Breaking down WWE’s Extreme Rules

WWE’s Extreme Rules features a match with legends Triple H and Brock Lesnar. Photo by: WWECUADOR

BY BRETT MURDOCK (AND MATT VINSKO), Couchsideshow.com blogger

As the first pay-per-view event post-WrestleMania, Extreme Rules has the unfavorable task of putting on a quality show after professional wrestling’s biggest extravaganza. Last year, it was actually able to step up to the plate and it was the best PPV event of the year, in my opinion. That’s not just a “wrestling hipster” opinion to go against the mainstream calling ‘Mania the top show of 2012, I legitimately believed it.

This year, the potential to rise above WrestleMania is once again there, especially after a predictable and lackluster (because of the hype) Show of Shows. While many fans see a card that is lacking, I see a line-up with a lot of capability and the chance to do something memorable. In total, there are nine scheduled match-up and all but two of them will employ an “extreme” stipulation, hence the show’s title. Now, along with my co-conspirator Matt Vinsko (making predictions at the willy-nilly like I did on his NBA first-round playoffs piece), let’s get ready to get extreeeeeeeme…

Pre-Show: The Miz vs. Cody Rhodes

Honestly, I have no idea where this match came from. For the past couple of years, The Miz and Cody Rhodes have been two of WWE’s best midcard guys but unfortunately, they have been brick walled by an inability to develop solid feuds for them in singles action. The Miz has had his chances with both the Intercontinental and United States Championships, but failed to make an impact with the belts. Rhodes was part of a great tag team with Damien Sandow but for some reason, the creative staff broke them up to focus them on singles competition. Meanwhile, getting back to present day, these two are probably just there to get the crowd warmed up for the night’s events and to bring at least a shred of credibility to the pre-show. With that being said, the preshow is usually for the fans and the WWE “knows” that fans like the faces, so congrats Miz.

BRETT: The Miz

MATT: The Miz

Melky Cabrera Will Receive World Series Ring Despite Testing Positive For PED’s

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Melky Cabrera was suspended 50 games in 2012 for testing positive for Performance Enhancing Drugs. Photo by: Keith Allison / Flickr

Whether you agree with the decision or not former San Francisco Giant and current Blue Jay Melky Cabrera will in fact receive a world series ring despite having no actual contribution in the Series due to a suspension over use of a banned substance.

NBC Sports reports:

Cabrera will receive his championship ring when the Giants visit the Blue Jays, Cabrera’s new team, on Tuesday. Manager Bruce Bochy performed a similar act last month with Chicago Cubs’ right fielder  Nate Schierholtz, who was traded shortly before Cabrera was suspended for use of a banned substance last summer

Surely there will be those chirping against the decision–the baseball purists always let their very loud voices be known in situations such as this.

But one could easily make the argument that if not for Cabrera’s contributions in the regular season the Giants wouldn’t have made it to the World Series in the first place. Let us not forget, that when Cabrera left the game due to suspension he held the highest batting average in the league and was well on his way to an MVP and batting title.

Should there be an uproar over Cabrera getting a ring or has he paid his debt?

Be sure to check out other great articles at BlackSportsOnline.

Couch Side Podcast Episode 54: High On The Heat

Will the Miami Heat return to the NBA Finals this year? Photo by: Paolo Rosa / Flickr

BY Couchsideshow.com staff

CLICK HERE TO START LISTENING: 

Couch Side hosts Wade McMillin and Craig Paul have had a lot on their plate lately, but they’re back for another exciting episode of the podcast. After a two week hiatus, the hosts return to dish out some NFL offseason grades, talk all things Tim Tebow, dive into the NBA playoffs, examine Tiger Woods’ Players championship win and criticize the voting of the NBA All-Defensive Team. Click below to start streaming, downloading or subscribing to the Couch Side podcast:

•  Click here to stream the Couch Side Podcast Episode 54: High On The Heat, via our host site, TalkShoe

• Click here to download the Couch Side Podcast Episode 54: High On The Heat, via our host site, TalkShoe

• Click here to stream, download or subscribe to the Couch Side Podcast Episode 54: High On The Heat, via iTunes

Quick Read: ESPN Interested In Tim Tebow As College Football Analyst

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Tim Tebow may not have a future as a quarterback in the NFL, but he indeed has a future.  Tebow who is a magnet for attention, could try his hand at TV, and would definitely have his list of suitors.

The New York Daily News is reporting that ESPN or Fox Sports could end up making a push for Tebow as a college football analyst.

ESPN believes the former Jet will be playing football in 2013, but if not, he’s on the network’s radar as a college football analyst, according to the New York Daily News. 

There will definitely be competition from Fox Sports who would deem the former Florida Gators and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback as a coup for their all sports network set to debut in August.

It definitely makes sense for Tebow if he wants to stay around the game he loves, while still getting plenty of attention and eyes from his loyal following.

Be sure to check out other great articles at BlackSportsOnline.

Frozen Four first-hand account

BY JESSICA WILLIAMS, Couchsideshow.com contributor

Like I posted in my first blog, the Frozen Four is an equivalent to the Final Four in basketball except with hockey.
The four College teams competing in 2013 were the Yale Bulldogs, Quinnipiac Bobcats, St. Cloud State, and UMass Lowell. All four teams fought their way up to the tournament they all have dreamed of winning. The first semi-final game was UMass Lowell against the Yale Bulldogs. Throughout the beginning of the tournament, it was said that Yale was the “underdog,” and that their chances of going past the first round was slim.
Yet they defeated UMass, who was #3 seed, with a score of 3-2, winning in OT with the final goal scored by their Senior Captain, Andrew Miller. Leaving a stunned UMass Lowell crowd silent, the Bulldogs celebrated their first win, as they were now moving on to the championship round. The next game of the night was to be played by the Quinnipiac Bobcats and St. Cloud State. Quinnipiac had been the #1 seed team this season, so they definitely had quite the “rowdy” fan section.

2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs: First Round Preview / Predictions

BY BRETT MURDOCK, Couchsideshow.com senior blogger

 And just like that, the 2013 NHL season is over with. Quick, right? I know, but that’s what you get when a lockout threatens to cancel another season under the reign of commissioner Gary Bettman. But alas, there was a season played after all consisting of 48 games and after all the hubbub and chaos, the first round playoff match-ups are set. There are some good ones and of course there are some that will end horribly, and I am here to straighten them out for you and get you informed heading into the postseason. Let’s get to it…

Wait, a fun fact before we get started: This is the first time all “Original Six” teams qualified for the playoffs in the same season since a long time ago.

Carry on…

The Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks claimed the top two seeds in the Western Conference for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Photo by: Bridget Samuels / Flickr

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (8) Minnesota Wild

The Blackhawks enter the playoffs as President’s Trophy winners after finishing with the highest point total through the season. They are a dangerous folk top-to-bottom with great players in all areas and have showed it throughout the year. They started off 21-0-3 and though they kind of went through a rough patch through the middle of the season, they regained their composure and come into the playoffs as the favorites to win it all.

Meanwhile, the Wild are one of those teams you look at and say “What is going on?” They acquired the two biggest prizes on the free agent market this past off season in forward Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter, they have a solid goaltender (Niklas Backstrom) and have a bunch of other talented pieces that should have made them a title favorite. But alas, they were as inconsistent as any playoff team in recent memory and limp into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth. They are not a confident group right now in my eyes and are staggering.

While both of these teams were prohibitive favorites entering the season, only one appears to be gelling at the right time and that’s Chicago. They score at will and shut down opposing teams with a ruthless defense, and those are bad signs for slumping Minnesota.

• WINNER: Blackhawks in 5