In Memory of Merlyn Yoder

I haven't seen Merlyn Yoder in 12 years.  I was never close with him.  We were never friends.  We only knew each other for a short summer in 2006. Truth is, we didn't even like each other. I'm not here to put the guy down and I am sad to hear of his passing, but I'm also not here to lie or sugarcoat. I'm here to remember Merlyn as I knew him.

When I first met Merlyn I tried to get along with him and we even did for a short period of time.  Yet Merlyn had an automatic assumption that everyone hated him and in return he hated you right back.  I spent one day at work trying to get to know Merlyn as best as I could, and he opened up a little to me that day. He told me a bit about his past and then during the lunch hour took me to a little spot of a millionaire farmer who had 5 daughters (good looking daughters may I add) that spent a lot of time swimming and sun bathing in the pond out back of the house. I always wondered why Merlyn kept a pair of binoculars in his truck, and that day I found out.

Merlyn wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, and he was extremely sensitive about the subject.  Once a farmer and his little boy came into the shop and while the Dad talked with one of the other workers, the little boy watched Merlyn.  I don't think the kid was being mean, as he was only 4 years old or so, but he asked Merlyn if he was retarded. Merlyn took off on a power walk straight into the other room yelling at the top of his lungs, "Get this God damn kid outta here right now!!! Get him out of here!!"

Then there was the time Merlyn got me fired from the job.  A good friend of mine, Carl Forgy had gotten into a bad car accident the night before.  Carl was coming home from a professional wrestling show, and was extremely exhausted. He had not been drinking or doing drugs, but Merlyn wanted to run his mouth that Carl had been drunk and on drugs at the time of his accident.  I tried telling Merlyn that he was mistaken, but he kept on insisting. My friend Neal wouldn't have any of it.  While I tried to tell Neal to just drop it and ignore Merlyn, he defended Carl tooth and nail. They yelled and screamed at one another as I stood back and watched.

As I thought it might turn physical, I went and grabbed our boss Perry Draisey.  He came in and broke up the fight with Neal and Merlyn.

Neal was asked to go home for the day and since I was his ride, they asked me to take him.  We lived a half hour from work, so they told me to just come back the next day.

We came back the next morning and Perry fired both of us.  He said he didn't have time to talk about it right now, but we could call him later that night and he'd let us know why.  Neal said he knew damn good and well it was because he had fought with Merlyn the day before.

I called Perry that night and asked him why he had fired me.  He told me all of the many reasons he got rid of Neal.  Each of which is a story in itself. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and the Merlyn fight being 9 of 9 reasons he finally decided to get rid of Neal.  And why did he get rid of me?  Because Neal and I rode together. I was Neal's ride.

So I guess my memories of Merlyn aren't the best, and to some for that reason, they shouldn't be shared.  I'm not a part of that some.

I am sorry to know that Merlyn met a premature end.  I do hope in the last 12 years since I last saw him that he did find some peace.  I remember that one solitary day where we got along.  I wish we would have had more.

Ode to Ted Nugent - Parody of "Cat Scratch Fever"

I know their maybe dumber, but I'm as dumb as they come

I misquote history!

I'll tell people they should serve, even though I never would

Oh yeah, Hy-poc-risy

CHORUS

I'm a Fox News receiver
Fox News receiver

I don't do any research, I just believe what I'm told

Reading for me would be a chore!

And I don't like homosexuals, I think they're impure

and Pat Robertson is my mentor!!

I'm a Fox News Receiver
Fox News Receiver

If you look in my head, you might not find a brain

From Actuality, I estrange!

Like most my music, I am pretty lame

bullshit, I'm buyin', buyin'

I'm bullshit fed!!

I'm a Fox News Receiver
Fox News Receiver

My favorite moments of the "Attitude Era"

Bored and uninspired, I proposed an open invitation on facebook the other day for someone, anyone to give me a topic to blog about. I only received one response, and what a topic it was for them to give me.

They asked me to write about my top 10 favorite moments of WWE's "Attitude Era."

This isn't an easy topic for me, because frankly I didn't like the "Attitude Era."  The person who asked me to write about it knows I didn't like the "Attitude Era."  Matter of fact, the "Attitude Era" is what turned me off from professional wrestling. What made me go from the had to watch it every time it was on, every magazine bought had to be pro wrestling, every video rented had to be pro wrestling fan, to the fan who didn't care if he missed an episode or not.

I hate Vince Russo in so many ways. I can think of a million ideas of his that I loathe with great passion and only a handful that I liked. Only one that I truly appreciate.

10 huh? Well let's see what I can do.....

My favorite Moments of the "Attitude Era" 

November of 1997 to May of 2002.

#10 - The Formation of the Acolytes Protection Agency

Sometimes the problem with a wrestler's career is that he hasn't found a character that fits him. A character that he can embrace and truly become.  I think that was the case for Ron Simmons in the WWE for years. The ridiculous gladiator gimmick, with the blue helmet for sure didn't suit him. He's also never been strong on promos, and making him the leader as well as the mouth piece of the Nation of Domination, often left him looking obligated and uncomfortable in the position.  When WWE decided to team him up with Bradshaw as the Acolytes I found myself feeling that for once maybe Simmons was in a position that fit him.  When they took it a step further and became the APA (Acolytes Protection Agency) I knew Simmons was in a role that fit him.  This is definitely something I appreciated about the "Attitude Era."

