Dave Grohl then showed everyone why he desrved something like this ‘In His Honor’.  The acoustic guitar popped out and Grohl played a solo acoustic set comprised of “Times Like These”, “My Hero”, and “Everlong”.  He sounded great and had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand.

Grohl’s appearance in Warren was in question up until the eleventh hour.  He gets back every now and then to visit family, but has a ‘rockstar’ agenda.  The event would have went off with or without Grohl, although it would not have been nearly as special without him.

The Trumbull Art Gallery artists made the alley sharp.  To see all of the images and paintings everywhere was truly special.  Main Street Warren spokesperson Jennifer Campbell said the artwork in the alley will continue to evolve and update with Grohl’s career.  It is pretty laid out and a must-see for any Nirvana or Foo Fighter fan.  Special thanks to Jenn for allowing me such private access to an icon in a music industry in need of people like Dave Grohl.

Andrew McCutchen had the offensive game of his young major league career Saturday.  He hit three home runs, drove in six, and joined Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell as the only Pirates outfielders to hit three in a game.  Stargell accomplished the feat four times, Clemente did it twice, and McCutchen did it for the first time in just 57 games.

The Pirates won the game, beating the equally minor-league potential Washington Nationals, 11-6,  in a matchup of diluted teams.

What’s really impressive?  He doubled his homer total for the year coming in with just three.  There were plenty of people in Pittsburgh to witness the fete, 26,855 to be exact, 70% of the capacity of PNC Park.

What’s scary?  We now have to root for McCutchen to go into the tank for a few games so he doesn’t get traded.  Will someone who lives close to PNC Park please go there and cut the damn phone wires before they get the chance. 

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers continued to roll on their current homestand as they again outpitched the Batavia Muckdogs.  Clayton Cook was tonight’s Scrapper starter and turned in an impressive performance.  The Scrappers continue to struggle on offense, but remain solid on defense.

The Scrappers scored in the second inning.  Greg Folgia opened the inning with a double and would come around to score on a Casey Frawley RBI single.   Kyle Smith singled home Frawley in the eighth for the other Scrapper run.

Smith (pictured above) has been improving over the past three weeks with the bat and is starting to get comfortable at the plate, “I haven’t really made any changes.  I think it is more about the pitches that I am swinging at.  I’m really focused on swinging at strikes and making sure I get my pitch and not their pitch.”

Manager Travis Fryman feels blessed by the great defense Smith and Kyle Bellows are providing on the left side of the infield, “The left side of our defense has been really, really good this year.  Kyle Smith is a very mature and composed leader on the field at shortstop and Kyle Bellows is a converted shortstop and is learning third base and showing great potential over there at third.”

Clayton Cook looked good despite Fryman saying he didn’t have his best stuff.  Cook pitched six scoreless innings yielding just three hits and a walk.  He also ran his scoreless streak over the Muckdogs to 18 innings this season.  Antwoine Hubbard worked the seventh and eighth and Tyler Sturdevant pitched the ninth earning his second save of the season.

Mahoning Valley wished every day were a Saturday as they ran their 2009 record to 7-1 on that day of the week.  Game three of the four game homestand has Auburn coming to town to face the Scrappers.  First pitch is scheduled for 5:05.

The Cleveland Browns would like to put 2008 in their rear view mirror and lose sight of it as fast as they can.  In what can only be categorized as ignorant, Braylon Edwards showed up to Browns camp a day late and failed his physical.  Edwards was placed on the Browns Active/Non-Football Injury list.   Great leverage in a contract year would be to show up early and in shape.

Edwards, who led the entire NFL in drops last year with 17, has to be more of a leader.  If Cleveland is going to turn things around this season, everybody has to chip in and try a little harder.  With this being the first major story from Browns camp, it seems like another step backwards for a team trying to overcome the “underachiever” label they earned last season.

Edwards’ contract is done after this season.  He could be fined up to $17,000 for reporting a day late.  He also missed mandatory minicamp in June with an undisclosed injury.  The swirling rumor mill reported he hurt his ankle playing basketball.  Because he missed minicamp, Edwards was to report with the rookies a week earlier than everyone else on the active roster.  Instead, he showed up a day later than everyone else.

• Style Points added an interesting photo to their blog showing you where Braylon’s priorities lie these days, check it out by clicking on the link.