McMahon vs. Stern PPV: Monday, May 25

"If Relationship George walks through that door, he will kill Independent George! A George divided against itself, cannot stand!" - George Costanza, Seinfeld

Two areas of my life are colliding. Similar to the struggle that George Costanza faced when Susan encroached on his personal life when she began socializing with his friends, the NBA is encroaching on my weekly Monday night love affair with professional wrestling.

I only ask for one night per week to snuggle up to the television set with a cold beer and some popcorn to watch wrestling live. I can't afford the pay-per-views, I tape Smackdown (yet rarely watch it) and after one episode of the new show WWE Superstars I already had enough. So it all boils down to me laying on the couch from 9-11 p.m. every Monday to watch RAW. Everything else stops. There's no homework, no writing, no blogging, no talking and, this is important, no basketball.

Even the Pacers could only get VIP treatment on my TV during commercial breaks on Monday nights. And that was being generous. But, now, I've got a problem.

The issue: The WWE has been booked since last August to be in the Alex English Center on Monday, May 25 (I just completed a five-minute debate with myself on whether to rename the Pepsi Center after English or Dan Issel. Their career stats in Denver are nearly identical: English played in 30 more games, English averaged five more points per game, Issel got the edge in rebounding and Big Man Dan had a slight edge in Win Shares. The push went to English because he played for the Pacers for two seasons. Biased? Yes, but I'm OK with it...note to self: get a job). The WWE claims to have sold more than 10,000 tickets and is expected to sell out the day of the event. But instead of fans watching Batista continue to whip up on Orton, Vickie doing unspeakable things to Santina or anything involving the greatness that is Kelly Kelly, the people of Denver could be stuck with NBA Playoff basketball.

After the Lakers wrapped up their seven-game series with Houston on Sunday, the NBA scheduled Game 4 of the Denver-LA Western Conference Finals series in the Alex English Center for...Monday, May 25. Now, I'm no businessman, but even I see a problem here.

The scheduling conflict has put two of my favorite things in life at odds with one another. How rude! But the great thing is that neither side is willing to budge at this point. That means RAW is WAR again. The NBA says they're having the event that day no matter what, and Vince McMahon says his trucks are driving to Denver no matter what.

McMahon, of course, is using the media coverage of this debacle to his full advantage. Here is link to his awesome interview with ESPN where he says that Alex English Center owner Stan Kroenke should be "arrested for impersonating a good businessman." That's classic. Unfortunately, my guess is that RAW will move to another locale. Although Vince could take Stern in a cage match any day of the week, I'm afraid Stern may have too much authority in this situation since the Nuggets have a permanent home in Denver, while the WWE is just passing through town. But, I would claim that the WWE has every right, especially since the NBA is just as rigged as the WWE. I mean, if you have a choice between two rigged, entertainment shows, wouldn't you choose the one with the hot divas (and I'm not talking about Kobe here)?

ESPN's Mike & Mike Show had one of its better moments this morning when they developed a radio clip of an announcer doing the Lakers-Nuggets game. In the middle of a Laker possession, Triple H and the Undertaker come out to the floor and wrestled members of both teams. The Undertaker, in his usual style, tombstoned the crap out of Kobe.

That would make a memorable Monday night.

On to the links...

2 minutes...2-ah
While I've been stuck at home unemployed (although two job interviews have taken place this week so good things might happen...fingers crossed), I applied to be the Pacers beat reporter for a citizen journalism site called examiner.com. Each major U.S. city has its own site and I am part of the Indianapolis network. I posted my first article this morning (a simple rehash of my Granger MIP article), but with the draft lottery tonight, I'm sure I'll have more up before this evening. I get paid very little and its based on page views. So, click here and boost me up to the top.

It's Beetles...with an A
All is quiet in BeatleLand at the moment. But in my latest Beatlefan Magazine (oh yes, I am a subscriber to Beatlefan Magazine, so suck it) Bruce Spizer reveals that he is working on an all-Beatles Trivial Pursuit game that should be out by July or August. It will consist of 2,600 questions in six categories. I think now is a good time to challenge anybody to a dual of Beatle-wit. Name the time and place, and I'll be there to make you run for your life.

Hello, Mr. Radio
Just because I can...Enjoy!

Info for Bo
I'm sure you're enjoying this WWE vs. NBA as much as I am, so here are some clips from Vince's past that should remind Stern to never, ever, ever mess with THE Vince McMahon. Clip 1. Clip 2. Clip 3. Clip 4. Clip 5.

Mrs. Thug Mrs.
More info on your cheating peeps Jon and Kate.

You Tube...no, you're a tube
Will Ferrell's return to SNL this weekend had it's moments and this was the best of them. Nothing tops Jeopardy.