#9 - Stone Cold Steve Austin defeats Shawn Michaels for the WWE championship @ Wrestlemania XIV

It's no secret to anyone that knows me well, that I'm not a fan of Shawn Michaels. Or better put, I'm not a fan of the real life Michael Hickenbottom.  I appreciate and praise the worker that he was in the ring, but who he was outside of it, I have little time or respect for.  I consider this to be one of my favorite matches during the "Attitude Era" because it marks one of the only times Shawn actually did a favor for someone.  From his second intercontinental championship win, to this match, I can't think of a time other than to his best friend Diesel where Shawn did the job.  Didn't drop the IC title clean, had to have a tournament where Razor won.  Didn't drop the IC title clean, pretended that he was too hurt from getting beat up, forfeited it to Dean Douglas.  Wouldn't drop the Tag titles to anyone, had to have a tournament that 1-2-3 Kid and Bob Holly won.  To listen to Shawn go on about how Bret wasn't being professional because he didn't want to drop the title to him at Survivor Series 1997, has to be the most hypocritical statement ever said.  To know that Michaels wasn't going to drop the title to Austin until Undertaker made it clear to him that he was, even further justifies my feelings.  Watching Shawn take the stunner, followed by a 1-2-3 made it clear that he was out and Stone Cold Steve Austin was in.  Most certainly give that "Attitude Era" moment a huge thumbs up.

#8 - The Introduction of Gangrel 

Being a creative writer and actor (or at least lover of theatre) it should come as no surprise that I embrace the character over the idea of everybody using real names and appearing to be everyday John Doe's.  An evil Vampire gimmick to me was pretty cool.  I actually wish that they had kept him solo and built him stronger than what they did.  Awesome look, awesome finisher and furthermore about the coolest entrance music next to Val Venis's.

#7 - Rob Van Dam gets his shot at the WWE 

I read about this guy in various professional wrestling magazines and saw clips of him here and there on the internet for years.  Then I saw full matches of him in ECW, and all I could think was that this guy could be the next big thing in the WWE if ever given the chance.  When he finally arrived in WWE, I found myself for the first time in a long time making sure I put aside my Monday Nights to see "Mr. Monday Night" himself.  While his career didn't quite skyrocket the way I envisioned it to, I still found his time in WWE to be very enjoyable.

#6 - Michael Hayes makes over the Hardy Boyz

For years Matt and Jeff Hardy were nothing more than jobbers that would consistently do favors for various wrestlers in both singles and tag team matches.  They appeared weak, push overs that didn't propose a threat to anyone, anywhere.  When Michael Hayes made it a priority to go in and coach them, give them a little attitude and teach them how to wrestle, I bought into it. I found the vignettes of him training Matt and Jeff to relate to how a high school football or wrestling coach would train his athletes. I found it even more intriguing the way others doubted Hayes and what he could do with the Hardy's and how he silenced everyone when they came out and had their first major victory.   It saddens me that everyone remembers the Hardy Boyz with Lita, and only a handful even recall their short stint with Hayes as their manager, but it was most certainly one of my favorite moments of the "Attitude Era."

#5 - Too Cool 

Fun, exciting, entertaining.  I loved Too Cool.  When I knew they would eventually be on TV, I would consistently skip back to RAW to make sure that I never missed their matches. Found them to always be a joy to watch.

#4 - Ken Shamrock wins the 1998 King of The Ring 

While I still thoroughly enjoyed the WWE tag team division during the "Attitude Era", I found myself finding it hard to follow and get behind many of the singles stars. The only one I found entertaining without being repulsive, was Ken Shamrock. When it came to actual wrestling in the ring, actual technique, offensive maneuvers and counters, I don't know if there was a better wrestler in the WWE at that time than Ken Shamrock. I felt that he was being overlooked for a long period of time, and it felt good to know that he was finally given his due with a King of the Ring championship.  I will say that I feel the ceremony could have been a little bigger and a little longer.  He won and it was a simple, "Congrats, you're the King of the Ring...next match!"  They could have given him an award of some sort, like they had other King of the Rings year's previously.  Yet, he still won it and that was exciting.

#3 - Mick Foley getting to shine 

I'm a huge fan of Mick Foley, and I know his glory years were during WWE's "Attitude Era." The guy is one of the most entertaining wrestlers of all time and furthermore a great human being on top of it. I wish the WCW had appreciated him more and he could have had a better run over there too. Nevertheless of all things I feel the "Attitude Era" did wrong, giving him his due and making him out to be the superstar that he was, was one of the things they did right.

#2 - Chainsaw Charlie and Cactus Jack win the WWE Tag Team Titles @ Wrestlemania XIV

Considering how much the "Attitude Era" pushed the "In with New, Out with the Old" agenda and how disrespectful the movement seemed to be against older wrestlers it was rather ironic how Terry Funk's one and only WWE title reign happened when he was 54 years old. It was short lived as they'd drop the titles the very next night on RAW but it was rewarding to see the Funkster still kicking ass well beyond the geriatric age of 40.

