Smackdown Results From Hershey, PA: **Contains Spoilers**

Don't read below if you do not want to know what happens this Friday night!

Mick Foley, a guest on “The Cutting Edge” gets put through a table for his troubles after rejecting Edge’s request for help in his “Hell in the Cell” SummerSlam match versus The Undertaker. So what does this mean exactly? A Foley-Edge feud after SS? Foley as special ref in the "HITC" match? What gives? Why would they need to spice up that match anyway? This is probably just an annual Foley itch to wrestle.

Results from the rest of the show…

Funaki beats Nic "The Natural" Nemeth in the dark match.

MVP defeated Jimmy Wang Yang.

Mr. Kennedy over Shelton Benjamin in a non-title match. (I bet this is a good one!)

Brian Kendrick beat Stevie Richards.

The Great Khali defeated Jeff Hardy after MVP distracted Hardy.

Maria beat Victoria in her Smackdown debut. (Victoria is losing to Maria now? Way to bury one of the few talented female wrestlers W.W.E.)

Big Show crushed Domino - after the match Umaga comes out to the ring and has a staredown with Big Show.

Zak Starkey Out Of Oasis

The guy who used to have the two best part-time jobs in the world, Zak Starkey, is out of one of those gigs. Oasis has apparently dropped Zak from the band after some dustups between Zak and Noel Gallagher. Now, though, it looks like there are problems already with the new drummer, Chris Sharrock. Zak's other pt job is as The Who's drummer. Click here for more.

Monday Night Raw From Washington, D.C.

The General Manager of Monday Night Raw: Mike Adamle. I’m going to let that sit for a moment or two. No, I still don’t get it. Literally, anyone, anyone, from the back coming down the ramp and taking over the role as new G.M. would have been better than this. It can’t be. Just when I thought Raw was going in the right direction, W.W.E. blows it. Like my old friend Gorilla Monsoon would have said, “What a miscarriage of justice!”

The rest of the show wasn’t bad though, especially, the very stiff match between World Champ CM Punk and William Regal. I really like Regal's wrestling style. I wonder if Punk really did have his nose broken during the match. I also liked Kofi Kingston beating Jamie Noble in a pretty solid match. Kingston gets better every time out.

The W.W.E. has done absolutely nothing to build up tag team champs, Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase! Beating Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole? Huh? By the way, “Hardcore” Holly has, I suppose, just accepted that his former tag team partner turned on him for no apparent reason.

Chris Jericho is starting to hit his stride. I would love to see him take on Punk at SummerSlam, but I know it will probably be JBL-Punk and that match may turn out to be a triple-threat with Kane.

I would have been more pumped about the Cena-Batista SummerSlam announcement but I was still bummed about Mike Adamle. Here's hoping that John Cena and Dave Batista will give each other one of the best matches of their careers at SS.

Another week, another bizarre kissy-face moment between Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix.

I’m assuming that Katie Lea Burchill will beat Mickie James for the title at some point or they are lengthening this feud until Candice Michelle returns.

Dream Match: Rob Van Dam vs. CM Punk

I got to see One Night Stand 2006 on WWE 24/7 recently. I watched the match in which Rob Van Dam beat John Cena for the W.W.E. Title two times so far! It was a great match and a great moment! I actually feared for John Cena's life, because as the sign said "If Cena Wins We Riot." I also give Cena a lot of credit for going into the stands and brawling with RVD at the Hammerstein Ballroom during the bout.

But then I began thinking of how much of a shame it is that RVD (pictured) is on hiatus from wrestling. I also hope RVD's wife gets better; someone that genuinely seems like a nice person.

But when most importantly his wife recovers God willing and RVD recharges his batteries, wouldn't it be great to see him come back and take on CM Punk. I suppose it may seem selfish of me, but I would love to see these two in the ring at least once!

The battle of two "Money in the Bank" match winners going head to head! Both have similar styles in my estimation, although RVD does the more "extreme" moves.

In my opinion, this potential match has "Dave Meltzer Five Stars" written all over it!

Vince are you reading?

Pete Townshend Speaks On: Feud With Roger, VH1 Rock Honors, Eddie Vedder

He's one of the better interviews in rock and really in all of entertainment for that matter because he never gives canned remarks. Pete Townshend may say things tongue-in-cheek that get the usual tightasses of the world even more uptight (Prozac is strongly recommended for those folks), but he always has something interesting to say. This link is from Rolling Stone in which Pete talks about the VH1 Rock Honors Show, Eddie Vedder and some other items.

He also wrote recently the following in regards to his alleged dustup with bandmate Roger Daltrey:

"The delicious gossip from (blogger) Perez (Hilton) is that Perce (Daltrey) and I have separate dressing rooms. That may be true but we chat about the show in the steam room and whip each other with birch twigs."

Canned comments? I think not!

N.F.L. Training Camps Open

There's nothing better I like to hear on the news than that players are reporting to their respective N.F.L. teams' training camp! What does that mean to me? It means that soon the humid air will leave us and in will come the fresh cool air of fall; the baseball playoffs; the NHL season; and the National Football League getting underway.

Ah, better than a bowl of Prozac!

Martha Wainwright B.M.F.A.

I love this song! I could care less about Grey's Anatomy or whoever the f*** Meredith is or any other insipid t.v. show that falls into the perpetually feckless category. But it's the only non-live version of the song I can find on YouTube. I have more to say but I'll invoke "rule 55" from Rob's Adams' "How to Blog" handbook and post a video instead!

SummerSlam - Triple H-The Great Khali Reasoning

According to this article here, the W.W.E. is the second most watched "sport" in India behind only when India plays archrival Pakistan in soccer (or futbol as they say in the trade or if you happen to be by yourself).

That lends further credence to why the W.W.E. would put Khali in a bout for the W.W.E. Championship at SummerSlam. I think also that having Edge-Undertaker in a "Hell in the Cell" match sells the show, plus if they have John Cena vs. Batista, that also helps to sell the pay-per-view. I guess they figure having a Triple H throwaway match with the gigantic, albeit uncoordinated Khali coupled with some great matches makes the timing right.

But that won't make the match any better!

THREE COUNTS
I'm trying to figure what direction they'll go with CM Punk at SummerSlam. If they have Cena-Batista, does that mean they'll have CM Punk put the World Championship on the line vs. JBL? So what happens with Kane? Perhaps they go with Kane-Batista and do another - excuse me while I hold my nose - Cena-JBL match.

If I had to make a bet, I'm going to say that it will be Punk-JBL-Cena for the title and then Batista-Kane. They will probably hold out on Cena-Batista until Wrestlemania and only tease us along the way.

