EARNESTLY SPEAKING MEDIA

On Bill Maher

1/18/2020

I just finished watching Real Time with Bill Maher with my wife for the first time in months. I decided to stop watching last summer was that I needed to get away from the political mumbo jumbo for a little bit.

Maybe it was Trump commentary burnout.

Maybe it was in preparation for 2020 when the election year gets ratcheted up to a crescendo.

Maybe.

But I decided last night to watch again. And it was a really good episode.

Nancy Pelosi. Not that I’m a fan of hers at all but can you believe she is 79 years old? Insane.

Andrew Yang. Easily the most interesting and intriguing candidate for President. He’s also the only candidate who spends less time talking about Donald Trump and impeachment and
more focusing on the issues. A candidate with ideas. I don’t know if his platform of a Universal Basic Income would actually work but I’m more than ok having a conversation about it.

Because that’s exactly how you bring about ideas. Get it in the arena. Discuss the pros and cons. But that’s lost in today’s uber partisan environment where you or either on the blue team or the red team.

Anyway back to Maher. This episode did get me thinking though.
Why do I watch Bill Maher? He’s a liberal elitist. A complete asshole. In no way could I relate to him on personal level. I could never see myself having a beer with him.

Yet I watch.

Why?

Because truthfully his show is really good. Sure, his monologues are mostly tiring anti-Trump platitudes that bores the piss out of me now because that’s pretty much all he has done in the last 3-4 years. And it’s tiring now. And this is coming from a non-Trump supporter in myself. But his panels are awesome. Bill Maher books the best guests in the world of politics. People in the name of interesting. Democrat. Republican. Centrist. It does not matter. The middle 30 minutes of the show is the highlights. Because they have the conversation.

It reminds me of how I fell in love with sports radio at the age of 12 in similar yet familiar fashion.

Hank Goldberg would host the afternoon drive on 560 WQAM in South Florida. I always thought he was a prick.

Just like Maher.

I always thought he was a complete asshole to his callers.

Just like Maher.

I can’t say I necessarily like Hank. But yet I was entertained. It’s also why I’ve started to have a better appreciation for Howard Stern in recent years when I never actually cared for his schtick while still recognizing he was and still is arguably the greatest radio talent in the history of the business.

Today I can’t say I’m not a fan of Bill Maher cause I am.

I just got done listening to his sit down interview on the Joe Rogan Experience. And by the way it’s about time some liberals are growing balls and starting to appear on Rogan’s playform on a regular basis. For awhile there it seemed like many of them were too far up their own ass to make the time to get on a platform like Rogan’s. It’s the best and most transparent podcast running.

Good to see Maher give his authentic and unfiltered voice on there even though on a personal level he’s still out of touch with me. But at least he’s honest and does not bullshit you.

Plus I still enjoy New Rules.

Comments

Mike McCarthy to the Cowboys

1/6/2020

Comments

It’s just what the Dallas Cowboys needs. Someone who is the antithesis of what Jason Garrett was. A disciplinarian. Someone who is known more for just clapping incessantly on the sidelines.

Mike McCarthy is that man.

How much control will he have over staff and decision making regarding remains somewhat of a mystery. I say that only because if you know the history of owner Jerry Jones, he wants just as much say over the Cowboys off-field brand as with the on-field decisions.

Why else would a mediocre at best coach in Jason Garrett last as long as he did? Because he was Jones family yes man. Hey, it paid well so on a human level can you actually blame him? I might’ve done the very same thing if I was in his shoes. .

Truth be told I’m stunned Jerruh didn’t stick to the usua shtick in hiring another guy who declares complete loyalty to the Cowboy brand. Believe me, loyalty is a specialty that is severely lacking within the American fiber in 2020 so I can see the value in that. In fact my criticisms for Jerry Jones has been that he cares way too much. But many sports fans across the spectrum would take a Jerry Jones type who actually gives a actual shit in signing the checks over a clown like say, Dean Spanos hovering over the Chargers of Los Angeles which no one in that city truly gives a fuck about.

