On the Brink of Underachievement

"That's the priority. S---, I'm betting $30 million on it. That's the priority. That's what I want.That's the reason why I play. I have fun, but that's my goal. ... I might have fun, I might joke a lot, but I'm serious about winning a championship."

Those words were spoken by Dwight Howard right after he chose the Houston Rockets last summer during free agency. The move was the highest scrutinized signing since LeBron James chose the Miami Heat in 2010. But with the signing came expectations, not only for Howard- but for the Rockets as a whole. And not just any expectations. 

Championship ones.

Last season saw the Rockets scrape by on the back of James Harden to make the playoffs as an eighth seed at 45-37. They were matched up against the West's top seed, the Oklahoma City Thunder. After going down 0-3, Houston managed to string together two wins in a row before succumbing to elimination in Game 6. While a disappointment, it was still a great result for a team thought of as an afterthought heading into the season...especially before the arrival of James Harden. The predominant thought afterwards was that they'd regroup and get better this season. Daryl Morey would work his magic and put his team in the best possible position to challenge in the uber-competitive West. 

A first round playoff exit was not what fans or anyone in the organization had in mind. It might have been cute and cuddly last year as a sort of "feel good" progressive step- but not this year. Now down to the Portland Trailblazers three games to one, it's a very real possibility.

Once Howard came along after a drama-filled courting process, basketball heads all over the country wondered how the signing changed the culture in Houston. Would they become legitimate challengers? Would Harden and Howard be able to coexist? Could they be one of the best duos in recent NBA history? 

The Rockets would bounce around the top third of the West all season, finishing fourth at 55-27, ten wins up from 2012-13. During one stretch, they beat the Heat, Spurs and Pacers in one week which caused people to wonder just how good this team could be. They cooled off eventually, battling the Portland Trailblazers for the home court advantage as the fourth seed.That had to be a huge coup, right? I mean the Rockets went 3-1 against the Blazers during the regular season. Surely, it was their time to make a move. 

I'm not saying Houston was in any way a shoe-in to win the West, or even a lock to be in the Western Conference Finals. But to not make it out of the first round would be a surefire way to underachieve for a team chalk full of lofty expectations.

Here Houston is, scrapping to stay alive to fight another day. They not only have to win three games in a row. "One game at a time" people say- and they are right. It just never had to be this way, though. Too many turnovers, missed free throws and late game gaffes have led to this moment. I don't want to take away from what Portland has accomplished, though. 

LaMarcus Aldridge was thought of as a match-up nightmare heading into this series- and he's been that and a bag of chips. Damian Lillard has given Houston's defense fits, weaving in and out at will, especially when Patrick Beverley is on the bench. He creates his own shots, as well as opportunities for others. Wesley Matthews and Nicholas Batum have shredded the Rockets from deep, and been crucial late in games. Hell, even Robin Lopez has been a factor on the boards and affected many an important possession during the series. 

If it wasn't bad enough, I stumbled upon this nugget of information: 

 courtesy of @ESPNStatsInfo

That's not out of thirty teams. It's out of sixteen. Pretty much, if the team gets into deep water...they're screwed. Yes, Troy Daniels did this:

But can they expect that every time? No. The veterans such as Harden and Parsons need to take control. I'd mention Howard, but late in these games with the way Portland shoots, Houston needs quick shots- not back-to-the-basket time-wasters. They need to be smarter and hold on to the ball (I'm looking at you, Jeremy Lin) and give themselves the best possible shot. Daniels is very good with his shot selection. Harden and Parsons can become suspect and rely on luck a lot of times, and at other times they shy away and pump fake then pass off. They need to be assertive and decisive. Patrick Beverley is actually very reliable, but late in games he simply hasn't had the ball in his hands.

Houston will need to fight for their lives tonight at home, a place that has been good to them all season. Yet in the postseason, it's a toss of the coin for playoff teams at home. While the Rockets would settle to win merely at all even by just one point, that should not be their goal. Every game in this series has been relatively close and decided in the waning minutes of  the fourth or overtime. A lopsided victory at home can restore faith in the team and confidence in the players and would provide quite a shot to the arm in dire need of it. 

If the Rockets don't get that much-needed shot, their season will flat-line and a ton of new questions will follow. Right now stand out most- can Houston win when they're backs are against the wall Wednesday night?

If they want any chance to live up to the preseason hype, they are going to have to. 

Like it? Love it? Hate it? Let me know @SeanNeutron.

Donald Sterling: Facepalm

Donald Sterling is rich. He’s crass. He’s old school. He’s into younger chicks. You can’t blame him for these things. It’s just what he is. There’s just one more thing that the man is. 

Racist. 

When you are young, parents and teachers ask you what you want to be when you grow up. An astronaut, a fireman, a doctor- those are accepted answers. “Backward-thinking bigoted racist” is not what anyone aspires to be. There are many factors that have led to Sterling’s way of thinking, but none of which make it acceptable at all, especially in 2014. This is a time where social media rules all, and it was never more evident than yesterday. It began with people reminding everyone about this 2009 ESPN piece on Sterling’s sketchy ways. 

