Shame on you Dixie Carter!

Since the end of April 1990 I have been a wrestling fan.  I believe it is was Roddy Piper who coined the phrase "the sickness" but I have it.  I live and breath and eat professional wrestling.  I really do.  I have over 600 video tapes, several TERABYTES of wrestling and watch it almost religiously.  In High School I didn't work on Monday's because of Raw and Nitro.  From 1993 to 1997 I did not miss a Monday Night Raw.  I have been to dozens of shows, several TV shows and a few Pay Per Views.  Back in SLC I even started to go to independent wrestling.  One of my biggest regrets was not training when I had a chance.  To say that I am a massive fan is an understatement.

The first match I saw was Hulk Hogan taking on the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania 6.  I became a fan because of Hulk Hogan!  This will come into matters later.

That being said my fandom has been waning for the last few years.  The storylines and the in ring performances haven't been what I am looking for.  I still keep up with it but I don't make sure I see EVERYTHING like I did for years.  Then this happened....

Zema Ion, a young kid in TNA, had to have his appendix removed.  Not the first person and not the last but here is the issue.  Pro Wrestlers are "independent contractors".  That means they don't get insurance.  No big deal but in TNA the wrestlers can't wrestle anywhere that they are taped for TV or DVD, if you believe what is being reported and I believe that.  They are also typically, if they aren't a major star...which Zema isn't, are on a per date deal.  That means that if they aren't "booked" or scheduled for the show they don't get paid.  So if TNA doesn't book Zema for a month he doesn't get paid.  So if TNA doesn't use Zema for several weeks no money comes in yet he can't go to a local group if he is getting taped.  So Zema's appendix burst and he doesn't have insurance.  Big problem but it gets worse.  The youngster, much like myself and millions of people, doesn't have insurance.  The difference is that millions, myself included, doesn't work for a multi-million dollar national televised professional wrestling company.

About a week, and my time frame might be off a bit but it all happened about the same time, something happened in the ring.  The lovely ring announcer Christy Hemme announced the wrong team.  One of the performers, Austin Aries...who plays a cocky jerk of a character, didn't like this...which his character shouldn't.  He backed her into a corner and demanded his team properly announced.  He then climbed the ropes while she was in the corner.  When he did this his crotch was in her face.  Now I believe that this was not something done on purpose.  He did not thrust into her face or do anything sexually, he merely climbed the turnbuckles which is does after his announcement in every match.  It is reported she didn't like this, which I understand, but it wasn't until a former announcer and all around jerk, my opinion, Mark Madden made a big deal out of it that people noticed.  He claimed that Aries harassed Hemme and after a few days TNA and Spike TV, where their show is aired, made an announcement that Aries was fined. 

So back to Zema Ion, several people have contacted Dixie on her twitter asking if she or TNA or Spike would be helping Zema with his bills.  I did this myself and the owner of PWInsider.com did as well and has led the charge on this a bit.  I am a paying member of this website and if you are a wrestling fan you should be too because it is the best out there!

Dixie has said nothing and it is sickening to me.  Their silence is deafening.  Yes I understand this young man should have medical insurance.  Yes this could happen to anyone including me.  However this kid is limited where and when he gets paid yet he isn't supplied insurance.  I believe that if you are going to listen to a fat worthless slob like Mark Madden who is out for himself why not when people are trying to help someone else?  To be honest I am not a fan of Ion.  He is a high flying guy and I like guys who have more psychology and mat skills, but that is my preference.  I believe that TNA should help this kid and honestly I am honestly thinking about not watching their show anymore. 

Now I doubt that Dixie will see this and I really doubt that Hulk Hogan will.  Hogan you talk about your influence with Dixie and how you want TNA to be the next big thing.  Well Hulk Hogan and Dixie Carter do the right thing!  Help this young man who was a champion for you.  WWE would have helped him.  Do the right thing if not for the public relations then because it is the right thing.

I leave you with this, what if it was Mark Madden making a big deal out of this instead of the Hemme situation, would you cave and help Ion then?  DO THE RIGHT THING! 

The death of customer service? (crisis of who I am)

I made the mistake recently of going onto a facebook page for Barnes and Noble employees.  I joined it when I was still working there and somehow was there the other day and someone asked about calling a store after it closed for a customer and what would you do if it was you're store.  I was shocked that most people said it was rude and how could you do that.  I said that you are still on BN time and that you should do whatever you can to help a customer and I was berated for saying that.  So much so that I have been accused of belittling others and argumentative.  While I am those things and a lot more I wasn't here.  I don't know these people and I think people who know me know that I am respectful till given a reason not to be.