By the way I’m still wondering why the hell he left San Diego high and dry.

Many owners especially in “smaller markets” are just as fine with taking whatever profits out of revenue sharing and treat their franchise as a way to add to their portfolio instead of investing in bettering their product.

Which leads me back to McCarthy.

He’s the correct hire. Someone that this Dallas roster can truly benefit from. All season I’ve said the Dallas Cowboys was a Super Bowl roster. They are littered with talent.

Dak Prescott is a top 16 quarterback and for the most part played as such most of 2019.

Ezekiel Elliot is arguably the best running back in all of football.

Amari Cooper while strategically more impactful as a #2 option at receiver certainly plays like a #1.

A solid defense. Top 5 offensive line in the game. They should be playing football in January. Not pussyfooting around deciding how and when to fire Jason Garrett.

Hiring Mike McCarthy who has Super Bowl credibility does signify a sense of growing up from Jerry Jones. Now let’s see if he can let him do his job without fail.

The good money is that he won’t. History always proves itself right again.

Comments

How To Make AEW Great In 2020

1/4/2020

Comments

Though only making a splash through a few pay per views in 2019 and AEW Dynamite debuting on Wednesday nights in early October, there is no question that the All Elite Wrestling promotion has made a splash out the gate.

But if you are a loyal watcher like myself then we also need to be completely honest with ourselves when assessing the product in its entirety. There have been really great things about the product so far.

Chris Jericho for starters reinventing himself as he closes in on age 50 continues to shock fans week after week with legendary promos that impress.

AEW has a really talented roster with the likes of Jon Moxley, Kenny Omega and Cody Rhodes for starters.

But there his also the bad.

The Dark Order? Really? Sure I enjoy the vignettes. But in the ring? I do not care. Guess many others do not as well. Go ahead. I dare you.

Here’s my number one gripe with AEW. Maxwell Jacob Friedman. Affectionately known as MJF. Arguably their diamond in the rough that’s yet to be molded in a big way. He needs to be on television pretty much every week. It is understandable that much of their established talent such as Kenny Omega and Young Bucks are trying to get guys over by almost burying themselves. I get it. But MJF is by far the one with the most potential to do it big for the next decade in this business. The second best heel in the company behind Chris Jericho is a good place to be in. Time to expose that

They do not want to fall into the same mistakes that destroyed WCW (World Championship Wrestling) by 2001. And believe me it wasn’t just that the WWE and Vince McMahon crushed them by the end of the millenium. WCW destroyed themselves. Bloated contracts from guys more than past their prime who did not give a shit about anything but themselves. We do need to mention names. They’ve been put on blast publicly for the last two decades.

But AEW has an opportunity. A fresh roster of talent that is hungry for a chance. A women’s division that needs loads of help. But you can see the potential.

Also time for a second belt. An equivalent of the WWE’s Intercontinental Title.

To me it’s simple. More television time for MJF. Make me care about Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks. The women’s division needs to matter more.

That said, their first episode of 2020 this past week is a great place to start. Arguably their best episode since debuting on television in October.

Can AEW capitalize?

That is the million dollar question.

Comments

Kevin Garnett on the Bill Simmons Podcast

12/21/2019

Comments

Kevin Garnett was open, transparent and candid on the court during his playing days. In retirement not one iota has changed.

He did not disappoint either during his appearance on the Bill Simmons Podcast this week. Everything to some degree was on the table.

First and foremost he was on the pod alongside Adam Sandler mainly to promote their new movie. But listening to the just over an hour sit down you forgot really quickly that Sandler, who is obviously the bigger name and the bigger star in the mainstream because he’s one of the most popular and influential comedians in the last quarter century was on there.

Garnett was the star. Point, blank, period. Especially on the subject of LeBron James and how he claims he and his Boston Celtics teammates “broke him” during the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Miami Heat.