What's More Annoying?

The "five dollar footlong" Subway commercials - whatever happened to the good old days with Joe Torre and Willie Randolph - or the annoying Asian fellow in the Six Flags' commercials?

One flag! SIX FLAGS!

ANNOYING!

Martha Wainwright "You Cheated Me"

Martha Wainwright recently released "You Cheated Me" off of her sophomore album, I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too. The video is here.

Martha Wainwright "This Life" Lyrics

I really liked the way Martha Wainwright did the song "This Life" the other night at the Highline Ballroom, which is off of her self-titled debut album. No video for it at the moment, but here are the lyrics:

This
This life is boring
This
This life right now is snoring
But that's all right
That's okay
It's still worth living

When it is not
I got the gun for my head
And I want to break free instead
But I could never pull the trigger
I get too scared
So I stand up instead
I go wild

Oh, there's a song, there's a song, there's a song, there's a song, there's a song,
There's a song
It's in my head
There's a song, there's a song
A little country song
That's in my head

Dear, dear man
Be nice to your girl
She knows that you could
Live without her

And so she cries in your arms
Every night
Til you walk out the door
She goes wild

Oh, there's a song, there's a song, there's a song, there's a song, there's a song,
There's a song
It's in my head
There's a song, there's a song
A little country song
It's in my head

"On a parti, six ans de mer
Sans pouvoir border la terre
Au bout de la septieme annee
On a manque de provisions"

{On stormy seas, we six years sailed
And never once green land we hailed
The bitter seventh year came on
We found our stores at last were gone}

Oh, it's in my head
It's in my head
It's in my head
It's in my head
It's in my head
It's in my head
It's in my head
It's in my head
It's in my head
It's in my head
It's in my head
It's in my head

This
This life is boring
This
This life right now is snoring

Martha Wainwright At The Highline Ballroom

Martha Wainwright knocked the ball out of the park with her performance Wednesday night at the Highline Ballroom in New York City. It was especially cool to see her mother, Kate McGarrigle, and her brother, Rufus, join her for a few songs. I really enjoy both of Martha's CDs, but after seeing Martha perform live, her songs take on a whole new meaning for me.

Here's what Martha played:

SETLIST
“I Wish I Were”
“Bleeding All Over You”
“Comin’ Tonight”
“Jesus and Mary”
“Hearts Club Band”
“When The Day Is Short”
“So Many Friends”
“Far Away”
“This Life”
“Tower Song”
“Jimi”
“Factory”
“You Cheated Me”
“G.P.T.”
“Dis Quand Reviendras Tu”

Encore 1
“Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole”
“See Emily Play”
“Don’t Forget” (with Rufus Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle)

Encore 2
“Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin’ All The Time)”

Happy Birthday Mick Jagger!

My second and final birthday wish goes out to Mick Jagger - 65-years-old today! Keep on rocking Mick!

Some of the first songs that I remember hearing when I was a kid were by the Rolling Stones (pictured, with Mick obviously second from the right), such as "Time Is on My Side," "19th Nervous Breakdown" and "Ruby Tuesday."

Happy Birthday Rachel Fuller!

My first happy birthday of the day - OK I'm doing my best to carry on the great Phil Rizzuto tradition - goes out to Rachel Fuller (35-years-old yesterday). Rachel (performing above with Pete Townshend) is working on an album this week, in what I think is a pretty cool project called Kew.

Click this to know more.

SummerSlam 2008 **Contains Spoilers**

Smackdown was taped last night and so a couple of items below occurred at that taping which airs this Friday night. So if you don’t want any spoilers, don’t read…

Apparently, Vickie Guerrero accepted an apology from Edge for his "cheating ways" and decided to do something to him. What would that be? Oh, how about a “Hell in the Cell” match at SummerSlam next month against the reinstated Undertaker?

Yes, that is what will be taking place to culminate this feud! So that’s something I am really looking forward to, where both wrestlers will hopefully have their best match of ‘em all! Two of the best workers in the business in what will no doubt be a fabled, albeit very violent match! Can't wait!

Now, before we move on, last night Matt Hardy won a four-way match on ECW to get a shot at Mark Henry’s ECW Championship (I don’t like the new silver one by the way). Eh, I’m going to hope that this means that Hardy will get the belt so we can have better matches for that championship. I mean who wouldn’t want to see Hardy-Evan Bourne or Hardy-John Morrison. Mark Henry limits things because of his massive size.

Now, we get to W.W.E. Champ Triple H. The Great Khali won a mini-battle royale at last night's taping to earn the right to face Hunter for the title at SummerSlam. Forgive me, but what is the fascination with Khali? Of all the talented guys on the Smackdown roster, why would Khali get a title shot at a pay-per-view, and one that is considered one of the four majors?

Why? Why? Why?

ESPN Fawns Over Boston, Again!

Let me preface all of this by saying that the ESPY’s really are a joke. They’re to be taken about as seriously as a Brett Favre retirement announcement or rumors of a Led Zeppelin reunion. But, really, giving the Boston Celtics the “Outstanding Team of the Year” award doesn’t make sense. Sure, the Celtics won the NBA Championship, but why not give it to the New York Giants for doing what everyone said was impossible. Remember? Beating the big, bad, Tom Brady-led New England Patriots in the SuperBowl? Have we forgotten about all those folks that said it’s not if the Giants lose, but by how much or are we now participating in America’s other favorite pastime: rewriting history?

By the way, just wondering but does ESPN ever go a day without showing us Curt Schilling's bloody sock?

Just wonderin'.

Thank you.

King Tut Gets Into The Batcave

I’m fascinated by Google and am pretty sure that one day they will have their own planet. But recently they claimed that 13 hours of video every minute gets loaded onto YouTube; which Google bought for over $1 billion a couple of years ago.

I don’t know if that is an exaggeration or not, but when I found this gem on YouTube I was pretty taken aback. With all of the hype about the new Batman movie, it got me thinking about the old t.v. show. One of my favorite episodes was when "King Tut" got into the Batcave. I even recall mentioning it to someone a few years ago and they had no idea of the episode or even the "King Tut" character. Now, though, I have proof!

The late Victor Buono played the role of “King Tut.”

To check out this YouTube classic, click here.

Now, to make this a real party I'm going to have to find the old "King Tut" song, which I remember listening to on my oldest brother's 8-track player!

"Bunco Busters" or "If Woody had gone right to the police"

I knew one day this classic cartoon would end up on the Internet. Courtesy of Daily Motion comes “Bunco Busters” or as many people know it, “if Woody had gone right to the police none of this would have ever happened.”

Click here and enjoy!