Then again perhaps they read my politeness as belittling which was not the case.  Anyway that is not the point of the store, that I was sucked into one of the few internet wars (mine always seem to be on FB).  What shocked me was how everyone was against going the extra mile.  I even had someone say: 

We have a customer service goal set up for us - it's called SPH. If what you're doing for a customer is increasing SPH, keep doing it. If it's not, then you need to learn "creative disengagement". Gene, I'm glad you decided to leave the company. If every individual bookseller ignored company standards and gave whatever level of customer service that they happened to like, we'd have chaos and a mess

I ignored the standards by giving exceptional service.  This is what is wrong with my former company which many MANY dear friends still work for and I said as much.  But this isn't a problem at BN only.  What happened to customer service?

People used to be helpful in stores right?  It used to be about building relationships and keeping them returning to the store right?  I ask because I don't feel that in any store I go into.  Yes I know part of the reason is that every store out there is understaffed and overworked.  I've been there but it didn't stop me from doing what i could to keep our guests and customers coming back.  If that meant answering a phone before or after hours I did it.  If that meant picking up a computer at the FedEx store so that I could get it back to the employee for Monday morning I did it.  

Am I the only one that feels that customer service, and respect for the customer/guest, has been on a major decline lately?  Hell perhaps I'm wrong and I should have just focused on getting projects done or did my 9 hours and left.  Other people do it and I sure didn't make a difference at BN or WGU.

A dear friend once called me a martyr and I realize I am.  I just want to make places better when I'm there and I always felt I did but now I don't know.  This has lead to me questioning who I am as an employee.  Is going above and beyond wrong now?  Is it just about doing what everyone else is doing?

I don't know if I can handle that.  I strive to be the best.  I need to be the best.  I mentioned it a while ago about being a dinosaur...perhaps it is time for this dinosaur to evolve and just be like everyone else instead of wanting to be the best.  

I don't know how to be like everyone else.  I know I'll call Barnes and Noble and see if they have a book on it (see that was belittling a bit)

WWE Hall of Fame or Hall of Shame this year?

This might come off as a fan boy but it is the truth.  

I have been a wrestling fan since 1990.  If you follow this blog you know that.  I am not ashamed of this.  However I am ashamed of how WWE is airing the Hall of Fame this year. 

People who know me know that I am a huge Mick Foley fan.  I briefly meet him at Comic Con years ago and I kind of froze up (well completely) because of my fandom.  I got him to sign my beaten up copy of his first book.  I've lost the cover and it is about to fall apart.  For years I kept that book with me as my "go to" when I needed something to read.  It is fantastic as are all his books!

WWE has screwed Mick's induction from day one.  Every other inductee has got a video the day they are announced, Mick got to come to the ring and then ran off by The Shield with no follow up or anything.  Mick didn't even get a video. 

Mick is also a headliner.  He should have gone into the Hall of Fame in a year that it was his year.  Yes, I realize that the Bruno Sammartino thing came late and he deserves it, and I believe that Mick agrees with that.  I also believe that Mick wants to be inducted at MSG. 

I will go with all of that because Mick is getting what he deserves, entering the Hall of Fame.  Then it was announced who was going to be on the USA TV Special.  Bruno, Trish and....and....Donald Trump.  Yep, they are going to show Donald Trump, who was on WWE TV for a few weeks and one Wrestlemania.  Not a guy who is in one of the most shown clips in WWE history (I'm guess, almost everyone who even casually watch wrestling has seen Mick get thrown off the Hell in the Cell) or the guy who was one of the most over characters during wrestlings hottest time.  Nope Donald Trump because he is friends with Mr. McMahon and it was announced that Mr. McMahon is inducting him.

I feel that WWE should apologize and say something like that:

"Mr. Foley, I don't know if you'll see this but it is was wrong that you were not shown on TV in favor of a celebrity.  Mr. Foley, it was wrong that your fans were not able to see you on TV accepting your award.  Most of all Mr. Foley, we are sorry that we don't respect you enough that we believe you can get ratings better then a celebrity."

That won't happen and I hate it.  I have not bought a wrestling DVD in a long time, and I have most if not all of the matches on Mick's forthcoming DVD, I am going to go buy with my first paycheck in 9 months.  Because I RESPECT Mick (something WWE doesn't do). 

Mr. Foley, Mick if I may, know that you have touched people outside of wrestling more than those making this horrible decision ever will.  Operation Smile, RAINN, and all your other work.  To quote an old music, "You're a good man Mick Foley" and while it might not mean a thing you are respected by many many fans out there, including this one. 

