WWE Unable to Tell Coherent Story....

For a long time I have defended my continued viewership and fandom of the WWE as it being a man's soap opera, well the writing has begun to suffer of late. To borrow a line from the Sports Guy at ESPN, I feel like none of this would have happened if Vince McMahon were still alive.

And yes I know Vinny Mac is still alive, but he may as well be dead. Last year when son-in-law Hunter Hearst Helmsley relieved him of his duties I was excited at the possibility of the story line. However they have continued to botch the angle.

For one thing the mysterious, anonymous Raw GM angle just died. Then we were saddled with Johnny Ace, John Laurinaitis is quite possibly the least skilled man with a mic in his hands in the entire company. They tried to write in a power struggle angle between HHH and Laurinaitis but it fell flat, and was rushed.

I will give them credit though for one thing building the Rock vs. John Cena match for a whole year, they somehow managed to mostly succeed there. However, even in success they still fell short. Watching the Pay Per View of Wrestlemania it lost all flow what with the nonsensical musical interlude, followed by the preening nonsense of the two men at the outset of the match.

Yes I am complaining about a match that went for more than 30 minutes, saying it was too short and far too mechanical. That complaint falls on Rock and Cena more than creative.

Another failure has been the tease, then backing away, then teasing of a heel turn for John Cena. It is time the goody two shoes act is tired. He needs a fresh start, a heel turn for the longest running baby face in the corporation is something that would show an ability to finish a story. And finishing a story would be a major improvement in creative direction for a federation that once more or less ridiculed its competition out of business for an inability to effectively finish a story.

Now I know Vince is still the man in charge but we need to see him onscreen again. He needs to be once again the face of his operation. Not Mr. McMahon heel owner, but Vince McMahon, story teller.

I've been watching the WWE for nearly 20 years now and can still remember the time when I was incredulous when my friend Andrew explained to me the thin, turtle-necked fellow in the WWF blazer calling the action on Raw was actually the guy signing the paychecks for everyone.

That Vince is the one who we need to see again. For one thing the announcing is dreadful. Michael Cole, who should be selling the angles WWE creative comes up with spends far too much time trying to be a heel and get heat. Jerry Lawler has been phoning it in since sometime in the late 90's.

Vince was always able as an announcer to let whoever the heel announcer was supposed to be get their heat and letting the good announcer build the major story, while selling the angles. No one calling the action can do that anymore in WWE. So even when creative has a solid story to tell it gets lost.

The WWE merrily rolls along retreading their past as they look for some magic formula to return them to their heyday in the late 90's. The problems are

• they are now a monopoly having destroyed their competition
• No one tries to sell the major story lines 
• They think bringing back some of their previous Superstars will bring back their fanbase...Witness the return of Brock Lesnar, The Rock, Kevin Nash.....etc.
• Their alleged authority figure Laurinaitis has no demonstrable ability to wield authority, let alone use it effectively

They can right the ship but it will take some soul searching and a willingness to work on their deficiencies.

WWE Looks Like It May Return to Edgier Days...

I don't indulge the wrestling fan in me too much on my blog, but that is going to change...for today at least. The WWE is looking like it might be in the middle of another renaissance. The company's hottest star is an anti-establishment lightning rod, promising to be a "voice for the voiceless." He is antagonizing the power structure and promising to continue to do so.

It's been a few years since the big stars in the WWE, then known as the WWF, were anti-heroes. That era was known as the Attitude Era and featured some edgy story-lines and was much more provocative. And to be honest I didn't even realize I missed those days until Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock started showing up at WWE events and being their usual badass selves.

CM Punk and the current story line at the top of the Federation looks and feels a lot like the second coming as it were of the Attitude Era. Fans aren't quite sure how to handle Punk, he draws a fair amount of cheers but he is also getting some boos. Meanwhile his opponent for this feud is a guy who draws his own share of mixed reviews in John Cena, loved by the women and children, nearly universally despised by the men.

I could be wrong but I think the creative team at the WWE sees the right way to take this angle. Cena, the monster face, has to become a heel. He and Punk have to switch roles with Punk becoming the face of this new Attitude Era. This needs to happen for several reasons:

1. Cena's character is stale. Hustle, Loyalty and Respect are great, but the line is tired and he really needs a new direction. Besides as a heel he would be amazing. 
2. Cena with the title is boring, this is coming from someone who is a Cena fan mind you, we need to see some new blood at the top. Whether it's Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, Punk, Alex Riley, R-Truth, or John Morrison, Cena needs to drop the strap and go other directions with his character. 
3. Fans of a certain age, read my generation, remember the Attitude Era and want to see a return to those adult themes, not as outlandish perhaps as they got at the end, but let's return to some more grown up content. If for no other reason than so we never see a wrestler cut a promo saying "baloney, fudge and mustard." 
4. Having the Rock waiting in the wings for Wrestlemania next year just makes those of us who are old enough want to see a return to the things that made his era stand out. 