The Sandman In Yonkers Brawl/Monday Night Raw From Mohegan Sun

I haven’t met many wrestlers, however, back in 1995 I met The Sandman. I along with a friend went to E.C.W. in Middletown, NY. I recall going up to the bar to get a couple of drinks when sitting at the bar nursing a beer, smoking a cigarette, holding his Singapore cane, and with his E.C.W. World Title on his shoulder was The Sandman. That night was more memorable for me though because Steve Austin made his debut with E.C.W. after having been fired by W.C.W. and Eric Bischoff via FedEx.

I guess I should be thankful that a brawl didn’t break out like this one in Yonkers Sunday night in which allegedly Sandman was hurling glasses at people and cops!

W.W.E released Sandman in September after an incident with backstage worker, Ricky Steamboat.

As far as Monday Night Raw goes, I only saw the second hour which was OK.

The JBL-Cena thing is overdone and throwing Cryme Tyme and Cody Rhodes/Ted DiBiase into the mix does little to elevate the feud.

Individually, I like CM Punk and Batista, but there is some kind of spark missing from that storyline.

Beth Phoenix and Santino Marella kissing = Funny and a bit creepy.

I’m looking forward to at the very least seeing Evan Bourne do his shooting star press move tonight on E.C.W.

Great American Bash From Nassau Coliseum Results

I didn't see the show, so if anyone out there did and has thoughts please don't hesitate to pass them along.

WWE Champion Triple H def. Edge.

JBL def. John Cena in a NYC Parking Lot Brawl.

World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk vs. Batista (Double-disqualification).

Michelle McCool def. Natalya to win Smackdown Championship.

ECW Champion Mark Henry def. Tommy Dreamer due to Colin Delaney turning on Dreamer.

Chris Jericho def. Shawn Michaels (match was stopped due to Michaels' eye injury).

Shelton Benjamin def. Matt Hardy for United States Championship.

"Edgeheads" Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder win Fatal Four Way Tag Team Match to become new WWE Tag Team Champions.

The Who Rocks VH1

VH1 did a very nice job last night with their VH1 Honors The Who show. I liked the way they mixed up the commentary from musicians and actors with the performances of the Foo Fighters, Incubus, Flaming Lips and Pearl Jam. Tenacious D and Adam Sandler also were very good – especially Sandler! Sprinkled in with all of it were interviews with The Who and their associates talking about the band and their music. Some of the clips were taken from rockumentary Amazing Journey, however, I would say the majority was fresh stuff.

The Who predictably knocked the ball out of the park with their usual classics and then closing with the tune "Tea and Theatre" from Endless Wire (2006).

A couple of other quick ones (pun intended): Check out my top 20 songs by The Who by clicking (20-11) and (10-1). Also, find out why there are 100 million reasons why Pete and Roger will put aside their differences for the upcoming U.S. Tour by clicking here.

Now, this report is according to an “unnamed source” that spoke with the New York Post. Hmmm….Kind of reminds me of how in 1996 the Post reported the trade of Wayne Gretzky from the L.A. Kings to the New York Rangers was imminent and that Gretz was shopping in Rye for a home. Hmmm…I was so excited I think I stayed up all night watching the ESPN crawl and listening to WFAN to hear when the deal would be finalized. It never came. Another New York Post exclusive! Which like my old friend Gorilla Monsoon (yes, him again) would say, that and a subway token gets you to Brooklyn as long as you don’t get robbed along the way. Hmmm…

VH1 Honors The Who

Tonight VH1 Honors The Who will air at 9 p.m on both VH1 and VH1 Classics; to say that I am looking forward to the show would greatly understate my feelings.

I usually scoff at having pop culture figures as heroes because they WILL let you down at some point as they are human just like we all are. That’s what the song “Won’t Get Fooled Again” is all about; not putting anyone on a pedestal, nor making someone or some ideology the “new religion.”

Yet, I will say that The Who have had a profoundly positive impact on my life and if there was anyone in the world that I would love to meet and chat with, it would be the surviving members of the band: Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. I particularly would love to sit with Pete Townshend as I have always been intrigued by his creative prowess.

Nonetheless, I hope VH1 does the right thing and in addition to paying homage to the original members, gives due to all of those that have contributed so greatly to the band over the years such as the group’s early managers, Kit Lambert ( May 1935 – April 1981) and Chris Stamp; the group’s late publicist Pete Meaden; producer Shel Talmy; the incredibly brilliant producer Glyn Johns; Who soundman Bob Pridden and former drummer Kenney Jones. I also hope they give a nod to current Who members Zak Starkey (drums), Pino Palladino (bass), Simon Townshend (extra guitar) and John”Rabbit”Bundrick (keyboards).

R.I.P. Keith John Moon (August 23, 1946 – September 7, 1978)

R.I.P. John Alec Entwistle (October 9, 1944 – June 27, 2002)

Long Live The Who!

Sean Kilkelly Ranks The Top 20 Songs By The Who (10-1)

Just like VH1, I'm doing my own honoring of The Who today! I will readily admit that the title of this post is a bit misleading and should just be "my favorite 20 songs by The Who." Because, quite frankly, I had a heck of a time narrowing it down to only 20. I could have gone for more songs, but then ranking them would be even more difficult. The list below is not set in stone, although my top three are. This post is also going to take a permanent spot in my links section on the right. In order to not overload your computer I have decided to break this up into two posts, below are the top ten, for 20-11, click here.

10- I Can See For Miles (June 2002)


9- Pictures of Lily (1967)


8- Baba O'Riley (The Kids Are Alright Movie)


7- Relay (1973)


6- Going Mobile (Who's Next 1971)


5- Bell Boy "Keith's Theme" (Live 1974)


4- My Generation (Smothers Brothers)


3- Who Are You (The Kids Are Alright)


2- Amazing Journey (Live 1970)


1- Substitute (1966)

Sean Kilkelly Ranks The Top 20 Songs By The Who (20-11)

I hope breaking up the rankings into two posts works, we'll see. Remember, both posts are going to take a permanent spot in my links section on the right. Below are #20-11, for the top ten click here.

20- I Can't Explain (Live at Leeds 1970)


19- Pinball Wizard (Isle of Wight 1970)


18- You Better You Bet


17- It's Not True


16- The Seeker (1970 German t.v. show)


15- Won't Get Fooled Again (Concert For NYC)


14- We're Not Gonna Take It (Live)


13- Sally Simpson (1989 Tour)


12- The Kids Are Alright (1965)


11- A Quick One, While He's Away (The Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus 1968)

The Best Joker?