Below is a transcription of the exchange:

Simmons: You're trying to get into his head. You feel like you can break LeBron at this point.

Garnett: We broke LeBron.

Simmons: In Game 5.

Garnett: So get your a-- out of here with that. You understand how he got to Cleveland. How he got to Miami, Bill? You remember that?

Simmons: Oh that's true. You broke him in 2010. Fair enough.

Garnett: So stop bringing it up.

Simmons: Fair enough.

Garnett: So they was talking s--- to him – the media. And the league knew that they had an agenda in which we wasn't part of the agenda. You understand? Right. And that's how they ended up winning that series. Yeah. I said it.

Simmons: Do you think you pushed LeBron too far in Game 5? Because in Game 6, he's unbelievable.
Garnett: What're you talking about? Pushed him too far?

Simmons: Nothing?

Garnett: Man, listen. Let me tell you something. The C's, we didn't give a f--- about LeBron. We didn't fear LeBron. And we didn't think he could beat all five of us. And that's how it felt. He was trying to consolidate because he didn't want the pressure on him. You understand?

So some things to unpack. Many LeBron James obsessive fan who feel he does no wrong will refer to the fact that following Game 5 of those sameEast Finals that LeBron pretty much nuked the end of the Celtics “Big 3” in Game 6 with his historic 45 point performance that saved the Miami Heat blueprint at the time. The Heat went on to win the series in seven games then proceeded to win back to back Finals as a result.

The Celtics never recovered.

However the quote that Garnett broke LeBron honestly had nothing to do with the aforementioned series. Moreso the 2010 East semifinals matchup which the Celtics for the 2nd year in a row eliminated the 60 win Cleveland Cavaliers from the postseason during LeBron’s first stint in Cleveland.

The “broke” he was speaking of was likely James changing uniforms and teaming up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and taking his talents to South Beach.

All in all this podcast made me realize two things. That I miss the shit of Kevin Garnett and players like him in the league. It was fun respectively hating him. They don’t make many guys like the KG in the Association anymore.

The second thing is that Kevin Garnett needs his own podcast. I know he hosted the Area 21 segment on TNT last season but that format seemed way too restrictive for someone of his caliber. Kevin Garnett can and in my opinion would be the next athlete turn media star in the industry.

Comments

Andrew Luck’s Retirement

8/26/2019

Comments

I was out with friends (which is a rarity for me these days) enjoying their company at a local sports bar while taking in the Florida-Miami college football kickoff soirée. Only 30 minutes before my buddies and I were literally discussing the best six quarterbacks entering the 2019 season. Of course Andrew Luck’s name was mentioned in the conversation. Questions arouse like:

Can he stay healthy?

How scary are the Colts this year if healthy?

Every narrative imaginable. Indianapolis is one of the teams in the AFC that can make things quite interesting at the top.

Then a red ESPN/ABC ticker scrolled across the bottom of the screen.

Andrew Luck has decided to retire from the NFL due to ‘being mentally wore down’.

On one hand I was shocked. The guy is only 29 years old. He seems to love the game of football in such a genuine and authentic fashion. On the other hand, if you’ve followed him closely over the last few years and the injuries this guy has worked through, in all honesty you really shouldn’t be shocked either.

For context and reminders sake, here is the laundry list of injuries Andrew Luck has sustained through his NFL career courtesy of Indy beat writer Zak Keefer of The Athletic

Physical toll on Andrew Luck through 6 NFL seasons:
» Torn cartilage in 2 ribs
» partially torn abdomen
» a lacerated kidney that left him peeing blood
» at least 1 concussion
» a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder
» and this mysterious calf/ankle issue that led to this
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) August 25, 2019

Now first let me address the fans. I get the criticisms. I get the booing at the stadium in the reactionary moment when word got out that he was retiring even though he had planned on making the announcement 24 hours later. I don’t have to like it. In fact I don’t. But what have I said for years. Sports, love it or hate it brings out the absolute stupid in people. Acts like that for me however have become more of an expectation than a shock. But it shouldn’t reflect as the be all, end all of the Indianapolis Colts fan base. I refuse to let a group of maybe 100 fans dictate the overall narrative of a fan base.