#1 - The Light Heavyweight Division 

If there is any thanks that you'll ever hear me give Vince Russo with absolute sincerity it is his idea to incorporate and push light heavyweight wrestling during the "Attitude Era."  From Taka Michinoku, to Dean Malenko, to Essa Rios, to X-Pac, to Tajiri and Jerry Lynn I loved the matches that took place in WWE's Light Heavyweight division. A combination of high flying areal maneuvers with fast paced technical in the ring wrestling, always made for extremely entertaining action.  For years you either had to look like you spent 8 hours in the gym and another 8 pumping yourself full of steroids or you had to weigh 700 lbs for McMahon to want to put you on television.  Yet when the "Attitude Era" came to be, so did the idea that maybe guys under 6'0, who weighed less than 250 lbs could put asses into the seats just as easily as could those much taller and much bigger.  Some of the light heavyweight matches are my favorites of the "Attitude Era."

Likelihood of Original ROSEANNE Characters Making appearances on New ROSEANNE

After a 20 year layoff, season 10 of ROSEANNE is here!  Noticeable differences scattered among memorable similarities in a show that is thus far a fun mixture of hilarious jokes and one liners mixed with relatable drama. In many ways ROSEANNE season 10 picked exactly where ROSEANNE season 9 left off. Or better put, where ROSEANNE season 7 left off, as the new ROSEANNE seems to omit all of the nonsense that was seasons 8 and 9.

With as much that has been included thus far in only two episodes, it begs the question as to who else will make a return to the show?  There are some questions that obviously answer themselves. We already know we won't be seeing Nana, as the late Shelly Winters sadly left us in 2006.  It's almost certain that Grandpa Conner won't be on the show as well. Even though Ned Beatty is still alive, the character died of a heart attack in season 6.  The only reason to tease the possibility of a small cameo of Grandpa Conner is that weirder things have happened on ROSEANNE. If a short subtle scene in the garage can quickly dismiss Dan's death from 20 years prior, I'm sure writer's could somehow bring Grandpa Conner back to life if the wanted.  Sadly enough, another character we know we won't be seeing is Prince Carlos.  For two reasons.  A - we lost the bundle of talent 18 years ago to lung cancer and B - it's not even certain if he were a real person to begin with.

Now onto the characters that have at least some possibility of returning to the show.....

David
(Johnny Galecki)

It's 100% certain that we will see David on the new ROSEANNE.   It's already been confirmed and other fans of the show have indicated that they've already seen stills with him in it. As he's divorced from Darlene and the father of her two children it'll be interesting to see what they do with his character. If maybe he'll play a role similar to the character of Fred from the original series or if their will be a reconciliation between him and Darlene. In reality scheduling conflicts with THE BIG BANG THEORY have the most effect on his whether his role will be pivotal or not.

Andy 

At first glance it would appear that the character of Andy (Jackie's son) has received the Chuck from HAPPY DAYS or Judy from FAMILY MATTERS treatment. He was not mentioned or even casually referenced in episode one or two of season 10. It could be a case of feeling that his presence is unnecessary and simply acting as if he never existed.  Yet, I have a feeling that he'll make a return and I'll tell you why.

Roseanne as in the real life Roseanne Barr and as in the character Roseanne Conner, is a bullheaded, stubborn individual who likes to make herself heard. Opinionated, her points will be made. A believer that conservatives are hard working individuals in comparison to lazy liberals, I can see Roseanne using this opportunity to make a political statement. I can see it to where Jackie's choices in life lead her to being unable to support Andy on her own and thus Andy's father, Fred getting sole custody of him as a result.  Which leads me to our next character.

Fred
(Michael O'Keefe) 

I think the chances of actually seeing Michael O'Keefe as Fred on the new ROSEANNE are slim to none, although I do think the character will be mentioned.  Actually seeing him in the flesh is highly unlikely but Jackie mentioning that she dropped Andy off at Fred's or getting off the phone with Fred in the kitchen are both possibilities I see in the future.

Scott and Leon
(Fred Willard and Martin Mull) 

I really hope to see at least an appearance or two out of Scott and Leon on the new ROSEANNE. Martin Mull and Roseanne had such good chemistry. Their scenes were always entertaining and hilarious.  As Roseanne makes it a point to prove that she is a modern day conservative, one with an open mind, I feel very confident that both Leon and Scott will make their way onto the show. If for nothing more than to show the Trump supporting Roseanne Conner's acceptance, love and support of her homosexual friends.

Nancy
(Sandra Bernhard)

It's difficult to say whether Nancy will make an appearance on the new ROSEANNE or not.  There doesn't seem to be much of a demand for her from the fanbase and storyline wise she doesn't deem necessary. If anything she'd be exactly as she was 20 years ago, just sorta there. It also seems unlikely that Nancy would show up on the show, considering that Sandra made some unfavorable remarks about Roseanne's support for Trump.  Saying that any woman who would vote for Trump couldn't think for herself. She was also a Hillary Clinton supporter who Roseanne can't stand.

Ironically enough, this could as easily be the reason why Nancy does make a return to the show as much as it could be why we'll never see her again. It's as feasible that Nancy comes onto the show to be seen as an extremist on the left as it that she doesn't. 