Holy hotcakes Robin, this movie is really selling out! Corny, yes, but I could not resist. According to a story I found here on Drudge, Batman: The Dark Knight is going to be a tough one to get a ticket for this weekend.

So why all the buzz? Is it because it is really - as far as I can see - the only true summer blockbuster? Or that the evil Joker is played by the late Heath Ledger?

I have already read many critics saying that Heath is a thousand times better in the 'Joker' role than Jack Nicholson was. That may be and my tune could change after I see The Dark Knight, but my favorite portrayer of The Joker is Cesar Romero (pictured); who for those that don't know, played the role on the old Batman t.v. series.

The Who Tour U.S. This Fall

Below is the information, with more dates expected to be added.

As far as anything else, the one thing on t.v. this week that I am really looking forward to watching is VH1 Honoring The Who. For more click this.

DATE LOCATION
Oct. 21 Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Mich.
Oct. 22 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario
Oct. 24 TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
Oct. 26 Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA
Oct. 28 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
Oct. 29 Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ
Oct. 31 The Borgata, Atlantic City, NJ
Nov. 3 Verizon Center, Washington, DC
Nov. 8 Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Nov. 9 Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA

Why We Should All Lose Weight...

If no one were fat it could mean more shekels in our pockets. That's according to this story on MSN.com.

Just as an aside, the supersmug Mike "Mr. Arrogant" Francesa (pictured) might do well to read this article and think about losing some pounds!

ECW In Charlotte

Last night may have been one of the best episodes of ECW that I have seen since they resurrected the brand. I wonder how many people saw it in the New York area with the last MLB All-Star Game airing from the current Yankee Stadium. But the exorbitant length of the ballgame allowed me to check out the happenings on Sci-Fi.

Tommy Dreamer got a pop by nailing Mark Henry on the head with a frying pan. This basically gives Dreamer an ounce of credibility in his match Sunday against ECW Champ Henry at the Great American Bash. I would be shocked though if Dreamer – a Yonkers native – won the match against Henry.

Really, the highlights of the show for me were seeing the Hardys team up again and Evan Bourne with another impressive outing.

Bourne and Chavo Guerrero put on a good show with the former getting the win with the awesome “shooting star press” finisher.

Jeff and Matt Hardy won a non-title match against The Miz and John Morrison. I first off have to say that Miz is not bad, just annoying. Morrison on the other hand has star potential written all over him. While the Hardys bring such a high level of excitement to every match, I’m interested to know why they get left off of pay-per-views (like this Sunday’s Bash), when they could just as easily be teaming up? Instead what we will get at the Great American Bash is W.W.E. World Tag Champs The Miz & Morrison vs. Finlay & Hornswoggle vs. Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder vs Jesse & Festus. Ugh!

The rest of the G.A.B. looks like this:
W.W.E. Champ Triple H vs. Edge

World Champ CM Punk vs. Batista

Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels

ECW Champ Mark Henry vs. Tommy Dreamer

“Parking Lot Brawl” Match: JBL vs. John Cena

WWE Smackdown Women’s Title Match: Natalya vs. Michelle McCool

Incidentally, William Regal was suspended on May 20 for 60 days. I’m sure that on Monday Night Raw (July 21) the McMahons will reinstate him as GM of the brand.

WWE: Jillian Hall vs. Brooke Hogan, E.C.W. Notes

I am so tired of the Hogans and their daily drama! On the other hand, I always get a laugh out of watching Jillian Hall (above) mimic the singing of Brooke Hogan (below right). I think it is pretty funny and I do understand I may be in the minority, but it’s one of those things that does not take up too much time and brings legit “heat” onto Jillian.

Tonight, Jeff and Matt Hardy team up to take on The Miz and John Morrison on E.C.W. I plan on watching at least part of the MLB All-Star Game, really because it is the last one at the current Yankee Stadium. Generally, though, All-Star Games are a bore-snore to me, no matter what sport. Regardless, I’m also going to keep an eye on E.C.W. to watch three (I’m leaving out Miz) of the most exciting performers in the W.W.E.

Additionally, I’m curious to see what talent debuts tonight as part of Teddy Long’s initiative to bring in new stars.

I finally got to watch Tazz-Sabu from Living Dangerously on WWE 24/7! I knew the match would be good, but it exceeded my expectations and was a great one! Too bad Tazz had so many injuries during his career that forced him to retire.

The good thing about Kofi Kingston no longer being on E.C.W. is that we don't have to hear Mike Adamle say, “Jamaican me crazy” during Kofi’s matches.

Monday Night Raw Recap

I watched the first 45 minutes of Monday Night Raw last night and thought it was pretty good with an emphasis on wrestling and less on repetitive video packages and long monologues. Although, after watching Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase on the microphone I changed the channel, which I think is going to happen quite often if these two don't improve.

I came back later to witness the ridiculousness which was JBL driving a car toward a prone John Cena, who obviously moved. The W.W.E.’s website reported that Cena was just “grazed” and will be ready to do battle with JBL on Sunday at the Great American Bash. Uh, shouldn’t JBL be charged with attempted murder? I know it is a t.v. show, however, the W.W.E. really should walk a more careful line with murder angles based on past history in professional wrestling. Seriously, this ending to Raw reminded me of how W.C.W.'s Monday Nitro would conclude in the final days of World Championship Wrestling.

From what I’ve read, I’m glad I switched over to watch some of the great programming that VH1 is providing this week in the run-up to their show Thursday night honoring The Who.

WWE: Cena-JBL Great American Bash Match and Other Thoughts

John Cena will once again be taking on JBL at a pay-per-view, however, this time is will be in a “NYC Parking Lot Brawl” match at the Great American Bash at the Nassau Coliseum. Um, first, wouldn’t it make sense if the show was actually taking place in New York City? Second, that will mark the fourth time that these two have been in the ring together of the last five pay-per-views. Wouldn’t it be more logical to make it a six-man tag team match with Cena teaming up with Cryme Tyme and JBL maybe teaming with anyone?

Meanwhile, with Rey Mysterio on Monday Night Raw, the W.W.E. is reportedly scouting lucha libre wrestlers in Mexico and elsewhere to add to Smackdown and/or ECW. Could that mean that somehow they would be able to reel in big fish, Mistico (pictured), and that we will see more high-flying moves?

One other thing…The W.W.E. has repeatedly shown CM Punk winning the World Title from Edge to the point that they are trying to shove it down our throats. Time will tell how significant a moment it was. If Punk loses to Batista at the Great American Bash, the victory over Edge will be quite insignificant in most fan’s eyes.

Odds & Sods

The doomsayers must be having a field day right now with some of the negative news that is going on. Me? I just decide to post an “Odds & Sods.”

