You’ll have to forgive me, but Redshirt, Gratliff & I will be contributing tonight with one eye on the 8-hour spectacle going on in front of us. There are, by my count, 15 matches taking place, including two Battles Royale. Of all that noise, here’s what’s important:
- WWE Championship: Kofi Kingston vs. Daniel Bryan
- the B+ player versus the “Original B+ Player”™. It should be the best match on the card.
- WWE Universal Championship: Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins
- if Brock’s fighting Cormier, or Cormier is shown in the crowd, he’s losing.
- Winner Take All: Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch
- the Main Event. If Becky pins Ronda, Ronda’s gone for a while. If Becky pins Charlotte, Ronda’s staying. No one expects Charlotte to win, despite her being an actual Flair.
This ‘Mania has had just the worst build up to it – racism, sexism, & Shane McMahon have been booking staples this season. The quest to give everyone something to do has bloated the card to the point where only the obsessed can watch the whole damn thing. You can find a list & breakdown of each match here.
Me – I’m going to settle for updates during the day, and then hunker down for a serious watch about 6:00 PT.
Tonight’s sports:
- NHL: first round playoffs begin Thursday
- MLB:
- Dodgers at Rockies – 8:30PM | ESPN / TSN5
- NBA:
- Clippers at Warriors – 8:30PM | Sportsnet
- Jazz at Lakers – 9:30PM | NBATV
- G-League Playoff:
- Game 1: Rio Grande Valley Vipers at Long Island Nets – 7:00PM | ESPNU
- NCAA:
- Women’s Championship Game – Notre Dame vs. Baylor – 6:00PM | ESPN / TSN5
- Futbol:
- Women’s International Friendly Soccer:
- U.S. vs. Belgium – 9:00PM | ESPN2
- Women’s International Friendly Soccer:
- WWE:
- Wrestlemania Kickoff show – 6:00PM | USA
The Men’s Final Four concludes tomorrow, and either Hippo or Scotchy will have you covered. YOUR BETS ARE YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY!
“No judgment. I’m just waiting until that machine bends you backwards.”
I’ve never understood WrestleMania. Or women. But I’m still interested in one.
I could do that but I don’t wanna
At least Wrestlemania doesn’t break your balls and leave you broke. Just $35 for PPV, right?
$10 per month if you sign up for the network. I don’t think they sell individual PPV’s anymore.
Depends on if you have a cable/satellite provider. Dish Network was charging $60.
About to watch NXT Take over and Wrestlemania over the next few days (Yes, I already know what happens).
Honestly, Vince should make Wrestlemania a 2 day, 3 hour/day event. One 10 hour day or whatever it is, ending at midnight for east coasters is stupid.
Ending at midnight in the time zone it’s located in, so all those people… well they probably were gonna call out to work anyway.
I don’t think it’s ended before midnight in 3 years. Maybe he should let some of the 150 wrestlers out of their contracts so they don’t need 8 hours to get 75% of the roster into the show
They’d likely get stronger crowd reactions if they were more recharged by having a shorter event.
Batista’s grand entrance
BLEERGH reigns supreme at WrestleMania!
Only DFO worships the true gods.
ALL HAIL BLEERGH!
7.5 hours of Mania later, it ends on a botched pin
Really, it’s the only way it could end.
The convoluted booking continues tomorrow!
Plus new call ups!
Thanks everyone for your replies and validation that “Discuss the representation of violence” is a stupid question. The book in question is Timothy Findley’s The Wars
@beerguy: “What drives someone to volunteer for war?” . . .In the case of the protagonist, he joins out of guilt because his severely mentally disabled sister died due to the fact the protagonist was too busy jerking off in the washroom instead of baby sitting his sister. (I’m not joking)
@ArmedandHammered: “I would take it (and this is probably simplistic), is how did the author justify the violence in the book, was it justified, righteous, or something to be abhorred?”
Oh, it is abhorred.
@ThurberHerder: “Based on how the question is worded I would focus on 1) How and 2) Why the author decided to make the those decisions.”
That’s pretty good advice, too. Thanks. (And Welcome!)
I have actually taught that book.