It seems that one of the shows messages is the importance of communicating and co-existing with those whom you may disagree with politically.  I can think of little that would illustrate that point better than to have Nancy back on the show.

Crystal
(Natalie West) 

The character of Crystal was originally phased out of the series as writers and producers discovered that there really wasn't a need for Roseanne to have a best friend, considering that Jackie filled the role. There's little reason to think the Crystal would have a reoccurring role on the new ROSEANNE but it is fun to think that she and her two kids might stop by for a visit.

Grandma
(Estelle Parsons) 

It's already been confirmed that Estelle Parsons will be making a return to ROSEANNE. I personally find this a pleasant surprise. I thought that maybe she wouldn't considering that she is 90 years old. I'm very anxious to see what her role is like and how she plays it.  If Beatty White can do it, so can Estelle!

Arnie Thomas
(Tom Arnold) 

There are a million different reasons as to why we'll never see Tom Arnold on an episode of the new ROSEANNE, which is exactly why I think we will see him make at least one appearance before it is all said and done.  ROSEANNE is all about shock value, she always has been.  With her it is expect the unexpected and what would be more unexpected than to see Tom Arnold show up on an episode of ROSEANNE?  Remember that he was asked, upon Roseanne's request to show up at her roast and that could be a subtle hint of things to come. 

Molly
(Danielle Harris) 

On paper it would seem that there is little to no need for a return of the character Molly. She served her purpose on the original series and that's that. However, at one time Harris and Roseanne were very close and to this day Harris is extraordinarily complimentary and thankful to Roseanne for everything that she did for her career. While the character of Molly may be long forgotten, seeing Harris return to the show in a different role does seem very plausible.



How about other characters? There were an assortment of them.  George Clooney? Who knows?  Anxious to find out.

21st Century Out of Nowhere NCAA Division I Champions

We're now 18 years and about to be 18 NCAA Division I Championships into the 21st century. Over the past 17 tournaments, most of the NCAA champions crowned have been wrestlers that both fans and seeders/rankers alike, have foreseen as plausible titlists. They may not have been the most popular pick to win the NCAA championship, but their winning didn't exactly shock anyone either.  Matter of fact of the 170 NCAA Division I titles wrestled for, less than a dozen of those were won by wrestlers who truly came out of nowhere to stand atop the award stand.  Who were these wrestlers?

Carl Perry of Illinois
2000 141 lbs Champion

Perry didn't give anyone any reason to think he'd walk out the NCAA champion at 141 lbs, when he entered St. Louis, Missouri as the #8 seed in 2000.  After placing seventh as sophomore in 1998, he had failed to place as a junior in 1999. Two losses at the BIG 10's saw him finish in fourth place. If that weren't enough to see that no one would place there bet on Perry, the fact that he had to go through Iowa's Doug Schwab in the Quarter-finals was.  He had never defeated Schwab before, having lost to him by major decision and 7-5 earlier in the season. A master of the patented Great Bridge Virginia Granby roll, Perry shocked the Hawkeye with a 6-4 tiebreaker victory.  He then defeated Clarion's Mark Angle and Oklahoma's Michael Lightner to win the title.

Rob Rohn of Lehigh
2002 184 lbs Champion

Originally a two sport athlete, that began his career at Clarion also playing baseball, Rohn's NCAA finals match against Josh Lambrecht of Oklahoma is one of the most talked about and continuously reviewed matches in collegiate wrestling history. Yet when he entered Albany, New York as the #8 seed at 184 lbs, there wasn't a soul among those discussing plausible champions that even gave Rohn a thought.  Damion Hahn of Minnesota, Andy Hrovat of Michigan, Jessman Smith of Iowa, Viktor Sveda of Indiana, and Scott Justus of Virginia Tech were the names being thrown around. Rohn had five losses, including one in the EIWA championship finals to Cornell's Clint Wattenberg.  When he upset his way to the finals, many concluded that the senior ought to be happy with this second place finish before the match even started.  His opponent, Lambrecht was on a hot streak having had his way with everyone up to that point. It looked like an all but done deal as Lambrecht with a 14-2 lead went for a final tilt that would have secured a 17-2 technical fall.  Yet somehow Rohn managed to slip out, earn an escape and in one of the most dramatic finishes of all time, stick Lambrecht with only 13 seconds remaining on the clock.   For an interesting trivia question that most people do not know, it was not the only victory Rohn had over Lambrecht that season. He had defeated him earlier in the year 9-5.

*Some might also like to point at Aaron Holker of Iowa State in the 2002 tournament as well. The #5 seed transfer from Brigham Young who had two 7th place finishes, one in 1999 as a true freshman and again in 2003 as a senior.  Inconsistency which Holker seemed to master during his career, may for some put him on this list. However, he had two decisive victories over #2 Eric Larkin of Arizona State coming into the championships, which gave testimony to title run.*

Jake Rosholt of Oklahoma State
2003 Champion 184 lbs 

Arguably the most underrated three time NCAA Division I champion of all time. Perhaps the reason he never gets the credit or recognition he deserves is because fans still haven't forgiven him for winning the 2003 NCAA title, "When he wasn't supposed to."   He entered the NCAA tournament his freshman season with a 17-9 record.  Not exactly the type of record that sells that you are going to contend for the NCAA championship.  To add fuel for thought, his quarter finals opponent Greg Parker of Princeton had put in the legs and turned Rosholt multiple times in the Reno Tournament of Champions finals for a 10-2 major decision victory.  This time it'd be Rosholt who would have his way with Parker, completely dominating the match before pinning him in the first period.  Rosholt would again turn the tables on his finals opponent, Scott Barker of Missouri who had manhandled him 9-1 in the BIG 12 finals only two weeks earlier.  Rosholt would dominate to a 13-5 major decision of his own. 