 All that said I think Punk is the perfect guy to hold the title for now. His constant criticism of the powers that be in the WWE is entertaining and does in fact give a voice to those of us who watch the neutered WWE and wonder when or if it will ever throw itself wholeheartedly back into the things that helped push the wrestling boom of the 1990's and early 2000's.

Maybe the WWE can't get all the way back to that because they have no real competition any more. During that last boom period we had the Monday Night Wars, we had the WCW as a real counterweight to WWE. For a couple of years anyway, until their poor booking and management led to their downfall.

But this storyline has had a little of everything, from palace intrigue (Mr. McMahon being replaced by his son-in-law (Triple H) after a vote of no-confidence), threats of termination, attempts at stealing a victory, worked shoots. What's not to like. Although I am not sure how much I like Triple H being in charge, watching Monday's Raw he no sold Punk's promo, it makes me wonder if WWE has the stones to do it the right way. Vince would have at least reacted to Punk's word's, Hunter's ego may just be the thing that kills this storyline. I almost wish that Linda McMahon had been the one put in charge. I think it could have been better that way, all these big, musclebound jerks at the direction of a woman.

I think they could have put Mrs. McMahon in charge and had Hunter upset it wasn't him and then had him and Cena team up turn heel and steal things from Punk and Linda.

Either way here's hoping that the creative team at WWE doesn't fail us this time. I imagine Cena who has been a huge face for a long time doesn't necessarily want the heel turn. But they need to convince the fan in him that it's the right thing to do for the company.

Think about that for a minute Cena, the company man heel, it could be awesome if done right. Especially if they push the whole Punk thing toward a labor/management angle. Punk could be like leading the workers against the management (i.e. Cena, HHH, Mr. McMahon, Laurinitis).

All I know is I can't wait to see how this thing ultimately pays off. I hope it pays off in a way that moves the story forward and perhaps returns WWE to having a little edge to their product.

Madness...Aka Why March Means Basketball....

It's that time again....March Madness...The best week of the year is the opening week of the NCAA basketball tournament. Cinderella dons her dancing shoes as the supposedly weak mid-major schools look to upset basketball's big boys. Every so often one of these schools hangs around and goes deep into the Tournament, shattering everyone's bracket, a few years ago George Mason did just that ending up in the Final Four. At least ESPN hasn't tortured us with Obama's lousy picks this year, maybe they thought he might be busy, although he doesn't do much.

ESPN's annual $10,000 give away is set to begin with the Tournament, so head here and fill in a bracket. I loved it last year when I could use one of my bracket selections to put UNM, UTEP and NMSU in a Final Four together. I knew it wouldn't happen, but if it did I wanted to be ready. None of them made the Dance this year though. The New Mexico schools were bounced in their Conference Semis; UTEP made their Conference Championship. 

Teams To Watch:

1. In the East I like: Villanova, Xavier and (God this hurts) Washington. 'Nova and Xavier are Mid-Majors that aren't really. UW has lots of upside with solid guards and good inside presence, which always seems to matter in March. Syracuse may be poised to make a run too, as coach Boeheim is a seasoned coach with a solid squad.
2. The West has four teams that could easily make the Final Four. If it goes chalk any of the top four seeds are capable. The biggest First round danger pick is San Diego State at 2. Northern Colorado likes to run and gun and they are very capable, while SDSU has the never won a tourney game albatross to deal with. I like the Aztecs, whose only two losses this season came at Jimmer Fredette and BYU's hands. Look for them to go deep. Arizona could also make some noise as the 5 seed here.
3. In the Southwest, watch out for Richmond, the committee seeded them far below their abilities. We usually see a 5-12 upset this could be the easy one to pick in the first round, or second round I guess now with the expanded field. The Spiders can go, and if coach Mooney can get them playing mad from their seed debacle, they could George Mason this thing. I expect Purdue and Notre Dame will have something to say in this bracket before all is said and done. 
4. I gotta give some WAC love for the Southeast, Stew Morrill is a great coach and has had a ton of talented teams at Utah State, but has never been able to go deep in the Dance. Look for a Sweet 16 this year. This bracket seems to be the Mid-Major bracket lots of talented smaller schools here. Including last season's runner-up Butler. I think I like more low seeds in this bracket, including Michigan State as a 10 seed. Coach Izzo lives for March, the Spartans will be ready. 