The reaction to the news nationally has been mostly positive. Sure there are a few dolts that has made questionable comments about it. Washed up radio personality Doug Gottlieb who is only known more for his contrarian hot takes and less for quality radio content probably had the absolute worst of the weekend.

Retiring cause rehabbing is “too hard” is the most millennial thing ever #AndrewLuck
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) August 25, 2019

Thankfully NFL Hall Of Famer and fellow Fox Sports teammate Troy Aikman put his ass in his place with a reply that shook the Twitter-sphere.

That’s total bullshit Doug. What qualifies you to decide how someone should live their life? So you’re now the authority on what motivates Andrew Luck? And if his decisions don’t fit into what you think is best for him then you rip him? Guess that keeps you employed on FS1. Nice https://t.co/p59DsmPoER
— Troy Aikman (@TroyAikman) August 26, 2019

As for me I got into a few spats on social media with some regarding this very topic. Some of it has been productive. Others just straight up nonsensical. It is certainly beyond comprehension that there actually people who exist and spend time sitting behind a keyboard and/or their smart phone with the nerve to tweet that Andrew Luck was soft for retiring only 7 years into a sure fire Hall Of Fame career. To which I say, if you have questions re-read the list of injuries he has gone through in just 7 seasons.

It is also quite sickening hearing people rationalize situations like these in an effort to make themselves feel better or sound smarter. Fact of the matter is you can’t compare. Not unless you are a part of the game. Which is what bothered me about a few members of the media making asinine statements. Certainly not to the level of the moronic Doug Gottlieb. But nonsensical nonetheless.

Andrew Luck’s career through 7 seasons may be enough to garner some Hall Of Fame whispers. Sadly I do not think he will get in. Some will say because guys like Gale Sayers, who himself played 7 NFL seasons, yet is looked at as one of the top 5-10 running backs in the history of the sport and is in Canton that this should help Luck’s chances. I thought about that on Saturday night. The problem is that the eras both men played in are vastly different. Availability does matter. Availability is precisely what will help Eli Manning’s chances of getting into the Hall despite many subpar seasons circled around his two historic Super Bowl wins over the New England Patriots in 2007 and 2011.

Unfortunately it will not help Andrew Luck a single bit.

I could be wrong though.

As for the Colts. They are actually still in a solid situation. Their backup Jacoby Brissett is a bright young quarterback who showed lots of promise in 2017 when Luck missed the entire season due to injury. He could start on as many as 8-10 teams right now outside Indianapolis.

That is a fact.

Things could be a whole lot worse for Indy. Now whether or not they can compete among the top of the AFC alongside the Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs and others is a whole other conversation. We will see how it plays out.

Above it all, Andrew Luck will be missed and he made the right decision. For himself. His family. His mental state. I respect it.

A guy who came into league and played the game with a sense of joy. Joy that he admittedly confessed that he no longer possesses for the game of football.

Folks, you can’t just concoct that. It just is what it is. It is a natural feeling. Quite frankly wouldn’t he be doing a bigger disservice to Colts fans if he was to play the game knowing his heart was not into it? See no one thinks about this from that angle.

Best wishes to you Captain Andrew Luck.

Comments

With the return of WWE's King Of The Ring, Drew McIntyre should be the one to ascend to the throne

8/15/2019

Comments

This past Monday night on RAW it was announced the WWE will bringing back it’s monumental tournament the King Of The Ring which is slated to start beginning next Monday night on the same telecast. The WWE Universe naturally is pretty excited about the return of the once popular tournament that CEO Vince McMahon decided to forego for God knows whatever reason after 2002. Many notable names on the current WWE roster are slated to enter this event. Eight from the RAW roster. Eight from the Smackdown list. From Ricochet to Kevin Owens to Buddy Murphy. But there is one person of the 16 entries in particular who I’m laser focused on this event that can change the fortunes of his entire career.

