Interview With Pro Wrestler JT Roberts

I had the pleasure of interviewing a local pro wrestler on MySpace recently. He is from around the same area as me so I wanted to make my first interview for my blog with someone local. I've always enjoyed pro wrestling and have see some Ground Breaking Wrestling shows where JT Robert wrestles.

When did you start wrestling?

In 2002 I responded to a classified ad for a wrestling school in Hanover, PA. I was trained by 'Mighty' Quinn Nash, who at one point was an enhancement talent in WCW, so the guy had traveled and worked with alot of great talent like Dallas Page, The Nasty Boys, Harlem Heat, Dean Malenko, etc.

What wrestling promotions have you worked for?

All American Wrestling Federation, Ground Breaking Wrestling, American Championship Pro Wrestling, New Elite Wrestling, Future One Wrestling, National Championship Wrestling, Combat Zone Wrestling/Maven Bentley Alliance, Eastern Wrestling Alliance, World Pro Wrestling and several others, all of them have been in the Atlantic region. I'm lucky to live in the hotbed of indy wrestling.

How does a person go about getting started in the wrestling business?

Nowadays if you know someone you can somehow network and get trained. When I started we didn't have myspace or any of that. It was really hard to get into because the veterans would beat the piss out of you and make you earn respect. Very old school. Nowadays its much easier to find a place because wrestlers and wrestling in general are more accessible to the public.

Who were some of your idols growing up?

I was always a big fan of Ric Flair, and Shawn Michaels. It was so easy to hate those guys, but at the end of the day, you had to admit that they were good. That's what I liked so much about them.

If you could wrestle any WWE/TNA wrestler who would it be?

If I was going to match someone style wise, I would say Chris Jericho or CM Punk. Ive also always been a huge fan of Kurt Angle.

What are some memorable matches you have seen?

The Iron Man match at Wrestle Mania XII. Michaels vs. Hart was the match that made me want to become a wrestler. I figured, I was gonna grow up to be a small athletic guy, so seeing those two smaller, athletic guys at the top of their game really motivated me. I think there are many indy wrestlers like me who would tell you the same thing. Plus, anything the Hardy Boyz, Dudleys and Edge and Christian did with tables, ladders and chairs.

What do you think of the state of the WWE currently?

They're doing what they have to do to get kids back with the PG-13 rating and material. I think they set a very high standard in the 'Attitude' era, and that's been difficult for them to match in the eyes of many educated fans. I think they've written some really good television going into Wrestle Mania, as they do every year. I don't like the idea of a brand extension because Raw, Smackdown and ECW are the exact same type of programming. No particular program stands out as being different or original. If there were a more serious number 2 promotion, I think it would be different. The competition would make everybody better.

With Wrestle Mania right around the corner what match are you looking forward too?

Taker vs. Shawn. The guys with the two longest tenures in the company going head to head. Taker needs this match because hes never really had a "great" match at Wrestle Mania. They've done a great job making it look like Shawn has a chance, and even though we all know Taker is going to win--for the time that they're in there, they are gonna tell a great story and suspend the element of disbelief to a point where everyone watching will think Shawn has a chance. That's how great those two are. I also want to see Hardy vs. Hardy. I think they have the potential to steal the show in the Extreme Rules match.

Thank you for the interview. It's been a pleasure doing the interview. I look forward to the next GBW show in Gettysburg.

McJay Gate Nearing End?

The Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen announced today after days of QB Jay Cutler not returning phone calls and speaking with Cutler's agent Bus Cook that Jay no longer has any desire to be a Bronco.

Bowlen said, "We will begin discussions with other teams in an effort to accommodate his request to be traded."

The feud between the Broncos and Cutler has filled the headlines much of the off season. The feud started when the Broncos fired Mike Shanahan. Former Patriots coach Josh McDaniels was hired. McDaniels was responsible for making Matt Cassell into a quality starter this past season. Cassell new McDaniels offense and McDaniels pursued a trade for him that would have sent Jay Cutler to Tampa Bay and Cassell to Denver. Following this Jay Cutler demanded a trade. After weeks of trying to repair the damage with the disgruntled QB Broncos owner and Josh McDaniels decided they would listen to offers.

During his short career Jay Cutler has gotten a reputation as a cry baby and being too confident or cocky. His verbal sparring with rival Chargers QB Phillip Rivers made both QB's look immature. Cutler also boasted about having a stronger arm than John Elway. For a guy that went to Vanderbilt in college he has clearly let the little fame he has achieved go to his head. He needs to be brought back to reality.