In highschool!?! I’m shocked that would have gotten approved with how graphic it is. Can you give me a hint as to what path I should follow?
It’s obviously a negative critique about violence in WWI. Should I go down the path that it changed the collective psyche of Canadian society where violent acts went from private to public?
Or should I keep it simple(r) and discuss how it’s negatively represented and the use of flames can also symbolically represent pain and emotional distress?
Follow the path of how the violence they observed & participated in helped mature a young nation, and that the concept of blind adherence to following orders leads to nothing but destruction.
Lots of teachers like to ask the students how they would feel going off to war in a land so far away they’d only ever read about it. And what image of war would they have had before they went, and how did their perspectives change.
Here we see the origins of the handshake in Canada.
LOL
“Get on with it!” -The refs
The Triple H/Batista and Baron Corbin match took a lot out of me. Is Trump still President or did the dolphins finally rise up and overthrow humanity?
Snorky 2020!
He has my vote unless Meteor decides to run.
Video recap of women’s title match story at 11:48 pm. Match should start by 12:10 am. This is a war crime.
It is hard to imagine a time when it wasn’t WrestleMania XXXV. It is the only life I can remember ever knowing.
There is no more “time”. There is only “Wrestlemania”.
It is 11:12 PM EST and there are at least 3 more matches on this card.
Holy shit!
Does Alexa still have her clothes on?
I’ll change channels if not.
Same dress but with a lower neckline and it’s green
Tempting.
Isn’t a symptom of mania hyperactivity, so an increase in speed or energy? Clearly this is not a Wrestlemania then.
I had to jury rig Gratliff’s bills mafia gif link because Fuck ESPN.
Love bills mafia
Jay is retired and has no idea what he wants to do right now.
So pretty much exactly what he was like when he dropped back in the pocket.
Cats gonna cat
They should let him fill in on the price is right for just one week.
Anyone who gets the exact price has to reach into his pocket to get the $100 bill, but once in the pocket they find there’s nothing there – just like when Cutler was playing.
Oh god, two horrible women are talking about freezing their eggs and ruling the world together.
I just want to watch Jay Cutler get fucked up and make horribly awkward conversation.
His summer coat is coming in nicely. He’s still intent on showing off his ass like every other cat, too.
Round 2, an excellent IPA from Connecticut Valley Brewing.
?w=225&h=300
There’s a show about Jay Cutler and his wife and Jay is fucking hammered.
It’s on E!. I was channel-flipping. But this is awesome.
Direct quote “Drunk Jay is usually the best Jay.”
Was this a quote from a Bears fan, or TyphoidMarryMe?
Probably Jay himself.
Paging Joel McHale!
Holy shit Dave Batista tripped stepping in the ring and I can’t stop laughing. HALLO BIG HOLLYWOOD ACTOR GUY
https://twitter.com/tde_wrestling/status/1115082607157567488
Isn’t he closing in on 50?
Just turned, actually, but that isn’t gonna stop me from crying watching Drax almost die because he didn’t lift his foot high enough
Where/who/why is the turnstile?
I guess those quick reflexes only work on things above him.
Hey
Howdy!
She seems nice.
Candice Swanepoel after having her first kid, I think. Hence how she actually has boobs in this gif.
The Gang Gets Racist
J to the R O Muthafuckin’ C
JFC. It’s definitely white boy day today.
Let’s all guess how many calories I’m drinking right now…
They’re all delicious, so why bother counting?
You sir, are a scholar and a gentleman.
I’ll vouch for the scholar, but I dunno about a gentleman.
Now it’s Fiona Apple. The groove is smooth…
My whole life I’ve gone between hating David Bowie’s Let’s Dance and liking it.
It’s playing in the pub I’m in right now I have to say I’m liking it.
I’m turning into Make It Snow on Greece.
What ever happened to that dude?
Very active on the Twitter.
Who ran him off? Beerguyrob I bet.
I think he’s more of an in-season contributor.
But that’s why we have the AAF!
Oh.
It’s like we hardly knew them.
Because we didn’t.
You spelled “Sill Bimmons” wrong.
Alma Matter won the WNIT.
I’m not sure if that’s worse than the no postseason for the men.