Up until the last few years, Sterling's biggest crime was being one of the worst owners in sports. He was the head of a franchise that seemed cursed at times, drafting and whiffing on so many highly-rated lottery picks it became passe. The culture of losing cultivated bad attitudes by many a player, and then it changed. Blake Griffin was drafted in 2009, and Chris Paul made his way to the Clippers in  2011. Since then the team has been molded into a contender, and this year finished with the team's best record in its entire history. 

But Sterling hadn't changed- and that might have been his biggest crime of all.

The piece by Peter Keating is damning to say the least and an eye opener. If you knew anything about Sterling, this revelation was not very surprising. It's just the simple fact that he actually had this discussion with his girlfriend in 2014 was surprising.  It's not  even a quick quote, or one word- or anything that can be misconstrued. It's a nine minute and twenty-six second noose that goes in circles. Sterling says his girlfriend has every right to be around people of African-American ethnicity all day and all night. He brings up Instagram, causing her to reference Magic Johnson who she had taken a picture with. He tells her she can feed him -and in gentler words- sleep with him. She just can't take African American people with her to Clippers' games. 

It's not like Sterling is an owner in a league that is made up predominantly of black men. Oh wait- he is. 

What is infuriating is not only what he says, but how much conviction lies behind each and every nonsensical word. They go back and forth, with the problem apparently being his girlfriend's need to "broadcast" her association with people of color:

"It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?"

Forget the fact that Sterling is still married, separated from his wife for years, yet dating another female. Forget the fact that he is a ruthless and tactless real estate mogul who has been known to profile his tenants. Forget the fact that he had been known to berate and insult former Clippers guard Baron Davis during practices and games. His girlfriend's Instagram is the "end all/be all" of wrongdoing. It's even a far greater sin to him than adultery, or so he implies. 

Any time she begins to reason with Sterling, he simply huffs and puffs and tells her how her words are "painful", or how she  is a "born fighter". Sterling wants to play the victim here, but he's far from it. His argument is flimsier than balsa wood, yet he continues to try and make her feel guilty. 

Twitter exploded yesterday into a mix of scorn, disgust and shock. Magic Johnson was quick to respond, citing he and his wife would never attend a Clippers' game as long as Sterling owned the team, and noted that Sterling's comments are a black eye for the NBA. Cue Adam Silver, the league's brand-new commissioner. 

 

This is his first big test as head of the league. How will he respond to it? What will the penalty be for Sterling? He has already said Sterling will not attend Game 4 between the Clippers and Warriors, but also showed restraint in his next statement, courtesy of ESPN.com:

 

"All members of the NBA family should be afforded due process and a fair opportunity to present their side of any controversy," Silver said. "The core of the investigation is understanding whether the tape is authentic, interviewing Mr. Sterling and interviewing the woman as well and understanding the context in which it was recorded."

 

Yet even with the fair method, Silver admitted the process would move "extraordinarily quickly". And it must. The Clippers don't need this distraction in midst of their finest season, one which saw Blake Griffin grow by leaps and bounds behind the tutelage of head coach Doc Rivers and leadership of Chris Paul. 

Most importantly, society doesn't need it. The uproar to the recording has been powerful and swift, and if the public's opinion decided the penalty, Sterling would lose ownership in a heartbeat and be condemned to his own personal Corsica.

The difference between him and Napoleon? Napoleon was remembered for his days of glory even after his exile. The general public will try and forget Sterling ever existed, and for that I don't blame them. 

Like it? Love it? Hate it? Let me know @SeanNeutron.

Should, Will, and Might: A Wrestlemania 30 Preview

The finale. The show of shows. The grandest stage of them all. The "Super Bowl" of wrestling. Those are just a few terms for the piece of Americana that is known as Wrestlemania. It started almost thirty years ago in 1985 with Hulk Hogan and Mr. T, the event isn't just one night for a few hours. It's a week long extravaganza that people from all over the world come to see. You have the opportunity to interact with stars from the past (legends), present (current stars) and future (NXT). Wrestlemania just doesn't add a few bucks to Vince McMahon's wallet. It adds tens of millions of dollars o the city's economy, thus starting bidding wars similar to a small scale Olympics.

With all that being said, the card is usually packed to the gills to get the most buys. This year is different and intriguing, as the WWE's new online network (available on game consoles, tablets, phones and computers) makes the show available for the monthly price of $9.99. It is a definite steal to the usual $45 to $55 you would pay on cable. After the marquee portion of the card, this year's slate of matches takes a little looking into to find the substance and what to expect in terms of outcomes. I will look at what should happen, what will happen and what might happen based on rumors, etc.

Pre Show Tag Team Title Match: The Real Americans vs. Rybaxel vs. Los Matadores vs The Usos (c) 

What Should Happen: This should be a triple threat tag match ON THE MAIN CARD: The Real Americans, Rhodes Brothers and Usos. Los Matadors and Rybaxel shouldn't even be in this match. They add nothing in the ring with very generic moves and no connection to the audience outside their small, gimmicky "bull". The Real Americans should look strong here, as they - like the Rhodes- have put on incredible matches week in and week out. Regardless of the tension teased between the duo and Zeb Coulter, the RA's should remain a tight knit team after the Prime Time Players' recent break-up. If they do not win the straps, they should be teased as the lone challengers following Mania to keep the Usos busy.