Also for the record I will be Wrestlemania on DVD (Not on PPV) because I will get to see one of my favorites inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

Live Blog of 3-18-13 Raw

Here are my thoughts on Monday Raw and the interactive App live as it happens:

• Not a fan of Triple H and Brock Lesnar being the first recap instead of Punk and Taker.  I think Punk deserves it more than the rest of these guys personally but it might be the fact that I am a huge Punk fan
• Hopefully if they continue with Kane being mentioned in the Punk/Taker feud someone tells Michael Cole that he is Taker's half-brother.  Same mother different fathers and not step-brothers
• Oh good, we start of your favorite and mine Johnny Cena in a "cool" new yellow shirt
• Uggg, I already hate this promo, a repeat of two weeks ago!
• Really?  The Primetime Players?  I love these guys but they are going to be fed to Cena?
• Wow...they are doing the gimmick from the app last week.  It was bad on the app as well if you're wondering
• This is horrible boys and girls, how does Vince McMahon think this is going to sell Wrestlemania?
• I like that Cena got serious when they mentioned last years mania
• Darren Young DOES look a little bit like Cena
• That match was pointless!  
• Mark Henry taking on Ryback at Mania is cool if Henry goes over.  Henry should be going after the title after Mania
• WWE using the app has screwed up the timing of the show.  I realize they want to use it but what was the point of putting a break during the Cena/Young match?
• Really they are pushing the movie more than the match during this app interview with Otunga?
• I wish I could time shift Raw and not have to watch these horrible commercials, I'm spoiled having downloaded it for so long
• Battle of the Nexus!  I wonder how many people remember the Nexus
• Another squash match 20 days before mania.  These matches will help beat last years numbers I'm sure!
• Only 2.5 hours left of this show...only I saw
• Can I get 3 hours of the Shield beating people up....or Mark Henry who is walking out to the ring right now!  
• Wow Pancake Patterson and Darren Young are both trending on Twitter worldwide
• Vicki Guerrero went to the Seth Rollins school for haircuts...and it looks stupid on both of them
• Henry vs. Ryback is official
• I like Johnny Curtis but man this Fandango character is annoying beyond believe because it makes no sense
• Really?  A Great Khali segment on active.....wait a second I actually understand most of what he is saying.  I saw him live once and didn't understand a word.  
• This is such a waste of Nattie Neidhart
• Did I really just understand almost everything Khali said?  I think my fruit punch might be spiked!  (and if it isn't it should be if I have another 2.5 hours of this show!)
• I really hate these "Did you know" segments.  Get over yourself Mr. McMahon!
• I don't think that is the same chick from last week with Fandango
• Did he steal this outfit from Disco Inferno?  Does anyone reading this know who The Might DI is?
• Another career ruined by WWE creative...you're welcome
• I can't believe that the Smackdown Audience went down after this awesome Khali/Fandango segment
• I really wanted this gimmick to debut with Johnny Curtis denouncing it like Dustin Rhodes did with Se7en in WCW....but nope it is a "real" gimmick
• I like the brief smile at the fans chanting "You Can't Wrestle"
• The WWE app screwed up, mine did atleast, and only showed 30 second of an R-Truth Interview...and that's a good thing!
• Damian Sandow should be further up on the card, I'd say IC champ but that is just me.  I dig this guy and still can't believe it is Aaron Stevens
• Okay I don't mind Truth in the ring but his interviews are horrible
• This really has been a horrible show
• Wow the WWE App just brought up Kenny Dykstra and that R-Truth beat him in his debut.  
• I like that Sandow usually leaves the ring instead of getting beat, I don't know why but I dig that gimmick
• I didn't really miss the Bella Twins as characters.  Nice to look at but annoying as characters
• Anderson Spinebuster on WWE App.  Perhaps the best looking move in history
• Jonathan Coachman doing commentary on Mania...wow I blocked that out
• Good lord Taker looks old!  Hard to believe he has been wrestling for McMahon since 1990
• Not a great promo by Punk sadly
• Is this show over.....did Punk just say "Oh Shit?"  I love CM Punk even if that promo was horrible
• I really dug the version of Rhyno that debuted at Mania X7, too bad personal problems and stupid booking killed him in WWE and TNA.  Always one of my favorites
• I can't believe the Taker/Punk match is going to be about Punk dropping the urn.  Almost as bad as feuding over a shampoo commercial
• Team Hell No on their way out!  Poor Primo and Epico are going to get destroyed without D-Bry getting in the ring I believe
• I'm wrong as D-Bry tagged himself in.  Oh and for the record before I cut my beard off it was better then D-Bry's or Josh Reddick's.  Mine was...to steal a phrase...awesome!
• This has been a pretty good match, Primo and Epico are really good in the ring
• AJ comes out to distract Team Hell No.  Remember when AJ mattered to the WWE until she got hooked up with Dolph and he drug her down
• Remember when Jericho mattered?  Now he comes back to get the Mania paycheck
• Fandango?  With Jericho?  Are they thinking about putting these guys into a program?
• A little bit of old school Jericho coming out there
• I can't stand Santino Marella but I'm glad he wasn't seriously hurt with his recent neck injury.  Lets just keep him on the WWE App and not in matches