Paul Donahoe of Nebraska
2007 Champion 125 lbs 

When beloved senior Sam Hazewinkle of Oklahoma entered his final NCAA tournament after three consecutive third place finishes, fans simply sat back and waited for the Sooner to take home the gold medal that had eluded him for so long.  Some toyed with the thought that maybe Minnesota's Jayson Ness or Cornell's Troy Nickerson might give him a scare. Hazewinkle quickly put those thoughts to rest as he had Ness spending the majority of a semi-finals match fighting off his back in 10-0 victory.  He was now in the finals and there was nothing to fear as his opponent was a familiar one, Paul Donahoe of Nebraska who Hazewinkle had humiliated in the BIG 12 finals with a 12-3 major decision.  Only this time the takedowns didn't come so easily. This time the turns on top didn't happen so effortlessly.  By the end of regulation the score was tied 1-1 and within mere moments Donahoe had robbed Hazewinkle of the title that so many thought he'd finally win.  A 2012 Olympian, Hazewinkle will forever remain in history one of the greatest to never win an NCAA title.  The ever controversial Donahoe would go on to capture two more All American finishes of third and second, as he ended his career at Edinboro.

Jarrod King of Edinboro
2009 Champion 165 lbs 

A career that started off plagued by various injuries, it seemed that Jarrod King was going to have to settle for a career that wasn't even a shadow of older brother Matt who had finished 4th and 3rd at the NCAA's during his. Yet after transferring to Edinboro from Oklahoma, King found himself not only matching his brother's credentials, but surpassing them.  Entering as the #12 seed at the 2009 championships, some toyed with the idea of King making the award stand but no one took the idea of him walking out as champion seriously.  He had kept it close with the likes of Colt Sponseller of Ohio State and Mack Lewnes of Cornell, but he had never managed to beat any of them.  A 5-3 loss in the final dual of the season to West Virginia's Donnie Jones, gave all the more reason to doubt him.  One by one he went through the #4, #8 and #2 seeds to be crowned champion in a miraculous run.  To prove that it was not a fluke, King showed up the next year, having a spectacular season which saw him finish third at the NCAA's.


*Some may wonder why I do not put Cody Brewer of Oklahoma on this list who won the NCAA title despite being the #13 seed in 2015.  The reason why is because on a personal note I feel that his #13 seeding was one of the most unfair in NCAA history.  He had but one loss that season, where he had gotten caught on his back and pinned by Iowa State's Earl Hall. He had avenged that loss in the BIG 12 finals, 10-5.  It was not a shock to me at all that Brewer won the NCAA title. I don't see how it would have shocked anyone that had watched him compete and knew what he was capable of.*

Myles Martin of Ohio State
2016 Champion 174 lbs 

It wouldn't surprise anyone to see Myles Martin atop the award stand at this year's NCAA championships or at next year's in 2019.  Yet when he won the 174 lbs as a true freshman in 2016, there be not a fan in the arena who can honestly say they saw it coming.  His finals opponent was Penn State's Bo Nickal who had pinned him in the first period at the BIG 10 championships. Only this time, Nickal didn't put Martin on his back.  Martin put him on his back, winning the match 11-9.  Some think having seen Nickal handle Martin 10-2 earlier this season that it might mean that Nickal now has Martin's number. Check out the elaborate history between these two and I guarantee you that a Martin victory at either or both the BIG 10's and the NCAA's would not at all surprise you.


And now it begs the question doesn't it!?!?  Are we going to have any "out of nowhere" NCAA champions this season?

Darian Cruz of Lehigh 

It almost seems more fitting to put him on this list for his accomplishments last year, but ironically enough even though he's the returning champion defending his title, he seems more of an underdog this year than he did last. Listening to fans debate who will be the NCAA champion Saturday, March the 17th, the names Nathan Tomasello of Ohio State, Nick Suriano of Rutgers and Spencer Lee of Iowa be the three most spouted. Even Northwestern's Sebastian Rivera gets more mentions than Cruz does. Would it really be an "out of nowhere" title?  Of course it wouldn't, but as Hell bent sold as some seem to be on a Suriano Vs Lee final, Cruz denying both would open up some eyes.

Anyone other than Zain Retherford of Penn State @ 149 lbs 

See the image above? It's of Zain Retherford getting his hand raised. It's as familiar of a sight and as sure of thing as the sun coming up each day.  The idea of us not seeing this five times in a row in Cleveland, Ohio March the 15th through the 17th is preposterous. Yet, I have to mention this astronomical idea because for anyone other than Retherford to win the title at 149 lbs would without a doubt by the most shocking upset of the NCAA tournament.   Minus injury or illness, I cannot see anyone even coming close to Retherford.  Iowa's Brandon Sorensen seems the most likely, but even that's a stretch. It'd be nice to know that Arizona State's Jason Tsirtsis could go in and give Retherford a worthy challenge, but at this point it seems wishful thinking.