What Will Happen: The Usos will go over to give the fans a feel good moment before the actual pay-per-view.

What Might Happen: The Real Americans will eat the pin and tease even more dissension, leading to a break-up. Cesaro gets booked strong while Swagger is sent into a directionless singles run leading to his eventual release in eight months.


Vickie Guerrero Divas Championship Invitational: AJ versus the field

What Should Happen: AJ Lee should be in a singles match versus Naomi that goes ten minutes on the mainstream stage and shows everyone that divas can wrestle and look good doing so. The added Vickie Guerrero Divas Championship Invitational title should be changed to "Divas Championship Clusterf***".

What Will Happen: The divas will wrestle for all of 7 minutes in a match where finishers begin almost immediately. One does an aerial move to a bunch on the outside, and Naomi does her ass-based offense on AJ for the win, failing to showcase the actual talent of the two stars.

What Might Happen: AJ loses in record time to Nikki Bella with a female attitude adjustment, because of her relationship with CM Punk and Bella's with John Cena.

The Shield versus Kane and the New Age Outlaws


What Should Happen: The Shield should win in convincing fashion, with all three made to look like stars in a 15 minute match against younger opponents. In a perfect world, they would face the Wyatt Family again in an absolute classic. But Bray Wyatt's showcase against Cena is too important for that to happen.

What Will Happen: The Shield will look dominant, being put over by the old guard. Gunn will gas out early, Road Dogg will do just enough to entertain the crowd and Kane will carry the load for his team. The match ironically won't do the Shield any justice by not being as long as it should, but the trio will end the night on the winning side.

What Might Happen: The Shield implode and either lose, or come dangerously close to doing so. They have it out and break up within the next few weeks, unraveling a very dynamic and intriguing stable the wrestling world has never seen before.

The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal:


What Should Happen: As mentioned above, the Rhodes brothers should be nowhere near this match, and switched out for Rybaxel. That being said, whoever wins this needs to look like a star and help propel them for bigger things. 30 men make this essentially a second Royal Rumble with a far lesser prize, so the field should be cut to twenty. Dolph Ziggler, Fandango, Cody Rhodes, the Miz, and Big E Langston could all benefit from a win here. Ziggler has been on a roll lately, so I believe he should "show off" and win the inaugural event. The remaining three open slots should be used on stars who can offer a little something different. Evan Bourne, anyone? Also, Big E should be excluded and defending the IC title against a heel midcarder.

What Will Happen:  Cody Rhodes will win and remind everyone why he is ready for the main event. He will eliminate Goldust and cause a rift between the two leading to a feud next month.

What Might Happen: Big Show might win in predictable fashion and eliminate all the other 29 superstars over the rope with the WMD, one by one.


The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar  

What Should Happen: I'd love to say Lesnar should break the streak and prove everyone wrong, as well as making the most of his very big paydays...but I can't. The streak is so transcendent that it shouldn't be broken- especially not for a part-timer. Undertaker should win the match in a physical classic with multiple F-5, chokeslam and Tombstone kickouts.

What Will Happen: The Undertaker will look more fragile than ever and it will be a 20 minute match with lots of rest spots for the deadman. Lesnar will grow frustrated and leave himself open to a Tombstone on the ringsteps for the 1-2-3.

What Might Happen: CM Punk interferes and causes Lesnar the match, building off last year's feud and his history with Heyman. But we can have pipe dreams, right?

John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt

What Should Happen: The Wyatts should be banned from ringside early to make this a true one-on-one matchup. The two should battle for 20 minutes with Wyatt kicking out of at least one Attitude Adjustment, while taking multiple Sister Abigail's to put away Cena for the statement win.

What Will Happen: The Wyatts will get banned, and Bray Wyatt will have to fend for himself. He'll be put over Cena, leading to bigger and better things for the young star.

What Might Happen: Cena wins with his terrible STF after taking multiple Wyatt finishers after 15 minutes.

Daniel Bryan vs. HHH

What Should Happen: Bryan should go over HHH in a long match. He should kickout of at least one pedigree and continue to play his underdog role. HHH should target an area on Bryan's body, weakening him for the title match. Bryan should win with his YES lock, causing HHH not to tap but to pass out.

What Will Happen: Bryan wins with his running knee after HHH throws the kitchen sink at him with help from Stephanie and/or Kane.

What Might Happen: HHH immediately pedigrees Bryan and enters the title match fresher than a daisy.

WWE WHC Match: Batista vs. Randy Orton (C) vs ???

What Should Happen: Bryan should be the third party, and cap off his quest for the title by pinning Randy Orton with a running knee. Batista should play a minor role due to his small gas tank and limited abilities. HHH should try and interfere to cause Bryan to lose, but should ultimately be unsuccessful.

What Will Happen: Daniel Bryan will win with a running knee on Batista following  Batista Bomb to Orton. Bryan will capitalize and pin the champ.

What Might Happen Part 1: HHH will beat Bryan and win the WWE WHC title to troll the IWC/WWE Universe.