Players To Enjoy:

1. Jimmer Fredette: BYU, The guy could win player of the year honors and no one would bat an eye. He is a supremely gifted scorer and has a great knowledge of the game, plus his name is fun to say. 
2. Kemba Walker: UConn, Another POY candidate with a fluid game. Plays like a man among boys. I hate UConn, in all things but he is fun to watch. 
3. Kalin Lucas, MSU, The Spartans spark plug, the senior guard does everything, passing, scoring rebounding. Gives MSU some senior leadership that coach Izzo can lean on. 
4. Derrick Williams, Arizona, The 'Cats sophomore big man, is averaging nearly a double-double scoring 19.1 points a game while hauling in 8.1 boards. Gives them something in the low post. 
5. Tu Holloway, Xavier, Can shoot the lights out, sparks a fun Xavier offense. He can help score points in bunches, a necessary thing in the tournament. 

Have fun watching the tournament everyone, should be a good one this year. For the record my Final Four picks are: Ohio State, San Diego State, BYU and Notre Dame.

The Bowl Game No One Watches....

So the Pro Bowl was this past Sunday...did you know that? If you are a hardcore NFL fan you probably did. The game was moved from its traditional Sunday after the Super Bowl two years ago in an effort to get more people to watch. I don't think it's working.

The problem is the game is a glorified two-hand touch let's not get anyone hurt affair. IT is hardly a real football game. Besides it happens too close to the football game EVERYONE watches, the Super Bowl.

When the game was held post Super Bowl I watched it knowing it was my last chance to look at football and to sort of put football away and prepare for pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training.

Between the Conference Championships and Super Bowl is a ridiculous place for it for several reasons.

First, players on the Super Bowl teams don't participate, not such a big deal if you are a superstar who seemingly goes every year. But how would you feel if you were an average player whose career year finally helped your team to a Super Bowl and you to your first pro bowl. Sure it's an honor just to be selected....yeah right.

Second, by this time too many people are suffering from football burn out. We had the NCAA bowl season which seems to be getting ever longer, the end of the NFL regular season and playoffs and we are waiting on the Super Bowl.

Third, it shares a crowded weekend with the NHL All-Star festivities and late season college hoops. The Pro Bowl is just asking to be lost in the shuffle. Even when the game features nearly a 100 points scored as it did this year.

My solution, have the voting for the season done as it has always been, but have the Pro Bowl take the place of the annual Hall of Fame Game. The Hall game is held every year on the weekend the NFL inducts its Hall of Fame class. The game usually features at least one team that has an incoming inductee. It is also the start of the NFL preseason so it is usually sloppy, and little more than two-hand touch.

So in the new schedule all of this year's Pro Bowl selections go to Canton next August and the Pro Bowl opens the preseason, everyone selected gets to play and no one cares if it is sloppy.

Seriously don't you watch the first preseason game or two intently because it's football.

By early August baseball is just starting to get interesting and people are just starting to recover from the fact that the interminable NBA playoffs finally ended sometime in June. Preseason football comes along just then as balm for the soul. You can stomach watching bad football in August, because hey at least it's football.

Of course with their impending labor doom the NFL might not have a season next year. Here's hoping some NFL player union rep reads this column and brings this idea to the table. Yeah Right.

But doesn't my idea make more sense than trying to make us care about a bad football game right before the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XLV Early Thoughts

My initial thought is that it is a heck of a match-up. Two of the league's premier teams locking up in the biggest game. I think Green Bay is the real deal. Thinking about that makes me a little sick though as Aaron Rodgers could have and probably should have been San Francisco's number one pick over Alex Smith. Also head coach Mike McCarthy was Alex's first offensive coordinator in SF. So there is a little what might have been for Niner fans with Green Bay.

As a 49er fan I don't want to see Pittsburgh extend their lead in total Lombardi Trophies over my Niners, but I think they could do it this year.

They have their traditional tough defense and a ton of offensive weapons. The game should be close and still hanging in the balance long after Fergie and the rest of her Peas' cohorts have left the field.

Green Bay 24-Pitt 17.