I'm not sold on anything at 197 lbs quite yet.  I want to get through the rest of the conference qualification tournaments, and see the final NCAA brackets before I set my heart on who I think will walk out champion.  As for now, based on the rankings I can see an assortment of guys winning the title, but none that I feel would come as a shock to anyone.

Lastly I'll say that if anyone other than Ohio State's Kyle Snyder or Michigan's Adam Coon wins the title at HWT, that will come as a major shock to me as well.  I can see Oregon State's Amar Dhesi or Duke's Jake Kasper getting past one or the other, but not both.

My thoughts, what are your's?

My Unfortunate Experience with Spee-Dee Delivery, Ankeny Location.

Looking for work, I applied for an assortment of jobs when I finally got a call back from Spee-Dee Delivery.  I went in for an interview and was offered a job as a night driver.  I took it thinking it'd be a perfect job for me.  Working at night, driving on the open road, and having to deal with a minimum of people. I thought right and I should have trusted my intuition. Yet it's hard to trust your gut, especially when people look you right in the face and lie to you, the way Spee-Dee Delivery representative Aaron did.

He called me in the Thursday before the Monday I was supposed to start.  He looked me right in the eye and said to me, "You really enjoy driving positions right?"

I told him that I did.

He proceeded to inform me that the night driver position that I had taken, involved very little driving.  That I would spend most of my time in the warehouse, doing hard physical work.  If I was lucky, I might take a load out on the road once or twice a week. Other than that, my shifts would be spent in the warehouse emptying/loading trucks and sorting packages.

"But I do have an open route in the Carroll area." He said to me. "You'll do a lot of driving there."

I agreed to do the Carroll route, trusting that Aaron was telling me the truth.  A trust that I never should have put in him.

After three months of rough, 11-12 hour days in a vehicle with no air conditioning that often had an assortment of problems, I ran into the guy that they eventually hired to do the night route that I had originally been hired for.

"So you spend most of your time in the warehouse then huh?" I asked him.

"Oh Heavens no." He said to me. "Maybe an hour at the beginning of my shift, if that.  I load my truck, and then drive to Omaha and drop off half my load.  I then take the other half up to Sioux City and then I drive back to the terminal."

That's two hours to Omaha, an hour and a half to Sioux City, three hours back to Ankeny.   6 1/2 hours of driving.  I would like to know how Aaron could justify 6 1/2 hours is "very little driving."

On top of that he was paid $0.25 more an hour than I was.

Nevertheless, even though Aaron had deliberately lied to me, I stuck with the Carroll route.

Hating the route for various reasons, I began looking into other opportunities including possibly going to trucking school to learn to drive semis.  I had submitted an application to a trucking school in Des Moines, that trained in exchange for driving for them for one year.

When I told a fellow coworker of mine, Phil, the semi-truck driver who had the St. Cloud route, he informed me that he was transferring up to St. Cloud and that his route was opening up.  He suggested that I try and get his job. His job paid $150 more per week ($600 a month more) than what I was making.  It involved taking a trailer up to St. Cloud, dropping it off and then taking another trailer back to Des Moines.  I put in an application for it immediately.

Aaron came up to me one morning and informed me that he saw that I had applied for the St. Cloud route. I told him that I had.  He said to me that they were excited to see me show interest in the position and that as long as I was able to obtain a class A CDL that the position would be mine.

If I'm ever made an offer like that again, I vow that I will get it in writing.

I told Aaron that I'd help him to find a replacement for me on the Carroll if he would like.

Aaron informed me that I needed to study for, take and  pass three written examinations, and then my training to drive the semi would begin on Monday July 17th.

I took the time (as well as money) to study for and pass the written examinations of Air Breaks, General Knowledge and Combination Vehicles.

Aaron informed me once again that training would begin on July 17th.  He said most take between 3 to 5 weeks to learn how to drive the truck.

Monday July 17th came, and Aaron informed me that my training had been moved back to July 24th.

July 24th became July 31st.  July 31st became August 7th.

Considering that Phil's last day was August 25th, I saw the writing on the wall.

I told Aaron one morning that I wanted to speak with him in private.  I went into his office and questioned him about what was going on.

He informed that that they were having a difficult time finding someone to fill my position and after some thought they found it more beneficial to the company to hire someone who already had a class A CDL for the St. Cloud position, than to train me.

I asked him why I wasn't informed about their decision earlier. He answered that they had other issues far more important and didn't feel a need to prioritize it.  I told him that I felt I had been treated unfairly and that I felt I was owed an apology.

I didn't receive one, although he did use the word sorry.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, but we are not Stephen Stonebraker company." He said to me. "We're Spee-Dee Delivery and we have done and will continue to do what we feel is best for Spee-Dee Delivery."

I said to him, "Ok. Well thank you for the opportunity to work here but I want to say that I will be leaving as soon as I find something better or by the 18th of August.

He then said, "We may have other CDL positions that eventually open up. Keep that in mind."