What Might Happen Part 2: Bryan wins and celebrates. After the match, CM Punk attacks his former Ring of Honor foe and sets up a feud between the two internet darlings.


Like it? Love it? Hate it? Let me know @SeanNeutron

So the IWC Gets Its Way- Now What?

The IWC stands for a few things: international whale committee,  international watch collection and most relative to this article, the internet wrestling community. I discussed last week what the IWC contingency is made up of. The know-it-alls. The fantasy bookers. The woe is me, Vince McMahon -hate- wrestling "victims". Essentially- nothing can make them happy.

But every now and then, the stars align and the mainstream fans along with the IWC'ers are under one umbrella of happiness. They all get what they want. It's rare, but possible. Think when Edge beat John Cena in 2006 after cashing in the Money in the Bank. Or RVD later that same year at Extreme Rules against Cena. In 2011, Punk would beat Cena to solidify himself amongst the top tier of superstars at Money in the Bank. Notice a pattern here? Money in the Bank against Cena seems to work- but last year also showed it works with different pairs, too.

Most recently on the RAW after Wrestlemania 29, Dolph Ziggler cashed in his MITB contract against Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship in New Jersey amidst a raucous crowd. The energy was electric all night, and as ADR lay there "writhing" in pain, the crowd was seething for a Ziggler cash-in. When he came in, the place came "unglued" as announcer Michael Cole loves to say. That is how to do it, folks. All the right pieces come together to create a truly special moment. I still get goosebumps watching it.

But even when the events appeal to everyone, the honeymoon period quickly loses its luster. The star might lose the belt weeks after, causing the IWC to throw fits that "Cena always has the belt." Or Wrestler X doesn't deserve it. It's a delicate balance, trying to make everyone happy- which is pretty much impossible.

With less than a week to go until Wrestlemania 30 in New Orleans, the mainstream fans and IWC are headed for an impasse of sorts. Daniel Bryan, beloved by almost- if not all- fans will look to not win once but twice  in the same night. First against HHH, and potentially against Batista and Randy Orton. That is, if HHH doesn't decide to Pedigree Bryan 45 times and do the finger poke of doom to both Batista and Orton.

The feud between Bryan and HHH (with Stephanie adding a little flavor) along with Cena/Wyatt has been the best built one leading to a Mania card that leaves much to be desired. A lot of it stems from the perception the IWC has of HHH from years past, and how he "lucked" into his position of power by marrying the boss's daughter. The power couple not only addressed that situation, but expanded on it with a brilliant promo, feeding off each other. The cherry on top was a video package that portrays the "YES!" Movement as a flavor of the month- one that HHH will look to dispatch in quick fashion.

The other reason this feud is one of the best built for the thirtieth edition of Wrestlemania is the fact that it's gone on for a long time. Some may point to last Summer, when Bryan got his shot at the title. He beat Cena, and lost it to Orton right away, thanks in part to HHH and a Pedigree. But if you really want to trace it back to the beginning, go back to 2010. Bryan was an NXT rookie, on a one hour show that seemed more of a gimmick than what it is now: a farm system. Making it to WWE was the accomplishment many thought, but not to Bryan. He had bigger visions, but none of which could be attained right away. For years, Vince and WWE management dared Bryan to break out, when they thought it wasn't possible. Bryan was a "vanilla midget", as Kevin Nash once called Chris Benoit and others in WCW. Bryan was just a superb technical wrestler, but not thought of as a wizard on the mic.

And he still isn't. But his willingness to do whatever is asked is what makes him special. He  could have folded a while back and taken his ball and gone home. But he didn't. Bryan put up with an 18 second loss to Sheamus at Wrestlemania 28 in Miami. He carried Kane to a successful run as Team Hell No. And for the last 8 months or so he has been on the wrong end of the stick more often than not. But 'Mania looks to change things for the bearded one.

If it goes as thought, Bryan will finally wrap up his feud with HHH before winning the title in grand fashion later on. Some speculate Batista is still a realistic chance, but I would fear for the safety of everyone involved. With the reactions Bryan is getting, him as champion only make sense- storyline-wise  and business-wise.

"What happens next?"

So let's say Bryan wins the belt  and leaves everyone in New Orleans ecstatic and elated.  The IWC would have gotten what it wanted, as would the mainstream/casual fans. As HHH suggested, will they get sick of Bryan after a few weeks and "throw him out" per say? Will he just be a flavor of the month? All signs point to no, but still begs the question....

"What happens to Bryan after he reaches the top?"

The easiest answer is simple: he stays there. The fact that the title is now unified makes it less likely it would be hot-potatoed to a new wrestler soon after. That would make the WWE WHC lose some of its prestige, and would also make the journey of Bryan's feel that it yearned for more. Give him new wrestlers to feud with. If CM Punk ever comes back, revisit Ring of Honor history and the WWE could easily slide him in as a new villian. Have Bryan feud with Lesnar in the summer. Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt will be ripe later in 2014, and after their many battles- they have all proven to have great chemistry in the ring.

"How long should Bryan have it to make it seem like a successful reign?"

