It’s never too early for the St. Louis Rams to look ahead

By AJ Sanson

Overall, the Rams have been a pleasant surprise so far in this young NFL season. Even after a heartbreaking loss at Tampa Bay a couple of weekends ago was a tale of two halves, the team has shown some promise and the crowds at the Edward Jones Dome continue to grow larger and louder.
Yet, there is still something missing.
Well, they realistically could improve on a few positions, but all signs are starting to point toward a big one: wide receiver.
Sam Bradford as quarterback is the real deal. Once Peyton Manning decides to hang it up, I can see Bradford blossoming into the top five quarterbacks of the league behind Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, and Matt Ryan. Bradford is calm, poised, and mature far beyond his age of 22. He is the future of the team and if Mr. Pujols decides to leave the Cardinals, St. Louis becomes Bradford’s city. Still, he needs a solid home run hitter to chuck the ball to in the end zone.
Let’s hope next spring we hear NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell say “With the [whichever pick] in the NFL draft the St. Louis Rams select wide receiver from the University of Georgia, AJ Green.”
A healthy Danario Alexander and Donnie Avery to compliment the best wide-out in college football split either side of Bradford sounds pretty good doesn’t it?
Just this week, Mel Kiper listed Green as his number two pro prospect behind University of Washington quarterback Jake Locker.
I may be biased being a die-hard Georgia fan, but he really deserves it.
Although he is just a junior and said two weeks ago that his four game suspension earlier this year made him feel as if he owed it to the Bulldog faithful to play his senior year, it seems someone who could rake in around $30 million as a rookie would very likely come out early.
Money talks.
Green would be the best receiver the team has drafted since they selected Torry Holt sixth overall in the 1999 draft. I do not mind Donnie Avery, but I feel Green has a better skill-set and more of an ability to stretch the field, which the team desperately lacks right now. He also brings the ability to go up and grab a jump ball that the five foot-eleven inch Avery can’t. Green is listed at six foot-four, I have met him and can tell you that is selling him short. If you have not had the chance to see his touchdown catch a few weeks ago against Colorado, take a moment to check it out.
The Rams have missed on nearly a dozen draft picks in the rebuilding years after “The Greatest Show on Turf,” but I think the fans are breathing a sigh of relief with Bradford and even the play of OT Rodger Saffold. The team is pointed in the right direction, but as a fan I could only imagine how much greater they could be with that big time receiver and you can never have enough of them, especially with a quarterback with the potential of Bradford.
The only problem is, the Rams may win enough games to pull themselves out of the Green sweepstakes. Raise your hand if you predicted that three months ago.

Down for the Count: Seven reasons to watch Dynamo Pro

Kari Williams, Alestle Reporter

by Kari Williams, Alestle reporter

Since this is my last blog for the semester, I figured I’d change it up a bit. This weekend, Dynamo Pro Wrestling (a local promotion) will take over Pevely, Mo. for the first time.

The company started out as a training facility for aspiring wrestlers, while running shows under the name “Central States Wrestling.” Since its beginnings, Dynamo Pro has evolved and expanded and will begin running shows in Pevely, Mo, as well as returning to Glen Carbon at the venue formerly known as The Game.

The following will be a list of seven reasons why you should take a break from studying (or just get out of Edwardsville!) and witness Dynamo’s first show at The Banquet Center.

1. Road trip:  Everyone enjoys a road trip every now and then. You can’t deny it. And even if you do loathe them with a burning passion, it’s only an hour. So suck it up and head to The Banquet Center. It’s right off the highway!
2. The Ego Express:  K.C. Karrington and “Spoiled” Steven Kennedy haven’t teamed up in months, so making the trek will allow you to witness their return of sorts. Plus, Kennedy is an SIUE Alum. If you won’t go for the wrestling, at least support a former cougar.
3. “The Rebel” Jeremy Wyatt:  Easily one of the best independent stars in Midwest, Wyatt is scheduled to take on Trent Stone. See video for further reasoning:
4. Too much studying is bad for your health:  Yes, I know it’s finals week, but you don’t need to bury yourself in the library or your dorm room the entire weekend. Get out, de-stress and enjoy some quality wrestling. NWA Missouri Champion “Spitfire” Davey Vega will defend his belt against the Central States Wrestling Champion Mark Sterling. What better way to get stress and finals off of your mind than by watching a couple class act, professional and talented wrestlers battle for a prized belt?
5. Money in the Bank:  Tickets for the show are only $10 and $8 in advance. That’s a better bargain than any other form of entertainment on a Saturday night. Head over to Dynamo’s MySpace page for more info on the advance rate.
6. Getting out. Literally:  This show will be held outside at The Banquet Center. Bring a pair of shades, sit back, relax and enjoy the show—and the sunlight.
7. Early start time:  Doors open at 4:00 p.m. and the show starts at 5:00 p.m. With an early start time, you can’t use the say something else is going on! So, stop making excuses. Get a group of friends (heck, you can all chip in for gas if it’s that big of a deal) and make the drive to Pevely. Dynamo is waiting.