NEWS
Iran shoots off missiles while Usama bin Forgotten’s 16-year-old son makes a hate-filled video; just another happy-go-lucky day in the Middle East.

Is Rev. Jesse Jackson jealous of Barack Obama? His latest vulgar comments would make it seem that way. By the way, Bill O’Reilly says there is more on the tape of Rev. Jackson spouting off, but why is he and Fox News withholding it?

SPORTS
I haven’t been able to comment much on the Rangers' comings and goings, but I am disappointed that Jaromir Jagr is not only no longer a Blueshirt, but will be playing out his career in Russia and not the National Hockey League. I always liked Jagr and to me he is the best European ever to lace up a pair of skates in the N.H.L. He was a model Ranger and led the team out of the abyss that was 1997-2004. So long Jags, see you at the Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Meanwhile, the return of Brendan Shanahan to New York also seems unlikely, albeit not entirely out of the question. He may go back to where it all started: New Jersey.

The loss of Shanahan and Jagr also meant that it was probably a good idea to let Sean Avery walk. The two elder statesman kept the tempestuous Avery in check. I don’t think that the new leaders, Chris Drury and Scott Gomez would have been as effective in that role. Dallas giving Avery a no-movement clause (no minors, no trade) could end up being quite bitter if things go badly for the Stars.

Hank Steinbrenner loves charity! Not.

Will the Knicks or Nets win the LeBron James sweepstakes in 2010?

Mike Francesa is rumored to be heading to the MSG Network. I just wonder when he’ll start talking U.F.C. since their ratings are high and Mike bases what he talks about on ratings. Right.

MOST IMPORTANTLY
VH1 will be honoring The Who with several days of programming beginning Saturday night that will lead up to the big show one week from this evening. Next week I’m going to post my top 10 favorite Who songs and here is one that will be on the list, “I Can See For Miles,” which was the song that got me hooked on the band from Shepherd's Bush...

It was a summer weekend afternoon, I was 12-years-old and had just finished caddying at Ridgeway Country Club in White Plains. I was bringing in the golf bag that I carried for 18 holes to the bagroom where they would clean the clubs. I remember the guys who worked in there were always listening to the old 101.1 CBS-FM. But the song that was coming out of the speakers was different than the typical stuff CBS would play. This song had arrogance and was macho, yet showed a slight bit of male sensitivity in its lament of finding out about the nefarious acts of a girlfriend. It wasn’t some sappy love song by any stretch of the imagination. Not only did I like the lyrics and scorching vocals, but the guitar slashing, the bass strumming and the manic drum playing hooked me in.

Musical tastes in my house ran the gamut, so I had been exposed to many different types of music and I am sure that I had heard The Who before, but on that particular day, at that precise moment, this song sucked me in and my fondness for the group has only grown since.

It’s not going to be number one on my list of favorite Who songs and probably most Who fans wouldn’t rate it as their favorite, but Who cares (literally), it's the song that started it all for me. Here’s the video of “I Can See For Miles” below:

WWE: Ashley Massaro Released

Whether or not it was due to the recent story that alleged her role as a former high-priced call girl from several years back or that she has to devote more time to caring for her sick daughter, Ashley Massaro asked for and was granted her release from World Wrestling Entertainment. Whichever the case may be, here is the typical brief statement from the W.W.E.:

World Wrestling Entertainment has come to terms on the release of Ashley Massaro as of July 09, 2008. W.W.E. wishes Ashley the best in all future endeavors.

AP Reports WMD Moved Out Of Iraq

The article below is courtesy of the Associated Press and should raise some eyebrows on a number of fronts:

Iraqi uranium transferred to Canada

by Jim Mannion Mon Jul 7, 12:12 PM ET

At Iraq's request, the US military recently transferred hundreds of metric tons of yellowcake uranium from Iraq to Canada in a secret, weeks-long operation, a Pentagon spokesman said Monday.

The 550 metric tons of uranium, which was sold to a Canadian company, was moved by truck convoy to Baghdad's "Green Zone," then flown by military aircraft to a third country where it was put on a ship for Canada, said Bryan Whitman, the spokesman.

"The operation was completed over the weekend, on Saturday," Whitman said.

The yellow cake was discovered by US troops after the 2003 US invasion of Iraq at the Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Facility south of Baghdad, and was placed under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Yellowcake is a form of processed uranium ore that can be used to make fuel for nuclear reactors, or if further enriched as fuel for nuclear weapons.

Whitman said the Iraqi government asked the United States for help in selling and transferring the uranium to another country.

Cameco, a Canadian company, agreed to buy the yellowcake for a reported sum in the tens of millions of dollars.

The cost to the United States of transferring the uranium came to about 70 million dollars, Whitman said. He said the Iraqi government has agreed in principle to repay part of the transfer costs.

The US State and Energy Departments also played roles in the operation, Whitman said. But the Defense Department took the lead in carrying out the transfer, he said.

It took 110 shipping containers to carry the drums loaded with yellowcake, he said.

They were transferred by convoy from Tuwaitha to a secure facility within the Green Zone, the international zone, Whitman said.

Then they were flown by C-17 military transport planes to an undisclosed third country. Whitman said it took 37 planeloads to complete that portion of the transfer.

"At this intermediate location the cargo was loaded onto a US-flagged cargo ship, a military sealift container ship, the USS Gopher State," he said.

Whitman said the arrangements for the sale began several months ago, but the transfer itself took "weeks not months."

With the transfer, no yellowcake was known to be left in Iraq, Whitman said.

News of the operation broke over the weekend when Cameco acknowledged the arrival of the uranium shipment at Montreal.

Lyle Khran, a Cameco spokesman, said the company had responded to a bid request made last year by the US government.

"We are satisfied at having been able to remove uranium from one of the most unstable regions of the world, and to have transferred it to a stable region to produce our own electric power," he said on Sunday.

He said the yellowcake would be used at the Blind River and Port Hope nuclear power plants north of Toronto.

The Who Plans For VH1 Honors

Rolling Stone has an article up on their website which features Roger Daltrey discussing the upcoming “VH1 Honors The Who” show. Apparently, the band will play “Slip Kid,” which they have not done live since 1976. That song is off one of my favorite albums, By Numbers, from 1975. He also says that he has no idea if it will be shown on television due to the network probably airing the more standard tracks by The Who. The concert takes place Saturday night, however, it will air Thursday July 17. To read the full story, click me. I actually came across this video below on YouTube of The Who performing Slip Kid/Dreaming From The Waist in New York back in 1976.