To that I say as long as he's over to this extent. If people are willing to shill out the big dollars to see him, why rip it away from him? They already did that before. There are plenty of avenues to take, like the ones mentioned above. Have him retain the belt, add to its prestige. The last few months have really seen Orton as a lame duck champion. Him retaining the belt at Mania is not even a glimmer in the eye of WWE fans. Which leads to my next question.

What is the biggest potential feud for Bryan?

Outside of Lesnar, Wyatt, Punk and Reigns....one would be a sort of twisted re-visitation. John Cena, but as a bad guy. Bryan has done the heel thing before, and in 2014 is at the top of his face game. There's just no way "the little engine that could" can be a bad guy- at least not for a while. Plenty of people doubt the chances that Cena would turn (mainly because of Make-A-Wish and merchandise) but the need to evolve one's character always provides for new ideas and storyline branches. So it's always a possibility.


These are just a few ideas of what could be in store for Bryan. But at some point, the IWC's run will fizzle out and they'll be frustrated about something or someone again. Not everyone can be pleased all the time, and wrestling fans are more fickle than almost anyone. But for now, let's enjoy the ride that culminates on Sunday at Wrestlemania.


Like it? Love it? Hate it? Let me know @SeanNeutron.

Handling the Future with Care

There is a small minority of wrestling fans who are known as "smart". Smart is in quotations because as right as they think they are in predicting what WWE will do (read: should do), more often than not they are wrong.

This demographic of fans typically are males above the age of eighteen, and cannot be swayed by pandering good guys. Yes, I'm looking at you, John Cena. No, this market of "smart" fans is fueled by pushing boundaries, provoking thought, creating new and fresh storylines with depth, twists and character development. In short, these fans put far too much thought into a fake sport- myself included.

The opposite of "smart" fans? Everyone else. (Read: parents, females and children). They watch it solely to be entertained and to get lost in a world where human beings are super heroes capable of amazing feats of strength. Good guys save the day, and bad guys are the worst. These families, females and children feed the machine. They are the people Vince McMahon goes after to sell the headbands, the foam fingers, t-shirts, hats, backpacks, action figures, lunch boxes- the list goes on. In an era known to most as the PG one, these non "smart" fans are who the product is aimed at. Not dorks who post on message boards about how Ring of Honor is real wrestling and WWE is too mainstream.

"Smart" fans had nothing to look forward to as of a few months ago. Rumors about the Wrestlemania 30 card were swirling about, with nothing locked in. That was, until the Royal Rumble when Batista "triumphantly" returned to claim the number one contendership to Randy Orton's WWE World Heavyweight championship. By triumphantly, I mean as rough a return as there is. Fans booed, jeered and voiced their displeasure in arenas, on Twitter and anywhere they could. Batista was waltzing in after all to promote his new film, Guardians of the Galaxy. He'd likely get the belt, have it for a month then toss it aside like table scraps to a pack of dogs. The eighteen to thirty year old male contingency would cry foul, as Daniel Bryan would get seemingly pushed down the card once again. Except this time the interests of the "smart" and non "smart" fans intersected. They all wanted to see Daniel Bryan in the main event for one reason: they liked him. Weird, huh? But as Bryan seemed to be the one glimmer to making the thirtieth edition of Wrestlemania memorable, more hope would sprout up soon after.

That hope would also come in the form of Roman Reigns' 2014 Royal Rumble run. He set a new record of eliminations with twelve, breaking a thirteen-year old record held by Kane. While he would ultimately succumb to Batista, his showing was a microcosm of what the future could be for the WWE. Along with his two comrades Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, the trio would night in and night out show why they were the best and brightest the 'E has to offer- as they had been for the better part of a year and a half. They've managed to turn the six-man tag match- a previously ho-hum affair- into an absolute art form. The "Hounds of Justice" had no leash. Management threw them out there to sink or swim, and they went balls-to-the-wall, earning the respect of not only the boys in the back, but the fans as well. Their collision with the newest stable (The Wyatts) at  Elimination Chamber will be remembered for years to come.

While back in December people had foreseen the three cracking and breaking up, the WWE knew they could get more mileage out of the young trio. Everything about them has been anything but cliche, in a business where cliche is the status quo. Stables aren't supposed to last this long in modern day wrestling, as fans are supposed to lose interest after a few months. New blood such as the Shield are not supposed to be dominant for long periods of time- especially over some of the biggest names in the business. The Undertaker, Ryback (when he was at his peak), the Rock, John Cena, CM Punk and a slew of others have fallen victim to the vicious attacks, punctuated with their trademark triple powerbomb.

Whether you despised them as bad guys at first, eventually there was nothing left to do but to slowly turn the Shield into faces (good guys). The reactions they had gotten ultimately forced the decision. On the opposite side of the spectrum, you have the previously mentioned Wyatt Family. The stable is led by Bray Wyatt, with Luke Harper and Erick Rowan as his two followers/henchmen. They were introduced with creepy vignettes. Promos that were out there, but in a good way. Not an Ultimate Warrior way. The best part? Wyatt (real name Windham Lawrence Rotunda) wrote his own promos. What sounded like it came from professional scripts or best-selling books was the product of a twenty-six year old "rookie". His Husky Harris run excluded.