Question for Beerguy and other educators/English Majors out there:
Based on a novel I read on WWI, I have an essay question of “Discuss the representation of violence”
What do you think that means? It’s so freaking vague.
Does it mean, how violence causes a shift in the psyche of people?
Or how violence tends to only occur to animals in the novel?
Or is violence just represented in a negative way?
Any help would be appreciated because my distance education English teacher is the worst
That seems like a very subjective question that depends entirely on what your teacher’s view of the representation of violence was. I’d need to know what the novel was and what was discussed in the class. Otherwise it’s just a bullshit question.
You have correctly summarized the majority of English teachers.
I’m related to several. We have these discussions all the time.
Write about how much you enjoyed the violence, and that now you understand why they called it “The Great War.”
“In conclusion, the Somme was a land of contrasts.”
“Adversity often brings out the finest in men . . . “
“There once was a man from Nantu…”
Oh, sorry, thought this was my poetry class.
“What’s so civil about war anyways?”
– W Axl Rose
I would have to know what the novel was about. But as for the “representation of violence”, you can always assume literal violence and implied violence. Feelings, hatred, threats, language.
Everyone knows one of the Ten Commandments is “Thou Shalt Not Kill”. However it is written 1 John 3:15 “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer. ” Violence itself doesn’t have to be an action. It can be an attitude. A belief. A way of life.
However I finished college with a 2.5 GPA. Take my advice with a grain of salt and a shot of Jack.
This is also good advice.
And a lime?
“how violence tends to only occur to animals in the novel?”
Was this novel written by Marty Mornhinweg?
Well, my supposition would be that they want to to draw a correlation between the violence exhibited in the book with the normal passive state of man. What drives someone to volunteer for war? What drives them to survive? What turns some into killing machines? And what becomes of those who cannot turn off the switch when they return home. How does this affect not just them, but their loved ones, and the country as a whole.
I believe this is where their awfully-written question is being directed.
Then, wrap up a Blu-ray of “The Deer Hunter” and submit that for grades.
Also, include how to do you turn it off. How do you tell someone “Go be an unstoppable killing machine.” and then go “We don’t need you. We’re at peace. Go home.”
I guess that would be “First Blood” or the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Hunted” (3×11)
Just submit this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01-2pNCZiNk
Here’s Extra Credit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjzjhl-QztE
DIDI MAO!!! DIDI MAO!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoqSrkhIVsI
War is good for business. So is peace.
Last night I was reminded of the time Rom formed a union at the bar and they went on strike. When Quark offered him an under the table deal to end it like Mr. Burns did to Homer, Rom fucking quotes The Communist Manifesto. Today, we like DS9.
I would take it (and this is probably simplistic), is how did the author justify the violence in the book, was it justified, righteous, or something to be abhorred? Or was the author neutral, just pulling a Joe Friday and giving just the facts maam?
I’d submit this comment tree as proof that this is a stupid question.
I would take it to mean the literal words/prose used to depict acts of violence that take place in the novel. Is it flowery, symbolic language, or cold, distant, and scientific? Are there instances where some violence is related distantly and some are related emotionally/personally? Why did the author decide to portray it in this fashion?
Based on how the question is worded I would focus on 1) How and 2) Why the author decided to make the those decisions. If there’s other literature in the course compare it to the decisions other authors have made and why they made them.
Hey. New guy.
That was one hell of a match.
If there is one thing true for both pro wrestling and actual sports, it’s that it being garbage 98% of the time can be instantly forgotten in the truly great moments
Yessir to both of you.
— Andre Rison, upon arriving at what’s left of his home.
Poor Joey. He had but the briefest glimpse of true love, only to be denied.
STIFFLER’S MOM!!!!
Also, holy shit you (non-gender specific) guys!
I’m okay with this.
Is that Amanda Plummer from Pulp Fiction?
Kofi Kingston-Daniel Bryan happening now. If Kofi wins, WWE gets to retcon itself as Not Actually Racist. Those are the rules and Vince takes them very seriously.
But seriously, strap Kofi, you fucking cowards.
THIS GUY GRATLIFF, I CALL THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BECAUSE HE’S TALKING ABOUT A SPORT I ONLY HAVE A PASSING INTEREST IN, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE HE’S SPEAKING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.