Down for Count: Samoa Joe and my TNA interest return

Kari Williams, Alestle Reporter

by Kari Williams, Alestle Reporter

This week is going to be a change of pace for the WWE diehards because when I turned on RAW I saw R-Truth and flipped to TNA. (I can’t stand R-Truth…I don’t know why!) But, I must have changed the station during one of TNA’s better moments because I witnessed Samoa Joe’s return to TNA.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not an avid fan of TNA, and I don’t follow them regularly. However, Tazz and Mike Tenay made Joe’s return sound like a big deal. I could be biased because (for some reason) I like Tazz as an announcer, but something in the way he carries himself and projects his voice makes him believable.

I will admit though, when Joe made his way down to the ring, in a surprise return, I could not help but have WCW flashbacks. A tag team match…A mystery partner…If a Bash at the Beach turn would’ve happened, I would’ve flipped back to RAW. But it didn’t happen. For that, I commend TNA booking; it honestly surprised me that they did not try to recreate that moment.

It has been done so many times in wrestling, where a company tries to revisit an angle, but instead of making it fresh and exciting, they recreate, identically (but horribly) the same interaction that drew heat five to 10 years ago.

With the Shawn Michaels/Vince McMahon angle from a few years back, McMahon “screwed” Michaels like Michaels did to Bret Hart at the 1997 Survivor Series. Trying to recreate the same atmosphere from 1997 was impossible—even McMahon knew that—but he went ahead with the angle anyway. From my perspective, all that did was anger true wrestling fans like a slap in the face.

But back to what TNA did right. It almost seemed like they teased fans with a Bash at the Beach replay, only to give them what they wanted but never expected. The surprise return coupled with Joe’s quick exit following the match leaves questions to be answered. Since this was the first time Joe has been seen since he was kidnapped weeks ago, (I haven’t watched TNA in months, so this kidnapping thing is news to me.) this strategy seems like it could actually work out. Joe returns to the Impact Zone, helps Team Hogan (Jeff Jarrett, Abyss and Rob Terry) defeat Team Flair and walks away without a word to any of team members.

In the very small amount of knowledge I have of TNA, Joe is one of the better wrestlers there, and I believe his return—and the angle in which he is returning—could help elevate TNA’s position within the “Monday Night Wars Version Two.”

Very few times do the fans actually see what they want to happen, rather than what the corporation wants them to see. TNA’s booking did an excellent job, let’s just hope they’re able to keep that momentum going, and maybe I’ll be able write about TNA because I truly want to, rather than a lack of anything worth my interest in WWE.

Time Out Awards: MLB season opener special edition

Jason Frazier, Alestle Reporter

by Jason Frazier, Alestle Reporter

This week was a huge week in sports. We had an exciting NCAA championship game, Tiger Woods returned to golf, Donovan McNabb traded, and NHL and NBA playoff races heated up as well. What more could a sports fan ask for? I almost forgot this week also marked opening day for MLB, where every team including the Royals has postseason aspirations.

In honor of opening day, I am going to have an MLB edition of this week’s Time Out awards. Although the season just started, some have already found a way to earn a Time Out.

First in the batter’s box to earn their Time Out is Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz.  Ortiz started the season 0 for 7. Now I’m not giving him a Time Out for his two-game lack of production; I’m not that harsh.

When confronted by media members regarding this, according to ESPN, Ortiz responded with this following profanity filled tirade.

“You guys wait ’til [expletive] happens, then you can talk [expletive]. Two [expletive] games, and already you [expletives] are going crazy,” Ortiz said. “What’s up with that, man? [Expletive]. [Expletive] 160 games left. That’s a [expletive]. One of you [expletives] got to go ahead and hit for me.”