Reality shows Jay Cutler has thrown 32 interceptions the last two seasons. His pro bowl season was thanks to increased passing thanks to the Broncos lack of a running game. As many know the QB is gonna get alot of blame when a team fails. So he can be part of the blame for the Broncos losing a 3 game lead with 3 games left in the season and missing the playoffs. One can also look to this as why Mike Shanahan has no job anymore. Cutler also doesn't have a track record as a winner. During his career at Vanderbilt he compiled an 11-35 record. In three seasons with the Broncos he is 17-20.

So where could Cutler end up is the big question. ESPN reports there are no shortage of teams interested in Jay Cutler. Three teams have come up in rumors as of late. The Detroit Lions, New York Jets, and Chicago Bears.

The Lions have said they would be willing to talk with Denver about trading the #1 pick. This deal would allow the Broncos several options. Options #1 would be to draft Matt Stafford. Option #2 is to draft Mark Sanchez. The Redskins have shown interest in Mark Sanchez so a trade with the Redskins could also be possible.

While the Jets have expressed interest safety Kerry Rhodes has said Cutler is too confident. The Jets made news for Thomas Jones and Kerry Rhodes displeasure with another Bus Cook client Brett Farve. The fact that the Jets are a AFC team makes a trade unlikely.

The third team is the Chicago Bears who could probably use Cutler the most but maybe have the least to offer. The Bears have the #18 pick.

If the Broncos don't get Sanchez or Stafford Josh Freeman would be the next logical choice. Who the Broncos would want as QB is still a mystery. I feel Sanchez could be the best fit in McDaniels offense. Stafford just seems like a bust to me. Maybe he'll be good but not a franchise QB. Josh Freeman reminds me too much of Cutler or JaMarcus Russell. He has great size like Russell but isn't a proven winner like Cutler. USC QB's have had great success in the NFL. With McDaniels molding a former USC QB in Matt Cassell into a quality QB he may be interested in doing the same with Sanchez. I expect some light to be shed on this in the next couple days.

What's Next For Shef?

The Detroit Tigers released Gary Sheffield on Tuesday 1 home run shy of his 500th career home run. Sheffield was batting. 178 with 8 hits and 5 home runs during spring. Shef was released after the Tigers acquired Josh Anderson from the Braves.

Sheffield's stay in Detroit after they acquired him from the Yankees was filled with injuries. In two seasons with the Tigers he played in 246 games missing 78 games. With 5/8 of his hits this spring being home runs it appears he still has power and could be useful to some team. But who would take a chance on him? Since the Tigers have to pay around $10 million to him he is likely to sign with a team for one year and a small salary with Detroit paying the rest.

One would think at the age of 40 Shef will only sign with a contender. Expect the Yankees to take a look at him as well as the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, St Louis Cardinals, and Arizona Diamondbacks to take a look at him. I just dont know who would be willing to sign him. He appears to be a player who can only play DH due to injuries. The White Sox, Red Sox and Yankees have Jim Thome, David Ortiz and Hideki Matsui as DH and wouldnt likely be interested. The NL teams would be taking a big chance signing Shef. So what other contenders in the AL may be willing to go after Shef?

LA Angels appear to be the most likely team for him to go to. The Angels are a team I see as a Top 5 team in the AL. With players like Vlad, Torii Hunter, Juan Rivera, Gary Mathews Jr, Mike Napoli, Howie Kendrick, and Chone Figgins the Angels have a solid lineup. Kendry Morales is slated as the DH so Shef could come in and start at DH. I would expect a team to express interest within the week.

While the Angels appear to be a front runner you can never count out the Yankees and how they love to spend money. Also with the Yankees busy off season the Red Sox could try and just add a high profile player.

Twitter Craze

For those of you who are not familiar with the new craze Twitter it's a social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users' updates known as tweets. Many pro athletes have Twitter such as Steve Nash, Shaq, CC Sabathia, Jay Cutler, Josh McDaniels, Nick Swisher, Charlie Villanueve, and Mark Cuban.

Several of these have made headlines the past few weeks for being warned by teams or even fined by NBA for using Twitter. Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueve got a talking to from coach Scott Skiles when Villanueve posted a tweet during halftime of one of the Bucks games. Villanueve posted "In da locker room, snuck to post my twitt. We're playing the Celtics, tie ball game at da half. Coach wants more toughness. I gotta step up." Coach Scott Skiles believed it gave the impression the Bucks were not focused.