My feed died. How are you watching?
It stuttered a bit, but picked right back up
Reds may be suck this year but at least they still have their fighting spirit.
https://twitter.com/Cut4/status/1114965703541559298/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1114965703541559298&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbssports.com%2Fmlb%2Fnews%2Fyasiel-puig-four-others-ejected-in-reds-pirates-brawl-after-chris-archer-throws-behind-derek-dietrich%2F
Imagine Da Vinci’s The Last Supper but awesomer and kick-asser:
It’s just so beautiful
Suitable for framing.
It really is magnificent.
I’m screaming with joy!
?set_id=89040003C1
warriors sporting some sweet jerseys…
https://twitter.com/NBCSWarriors/status/1115052444004655104
They look slick but I’m lacking context.
From 2007, the year they were an 8 seed and beat Dallas a 1 seed.
Homage to the last regular season game at Oracle. They’re going across the bay next year.
That’s cool
Bills Mafia in WrestleMania form
https://twitter.com/i/status/1115032387036033025
And like a scissor lift in the wind, Notre Dame ultimately falls to Baylor
Baylor just wouldn’t take “NO!” for an answer and had their way with their opponent?
Art Briles didn’t see anything.
When I said I wanted some scissoring out of the women from Notre Dame and Baylor, that isn’t exactly what I had in mind.
A lot of you have been asking for a picture of my desktop, so . . . here it is. Part of it anyway. Peeking in from frame right is the severed head of a former business rival of mine.
Now I’m afraid (or… aroused?) by the thought of Brick’s forearm.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Which one has the more outlandish outfits?
Country Music Awards. Got it.
Wrestlemania and CMA’s went head to head? Talk about cannibalizing your own audience.
Eric is good people and, quite often, right.
Professor X and Cerebro, circa 1951?
1947
“racism, sexism, & Shane McMahon” Add Pestilence and the NWA’s 4 Horsemen are back, baby!
Three solid hours of kitchen work for next week’s Sunday Gravy and the hard part is done. Now I’ve got an hour to appreciate National Beer Day before the final assembly.
Serious fucking work today.
It’s gonna be so fucking worth it.
Tonight is the sprots equivalent of the windswept moonscape of Wichita. Maybe.
Somebody probably paid 1000+ for these seats and those lights stay on whenever a match is taking place
Just saying….
Oh, and The Revival are honorary Canadians tonight after Dash Wilder KO’d the lunatic who bum rushed Bret Hart.
Top guys! Who lost to fucking Hawkins and Ryder.
It hurts, but they’ll be great in AEW.
I would not want to be Dash Wilder’s lawyer right now. Oh wait, yes I would – there are many, many billable hours incoming.
“He slipped. We have ten thousand eyewitnesses who will corroborate. Are you going to believe them or your lying eyes?”
The fucking Nets managed to win, btw. It seems they won’t be happy until ALL of Ian’s sanity is gone.
According to ESPN, they’ve also clinched a playoff spot.
Didn’t we already get there a while ago?
Nope, that’s just me.
Let me know when Alexa shows up. And what channel. And what is her favourite flower. And her home address. And her social security number. And when she drops the restraining order against me. And….
She’s the host, so she’s popping up here and there between matches
Oh dear god…5′ 1″ in that dress?
/grabs remote
//wait, that’s not the remote
///tWBS’s garage door opens and closes repeatedly
Hehehehe
I thought Wrestling ended after that 90s Fox special investigative report finally exposed how faaaaaake it is?
Weren’t there also rumors of steroid and HGH use?
Fake news!
Wait, pro wrestling is fake!? Next you’ll be telling me that pizza delivery guys aren’t making out like bandits.
Racist ass old grandpa Hulk Hogan opening Mania for some fucking reason so let’s go back to a photoshop OG
Fuck the hulk hogan
It is the biggest night of the year for this particular fandom, and I’m disappointed by it before it even begins. It is like everything else that is important to me.
That being said, WWE video package crew remains the undefeated GOAT
Really, there’s no point watching when a five minute recap the next day is better than the whole nine hour show.