What happened to the cool and calm Ortiz a.k.a. Big Papi? I understand why Papi was a little irritated, but he could have handled it in a more professional way. Big Papi needs to stop acting like the Big Paranoico (Paranoid); if you play in a big market you have to be prepared to be scrutinized.

Its hard to disagree with a MLB legend like Hank Aaron when he says he sees something special in a young player. Aaron laid lofty expectations on Atlanta Braves rookie outfielder Jayson Heyward after his opening day homerun.

“He can certainly bring the excitement back, not only for Atlanta but also for African-American players,” Aaron said. “We do need to have many, many more Jason Heywards.”

Aaron isn’t the only one singing the early praises of Heyward, it seems as a majority of baseball writers are already trying to induct him in the Hall of Fame.

So Hank Aaron and fellow Jason Heyward bandwagon riders take a Time Out for the pre-mature praise on this promising player.  It seems as if Heyward has a lot of tools to become a good player, but let’s give him a chance to have a career before we declare him the best baseball player ever.

My last timeout goes to the only Cardinal player I’m having issues with so far this season. I’m not going to completely throw him under the bus, since it’s so early, but Jason Motte, I need you to get it together.

Motte’s stat line so far reads an ERA of 27.00, WHIP of 6.00, and 1 loss, with the one loss coming in the Cardinals first loss of the season. Motte came in the game in the ninth inning with the score tied 1-1, and then threw a fastball in upper part of the plate to the Cincinnati Reds Johnny Gomes. Gomes deposited it over the fence for a walk off victory for the Reds.

Motte, the Cards long term success this season depends on you. Hopefully a Time Out will motivate you to get your act together.

That closes this week’s edition of the Time Out awards this week. Until next week; coaches, players, and all those involved in the world of sports be nervous, because I am on the lookout for those who deserve a Time Out.

Down for the Count: Orton teeters on the brink

Kari Williams, Alestle Reporter

by Kari Williams, Alestle Reporter

A couple weeks ago on RAW, John Cena chose Randy Orton as his ‘mystery tag team partner’ for a match against Batista and Jack Swagger. I know that Legacy is practically non-existent, but my initial reaction was still, “Uh…Orton and Cena? Teaming up? How is this possible?”

Legacy’s demise is an important part of the transition of Orton’s character, but to throw him in a match with the top babyface seems a little sudden. Maybe it’s WWE’s way of showing that Orton is on the verge of a turn, since it seems like he’s been teetering for the last few weeks or so. Obviously, the pairing was a hesitant one with an air of mistrust and tension, but the fact still remains—one of the best heels of this decade teamed with someone who is supposed to be (despite the Cena-haters) one of the top faces of this decade.

This goes without saying, but I am not a booker or storyline writer. But throwing a top heel and a top face together so soon seems like it could hurt Orton and his character’s direction. A similar situation occurred a few years ago when Orton was unceremoniously eliminated from Evolution. He left the group and did a complete 180, going from an up and coming heel to a face whose fire died out too quickly. WWE needs to prevent that from happening again, especially with the quality of talent they are dealing with in Orton.

Though it appears WWE is doing a better job this time around by creating a distrust when Orton and Cena tagged, I still see Orton’s character working better as a heel.

It’s not that he can’t pull of being a face, because with his talent, he could pretty much do anything and get over, but he just has the kind of personality where he’s so easy to hate that fans love to hate him.

Everybody, whether they’re wrestling fans or not, have someone or something—whether it’s a TV show character or a sports team—that they hate because it’s fun to do so. For example, fans one One Tree Hill love to hate Dan Scott because the big, evil man who ruins people’s lives. But without him, the show wouldn’t be the same. As much as fans would have liked it initially if Dan Scott was killed off, they would soon realize that they’re villain isn’t there to antagonize and create havoc.

The same thing goes for wrestling. If you take one of the best heels out of his element and have him cater to the fans, being the good guy and doing what’s right, people are going to resent that they’re evil was taken from them. Many people, myself included, use wrestling as an escape from the drama, pain and heartache of life, and as odd as it sounds, the bad guy has to stay in this fantasy world to keep things moving along, to keep us coming back to see who will try to knock him off of his high horse next.

One of the important things about wrestling is that the fans are kept happy. If fans love to hate Orton, why take that away from them? Orton can separate himself from Legacy, and because he is so good at what he does, he can still come out of the feud looking strong without a turn.

From my perspective, fans would hate him even more if he came out Legacy as an even cockier, more arrogant heel. So, Orton needs to stop teetering, and give the fans what they want.