Keith Moon with Led Zeppelin

Had history been different, Keith Moon and John Entwistle might have been members of Led Zeppelin. Nonetheless, here is a video of Keith Moon joining Led Zeppelin on stage in Los Angeles from 1977. Moonie died in September of 1978.

Martha Wainwright: Glastonbury 2008

Martha Wainwright performing “Factory” at this year’s Glastonbury Festival courtesy of YouTube.

Nice Job Congress!

Ultimo Dragon (pictured) would definitely frown on our politicians after reading this one! Why? Well, it seems that not many people in the U.S. think the House and Senate are performing up to par, according to the report below:

"The percentage of voters who give Congress good or excellent ratings has fallen to single digits for the first time in Rasmussen Reports tracking history. This month, just 9% say Congress is doing a good or excellent job. Most voters (52%) say Congress is doing a poor job, which ties the record high in that dubious category. "

For the rest of the story, click this.

Monday Night Raw In New Orleans Recap

It seemed to me that the creative writers of World Wrestling Entertainment wanted to throw out the window everything positive that they did in the last two weeks (draft, Punk as champ, etc.). Was it a bad show? No. Just directionless in some ways and there was just way too much talking on last night’s Monday Night Raw. Here are some other thoughts:

OK, so was the kid running in front of Batista real or was that part of the angle that everything is falling apart without Vince McMahon around?

Did I hear right a few weeks ago…when Vince McMahon was being helped by “paramedics,” did he say “I didn’t kill my father?” That’s what it sounded like to me.

Vickie Guerrero = A Disrespected Substitute Teacher.

Lance Cade = Third Wheel.

Batista and John Cena had very little interaction during the four-way match. This one has to be held off until Wrestlemania! It’s too big of a money maker.

I could definitely see the World Titles changing brands again.

Kelly Kelly is on Raw now? Based on what? Not the draft; not that I’m complaining.

If Kane fought Snitsky, would a fan be able to tell the two apart if they were sitting in the upper deck? This reminds me of the Powers of Pain-Road Warriors feud from the ‘80s when those sitting in the "Bob Uecker" seats couldn’t tell who was who.

Why was Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes not on Raw last night? They beat Paul London and D’Lo Brown in a dark match, which does what exactly?

Reportedly, CM Punk broke Snitsky’s nose last night. I suppose Snitsky's dormant modeling career will remain as such.

Kofi Kingston also got cut around his left eye during his way too short of a match with Charlie Haas.

Overall, I give the show a 7.

Batista, though, is really starting to grow on me.

Keep it in the Ring!

Ring of Honor Pats Itself On Back

Upstart wrestling promotion Ring of Honor (R.O.H.) is patting itself on the back following CM Punk’s World Championship win in the W.W.E. The company is boosting themselves up because of the rise to glory for their former stars, Punk and current T.N.A. World Champion Samoa Joe (pictured as T.N.A. X-Division Champ).

I’m itching to see R.O.H. as I’ve heard nothing but good things about their product. Although, like my old friend Gorilla Monsoon (somewhat of a sage, he was) would say, “A pat on the back is just 18 inches away from a kick in the pants.” Point being that maybe R.O.H. should get a t.v. deal – I know some folks at a public access channel that may be interested – before they get too cocky.

For more click here.

Woo Hoo For Fans Of The Who

If you’re a fan of The Who like I am, you’ll love what VH1 has planned for the week of July 12 (this comes courtesy of their website):

Legendary. Celebrated. Renowned. The Who. Beginning on Saturday, July 12, VH1 Classic pays homage to The Who with 5 days of exclusive programming leading up to the premiere of "VH1 RockHonors: The Who" premiering on VH1 on Thursday, July 17 at 9:00 PM. The week of exclusive Who programming will feature concerts, programs and movies."Rock Doc Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" Airs on Saturday, July 12 at 9PM ET/PT"

Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" is an exhilarating feature-length film about one of the most influential rock bands in history. Spanning over four decades, the film tells the unfolding story of The Who, from the group's origins as a 1960's schoolboy R&B cover band, through their meteoric rise and artistic breakthroughs, to the infighting, the breakups and reconciliations. The film features all-new, never-before-seen interviews with Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and others, rare and recently discovered concert footage, artist profiles and more.

"On Tour: The Who Virtual Ticket" Premieres on Sunday, July 13 at 9 PM EST/PT"On Tour: The Who Virtual Ticket" gives viewers an all-access pass to the lives of one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time, The Who. The cameras will follow the jet setting band as they travel from show to show, and chronicle their daily activities from when they get out of bed until the last chord is played. "Virtual Ticket" will let you see the hard work and preparation that goes into planning a world tour. Fans will get an in depth look as Peter and Roger discuss life as apart of The Who and the ups and downs they have had to face on their long journey to success.

"The Who: Six Quick Ones" Premieres on Monday, July 14 at 9PM ET/PTA feature film and the sister project to "The Story of The Who," "The Who: Six Quick Ones" is a six-part film which integrates sessions with each individual member of the band and links The Who to the Mod and Pop Art movement. It also takes a look into the recording of their latest album. Throughout the episode each member will showcase his musical abilities in the first four segments.

"Classic Albums: The Who 'Who's Next' "Airs on Monday, July 14 at 11 PM EST/PT"Who's Next" reigns as 'the' classic album. It demonstrates both the excellent writing abilities of Pete Townshend and in nine tracks shows just why The Who is considered to be the greatest exponent of British rock music. Pete gives a performance to remember when he plays "Pure and Easy," from the" Lifehouse" album for the first time in 20 years. Roger Daltrey reminisces over the negatives of using pre-recorded music during live shows.

"Rock and Roll Picture Show: Tommy" Airs on Tuesday, July 15 at 9 PM EST/PT Tommy is the story about a troubled boy, who, after his father's death withdraws himself from the rest of the world. He soon finds that he has an amazing talent and gains fame by defeating the Pinball Wizard, played by Elton John. The movie chronicles Tommy's rise to fame and fall to shame, meanwhile giving viewers an amazing soundtrack, scored by The Who's "Tommy." Witness a legendary album and watch some of rock and roll's greatest musicians as they bring this 'rock opera' to life. Starring Roger Daltrey, Ann Margret, Elton John, and more.

"Electric Proms: The Who" Premieres on Wednesday, July 16 at 9 PM EST/PT Legendary rock band The Who showcase their musical talents in front of a sold-out London crowd at the Roundhouse. Hit after hit is churned out as each member belt out tunes that leave the crowd ecstatic. Baba O'Riley gets the crowd going with her extended version of "My Generation." Roger Daltrey follows up with his timeless hit "Pinball Wizard" from the 'rock opera' "Tommy" and Pete Townshend shows why he is considered a guitar genius when he performs "See Me, Feel Me" Zac Starkey, Ringo Starr's son, fills in for Keith Moon on the double drum kit.