Where the Shield was cool and badass and the big dogs of the yard, the Wyatts were cunning, crafting and just as vicious. Harper and Rowan would do the dirty work at first, but Wyatt hasn't been afraid to mix it up, and look good doing so. He worked briefly with Daniel Bryan, then moved on to a month long feud with the Shield and now has his sights set on John Cena. What better way to make a statement?

The latest collision Monday on RAW saw Harper give Cena all he had, and then some. Cena did a great job of making Harper look like his equal. The two had a match that was beyond physical, and ended when the lights went out right before Cena was about to hit his finisher. The lights came back on, and Cena was tied up in the ropes in the group's trademark lamb mask- an eerie visual etched into all fans minds instantly. This did so much in such a short amount of time. Sure, Cena can say he's scared and unsure of himself- but nothing makes him look more vulnerable than being at the mercy of Wyatt and his cronies.

This momentum should not be halted by a by-the-numbers Cena victory at 'Mania. Wyatt is so much more than just an Umaga, Khali, R-Truth or Mark Henry. He's not only physically imposing with his build and beard, but how intelligent his character comes across. The points he make are right, and the decisions he makes in the ring are calculated and not careless. The WWE has a chance to build a real star here, and a convincing win in New Orleans would most assuredly be a huge feather in Wyatt's cap.

The WWE already has proof pushing young talent can work with the Shield. They need to keep it up with Bray Wyatt and his family, not only because its beneficial in the short term, but because it is imperative for the long term.

My Two Sense: 

1. Really, Undertaker? - Monday saw the Deadman get the psychological advantage over challenger Brock Lesnar. Out came the smoke, the druids and the casket- things we have all seen before. Taker was no where to be found, before mysteriously appearing in the casket and laying the beatdown on Lesnar.

While some may have eaten it up, I found it wildly predictable. When it comes down to it, the Undertaker's age has never been so apparent. The only person who is less physically capable than him in the WWE is the almost-immobile Hulk Hogan. This limitation lends itself to a more realistic storyline.

Lesnar isn't the average challenger. He is big, he is quick and powerful. He's faced Taker before and beaten him in Hell in a Cell, for Heaven's sake. Why would he be so quick to be intimidated by Taker's tactics? The storyline's build has been mailed in, which is a shame. It's not like it requires a lot of creative thinking- just ingenuity. Have Lesnar show no fear, not just by his words but by action. Toss the druids aside. F-5 them. powerbomb them. Put them through a worked casket. Have Lesnar laugh in the face of Taker and his pseudo-Jedi mind tricks. Have him beat down Taker. Make Taker into the aging fighter he is. Don't just make Lesnar look like a challenger. Make him look like the man who WILL defeat Taker at the grandest show of them all. This doesn't mean Lesnar has to win- he just has to look like he can, while Undertaker has to look vulnerable.

The con to this is that it essentially puts Taker's fake "powers" on blast, and trashes his whole gimmick that he has spent over two decades building. But it's not 1990 anymore. It's 2014. We understand that Mark Calloway is getting older, and can't fly around the ring like he used to. Use it to your advantage, WWE. Also- make use of the two's confrontation back from Lesnar's UFC days. The fourth wall was shattered by CM Punk in 2011, while HHH works to keep it broken. Pull out all the stops, Vince.


2. We, the Tag Team Champs- While the Shield has perfected the six-man tag match, the Real Americans have proven they are one of the best, if not the best duos in the WWE. Cesaro only continues to build his brand, and Swagger has found his niche as a bruising and very capable teag team wrestler. The two gave Rollins and Ambrose a run for their money on RAW, and are even in the four-way tag title match at Mania. While the Usos could stand to keep the belts, the Real Americans have earned the right to be called champions.


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Harden Powers Rockets to Win Over Bobcats

When an NBA team sees a stretch of their schedule against teams with .500 records or worse, it can be easy to overlook them. Yet the 47-22 Rockets hadn't, winners of their past three and averaging 124 points in those contests. They had won them by an average of 23 points.

None of those wins included star center Dwight Howard. Howard was sidelined after a minor surgery to remove a cyst from his ankle.

The Rockets came into Charlotte Monday night, and the Bobcats punched them in the mouth, keeping the game within striking distance heading into the half only down 54-50. Howard was productive (10 points, 10 rebounds), if not his usual dominating self- thanks to Al Jefferson. Jefferson would end the game with a double-double of his own (20 points, 11 rebounds). Defensively he challenged Howard all night. Offensively was no different, crafting baskets in the post like the savvy veteran big man he is.

The game remained tight late into the third quarter. Houston trailed 66-65 at the 2:25 mark, until a fire was lit under them. They ended the quarter on a 13-2 run in large part to guard James Harden who would end the game with 31 points. He has scored at least 28 points in 4 out of the last 5 games. Included in those 31 points was a highlight reel dunk off an assist from Jordan Hamilton, giving Houston a 75-68 lead and all the momentum they needed heading into the fourth. Moments later, Harden would drill a three to give the Rockets a 10 point cushion going into the final stanza.