• Remember when Cody Rhodes had that awesome mask gimmick?  Now he has a mustache gimmick and is the Barry Horowitz of 2013.  Has great matches but no question who is going to win his matches
• Did they give Alberto new entrance music?  A more upbeat version of his old
• Cody is really good and fluid in the ring.  Not quite as good as his brother Dustin but really close.  
• Half way through the show and I feel like I had a birthday during this show its been so long and boring
• Sadly there is no question as to where this match ends, with Cody tapping out
• Cody landed no his face?  I hope he broke his nose and goes back to the mask gimmick...is that a bad thing for me to say?
• Cole, Alberto doesn't call it a cross arm breaker...that is what the move is
• Some fans are chanting USA....at Alberto or Cody?  
• Jack Swagger attacks and that is a shocker
• Ricardo is the modern day Bobby Heenan with his ability to take bumps as a manager
• I like the Zeb Colter character, I really do.  Dutch is really good in the role.  Gotta Love uncle Zeb
• Again the fans are chanting USA...for Swagger or Alberto?  I'm confused by these fans
• Oh no, Ricardo is getting abused.  Ricardo is so damn good in the role of getting beat up and his ankle was just snapped by Swagger sadly
• It is too bad that injury angles don't work anymore because Ricardo was really good on the app just now.  I think I would have believed he was hurt, he was that good, maybe a little over the top but I've seen people respond that way.  Ricardo deserves a raise
• I really like that they are acting like the injury is serious instead of just going to some random comedy segment or the Hall of Fame segment
• Really?  Booker T is going into the Hall of Fame now?  Why not wait, I think he could have been the main draw in the future
• Did they just throw a GI Bro reference in there?  Really?
• Was that Mortis I saw briefly?
• I remember watching Booker in the GWF on ESPN after school
• Ugg, now they are making jokes.  Should be a little more reserved after just seeing a mans ankle broken in my opinion.  At least a segment boys
• Randy Ortons theme music is one of my favorites
• Booker is on the app and he is reserved instead of the character.  I like that and respect that.  Also let me say that I really like Matt Striker because he is a fan and he really seems to get it.  He should be announcing on one of the shows on TV, I'd say Main Event.
• Booker just said Harlem Heat is going to reunite at the Hall of Fame.  That is cool, because I know it was reported that they, Booker and Stevie Ray, were having issues.  
• The show has picked up a little bit but the Three Man Band will ruin that!  Drew McIntyre has such potential
• 3MB=The Spiders.  Old school fans should get that reference
• Randy Orton seems to enjoying the matches too much.  I see a turn in his future
• I thought Roman Reigns hurt himself after screwing up the spear last week
• Wow Big Show running to the ring, that is a sight!
• How good is Dean Ambrose and all he is doing is reacting on the floor, he is going to be money if they don't screw it up...which they probably will
• I like that Sheamus wouldn't let Show behind him, that is really smart
• This years mania song isn't nearly as annoying as Florida's last year
• How many time has Kofi Kingston been buried...almost as many times as his opponent Dolph Ziggler
• I'll be honest I just can't get into this match because neither man matters right now
• Did AJ dye her hair darker?  She looks amazing this week as usual
• Dolph has won three matches in a row!  Amazing...however why didn't he cash in the brief case while Alberto was knocked out earlier?
• Team Hell No vs. Dolph/Big E. at mania.  
• Damn AJ is smoking hot
• I still don't like the Punk segment even though we've seen it three times now
• Why is Cena vs. Rock personal?  Rock isn't even worried, he is out doing movie promos 
• I just don't feel the build up for Mania again this year.  Am I getting old and losing "the Sickness" that is wrestling fandom
• Brad Maddox makes me laugh, he is a complete goof
• Not a fan that we are going to end the show with Hunter and Brock, two part timers.  I know it is a major match at mania but just makes me sad for the guys who are there day in and day out
• Why not just make the guys tag if you're going to book the match where there are only two guys in the ring at one time anyway
• Jericho seems to be in slow motion against Barrett and I don't think it is Jericho's fault
• This has been one of the better triple threat matches I'll say that.  All three guys are good and it is sad that Miz isn't still in the main event
• I like that Barrett used his brain to win the match and not some lame DQ or something like that
• Enough of these stupid ass movie promos!
• Do the people who send in these touts realize they're going to be on TV? 
• Isn't it about time for Hunter to get new music?
• I do like the short hair, I think it makes him look tougher but I think they should have had Brock cut his hair after breaking his arm, just my opinion and a others as well
• The worst looking security is following Heyman to the ring.  Might as well as had me be security
• I don't know if there has been anyone better on the mic then Paul Heyman
• They should have hired Atlas security to pop the old school fans
• I love the way Heyman makes it seem real
• They have really been doing the overtime stuff
• Is Triple H the new RVD busting open everyone!  First Brock and now Paul E.
• I don't understand why Lesnar waited till after the contract signing, it makes no sense, I guess that is wrestling logic
• No Count Out, No DQ, No stopping the match.....No Holds Barred.  Hunters career is on the line.  Interesting 