Considering that Aaron had already lied to me various times, I decided not to believe it.

I came in the next day and the truck that I normally drove was not in my parking space.  Instead, an older truck. One that was obviously in horrible shape sat in its spot.

I could go into explicit detail on all of the problems the truck had, but I think the fact that it broke down on my four times, will suffice.

The last time it broke down on me,  I was driving in downtown Carroll when suddenly the Truck died.  Luckily I had enough momentum to coast into the Walgreen's parking lot. There I sat for an hour until Spee-Dee finally had a local mechanic in Carroll come to help me. After examining the truck, he said that he couldn't figure out in the Walgreen's parking lot and would have to tow me back to his shop.

Upon examining the truck, he found and assortment of things wrong with the truck.  He had me call Spee-Dee to talk to the mechanic department. He told the mechanic that the truck was in no shape to have been put on the road and that by all means, he should notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of the trucks condition.

The truck didn't have a starter.  It must have fallen off somewhere between Des Moines and Carroll, and that was the main reason I had so much trouble with it.

After fighting with the Spee-Dee Mechanics, he ended up hanging up on them half way in between the conversation and told me that they were some of the dumbest individuals he had ever spoken to.

He informed me that he was going to tow me back to Des Moines because....and I quote...."I've been a mechanic for close to thirty years and that is the most dangerous, unsafe commercial vehicle I have ever laid my hands on." 

He said as bad of shape as the truck was in, I was lucky that I hadn't been seriously injured or worse driving it.

I tried to notify Aaron three times on my way back to the shop, as well as Spee-Dee representatives Nate and Delmer.  None were available to take my call.

The only person I got a hold of, after multiple attempts was Jeremy my route supervisor.  He told me that he'd have Randy and Jeff (fellow co-workers) take care of my pickups, but as for the over 40 deliveries I had left, I was going to have to add them to Wednesday's route.  My route on Wednesday was going to be around 85 stops.  On a good day, with no lunch breaks, not even giving myself time to stop and take a leak, I was lucky if I could get 60 stops done in my 12 hour shift.  There was no way I was going to get 85 done the next day with no help.

I guess feelings without proof are nothing more than accusations. Yet to think that Aaron deliberately put me in that unsafe and dangerous vehicle a day after I told him that I didn't appreciate his dishonesty and unprofessionalism, in the least gives him motive. 

I figured that Aaron had lied to me on three occasions, he had put me into a dangerous and unsafe vehicle. I had put up with enough. 

I went home, threw my work uniforms into the wash, waited for them to dry and then took them all back to the office.  I informed Betty another worker of what had happened to me and that I was leaving.  She shook my hand and said it was about time someone stood up for themselves against this crooked and rotten company.

Aaron has since said, and still says to this day that he never lied to me about the night position.  We simply have a different definition of what "a lot of driving" is and isn't.  I consider 6 1/2 hours of driving in a 9-10 hour shift to be a substantial amount of driving.  He doesn't.   He also says that I was never promised the St. Cloud CDL position. He says that he knew of my interest in the position, and did inform me that there was a possibility that they might select me for the job.  I questioned that if that were the case, why make a priority of me studying for, taking and passing the examinations.  Why give me a training start date of 7-17-2017?   His answer is because CDL positions open up from time to time, and he would like me prepared for when they do.  Funny, as those test scores are only good up to 90 days after you take them. 

Lastly Aaron said that in regards to the vehicle being "the most unsafe and dangerous commercial vehicle" that the mechanic in Carroll had ever seen, that opinions vary, and that was not the opinion of the mechanics at Spee-Dee Delivery in Des Moines.

In the end Spee-Dee Delivery came out on top. They win and I lose.  I don't think that's right.  Regardless of how you feel about my quitting the job or about the way in which I quit, I believe I have a right to have my employer be honest with me and tell the truth.  I know, as it is not a matter of subjective opinion, that I have a right, a legal right to be in a safe environment while working. It was wrong of them to put me in a vehicle that a mechanic of over thirty years experience deemed, "The most dangerous, unsafe commercial vehicle" that he had ever seen.

People like Aaron get away with lying to their employees and intentionally putting them into dangerous situations.  They shouldn't and I feel it my duty as an American citizen, a member of the American labor force, to expose him for his crooked, and unprofessional behavior.

Could I Have Ever Been Practical?

I look back on my life a lot and wonder where I went wrong. It's hard not to. I graduated high school when I was 18 years old. Thirteenth out of fifty-two kids, 3.3 GPA.  High enough to mention I suppose but not high enough to matter.  For shits and giggles or more so to prove my father's point correct, I remember searching for jobs that summer. 

I had my choice between shitty jobs with shitty pay or "Come sell insurance for us!"

At the time it sure seemed like Dad knew what he was talking about.  The years of preaching.  The shoving it down my throat on a daily basis. The yelling and the three hour long lectures that went with it whenever a grade was below a C. It all made sense. A college degree was necessary.  It was essential.

I had a lot of confidence at the time. A lot of belief in myself and what I was capable of. Perhaps that was my downfall. My whole life and I do mean my whole life. I mean then, I mean now, I mean 25 years from now-All I've ever wanted to do with my life was somehow in someway be part of the entertainment business.  If you ever wonder why I seem like a depressed and bitter miser, its because that's what I want to do with my life and I'm not doing it.