The fourth would once again play like the rest of the quarters early. Houston would remain up by only five points for most of the quarter, until a later spurt with 2:44 left. Harden would set the trend, as Chandler Parsons and Patrick Beverley would drill a pair of three's to ice the game and give Houston a fourth win in a row. Parsons had struggled a majority of the game, only having two points through three quarters. His two long-distance shots wouldn't come until the final minutes of the game.

 "Chandler made a really big transition 3 and Pat made a big 3 in the corner that kind of sealed the game," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said.

The win streak stayed in tact, but the assists one did not. Houston had at least 30 assists in three straight games, but 22 Monday night. This was far better than Charlotte's 12, due in large part to the reliance on only two players (Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker). While Charlotte had the advantage at the charity stripe (21 made to Houston's 10), they came up short beyond the arc (4-21).

Houston's 48th win only solidifies their rank as 4th in the West while the 5th seeded Blazers lost to the Heat. The 3 spot remains occupied by the Los Angeles Clippers, who beat the Bucks to crack 50 wins (50-21). The Clippers have been a thorn in the side of the Rockets all season; Clipp-tonite if you will. Houston has yet to beat them, as they are 0-3 versus LAC. Saturday's match-up in Houston has huge implications for the playoffs, but neither team should overlook what is in front of them.

Houston faces the Sixers on Thursday who are coming off twenty-five straight losses, most recently to the streaking Spurs who have won 14 in a row. The Clippers face the Pelicans on Wednesday, then the Mavericks on Thursday.

Monday's win over Charlotte was the first step to Howard getting his rhythm back, with Philly serving as a nice tune-up. The Sixers lack any inside presence, and Howard should use it as an opportunity to assert himself and remind everyone of the dominant center he can be. But Monday belonged to Harden.

Kevin McHale simply said, “James just took over.”

And that's what franchise players do when it matters.



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*quotes obtained from ESPN.com and NBA.com. 

Where's the Boom?

Last week on RAW, The Authority (HHH and Stephanie McMahon) officially announced that Daniel Bryan would face HHH at Wrestlemania 30. (I can't type XXX, it seems wrong.) This was expected for some time, wrapping up one of the longest-running feuds in the company's past eight months or so. But the cherry on top was Bryan demanding- and receiving- the stipulation that if he beat HHH, he would insert himself into the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match between Batista and Randy Orton. The "YES!" Movement now had all the leverage, a movement that started the interesting notion of a potential new boom in wrestling.

Back in the mid-1990's when HHH was just a young buck, the boom period was on the horizon. But it wasn't because of him. It happened to involve him, and he played his part as a dynamic, manipulative bad guy. It happened because it was a perfect storm of events. It wasn't just lighting in a bottle- it was a thunderstorm in a vault. You had HHH, the Undertaker, Mankind, The Rock and most importantly- Stone Cold Steve Austin. Austin was the driving force behind the wrestling renaissance, as his rebellious employee character put up against McMahon's power-hungry boss archetype propelled the Federation into an uncharted territory of success. His ways weren't particularly "goodie two shoes" or selfless. In fact, he was very self-serving and motivated by his own needs and wants. But fans despised McMahon's evil ways so much, Austin was made their wrestling savior. Everything they touched turned into gold.

But the question is not how did they do it- but why? The answer is simple: competition. Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling was in the midst of a historical run atop the ratings thanks  to Hogan's New World Order. Before they ran it into the ground with  incredibly watered-down versions, it was the edgiest thing ever done in professional wrestling. The fact that they dominated the then-WWF left a sour taste in the ultra-competitive McMahon's mouth. He, along with the rest of his company was hungrier than ever to outdo WCW. Even the small Philadelphia-based Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) offered a different style, as WWE would incorporate that to its product and buy the company outright eventually.

Another reason? It was a different era, not only in wrestling- but also in society. Not everything was skewed to please the politically correct crowd. In fact, nothing was. You had women walking around in underwear, storylines which implied violent and sexual acts, and a company playing like it had nothing to lose.There was no immediate backlash via social media like there would be today.

Austin's career would eventually be slowed down, but not due to Austin lacking any charisma, but an unfortunate string of neck injuries from a 1997 Owen Hart piledriver. One of the lasting things he would contribute as an active wrestler was the simple catchphrase of "WHAT?" It didn't just ask a question- it uncut and undermined any wrestler or character Austin was in a segment with. There is no comeback to it. A simple one-word inquiry caught on like wildfire, and the credit goes to fellow Attitude Era wrestler Christian. Or "CLB" (creepy little bastard) as the on-screen Austin liked to call him.T-shirts were churned out, chants were easy to start (while being very hard to stop) and it breathed life back into Austin 3:16. Even as a bad guy following Wrestlemania X-7, Austin's character could do no wrong. His reactions were once again off-the-charts.

Fast forward to 2014. Daniel Bryan's WWE run is at its peak, not only because of his full-tilt wrestling style, but also because of a word. It's not a question, but a declarative statement of optimism: YES! That one word caught on in a hurry, inspired by the UFC's Diego Sanchez. Sanchez would yell the word as he walked to the octagon, and Bryan followed suit. His heel character at the time was overzealous and very cynical, celebrating wins like he had won a gold medal in the Olympics. The word was chanted by the crowd, and inserted into matches win Bryan would begin kicks or punches to an opponent. The energy in buildings that was created by Bryan's abilities was very similar to that of Austin's heydays.