That is it for tonight all.  Not the best show and I'm not sure they realize that Wrestlemania is in three weeks hopefully the next two weeks will pick up

Rise of the Zombies movie review

I picked up Rises of the Zombies at Walmart for 5 bucks and here are my thoughts as I watched it.  (It might contain spoilers) [Also I would link to Amazon but it Out of Stock because it is either that good or even they have given up on it]

• A lot of action to start the film and a cool effect to show people turning from human to zombie.  IMDB says its a TV movie but about 10 minutes in and I am impressed thus far
• Some of the acting is pretty bad, LaVer thus far has actually been the worst
• While the zombie makeup isn't the best I am still impressed after some of the other TV zombie movies that SyFy have put out
• It is interesting that they have take a few things from the Romero films and expanded on them, still not down on the flick yet but not overly impressed either
• Mariel Hemingway is not impressive thus far either
• The characters seem to be very one dimensional and the typical for a zombie flick.  The doctor who wants to find a cure.  The army/hard ass guy.  The military guy who just wants people to survive.  The old person.  Things like that
• The writing is bad, bad like the book I'm writing.
• Danny Trejo is bad.  I don't blame him it is the script and the poor
• Why does every zombie flick have the person who believes the zombies can be cured
• It is interesting that the zombies seem to be dormant till they sense pray, much like the Walking Dead
• Wow a one arm zombie just took out half the group.  They should be ashamed 
• A chainsaw, interesting, a zombie video game staple but not in movies as much
• Okay zombies that can climb the Golden Gate Bridge?  That is goofy even for zombie movie standards
• I haven't shot a shotgun but the way Hemingway carries and shots it is horrible.  The director should be ashamed of themselves
• Ethan Suplee is the best part of the flick so far.  His soft military guy is believable.  I've always liked him
• There are a lot of things in this flick that are like the Walking Dead, I assume it is because they are standard zombie ideas....YES!  ZOMBIE BABY!!
• Possibly zombie monkeys next!
• Interesting usage of God vs. Science
• There is now a dog in the group!  I like dogs
• Now there is a preggo chick?  Gotta get all the cliches in there
• Strange the evacuation zone is not safe, that is a shocker
• Good grief!  This scene is uncalled for!  Way over the top and I don't think anyone could do it honestly.  Wow that was gross
• How do zombies always just show up with no warning?  How do they not hear them coming?
• Still not disappointed with this film.  It isn't Romero or Snyder but for TV I am impressed actually
• Disappointed with a zombies some, just the way they behave in the background
• Interesting the one girl gives up.  The first time in the flick that I've been disappointed with the CGI.  I haven't seen Heather Hemmens in anything but I'm impressed with her
• In a matter of two minutes the two worst effects
• Really sneaky zombies in this flick
• Nice use of water and electricity.  It is like Bioshock and an interesting way to kill or at least neutralize the zombies
• Yes a crazy scientist.  All of the stereotypes are represented now!
• They just Hershel'ed Suplee's arm! 

That wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting!  A few of the effects were poor but it was a TV movie.  The acting and script wasn't great but again it wasn't the Walking Dead or Romero.  For 5 bucks I don't feel ripped off at all and I am actually glad I picked it up.  Suplee and Hemmens were both good in their roles I thought.  A basic plot and very by the book character and script wise but I enjoyed it.  I'd say average, a 2.75 out of 5.  

I don't know if anyone reads these but if you do let me know what you think of this "live" type recap of my thoughts.  Do you like it better than the old recap?