"VH1 Rock Honors: The Who" Premieres on Thursday, July 17 at 9 PM EST/PT. For the first time ever, fans will have the opportunity to see some of the biggest names in rock together on one stage during the third annual "VH1 RockHonors" event paying homage to legendary British rock band The Who. "VH1 RockHonors: The Who" will deliver a night of high-voltage tribute performances by Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, The Flaming Lips and Incubus all leading up to the spectacular grand finale performance by The Who as they rock the stage.

Odds & Sods

Some interesting and uninteresting things...

NEWS
Speculation is that Barack Obama is going to make up for the mistake that John Kerry made in 2004, by naming Richard "Dick" Gephardt as his running mate.

Just like I had a problem with some Republicans going after John Kerry's military service, I have the same issue with certain Democrats attacking John McCain's naval career. Kerry (I may not like his politics) and McCain (I'm quite frankly not a huge fan of his politics either) served their country valiantly, case closed!

On a similar topic, I was once a big fan of Sean Hannity. I still like him, however, I lost a great deal of respect for him after he verbally went off on Gen. Wesley Clark on t.v. one evening. Hey, political views aside, the man is a four-star Army General. Maybe I'm old-school, but that instantly garners my respect.

One week I read that al-Qaeda is on the run, the next I hear that President Bush is sending more troops to Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Usama bin Laden once called for the price of oil to reach $144 per barrel, the last I checked it was $146. UBL wanted this nearly 10 years ago. Story here.

No joke, I saw on a news station recently a "breaking news" flash on the crawl which read,"Iran will retaliate if attacked." Seriously.

Good guy: Curtis Sliwa brings his Guardian Angels to patrol the streets of Yonkers.

My favorite liberal: Rob Kuby has returned to the airwaves with an afternoon show on Air America. I miss listening to him and Sliwa in the mornings.

Bad guy caught: Hedge fund swindler Samuel Israel has surrendered to police after going on the lam. Most probably know of his little stunt on the Bear Mountain Bridge.

Rush Limbaugh + $400 million = Laughing all the way to the bank!

People I want to go away: The Hogans.

SPORTS
I'd really love to sit down and ask N.H.L. Commish Gary Bettman what the 2004-2005 lockout accomplished. Why? Well, when I see the Chicago Blackhawks giving defenseman Brian Campbell $58 million for eight years and goalie Cristobal Huet getting nearly $23 million for four years I just shake my head. Nice players that are definitely not worth that many shekels.

Maybe the "almighty" Mike Francesa will soon let us know when he will allow the rest of us to take the Devil Rays seriously. Perhaps after they sweep a team like the Boston Red Sox. Oh, wait a minute didn't that just happen?

Funny stuff from the June 16th Phil Mushnick column: "Michael Strahan retired Tuesday. That afternoon on WFAN, the issue for Mike Francesa wasn't Strahan's 15-year Giant career or his loss to the team as much as it was Strahan's poor relationship with Francesa. NBC's Tim Russert suddenly died Friday. That afternoon on WFAN, the issue for Francesa wasn't so much Russert's career or his passing, but his diminished relationship with Francesa since the Don Imus firing. If a tidal wave hits Long Island this morning, the issue this afternoon on WFAN will be the condition of Francesa's basement."

Does the WNBA still exist?

REBUILDING
The boyhood home of George Washington has been found in Virginia by archaeologists. The plan is for the house to get a major renovation to attract tourists. A similar renovation plan is in the works for the home of Edgar Allen Poe in the Bronx.

Finally, here's to a happy Independence Day to you and our great country! Thanks for reading!

Be safe, be happy, be lucky!

Save Us From Glen Sather...Someone! Anyone!

Myself and other fellow fans are going to have to get over a lot of bad moves by the New York Rangers this off-season, I can see that right now!

First they lose Sean Avery to Dallas; possibly Brendan Shanahan is going to New Jersey; Jaromir Jagr is getting snubbed big-time; they overpay for Wade Redden; and now they trade my man Fedor "Toots" Tyutin to Columbus?

Haysooz - another Rob Adams reference - what's next a return of Marcel Dionne?

By the way, I would be remiss in not giving major props to Sam Weinman of The Journal News for his consistently outstanding coverage of the Rangers.

Rachel Fuller New Album Forthcoming?

One of my favorite - probably my favorite - female vocalists, Rachel Fuller says she is working on a new album for the Starbucks' record label. Of course, Paul McCartney was the first on that label with Memory Almost Full.

Anyway, talk about something long overdue! It's been way too long for Fuller. If you want to listen to some of her stuff, go to her MySpace page here. You've probably heard me rave about her cover of the Foo Fighters "Everlong," but she's got quite a few good songs that you won't hear on popular radio.

Fuller (pictured above) is similar to someone else I really like, the nearly incomparable Sarah McLachlan. So if you like McLachlan, you'll in all probability be able to appreciate Rachel Fuller.

Coming Soon: Batista vs. John Cena

Reportedly, Triple H pitched the idea of having Batista and John Cena square off down the line, probably at Wrestlemania next year. In my opinion, the two former champions are by far the strongest wrestlers in W.W.E. - outside, of course, the "world's strongest man," Mark Henry.

On this week's Monday Night Raw, Cena was trying to sell his match last Sunday with Triple H as an "epic" bout. First off, as Rob Adams recently asked, can someone define 'epic' for me?

The Cena-Hunter match was very good, but hardly historic. However, if done right, Cena going against Batista (both pictured) could be one for the ages. But that’s just my opinion – which like my old friend (yes, him again) Gorilla Monsoon would say…oh never mind!

Inside The Squared Circle: Van Halen "Pretty Woman" W.W.E. Diva Tribute Video, Smackdown Spoilers? ECW, Melina Injury Picture

Now that the Smackdown roster has been significantly upgraded, I am quite hesitant to look at the results posted on the Internet. The show is taped Tuesday nights and does not air until Friday. The good news is that I read that there is a possibility that some shows may be live once Smackdown changes networks this fall.

E.C.W., meanwhile, was OK last night. Atlas Ortiz beat Armando Estrada – and who doesn’t these days? Ortiz is a former pro football player and looks to be pretty athletic. We’ll have to wait and see if this was a one-time shot for him on E.C.W.

Melina is reportedly going to be out for five months with a broken ankle. Count the picture below as “exhibit A” that in my view would confirm a pretty nasty break. Ouch!

Ashley Massaro has asked for an early release from the W.W.E. due to health issues with her daughter.