That man is Drew McIntyre.

McIntyre is certainly one of the most talented guys on the entire WWE and his work both in the squared circle and on the mic is among the very best. Unfortunately in the last few months he’s one of many that’s been misused by management and as a result has gotten lost in the shuffle. So much that up until last month he was paired up with Shane McMahon in an attempt to give him some heat. In my opinion however it only took away from McIntyre's whole persona.

Last week Dwyane Johnson aka. The Rock gave the “Scottish Psychopath” his sign of approval and saying he was the next big thing.

"I think he's got a great look, great build," Rock says ... noting that he's only getting BETTER every time he steps in the ring.

And on his podcast this week, multiple time WWE Hall Of Famer and former King Of The Ring winner Booker T explained why Drew McIntyre will and should win the prestigious tournament

I was watching Drew McIntyre earlier when they announced The King of the Ring tournament. I see Drew McIntyre as The King: The Scottish King coming out with the robe, which is my opinion. There are a lot of guys in the tournament, but I see Drew McIntyre ascending to another level which is why I say that the fans are going to win at the end of the day, because the locker room is about turning it up right now and seeing how far we can push ourselves, and how far we can really go as far as a unit. That is the love of the game that I love and miss so much.

It’s quite clear the people who have been involved in this very industry and carry loads of credibility tend to agree with me on this very subject. Plus judging from the last month since the Extreme Rules PPV, it seems like they’ve already started shifting Shane McMahon away from McIntyre.

With Seth Rollins regaining the Universal title at SummerSlam over Brock Lesnar and pretty much putting that rivalry out to pasture, he is in need of another legitimate program. The King Of The Ring provides the opportunity to create an situation to build on a star that’s already on the roster and primed to do big things. Drew McIntyre would be perfect to slide into that program.

This legendary tournament has changed the course of careers for notable guys like Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, Kurt Angle and many others.

McIntyre could be added to that list.

If only the WWE allows it.

Comments

The Burning 7: SummerSlam 2019

8/12/2019

Comments

SummerSlam 2019 is in the books. Was it as perfect as say Extreme Rules from last month? No. But it was a damn good show. Very few negative takeaways and for a show that ran pretty much close to 6 hours when you include the kickoff show, it’s really all you can ask for. Here are some of my takeaways from the biggest wrestling party of the summer.

1. Ember Moon passed her showcase with flying colors

It was no surprise Bayley won. The real priority for the WWE last night was to bolster the women’s division that seems to be thinning out in the middle. Once you get past Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Bayley the division does present many questions. Yet the WWE gambled on a match between Bayley and Ember Moon that many looked at more as a filler. Instead we got a really solid presentation. Ember Moon may have lost the match but in my opinion she passed the eye test. She’s more than passable and should be able to move up the card in the coming weeks and months and hopefully contend for the women’s title as we approach the final quarter of 2019.

2. What is the WWE doing with Dolph Ziggler?

Dolph has for all intents and purposes become a over glorified jobber that’s being fed to the wolves otherwise ascending to the top of the roster which is sad. We know DZ best days as the man on the roster are more than 7 years behind him but I’m willing to argue he’s still one of the five best in-ring performers in the company. Simply put, his match with Goldberg was solely done to wipe the stink off his match vs.The Undertaker from Super Showdown back in June. In hindsight it does make sense how it played out with Goldberg no selling two super kicks before spearing Dolph not once but three times. The match felt more like the comedic portion of SummerSlam but the sad reality is Dolph Ziggler is probably needing a change of scenery. He virtually gets no pop from the crowd and the only reason they’ve been invested in him as of late is solely due to the angles he’s been involved in with both Goldberg and Shawn Michaels — two Hall of Fame legends that’s easy to get invested in from a storyline perspective.