Recently Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was fined $25,000 for criticizing refs on twitter. Cuban posted a tweet after a 103-101 loss to the Denver Nuggets. Cuban complained about JR Smith not getting a technical foul for taunting Antoine Wright after a missed shot. After Cuban received the fined he posted another tweet saying "can't say no one makes money from twitter now. the NBA does."

I for one have never liked the fining of players/coaches for criticizing refs. They have a right to an opinion and to voice it. The incident with Villanueve I can understand though. It seemed to me like that would give off signs that he wasn't focused. I however don't see that he wasn't focused though. He wasn't fined and didn't deserve to be. As for mark Cuban's fine I don't agree with it. There have been many instances where random people have posed as a celebrity. My question is did the NBA look into whether or not it was really Cuban before handing out the fine?

If the NBA plans on handing outs fines like the Cuban fine then they need to hold a press conference and address the Twitter situation so it isn't a guessing game on what can be "tweeted."

Another Twitter I ran into while on the website was a rather entertaining Jay Cutler and Josh McDaniels Twitter accounts. I would suggest checking them out. No confirmation on whether they are "real."

Get The Baby A Tissue

"Will someone please give Jay Cutler his pacifier, hand him his favorite blankie and put him back in his crib for his afternoon nap? Because if he cries anymore about a trade that didn't happen, we'll have to check his Pampers." - Gene Wojciekowski

This was issued after Broncos QB Jay Cutler continues to cry cuz the Broncos tryed trading him. His agent said one of the most idiotic comments I've ever heard. He claims you don't see the Colts, Giants, and pats shopping the Manning's or Brady so why are Broncos shopping Jay.Here's a thought Cutler is 17-20 as a starter and has 0 super bowls. He had a great season this year but also threw 18 interceptions.

There are rumors he could go to the Lions. I hope so. Have fun winning 1 or 2 games a season with the worst franchise in the NFL. Cutlers agent claims its a bad situation for the Broncos. Poor little Jay got his feelings hurt. Maybe he should remember Cutler has done NOTHING in the NFL. If he thinks he's gonna get some mammoth contract when his contract runs out with Denver he's sadly mistaken.Cutlers agent may be the stupidest person known to man. Thinking his client is some type of superstar. Hell Jake Plummer accomplished more as the Broncos QB than Cutler. Cutler talks about his powerful arm. Who cares how strong it is. You throw to the other team almost as many times as you get it in the end zone.

Do everyone a favor and quit your whining you big baby. Think about what team signs your paychecks before you burn bridges a**clown.

***For the record this is coming from a Denver Broncos Fan***

Nascar Drops The Ball

Yesterday Matt Kenseth won the Daytona 500 kicking off the Nascar season. The race is regarded as the super bowl of Nascar.

So the first thought that comes to mind is why would you allow the biggest race of the year to end due to rain? Why not just move the remaining laps to Monday? Instead Nascar puts an end to what truly was a lousy race. Did anyone care who won after the wreck that took out numerous cars up front including the dominant car of Kyle Busch? Its no secret Nascar is losing money fast due to the problems car manufacturers are having so why not help yourself out and put on a show worth watching.

No race should end early. Move them back a day or reschedule them. Would the NFL end the super bowl in the third quarter. Hell no! This is the thing I hate most about Nascar is the guys winning thanks to mother nature. How can Kenseth cry on national TV after winning a race he didn't win on his own. The sad thing is those 200,000 people who payed what I'm sure is a large sum of money to see the biggest spectacle in racing and got crap.

For Nascar to continue making money they need to look after there fans. Shortening a race is not doing that.

Chris Jericho Incident

For those who haven't heard WWE superstar Chris Jericho is making waves on YouTube for punching a female fan at a show in Victoria. Witnesses stated fans were heckling Jericho following a loss to John Cena. Jericho got out of his car when it is reported he spit in a woman's face and she started to hit him so he punched her in the face. Other reports from the victim is that Jericho said some racist comments to the victims boyfriend who was Asian. This went on for awhile before security decided to do there job and break it up.

My thoughts on this are this. What Jericho did was wrong but what business did that fan have attacking his car? The incident could have been avoided in three ways. The fan learns her place and doesn't attack the car. Jericho doesn't get out of his car and confront her. The security breaks it up before it escalated.

For this there really is no one party to blame. Its a bad situation where everyone is to blame.