Finally, I came across the above video on YouTube recently. It's in tribute to the current and past W.W.E. women (I hate the term 'diva'). Warning: Video shows women dressed for the beach, may offend uptight folks! God, I hope it does! OK maybe it is a little risque, but that never hurt anyone.

Martha Wainwright - B.M.F.A.

I actually received an email to my blog email account - a rarity to be sure - asking me if I knew where this person could find a video of Martha's song, B.M.F.A. So here are two versions; one live from the 2007 Glastonbury Festival and another that someone made on YouTube as a tribute to the "Meredith" character on Grey's Anatomy. Warning: Both versions contain explicit lyrics.

Live at Glasto


Grey’s Anatomy

R.I.P. Uga Vi

My thanks to the "anonymous" reader who passed along the sad news of the death of Uga Vi (pictured), the long-time mascot for the Georgia Bulldogs' football program.

If you want more on this story, click here.

Martha Wainwright - Not Just Another Cool Album Cover

I’m really looking forward to seeing Martha Wainwright perform later this month in New York City. She of the incredibly musically-inclined family – I once saw her Aunt Sloan sing at the cozy but overpriced Watercolor Café in the very tony town of Larchmont. I’m still getting into her recently released album I Know You’re Married But I've Got Feelings Too (pictured) and absolutely love her self-titled debut record. Here is the video for “When The Day Is Short,” a song off of her first CD. Below is a review and product description from Amazon.com:

Album Review

Martha is the youngest of the Wainwright clan (with brother Rufus two years her senior), and she's also still the one with the most to prove, even after her eponymous 2005 debut captured hearts aplenty via a delightful bundle of timeless folk ruminations with intriguingly fraught seams--and one infamously foul-mouthed diatribe against her father (folk singer Loudon Wainwright III). It's hard to know whether the family association does her more harm than good, but what is certain is that sophomore album I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too is as complex and emotionally tumultuous as its title and lays to rest any doubts regarding the reach of her artistry. From lavish psychedelic arrangements in "Tower" to "You Cheated Me" and "Hearts Club Band" which gush with the slick country-pop of Fleetwood Mac, to "So Many Friends" and "Bleeding All over You" alternating between Kristen Hersh's husky folk persona on one hand and Kate Bush's gallivanting tonsils on the other, all the way to "Niger River" which quivers and ebbs, fluttering between peaks with eastern trace-like qualities, she sounds both utterly liberated and firmly in control. It's a more challenging experience than the first record, but covers so much more ground and is richer for it. In spite of the title it can surely no longer be a case of always the mistress and never the bride. --James Berry

Product Description

In the three years since her critically-acclaimed debut, Martha Wainwright has toured and recorded with acts ranging from Neko Case to Snow Patrol. She has performed Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall, and appeared on the big screen in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator. But her greatest achievement is, undoubtedly, the creation of her sophomore record. Entitled I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too, it is a musically and lyrically ambitious effort, from understated ballads to intense rock numbers. Wainwright offers new takes on a couple old classics as well: Pink Floyd's "See Emily Play" and the Eurythmics' "Love Is A Stranger." With I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too Wainwright has created a masterpiece that will further establish her as one of the most exciting and brilliantly creative songwriters of her generation.

Insult To Injury: World Trade Center Zeroes

OK mini-rant...

One thing I have always felt very passionate about is the need to treat the World Trade Center site with great respect and the best way to do that would be to not let that sacred ground become a political football. Unfortunately, that is what is has become.

I always understood why some folks wouldn’t want buildings there and instead wanted it to be a place for a park/memorial. That’s fine. But do something. The “Freedom Tower” – quite a tacky name if you ask me – was supposed to be up by now. Forget it. We’re looking at 2013.

Shame on the above six people. All Judases!

For the complete story go here.

Oh No Not Again A-Rod!

Forget Page Six, this time it’s front page material for Yankees' superstar Alex Rodriguez, who is now being romantically linked to Madonna!

Click here for the story.

Who News

I’m not a "gamer" but if there was ever even the slightest and I do mean slightest chance that I would become one it would be because of this piece from rockband.com:

A dozen classic songs by The Who get new life as Rock Band™ game play. MTV Games and Harmonix announced today that even more of the legendary group's greatest hits will be added to the Rock Band catalog of downloadable content with the release of “The Best of The Who Rock Band Edition.”

“We’re really pleased to have our songs featured in Rock Band,” says Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who. “It allows our established fan base to interact with our music in a way that’s fresh and exciting, while also exposing our songs to new audiences.”

“I’m a fan of Rock Band,” says Who guitarist Pete Townshend. “I play the game with my son and girlfriend and love the way it brings different generations together through music. I like the idea that people of all ages will be having fun playing our songs.”

“The Who is consistently one of our most requested bands" says Paul DeGooyer, SVP Electronic Games and Music, MTV, "and it is great to be able to bring this unique compilation of their music to the Rock Band community.”

The 12 songs were selected by Harmonix and MTV Games after consulting with Townshend and Daltrey, who helped curate the track list. The downloadable tracks represent the meaty, beaty, big and bouncy best of The Who, including classics such as “Amazing Journey,”“Baba O'Riley,” “Sea & Sand,” three songs from the classic Live At Leeds album (including a special edited version of “My Generation”) and more.

Monday Night Raw Recap: Punk Wins! Punk Wins! Punk Wins!

CM Punk is the new World Heavyweight Champion! Wow is all I can say. The wrestler that Vince McMahon once referred to as a “stringbean” when it was suggested by Paul Heyman that Punk win the E.C.W. Title is now the World Champion. Unbelievable.

I really love the direction that Monday Night Raw is going in – youth is definitely for the moment being served. With Punk as World Champ, Kofi Kingston as Intercontinental Champ, and Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase as World Tag Champs, all of the titleholders are under 30.

Edge was at his best last night also. Not only in his taunting of Jim Ross, but in his berating of the “Edgeheads” and blaming them for his loss of the World Title.

I also like JBL declaring “martial law” on Raw and thus allowing for chaos to prevail. Other thoughts on last night’s show:

Allowing Jim Ross to come out and speak to the crowd in his home state of Oklahoma was a class-act on the part of the W.W.E. Ross now goes off to the more veteran-laden Smackdown show.

I liked when “Save XP” flashed on the videotron while Chris Jericho made his ring entrance. Some of you may know that Microsoft Windows XP is being discontinued.

In October 2004, a Ring of Honor (R.O.H.) match between CM Punk and Samoa Joe earned the prestigious and rare “five star” rating from Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer. Now Joe sits atop T.N.A. as World Champ while Punk is a World Champ in the W.W.E.

Dare to dream, indeed.