I don't know if you could have talked me out of going down that road. I know I chose the wrong college to go to. I do know that. And maybe that in itself is the answer. Maybe it's not what I studied, but where I studied it.

My Dad doesn't seem to think so.

I had it all planned out.  I was going to get my undergrad in theatre and then get a graduate degree in screenplay writing.  That was the plan from seventh grade and I never even thought of or considered anything else.

Things didn't work out.

And now the year is 2017.  I have nearly 10 years of working experience.  A degree in History Education at a 3.5 GPA, Dean's list honors all of my junior and senior years. 

I'm 32 years old and I have my choice between shitty jobs with shitty pay or "Come sell insurance for us!"

Oh, and before you tell me, I already know. I can also go into the military.   I actually did look into that about a year ago. I'm getting too old to begin with and secondly I have no interests. I don't think I'd fit in at all and I think I'd be seen as a burden/exile by my fellow comrades. If that's not enough. I spoke to an Air Force recruiter. Per her testimony going into the military wouldn't be much a help to me at all. Already existing loans aren't their area. Loans for future college plans are. Her words.)

But I digress, I'm going off on a tangent.

Back to the point.

I think I'd have been better off to not have gone to college at all.  Or to have gone to a community college and called it good. 

My Dad thinks I should have gone to college for something more, "practical"

Well would that have worked?  Could I have done that?

Maybe.

Film production?  It still sorta/kinda puts me in the realm of the entertainment world and while careers aren't flourishing they aren't exactly scarce either. 

Maybe instead of screenplay writing I should have thought more along the lines of creative writing?  Yeah, I'd still be in the same boat I'm in now huh?

Truth is nearly anything and everything I could have done, been good at, been happy doing doesn't fall under the "practical" umbrella.

And if it's my job to be practical then it ought to be everyone else's job to be practical too. My brain doesn't work in certain ways. I'm not a math and science guy.  I realize those jobs are lucrative and pay a lot of money. Get you a lot of respect and admiration from the community, but they're not for me.  An engineer who designs and builds bridges and interstates and skyscrapers I'm sure has an awesome job, as does the architect who helps him.  They're not jobs I could do.  So take it for what it is or be a pretentious pompous about it and say, "that's just cause he wouldn't try."  Either way, moving on.

Law? Could I have done law? I don't know.  Criminal justice has always fascinated me. I love watching television shows and movies about law enforcement.  My cousin Patrick is an officer and I have friends who are lawyers.  I don't know how it would have turned out, but that is a path I could have seen myself taking. I read a book while in school called, I CHOSE PRISON by James V Bennett. He said that if you went into law, regardless of the specifics you would always have a job.  He said that in 1970, but I imagine it still true today.

My mom thinks I should have gone to school for social work. She thinks I would have made a great counselor or social worker. After things fell apart at Northwestern College, she wanted me to go to William Penn and get my degree in Social work.  Maybe I should have. 

Journalism is another degree that always excited me. However as much as I've been used, abused, underappreciated and exploited in the world of amateur wrestling media, I'm not so sure that would have been a great idea either.  The pay always seems mediocre at best and you're often charging people, "too much" for your work, even if you do it for free.

Public Relations and Communications?  I worked in that field for three years and having a degree in it would have helped. Seems like an interesting enough field.  Maybe this would have been the answer?

Psychology would have been a lot of fun. It's neat to imagine myself like Dr. Fraser Crane from CHEERS.  I imagine though that while the four years would have been a treat to study that I'd most likely be in the same predicament I am in now.  Only I'd be able to come up with better comebacks and insults. Take deep, layered shots at those who tried to demean me.  I'm already pretty good at it. I suppose with a psychology degree, I'd be downright deadly. 

Computer science is the degree that lies right on the edge for me. There's math involved and science but, not hard math. Not the type of math that says, "Stephen I hate you and you forever shall known it!"  But good math.  Math that is my friend.  And the type of science that I think I could understand.  Science is always something I've appreciated, admired and loved in many ways.  Let like a Lisa Turtle to a Screech Powers or a Laura Winslow to a Steve Urkle, something that has always been repulsed by me and treated me with the fiercest rejection.


Could I have been practical?  Studied a practical major? Gotten a practical degree?  Gotten a practical job? Became a practical person?

No.

Hell right now as I sit here looking over all of the many majors offered at colleges and universities around the world, I find yet another one that fascinates me a great deal.

Zoology.  Now there's a major I think would have been a lot of fun.  Yet what the Hell does one do with a zoology degree?  Work as an intern at the Des Moines Zoo for nothing dollars and nothing cents an hour?

Ooh, how about Oceanography?  Sure as Hell would need to get out of Iowa to make use of that one, huh?  And maybe that's the issue.  Maybe staying in Iowa has been my downfall.  I don't know.

What I do know is that it is my turn on bottom....STILL.  And I do believe strongly that I'll have my day on top.  I still haven't given up on my dreams.  I'm still a writer.  I'm not a successful one yet, but I'm still a writer.  I still have hope. I still have faith. 

I'm only 32 after all as they say.  Whoever they is.