So why isn't WWE set for another boom period?

While impressive, Bryan's recent run at the title won't start one. The most unique thing about this feud between Bryan and the Authority is how long it has gone on. Summerslam saw him win the belt, only to lose it moments later to Randy Orton. There was no way at the time to guarantee a feud culminating at Wrestlemania in New Orleans, yet here we are. After a few start/stop pushes, Bryan is now in position to be the star of the show.

Feuds of that length are rare in today's wrestling scene, just as long-tenured stables are. Hello, Shield. Two of the last three feuds that were memorable and long- while not dragging on- involved Shawn Michaels. One was with Chris Jericho in 2008. Michaels was the star veteran and Jericho was re-invented. It progressed naturally with superb matches and edge-of-your-seat segments, blowing off in a ladder match at 2008's No Mercy. The two's history together only made it that much better.

The other involved HBK's quest to defeat the Undertaker in 2009 and 2010. He wanted the challenge, and the two had been squaring off since the mid-1990's, even in the very first "Hell-In-A-Cell" match. The history was there, the motivations were there and the stage was as big as it gets in wrestling, ending in Michaels' last match at Wrestlemania 26 in Arizona. 

The final piece to that triumvirate of feuds was CM Punk and John Cena in 2011. Punk had come off his role as Nexus leader, and was fed up and tired of his current role as second fiddle to the main event stars. He spoke his mind, then entered into a personal feud with Cena. He represented change, and something new and fresh. While Cena represented the dynasty. The two would battle in the summer of 2011, during which Punk would win the WWE title and run off into the night. The feud wouldn't have the satisfying ending it should have, but it reached deeper to connect with the fanbase than any in recent memory. Now in 2014, Punk is still not happy- for different reasons, and has fled indefinitely.

But if wrestling were to ever take off again, these kind of personal feuds would need to be more prevalent, and not just once a year. The mid-card (less featured) stars would have to develop programs with more depth as well. Divas- yes, divas- would need real reasons to fight each other and not just because one has a belt or another called them a really mean name. Grow personalities, intertwine them, give them motivations- and watch the results.

If there is any hope of this happening in future years, it's in WWE's developmental program located in Florida- NXT. Once thought of as a new gimmick hour-long show in 2010, it has evolved into a feeder/minor league of sorts for the company. Young stars are groomed there, and ones who have name-recognition on the independent scene are taught the WWE style, too. They might have a following on the indy circuit, but it has to translate to massive crowds giving them a reaction as well.

Antonio Cesaro (formerly Claudio Castognoli), Seth Rollins (Tyler Black) and Dean Ambrose (John Moxley) are perfect examples of the new program developing indy talent well. Big E Langston and Roman Reigns are original NXT products who have benefited very well. Even the divas show promise, as Emma, Page and Summer Rae all wrestle lengthy contests while giving fans a reason to care- something not done on RAW or Smackdown for the females.

There's another elephant in the room to this boom argument: TNA. Yes, that is an actual name of a wrestling company. Total Nonstop Action. There is not one world in that phrase that lets the reader know it has anything to do with wrestling, which is only the first of many problems for them. The other would be that an almost twelve-year old company sounds the terms for a female's body. It only is hurt by the fact the company struggled to turn a dollar and increase ratings, and has no idea how to break into the mainstream. Which is only more problematic not just for them, but WWE and wrestling in general.

Just like wrestlers needs a crowd to feed off of, WWE needs that competition to motivate them as well. Vince does not even ackowledge TNA on television, and why would he? They aren't even a blip on his radar. There is no war between the two like WWF and WCW had. Stars aren't being poached back and forth. The only time the two cross paths in headlines is when they say "Former WWE Star Signs With TNA". Give them the belt for a month or two, then cast them aside until the next ex-WWE'er arrives. Or when all else fails, put the belt on Sting. Even if WWE were to buy the fledgling and very distant second fiddle, not much would change. The fact that there is no third wheel (as there was with ECW in the '90's) only makes WWE that much more of a monopoly.

Wrestlemania 30 is slated to see Bryan wrestle at least once, and likely even twice in the main event- thanks to the absence of CM Punk. His "YES!" Movement hasn't just sold merchandise and appeased the internet wrestling community. It's also caused WWE to pull a rare audible while injecting new life into a title picture that formerly looked more bleak than ever. Batista's return did not turn out at all like the suits had hoped, and Randy Orton as champion is....well it's Randy Orton as champion. The fans will be looking for that feel-good moment, and Batista/Orton wouldn't have produced one. It would have been more like Goldberg/Lesnar in 2004 at Wrestlemania XX.

While the WWE Universe may be looking at a memorable moment in New Orleans thanks to Daniel Bryan, just don't look for an instant boom. There is no boom on the immediate horizon, but there is hope if WWE can give fans a reason to care. Not just about the main events, but the rest of the cards as well. 



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