3. Having the women’s tag team championship on the line during the SummerSlam pre-show was absolute genius.

We know how many fans of the WWE Universe on a monthly basis complain about the length of the PPV’s especially the major four events (Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series) and much ado is because of the kickoff show. For the record I have no beef with the kickoff show. It’s the WWE utilizing and maximizing its platform to create as big an atmosphere as possible for the viewer. For that I salute them. Many folks however do complain of the length to which I say that you as a viewer do have choices. The WWE did utilize it’s kickoff show in the best way by bringing out a surprise in Hall Of Famer Edge and also showcasing a women’s tag title match in Alexa Bliss/Nikki Cross vs.The Iconics. If you’re going to do a kickoff show it does present the opportunity to dump some really intriguing matchups that are otherwise not on the main card. Job well done.

4. The Fiend (Bray Wyatt) debut was a great spectacle.

Because I’ve only returned to watching the current product in the last 2-3 months, Bray Wyatt for intents and purposes is still green to me. As for his return in this new incarnation as “The Fiend” I’ll say this. The presentation leading into SummerSlam and ultimately last night on the big show it has been nothing short of incredible. My lone concern is whether he can consistently make this character work in the ring like he has off it. Too early to tell but throwing Finn Balor to him, so far so good. We will see though.

5. Color commentator Corey Graves is really growing on me.

As a fan of over 30 years I’ve had my favorite “hellish” color guys in the booth from Jesse “The Body” Ventura, Bobby Heenan and Jerry Lawler to name a few. It’s taking me a bit getting used to Corey Graves. But I’m a fan finally. He isn’t so over the top as a heel supporter cause he does lend common sense to the overall psychology of each match. His comparison of “The Fiend” character and impact to that of “The Undertaker” sounded shocking in the moment but the analogy in hindsight does ring true.

6. Since Wrestlemania, Kofi Kingston has had a more impressive title run than Seth Rollins.

This is the damn truth. Nothing todo who I prefer. I’m not particularly a big Seth Rollins guy although he is an incredible in ring performer. But judging from when both men won their respective titles at Wrestlemania in April, there is no question Kofi Kingston is much more over especially judging by the programs he’s been involved with thus far. Whereas it seems to keep Seth Rollins interest strong they’ve had to rehash his rivalry with a part timer in Brock Lesnar and a failed on-screen partnership with his real life girlfriend Becky Lynch. Seems like the WWE has to try hard to sell Seth Rollins while it has its hands off on Kofi Kingston cause he sells himself. Maybe a sudden heel turn is in the cards for the Beast Slayer.

7. Brock Lesnar was used SOLELY to sell SummerSlam and it might have officially destroyed his character.

I hated the ending last night. It makes zero sense why Brock Lesnar returns to cash his Money In The Bank at Extreme Rules last night to regain the Universal Title only to lose it a month later to the same guy in Seth Rollins who just beat him 4 months ago at Wrestlemania. Only thing I can come up with is that the WWE entering the summer with low television ratings and waning interest brought back Brock Lesnar to give the company a short term jolt heading into SummerSlam to raise some interest and bring back a few eyeballs who may have otherwise turned away. The problem now is unless Brock Lesnar intends on not wrestling again, the bloom is off the rose with his character. How can I believe a guy who for the last two weeks that has busted ribs courtesy of the Beast Incarnate can come into SummerSlam and beat him cleanly? It’s hard to believe and it makes the Brock Lesnar character look even less than. It’s truly dumb.

Comments

<<Previous

On Bill Maher

Mike McCarthy to the Cowboys

How To Make AEW Great In 2020

Kevin Garnett on the Bill Simmons Podcast

Andrew Luck’s Retirement

With the return of WWE's King Of The Ring, Drew McIntyre should be the one to ascend to the throne

The Burning 7: SummerSlam 2019

Archives

Categories